Surprise Comes Too Soon ~Open~

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow

It wasn't as if she was lonely. She lay in the apprentice den. Crystalpaw preferred being alone, then what was that sensation inside of her? Like she actually wanted someone to talk to her? She realized that she had stopped thinking of her parents for a moment. Then it all came crashing in again. She thought that Clan goings-ons would busy her, fill her innocent mind - was it innocent? - with her duties. She had never felt so alone. She never had more time to dwell in the past. She had, of course, plenty to do. But it never went from her mind. It haunted her through the light of day into the dark of night. Never going far from the front of her thought. She wanted to shove it up a tree and leave it there never to come down again, but every time she left it, it came tumbling down again. Stupid She lay in her nest, one cream paw hanging over the edge, thinking. Her eyes were shut softly.

Too much thinking. All she did was think. Sometimes she wished that she had the courage to speak to someone -anyone. But whenever she thought she should, she either nodded or ignored them. Nothing seemed to be able to escape from her mouth, she never spoke her mind. She lived in her own little silent world. With some trying to break through her thoughts and others doing what she did: ignore her. She did feel hurt. It was only now that she realized it. She didn't think she really could feel it again. She knew she was too deep in her own thoughts and no one cared to speak with her any more. Everyone knew that she was just the apprentice that never speaks. It was too late to change. But then she thought of her mother's words as she frequently did.

"It’s never too late to change."

Of course it was. No other cats spoke to her. No one paid noticed her. She was forever just sitting in the background, taking everything in and not speaking a word. The longing for a friend, for someone to see that she was lonely and speak to her.

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

The leaves dappled his fur as he set outside for a squirrel. He could see it under the brown and red crisps that fell from the treetops. The squirrel didn't know he was there. He could see it clearly. Hah, it didn't even know he was there. How could it. His wonderful black pelt blended beautifully into the autumn floor of the forest. He had kept creeping up on it. He was so close he could just imagine biting his teeth into its plump neck and breaking the bones. So close. He inched closer to it. One....two...three....NOW! He just about leaped for it when the squirrel looked up and scattered because a cat came out from no where, too excited to notice the squirrel itself. It shot up the nearest tree and disappeared. You've got to be kidding me! he hissed in his head. He turned around scathingly and saw a brown shape scattering the leaves. She jumped on them like a kit and in turn was excited that the crisps crunched under her paws. The blackish brown tom turned around and called out at her. "Ivypaw!" he growled at his sister, "You mouse-brain idiot! I was going to catch that squirrel if you hadn't barged in here like a lunatic!" His sister made him so irritated, he swore he wouldn't ever claw her face off, but lately that's all he ever wanted to do. "You never stop to think do you!?" She hadn't even responded to him yet. She stood there, as if she couldn't speak. He unsheathed his claws. "It was only just yesterday that you disappeared! The whole clan was frantic! What had you been doing? Oh yeah, looking for spies! Spies! We were all good with the clans without you having to look for them to be spying on us! What is your problem Ivypaw?!" he growled deep in his throat. Ivypaw only looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

"You don't know anything." She managed to say. This only made Glenpaw even more furious.

"Fine! Maybe I don't know EVERYTHING, but I do know this," he gave her a disgusted look, "I'm disappointed that I had to be kitted with you." At this, Glenpaw saw Ivypaw's eyes drop and her mouth gaped a tad bit. She took one full look at him before she whipped around and ran away. He breathed out a sigh and began to walk back to the clan camp. He picked up the rest of his prey that he had caught and walked into the camp, tense. He sat down and ate a mouse though to keep his strength up and as he was dozing away, a thundering of pawsteps jolted him out of his keep. "Help!" a voice cried out. Glenpaw got up immediately and turned towards the entrance. Sparlake, Ivypaw's mentor rushed in. "She's dead!" he called out, "Ivypaw's dead!"


