The Choice

Chapter 8

Streamwhisker led Hawkpaw into the forest, the young tom taking in the scenery with the same awe he had the first time. They hadn't gone with the other apprentices so he could concentrate on the lesson, though they would have all been too excited to distract each other. He loved all of the scents blended, how the sun dappled the ground, and how the leaves swayed in the breeze. He felt safe, sheltered, and the silence was a big difference from the bustle of camp. 

"Today I'll be teaching you different scents. Mice, squirrels, foxes, badgers. That way you'll have a better understanding of what is safe and what isn't. Is that.. all right with you?"

"Whatever you want, Streamwhisker!" Hawkpaw purred eagerly. 

"All right, let's get started then. I want you to tell me all of the scents you can distinguish at the moment, and then tell me something you don't recognize."

Hawkpaw lifted his nose, sniffing the air, "I can smell mouse, a bird, and something yucky."

"That 'yucky' smell is fox. No need to be alarmed, though, that scent is stale. So are the prey scents, so they probably fled when thy realized a predator was nearby."

Hawkpaw nodded as he absorbed the information. He was a little disappointed that he couldn't tell when a scent was stale, but still remained confident when Streamwhisker led him to a different part of the woods. He had been here before yesterday, he was sure. 

"All right, tell me what you can smell." 

"Sorrelclan!" Hawkpaw purred eagerly. 

"Good. I think a Sorrelclan patrol came near here recently, so the scent is extra strong."

As they continued to go on with the training, Hawkpaw began to feel awkward. His mentor would point out things he missed, making them sound obvious. However, he was doing much better at distinguishing between stale and fresh scents. 

Suddenly, Streamwhisker let out an amused purr, "Hawkpaw, I just want you to know I'm one of the best trackers in the clan and I don't expect you to be able to scent everything I can. You'll get better at it as you grow, so I hope I'm not making you feel as if you need to know everything right away."

"Wait.. so if a Fernclan cat crossed the border five days ago, could you, like, smell it?" Hawkpaw asked, looking up a his mentor with a curious gaze. 

Streamwhisker laughed, "You're a funny cat, Hawkpaw. I think it's time we headed back to camp. I still need to teach you the not-so-fun stuff, like chores."

As they began to head to camp, Hawkpaw asked, "So could you do it? After such a long time?"

Streamwhisker pondered it for a moment, before replying, "I suppose I probably could, if it didn't rain."

"Whoa! I bet Flurrypaw would want to learn how to do that."

The two of them reached camp and Hawkpaw looked up at the sky. It was already almost sunhigh, surprising Hawkpaw how long they'd been out of camp.

"Hawkpaw! Hawkpaw!" Orangekit meowed, rushing up to him, "Did you learn anything cool? Teach me!"

"I'll have you change the moss in the elder's den a little later so you can speak with you friend. Until then, relax a bit." Streamwhisker gave both of the young cats a smile before padding off.

"Thank you!" Hawkpaw called after the white and yellow tom. 

"So, tell me everything you learned. I want you to teach me so I'm ahead of my siblings and can be the best warrior!"

"Orangekit!" Silverstreak called, "Stop bothering Hawkpaw. He doesn't have time for you to swarm him with questions. You'll be an apprentice soon enough, then you can both learn everything together."

Orangekit growled angrily under her breath, glaring at her mother who continued to lazily groom her silver pelt, before looking at Hawkpaw apologetically, "Sorry for being a nuisance."

"What? I love answering all of your questions. You're my friend." Hawkpaw gave her a gentle nudge. 

"Hawkpaw, chore time!" Streamwhisker called. 

"I'll teach you everything later, yeah?"

Orangekit gave an eager nod, the two young cats scampering off in their respective directions.