Lostpaw ran up and down the fields as she'd gotten so used to doing now. She loved the feeling of the wind in her fur as she flew through the tall grasses.

Up and down she went until she had finished her eleven laps, then Lostpaw walked tiredly to the stream to lap up some water

After getting her drink she sat by the water's edge and rested.

She figured that she should probably do some hunting as well. There was still time before sundown.

Lostpaw rose to her paws and prepared to search for some prey; she was about to turn, but stopped when she felt something odd.

She felt like she was being watched.

Lostpaw looked back across the stream into TreeClan territory. It was quiet. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but could see nothing in the dense forest beyond.

Shrugging, Lostpaw left the area and continued on to hunt.

She walked carefully through the tall grasses, senses alert for any sign of prey; she caught a trace of rabbit scent and began to stalk it carefully through the grass.

Narrowing her eyes, she could see the brown pelt of the rabbit a few tail lengths away, blending in with the color of the grass stalks.

With her eyes on her target, Lostpaw shot out of her hiding spot. The rabbit flew up in a panic and dashed away.

Lostpaw gave chase. The rabbit ran frantically with Lostpaw right on its tail. It wasn't long until Lostpaw was able to reach out and grab it with her claws, and she killed it quickly with a bite to the neck.

After catching it, Lostpaw wondered if she should bury it and pick it up later. She set the rabbit down and looked around for a moment of indecision before returning her gaze to the small creature.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from its wide, fearful eyes and rigid body.


"Look what I brought for you two," Silentshadow meowed as she set down a pair of mice.

Rosekit sprang up from their nest. "Presents!" She quickly rushed over to Silentshadow who smiled warmly.

She looked back to their nest where Lostkit was now pulling herself out and walking over to them.

"From now on you get to eat fresh kill just like all the warriors. Go on, take your first bite of mouse."

Rosekit let out a giddy laugh before digging into her mouse. "It's delicious!" she mewled. Silentshadow laughed at her daughter's stuffed face as she dug back in, but her smile faded as she glanced to Lostkit.

Lostkit was standing quietly in front of her mouse, looking down at it. Silentshadow watched her sympathetically and came to her side.

The sound of her sister's laughter rang out as Lostkit looked sadly down at the mouse. It's small black eyes were wide with fear and its tiny mouth was parted, frozen in the position of a silent scream; the gashes where a warrior had bit into its neck were still visible.

She could feel Silentshadow pad up to her and take a seat.

Silentshadow turned to Lostkit and followed her gaze.

"Lostkit, I know it bothers you, but you need to eat," she said gently.

Lostkit hadn't moved. Her eyes were still fixed on the mouse.

"Lostkit."

This time, Lostkit turned to look up at her mother who was watching her sympathetically.

Silentshadow could see the confusion evident in her daughter's face.

"Why did it have to die?" she mewed.

Silentshadow observed her daughter silently and pulled her to close.

"Everything dies eventually.

"We need food to live, and we can only get it from our prey. That's the way StarClan made things, it's life. We respect everything StarClan gives to us, and that is why we bury the bones of our prey, in order to give back to the forest."

Lostkit met her mother's blue eyes sadly.

"Do you understand?" Silentshadow asked gently.

Lostkit looked back down at the mouse's body.

"Yes, Mommy."


Lostpaw carried the rabbit with her as she walked through the fields hopeful for a sign of more prey.

She was near the end now and before she realized it, her paws were walking on hard, rocky ground.

Lostpaw turned away from the ravine and followed along its edge; she realized that she hadn't really explored this area much before.

After a while though, it became obvious that there really wasn't much to see, just a long expanse of grass and rock. She could see the forest in the distance.

But something ahead did catch her eye. A number of fox lengths away, Lostpaw could see the grass grow over the stone and continue toward the ravine where a bit of land stuck out.

She curiously padded over to the area and followed the grass onto the overhang.

Sitting in the middle of the area was a small tree full of tiny pink flowers. Lostpaw couldn't help the small smile on her face as she looked out from the beautiful, little point.

She gently lay down the rabbit by the flowering tree and walked to the edge of the land.

Lostpaw took in a breath of the air that was now flowing through her fur, and she backed away from the ravine and sat by the tree, staring up at the colorful sky as the sun began to set.

It was peaceful here.


Cherrynose and Greypaw walked through the dark trees as they made their way to the camp.

Many thoughts were running through the brown she-cat's head. She no doubt had to let Sunstar know about the results of their training.

Cherrynose was so wrapped in her thoughts that she hadn't realized Greypaw had stopped walking.

At the sound of her singular footsteps, Cherrynose turned curiously.

Greypaw was standing oddly still, a vacant expression on her face.

"Greypaw?" asked Cherrynose in concern.

The young she-cat's eyes drooped wearily. Cherrynose watched as she took a few wobbly steps forward before collapsing.

"Greypaw!"