CinderStar's Broken Family

Chapter 7 ~ Hunting Tricks

~CinderPaw's POV~

Me and MistyPaw were confined to the camp for an extra week. Fun. At least we were together, so we didn't have to do chores on our own. But, our punishment is over, so that was that.

We are out of camp at the current moment, running silently through the woods of ThunderClan's territory, looking for a good hunting place to try out our new trick. SkyStar, SmallTail and AshPelt followed, in silent conversation with eachother as they tried to keep up with us.

Running past a bush of berries, MistyPaw skidded to a halt and snapped a small twig off the bush, the berries on the twig bounced as she carried it carefully to not destroy the berries.

I could see our parents watching us curiously, but eagerness shone in their eyes as they stared ahead at MistyPaw and I. "Bet they're wondering what our trick is?" I muttered. MistyPaw purred and nodded her head in a silent 'yes'.

After a few minutes, we came to a halt in a small clearing. I drank in the scent around us. The air was fresh with the scent of mouse. "There's got to be a mouse den around here..." MistyPaw, who had placed the berries in the center of the clearing, spoke quietly.

We looked at eachother, pride shining equally in our glittering, lake blue eyes. As I scurried into the shadow of a large oak tree, MistyPaw had climbed an evergreen tree on the opposite side of the clearing.

I glanced around, I could see the eyes of our parents shining in the shadows of the bushes, as I curled around the tree, my dark pelt blending into the shadow and the bark of the oaks high trunk.

We waited. And waited... and waited.

Two blackbirds flew down, landing silently in the middle of the clearing, picking away at some of the berries, as three mice, an adult, followed by two smaller ones, scurried out from under the oak I was hiding behind and sat with the birds, digging into the berries.

I looked up, and caught MistyPaw's eyes. They locked, and as we both silently counted down from three, she yowled "NOW!" and we sprang. I was on the ground, and my front paws slammed down onto two of the mice, one of the little ones scurrying away only to be quickly put down with a bite to the neck from AshPelt, who had stopped it. Meanwhile, as the birds were startled, their wings spread, but just before they could fly away and make a warning call, MistyPaw sprung out from the tree, her paws slamming against the birds and bringing them to the ground. Dead.

"Yes!" We cheered. Five pieces of fresh kill in one easy go.

"Well done you two!" SkyStar praised, while AshPelt's and SmallTail's I eyes shone with pride. "It was smart, CinderPaw, the way you blended into the trees shadow with your dark pelt, and MistyPaw. Excellent timing on your jump to catch the birds!"

We purred evenly, our pelts prickling with the warm gaze we got from our parents. "I can't believe it worked!" MistyPaw mewed. "Well, it was your plan to begin with!" I spoke, trying to stay calm, but excitement was painted into my voice.

Everyone in camp was amazed with our trick when we got back, telling them what we did.

"You guys HAVE to teach us to do that!" StormPaw, a dark gray apprentice yowled. "We will!" MistyPaw responded. I, after a while, turned and padded to the fresh kill pile, grabbing one of the black birds and a mouse that MistyPaw and I caught, and I turned and brought them to the elders den.

"I'm proud of you and your sister!" OwlHeart, the oldest cat currently in ThunderClan, praised as I walked in, dropping the fresh kill for the elders. "Thank you." I smiled, happy that I had managed to do something good for the clan after causing the havoc at the last gathering I went to.

As I padded out of the elders den, I couldn't help but think about the WindClan apprentice, RootPaw. The one I got in trouble for attacking at the gathering. 'Did he get in trouble for what he said?' I wondered. I'd find out next gathering I'm at, if I ever go to one again.

The whole clan was praising MistyPaw and I for our trick, and for bringing back so much prey in one go. Tonight was a good night, and the prefect redemption for our mistakes.