BOOK 1~A Broken Beginning

Chapter 20

      "Echo its my assignment today. Will you at least wish me luck?" Hollowpaw sighed. For the past moon she hasn't said one word to anybody. Hollowpaw sighed and padded away. The corner where echo would always stay was now echo's corner. The rumor passed around like fire. Hollowpaw sighed and leaped next to Snowbird as their mentors lead them on the assignment.

     Hollowpaw flattened himself to the ground and crawled forward lightly on his paws to the left Snowpaw came as well. He waited patiently as she snapped at the squirrel and batted it legs sending it skidding right into his jaws. Hollowpaw picked up the limp squirrel and dug a shallow hole putting it in. Now for solo hunting. He trotted off keeping alert. Suddenly a crackle, he crouched and padded forward seeing a vole sniffing around the undergrowth. Hollowpaw wiggled his hindquarters and leaped, pinning it. He thanked Starclan and continued for more prey.

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     Snowpaw padded to do her solo hunting after she'd led a squirrel into the jaws of Hollowpaw. She saw a bird's nest in a tree. 'Perfect...' she thought, digging her claws into the white and black bark of the birch tree. She reached the branch the nest lied on and waited... Waited oh so patiently until a robin came and sat on the blue eggs, Snowpaw being undetected. Snowpaw wiggled her hindquarters and leaped. Her claws gripped the robin's wing and the rest of her attempted to cling onto the branch. The robin few from Snowpaw's grip, but fell to the ground from the injured wing.

Snowpaw landed on her paws and dashed at the robin and sunk her fangs into it's neck, killing the bird instantly.

     Finally the pair padded back successfully. Hollowpaw carried a vole, 2 mice and a shrew. Meanwhile Snowpaw carried a Robin, a mouse, and 2voles. Behind them Rockcall carried the squirrel. Hollowpaw glanced at Echo as he passed and sighed sadly. Echo looked at Hollowpaw and Snowpaw as they passed, saddened. 'Maybe I should do something to make this Clan like me more...' Echo thought to herself.

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     He watched the attractive white cat drop her fresh kill into the food pile, and he did so himself and followed the shecat. Rockcall winked at Hollowpaw, and Hollowpaw simply nodded. Rockcall smirked and padded away.

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     Echo sighed and watched as Bramblepaw trotted in carrying his prey as well. His mentor gave him a friendly lick on the ear and padded off. Bramblepaw looked around as if he was confused. Echo also looked around seeing cats talking happily. But Bramblepaw was alone.