Chapter 13

The air was cold, and bitterly so. Foxpaw's breath came out in white, wispy puffs, and her paws crunched through the snow. What reasons any type of prey might be out was beyond Foxpaw.

If she was a squirrel, or something else, she would have started looking a how smart your average squirrel was, so that thought may have never crossed their mind.

Foxpaw narrowed her eyes, scanning the area. Nothing. The sound of rushing water was close, but why anyone would try to catch a fish, let alone in this weather, stumped her.

" You think there's any fish in there?" Thistlepaw asked Yarrowpaw cheerfully, nodding towards the stream.

Well, Foxpaw couldn't account for everyone's train of thought, however mouse brained some ideas may be.

Yarrowpaw looked towards the water, while Thistlepaw raced over, leaning towards the water, ears perked. Yarrowpaw watched her for a second, hesitating, before following her lead.

Did they have any idea on how to even catch a fish? Sure, Foxpaw didn't know how to catch one, but still! Were they planning on snatching one out of the water? With what? The water must be freezing!

Foxpaw turned her gaze towards the rest of the patrol, which consisted of Sleekwhisker, Deerleap, and Nightstorm, who had stopped and were watching the other apprentices.

" I'm sure Houndeye would love to have a fish for his next meal! " Nightstorm called out, amusement in his tone.

Thistlepaw only twitched an ear in acknowledgement. Foxpaw rolled her eyes. If Houndeye was going to be ungrateful, then in Foxpaw's opinion, he didn't really deserve this theoretical fish, did he?

She probably shouldn't voice that thought. She gave her head a shake and gave their surroundings a final look over, before making her way forward to join the other apprentices. Not to try and catch a fish, she still thought that idea was stupid.

" Are there even fish out in this weather? " she heard Yarrowpaw whisper, curling his tail around his paws.

" Where else would they be, holed up in trees for Leafbare? " Thistlepaw whispered back cheerfully, her head moving back and forth, presumably scanning the ever rushing stream.

" There's places a fish could hide in the water!" Yarrowpaw huffed, getting to his paws and stretching out his neck to scan the water.

Foxpaw turned her attention to the other side of the stream, ears perked. Ok, she probably wouldn't hear anything across the stream, even without the constant bubbling stream. That didn't mean that she shouldn't at least try to make an effort.

She turned to look back towards the rest of the patrol, which had been reduced to two, rather than three. Sleekwhisker paced back and forth, scanning the area, while Deerleap watched the apprentices.

Foxpaw returned her gaze towards the other side of the stream, ears twitching. At this rate they probably wouldn't catch anything, she thought with a disappointed sigh.

" Careful!" Deerleap called, turning Foxpaw's attention back to the other apprentices.

Yarrowpaw was leaning over the stream, a paw raised, shaking slightly. Thistlepaw's head was turned in Foxpaw's direction, her gaze moving slowly, as if following something.

Foxpaw moved closer, watching the water. Sure enough, a fish was making its way towards where Yarrowpaw and Thistlepaw were waiting.

Maybe Yarrowpaw shouldn't be so close to the edge. She opened her mouth to say something, before shaking her head and padding a bit further away. They might not even catch the fish anyways. It wasn't guaranteed, so she might as well look for any other prey.

She looked back, making sure she was still in Sleekwhisker and Deerleaps' field of vision, before continuing onward.

Mouse! Foxpaw lowered herself in a crouch, stalking forward. Luckily the breeze was blowing towards her, rather than her prey. She lifted each paw slowly, careful not to let the snow crunch. The tiny creature was unaware of what would soon be it's fate.

Foxpaw readied herself, her eyes focused on only the mouse. She launched herself forward, pinning the mouse under her paw, her claws digging into its flesh.

The mouse wriggled desepartly, but to no avail. She quickly ended its life, before picking up its carcass.

Now she had to get back. Maybe the other apprentices managed to get the-

A splash sounded, breaking off Foxpaws' train of thought. A yelp panic quickly following said splash. Foxpaw hurried back towards the others, hoping that whatever happened wasn't too bad.

" Yarrowpaw!" Thistlepaws' worried voice called ahead.

Foxpaw bursted through the undergrowth, her fur on end as she surveyed the scene before her.

Thistlepaw leaned over the water, a paw stretching desperately towards a panicking Yarrowpaw, who had fallen into the stream, but he was already being tugged away by the stream, before sinking under the water.

Deerleap was racing by the stream, her fur bushed out. Sleekwhisker raced forward and plunged into the stream, splashing towards her apprentice. Foxpaw dropped her mouse, her eyes wide. She grabbed her mouse again and raced towards Thistlepaw, at a loss of what to do.

Back in the stream, Sleekwhisker dived underwater, resurfacing with a limp Yarrowpaw. The younger tom coughed up water, twitching. Beside Foxpaw, she felt Thistlepaw tense, letting out a breath. Had she been holding it the whole time?

Deerleap skidded to a halt when she was far enough ahead of the two struggling cats, leaning over the stream.

Of course! Deerleap would grab them and then they'd be safe. Foxpaw let out a breath of relief, the tension in her muscles releasing.

Then it all went wrong. Deerleap grabbed Sleekwhisker's scruff, before almost falling into the waster, making her let go. Deerleap let out a hiss of frustration, before racing ahead of them again.

" Give me Yarrowpaw!" Deerleap called, leaning over the water again.

What about Sleekwhisker? Foxpaw moved towards them, trying to get a better view. She saw Sleekwhisker nod, letting go and pushing her apprentice towards the other she cat, who snagged him by the scruff and barely managed to grab the limp apprentice.

She dropped Yarrowpaw on the ground, reaching for Sleekwhisker, who disappeared under the surface. That was bad. Foxpaw held her breath, stopping mid step.

Unlike Thistlepaw, who raced over to Yarrowpaw, who was unresponsive. Deerleap looked back, her gaze looking indecisive. She looked back to where Sleekwhisker disappeared, before turning towards Yarrowpaw with urgency.

What was she doing! Sleekwhisker was still in the water! Foxpaw forced herself to move forward, scanning the stream frantically. Sleekwhisker was going to resurface, right? She had to!

But she didn't. Foxpaw stopped by Thistlepaw, hope slowly fizzling out. She would have resurfaced by now if she could. Her attention was brought back to Yarrowpaw when she heard him coughing.

Water spewed out of his mouth, and he looked around weakly.

" Where's Sleekwhisker?"