"I'll show him." the young, brown and white she-cat said to herself. She kept running away from the scene. He couldn't disown her. Glenpaw just couldn't! Ivypaw had tried everyday to make her brother proud of her, but nothing seemed to work. He wanted to change her. But even he wouldn't take down her good mood. She was sweet and everyone liked her whereas Glenpaw was too quick to grow up. Well she would show him. It took every amount of her will power not to stop over near a tree and cry out to StarClan. He had killed her spirit and now she was doing everything she could to not think of desolate thoughts. He still loves me. He has too.[/i][/color] she thought. Well, she would show him. She was headed towards the Thunderpath. No cat ever dared to hunt on the other side of the Thunderpath because it was so big. Monsters kept crossing it day and night, but she was determined to cross it and bring back a huge amount of prey. She would prove herself. She checked both ways to see if any monsters were coming. Nope! Ha! She began to pad out and she took her time, she saw a monster, but it was so far away, she'd make it to the other side............she looked over, the rocks around her were trembling and she bent down in a crouch, IT WAS RIGHT ON TOP OF HER! "GLENPAW HELP ME!" she screamed as the monster came and came and came and..........darkness.


"No!" Glenpaw screeched, opening his honey yellow eyes in the apprentices' den. He couldn't see anything else except his sister's mangled body. It was all a dream. All of it. It was all a dream. He kept repeating it in his head. His black fur was sticking out at all angles and his claws were unsheathed and pulling out his mossy bedding. It looked like he just went through war in his sleep. An internal battle that he had never seemed to win against. I didn't kill her. I didn't do it. It was a monster. It wasn't my fault. he kept whimpering in his head. His whiskers twitched as he though he sensed another cat in the den. He blinked his eyes open more strongly and noticed a cream pelt through the darkness that he tried to purge out of his mind. It was Crystalpaw. He wasn't a big fan of the she-cats that he roomed with in the den, but a reality check was what he needed, seeing as his nightmare had left him to shake. He tried to clear his throat to speak to the she-cat, but it was dry and his tongue felt it had been rolled out. He was a mess and he needed to clean himself up. He needed to clean up his dreams. It was collapsing.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow.

She lay for a while just thinking. She was aware of another apprentice sleeping, but paid little attention. She frowned as she thought. She was trying to push the scene of her mother's death up her little tree - metaphorically, of course. But that was the trouble. The tree was too little and couldn't stand the weight of all her thoughts. So everything fell down and all her work putting them up there was useless. She felt useless. But still she tried, and treid again to put everything away. It never worked, and she knew it wouldn't, but Crystalpaw couldn't stop. She exhausted herself, strained herself trying to get it all stable.

Her blue eyes flickered open and she let her eyes adjust to the dark of the den. Staring at her paws, she bacame aware of movement from the other nest. She didn't budge, and suddenly more movement. And murmuring. She moved her head slowly towards the sound. A black-furred tom lay in his nest. She looked back to her paws. 'I might be awake, but it dosen't mean I'm getting up.' she thought. She didn't feel like doing anything. She lay in the silence, unmoving. Her father's eyes appeared in her mind. Startled, she sat up abruptly. Fear briefly passed her eyes, then she relaxed slightly. Her muscles were still taught, but she had convinced herself that she was just seeing things. This really had to stop. She had to find something to do. Not go out into the clearing, everyone would stare. She realized that she was afraid of them. Not fear, like her father, but afraid, maybe of what they thought of her.

She lowered herself into the nest, tucking her paws under her semi-long fur. She rested her eyes. But when they closed, all she could see was her father ripping at something with ginger fur. Her eyes flew open and she stared hard at the ground. 'Push it away. Shove it up the tree.' She couldn't. Again it toppled from the very top. The tree had shrank. She was almost as tall as it. She could reach up ... No! She pulled her head up sharply and shut her eyes, willing herself to stop thinking of it. She couldn't let this comsume her. But her father's words filled her mind.

"Where is your mother Crystal? I'll come back to get you. So be prepared.'"

[/i]

His amber eyes had burned like fire. And his pelt, similar to her own, had bristled. She saw herself withdraw, tucking her fluffy tail around her. Then he left. But she stayed in the same postition. Then she ran. Ran to her mother. Only to find her in his jaws...[/blockquote]

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

Glenpaw breathed heavily and looked around the den. He felt ensnared, doing everything in his power not to give into the horrid nightmare. His sister's body that had been brought out to the Clan. Because of that night, Glenpaw hadn't said much. To anyone. To his mother. To his clanmates. To StarClan. No one. Then again, Lovenight, his mother, hadn't spoken to anyone since the night Ivypaw was killed. She didn't look at Glenpaw. She didn't talk. She hardly ever was in the Clan either. She was almost a rogue now. Like his father. Sometimes Glenpaw believed his father was dead. His father left the Clan the night his daughter died and he never spoke to anyone again. His family was broken. And the strings that attached them, were being snipped away by silence. He had seen Clan families bicker and growl and hiss at each other twenty-four seven, but out of jealousy he agreed that they were stupid for fighting. If his family fought like that, maybe they wouldn't be so broken. Maybe they'd be closer. Maybe he wouldn't be alone.

