Post by [Ashpaw] on Sept 16, 2011 11:00:23 GMT -5
Birdsong coming from different directions could be heard in the whole forest. An occasional scuttle is made by a nearby mouse, munching on a seed it found. Rabbits can be seen running in and out of their little warren. The whole territory of ThunderClan is once again full of prey. Greenleaf may scorch many cats under their fur, but it certainly gives the forest a whole new life again. Everything is in its place, just what a certain apprentice wants. A good sign for a good new day of hunting is a good way to cheer Ashpaw up.
Doing tasks of a regular apprentice like fetching moss or training with his mentor may not be Ashpaw’s favorite things, but solo hunting is definitely one of the brown apprentice’s preferred assignments. He could enjoy the beauty of nature by himself, listening at the wonderful chirps the birds made and smelling the crisp wooden smell from the different types of trees he passed by. Nobody can also disrupt him from his hunt and he can freely do whatever he wants. No mentor to teach him what to do and no other warrior to watch over him. What more could Ashpaw wish for?
As the apprentice continued his walk in the forest, an easy prey crossed his path. It was a large plump mouse, nibbling on a seed and all fat from Greenleaf’s bounty to the forest. Although it smelled of dirt and mud, the scent of its warm blood still made its way to Ashpaw’s nostrils. The mere thought of chomping down at the juicy and succulent flesh of a fresh-kill made Ashpaw’s mouth water. With the apprentice’s heart pumping faster and adrenalines rushing, Ashpaw finally decided to stalk the mouse and hopefully bring it back to the camp as his meal.
Ashpaw lowered his head and flattened his ears. He opened his mouth as he tried to get more of the soon-to-be fresh-kill’s scent. He got into the hunter’s crouch as he began to slowly creep to his prey. Ashpaw made gentle pawsteps at a moderate pace as he made it sure not to scare away the fat mouse. He was only a few tail-lengths away from it and he could finally reach it. He only needs another step and he can finally make a pounce. He was so close to it when suddenly, something unexpected and unfortunate happened.
“Crack!”
Ashpaw had accidentally stepped on a twig. With fear-scent from the mouse quickly filling Ashpaw’s nostrils, the apprentice knew that the mouse had already known about its hunter’s presence. The mouse quickly struggled in its weight and rushed into the undergrowth. Unfortunately for the prey, Greenleaf had dried up most of the grass and Ashpaw could still see it running towards the Abandoned Twoleg Place. Perhaps, the prey thought of it as a place where cats don’t go near to, but Ashpaw’s determination to catch the mouse made him chase it.
“Wait,” Ashpaw quietly ordered the mouse. Although he knew mice wouldn’t follow his word, he had definitely wished for the mouse to do so.