The wind blew across the moor ruffling the vast heather fields swaying in the breeze of the beginning of Leaffall.
It was exactly half a moon since Applepaw and Woodpaw had been made apprentices and today she was going hunting along the ThunderClan border."why would anyone want to live in those dark gloomy woods" Applepaw thought to herself.
So with no chores left to do, Applepaw was making the most of her free time lying in the warm sunlight of the camp. it was quite in the WindClan camp" Featherpelt Oatclaw where also lying in the sunlight at the camp wall and where sharing tongues.
Applepaw was surprised to see Larkwing and Crouchfoot where talking Larkwing was laughing in response to Crouchfoot's comments there pelts almost touching
Both cats where unusually...happy not that Larkwing Crouchfoot weren't usually happy but Applepaw had never seen them that happy before.
" Are they mates our something? no normal cats would act like that unless there mates?" Applepaw's blue eyes wondered back other to Oatclaw and Featherpelt "i'll never have a mate Applepaw" thought to herself "i don't want to be stuck in the nursery suckling kits.
Stretching out in the sunlight Applepaw was letting the breeze run through her pelt when she heard a sharp meow.
" Applepaw!"
The yellow tabby she cat lazily rose to her feet it was her sister Woodpaw " oh hi there Woodpaw whats up." " Brindlewing wanted me to come find you she wanted me to tell you that we where going on the hunting patrol. " Hunting?! did you say hunting?!" Applepaw scrambled to her paws. Yep where going on our first hunting patrol.
Shaking her pelt of Applepaw scanned the clearing for mottled brown pelt of Brindlewing and upon finding it she bounded of in her direction.
" Yes where finally going hunting! where finally going hunting!" Applepaw bounced in joy finally she was going to experience the frill of running down rabbits across the moor and sinking her teeth into there pelt.
The hunting patrol consisted of Sedgewhisker, Leaftail,Slightfoot, Smokehaze, Woodpaw, Flutterpaw Brindlewing, and of coarse Applepaw.
" Alright watch and learn from Leaftail" Brindlewing advised watching the dark ginger tabby tom crouched on all fours as drawing a deep breath his amber eyes locked on a rabbit grazing on grass in the moor
" Three two one POUNCE!
Leaftail lurched forwards, a flurry of dark ginger fur. Sprinting like lightning he charged into the rabbit before it could flea rolling in flurry of dust and fur sinking his teeth into the rabbits throat
" And that's how you make a successful kill" the senior warrior gave his thanks to StarClan for the rabbits life before dropping and concealing it in the tall grass
" All right Flutterpaw you give it a try" the brown and white apprentice slightly stalked through the grass before charging out of the grass the rabbit darted across the moor Flutterpaw tackled the rabbit to the ground with a loud thump grappling it with his claws and sinking his teeth into the rabbits neck as it tried to get away.
" Nice catch Flutterpaw" Sedgewhisker congratulated her apprentice Flutterpaw's Orange eyes shining with confidence at making his first kill.
" Come on lets go find some more rabbits all the ones around here have been scared of" Slightfoot suggested " Great idea" Smokehaze added in the rest of the patrol agreed padding along the ThunderClan WindClan stream.
The sigh of the dense foliage made Applepaw's skin squirm the idea of trying to run in that thick underbrush brambles and thorns snagging her pelt made Applepaw thankful that she lived in WindClan.
" Why in StarClan's name would a hole clan of like 40 cats want to live in that dark creepy place?" Applepaw spoke out. " Ha ya how to they even feed themselves with those tiny little mice and squirrels" Flutterpaw sneered Woodpaw laughed.
" Quite you three are gonna scare all the rabbits in WindClan!" Leaftail snapped. " Great StarClan where apprentices always this loud."
"Look over their rabbits Applepaw why don't you give it a try " Applepaw silently stalked through the tall grass her body bristling with excitement trying to avoid stepping on the grass like how Brindlewing taught her creeping as close to the rabbit as she could finally ready for her first proper hunt.
"Ready Set Pounce!"
Applepaw exploded out of the grass bursting across the field bonding after the fleeing rabbit Applepaw lunged at the rabbit grappling the rabbit with her claws.
The rabbit bucked to try and break free kicking Applepaw in the chest.
Applepaw recoiled in pain as the powerful kick knocked the wind out of her, Still Applepaw's grip held firm biting down on the rabbits neck letting the blood run down her pelt.
" excellent job" Applepaw felt so happy to finally feel the joy of hunting' the joy of the taste of blood the joy of sinking her teeth into the rabbits neck.
picking up her catch and followed the patrol back to camp
As Applepaw and Woodpaw stalked into camp to be greeted by their mother Heathertail
" Great StarClan did you catch Applepaw did you catch that rabbit on your own!"
Heathertail nuzzled Applepaw as she drooped her rabbit on the fresh kill pile " Hey Breezepelt look at this Applepaw caught her first rabbit."
Breezepelt arrived from the warriors den to congratulate his daughter.
" Wow great job Applepaw" Breezepelts amber eyes where shining with pride.
" I remember my first rabbit doesn't it felt so good to sink your teeth into there neck."
" Ya it really feels good to provide food for the Clan."
Applepaw's blue eyes shined with pride "i'm going to be the best warrior that i can possibly be and nothings gonna stand in my way."