Moonpaw crept along the forest floor, the fallen leaves helping muffle her pawsteps. She kept her tail down, making sure it didn't accidentally brush any of the ferns surrounding her. She slowly stalked forward, ears pricked up for any sign the thrush might hear her.
As soon as it was within range, she bunched up her muscles and pounced on the bird. It let out an alarm call and flapped away, but in the same heartbeat, Moonpaw snagged it on a claw and pulled it to the ground.
After killing it with a swift bite to the neck, she turned, prey in jaws, to see Spiritpaw watching her.
"Neat catch," he remarked.
"Uh, thanks? She didn't really know what to say to the sleek tom praising her.
"You'll be a great hunter when you grow up," he told her.
"You're only two moons older than me, you realise."
"I didn't-"
"Don't answer that," she said. "Is that Thornfur calling? He told me to be back by sunhigh. Bye!" Moonpaw whisked around and sprinted through the undergrowth, wanting to escape the awkwardness of talking to Spiritpaw.
When she was back in camp, Thornfur approached her, and asked why she had come back empty-pawed. She told him she caught a thrush, but when he asked her to go fetch it, she made up an excuse not to. She didn't want to have to talk to Spiritpaw.
"Why don't we do battle training instead?"
The words were out of her mouth before she had a chance to think it through. Of course, she would need another apprentice to train with, and Thornfur's favourite apprentice was...
"Spiritpaw! Will you fetch him, Moonpaw? You'll need an opponent."
"Okay," she mumbled as she padded off into the trees. It wasn't that she didn't like Spiritpaw. He was funny and cheerful, and always had something nice to say. It was just that lately she found she felt strange around him. Like she wanted to be around him, but for some reason she couldn't.
She had asked the warriors if this was what love felt like, but they had laughed and walked away.
Why did this dumb prophecy have to mean everyone hated her?
At the training hollow, Thornfur was waiting for them to appear impatiently. He was a good mentor, but he was just a bit... off... recently. Moonpaw understood why, though.
"Okay." Thornfur yelled at them, even though it was just him and the two apprentices in the clearing. Today we'll practice defensive moves. Hang on, Spiritpaw, where's your mentor?"
"She's on patrol," Spiritpaw replied calmly.
"Why were you outside camp then?" Thornfur questioned.
"She gave me permission before she left." He knew Thornfur would fall for this one. He was all about asking permission.
"Uh, did she now?" Thornfur could argue no more.
"Yes." Spiritpaw jept a straight face, but Moonpaw giggled. Evidently Thornfur heard, because he set out, calling Roseshine's name over and over.
"I hope they're not hunting on their patrol, or your mentor will scare away all the prey in the forest with his shouting!" joked Spiritpaw. Moonpaw laughed again and looked into his blue eyes. They were nearly the same shade as hers, but his contrasted less on his silver fur.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked.
"No reason," she replied, and went back to staring.