Fawnstar's Return

Chapter 3

A few last stars twinkled out as the sun's first rays glinted onto the ground. Fawnstar stretched in her nest. A paw prodded her in the side. Two green eyes stared excitedly at her.

"Cloudpaw," Fawnstar grumbled.

"Can we start the assessment, please?" Cloudpaw begged.

"We will if you stop begging like a starved mouse," Fawnstar meowed. She carefully got out of her soft nest, and padded out into the warm clearing, with Cloudpaw following her. Fawnstar sniffed the air. Bushtail and Robinpaw had not yet woken up. "Cloudpaw, go wake Robinpaw," She ordered. Cloudpaw scampered off to the apprentice's den. Fawnstar ducked into the warriors' den. Quietly, she padded over to her brother's nest.

"Bushtail, wake up," she whispered. The tabby tom blinked open his eyes. He laughed.

"Does every warrior's sister have to wake him up?" He sniffed, then followed Fawnstar out of the den. The sun had broke through the horizon, dappling the green leaves of the forest. Robinpaw and Cloudpaw were chatting excitedly. "Time to go!" Fawnstar called to them, already padding out of camp with Bushtail. The apprentices raced after them. The late greenleaf sun shone brightly on the cats, casting shadows on the ground.

"Alright. Bushtail and Robinpaw are going to head to the Skyclan border, and we will head to the mossy hollow," Fawnstar meowed to Cloudpaw. Robinpaw and Bushtail were already gone. 

Cloudpaw pushed his way past Fawnstar and headed into the forest. Fawnstar stuck to the undergrowth, peering out of the bushes to watch him. Cloudpaw had cut his way through the forest, heading for the mossy hollow. The scent of mouse drifted through the trees. Cloudpaw made sure to stay downwind of it, placing his paws down lightly on the ground so as not to alert the mouse. As he got closer, Fawnstar could see the mouse. It was nibbling on a few beechnuts that were scattered on the ground. Cloudpaw pounced. His paw came down on the mouse hard before killing it. He flicked his tail in excitement. Cloudpaw buried his mouse underneath an oak tree for later. The breeze shifted, so any animal he was stalking would know he was there.

Cloudpaw acknowledged it, heading in the other direction. He saw something, and the tip of his tail disappeared into a bush. Fawnstar quietly trotted after him, so as not being seen. She padded past a rasberry patch, skirting the big twoleg den. She could barely see Cloudpaw's sandy grey pelt as it hurried through the trees. Fawnstar heard a crash, than a scared squak as Cloudpaw brought down a bird. He buried his prey then headed back into the trees.

Maybe he'll catch a squirrel, Fawnstar thought. She knew that all eager apprentices were hoping to catch one. A short while later, Cloudpaw appeared once more, his gaze flitting through the treetops. He's found one! Cloudpaw's tail quivered. He dug his claws into the bottom of a maple tree. He stealthily climbed upward, his eyes locked on a bushy tail. The bushy grey tail twitched, as if sensing Cloudpaw. He kept climbing, until he was level with the squirrel. The squirrel could see him now, and was shooting into the next tree. Cloudpaw flew after it, nimbly jumping from tree to tree. What! Sorrelpelt hasn't taught him that! Cloudpaw was still pursuing the squirrel, and finally caught up to it. He swiftly gave it a killing bite. Cloudpaw slithered down the tree with his prey, and Fawnstar was waiting at the bottom. "That was awesome," Fawnstar purred.

"Did I pass?" Cloudpaw asked hopingly. Fawnstar flicked her tail.

"Of course you did," she meowed. He purred, than followed Fawnstar to pick up the prey he had buried. Halfway back to camp, they found Bushtail and Robinpaw. Robinpaw was carrying two starlings and a plump vole.