Hunting alone

[Honeypetal]

The forest was still. The air was loose and crisp. The sun was a strange, white orb among the thick clouds. A thin mist curled above the crooked roots of silent trees. No breeze made the few leaves left rustle.

A shadow slipped through the tranquil scene, hardly making a sound. The shadows name was Ebonystep - warrior of ThunderClan. It was days like this that she loved. Despite the pain LeafBare caused, it was her favourite season. She loved the feeling, the temperature and the frost. The one thing she hated was snow. It gave her black pelt away and made hunting harder. Right now, no snow blanketed the forest. So all was perfect.

At that time, Ebonystep was tracking a vole. She slunk through some bushes, making sure she didn't snap a twig which was near her big, black paw. The brown-furred creature was on the move, probably looking for food. Sure enough, Ebonystep found it sniffing the ground and picking up a seed tentatively. It's last meal. Moving into a good position, Ebonystep focused her gaze on the vole. She crouched, she jumped, she pinned. In a matter of seconds, the bewildered target was under dark paws and before it got it's mind straight, Ebonystep clamped her jaws into its tiny throat.

Giving thanks to Starclan for the prey, Ebonystep dropped the fallen vole under a bush and kicked some earth over it. She had until Sunhigh, so one vole wouldn't be enough to go back to camp with. However plump and mouth-watering it was.

[Honeypetal]

Scenting the air, Ebonystep padded softly away from the vole and headed through the trees. Squirrel tickled her nose, but it was stale. She flicked her ears in annoyance. The clan could have done with a squirrel.

Ebonystep padded on, scenting the air for any prey. It was expected that LeafBare brought bad prey supplies, but it always made her fur prick in annoyance. All of a sudden, a strong scent hit her. Pigeon. In an instant, Ebonystep had dropped down and was stalking forwards, making sure she didn't let her feet drag. The grey bird soon came into view. It was pecking at the ground for seeds or whatever else it could find. Slowly, Ebonystep slipped forwards.

Crack!

The pigeon looked up instantly and started to spread it's wings. No! Ebonystep thought in frustration. She was not letting this opportunity go. Not without a good fight. The black she cat flung herself from some bushes and tried to bring down the panicing bird. By the time she reached it, the pigeon was only a fox tail length off the ground. Ebonystep slashed wildly at it's wing. With a terrified squawk, the bird fell down in a heap. Quick as a flash, Ebonystep struck. She bought down one paw onto her target's neck. A messy kill. But a kill nonetheless.

The crack was probably enough to scare the prey. The pigeons warning cry was enough to send them running for cover. Ebonystep cursed the error under her breath - it would probably cost her hunting around that part of the wood. She gazed at the snapped twig in annoyance. Apprentices' mistake.

[Honeypetal]

She was right. After checking the shady wood, all Ebonystep gained was a thorn in her pad. The sharp object had dug in deep and only the very top of it was showing. Lashing her tail in annoyance, she sunk her teeth into the foul tasting growth. With a sharp tug, it was out. Along with a splatter of the red liquid known as blood.

Ebonystep leaned over her paw and started to lick. From experience, she knew the licking would clean the wound but the hardened pad would start to soften. Just great. Finally, the oozing blood stopped and, just as predicted, Ebonysteps black pad was sensitive as a new born kit's. The small warrior got to her paws and gathered her pigeon and vole. Not bad, for leaf-bare. And with that thought, Ebonystep slunk back.