Dark Destinies {Book 1}

Chapter 12

HOLLYPAW

I stared wide eyed at Larkwind and tried to process all the shocking information she had just delivered. There had been another clan who had tried to destroy the others? It felt like everything I'd ever thought to be true was unravelling beneath my paws.

"How could Froststar do that to a friend?" Ashpaw asked, crossing his paws.

"Kinkstar was the one who started the war." I pointed out, Ashpaw looked at me curiously.

"Yeah but Froststar betrayed him." Ashpaw meowed, Owlclaw flicked his tail to silence us.

"It happened a very long time ago. They're both long dead. Kinkstar isn't coming back and Froststar's actions were forgiven." Owlclaw's tone left no room for discussion.

"I guess," I meowed standing. "Thank you for the story."

"Not a story. History." Larkwind purred. "Now who wants to go hunting?"

"Me!" Ashpaw squeaked jumping to his paws causing Owlclaw to roll his eyes.

"Me too." I meowed a little more calmly.

Yet although Owlclaw had firmly ended the conversation I couldn't help but think about Hazeclan. Were they truly gone or would they eventually return to our forest? If they did return would it mean that they would instantly have a grudge against Iceclan?

I gulped.

Not paying attention I bumped into Owlclaw who in return flicked his tail in my face hotly.

"Pay attention." He growled.

As we wandered into the woods Larkwind and Ashpaw broke away from Owlclaw and I. Waiting for instruction I looked up at him.

Owlclaw noticed my look and blinked several times, "You've got your crouch down well enough to catch yourself something."

"That's it?"

"Hollypaw, I won't be around to coach you through every pawstep. Try to see what you can do."

With that Owlclaw turned and padded off. I narrowed my eyes at his retreating form.

I stood for a moment and listened to the soft murmurings of the tall pines as they swayed in the frosty breeze. I decided that hunting a little ways away would be my best bet.

The soft snow crunched beneath my paws and my nose picked up every smell around me. The earthy smell of pine, crisp snow, faintly the smell of other cats then very distinctly the smell of rabbit. Instantly my heart rate increased and my mouth filled with saliva.

My claws extended into the snow as I pinpointed the rabbit's scent trail. It was leading toward a large bush a few foxlengths away from me.

The rabbit was so close to me I could feel its heartbeat hammering through my paw pads and its floppy, clumsy feet against the icy ground. I thanked Starclan for the lack of winds today. I paused beside the bush for a moment then sprang.

I had managed to take the rabbit completely off guard as my claws grasped onto its thick Leaf-Bare coat. With a quick bite to its neck, the rabbit fell limp in my mouth. It was a thin rabbit, probably more fur than meat but it would be enough to feed Leopardspots and probably her kits.

When I met back up with Owlclaw he smiled at my catch with satisfaction. "Bury that beside my thrush," he meowed, indicating to the small pile of snow at his paws.

A moment later Ashpaw and Larkwind reappeared. With one look at my rabbit, Ashpaw's eyes filled with excitement.

"Let's go! I bet I can catch a rabbit too."