The two mentors and apprentices padded through the forest. The sun beamed down through the trees and lit it up before them. Green leaf scents washed their noses, and they relished the sounds and squawks around them.

Oakfall let out a sigh. Lionpaw and Ivypaw were at the rear, chattering  like birds.

"It was massive! It ran right up the tree, and I climbed up after it! It was awesome!" Lionpaw boasted.

"Wow! I want to learn how to climb trees!" Ivypaw meowed, impressed. Lionpaw puffed out his chest. "It comes in time." He advised. "Maybe in a few days." he suggested. Ivypaw nodded thoughtfully.

"Okay, Ivypaw, do a hunting crouch." Oakfall told her when they stopped at the Practise Arena. It was a wide hollow surrounded by thorn bushes. Luckily there was a patch of softer bushes where they entered and left.

Ivypaw crouched down, her haunches tucked beneath her and her forepaws bent down. She flattened her ears and raised her tail just above the ground, which lay motionless.

"Great job!" Oakfall praised. Ivypaw got up and shook out her fur.

"Okay, Ivypaw. In hunting there will be no chasing or anything. You will have to use your tracking skills. You also will have to stalk them. Can you stalk?" Oakfall asked.

Ivypaw gulped. She had never practised before. She got into the same crouch, gently lifted her paws forward. Suddenly she unbalanced, and she toppled over.

"Hmm.." Oakfall thought for a moment. "It was very good, next time put the strength into your  haunches. And relax. Don't bunch your muscles and strain them too much or they will hurt. Just relax. Also don't concentrate on your paws. Concentrate on what's in front of you as well. You might step on a twig." He advised.

Ivypaw got into the crouch again. She glided forward, keeping as low as a snake and as quiet as a dead mouse. She stopped, bunched her muscles and pounced on a leaf a few mouse lengths ahead. She landed square on it and ripped it apart with her claws. Turning, she looked at her mentor. His expression betrayed his shock and warmth.

"Well done." he purred. "That was perfect. Lets get onto real hunting now." he added seriously.

They all walked around the forest, sense alert, jaws open wide.

Then Ivypaw scented something familiar. She had seen it on the fresh kill pile. Checking the wind, she stalked towards it. She cautiously wandered through the forest. Finally she found it. The mouse was nibbling on a tiny nut. She crouched low, in case it might see her. She moved quietly and slowly, stopping when it stopped. When it was close to finishing, she leaped.

It squeaked and scuttled off. Ivypaw missed it. She was a leaf length ahead of where it was.

"Mouse dung!" she hissed as she stomped out of the bushes. Suddenly she felt guilty. She was probably making a lot of noise. Then she moved quieter, her senses alert again. She scented thrush. She tracked it towards Tall Tree and spotted a whole bunch of them.

Tasty! She thought as she licked her lips and got into position.

She stalked quietly towards all of them, sliding like a snake. She counted 4 of them. There was no way she was going to catch all of them. Two of them were close together, she would go for those two.

Suddenly she scented Lionpaw. She turned her head around slightly and saw him eyeing the two thrushes. He looked at her and nodded. Ivypaw knew he wanted her to swerve around and when they were ready, they would both pounce. She crept forward. Lionpaw was now opposite her. He flicked his tail and they leaped onto the birds. Three squawks were cut off as  they both aimed for them. Ivypaw bit ones neck quickly, the turned to another one she had trapped with her claw. She gave it the killing bite thennlooke dup to see the last one fluttering away. Lionpaw leaped up high enough to hang his claws into its wing. Ivypaw flashed with envy. He brung it down and bit its throat, then stood panting for a few seconds. He nodded towards her.

"Wow, well done! Four thrushes will be amazing!" He puffed out his chest. Ivypaw nodded eagerly. She was already making a good warrior.

"Wow, how did you catch those?" Timberstripe nodded towards the thrushes. Ivypaw and Lionpaw had both carried two.

"We teamed up and circled them then pounced."Lionpaw explained as he put his prey down as Ivypaw did the same.

"I'm impressed." Oakfall praised. He was carrying a mouse by its tail and Timberstripe had a squirrel at his paws. They picked up their fresh kill and padded back towards camp. Night was falling already.

When they entered, there was a few meows of surprise. The little patrol placed their prey in the fresh kill pile.

Oakfall sighed. "Tomorrow we can practise battle moves as a reward."he mewoed reluctantly. It was obvious apprentices didn't  usually start battle training this early. Lionpaw and Ivypaw exchanged excited glances. "Will Lynxpaw be there?" Ivypaw asked.

Oakfall shook his head. "She is helping Dragonpaw with his pounce. Your sister has an amazing leap." He lashed his tail. "You both are very talented. Now go to your dens, we have to get up at dawn." He ordered the apprentices. They scurried off towards the apprentice den and huddled in their nests. Her nest was already there. Lynxpaw's and lionpaw's were next to hers. Ivypaw smiled as she wrapped her tail over her nose and dozed off.