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With her tail hanging down, Larkwing shuffled through the Birchtunnel, her fangs closed so tightly around the robin that the feathers tickled her throat unpleasantly.
This was my only prey. Careful not to make eye contact with anyone, she dropped the bird into the fresh-kill hollow. She didn't want anyone to realise what a miserable hunt it had been for her today. It was not her intention to let the Clan down like this. After the apparition, Larkwing was so distracted that she had completely forgotten to continue hunting.
Now she wanted to turn around and retreat to her nest. She could eat later. It was much more important to think of a plan on how to approach Palestar about joining the reconnaissance patrol.
"Larkwing?" The leader's voice sounded frighteningly close.
Ruffling her fur, Larkwing whirled around. Mousedung, that's the last thing I need! Palestar, of all cats, had to notice that I couldn't catch anything better than a pathetic robin!
"Ahem," Larkwing croaked as she tried with all her might to keep her paws from prancing wildly. "Do you mean me?" You mouse-brain born yesterday, who else is called that?
Palestar turned her blue gaze to the fresh-kill hollow. "That was your worst achievement today," she commented dryly.
Her words were like a long thorn digging into Larkwing's heart. "I'm really sorry! I'll go out again right away if I have to," she gushed.
But Palestar lifted her tail, signalling her to keep quiet. "Don't bother," she replied, "I'm sure you were just having a bad day. It happens to every cat. However, your behaviour still worries me. Would you like to tell me what's on your mind?"
Larkwing's breath stopped for a moment. Palestar didn't miss a thing. It was almost creepy how accurately she could recognise her warriors' thoughts.
Larkwing looked down uncertainly. It was out of the question that she would tell Palestar about her strange apparition. In the worst case scenario, the leader would declare her mad and call her a liar.
"I assume the events of the last few moons have unsettled you, haven't they?" Palestar speculated, tilting her head expertly.
"I suppose you could say that," Larkwing confirmed after a little hesitation. After all, it was true, even though that wasn't the exact reason for her current mood.
Palestar's brash expression immediately changed to one of sympathy. "Ah, this is a difficult time for all of us. To be honest, I can't believe we were hiding all those moons, dreading the next attack of the Shadowless. It's as if we've only been controlled by our fear." She sighed. "Fortunately, Redleaf has shaken us up. Thank StarClan that he and Cloverdapple are still alive. And Splashpaw, too, of course."
I have to tell her that I want to join the reconnaissance patrol. What she wanted to say was clearly on the tip of Larkwing's tongue. She would just have to open her mouth and say it.
