Featherpaw time! I could really care less about this chapter, it's mostly a filler since Featherpaw won't really show any importance later in the story except for helping move the plot along. :3
Featherpaw waggled her hindquarters and shot forwards, throwing up leaves as she gave chase to the mole. They were stupid blind creatures and the baby was no exception. She pounced, ears flattening at its squeals, before sinking her teeth into it. Sharpclaw came sliding down the tree, his jaws stuffed with robin eggs, before laying them gently on the ground.
"Your pounce was a little wobbly and it squealed. I hope it didn't alert any other creatures."
Featherpaw's ears burned and she looked down at her paws.
"I'll do it right next time." She mumbled.
To her surprise, Sharpclaw started purring. He licked her head, making her fur prickle.
"Featherpaw, don't look so down! You're only an apprentice and this is the second day of training! You should be proud you even caught that mole."
She jerked her head up and looked up into his scarred face, focusing on his deep blue eyes instead.
"Really?" Sharpclaw nodded, purring.
"Let's find out where the others are then head back to camp."
Silentstream weaved from the bushes behind them and scared them both, making Sharpclaw almost step on his eggs. "
Oh, sorry." She apologized around a rabbit.
It was thin, but at least it was something. Leaf-bare was coming, and soon they would be scavenging for prey, hiding deep in its burrows and nest, warm and cozy. Embersky and Flarestrike had joined together and had reached a rabbit warren near where Silentstream had captured her rabbit.
As Flarestrike crouched at the entrance to the warren, Embersky sat at the back entrance, her tail flicking in anticipation. Suddenly, he shot both of his paws into the warren and screeched at the top of his lungs. Rabbits with eyes bulging leaped from the back-hole and Embersky snatched one up by his throat, spraying blood. Flarestrike seemed to be struggling with something, his fur bristled.
Finally, he dragged out a small rabbit, and nipped it on the back of its neck. They looked up with their eyes gleaming. Embersky walked awkwardly with the rabbit swinging between her legs and Flarestrike lifted his tail when he saw the group watching them from the bushes.
"Nice catch!" Silentstream remarked, eyeing Embersky's rabbit hungrily.
While they were bustling back to camp, Flarestrike slowed and fell into step with Featherpaw's. Her paws felt sore from all the walking they had done today and her stomach was gnawing with hunger. Maybe she should've followed Applepaw's example and eaten breakfast!
"I'm so proud of you!" He murmured, muffled slightly by the rabbit.
Featherpaw smiled, looking up at her father with her mother's lime green eyes. They brushed into camp and Featherpaw could see Applepaw sitting at the entrance to Cinderstar's den, her fur ruffled. As Featherpaw entered camp her sister cast an angry glance over her shoulder, shame burning in her eyes. Flarestrike pricked his ears and turned towards her, brushing his tail over Featherpaw's flank as he went.
The silver she-cat laid her prey on the pile and looked around for somebody to boast to. She caught Stormpaw trotting into camp, her jaws stuffed with moss. Icepaw was lying beside the apprentice's den, looking tired with a picked at mouse lying between his paws. Blazepaw, Snowpaw, Eaglepaw, Acornpaw and Moonpaw were still out. Lightpaw trotted through the camp carrying Lostfur's herbs in her jaws. Stormpaw soon followed her with Redfire on her heels. Featherpaw grabbed her father's rabbit, leaving Embersky's for a larger warrior, and headed towards Icepaw.
"Guess what!" She said as soon as she had lain down.
"What." He replied dully.
"I caught my first prey! A mole!"
Icepaw flicked his namesake eyes on her then put his head on his paws. A yawn stretched his muzzle.
"What's wrong?" She asked, tearing into her rabbit and chewing off its ears.
"Jayheart took me on another territory round-a-bout, and my paws feel like they are gonna drop off. Plus it didn't help Stormpaw had her paws dug into my back all night."
Featherpaw licked his ears sympathetically and then she continued to eat in silence.
Brightdream and Rayshine were sharing tongues beside the medicine cat den and Cloverspirit slipped out, stretched, and mewed a greeting. The sisters had been stiff ever since Flarestrike had stopped chasing Brightdream and turned to Cloverspirit.
Stormpaw wiggled out the elder's den backwards then flew towards them. A small pile of moss covered the top of her den, and Icepaw purred and brushed it off with a paw while the grey apprentice leaned down.
"Hey Featherpaw! Nice mole!" She complimented.
Suddenly, the dawn patrol came through the tunnel, Sunflower at the head. Her fur was fluffed up.
"Blazepaw's missing!" She cried.
Ohgeez. Who knows where that crazy reincarnation went! Oh, and note: Blazepaw is not like Cinderheart. She doesn't remember anything, its really only stored in her sub-concious mind and she slips up and says thing every once in a while. Blazepaw remembers, it's just all screwed up.