Warning: Short chapter ahead, sorry, but I got stuck at some parts.
Chapter 4:
Smokey woke up to feel a paw prodding in his side. He opened his eyes and saw his father standing over him.
"I'm going to help you with your hunting," Father said. Smokey got up, yawned and stretched a bit. It was still dark when we walked out of the cave, almost dawn.
By the time, Smokey and his father reached the river, the rosy pink light of the dawn was beginning to show. "Alright, you go ahead and see if you can catch anything," instructed Father.
Smokey nodded, determined to catch something and padded to where the incident had occurred yesterday. He took a deep breath to see if any prey was around. Then, he scented a mouse nearby. Slowly, he followed the scent until he could see it. The small brown creature was eating berries by a berry bush.
Smokey got into all the steps that he had learned a sunrise ago. When he was close enough to it, he got ready to pounce, but the mouse had heard him and ran away. Smokey sighed with despair and anger, sitting down angrily, his eyes narrowed and his head lowered to the ground.
Then, Father came out of the undergrowth and padded toward where Smokey was sitting, his shoulders hunched. "I know what your problem is." "What is it, then?" Smokey asked, looking up at his father's large frame. "Every time you go to pounce, you are too loud," explained Father.
"Oh," said Smokey, his ears burning with embarrassment and anger at himself.
"Now watch me as I demonstrate the proper way to do it," Father said, going into a crouch. Then, he walked slowly toward a leaf from a tree that was on the ground. "Remember, keep your paws light and when you get ready to pounce, put your weight onto your haunches and back legs. Be really aware of your surroundings because you don't know when you might brush against something, so it's very important that you be aware," explained Father.
Smokey nodded and he got ready to do it himself when we heard a distant BANG. Father narrowed his amber eyes and started to run toward the direction of where our home was, Smokey following behind.
As we ran, we heard another BANG which was followed by two more. At the end of the last BANG, we heard a distant screech or yowl. Smokey widened his eyes and put on a burst of speed, matching his father's long strides.
A/N: Shortest chapter yet... But anyways, gasp! What happened and what was that "BANG" that Smokey and his father heard? Well, we'll find out in the next chapter, won't we.. Review and also, post some constructive criticism on how I can improve my writing, just no flames, please.
~Moonwing