Smokepaw was out hunting. He and Honeypaw had become apprentices a few days ago, and Sunpaw had been helping him learn quicker. Sunpaw was a great apprentice, and he knew it. He tended to boast quite a bit, but Smokepaw couldn't help but admire his skills.
He crouched low to the ground as he spotted a burrow. Possibly a rabbit's? Excited, Smokepaw crept forwards. He poked his nose in and crept forwards as a strong scent overwhelmed him. He wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't a rabbit's. Now curious, Smokepaw ventured deeper.
A loud roar shook the tunnel and Smokepaw found himself face-to-face with a narrow-faced figure with a white strike down it's back.
Smokepaw let out a screech of shock and turned tail, running towards the entrance. He heard the badger lumbering after him and as he broke the entrance, he tripped on a stray strand of heather and fell.
The badger roared as it came out of the den and reared up, about to crush Smokepaw beneath it's powerful paws. Smokepaw stared in horror when he saw a ginger and gray blur race between him and the badger.
The badger blinked, confused, and fell back onto all paws, glancing over. Smokepaw took the chance to scramble to his paws and run. He looked over his shoulder to see the badger make to chase him before Sunpaw leapt at it, swiped at it's face, and dashed off. The badger growled and turned to follow the older apprentice and Smokepaw felt his breath catch in his throat. Sunpaw had saved him! Run, Sunpaw, Run!
And run Sunpaw did. Smokepaw was amazed by his stamina; he didn't slow down until he neared the RuinClan border, and that was to climb a tree and get away from the badger.
The badger attempted to shake him out of the tree, but after a while, just lumbered back to it's hole.
Smokepaw padded up to Sunpaw's tree. "You saved me!"
"Maybe next time, you shouldn't go running into badger holes!" Sunpaw laughed. "Are you alright?"
Smokepaw nodded. "Just a bit shocked. I thought it was a rabbit's."
"Honest mistake." Sunpaw leapt down. "Alright I wouldn't have made it. I can't expect that of you, though, you probably don't know what badger smells like."
"I do now." Smokepaw shook himself, trying to get the stink from his pelt.
Sunpaw laughed again. "Let's go back to camp."
Smokepaw nodded.
