Proluge edited. Not really with the writing, but where it randomly cuts off. I added a few more paragraphs to fix this. Hope the ending doesn't feel as choppy as it did before!
Raindrop14: Thank you for reviewing! I'll take what you said to mind while writing new chapters! I'm glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you again for taking time out of your day to write a review! And thank you for the constructive criticism aswell!
Chapter 8
Foxpaw didn't know when she fell asleep, or when the others did either. They just had to talk so long into the night didn't they? She thought, yawning.
She gazed around, shifting in her nest. Yarrowpaw and Leafpaw were sleeping, and Thistlepaw had disappeared.
Light filtered through the walls of the den. Foxpaw got to her paws and stretched. She still felt groggy, but she had just woken up. Shaking any scraps of moss that may have been attached to her fur, she glanced outside. She didn't know what time she had to get up and start the day as an apprentice.
She got out of her nest and quietly left. Leafpaw rolled over in her sleep, twitching her ears.
She stepped out of the den, blinking her eyes to adjust to the light. A few cats milled about. Foxpaw scanned the camp, looking for her mentor. She saw Twistedbranch outside the nursery, talking to Lightkit and Darkkit.
She almost didn't see Quillfeather leave the warriors' den, chatting with Whiteapple. They were heading towards the apprentices den. She heard some of their conversation.
" I still think you should teach her to hunt first. It's not like we're in a war or whatever. " Whiteapple was saying, twitching her tail.
" I stand by my statement. Learning how to hunt won't help you if you're attacked. I'm just trying to make sure she's prepared for the unexpected. So what if everyone else teaches their apprentices how to hunt first. " Quillfeather said, snorting.
They both paused when they realized that Foxpaw was listening to their conversation. Whiteapple gave Quillfeather a look before disappearing into the apprentices' den, grumbling. Quillfeather watched her leave before looking at Foxpaw.
" Leafpaw, we're going hunting. " She heard Whiteapple say, an edge to her tone. Quillfeather looked over Foxpaw, shaking his head.
" Right. So usually apprentices are taught to hunt first. But I decided that before that, you'll be learning a few basic defense moves. You never know who's going to attack, or when. " Quillfeather said, twitching his ears.
A cold breeze ran through the trees as Quillfeather explained the move he was teaching her.
" First you need to read up on both paws. " He said, demonstrating as he explained. " Then you lash out, one paw after the other. You should be able to land neatly on you paws. " He explained, landing on the ground.
" Now you try. " He said, twitching an ear. " If you can get this move down, I might teach you a few basic hunting skills and we'll see if you'll be able to catch some prey. " He added, fur fluffed.
Foxpaw lifted herself onto her back paws, wobbling. She was able to lash at the air with one paw before slipping. She landed on her side with a thump.
" Try again. Not everyone gets it on their first try." Quillfeather said, watching her. Oh I'll try. She thought, determined. She stumbled to her paws. Not only that, I'll get it right.
After a few more failed attempts she finally managed to get the move right. She landed on her paws, looking at her mentor.
" Try it again. " He said, flicking his tail. Foxpaw couldn't decide if you looked bored or something else.
She rose to her paws again, lashing out one paw after the other. She finished by dropping to the ground.
" Are we done? " She asked, watching her mentor. Something flashed across his gaze before returning to the look he had before.
" There's still an entire day to get through. " Quillfeather meowed, getting to his paws.
Well, I would assume so. Foxpaw thought, almost rolling her eyes. It had taken a bit more effort than one would have liked. Quillfeather fixed his gaze on her.
" Show me your best hunting crouch. "
It had taken a few trust to be able to do the hunting crouch correctly. Then Quillfeather taught her how to find prey scents. Then he explained how some prey could feel the vibrations of your paw steps. It was tiring.
By now sun high had passed and Foxpaw was trying to catch her first piece of prey. Quillfeather was watch from his perch on the lowest branch a a tree.
She heard skittering and stopped, dropping into a crouch. She sniffed the air. Mouse. She thought, lifting her tail so it didn't drag on the ground. She slithered forward, one quiet paw after another.
That was all interrupted, of course, when a bush started rustling wildly. The mouse darted off, and Foxpaw spun around, ready to defend herself.
Leafpaw slid into the open, eyes bright. Did you really have to be so loud? She thought, annoyed.
" Oh, hi Foxpaw. Where's Quillfeather? " She said, looking around. The tom slid down the tree, fur twitching.
" Here. Where's your mentor? " he said, something creeping into his voice. Worry?
Leafpaw paused, giving both of them a look. It was slightly guilty, though Foxpaw couldn't see why.
" In camp. She… told me to go out by myself because she got a thorn in her paw. It was a big thorn. " Leafpaw answered, shaking herself.
The older apprentice glaced around.
" So, what are you doing? I heard you were teaching Foxpaw to fight, but the training area is back th-... Oh! " She said in a moment of realization.
" I was hunting a mouse. Someone decided to be loud and now it's gone. " Foxpaw grumbled.
" Oh, whoops. Did you hear that there's a gathering tomorrow? If you catch something to impress Swiftstar he might- " Leafpaw was explaining, only to have Quillfeather cut her off.
" Well, she won't be catching anything if you're here chatting. " He said, sounding annoyed. Leafpaw had another guilty look flash across her face.
" I'll go then. I'll find somewhere else to hunt! " Leafpaw said, sounding slightly sad before her voice veered to the more excited side.
The brown she cat disappeared, rattling the bush again. Foxpaw watched her go. I don't think any prey is going to be running about here anymore. She thought annoyedly, watching Quillfeather shake his head.
" We'll just hunt somewhere else. Hopefully we'll be able to find something before it gets too dark. " He said, walking away, tail waving.
Foxpaw followed. I sure hope we aren't staying out until it's dark. I'm already getting tired she thought, feeling the cold air race forward. It's already cold enough as well. She thought, shivering.