~ Warrior Cats - The Dawn of IceClan || Book 1 - A Conflict Arises ~

Chapter 2

A half-moon had passed since the skirmish with the rogues. Ice had not seen any sign of them since.

Ice dropped into a crouch, remembering Blue's lessons, and quietly creeped toward the mouse that was a few tail-lengths away. Ice was only partially aware of the fact that Blue was watching her every move.

Ice recalled how Blue had continued the hunting lessons, teaching her how to stalk, to sniff the air for prey, and how to step lightly. She had taught her the methods for catching specific types of prey.

And now, Blue was testing Ice to see if she had learned.

Ice narrowed her eyes, determined to impress Blue. 'I can do this.'

Ice crept forward for another few paw-steps, then stopped. The mouse hadn't noticed Ice. It was sitting with its back to the kit, nibbling on something. Ice bunched up her muscles, then leaped.

Ice let out a yowl of triumph as she flew through the air.

However, before Ice could land on it, the mouse spun around, spotting the kit leaping at it. It let out a squeak of panic and scuttled away. Ice tumbled onto the ground where it had just been a moment ago. She let out a growl of frustration and took off after it.

Ice forced out every last bit of speed. Everything flew past and blurred out as her senses narrowed onto one goal. She pumped her legs, faster and faster, until suddenly, she had caught up to the mouse. She lashed out with a paw, a killing blow.

The mouse fell to the ground at Ice's paws, going limp. Ice squealed in joy and triumph. She picked up her mouse, which was almost as big as she was, and dragged it to where Blue was sitting.

Ice dropped the mouse at Blue's paws, then looked up at her expectantly.

Blue stared at the dead mouse in shock for a moment, before giving Ice a warm look of pride and approval.

"Congratulations," the pale blue-gray tabby purred warmly. "You caught a mouse! And it's so fat, it might feed us both!"

Ice felt pride seeping throughout her body. She puffed out her chest and sat up, basking in Blue's praise.

"But remember," Blue mewed, "Don't make a sound until you are sure your prey is dead. We can't have prey hearing us before you even pounce!"

Ice nodded solemnly, a pang of embarrassment flooding over her. She then shook her pelt as if to shake off her embarrassment. "Can we go back to the den to eat this?" she asked, prodding the fat mouse.

Blue nodded. "I'll carry the mouse," she told Ice, reaching down to pick up the mouse by the scruff. For a moment Ice was distracted by the blood glistening among the brown fur of her prey, before she shook her head to rid herself of the distraction. She padded after her mother, her tail straight up.

***

Ice swept her tongue over her jaws and stretched luxuriously, extending her claws and ripping at the grass. She had shared her mouse with Blue, and while her share had filled her up, Blue hadn't been satisfied; she had thought of her own share of the mouse as "merely a morsel". The tabby she-cat had gone out again to hunt for herself, instructing her kit to stay in the den.

Ice huffed inwardly. 'Ungrateful furball!'

After a while of waiting, Ice found herself distracted by an unfamiliar scent. She sniffed the air, opening her mouth slightly to taste it. That scent tasted disgusting. "Yuck!" she hissed quietly, passing her tongue over her mouth as if she was trying to get rid of the 'taste'.