"Let's stop here for the night. We need some rest."

 Quail stretched on some tree bark while everybody fell into a heap, exhaustion clouding every cat's eyes. Even Pear looked dull, her pelt ragged. She placed her tail on her eyes and begam grooming herself tiredly. Minkpelt and her kits snuggled into Peck's flank. After a few moments of rest, Livvy rose to her paws. 

"I think we should hunt a little bit," she mewed. Livvy was the only cat who looked normal, her pelt fluffing out. Scab stood up, and Heather did as well, thinking that hunting was the least she could do for these cats. Livvy looked a little crestfallen as the other cats looked away, sleep and exhaustion forbidding them to move. "Come on, let's go," murmured Scab, placing her tail on the deputy's shoulder. Heather couldn't help but think about how the deputy was usually ignored.

Heather plodded on behind the two she-cats. The group had been walking for the whole day since sunhigh, without any rest or prey. Treekit and Harekit had to be carried on Minkpelt and Peck's backs, snoring the whole way. 

Suddenly a shadow swooped overhead, and the tang of hawk filled the cats' nostrils. Livvy immediately grabbed Heather's scruff and stuffed her in a prickly bush. She let out a hiss as the thorns pricked her pelt, sure they were drawing blood. Scab lowered herself into a berry bush, her ears twitching. They pricked as another scent mingled with the hawk's - a shrew. Scab was about to launch into a hunting crouch, but Livvy pulled on her tail. The black she-cat snarled, but Livvy flicked her tail impatiently. Heather watched in awe as the hawk fluttered down onto the shrew, digging its talons onto the creature's back.

Without warning the deputy launched herself onto the unsuspecting hawk, letting out a screech. Scab also leaped to pin down the hawk's flailing wings. Heather hesistated as the hawk's beady amber eye caught hers, but reminded herself that she needed to help. Letting out a huge breath, she bit the hawk's throat. She winced as sticky blood poured out of the clean bite, its stench floating into the air. The hawk's eyes became empty, and the huge beast went limp. 

"That was a great idea, Livvy!" purred Scab, her eyes glinting with awe. Livvy licked specks of blood off her paws, as though the catch was nothing. Heather was about to praise the deputy when she saw the dead shrew still clutched in the hawk's talons. "We caught a hawk and a shrew in one go!" exclaimed Heather, shocked. "That's the whole point, mouse-brain! I hope I didn't hurt your tail too much, Scab," mewed Livvy, beginning to drag the huge carcass. "It's important to wait until the hawk has made its kill-"

"Are you perhaps looking for Brindlesong?" A soft, clear voice rang out. Livvy, Scab, and Heather whipped their heads around in unison to see a white cat nearly as small as a kit. "Who are you?" snarled Scab, her pelt bristling. The cat looked worried, shrinking. "I'm Lin. I heard you and some other cats talk about Brindlesong," she squeaked. Her green eyes sparkled as Heather's whiskers twitched. "I know where she is. And I'll take you there, if you'll let me."

Livvy's expression looked blank. Her moment of pride was over, and seriousness returned to her eyes. "How do you know Brindlesong, Lin?" she hissed.

"She lives with me."

hi everyone! i'm so sorry that this chapter is short.. i have some work to finish so i haven't had kuch free time.. i hope you like this book so far! i've spent a lot of time thinking about the story, and really liked it, so i hope you do as well. thank you so so much for reading 🤸‍♀️