The Whispered Promise

Chapter 3

{Hey guys! sorry I took so long to update, my summer class is taking up more of my time than I had thought it would. But I took all this time out of my birthday to finish it, so be grateful! =P}

I slunk through the short, rough mountain grass, making sure not to disturb any of the snow hanging heavily on some of the stalks. I could scent a Pika somewhere nearby. I twitched my ears three times, signaling to the patrol behind me. I had told them that I didn't sent any big game, but there was smaller prey about. Patrols only hunted as a group when there was a herd nearby: otherwise, we split up and searched for smaller game. I could smell their scents drifting off in all directions as the hunting patrol went in search of prey. I located the Pika, nibbling on a stalk of grass on the mountain ledge below me. I remained as still as possible, planning out my attack. If I put too much power into the leap, I would jump off the edge of the platform and fall. Jump too short, and the Pika would run off before I had time to grab it. I gathered all my weight in my haunches, making sure to keep my tail from brushing against the nearby bush. I waited, watching the Pika slowly venture from the cliff edge. When it was the right distance away, I brushed my tail lightly over one of the branches of the bush, causing it to rustle. I saw the Pika pause, and in that moment I pounced, catching it between my two paws as I landed. I quickly bit its neck and picked up the limp prey in my jaws, silently thanking Priadon that the mouse hadn't squeaked before I could kill it. The area where this shelf attatched to the mountain was curved: the echo would have carried on a great distance, alerting all other prey in the area.

I nudged the Pika into a crevice in a rock for later, then slunk a little ways up the mountain, keeping my jaws parted to take in all the scents. I could smell Haviet a little ways off, along with the scent of hare. I spotted her crouched on a ledge about a tail-length above another, where the hare nibbled on some seeds. She gathered her three good paws under herself and leapt, using her dead paw to scoop the hare into her waiting jaws while landing on the other three. I blinked, surprised she could use her broken paw so well. Haviet and I had both grown over the past moon, fur sleeker, muscles stronger, and skills sharper. It was a little overwhelming, learning how to both hunt and fight, as well as scenting ahead of patrols. But Haviet had had her own problems as well: I had often seen Siena with her trying to figure out methods of hunting that she could do with her dead paw. I was pleased to see that their efforts had paid off so well. I walked in the opposite direction of Haviet so I wouldn't confuse her prey scent with others. I soon spotted a Chukar next to a scraggly bush, pecking and scratching at the ground. I quickly lowered myself so as not to be seen, keeping my movements light and fast as I slunk towards it. One pounce and a quick nip to the neck and I had the fat bird in my jaws. Deciding that I had enough prey, I headed back towards camp to give the bird to whoever was most in need of it.

I stopped by the den used by the Invera, scratching lightly at the cave entrance to alert anyone there to my presence before I entered the large crack in the rock wall. The narrow entrance quickly opened up into a cozy cave, with nests lined with mountain grass and feathers. There were only three Invera in the Tribe at the moment, and two were currently in the cave, napping. There was no fresh prey scent in the cave, so I assumed I was the first Tyro to bring them anything. I dropped the bird by the cave entrance and was about to slink away when I heard a soft call. One of the Invera had been woken by the scent of fresh prey, and blinked gratefully as he tucked in and began to pluck feathers from the bird

"Bring your sister with you a little later," he rasped, nodding at the bird. "I will leave the feathers in a pile by the door, and you two can take them to line the queens nests."

I nodded and slunk out of the cave, heading back out to grab the Pika I had caught earlier. As I reached the rock where I had left it, the scent of another leopard drifted towards me. I unsheathed my claws when I realized the scent was not one of the Tribe. I let out a low growl as I spotted the intruder, a large she-cat that had been about to reach into the crevice to grab my mouse. She froze when she heard me, then whipped around, giving me a glare.