A moon later the clan forgot about the RiverClan incident. Adderpaw was hunting with Thrushstripe, Hawkpaw, Silverstripe, Windpaw, and Fawnleap. Adderpaw already caught two squirrels and a scrawny mouse. Hawkpaw came back through the bushes and he had a plump rabbit in his jaws. "Nice catches!" Ravenstar said as they padded into camp. "Thanks." Adderpaw said dropping her two squirrels. Thrushstripe dropped the scrawny mouse and a black bird Adderpaw had caught.
Ravenstar glanced at the freshkill pile. "Put the freshkill down and I want to see Adderpaw and Windpaw in my den." He said. This was going to be the tenth time she and her sister were going to see their mother. They were going at moon high and Ravenstar always tells them where to meet in the woods. Adderpaw dropped her prey and padded into her fathers den.
"Where are we meeting?" Adderpaw asked. Windpaw padded in. "At the top of the ravine. Make sure Stonetail doesn't see you. He's keeping watch tonight." Ravenstar said. Adderpaw nodded. "Can we eat with you?" Windpaw asked flattening her ears and looking at the ground. "I have some important things to discuss with the senior warriors. Maybe tomorrow night..." He meowed licking between her ears. "Okay..." She said and left the den. "Windpaw! Wait...." He called after her but she didn't come back. "Adderpaw?" He asked turning his attention to her. "Can you go get her and then tell Stonetail to wait for the meeting?" He asked. She nodded and padded into the clearing. Sunlight shone on her slick pelt. She padded over to the tree stump where Windpaw and Blackpaw were sharing tongues.
"Ravenstar wants you." She told her sister. Windpaw nodded and went into his den. "Blackpaw? Can you tell the senior warriors they are meeting tonight when the last patrol comes back?" She asked turning to face the black and white apprentice. Blackpaw nodded and Adderpaw ran back to her fathers den with a rabbit and mouse. She dropped the prey and sat down to eat.
**********
Adderpaw pounced and bit the rabbits neck. She held up her catch to show Thrushstripe. The taste of rabbit filled her jaws and she held back the urge to eat it. Thrushpelt dug a hole and flicked his tail. Adderpaw dropped it in the hole and scraped some earth over it. "Let's come back for this." Thrushstripe said. They padded on. Adderpaw jumped onto a fallen log after Thrushstripe leaped over it with one easy stride. "My legs are too short!" She complained. "I can't even jump over a log!" Adderpaw looked down at the brown and black cat. "Come on!" He meowed. "Jump down! I can't wait all day!" She crouched down and prepared to launch herself down. She jumped and landed clumsily, staggering.
"It's okay. Your legs will grow and you'll be a great jumper." Thrushstripe said. Adderpaw looked at the ground and didn't say anything else. They got a couple tail lengths before Adderpaw scented fox. "Fox." She muttered. "Fresh." Thrushstripe rested his tail on her shoulder. "Let's get back to camp." He whispered. Adderpaw backed up as slowly as she could. The scent of fox got stronger. Hot breath on her neck made her spin around. Her nose touched the fox's nose. Adderpaw flattened her ears and shrunk down till her belly fur touched the ground. The fox growled as she backed up. "Adderpaw! Don't move! I'm coming!" Thrushstripe yowled from behind her. He was struggling to get out of a thick bramble bush. "I don't think I'm going anywhere! Especially if this fox is hungry!" She called over her shoulder. She was almost a tail length away when she turned around and fled. She could feel the fox's breath hot on her heels. It grabbed her by the scruff and shook her around like she was a dead rabbit.
"Help!!!" Adderpaw yowled. The fox flung her against a rock. Her head hit it hard and everything faded into black. "Adderpaw?" Thrushstripe said softly. Everything was still black and she felt like the ground was spinning under her. Adderpaw heard a deep growl from the fox and Thrushstripe hissed at it. His tail brushed across her cheek as he clawed the fox's muzzle. It whimpered and ran off. "Adderpaw? I am gonna take you back to camp. Hold on." Thrushstripe mewed softly into her ear and he dragged her back.
