Chapter 17: I'm getting the hang of this!

Day 6

Honeyfern, Poppyfrost and Brambleclaw went back to the camp to check if it was safe to go back. I stretch again, yawning at the same time. Foxpaw and Icepaw follow me out of the bush. "Race you to the lake! Last one there is a mouse-brain!" Icepaw calls as she starts to run.

Foxpaw looks at me before taking off, and I follow them. They get there first, and I try to slow down as I reach the lake, but I end up splashing through the water. It's extremely hot today; no one would have guessed there was a storm last night. Foxpaw and Icepaw grin at me. "You're the mouse-brain." They chorus.

I stick out my tongue and smile. "You only just figured that out?" I laugh.

They laugh too.

Foxpaw crouches and then leaps on me. He wrestles me to the ground and pins me down. "Ha! I got you."

I kick him off of me and pin him down. "Not anymore!" I whisper. Icepaw giggles as she paws some water at us, and we both jump up in surprise.

"Hey!" Foxpaw yells as he chases after her. Foxpaw can't keep up with her, because the water's weighing his fur down over his eyes and he trips over a rock.

Graystripe, Squirrelflight and Whitewing pad over to us. "We're going back to the camp, let's go." Whitewing meows.

Icepaw nods. "Coming!" She and Foxpaw hurry down to the camp. Graystripe and Whitewing continue on, but Squirrelflight falls in beside me as I walk. "I just want to say thank you for last night."

I look at her and nod slowly, not knowing what to say exactly.

"Ashfur; he could've hurt us if he wants to. I- I think he was going to hurt us. I feel terrible when I say this, but I think it was probably best Ashfur dis last night, before things went out of paw."

I nod again.

Squirrelflight smiles at me, then awkwardly picks up her pace to a trot and goes ahead.

When I duck into the camp clearing, Firestar is on the Highledge. "...near one of the tunnels. We will sit vigil for him tonight." The orange leader glances at me as I sit down. Foxpaw leans over to me and whispers. "Ashfur died."

I nod slowly.

As the cats break up and go back to their duties, Foxpaw waves his tail as he leaves. Graystripe pads over to me. "A lot of the camp is ruins. Luckily, the dens weren't too badly damaged, but the entrance is completely destroys. I don't think there's much you can help with. Maybe you should go on Hazeltail's hunting party."

I nod. "Okay."

Hazeltail, Mousewhisker, Foxpaw and Icepaw are sitting at the entrance, and I smile at them. "Hi,"

Hazeltail smiles back. "Hello,"

Foxpaw and Icepaw jump up and down. "Let's go!" Icepaw meows.

We go near the abandoned Two-Leg nest and split up. I go inside and climb the broken ladder. The smell of mouse fills my nose and I look around. I nose through the soft hay; it is covers in a strange scent, similar to mouse.

Suddenly, pair of red eyes blinks open, and I step back.

A rat jumps out at me, teeth bars and claws slashing. I hiss as I hold it down on its belly on top of me and kick into it several times before throwing it out, down the ladder. I watch as it falls to the ground, stunned, I jump down and kill it.

I grin at myself as I continue to look around. A mouse shoots out from under the hay and I leap on it, putting my weight on both my front paws. I dig my claws in and it goes limp.

Hey, I'm getting better at this.

Foxpaw and Icepaw widen their eyes as I haul the rat out of the Two-Leg nest.

Mousewhisker nods. "That's impressive, Featherpaw, but it's dangerous. We don't eat rats anyway, they could be diseased."

"Okay, I'll get the rest," I run back into the nest and grab the two other mice I caught.

Hazeltail smiles. "That looks good, they're pretty plump."

Foxpaw has a thrush; Icepaw held a raven, Mousewhisker's carrying two wood pigeons, and Hazeltail is dragging a squirrel. She nods. "Let's go then,"

I leave the rat behind, and we go back to the camp.

Graystripe turns to see the mice. "Nice catch, Featherpaw. You're getting better."

"You should've seen the rat she kills; it was as big as me!" Foxpaw meows.

Graystripe looks at me and smiles. "That's risky, but brave."

I grin. "Thank you, Graystripe,"

It is dark by the time I finish helping rebuild the tunnel entrance. I'm lying in my nest, trying to sleep. I shift but I just can't get comfortable. I sigh, getting up. Maybe I can walk till I'm tired. I go out through the tunnel entrance, but Graystripe is guarding the camp. He looks at me. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I-uh- I can't sleep, I thought I might go for a walk." I mew.

"Oh, alright. But don't stay out for long. You don't want to be tired for your training session tomorrow." Graystripe meows.

I nod. "Thank you!"