Warriors: Aspenfur's Serenity

Chapter Two

It was dusk the next day, and Aspenpaw had a test on her hunting skills. Oakpaw and Dockpaw had been given the test too, where the apprentices would split up and hunt alone, but their mentors were watching.

Aspenpaw was assigned to hunt near the place were the northern red oaks grew. It was leaf-fall, so the red-brown dapples on the ground would show her light-colored pelt.

Oakpaw was hunting near the stream, a little closer to FjordClan and Dockpaw was hunting in the green part of the mountain.

Aspenpaw never knew this side of the mountain, so it was a little hard. She once spotted a mouse, but it scrambled away when she rustled a shrub.

Aspenpaw sniffed the air and the fresh scent of a squirrel hit her nose. She crouched and headed toward the smell. The pale grey she-cat hid herself behind a bush as she spotted the black pelt of the squirrel.

She bunched her paws together and leaped as quick as she could onto the squirrel. It looked startled and tried to climb a tree, but she grabbed it by the scruff for the final kill.

Aspenpaw gave her thanks to StarClan before burying her prey. She wondered how her brothers were going.

Her thoughts were cut off as the could hear a leaf crackle. Whipping her head around, she saw a very plump rabbit scrambling into its den.

Aspenpaw crouched. It was such a big rabbit, she wanted to race for it. But she had to be careful and slow. 

MountainClan cats hunt like MountainClan cats, She remembered Dewsplash's scolding when she chased a mouse onto the SeracClan border.

She copied what she did for when she hunted the squirrel, bunching her paws for a quicker leap. Time passed when the rabbit leaped out of its den. Tingling with excitement, she haunched her shoulders and leaped.

The rabbit blink at her in surprise, then hurried off as Aspenpaw realized that she had jumped too far.

Another scent clung to her nose. It wasn't prey... Is that a cat?

She blinked around until a tuft of light brown fur caught her eye. It caught on a thorn bush, and Aspenpaw hadn't recognized the smell or color.

Was a cat from another clan trespassing? She sniffed it again, but she did not smell FjordClan, nor SeracClan.

Maybe it's a rogue, or kittypet, She thought, sniffing it again. She sighed, looking at a puddle. Wait...

As she looked at her reflection, she noticed a spot on her nose. It was bright red, and had the tangy smell of iron. Blood!

She squeaked in surprise, backing away from thorn bush. She had to report this to Sedgestar.

She padded back to camp, dragging her squirrel along with her. She had completely forgotten about Dewsplash, and he trailed behind her.

He caught up with her, and meowed, "What happened? You were doing great!" He flicked his tail toward the squirrel she caught.

Aspenpaw blinked at him. "I-I saw..." She struggled for words, until she blurted, "I have to talk to Sedgestar. I found blood and fur on a thorn bush!"

Dewsplash stared at her wide-eyed, and followed her. "I'm coming with you." Aspenpaw was slightly grateful he could come, because she had no idea would she would tell Sedgestar.