Dim Light (Stormwind)

Puddlepaw started burying his catch, consciously digging the hole right next to where his mentor had stuck his rabbit.

Stalking the furry roden, Rainstorm waited for the perfect moment to pounce.

Puddlepaw wanted to purr with satisfaction as he realized there was nothing between him and his catch with Rainstorm padding away. Finally, once the bird seemed convinced that it was safe, the apprentice pounced, snagging the bird in his jaws and killing it with a single bite on his way down from the tree branch to the ground. He landed evenly, making the catch look easy.

Rainstorm followed a squirrel, drawing farther away from Puddlepaw.

Puddlepaw heard the flapping of wings above him, indicating a bird was slowing itself down to land, and froze, not even daring to breathe as his mark landed inside her nest.

He finished burying his prey and scented the air, looking around.

Puddlepaw opened his jaws again and continued the hunt, eagerly spying a bird’s nest in the tree above. If I wait long enough, I can take the bird down as it returns.. The male scampered up the tree with a little difficulty and settled on the same branch the nest was built on.

Rainstorm hesitated briefly, pondering apologizing, before just turning away, digging a hole to bury his rabbit. He doubted an apology would do anything anyway.

Puddlepaw missed his mark, the already-alerted mouse scampering out of his way before he landed and dashing off to safety in a clump of grass. The tom growled some curse words to himself quietly before looking up at Rainstorm, becoming conscious of the tom watching him.

Rainstorm killed the rabbit and looked over at his apprentice.

Puddlepaw’s eyes narrowed as Rainstorm’s pounce made his mouse stand bolt upright, newly alerted to the presence of the hunters. Puddlepaw leapt for the mouse anyways, knowing that he wasn’t catching prey for his mentor, but for his clan.

His deep blue gaze settled on the rather scrawny rabbit that he could see and he crept closer, pausing a little to prepare for his jump, and then leaping to land squarely on the rabbit.

Puddlepaw’s ears flicked irritably in Rainstorm’s direction before the younger tom spotted movement in the undergrowth. He eagerly crouched down, creeping up a few extra steps until he could see his prey.

Rainstorm crept carefully through the undergrowth, down in a hunting crouch as he spunk forward.

Puddlepaw saw Rainstorm seem to claim the rabbit by padding after it, so the apprentice tried to focus on another scent. Eventually, he identified mouse, and swiped his tongue around his jaws, padding carefully in the direction of the scent.

Catching the scent of a rabbit, Rainstorm followed the trail.

Puddlepaw opened his jaws as well, eagerly scenting the air for something to catch and potentially eat later.

Once they reached a spot known to hold a good amount of prey, Rainstorm stopped and opened his mouth to scent the air.

Puddlepaw felt his spirits lifting just by doing something as simple as leaving camp to walk into the wilderness. There was something wonderful about hiking quietly across the territory, especially now, when dusk was upon them. The tom knew it would be a prime time to find prey making the final scurry into their nests for the night, but on top of that everything was just so wonderfully quiet.

Rainstorm sighed and led his apprentice out of the camp.

Puddlepaw nodded, looking down at the ground between his paws. That has to change. Sure Dimclan had survived the move- He was proof- but it had only barely held on by the very tips of its claws. If the clan was to truly prosper again, perhaps it was time to look to places outside of the clan for new members.

Rainstorm nodded his head. “There aren’t really enough cats to make patrols much larger than this.”

However much Puddlepaw distrusted his mentor, the tom fell in obediently behind Rainstorm anyways. “Is it just us?” He mewed, the first time he’d spoken since meeting up with the other tom.

When the time to hunt came, Rainstorm rose to his paws and shook out his Pelt.

Puddlepaw started at his paws, then looked around the camp, illuminated a pretty orange color by the setting sun.  He wondered what the old camp had looked like, and if he’d ever see it again, passing the time until the hunt by wandering his own thoughts