Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 32

Heartpaw rolled onto his back and pricked his ears. Crickets chirped and owls hooted. The air was cool. Heartpaw slowly got up and walked out of the apprentice den. Stars sparkled in the sky and a moon shone brightly above. He sighed, the cats who had gone to the Gathering had arrived long ago and Honeypaw was long since snoring but Heartpaw hadn't been able to sleep. Yawning, he padded quietly out of camp. The night was still but yet alive. He trotted through the forest, the cold breeze on his face. Owl flew above him, quick and deadly. Their talons stretched out for mice. Too bad, thought Heartpaw, I want mice too. He crouched. He smelt something. Slowly, he edged forward. There, underneath a dark bush, hidden in the shadows was a mouse. Heartpaw bunched up his muscles and got ready for the jump. Suddenly, something swooped in from above and the bush shook. Heartpaw jumped back and before he knew what was happening, a large owl flew back up in the sky, the mouse clutched in its claws. Heartpaw snarled and stumbled away. Hunting at night made his senses sharper and his mind clearer. He felt himself enjoying it. 

The sun was slowly rising and the owls had disappeared. Birds were starting to sing songs and flapping around the trees. Heartpaw emerged from under a bush, where he had kept all the prey he had caught. In his mouth hung three mice and a vole. He trotted back to camp, feeling the first sun rays on his pelt. He slipped into camp where a dawn patrol was talking. Pinestar was amongst them and when he spotted Heartpaw with the prey, he raised his eyebrows but his eyes shone with approval. Heartpaw padded to the elder's den. Riverclaw was awake. He nodded to Heartpaw. 

              "You are keeping up with your promise," he commented. Heartpaw nodded and dropped the prey in front of them. 

              "We can't eat all four, take the vole," Riverclaw said. 

              "Thanks," mumbled Heartpaw who was more tired than hungry. 

               "Why are you awake so early?" rasped Whitecloud, emerging from the den. "Ooh, food. Why thank you." She took a mouse and dug in. 

               "Watch it," Heartpaw said. "I won't be able to hunt this afternoon probably so this might be the only food you get. I'll try to hunt more though. Take the vole." He pushed the vole back towards Riverclaw. "I gotta go." Heartpaw trotted back to Pinestar. 

               "Good, you're ready," he nodded. "And you fed the elders. Come on. Fighting lessons today." Heartpaw followed Pinestar out, not knowing how he was going to stay awake. But as they bounded through the territory, Heartpaw felt more alive than ever.