Author's note: Hey peoples! Well, I'd just like to explain why I decided to do this oneshot… I know there's a bunch of people that thinks Tawnypelt needs a mate that we actually HEAR ABOUT, and I am one of them! So… I decided to do a TawnyRowan oneshot, and… yep! Here it is! Though I might continue this and make it a series of oneshots all about couples that you just don't hear about in the books, for now it will be a oneshot… If you want me to continue, just review and say so. If a bunch of people think I should, then I will… even though I'm already doing two stories… hey, I can handle another! XD
The Nightly Hunt
A ginger tom stalked through the forest, his amber eyes glistening as he paused to look up at the rising moon—over half full; the Gathering was nearing. A sudden movement from in front of him and the rustling of leaves drew his eyes back to the brush. He pushed his nose, ever so slowly, so he didn't scare away the prey, closer to the ground. After a few moments, the smell hit him. Mouse.
Keeping his eyes alert, he stretched into hunting crouch. The mouse-scent was coming from a spot by the bottom of a tree, under a few leaves. The tom's eyes were able to detect a slight movement around them… good. The Clan had been running low on prey lately. They would need this.
Very carefully, he crept forward until he was only a tail's-length away from the mouse. He narrowed his eyes, unsheathed his claws, readied his back legs, and pounced.
He landed with a crash, sending old, brown leaves whirling up around him. He brought his paws down hard on the spot where the mouse had been, but only hit the solid earth. What?! His gaze darted quickly around the area, just fast enough to see the terrified rodent scampering away into the night.
"Fox dung!" he snarled, angry at himself for losing the valuable prey, when all of a sudden a paw reached out from behind a tree a snatched the mouse. It let out a terrified squeak before a tortoiseshell she-cat stepped out and swiftly killed it.
"Thanks, Rowanclaw!" she mewed, "Glad you could tell I was there. It would have recognized my scent if it wasn't scared out of its wits!"
"Oh… Tawnypelt," replied the tom, not wanting to admit that he had actually been trying to catch it, "You're welcome."
She looked back at him, her blue eyes surprised, as if she had been expecting more… or less. "Oh…" She frowned, as if deep in thought, then padded over to join him. "We make a good team, don't we? Want to hunt together for the rest of the way?"
"S-Sure…" mewed Rowanclaw. They had never gotten along in the past, so why was she being so friendly now? "I was planning to go over by the border… I heard from Russetfur that the prey there is running well…"
"Great! ShadowClan could use it!"
They hunted until the moon was high in the sky, like a proud ShadowClan leader on the branch used to give announcements on, before returning with a mouse, two frogs, and a vole. No other cat was awake in the camp except for them, so Tawnypelt kept her voice down as she mewed, "I had a great time, Rowanclaw! And look at all of the fresh-kill!"
The tom nodded. "Me too! We'll need to tell Blackstar about that spot by the lake, where we found the vole…"
Tawnypelt shrugged. "Well, I suppose that could be it…" she turned to her Clanmate and grinned. "…Or maybe we're just good hunters!"
Rowanclaw touched her nose in farewell. The she-cat seemed surprised by the gesture at first, but then walked up to him and licked his neck-fur in response. Together, they walked back to the warriors' den, tails entwined.
The End!