My vision clears and I look around me. The surroundings are beautiful; tall trees with green leaves and pink buds, birds chirping all around... It's so peaceful. I hear the steady trickling of water, and I turn my head to see a clear stream running smoothly nearby.

A figure approaches me, the figure of a cat. His black fur is shining with health, his golden eyes gleaming with pride. He looks strong, and his fur seems to glow, like stars. I immediately recognize the feathery-furred tom. "Blackfeather!" I exclaim, bounding up to my father and rubbing my cheek along his.

"Ravenpaw, my daughter," he meowed wisely. "I've been watching over you, your mother, and your siblings. I am very proud of you."

"Father, I miss you, so much! Petalcloud does, too. She's been sad since the invasions started to get worse..." I trail off, a churning I'm my stomach telling me to not bring up the subject of my sullen mother.

"I know things seem like they are bad, but trust me. You must be brave. You have a great destiny before you, and it is up to you whether it will be a good or a bad one..." Blackfeather licks the top of my head, and then backs away. He begins to fade, but before I wake up, I hear these words: "Be strong, Ravenpaw, be strong!"

I wake to the golden lights streaming through the branches of the walls that make up the den. The dream still in my mind, I purr. It was good to see my father again, and his words had filled me with hope. I rise to my paws, letting a yawn escape from my jaws.

"Ravenpaw!" A voice calls to me. I recognise it as Lightstep, and I make my way out of the den. "Yes, Lightstep?" I answer, and the tortoiseshell warrior comes to stand in front of me. "We will be hunting today," she explained. "Get some prey in your stomach, and we'll head out with a few others."

I nod and pick up a mouse from the fresh-kill pile, and gobble it down within a few moments. My ear twitches contentedly, and I pad to the entrance of camp, waiting for the other cats to come. Soon enough, they pad towards me. Five cats, one of them being Lightstep, lift their heads, ready to train.

There is Pantherpaw, with her mentor Emberfur, Pebblepaw and Vinetail, and Silverpaw alongside Sageleaf. The mentors take the lead, us apprentices trailing behind and chattering to one another. "I bet I can catch the biggest piece of prey!" Boasted Silverpaw, smirking in the thought of ripping her claws through an animal. I chuckle and continue walking.

Once we are in the more forested area of the territory, Lightstep speaks out, "Today you will be practicing stalking and hunting techniques that you've previously been taught. Try hard, and do your best. " We nod, my tail lashing against the forest floor in excitement.

"We are going to start our practice today with some competition," Vinetail adds. "You will each head into a different direction, and when you hear the signal-which will be two yowls- you will return. The apprentice with the most prey wins. By the most prey I mean higher in number, and bigger size in animal. Spread out!" He orders, and we disperse.

I veer left, seeking the shadows of trees and bushes that tower above. I notice that Silverpaw heads right, Pebblepaw a bit farther down than her, and Pantherpaw to the opposite of Pebblepaw.

I lift my head and take in a deep breath, observing the scents that surround me. I listen, as well, and look. I let the nature melt into me, allow it to become part of me. My ear swivels to hear the chirrup of a crow. I see the dark feathered creature perched upon a branch, and I slither towards it, silent as a butterfly flapping its graceful wings.

I dig my claws into the tree, getting a good grip as I climb. The bird is busy picking at a caterpillar that teases it from a safe hole in the pine. I make my moves quicker, while at the same time making sure I don't fall. I prepare to leap, my joints ready. I spring forward and the bird let's out a terrified caw, but I am too fast. I drag it down with my teeth and hold it to the branch, where I bite its neck swiftly.

I smile, pleased with my capture. I leap down the tall tree, landing smoothly on the ground. I move on after I bury the prey I've caught. I let my eyes scan over the landscape, my scent and hearing working as well. My icy blue eyes spot a rabbit peaking out of its hole, and then gingerly scurrying out further to nibble at a patch of clover. I know that the animal will hear me before seeing or smelling me, so I creep up on it with the most careful of pawsteps.

I dash forward when I am about a tail-length away from the fat rabbit. I leap into the air, preparing to crash down on it and I'll it, but before I even land, the animal begins to streak away. I pant as I spring myself further and further, determined to catch this creature.

It feels like forever before I finally corner the rabbit up between a boulder and a thick tree. I crack its spine with a blow from my paw. It is paralysed, and I strike forward to nip the base of its neck. Thank StarClan! I caught it! On my way to bury the rabbit and continue, I scent a mouse sitting on a tree root. I drop the rabbit and start to advance on it...

Then two yowls split into the air and the small brown rodent scampers away. I pick up the sparrow, and I drag the two pieces of prey to the original spot that we dispersed from. The mentors looked approvingly at all of our catches. "Great work!" Emberfur praises. I smile.

Pebbles tilts his head in thought. He had caught only two measly shrews. Pantherpaw had managed a squirrel, and Silverpaw lifts her head up in pride at her bounty. Her expression was as if she was better than the rest of us! I catch a glance at her kill. Two finches, a squirrel, and a rabbit!

"Silverpaw wins the challenge," announces Sageleaf.

"Now, moving on..."

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Thank Mew Fur Reading! 3~ Alluri