Code Four
Prey is killed to be eaten, thank HeavenClan for every kill.
Thanking HeavenClan for the life of fallen prey and how to hunt, and defend oneself while living in the forest. This is thanks to Splashstar of LeafClan, who helped them realize this.
Bird Fun
Starkit and Driftkit are playing just outside the Nursery after the long days of winter. Together they are throwing around the mattered body of a thrush.
"I'm going to be the best Warrior that LeafClan has ever known!" Starlight said. Starkit tosses the thrush towards Driftkit.
"No, I'll be the best of the best!" Driftkit said. Driftkit pounces onto the thrush and kicks at it with her hindpaws. Leopardfoot pads up behind the playing Kits.
"That was the last piece of prey!" Leopardfoot said loudly. Driftkit falls sideways off the thrush. Leopardfoot sniffs the battered prey. "This is not fit to eat now! Does Quailfeather know what you're doing?"
"She's in the Nursery. She told us to come outside and play," Starkit answered. Leopardfoot shakes her head.
"This was the last piece of prey we had. Now the Clan will have to go hungry until the next Hunting Patrol."
"Sorry…" the Kits said together. Quailfeather pads out of the Nursery.
"What's the matter?" the Queen asked.
"Driftkit and Starkit have been playing with the last piece of prey, Quailfeather."
"I'm sure they didn't know it was the last piece of prey…"
"THEY MUST HAVE KNOWN! THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING LEFT!" Leopardfoot yelled. Splashstar pads up behind the small group.
"Is this true? Did you take the last of our food?" Splashstar said.
"…we guess…" the two Kits said.
"It wasn't their fault…" Quailfeather said. Splashstar silences Quailfeather with a flick of her tail and speaks in an unexpectedly gentle tone.
"Driftkit, Starkit, you should have never taken that thrust to play with. Prey is too scarce to be wasted. That thrush did not die to become a toy, but to keep us alive after a long winter. Do you understand?"
"Yes Splashstar," said Driftkit.
"Yes Splashstar," said Starkit. Suddenly a shadow sweeps over the clearing and there is a strong rushing sound over the Kits' heads.
"HAWK! RUN!" yelled Quailfeather. The cats bolt for safety, leaving Starkit alone by the battered thrush. Starkit is too terrified to move, as the shadow gets closer and closer. She stares up at the brown and white bird, which swoops closer and closer. She can see every feather on its chest, its sharp talons. She gulps waiting to be swept into the air.
The Hawk folds its wings at the last moment and drops with its talons outstretched closer to the terrified Kit. Then it is pulling itself back up into the air with its mighty wings. Starkit opens her eyes; she is still on the ground. The thrush has vanished; she looks up and sees its battered body dangling from the Hawk's claws, getting smaller and smaller as the bird disappears over the trees. I survived! Starkit thought. Quailfeather rushes over to Starkit.
"Are you all right, little one?"
"I'm fine…" Starkit said softly. Splashstar pricks her ears to follow the path of the Hawk.
"It is a sign from HeavenClan. They give us our prey and they can take it away. We should give thanks to our Warrior Ancestors that we are able to eat at all. They provide every mouthful as well as our ability to hunt and feed ourselves. For the next Gathering, there will be another addition to the Messenger Code: Prey is killed to be eaten, give thanks to HeavenClan for each kill. This is the way of the Messengers," the Leader said.
This is Code Four