Warrior Cats: The Four Clans

Chapter Eight

   Gingerpaw padded along the dusty trail leading the patrol to the sun-drown place. Whitebird was speaking to her eager apprentice, Rosepaw.

   "Crabs are a bit tougher to catch than mice, considering they can scamper into the sand quite quickly at any sudden movement. The key is to lure them out without casting a shadow or coming to close. Once they are far enough exposed, you pounce. If you feel a squiggle under your paws, push down. The pressure should instantly kill the squirming crustacean." Rosepaw nodded, trying to let the information soak into her mind.

   Soon, Gingerpaw saw the gentle dip of  sunrise leaking across the sky in tinted plums and peaches. Below,the calming waves gently rocked back and forth, lapping at the sand's edge. Gingerpaw carefully stepped into the sand. She sunk about two mouse lengths; it was very damp. Still, it felt cool and wonderful, and she slipped up the shore to the sea line.
   Around the sea line there was tangled bunches of seaweed and cracked pleated shells with crooked edges. Suddenly, she felt a tiny pinch beneath her paw pad.
   "Yikes!" Gingerpaw leapt out of her pawprints. Smokepelt chuckled. "Seems as though you've found a crab! Whitebird, why don't you and Rosepaw hunt over there?"

   Whitebird cautiously snuck over to Gingerpaw, a playful glint of eagerness gleaming in her pearly green eyes. She carefully put one paw into the sand about one tail length away from the unsuspecting crustacean. The bronze crab scuttled out farther into the open. Soon, he seemed far out enough, and Whitebird punced.
   Her paws were firmly planted in the sand, a wriggling sea creature under them. She placed more pressure down on him, and his struggling little body soon went still. Whitebird stepped away from her prey. It was a tiny little crab, but its meaty insides were enough to fill the stomach of the largest kit. Gingerpaw purred in amusement.

   Soon Gingerpaw was back to work, scanning the sea line for any mysterious green lumps. Suddenly, she spotted some floating in the sea, close enough to the shore for her to retrieve. She grinned, pleased with her work. Maybe I could use a stick to draw it over here, she thought. No, I bet I could reach it with my paw. She gingerly stuck out a small paw and let it swim through the chilly water. A shiver ran down her spine. In what seemed like moons, her claws wrapped around the sopping leafy herb. She drew it towards her slowly. Suddenly, she felt the waves change formation, and soon a dripping blue wall was towering over her. It splashed over the apprentice, soaking the ginger she cat completely. She let out a couple frantic mews before she resurfaced and found herself sprawled out on the sandy shore, shaking, freezing.
   Lucklily the kelp was still in her jaw.

Sparrowclaw chuckled at the helpless apprentice. "You look mighty cold, Gingerpaw. Would you like me to escort you back to Bluegaze to dry off?" He flicked his tail at her bunch of kelp. "Seems as though that's enough to satisfy your mentor." Gingerpaw nodded. She was too cold to stay, and thankful Sparrowclaw has offered. However, she was slightly embarrassed to have been captured by a wave.

Actually, Whitebird caught teh crab as an example for Rosepaw. ;D
But thanks! ^_^

Very nice job. ^^

Chapter Nine

Thrushpaw peered into the dark tunnel, yellow eyes gleaming with excitement. He dropped down onto his hind legs so that his belly fur touched the earth below. "Now remember," Snakestripe, his mentor, reminded him. "It's a quick dash. Sprint down the mole hole, claw the mole, and bring it back up. It shouldn't take any longer than four seconds."
Thrushpaw nodded. Today he was attemptiong to catch his first mole, as all apprentices do at three training days old. It wa stougher than catching regular prey, for moles were underground. But the real challenge was finding a mole hole to test in. It was a great honor to succeed on your first try, and Thrushpaw wanted to please himself.

He secured his footing and crept up to the burrow. Then, he darted down the long, steep slide, his paws slipping about the tunnel's sides. When he reached the bottom, teh first thing he discovered was a frightened mole trying to scamper away. Quickly, he grasped the squirming critter in his teeth and dashed out of the hole. His beaming mentor was perched at the entrance of the mole tunnel, pride gleaming from his eyes.

"Well done!" Snakestripe praised. Thrushpaw squealed with delight. He couldn't wait to go back to the camp to tell his clanmates!

***

Lilypaw scuffled her paws impatiently against the thin soil beneath her. Today was the day she would take her mole-fetching assesment, and she had to admit she was a bit anxious. She may have looked alert, but her insides were like thin soup broth. Snakestripe had already taken Thrushpaw mole-fetching morning, and the night before Gingerpaw had come back from the sun-drown place dripping wet. However, her sister was still able to restock their low kelp supply.

She glanced axiously at the warriors den. Finally, her dark mentor emerged form the opening, yawning. He laughed when he saw Lilypaw. "My, someone's early today, aren't we?"
Lilypaw narrowed her eyes playfully at Runningtear. "Well in my eyes someone's late today, aren't we?" She shot back.
Runningtear chuckled. "Well, I need to go fetch myself a mouse. Meanwhile, why don't you go chat with some of your clanmates? I'm sure the'd love to talk with you." He headed towards the prey pile.

Lilypaw scanned the clearing, praying for soembody decent to talk to. She was in luck, for by the thick bramble by the clan's entrance was the handsome Badgertail. Lilypaw purred and padded over.
"Hello Badgertail!" She exclaimed.
"Good morning Lilypaw!" The warrior smiled, but seemed to get lost in the apprentice's pearly blue eyes.

Lilypaw flicked her tail to straighten his vision. "I'm going to take my mole-fetching assesment today!" She informed him. She sure hoped she'd be able to ramble about her victory when she returned. But ever since she started training, she had never been that great at hunting, for her constant jabbering and motion always scared away the prey.
Badgertail's eyes leapt. "Excellent! I do hope you do well." He paused. This would be a good excuse to rub her neck again. He stretched out his head and gave her splotched neck a gentle rub. The both stared into each other's eyes for an instant, lost.

Runningtear leapt between the two. "Come on Lilypaw!" He exclaimed. "Time for your assesment!"
The young apprentice sighed and turned to Badgertail. "I guess I'll see you around," she ended the conversation shyly, then followed her mentor out of the camp.