Warriors A Tale Of Two Brothers
Chapter 3
"How much longer?" Dawn whined to his father. It had been three moons since Ivy had been killed by the fox that was later found and driven out of the territory. Dawn and Oak were five moons old and their denmates, Stone and Trickle, had moved into the apprentice's den with Flame and Violet to begin their official hunter training.
"We don't go for another moon, mousebrain," Speckle exclaimed while her mother gave her pelt a thorough clean. Dawn glared at her.
"You can't call me a mousebrain, I could beat you in a fight any day," Dawn retorted. Speckle stuck her tongue out at him and allowed her mother to keep cleaning her pelt. He rolled his eyes and went out into the camp. The hunt that had left early in the morning had returned now and there was fresh kill sitting in a pile near the entrance. Dawn raced for it and was quickly stopped in his tracks by Flame, an experienced apprentice.
"Kits don't eat first," He sneered, snatching a plump mouse from the bottom of the pile. Dawn glared at him and then went toward the pile of succulent prey. He saw a fat thrush sitting at the top and had to figure out a way to get it, he went around the pile twice before realising he would need to climb.
"Look at this," He heard one of the hunters chuckle to the cat next to him. He looked over at them and saw that it was Wind and Spot snickering. He slightly scowled at them and then dug his claws deeper into the pile and looked up at the thrush. Every step he took, he felt as if he was sinking deeper into the pile. He was nearly at the top now, so he reared his back legs and leaped into the air, he had underestimated the strength of his launch so he flew over the pile. While he flew over the thrush, he grabbed it by the throat and then went cascading downwards into the ground. He landed with a loud thud and a face full of dirt onto the ground. Bursts of laughter shot out from Wind and Spot as he landed but he was not embarrassed, he had his piece of juicy prey and he had worked to get it. He shook his fur to get rid of the dirt and picked up his piece of prey, walking back to his den, purposely making his way past Wind and Spot. They both nodded at him and so he puffed out his chest and kept moving forwards. When he got back in the den, his brother Oak and Speckle were play fighting, they stopped when he returned.
"Where'd you get that?" Speckle mewed. Dawn put his prey down and smirked at her.
"I got it from the top of the fresh-kill pile!" He remarked. His mother and father smiled at him, obviously proud of him.
"Bet you one of the other hunters had to get it for you," Speckle spat; she went near the thrush and gave it a good sniff.
"Nah, I got it all by myself," Dawn retorted. Speckle curled her lip at him and then went back over to Oak who was staring at his brother in awe.
"Did you really climb the whole pile?" Oak gawked. Dawn nodded while taking a huge bite out of the thrush. Oak licked his lips slightly.
"Would you like some?" Dawn asked. Oak's jaw dropped at the question.
"Would I!" Oak exclaimed, he leapt to Dawn's side and ripped into the large bird. Speckle looked disgusted but she sighed and came to enjoy the bird too. The three of them finished off the bird together and then had a nap, all curling up around each other.
"Dawn, wake up," Dawn opened his eyes slightly and saw Speckle prodding his side while Oak sat in front of him, his big blue eyes glistening in the moonlight that shined into the den.
"What do you want?" Dawn groaned. They both gave him some room to stretch and then told him to come outside.
"Hurry up!" Speckle demanded, making sure her voice was heard but not by the queens and fathers resting inside. Dawn came outside and was taken aback by the sudden hit of cold air against his body.
"It's freezing out here, what is so important that it can't wait till tomorrow?" Dawn exclaimed, shuddering while he spoke. Oak and Speckle did not reply.
"We're here," Oak meowed, pointing at a small hole in a large bush with his tail. Dawn tipped his head sideways a little bit to try to understand what it was. Speckle rolled her eyes and then squeezed into the hole. Oak did the same so Dawn followed them. The tunnel seemed to go for a bit before opening out into a cave like area. It was quite dark in the cave with only the slightest tint of light.
"What is this place? Dawn asked. Oak's silhouette moved closer to him and he could only be seen because of the glints in his blue eyes.
"This is our spot, I'm not sure what it actually is but Speckle and I found it," Oak admitted, his head looking around at the walls.
"Well I for one am not going back out there, so let's just stay in here for the night!" Speckle meowed. Dawn and Oak nodded and they all found a cosy spot near the edge of the cave to rest.