He flicked his ear and looked up to watch the cream she-cat opposite from him. She kept flinching and freaking out. Couldn't se realize there was another cat in the den? Or was she just stupid? He didn't know what to do with her. She looked like she was enjoying silence, but suffering from her silence. Glenpaw flicked his white paws. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to talk to her or what...? He watched her a little longer, he watched her tuck her fluffy tail around herself and she kept cringing. What was she afraid of? Nothing was in the den. Just he and her. His pelt still felt cold from the death that had left him. Maybe she's had unfriendly dreams too.[/b][/i] He thought wonderingly. He ignored it and opened his mouth in a yawn, showing his pearly white teeth. He was bigger than her by far and his teeth were probably as long as her claws. He was only exaggerating of course. Curling his tail around his paws, he looked at her once again and glinted his yellow eyes in the dark.

"What's clouded your mind?" he asked her in a serious tone. His voice almost scathed, but what does he care. This she-cat was just another figment in his reality. Nothing more. Everything less than he. Crystalpaw. Another apprentice. Surprise! She was weird and he knew nothing about her except that she was really quiet. That made her annoying. Ugh, surprise comes too soon.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there�s always tomorrow

She sat for a while in the den with her eyes closed. She was aware of the other cat awaking. She could feel his eyes on her. Keeping her eyes closed, she settled deeper into her nest. She tried to relax herself. She could sense that the other cat had moved. Crystalpaw opened her eyes a crack. She could see a black and white tom in his nest. She couldn't quite remember his name... then she recalled seeing the other apprentice around the place. Glenpaw. His name was Glenpaw. She had heard it every so often.

"What's clouded your mind?"

[/i]

Her eyes flew open. She looked at him in amazement. He was actually speaking to her? She frowned. She stared at him for a while. She didn't saying anything. She wondered why he had spoken to her. Why hadn't he just got up and left when he woke up like everyone else does? Why did he bother her? Why did he bother with her? She saw he had white tips to his paws and on his chin. She gazed still. Thinking. All the while the scene played in her mind. It never left her. And for a moment, she actually considered telling him. Instead she turned away. He was just another cat, another apprentice. Though he looked bigger than an apprentice. She didn't need to speak to him. But his words filled her mind. "What's clouded your mind?" What has clouded her mind? What has clouded her mind since that day? Still she didn't speak. But then she fixed him with a cool blue gaze, unspeaking. She didn't speak, they all knew that.[/blockquote]

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

Glenpaw watched her react to what he had said. He narrowed his eyes when she squinted at him, turned away and settled back down to think, and then ignored him. His tail lashed once in his nest, causing his mossy, ripped apart, nest to break around him. He hated it when cats ignored him. He hated it when they were mad at him. In his opinion, everyone should be talking to him. His past had turned him up and made him sour. He was bitter to the tongue and every cat knew that. Why didn't she. His fur fluffed up when she turned to look at him with her blue gaze. What was she doing? Did she think that he wouldn't be enraged by silence? Or was she just better than everyone else that she was silent.

"What's your problem?" he asked, "Do you think you're better than everyone else? Silence is your only strength? Well, I've got news for you, you're not helping anyone. Not even yourself." he spat the words down her throat. Hopefully she would catch his drift. When Ivypaw died, Glenpaw was forced to the fact that he wouldn't ever have friends anymore because most cats like the ones he cared about, his mother, his father, Ivypaw's mentor, well they disappeared out of his life. And they blamed him because of her death. She was the reason that no one liked to talk to him and he didn't like to talk to anyone else. He scowled at Crystalpaw in his nest, his deep, yellow eyes glinting. She would have to talk eventually.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow

It never left her mind. She still looked at her paws. She lay with her father's eyes burning her mind. All she could see was the deep, blazing, amber eyes, glinting with menace. She turned her head and turned her blue gaze to Glenpaw as he spoke. She stared cooly at him.

