Echo yawned, she was now a helper {Equivalent to apprentice} , She slithered out of den, her mentor was waiting.  Bell was a ginger and white she cat who was nice but she was strong and smart, Bell's tail lashed impatiently, "Took long, hurry up, we need to start now!" She meowed firmly. Echo quicken her pace, and ran.

When they arrived, Rock and Snowy were about to start  training, Echo crouched, narrowed her eyes at Rock. Rock flung himself at her, as she slid out of the way, and tackled him. " Rock, try harder!" Watcher ordered his helper.  " Try harder! Okay, mister demandy pelt!" Rock muttered silently with mocking tone. Rock pinned Echo, faking clawing her fur. Echo kicked him off, Snowy was training with her mentor, Leaf. Leaf was healer of rogues. " Snowy, even healer will be attacked, so we shall train few battle moves." Leaf mewed as Snowy nodded

Echo falsely swiped at Rock, huffing each breath. " That's enough battle training!, hurry along. We still have some hunting to do!" Bell mewed in firm tone. Echo and Rock stopped, Snowy and Leaf left to gather herbs. Echo crouched, tail slightly up. " flatten your ears a bit and get bit lower." Bell whispered, Echo lowered herself and ears lied flat. She slowly crept, aiming for her prey. " Now." Bell murmured. Echo ran towards a mouse, and killed it instant bite.

" Good job! You caught your first prey as a helper!" Bell meowed happily, Echo carried the limp creature in her jaws with joy. Rock held a large and plump rabbit, he dropped his prey and spoke " You just caught that skinny mouse while I caught this fat rabbit? I am better at hunting I guess!" Rock bragged, sneering at Echo. "  Rock, respect your groupmates and all prey, prey fills empty bellies" Watcher scolded, Rock bowed his head, then he swooped his rabbit up. The four cats carried food back the camp.

 Echo dropped her mouse as Rock carefully placed his rabbit in the pile. " You did good, filling up the meal pile for all cats to eat." Arick mewed, he snatched the robin. Echo dragged a large vole from pile and brought to nice sunny spot. " May we join you?" Snowy asked, Rock was at her side.  She nodded, the three gobbled their shared meal. Rock came near her, Echo growled but looked at him. " Why did you growl at our brother?" Snowy questioned, " L-look, uhh Echo. I am sorry for my bragging earlier. I wasn't thinking. I hope you forgive me." Snowy nodded her head in understanding.

" Clearly you were not thinking. But your forgiven, I won't let you off easy next time." Echo responded with small hiss.  Echo licked her brother's head and trotted off, She went over to her friend, Rat. Who had messy sandy fur. " Hi Rat." She greeted " Hello Echo, nice weather today." Rat meowed. She nodded and groomed his fur, licking down ruffled tufts of fur. Rat licked her fur and ears. " You still look messy, no matter how many times I groom you." Echo joked, Rat playfully attacked her, they rolled. Echo shook her pelt " Anyway, I am going for a walk. Alone." She meowed, racing away.

Echo walked as far birch tree stood, She was couple of fox lengths away. Echo sliced the tree, leaving scars on the bark. She padded over to tall maple tree, green leaves dangled. Echo ran over to the maple. She sunk her claws in the thick bark, clambered along trunk. Her legs quickly grew tired. She leapt on branch, looked over forest that she called home. Echo jumped onto higher branch, her claw digging into high branch, she pulled up and heaved a breath.

Echo crouched, ready to jump. She leapt but her paws missed by a whisker, She felt her body fall and fear tickling her fur. Dread surged in her, Echo fell and could hear her name being called. " Echo!!" 

Note: Cliffhanger! Here a chapter for now! See ya soon! WILL she live? What will happen?!