Seppuku

Chapter 1

The pale tabby tom's paws crashed into the ground a second too late, the mouse he was currently stalking had scurried away into the forest undergrowth. "Fox dung.." He cursed, shaking himself from embarrassment and looking to his disappointed mentor's face.

Hazelstripe slowly shook her head, her grey pelt spiking only slightly near the back from hinted annoyance. "Twistedpaw, you really need to work on your stalking. Warrior assessments are coming up, and you're just not ready for it yet."

Twistedpaw felt a wave of shame flow through him, and bowed his head to the floor. "Okay Hazelstripe.. I'll try."

"You can try now, hunt and don't come back to camp unless you've caught something." The older cat's tone softened as she leaned a little closer to the tom. "I only want you to get better, Twistedpaw. Practice is the only way."

With that she turned to walk away, but Twistedpaw had a feeling she'd probably still watch him.

The apprentice started padding in the opposite direction, smelling for a mouse, squirrel, bird, anything. Instead, he found a smell almost more familiar. The smell of his best friend, Badger-

"ARRAUH!" Badgerpaw yowled as he jumped out of the bushes, easily pinning Twistedpaw to the ground. "Yes! I gotcha! Aren't I amazing?"

Twistedpaw only replied by pushing the black-and-white cat off of him, and standing up himself. "I'm trying to hunt, I can't go back to camp until I get something."

"Oohh." Badgerpaw mewed in understanding. "Do you still not get the hunter's crouch?"

Twistedpaw shrugged. "Hazelstripe just skimmed over it in training..."

"Show me what you can do." Badgerpaw more told him than asked. Nonetheless, Twistedpaw obediently went into a sloppy crouch.

Badgerpaw looked over his friend's position, examining him before finally speaking up. "You need to get your tail lower, but not touching the ground, and move your weight to your hind legs to give you a better pounce."

Twistedpaw once again did as he said, and looked to Badgerpaw giving him a look of praise. "Awesome Twistedpaw!"

Twistedpaw felt a purr rumbling in his throat as he straightened himself out again. "Thanks a bunch!"

"Anything for my littermate from another queen. Hey- there's a mouse over there." Badgerpaw pointed out with a hushed voice.

Twistedpaw immediately scented and saw the mouse, and got into the crouch that was better with his friend's criticism. He carefully sneaked towards the mouse, accidentally stepping on a twig during the process. Before the mouse knew what was happening though, the PineClan apprentice pounced, catching the mouse in his claws and delivering the killing bite.

Twistedpaw held up his catch with pure pride. "Didja see dhat?!" He said, words muffled by the rodent.

Badgerpaw laughed, "you were great!"

And with that, the two apprentices headed back to camp together, and Twistedpaw couldn't stop purring.

Take that, Hazelstripe! I am ready to be a warrior!