Chapter 2

"Hmm, yes. I will announce it at the upcoming Gathering, thanks for telling me, Silverheart." Stormstar mewed, his voice cracked with age, yet he sounded so wise.

Silverheart nodded.

"Mallowflight?" Silverheart asked the pure white she-cat.

"Yes?" The deputy meowed distractedly, she was busy organizing hunting patrols.

"Can I join a hunting patrol?" Silverheart asked.

"Sure. You can join Harefoot's." Mallowflight answered.

Silverheart dipped her head in thanks and respect, then padded off to go join Harefoot, Coldwing and Nightfrost.

Harefoot flicked his tail, and they set out into the forest.

Lush green fronds poked out of the rich, brown soil, shading the sprouts of ferns that had yet to grow. The tall trees showered their green leaves down onto the forest floor, and one landed on Silverheart's gray-silver muzzle.

As the patrol split up, Silverheart parted her jaws to drink in the rich aroma of the forest. She picked up mouse along with the earthy smell of the woods.

She saw a gray scrap of fur, chewing on a seed.

Silverheart dropped into a hunter's crouch, and began to stalk it. She took slow, light steps toward the mouse. The mouse quickly looked up from the undergrowth it was hiding in, and Silverheart froze, her heart pounding in her chest so hard she swore the mouse could hear it. But fortunately, the mouse bent its head and continued to nibble on the seed.

Dumb old thing. Thought Silverheart with a sly smirk.

When she was finally close enough, Silverheart pounced on it, and with a swift bite to the neck, she watched in triumph as the life died from its blackberry round eyes.

Later during the patrol, Silverheart had managed to catch three mice and a starling.

She and the rest of the patrol dropped their prey on the fresh-kill pile.

"Go ahead and have a bite. You look as skinny as a fox!" Mallowflight told her from behind, spooking Silverheart and making her jump.

"OK. I will!" Silverheart replied, her legs trembling from Mallowflight's spook.

Silverheart had to admit, she wasn't all that hungry. So she chose a scrawny vole from the pile.

She bit into the vole, juicy flavors filling her mouth and slightly cold blood running down her throat. Silverheart realized just how hungry she truly was. She gulped the vole down, and licked her lips afterward.

Before she knew it, night had fallen.