CHAPTER FOUR
Hi again, guys! Still only two reviews. :/ Whatever, maybe someone will see it! I promise, if you keep with it, the story will get better! Onto it!
Icepaw narrowed his eyes. A squirrel was digging profusely only a few tail-lengths away. It had been two moons since his apprentice ceremony, and he was becoming an experienced hunter, with a lithe body, but strong muscles. He gave the squirrel some distance, and rounded it. Then he took a running leap, and caught the thing by its bushy tail as it ran up the tree.
He buried it right at the tree root, then padded away. With the roof of his mouth, he tasted a vole near the river. It was probably preparing for the leaf-bare approaching. He killed it with a quick nip to the neck, then added it to the squirrel's burial site by the oak.
Suddenly he heard a noise. He bristled, wary, but only Cherrypaw padded out of the undergrowth. "Hi," she mewed.
"H-hi." Icepaw stuttered, his ears burning.
"Dewpelt thought it would be a good idea to partner hunt."
"Yeah." Icepaw looked down.
Cherrypaw parted her jaw. "I smell rabbit."
She was right. "You go around and chase it, and I'll give it the death bite." Icepaw told her.
Cherrypaw slunk into the bushes, and soon a brown rabbit came bolting into his path. It swerved, but Icepaw did as well. He hooked it with his forepaw, then leaped on it and killed it.
"Did you see the look on its face?" Icepaw purred through the mouthful of fur.
"Yeah." Cherrypaw slowly reached out and pulled the fresh-kill from Icepaw's grip.
Icepaw's heart beat wildly. What's wrong with you? You mouse-brain! He stood frozen for a moment, then found his voice. "Should we go back?"
"No, we only just started!" Cherrypaw mewed, bounding away, Icepaw in pursuit.
o.o.o
The two went back to camp, mouthfuls of prey granting them a few surprised looks from the cats. Greyfoot and Ivytail were curled together under the fallen tree. "Yummy!" Greyfoot purred. Cherrypaw brought them their rabbit.
Dewpelt and Spiderclaw entered the camp at the same time. "Great job, you two! Icepaw, you were being assessed the entire time, and your teamwork was amazing. Cherrypaw, your hunting skills are coming along great!" Dewpelt purred.
"Thanks," Icepaw said, embarassed. Spottedpaw ran up to him.
"I had my assessment yesterday. Except I was alone and caught mostly birds." she said. "Do you want to share something?"
"Yeah." Icepaw grabbed a vole. They settled near the tree.
"Can you believe it's almost leaf-bare? We'll see our first snow!" Spottedpaw chattered happily.
"And you might see your first fight." Ivytail mewed.
"Why?" Icepaw asked, mouth full.
"The Clans are hostile when the cold comes and the prey leaves." the old she-cat warned.
"Well, if any other Clans place one paw beyond the border, they'll be sorry!" Sprucepaw spat, bating at the air.
"Good luck fighting the cats you have now!" she purred.
Sprucepaw narrowed his eyes, ran over to them, and snatched their vole.
"Hey!" Spottedpaw ran after him.
"That's okay. I wasn't hungry anyways!" Icepaw purred, and joined the chase.
