Four
Foxpaw was now standing in the dry earth clearing. She looked at her sister, who was exiting the camp with Falconblaze. She was going to follow, but then Sparrowflight came over.
"Where are you going? We have to begin your training!" Foxpaw blinked and sat down in embarrassment. "Great. Already messing up on my first day," Foxpaw thought.
"Right, what are we doing Sparrowflight?" Foxpaw was wondering if they were going to go hunting, exploring, or battling. She wanted to do it all!
"Today we are going to make your nest, so you can successfully take care of the elders later," Foxpaw sulked. "Oh joy. Bedding," Foxpaw moaned and gestured towards the camp entrance.
"Why can't we go exploring," Sparrowflight brushed her tail over Foxpaw's shoulder as she walked past her.
"Don't worry. We have to go out of camp to gather the supplies to make you a very comfortable nest. That way you know where to go when you are doing the elder's bedding," Foxpaw followed her out of the camp sighing,
" I guess that makes sense," Sparrowflight gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, we will cover the fun stuff later. First day isn't always the best," Foxpaw gave a small nod. She remembered when Leopardpaw scolded Lionpaw and Dovepaw about not taking care of the elders. Remembering Lionpaw was a little saddening, but she needed to focus now. She stood up, puffing out her chest,
"Alright Sparrowflight! Let's go!" Sparrowflight flicked her tail and she led Foxpaw out of the Sunclan camp.
...
Foxpaw was carefully raking her claws down a tree, attemping to gather moss. Sparrowflight, had gone off to carry some of the miss back, and let Foxpaw to practice gathering moss by herself. Foxpaw let out a triumphant meow as she made the moss stick together in a small ball. She stood up and looked around, trying to find something that would go in the nest. She found some pine needles and examined them carefully. Usually the warriors avoided sitting on them, but that was when they were all scattered around. Maybe she could find a way to layer them comfortably?
She began moving some of the needles over the others, and tested them by putting her paw on them. They were alright, but she figured she needed something to help make in softer. She kept looking around, and then she ran into Sparrowflight, who was not carrying the moss in her mouth anymore.
"What are you doing with those pineneedles? You need something comfortable," Foxpaw put her paw lightly on the pineneedles.
"Well, I layered them on top of eachother, and I was trying to find something to go on top. I think the pineneedles would be a good bottom layer so we can layer things in top. We would not have to worry about any of the things falling out or scattering," Foxpaw smiled as Sparrowflight looked impressed.
"Good thinking Foxpaw! Let's find some fur and feathers to go on top," Sparrowflight purred.
For what seemed like moons, Foxpaw went back and forth, from the forest and the camp, carrying soft materials. Sparrowflight finally said to start making the outer moss covering. She spat the moss out and cushioned it onto the rest.
"Alright, are you hungry Foxpaw?" Foxpaw sat on the rough earth, raking her claws through the dirt.
"Starving, can we go hunting?" Sparrowflight poked her shoulder with her paw.
"Not yet, we need to teach you the hunting crouch, okay? Just do what I do," Foxpaw followed her out of the den and stood steadily. She watched Sparrowflight quickly bend her legs and lower her belly towards the ground. She stuck her tail up slightly and she stalked along the ground silently. Foxpaw copied Sparrowflight, but Sparrowflight went behind her.
"Don't put your tail all the way up, you keep it just above the ground. And don't slide your paws against the ground. You will move the pineneedles, and the prey will know you are there. Now watch me closely," Sparrowflight murmured as she began to creep forward again, and then she bent back, then spring forward, attacking a small pinecone. Then she did the same technique but instead jumped into the air wrapping her claws around a pinecone on a branch. She stood again, motioning Foxpaw to do the same. Foxpaw tried her best to stay quiet, and she rushed herself forward springing onto the pinecone. Sparrowflight purred,
"Great Foxpaw! Now do the same thing, but go into the air, so you know how to catch birds on low branches," Foxpaw did the same thing as her mentor, curling her body upward and trapping a pinecone between her claws, then striking the cone for the killing blow. Sparrowflight meiwed excitedly, flicking her tail.
"Excellent! You are ready for your first hunt!" Foxpaw smiled and followed Sparrowflight out of the camp. This was going to be fun!
