A/N: So… would anyone feel cheated if I skimmed quickly through their apprenticeships? There's really not too much I want to cover during it, but I can find something if you want me too. The real storyline begins to pick up after they're given their names. So let me know!

CH. 19: Hunters

Nightpaw flicked her ears as she stalked forward, her eyes on a toad in front of her.

"Keep your paws light, and stay to the shadows. Use your pelt to your advantage, Nightpaw!" Icestorm growled to her.

Nightpaw nodded. After almost half a moon of training, she had learned not to question or speak out against Icestorm. She was a tough mentor, and never gave compliments. This was the closest thing to a compliment she had ever received, but she wasn't about to say anything about it.

Nightpaw looked down at her paws, sliding into the darkness and creeping forward. She had never caught a toad before. Icestorm was a mentor who chose to have her students practice and learn instead of showing by example. Nightpaw was okay with that. It allowed her to put her own twists on things.

With a final leap, Nightpaw pounced. Her paws came up empty and her ears flattened, "Mouse dung." She looked back at the white deputy, head bowed.

"What have you learned?"

Nightpaw sighed, "My pounce let out too much vibration, and my fur rustled the undergrowth."

"Yes. Come on, we will hunt something else." Icestorm turned and padded into the shadows, her white pelt somehow able to disappear.

Nightpaw snuck after her. She knew she'd get a sharp smack if she made too much noise. Icestorm paused in front of her, her tail gesturing Nightpaw forward.

As she came to her side, she saw it, a robin, "What are robins symbols of?"

"New-leaf."

"And?"

"More prey."

"And why is it out now, when it is still very cold?"

Nightpaw frowned, "Um… I don't know."

"Why would a robin be here instead of with the rest of its flock?"

Nightpaw frowned, she really didn't know.

"Because it was unable to fly with the flock, meaning it is either injured or old. Which means what?"

"That it won't make it to new-leaf?"

"Yes. So catch it. It will feed us instead of the forest."

Nightpaw gulped. She hadn't ever caught a bird before, and if she lost another piece of prey, she knew she wouldn't get to eat later.

With a stark nod, Icestorm disappeared into the shadows, leaving Nightpaw to it. She tasted the wind, and realized that the bird was right in line, so it can't smell… she frowned, if it can't smell it will have really sharp other senses, right? Like Troutsong's other senses make up for his lack of sight.

She steeled herself, looking at the path to the bird. Shadows, so he can't see me, watch myself so he can't hear me. And um… maybe he can feel vibrations, so no sudden steps? That's why I lost that toad… I won't make that mistake again.

She nodded to herself and slowly lowered herself to the ground. With an eye on the bird, she narrowed her eyes to let out as little glare as possible, and slunk into the shadows. Slowly, she approached the bird, watching to be sure she didn't make a sound or step hard.

She was close enough now to see that it was old, not injured, so it could fly, though likely not very far, if it hadn't left with the others. She slipped forward, and with her heart racing, she leaped!

She landed on it, and it made a feeble squawk, before she nipped at it and killed it. Her tail raised as she looked over at her mentor, who padded forward, "What did you do wrong?"

Nightpaw sighed, "It made noise, which alerted other animals in this sector."

"And how can you fix it next time?"

"I can get closer before I attack."

"And?"

"Um.. I can approach from the back instead of the front or side?"

"Yes. Pick up your prey. We'll bring it back to the camp."

Nightpaw nodded and hooked the old robin and padded after her mentor back to the camp.

"A robin? At this time of the year?" one of the warriors called as they headed into camp.

"It's an old one." Icestorm called to him, and Nightpaw sighed, she could hunt! Who cared if it was old?

"Take it to Berrytooth." Icestorm said, padding away, and Nightpaw headed to the nursery with a nod.

"For you, Berrytooth." She said, placing it at her paws.

"Thank you." Berrytooth gave her a warm smile, which she returned gratefully.

"Of course." She flicked her ears back and padded from the nursery to join her sister at the fresh-kill pile.

"Have you seen?" Larkpaw asked.

Nightpaw frowned, "Seen what?" She asked.

"Leafgaze! She and Crowtalon! They've been together an awful lot lately! Oh, wouldn't it be nice?" her voice took on a soft tone, and Nightpaw looked at her, confused.

"What would be nice?"

Larkpaw looked at her with a serious gaze, "To be a queen! Can't you imagine, having a tomcat you love like that, to have kits with, to watch grow up?!" Larkpaw's gaze was distant.

"Well…" Nightpaw wasn't so sure. What would be the good in having a tomcat around? Watching your every move? "I suppose if you like that sort of thing."

Larkpaw looked at her, "You're weird, Nightpaw. I mean, look around! All these cats, can't you see how much happier the ones with mates are?"

Nightpaw looked, a frown creasing her face, as her clanmates doubled up as they shared tongues, "I suppose…" She said doubtfully, "Though Ivystorm seems happy enough, and she's never had a mate." She pointed to the dark orange senior warrior.

Larkpaw rolled her eyes, "She's just happy-go-lucky. I'm sure she'd be just as happy with a mate, happier, probably!"

Nightpaw frowned, "I guess…" she said, finishing off the frog she was eating, thoughtful.

"You're hopeless." Larkpaw giggled, and Nightpaw frowned.

"Come on Nightpaw! We're going out on the evening patrol, you too, Larkpaw!" Icestorm called for them, and Nightpaw nodded, getting to her paws. She was actually pretty relived to get away from the conversation, and what better way than to join a patrol?