A/N:...Oh hi guys, please don't hurt me! I know it's been since forever since I last updated, I can't believe how much love this little story gets so I'd just like to apologise and also thank you for sticking with such a crappy writer for so long. Anyway, onwards with the chapter!
5 years later
One - Breathe
A black coated chest slowly rose and fell along with the early morning breeze, their hunches tensing slightly as they repositioned themselves upon the sturdy branch beneath their feet.
Two - Listen
Blocking out the more obvious sounds, such as the chirping of birds and the rush of the close-by stream, and in stead picking up on the snapping of a few twigs and ...wait, ah-ha! That's what they were listening out for! Off to the left, a bush rustled until a small brown coated hare jumped out into the open.
Raising a small, sharpened spear, aiming and taking a calming breath before unleashing the lethal training weapon straight at the unfortunate hare, a pleased and slightly smug huff came from the hunter-in-training as their aim proved to be true.
Making a hasty descent down to retrieve their prey before another predator could come along and snatch up an easy meal, they made quick work of tying a small length of rope around the hare's hind legs before standing back up and slinging it over their left shoulder, the soiled spear held protectively in their right hand.
Four young males sat around a small clearing, two of the four were obnoxiously showing off their catches to their small in-training hunting party, both seemed to be trying to out do the other via bragging.
A snort was heard as the only female of the group joined them, dropping her own catch and spear to the side. 'Jax, Holt. Do you two ever stop?'
The bulkier of the two, Holt, grinned at her, 'We can't help that we're great, Nova'
His friend quickly joined in, 'Yeah. What did you even get? A little mouse?' The two both snickered at her.
A hiss sounded from the right as blue irises glared at the cocky boys. 'Nova is a better hunter than either of you.'
Nova lazily picked up the dead hare and let it casually dangled it in front of the boy's faces, the cocky boys seemed to deflate slightly, whilst Nova's "brother's" now grinned smugly.
Ash came over and patted Nova's shoulder 'Nice one Nova!'
A sudden thud behind the group grabbed the younglings attention, they span around to find Taylor stood behind them as he scanned the group for any injuries since the group still only just reached up to his chest it wasn't too hard to do, and looking for whatever kills they had managed to bring in. 'Looks like you all did okay. for your first hunting session on your own, that is.'
Taylor ordered them to start heading back home, Jax and Holt were up front whilst the trio hung back.
Blue eyes nudged Nova to gain her attention which he got with a curious hoot. 'Nova is better than Jax and Holt.'
Nova grinned as she gestured to her catch compared to the squirrel each of the boys up front carried. 'Obviously'
Ash pushed her playfully and mocked a stern expression almost like he was trying to imitate his uncle Ceasar. 'Careful Nova. Might end up like Jax'
A non-threatening hiss passed through Nova's lips as she gave chase to Ash, his pant like laughs could be heard throughout the colony as the two play fought in the main clearing having chased each other through the gorilla pass.
A/N: Okay guys, that about all I can do for now. I know some of you might pick up on the fact that this isn't quite the same quality of writing as the previous chapters, but gimme a break, I've had writers block for the past year or so and this is the first thing I've written.
I'd just like to thank Mauryn for giving me that kick up the rear to start writing again ;)