Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Wolfstrike

     Wolfpaw happily pads next to Foxpool.  The orange and white warrior looks at him.
"Oh, hello, Wolfpaw.  Ready to explore the territory?" Foxpool asks.  Wolfpaw blinks.
"What was that?" Wolfpaw asks.
"We're going to explore the territory," Foxpool says again.  Its more like whispers.  Can't she talk at all?  No wonder she's such a great hunter and fighter.  No one can hear her coming!
"So where to first?" Wolfpaw asks.
"Lets start by the large clearing, where OwlClan was originally going to have camp, but it was so plentiful in prey that Featherstar decided to leave it for hunting grounds."  It's a great time for a history lesson, for an elephant!  How am I supposed to hear you, Foxpool!? 
"Uh, okay.  Can we hunt?" Wolfpaw asks his mentor.  Foxpool shakes her head.
"Last I checked you just became an apprentice," she says, louder.  Oh, so now she raises her voice to prove me wrong.  Haha, that's a good one, Foxpool.  
"Uh, so this is a clearing.  Do tell me more." Wolfpaw looks around the clearing.  This is equal to mouse dung.  It's a clearing! A clearing!  Who cares about the history of a clearing?  
"I'm glad to know you're interested, Wolfpaw.  You see, when OwlClan was searching for a camp in our new territory, we discovered this clearing.  It seemed perfect, but blablablablablabla bla bla blabla..."  Oh my STARCLAN!  Will you EVER SHUT UP?!  Wolfpaw let out a soft growl as Foxpool continued to talk, this time louder.
"Can we... go to the next spot?" Wolfpaw asks as politely as he can.
"Oh, of course, Wolfpaw.  Let's go to the tallest pine, and then along the border," Foxpool says softly.
"What was that?"
"Tallpine.  Wolfpaw.  Tallpine." Foxpool growls.
"Oh, ok..." Wolfpaw stares at his mentor.
"Sorry, Wolfpaw.  Lets get going." Foxpool says softly again.  What is up with her?  One minute she talks in what can barely qualify as a whisper, the next she yells at me.  What's her problem?  
       Wolfpaw and Foxpool continue to walk towards the tallest pine tree.  Foxpool stops, picking up her front right leg.
"Hu-" Wolfpaw begins, but is interrupted by a glare at Foxpool.  She strains her ear forward.  Wolfpaw perks his ears.  Rustle, rustle.  Wolfpaw rolls his eyes up in thought.  What makes that sound.  Foxpool strains her head forward now.  What happened to the regular hunting crouch?  Why is she hunting like, like this?  Foxpool's tail sways back and force, her legs twitching.  Isn't a huntress supposed to stay still?  Any cat?   Suddenly, Foxpool springs forward with such speed that the leaves rustle and Wolfpaw jumps back.  A rabbit!  Wolfpaw's eyes widen as Foxpool's legs spread wide and she flies forward.  The rabbit has no time to run.  Foxpool's jaws close around the rabbit after her head cranes to the left.  Wolfpaw's eyes widen as Foxpool whirls around, dropping the rabbit before Wolfpaw.
"Now that's what I call hunting!" She says, barely panting.  Oh, StarClan!  She was great!  That was amazing!  Foxpool laughs as Wolfpaw says nothing, too shocked to reply.
"How... what happened to... hunting crouch..." Wolfpaw barely manages to talk, still shocked.  Foxpool laughs again.
"Any kit can learn the hunting crouch!  But not every warrior can ever learn the tempest swipe!"  Foxpool replies with a smile.
"The tempest swipe?" Wolfpaw asks, confused.
"Yep.  Do you want to learn?"  Foxpool asks.  Wolfpaw's eyes widen.
"Really?  I can learn?" Wolfpaw asks, shocked.  Foxpool asks.
"Wolfpaw, any can with patience and skill can learn.  You'll have to show me patience and persistence.  Can you do that?"
"Oh course!"
"Oh, and one more thing."
"What?"
"You must promise not to tell anyone about it.  No one.  Or I won't teach you.  You have to be sworn to secrecy.  If I find out you told, you'll regret it."  Foxpool looks at her apprentice.  Wolfpaw's heart pounds.
"I won't tell, I promise," Wolfpaw replies.  Foxpool smiles.
"Onto the tallest pine in the forest," Foxpool instructs.