Morning light flooded through the entrance to the apprentice den, Reedpaw and Tsunamipaw were already gone, I pushed myself out of my nest and walked out into the clearing. I felt a prickle of resentment that I was going to have to hunt with my sister.
Hollywater padded towards me and faced me warily said "I'll go get your sister," and darted off towards the apprentice den, I dident respond even though I knew she was already up.
Tsunamipaw padded up to me a few moments later, "Hello, how is today?" her voice flat, she did not look mad but she did not look happy ethier.
"So far pretty bad, but I know it can always get worse," I said,
My sister snorted " Your sooo cheerful, aren't you?" her voice practically dripping with sarcasm. I rolled my eyes.
Shrewfox growled "Apprentices don't usually train together, they should be learning skills not depending on some other cat," even though I did not want to hunt with Tsunamipaw that did not mean Shrewfox had to be so stingy. "
What about battle training? And cats can do things together, we aren't relying on each other, we are helping each other working together is why the clans are here," I said matter of factly, Hollywater hissed but said nothing.
Shrewfox growled lowly and icily replied" Are you telling me how to do my job?
I glanced at Tsunamipaw for help but she just stared back like I don't want to get in trouble for you, sorry. I knew this was an argument I could never win, I glanced at Hollywater who was practically daring me to shut up, "No" I said finally.
"Good now let's get on with it" muttered Shrewfox, we walked into the forest.
Hollywater was chattering about prey, I was not really paying attention. I just copied similar to what my sister did, if she nodded her head I would mmhm.
"I completely agree! Cats aren't hares, we don't run away!" chattered on Hollywater, Shrewfox looked just as annoyed as me,
What do you think of the matter, Hurricanepaw?" asked Hollywater. What were they talking about?
"Umm I don't have an opinion," I said, not knowing at all what they were talking about.
"You don't have an opinion really? That's shocking, it's a very touchy matter" exclaimed my sister, her gaze in wide shock, it was hard to tell if she was mocking me because she knew she was not listening.
Hollywater padded ahead and announced "This spot is normally good for catching small ground animals like mice, voles-"
I cut in and added wyrley "And shrews?". Shrewfox growled but said nothing.
"But I guess we don't catch foxes," chimed in Tsunamipaw, obviously catching on. We both had, had weird senses of humor since as long as anyone could remember.
"Shrewfox should we teach them about stalking techniques or make them try the hunters crouch," asked Hollywater,
"Both if we have time, let's start off with stalking techniques though, so they know a bit about the hunter's crouch while doing it," replied Shrewfox still glaring at us.
"Ok so a rabbit will hear you coming and a mouse will feel your ground vibrations so you have to walk very lightly when stalking a mouse" Hollywater said and right about there was when I zoned out thinking "Just demonstrate don't go on long talks going on and on about it Show Us!" I yowled in my head, I did not hear a single word after that, it was almost sun high when they quit talking.
Even Tsunamipaw seemed to have zoned out by then crunching all the leaves around and then pouncing on them.
"Let's start practicing give me your best hunter's crouch," Shrewfox said. I crouched low and flattened my ears, I glanced over at my sister, she crouched low and had her stomach and tail just above ground level.
I went to straighten myself when Hollywater said "Lift your tail so it does not brush against the leaves''.
"Perfect stance Tsunamipaw!" praised Hollywater while Shrewfox only snorted that it was adequate.
When the mentors weren't looking I walked over to my sister and asked "How did you get so good?"
She looked at me puzzled "I practiced while they were talking, they told me to practice and I practiced on some leaves, weren't u?" she replied
"I did not want her to know I was not paying attention...again" my mind thought sourly, but I ignored it. "I was, it's just that I'm surprised you got it so fast," I answered.
The mentors padded over and asked if we wanted to practice some more I reluctantly agreed and we practiced till a little after sun high, they always found something wrong in my stance "Your tail is going to brush against the ground, lift your belly up a bit more, put your back legs up a bit more so you can spring better, do this do that!" my mind drummed. I was seriously irritated. I was trying! Can't they see that?. When I heard a yowl of triumphant, I darted towards my sister and in her paws was a scrawny baby rabbit.
"Wow, your first catch! That's fantastic! Right Hurrricanepaw?" Hollywater said.
"I couldn't have been that hard to catch. It looked like a baby and pretty thin despite it being almost greenleaf," I commented critiquing it.
Tsunamipaw looked upset after that and Hollywater hissed at me. "Be more respectful to your sister, Hurricanepaw, it's not like you have caught anything yet and with your crouch this rabbit would have already been gone!" she growled.
Just then the bushes parted and Shrewfox came out "What's all the commotion? Oh a rabbit, you did a good job" Shrewfox said approvingly, Hollywater gestured for Shrewfox to follow her, leaving me alone with my sister, hurt flashed in her gaze, and I realized I ruined her big moment.
I was about to apologize when the mentors came back saying "We should head back to camp,". We headed back to camp.