Now it was Slingstone's turn. The party had moved down river now and Slingstone was scouting the river edge from the cover of the trees. It was almost impossible to track in this area due to the rocks and spray from the river had a nasty tendency of washing away any prints in the gravel and sand.
Dreamberry was starting to wonder if they would even find any fisher cats when Slingstone suddenly stopped in front of her. He pointed to a dark spot on the rocks overhanging the water and now Dreamberry saw it, sitting ever so still, waiting.
This would be a tricky catch and Slingstone knew it. Normally he would have stunned it with one of his stones and then have his wolf-friend rush in to finish off the animal but during first hunt he had to make the kill himself.
No, this time he would need to sneak up to the cat as close as he dared, stun it with one of his stones and then try to cut its throat with his sword before it could get away or turn on him.
Thicket and Purehaven nodded to Slingstone encouragingly as he proceeded to pick his way closer to the cat. He was glad the animal was so focused on its own hunting and must have thought itself well hidden to never twitch an ear in his direction.
Carefully picking out a rounded stone from his pack, Slingstone placed it in his sling. His throwing arm moved instinctively in a smooth circular motion, the sling picked up speed. All too suddenly it seemed, the stone let fly and whizzed toward the still form of the fisher cat. A screeching rowl cut through the otherwise docile chirping of night bugs as the cat rolled back from its waterside perch.
Slingstone dropped his sling and sprang forward, drawing his sword from the sheath. Bounding up to the cat who was now recovering and preparing to strike out against its attack, Slingstone had to dodge the hissing and spitting frenzy. His sword flung out to block the small but racking claws and in another stroke he cut the throat. The cat fell back a second time, staggering and it was too long before it bled to death.
Grinning from ear to ear, Slingstone picked up his prize by the scruff of the neck and sent to the others, **I did it! Look! All by myself!** Even Dreamberry couldn't help but smile at his long overdue success.
