Applepaw had decided. This would be the day, the day she would catch her first piece of prey. It was her eight day as an apprentice and he sister, Hazelpaw, had already managed to catch a plump vole, yet Applepaw had not even gotten within leaping distance of any prey. None of that mattered today. Applepaw knew she would make it, she had a gut feeling after all.
Sunlight broke through the trees of the forest and, with perfect timing, Finchfeather gracefully glided out in front of Applepaw. Finchfeather was a brilliant warrior, as knowledgeable as the most experienced elder and able to outrun a rabbit. Applepaw had almost broken down in joy when the young warrior had been appointed as her mentor. "Applepaw," he smiled, teeth shining – as usual – and fur neatly groomed "We're going to try hunting again today. You are extremely close to catching your prey…just try to be more careful about what you step on." If Finchfeather's bubbly apprentice took any notice of his slight hesistation, she did a good job of hiding it and nodded furiously then shot off into the undergrowth nearby. Finchfeather chuckled at her antics. Applepaw was a diamond in the rough but at the same time completely charming and he could tell that she was doing her best. He was sure she would make her first catch today.
"Fox dung!" Applepaw screeched as she plunged nose-first into the ground after msiing yet another mouse. This was not the first time today she had messed up and she was feeling the dull ache of the voice in her head spitting insults. "Not a problem," She smiled to herself. "I still have time…" Her words faded into the wind as she noticed just how dark the sky was.
"Applepaw?" Only then did she notice her mentor calling out for her. But I-no. I have to do this today, I have to do this now. That was when she saw it. A flurry of brown feathers flashing in front of the moon. A gift from StarClan if Applepaw had ever seen one. Applepaw's vision closed in on the prey. It swooped down near to the ground. Her thoughts whisked away with the wind. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She sprang forwards. Claws unsheathed. Silence.
"Applepaw?" Finchfeather's cries rang through the forest. "Where did she run off to?" Pawsteps, behind him! He whirled around faster than a dog in a fit. "Applepaw where we-huh?" He cut off when a fat robin fell at his paws then looked up with an expression of glee, surprise and pride. Applepaw could barely contain her joy.
"This is it. This is my first catch!"
