Warriors - IvyClan's Dismay

Chapter 3

     Falconpaw's POV

I sniffed the air, trying to keep my pawsteps as light as possible. Aspenfall and Thrushwhisker followed me, also staying alert for any signs of prey. It was hard finding them in the forest during leaf-fall and leafbare, now that the weather was getting colder. But I was determined to serve my Clan to the best of my abilities. After all, I was close to being a warrior.

The thought of my assessment made me worry. What if I didn't catch enough prey? What if I failed? Aspenfall would be so disappointed. What would — Oh, StarClan! — What would Poppystar think of me? Would she be disappointed, or not surprised that I failed her?

I continued to worry, and didn't notice a twig. I stepped on it, cracking it in two, and recoiled as a crow squawked and fluttered away. It was in the distance, though I could see its black wings flash against the treetops before it was gone.

"Mousedung," I heard Thrushwhisker grunt under his breath.

I lowered my ears and faced the senior warriors, who were both looking at me with expressions of irritation. "S-sorry."

"What's with you today?" Aspenfall asked quietly as we continued the hunt. Thrushwhisker heard nearby prey and snuck off to retrieve it, so my mentor and I stopped to wait for him. "You're not focused. This is the second time you've scared away what could be feeding the Clan."

"I'm sorry," I repeated, looking at my tingling paws. "I'm just nervous. T-thinking about my assessment and all."

"Your assessment?" Aspenfall asked, and I looked up and nodded. I saw the brown tabby's eyes flash before he replied, "You don't have to worry about that, Falconpaw. You'll do fine during your assessment. You're one of the best apprentice hunters." My pelt burned under my tabby fur from the praise given to me. "But during an assessment —" I looked back up when he spoke. "— you have to be alert and focus. How about you practice that here? And maybe you and I can go back out into the forest when we're done with this patrol to practice some fighting and hunting. What do you say?"

I pondered for a moment, then nodded. "A-alright. Yes, Aspenfall."

"Good. Now let's get some prey for the Clan. They'll needing it, and they'll also be happy to accept it," Aspenfall said. I nodded nervously, then saw Thrushwhisker return with a small squirrel. It wasn't much, but it was food.

"Nice catch," I said kindly.

"Thank you, Falconpaw," Thrushwhisker replied after he had set down and scraped earth over the squirrel. "Let's keep going, shall we?" My mentor and I agreed with Thrushwhisker, and we started to walk again.

Soon enough, I heard the snap of a twig. Only this time, it didn't come from me. I swiveled my head around and spotted something moving behind a holly bush. I waved my tail to Aspenfall and Thrushwhisker, who both stopped and watched as I fell into a swift hunting crouch.

I began to creep around the bush, and froze when the creature moved again. It was a rabbit, and a surprisingly plump one.

I licked my chops as I continued to creep closer and closer, tail dangerously close to touching the earth. Then, with no warning, I leaped at the rabbit. It noticed me and tried to run in fright. I barely missed the quick creature, and I hissed and took chase.

The rabbit darted through the forest, trying its best to escape me. But since I was a hunter, my predatory skills were sharp. I gained speed and made a leap of faith, landing squarely on the rabbit. It wriggled and squeaked with fear, but stopped when I sunk my teeth into its neck. The rabbit jolted and fell limp.

Pride surged through my body as I picked up the dead creature. I began to head back to Aspenfall and Thrushwhisker. Aspenfall was gone, but the other warrior was still there. His eyes widened at how big my rabbit was, and he praised me greatly. I ducked my head sweetly before setting the rabbit down and covering its white body.

Aspenfall soon returned, told me that I did a fantastic job (I, once again, ducked my head at this), and we continued through the forest.

After a while of hunting, Aspenfall had caught two mice, I got an old crow, and Thrushwhisker managed to get a mouse as well. However, when Thrushwhisker left to retrieve his squirrel, he came back empty-pawed.

"Where's your squirrel?" Aspenfall questioned, setting his prey down before speaking.

"I-I don't know," Thrushwhisker replied, pelt fluffed up. "It's gone. B-but Aspenfall —"

"What?"

"I scented something."

Aspenfall and I froze, and my mentor asked quietly, "What did you scent? A rogue?"

"N-no..." Thrushwhisker responded. "Oh, Aspenfall, I scented a fox."

I dropped my prey in shock.

"A fox?!" Aspenfall gasped. "Thrushwhisker, are you sure?"

"I'm as sure as the fact that I have four legs," Thrushwhisker said back. "I scented a fox, and my squirrel was gone." He looked around the forest, then up at the canopy. "I don't feel safe. Let's head back to camp."

"I agree," I added quietly before picking up my rabbit and crow again. The three of us sped back home, and I was partially irritated that the squirrel was stolen. But then again, an inevitable fear struck me. A fox was in IvyClan's territory! There was a chance that we could be killed — any of us! But... What if it was me?

I began to panic again and quickened my pace.

Back at camp, Aspenfall deposited his prey and rushed off. Snowbreeze watched him go curiously, then looked at Thrushwhisker and I as we also set our prey down.

"What's wrong with Aspenfall?" she asked as my mentor disappeared behind the Tallstone, probably to talk to Poppystar about the fox.

"He's... just going to tell Poppystar something," Thrushwhisker replied shortly.

"About what?" Her eyes glimmered with worry for her mate. "Did something happen on the patrol?"

I glanced at Thrushwhisker, who gave me a hardly-noticeable shake of his head. I got the message and nodded before replying, "Well, nothing important. I-I mean, it is, but I'm sure Poppystar will tell the Clan about it." Thrushwhisker nodded, agreeing with me.

"Well... alright then," Snowbreeze said almost hesitantly before padding off, still seeming suspicious.

I watched her go, Thrushwhisker standing next to me. Then, the mottled tom turned on me and said, "Don't tell anybody. I don't want to freak the Clan out unless Poppystar decides to tell, okay?"

I nodded quickly as Thrushwhisker padded away, then modestly picked a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and headed to the apprentices' den. I settled near the entrance and began to eat.