"What's your problem?" he asked, "Do you think you're better than everyone else? Silence is your only strength? Well, I've got news for you, you're not helping anyone. Not even yourself."[/i]

He spat out his words and she felt anger rise inside of her. How dare he! He didn't even know her! Her tail flicked from side to side. She didn't say anything until a while after he had finished.
"I don't think highly of myself. I do not think I am better than anyone else. Everyone is equal. You have no right to judge me, you don't even know me and I don't know you,"[/b] she hissed quietly. She paused, considering. She took a deep breath and sighed. "And no, I don't suppose I helping anyone."[/b] Crystalpaw narrowed her eyes. She held his gaze, challenging him. She guessed that something had happened in his past. She could tell that he had been hurt. But didn't pursue it. She picked things up quickly in her silence. Now, she didn't really wish to speak to the tom, but he had driven a reaction from her. She wasn't exactly going to sit by and listen to him.

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

Glenpaw scowled at Crystalpaw as she stared back cooly at him. She was mad, it kind of made him happier inside to know that someone was fighting back to him. "I don't think highly of myself. I do not think I am better than anyone else. Everyone is equal. You have no right to judge me, you don't even know me and I don't know you," His whiskers twitched as she downgraded him. What power could she have over him? None. He's better than her. She doesn't speak.

Glenpaw cracked his shoulders in stretch in front of her, his lithe body rippling under his pelt. "Exactly. You're not helping anyone. And I for one, will do what I please. At least I speak. You sit in silence and don't do anything. You've probably been in here longer than I have. Maybe you should actually try to do something," he clicked his teeth as he hissed. He stood up in front of her, showing her that he was an oddly large apprentice and he looked down upon her. Should he be friendly with her? No. He had no friends. Not since...no. He didn't have friends. Friends don't exist. It's risky business. But maybe. Maybe she needed something. He felt an empty feeling in his stomach and he plopped down in a sitting position and muttered to her, "Do you want to go hunting with me this morning?" he truly didn't feel up to her, but her silence was more intriguing than anyone else right now in his life.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow

He came over to her and stood, muscles quivering. 'Show off,'

[/i] she thought skeptically. She looked up at him. Narrowing her eyes, she flicked her tail furiously. He thought he could scare her?

"Exactly. You're not helping anyone. And I for one, will do what I please. At least I speak. You sit in silence and don't do anything. You've probably been in here longer than I have. Maybe you should actually try to do something."[/i]

'I may not speak much, but I am no coward.' Her lips pulled into a silent hiss, but her gaze remained still, no fear in them, no emotion at all. She held his amber gaze, fury building up inside her. But she ignored it and said nothing. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Anyways, she didn't have to explain herself to him. He was a frustrating cat, but she could get by. He didn't infuriate her too much. Then he sat down. She blinked in surprise as he spoke. He seemed to have calmed down at least. Why was he so determined to get something out of her? She stayed in her position, staring at him. Then what came next surprised her.

"Do you want to go hunting with me this morning?"

Crystalpaw blinked. Her expression was one of pure shock. She couldn't understand this tom. What was with him? She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why would you want to go with me? After all, you've only given out to me since the start of the conversation."[/b] She dared to say. He didn't arouse any fear in her. Quiet, yes, fearful? Only of her father. She shrugged."If you really want me to though, I suppose I could accompany you,"[/b] she said. She looked back to him. Her bright eyes had a daring spark. She sat up and stretched, yawning widely, stirring herself.[/blockquote]

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

Glenpaw watched her in satisfaction that she was surprised. Finally! A real emotion! he flicked his whiskers with some emotion at least. Crystalpaw wasn't mean. But that DID NOT mean he liked her under any circumstances! He tolerated her for the most part it seemed, but whatever, he was hungry and hunting sounded good this morning. Especially in the crisp morning that it was.

"Why would you want to go with me? After all, you've only given out to me since the start of the conversation." She was right, he had gotten under her skin, tried every possible thing to make her mad and the best thing was, the she-cat had given him a real emotion and a full scale sentence now. He wasn't alone. And she was talking at least. He might have unsheathed his claws in frustration at her stubbornness. He wasn't so severe on his own stubbornness because he wasn't bad. She was down-right annoying to him though.
"If you really want me to though, I suppose I could accompany you," She answered him in a more respectable manner and he was starting to tolerate her. She was mature and even though she sounded ungrateful for everything, he caught a glimpse of spark in her eyes. She's okay, I guess. Still not as good as me, but whatever.

