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Larkpaw held her nose to the wind, fully focussed, trying to spot the scent of prey among the various smells. In her spotted fur, the apprentice felt the watchful gaze of Rockwhisker like thorns, although she couldn't detect her anywhere.
At first, Larkpaw had been confused as to why Rockwhisker was testing her hunting skills and not Silversky, since he was also part of the Hunters' Circle. However, the dark grey she-cat had explained to her that apprentices were never allowed to be judged by their mentor during the assessments during the training period.
The thought of being watched all the time made Larkpaw feel a tugging sensation in her chest. She sighed. At least I'm alone this time. She reluctantly thought back to her first, rather failed hunting test. First she didn't get along with her partner, Reedpaw, at all, and then they found Fernpool horribly injured.
With clenched teeth, Larkpaw padded off, taking care to tread softly so as not to scare away potential prey. Every now and then she stopped to check the air.
But the only thing she found were pale odours, useless to her. Larkpaw would have liked to hiss in frustration and simply sit down, refusing to do anything.
I can't give up now! If I can't even pass this test, I might as well forget about getting into the Hunters' Circle.
A strange feeling, as if she had a pitch-black hole gaping in her body, spread through her. Lately this thought felt wrong, almost as if her long-held kithood dream was fading like mist.
Maybe she really wasn't cut out to be the best hunter.
Larkpaw swallowed her anger one last time, then continued on her search. Even if that turned out to be true in the end, she still wanted to do her best today.
In front of the roots of a large oak tree, Larkpaw finally spotted a squirrel, whose entire attention seemed to be focussed on the nut in its paws.
Relieved at this find, Larkpaw moved a few steps to the right to make sure the wind was blowing directly towards her. Then she crouched to the ground, taking care to keep her paws under her body and not let her tail drag through the leaves.
She had realised from the start that she had chosen one of the most difficult prey animals, the squirrel. Nevertheless, she didn't want to give up now.
Tensely, she crept off, hoping not to step on a twig that would betray her. When she thought she was close enough, she prepared to jump.
But then she heard a rustling somewhere in the forest. The squirrel froze - and dashed up the tree.
How dare you escape now? Snarling in frustration, Larkpaw dashed forwards at the same moment and pushed herself into the air with her hind legs. With her front paws stretched far forward and her claws unsheathed, she tried to grab the squirrel.
But it was in vain and her claws only lightly grazed its tail. Shivering and gnashing her teeth in annoyance, Larkpaw looked after the red pelt, who was now too high up between the branches for her to dare to follow it.
