Lightning's Storm

Night Hunting

The moon was shining brightly into the den, and its silverly rays fell right across my closed eyes. I yawned, squinting into the clear moonlight. With a bleary blink, I raised my head, looking at the pelts of my sleeping friends around me.

The second moon of my apprenticeship seemed to be filled with never ending chores and moss duty. I winced, flexing my sore paws as I recalled how I had spent all day today hauling bedding around with Nightpaw.

We had at least gotten some interesting stories about the rat battles from Tangle and Lichenfur out of it. They told us the ones about Rainfur's death, and Leafstar and Firestar finally defeating the rat leader. Still, my whole body was left aching from the nonstop climbing up and down the cliffs, and ripping moss off of the trunks of trees far out in the forest, and bringing it back to the gorge...

I rested my chin back down on my paws, willing sleep to come curl its dark pelt back over me. But, despite my aching muscles, my mind was buzzing with thoughts, and I could feel the night calling to me from the den's entrance, making me restless in my nest like there were ants crawling over my pelt.

I fidgeted around for a few moments longer before giving up and rising to my paws. As I stepped out of my nest, I was careful not to disturb Nightpaw, who was curled up in his nest pressed right beside mine. I gave my pelt a quick shake to flatten the parts that stuck up from sleep and crept out of the den.

The gorge was lit up with moonlight, turning the red rocks silver. I paused for a moment at the mouth of the apprentices' den just to take in the striking sight before I climbed down the trail and padded into the center of camp, fluffing my fur out.

The night was cold.

I shivered, beginning to regret my decision to leave my warm, cozy nest. While I bounced up and down on my paws to get my blood flowing, I walked down to the stream to lap at some water. It stung my tongue with an ice cold bite, but the burn felt pleasant.

I sat up, swiping my tongue over my lips and looking out across the stream. The bright moonlight clearly marked the the trail that led to the Whispering Cave. I titled my head as I looked at it, curiosity thrumming in me. Apprentices weren't allowed there without supervision because the slippery path was so treacherous. And, only the medicine cats were allowed to enter the cave alone, to commune with our ancestors. I gazed at the path intently.

Are StarClan's whisperings really so secretive that a normal warrior cannot handle what they say?

I shook my head, putting the thought out of my mind.

StarClan guided and protected us. I was not one to question their ways; I was just a warrior apprentice... I could never dream to have the connection to StarClan that Echosong did.

I cast a final glance at the path before getting back to my paws.

My belly suddenly rumbled in hunger, and my whiskers drooped. I knew I could not take even a mouse from the pile. Not before fresh food was caught for the elders and queens in the morning. I sighed in disappointment, but my gaze was slowly drawn down the gorge and to the trees in the distance. My tail started to twitch as an idea formed in my mind.

I could hunt. If I caught new prey to put on the pile, then I could eat something that's still there from yesterday.

My stomach clenched in excitement.

But, apprentices aren't allowed to leave the camp alone at night.

Dismay crashed over me as I remembered. I huffed an annoyed sigh, my tail-tip twitching. Despite the hunger that had gripped me moments earlier, now just the thought of simply running through the woods with the stars above me seemed very appealing. Maybe even more appealing than grabbing a snack. My mind was restless and so became my body. My legs itched to move, to run, to hunt.