Time for hunting. The day after Sparrowpaw got the tour. Hmm, having a nest near Cherrypaw, suspicious. Yes? Enjoy!
Sparrowpaw felt a paw jab in her side. "Go 'way" She grumbled, trying to fall back asleep. She closed her eyes when the job came again, "Wake up Sparrowpaw!" Heatherpaw meowed, "Training starts at dawn are you a cat or a dormouse?"
Sparrowpaw opened her eyes slowly and got to her paws. She stretched and padded out into the fresh air. The light of dawn spread throughout the camp, lighting Sparrowpaw's path. She looked over at the fresh-kill pile, hoping to find something. Only a few thrushes and a vole, but she was starving. She ran over to the pile and took a thrush. She began to open her mouth to eat when Pricklestar growled. "Has anyone taught you the warrior code?" He spat, "Elders and kits must be fed before warriors and apprentices."
Sparrowpaw pushed away the prey, embarrassed. She was weak with hunger, but she had to obey the rules. "Come on Sparrowpaw, we are going hunting." Pricklestar told Sparrowpaw. Alone? She stifled a sigh. She liked working with Rileypaw, Heatherpaw, Bubblepaw, or maybe…Cherrypaw. She shook the thoughts away as she realized Pricklestar was several Fox-lengths ahead.
Sparrowpaw broke into a run and soon caught up to Pricklestar. The cold leaf-fall wing buffeted her fur and forced her to narrow her eyes. It never got this windy in Starclan… Pricklestar stopped. "Time for you to learn hunting" He meowed, "Show me your hunting stance." This is going to be so easy, I caught plenty prey in Starclan, she thought and she got into her hunting crouch like she did to catch prey in Starclan.
"Wrong! Wrong!" Pricklestar criticized, "You're doing it all wrong!" Sparrowpaw was confused; she did it exactly like she should. "How is this wrong?" Sparrowpaw asked. Pricklestar rolled his eyes. "Even the kits know better. Your rump has to be down, and your tail can't be swishing!"
Sparrowpaw groaned. Why did he criticize everything she did? She lowered her hindquarters and stuck her tail out. "Happy?" She grumbled. Pricklestar nodded hesitantly. "You did alright, I guess" He retorted, "Now show me your stalk."
Sparrowpaw stealthily crept up on imaginary prey. She put paw in front of paw until she stepped on a twig. "If you stepped on that while hunting prey, that prey would be flying!" Pricklestar said, scowling. "It was an ACCIDENT!" Sparrowpaw yelled back. Pricklestar narrowed his eyes. "Apprentices don't talk back to their mentors," He growled, "Do you want to stay in camp cleaning bedding for the rest of the moon?" Sparrowpaw shook her head, "Then learn respect."
Pricklestar turned, and then looked back. "Now see if you can scent anything," When Sparrowpaw did nothing he continued, "Open your mouth and see if you can taste prey!" Sparrowpaw did as she was told and stretched her mouth wide open. She breathed in, there was a familiar scent… mouse! Instinctively, Sparrowpaw dropped into a hunters crouch, making sure to lower her rump and stick her tail out. She started stalking the mouse, step by step, making sure not to step on a twig again.
Just a few more steps… she thought as she got right up to the mouse. The mouse turned the other direction and wiggled its nose. Sparrowpaw leaned down and kept still so the mouse wouldn't notice her. It turned away and continued nibbling. Sparrowpaw leapt out at the mouse, but the mouse ran away. "Oh no you don't!" She yowled and grabbed the mouse's tail. It let out a screech and slipped out of Sparrowpaw's grip. "Mouse dung" She sighed.
Pricklestar shook his head, sighing. "You'll never learn" he grunted under his breath. Sparrowpaw wanted to just dig a hole and hide in it. She had never felt so… useless. It was sun-high and the sun warmed Sparrowpaw's pelt a little. Suddenly, a soft murmur came from a hole in the ground. Sparrowpaw got to her paws and went to investigate.
She peaked inside the hole, and inside it was a family of voles. She beamed, this is my chance to prove myself, she thought happily. Sparrowpaw stuck her paw in the hole; claws unsheathed, and then drew it back. Hooked on her claws were two full grown voles and 4 babies. She bounded eagerly over to Pricklestar.
"Look what I caught!" She fumbled with the voles on her claws. Pricklestar took a glance at them and nodded respectfully. "Not bad on finding it, though anyone could," He mewed, "But you didn't actually hunt anything."
Sparrowpaw grunted. He never would be happy with anything. "Oh so should I just put them back in the hole then?" Sparrowpaw huffed. Pricklestar shot a glare at her. "Do you want to be exiled for breaking the warrior code?" He retorted, Sparrowpaw hesitantly shook her head, "Good, then we will bring these back now."
"Ok, fine" She meowed as she turned and stomped off. Sparrowpaw broke into a run, ears flattened, tail streaming, until she reached the camp. She tottered over to the fresh-kill pile and dropped in the voles. "Hey, nice catch," Cherrypaw complimented. Sparrowpaw spun around, feeling hot. "Oh it was nothing," She mewed, "Just found their nest and-"
"And took them out, no work done" Pricklestar interrupted, "Sparrowpaw, you should really try to improve your hunting abilities. Just work on your aim"
Pricklestar turned and padded off. "Who put dirt in his fresh-kill?" Cherrypaw joked. "I. Don't. Know." Sparrowpaw replied. "Well, I had my warrior exam today." Cherrypaw continued, "Oh I hope I passed!"
Sparrowpaw smiled. "I'm sure you did," She reassured. "I hope your right" Cherrypaw meowed. It wasn't until then that the cats noticed Pricklestar was already on the high-rock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the high-rock for a clan meeting!" The young leader called.
Cats came out of their dens and sat in front of the rock. Sparrowpaw noticed Bubblepaw and Mintwillow coming from the nursery. She caught Bubblepaw's eye and they both smiled. "Today we gather to honor the warrior ceremony, of some of our apprentices!"
Sparrowpaw noticed Cherrypaw, as well as Mousepaw and Lilypaw looking awfully excited. The first name came. "Mousepaw, Lilypaw, and Cherrypaw step forward." Pricklestar huffed, as the apprentices bounded onto the rock, "Do you three promise to uphold the warrior code and defend you clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!" They all yelled at once
"Then Starclan willing, I name you warriors," Pricklestar bellowed, "Mousepaw, from this day forward you will be known as Mousefoot, Lilypaw, you will be called Lilyfeather, and Cherrypaw, your name will be Cherryberry." Pricklestar laughed as Cherryberry tilted his head on his new name, "I was just kidding, your name will be Cherryclaw"
Cherryclaw sighed with relief. The cats below started to chant: "Mousefoot, Lilyfeather, Cherryclaw!"
Sparrowpaw chanted with them, yelling Cherryclaw's name the loudest. I wonder what my warrior name will be, she pondered. "Dismissed!" At that Pricklestar leapt down. "Remember, you have to sit vigil tonight," Pricklestar whispered to the new warriors. They nodded and Pricklestar padded into the darkness of his den.
Sparrowpaw felt her belly growl. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. She eagerly took one of the baby voles and padded to the apprentices den with it. The den felt empty with only Heatherpaw, Rileypaw, and her. She settled into her nest and scarfed down the baby vole, relishing the soft, juicy meat.
"Goodnight Sparrowpaw," Rileypaw mewed and she shut her eyes. "Goodnight" Sparrowpaw replied, then added, "Goodnight, Heatherpaw"
Heather was already asleep. Sparrowpaw decided to settle down in her nest. She shut her eyes and drifted off into sleep.
It feels so cold without Cherrypaw… She thought.
