Stars Without Borders

4

"Ok, Softpaw. Crouch down like this and keep your tail down. Good. Now creep forward slowly and don't press all your weight down." Mousepaw whispered keeping low to the ground. A small plump mouse was munching on a small nut a few tail lengths away. As soon as Mousepaw spotted it he began explaining how you should stalk a mouse.

"Ready.... Now." Taking his words to heart, Softpaw leaped towards the mouse catching it in her paws before swiftly biting it's neck.

"Great job Softpaw!" Mousepaw ran up to her congratulating her.

"I wouldn't have gotten it if it wasn't for you... Thank you.." Softpaw meowed looking at the freshly killed mouse.

"It was nothing. Here, let's burry this and hunt some more. I would suggest we split up, but you're not used to the territory yet." Mousepaw spoke digging a small hole before covering up the mouse.

"Where'd Cinderpaw go?" She asked suddenly noticing her disappearance.

"I don't know. Maybe she decided to go off on her own." He shrugged and started moving on, Softpaw following quietly after him. Suddenly Mousepaw dropped into a hunters crouch startling Softpaw. Recovering quickly she flattened herself to the ground staying as still as possible following his gaze. A rabbit had just hopped a few tail lengths away from it's underground den, it's white pelt stained with dirt from brushing against the ground. Staying where she was she watched as Mousepaw creeped around to the other side as quietly as possible.

"Mousepaw!" A voice yelled causing the rabbit to dash off. Softpaw not waiting for it to get out of her sight dashed off after it, dodging thorn bushes and brambles until she got close enough. With one final leap she landed on the rabbit, clamping her jaws around it's neck as it made it's last pathetic attempts of getting away before finally going limp. Padding her way back to where she had left Mousepaw, rabbit dragging across the ground as she carried it, she felt pride in herself.

"Cinderpaw! You made me lose my prey!" Mousepaw wailed throwing himself to the ground.

"Mousepaw.. I didn't mean to.." She muttered in response looking at her paws.

"Oh no! I forgot abo-! Softpaw! You caught it!" Mousepaw sprang to his paws staring at her wide-eyed. Placing the rabbit down she licked the blood of her jaws.

"Yeah... Sorry you couldn't get it..." She meowed shifting anxiously on her paws.

"No! It's great! Come on! Let's go get that mouse you caught and show Firestar your catch! He'll have to be proud!" Mousepaw meowed excitedly dashing off to where they had hurried the mouse earlier.

"Cinderpaw... Thank you..." Softpaw meowed quietly.

"Why are you thanking me?" She asked in disbelief.

"If you hadn't scared it. I would've never caught it.." Softpaw admitted staring at Cinderpaw gratefully.

"Well... I uh... You're welcome.." She spoke confused causing Softpaw to purr before picking up the rabbit and padding off to join Mousepaw.