The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

14. In The Night

     Why is Echopaw's scent here?  

     Scorchpaw paused by a tree and sniffed once again at it. Surely enough, the scent was strong. Why is she in the forest? He shook his head and padded forward. She'll be fine. She's probably looking for herbs or something. His hackles raised as he sniffed the air. And I have to find prey for Fang. I should have just brought something from the kill pile, but then Patchback definitely would have caught me! 

     The scent of mouse filled his mouth, and saliva began to gather in his jaws. He purred and stalked confidently, pinpointing the location of the prey. There's got to be plenty of them nearby! I'll catch two for her. Slowly, he moved with careful paws, sliding his pads on the frost. The scent grew most sharp near the roots of a large oak, and he nosed through the shoots of grass and ferns that grew amongst the tendrils. He peered through a few leaves with deep joy at the sight of three small mice curled together, huddled against the roots. Stupid mice, he thought, fighting back a purr. He slowly reached towards them and slapped his paw down, trapping two by their tails. The third squeaked and began to scramble away, but he bit into its neck to kill it. Swiftly, he killed the other two, and he carefully grabbed them all by their tails. That was great! 

     With energy coursing through the young tom like a river, he bounded onward, cheerily taking in the scents of the mice he had caught. Fang will be ecstatic! He broke into a run, hopping over rocks and fallen branches with ease. Swiftly, he made his way towards the border, his catch flopping about by their tails. Soon, the border was in sight, the familiar brush marking the end of DarkClan territory. The scent markings grew strong, and Scorchpaw leaped over the scentline without hesitating. He dropped his prey and looked around, searching for his friend. "Fang? Fang! Where are you?" She has to be here! 

     The orange tabby slid into sight, eyes wide at the sight of the catch. A loud purr erupted from her throat, and she looked to the bush that she had crawled from, flicking her tail. Another cat emerged, covered in dust and bits of old bark. She gave her white and ginger pelt a shake and blinked her big, amber eyes in surprise. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the mice, and she looked to Fang as if asking permission. Fang gave a faint nod, and the young cat rushed to the mice, snatching up one of the thin creatures and backing away, casting an anxious look up at Scorchpaw. 

     She looks familiar! "Who is she?" Scorchpaw demanded, and felt a pang of guilt when the white and ginger she-cat dropped the mouse and stepped back, startled. "Sorry," Scorchpaw mewed. "That was more harsh than I meant." Her ribs are showing through her pelt. Are things really that bad in the twolegplace? If Fang brought her, that must be where she's from. 

     "Her name is Poppy. She's my kin," Fang meowed sternly, but her gaze softened. "I brought her so she could have a taste of good prey. I also think it'd be good if you had someone to work with during training. It'd certainly help her." 

     Scorchpaw looked to Poppy, who dipped her head pleadingly. He sighed and offered a comforting purr. "You can have a mouse. I caught this third one too, so you can take it with you if you want." 

     Gratitude flashed in Poppy's eyes, and she beamed up at Scorchpaw for a moment before pawing the mouse closer to her and biting into it. She finished the stringy Leaf-bare prey in a few quick, famished bites. She chewed on one of the bones, purring loud enough to wake a hibernating badger. Meanwhile, Fang ate her own mouse with more dignity, but she too cleaned it of all parts edible and buried the remains. 

     Once the two were finished and had licked their muzzles, all was silent. Fang stood and studied Scorchpaw and Poppy with interested, curious green eyes. "Are you two ready?"