WP Weekly Prompt #3

Fernstripe pounced on the mouse, killing it in one blow. He looked up and turned his head to look at his apprentice, Redpaw. The apprentice was nearly bouncing with excitement at the first hunting lesson.

”You see? That’s how you hunt a mouse. You were watching, right?” Fernstripe asked, knowing that Redpaw was notorious for not paying attention. Redpaw paused, then nodded slowly.

”Great! Then you can hunt the next one!” Fernstripe meowed. Redpaw’s eye widened in surprise.

”Now?”

”Yes, now.”

”Right.” Redpaw got into the hunting stance Fernstripe had shown him, quiet and ready to pounce. His nostrils flared as he sniffed, looking for a mouse. There was one not far away from the two cats, the apprentice could tell.

He crept forwards until he wasn’t too far away, in distance to pounce on his prey. There was a rustle from the bushes as a mouse scurried out from it’s safety. Without hesitation, Redpaw lept from where he waited, claws out. He landed on the mouse and killed it in a swift swipe.

”Good to know you were actually listening,” Fernstripe praised. Redpaw snorted at that, it was the closest the apprentice would get as a compliment.

”So now we take it back to the camp, right?” he asked. The deputy nodded, pleased his apprentice was coming along quite well.

”I can’t wait to see Cedarpaw’s face when I tell her that I caught a mouse!” Redpaw meowed.

”You’re doing great Redpaw, but you still have a ways to go before you become a warrior,” Fernstripe reminded gently. Redpaw nodded in response.

”I know, I know.” Fernstripe padded over to the mouse he had killed and picked it up, beginning to walk away back towards camp. Redpaw hastily grabbed his own before following Fernstripe, his tail waving in the sun.