The Rise Of Sun-Clan | The Mountain Territory, #1

Chapter 17~ Its Raining Cat and Dogs

Adder'Star stood at the edge of the high rock. 

"Good evening, SunClan.  Tonight we gather here due to an accident- I would say." Adder'Star looked at Python'Snap, as the rain hit the deputy's fur.

 "An apprentice was almost carried away by a hawk today." Adder'Star paused seeing the fear flood every cats gaze.

 "However, Pine'Snout, and Sage'Cloud saved them. The cats name will remain undisclosed due to the family's privacy." Adder'Star shook the droplets out of her fur, causing it to fluff up. Her fur was spiked, and messy in the rain.

"We also have an apprentice ready for their warrior cerrmony. Soil'Paw, please step forth. Soil'Paw bounced forward cheerfully. "I call on the ancestors of SunClan, to watch you earn you name and approve. Soil'Paw, do you promise to uphold the code and protect your clan?" 

Soil'Paw looked up. "I do!"

"From this day on, you will be known as Soil'Shift. Now, patrols? Or are we not in need of it." Adder'Star looked to Python'Snap and blinked expectantly.

"I do believe we need them tonight. Who would like to go?" Python'Snap gazed at the clan and nodded.

 "I'll go!" Pine'Snout offered with a smile.

 "Anyone else?" Python'Snap asked.

The cats stayed where the were. The weather was awful, so she didn't blame them.

"Alright then, Pine'Snout do you feel comfortable going alone?" Python'Snap questioned.

 "That's fine." Pine'Snout nodded as he stood up.

 "Meeting dismissed." Adder'Star smiled and hopped out of the rain into her den for shelter. 

Pine'Snout walked out of the camp and started to run, as the wet grass slid down and stuck to the soil beneath his brown paws. 

He padded through the small meadow and into the forest, leaping over the large patch of tangled bramble, tearing through the foliage and bounded past the boulders at Rapid Rocks.

He skidded to a stop, and blinked the water out of his eyes. 

"Woah!" He said while laughing.

Pine'Snout stood there, and listened as the rain pounded his pelt to his frame.

 A small bird cooed gently on the branch of a tree in the safety of a pine-needle canopy. 

Pine'Snout turned and stared at the robin which was facing the other way.

He crouched down, the rain patter masking his paw steps. 

He silently dug his claws into the bark of the oak and pulled himself upwards.

Pine'Snout reached the branch, his tail swinging in anticipation. He snapped at it and lunged forward, missing the bird by a tooth-length.

It squawked in surprise and flew off, as he regained his balance.

He sighed lightly and climbed back down, a mouse startling out from under a bush.

His ears perked, the movement catching his focus.

He bounded after it, leaping over a patch of interlaced tree roots which the mouse had hidden under.

Pine'Snout blinked the rain out of his eyes and climbed up a rock which jutted out of the ground.

He sniffed the air. Nothing but rain.

Pine'Snout felt his hazel gaze land on a swishy gray tail.

His eyes narrowed. "You need to catch the squirrel." He chimed to himself.

He leapt down and stalked it silently as it chewed on an acorn.

Pine'Snout sprung forward, landing on the squirrel and biting its neck. 

He gave a satisfied smile. 

He dug a hole in the ground to store it until he had caught some more prey.

After sometime of more hunting, the sky darkened, the gray clouds still masking it and making it unreadable. 

"Alright let's go home!" Pine'Snout mumbled to himself, the prey clamped in his maw muffling his voice.

 He started to run, bounding past the boulders at Rapid Rocks and running back through the foliage.

He reached the patch of tangled bramble, and leapt upward, unsuccessful in leaping over it, and landed in the bramble.

 He yowled in pain as his paw barreled downward first, landing on the moss and snapping.

 He fell to the ground and whimpered. 

"Help!" Pine'Snout yelped and tried to get up.

 He pulled himself to his feet and started to walk, his front paw limping badly.

Each paw step almost made him tumble. "Ow- Oh Dear Star-Clan why?" He leaned against a tree trunk.

 The rain made it hard to see with the stormy gray sky. 

He sank to a crouch, and whimpered, dropping the prey at his paws.

"I can do this. The camp is that way, just past the meadow." He stood up wobbly and walked slowly. 

A large figure ran towards him. 

"You!" The figure said, "Are you hurt?"

 "Huh? Who are you!?" He said quizzically. He hissed and unsheathed his claws, even though it stung on his broken paw.

 "My name is Hawk. I was wandering around looking for food.-are you alright?" Hawk came closer.

Pine'Snout could see that he was a beige Norwegian Forest cat, with long fur. Similar to Adder'Star in size.

"Okay? - Why are you on Sun-Clan territory though?!" Pine'Snout grumbled, as he shot up trying to reach Hawks height, letting out a small whimper but turning it into a growl.

"So what? Loners need to eat too!" Hawk protested. 

"But-"  Pine'Snout blinked and nudged Hawk out of the way and limped towards the camp.

"Hey? I'm still here,-" said Hawk. 

Pine'Snout looked at the meadow. This was going to be a long walk.

~The rain poured down as the cats went their separate ways. ~