rens-luvr: Here is the next chapter!
Sun shined through the apprentices den as Ivypaw awoke. She was just happy to be out of the Dark Forest. "Morning!" Dovepaw meowed loudly, startling her.
"Honestly Dovepaw, you could be the alarm of Thunderclan." Lionblaze teased from outside the den. He padded over to the fresh kill pile, picking out a plump squirrel. Dovepaw stretched and padded into the clearing. Lionblaze looked at her. "Dovepaw, want to share this with me?" he asked. Dovepaw nodded and ate her half of the squirrel. Firestar approached them.
"Lionblaze. You're on hunting patrol with Brightheart, Brambleclaw, and Sandstorm." he mewed. Lionblaze got up and followed the patrol. He looked over his shoulder at Dovepaw.
"Why don't you come with. I want to test your hunting skills." he said. Dovepaw followed him into the forest. The scent of mouse flooded her senses. She got into a hunters crouch and pounced, landing a nip to back of the mouse's neck. "Nice work. Now, what can you smell?" Lionblaze asked. Dovepaw scraped earth over the mouse and sniffed the air.
"We need to alert Firestar. I smell the scent of fox over by the lake. It's fresh and quite recent." she replied. Lionblaze nodded to Brightheart, who turned and ran back to camp. Then, there was a rustling in the undergrowth. Brambleclaw appeared with a sparrow hanging from his jaws.
"Nice catch." Dovepaw commented. Brambleclaw nodded and perked his ears, alert. He had obviously scented the fox. He looked at Lionblaze, who nodded in acknowledgement. He had scented the fox as well. Brightheart returned with Firestar, Graystripe, Brackenfur, and Squirrelflight. They were fully alert.
"Where is the scent freshest?" Firestar asked. Lionblaze flicked his apprentice's ear with his tail.
"Huh...what?" Dovepaw stammered. Firestar mrrowed in amusement. Lionblaze sighed impatiently.
"Firestar just asked you a question Dovepaw." he replied. Dovepaw gave her chest fur a couple of embarrassed licks.
"Sorry Firestar. I wasn't paying attention. It's freshest over at the edge of the lake. There is a den and it smells like there might be pups.." she answered. Then, a strong fox scent flooded her nostrils and a huge red pelted fox appeared over the edge of the water. It's fur bristled and it pulled it's lips back in a snarl. It had milk scent on it.
"Run! Return to camp! We need to alert the clans." Firestar yowled. He led everyone back to camp.