"Maybe I'm just tired of sitting with you in this claustrophobic den." he grumbled under his breath, he stretched up in his nest and wiggled his way out of the den, scrunching up his face under the bright light for being in the dark so long. What did I sign myself up to?

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow

"Maybe I'm just tired of sitting with you in this claustrophobic den."

[/i]

She sat for a moment with tail curled around herself. Then she nodded slowly and followed him. It was quite sunny out, and she had to look away as she emerged from the dark den. The air was crisp and fresh scents lingered in the air. A nice day for hunting, she supposed. Her paws landed sofly on the grass and she the end of her tail flicked from side to side, but her eyes remained emotionless. The trees shaded most of the clearing and left a dappled pattern across the grass. She simply stood still for a moment, taking in the scene. She padded softly after Glenpaw. She could feel eyes on her but carried on pretending not to notice. Her head was up and her posture relaxed, though she was anything but. "Where do you suppose we hunt?[/b] she said in a low voice. She kept her eyes on the trees in front of them so as not to meet anyone's eyes.

Carry on. One relaxed step after another, she thought as she padded cooly after Glenpaw. It felt very strange to have a full conversation with another cat. And obviously everyone else thought so too. Crystalpaw. Her steps quickened slightly to keep up with Glenpaw. He was a but bigger than herself and so were his strides. She looked at the ground as she walked along. He had gotten her to speak and he seemed so proud of it. The scene played in her mind again. It seemed she had forgotten about it momentarily. But still it played. The image that haunted her mind, her mother's death. Then before it her father's eyes. His blazing amber eyes... Crystalpaw ignored it and carried on after Glenpaw. [/blockquote]

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

He watched her slither out of the den, ignoring her rippling body. No matter how much she wanted to prove herself, he wouldn't forget her reluctance to speak to him. Who gives that much disrespect to anyone? Why would you even attempt? He lashed his tail as he walked towards the entrance, noticing that she was slowly following. Hah! She's much slower than I am! He gave himself a boost of confidence. He didn't even bother to set his pace brisk, letting her have the pleasure of catching up to him. He glanced back through slits in his eyes and noticed she looked down at the ground, refusing to catch glances from by passing cats. Sour as he was, he wanted to scream at her for not acting like a proper cat, but he held his tongue for once and led her towards the exit of the camp.

When she asked where they were hunting, Glenpaw cocked his head for a moment, ear twitching. He was thinking in the forest, but today seemed more like a good idea to hunt in a different location. "How about the Celestial Stream?" he suggested, although he could care less what her opinion was on the hunt. She hardly looked like a clan cat. She almost looked like prey herself. Her eyes kept flashing, as if some sudden memory kept appearing and frightening her out of her fur. He almost felt....what was it called...sympathy? Why? For this she-cat? Why should he feel anything for her. She was just as annoying as Rosepaw, the other apprentice. He flicked her away from his mind. Crystalpaw was hardly a cat. Hardly a thought to him. She meant nothing. Just like everyone else in the world. He could only rely on himself. His mother abandoned him. His father was dead to him. His sister...well...she was dead. He frowned suddenly, his back towards Crystalpaw. His whiskers quivered and he wanted to yowl to StarClan and apologize, but StarClan was so far away. What could they do? Letting his ears flatten to his head, he let out a silent prayer to Ivypaw, hoping that one day, he'd see her again and he could truly apologize for every misgiving he had given her.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life, 
there's always some sorrow  
And its a double-edged knife,  
but there’s always tomorrow       

Her father's eyes. StarClan forbid he ever find me. Why couldn't she just push them out of her mind? Why did she have to see them ever day of her little life? Her newlife. Why couldn't she get his horrible words? I'll come back for you... Why couldn't she let her thoughts go? She was relatively safe here. But she couldn't go away from camp alone. She realized that she had a fear of being alone. Like in her dreams, her father might just wait until on her own, then... Crystalpaw gritted her teeth. She padded after him. They had Then he stopped as if to think about it. Think? Crystalpaw thought huffily. He doesn't think. All brawn but no brain. He must think he's great. For StarClan sake...

"How about the Celestial Stream?"

Crystalpaw narrowed her eyes but said nothing. He didn't care what she thought, so why ask? Crystalpaw's tail flicked in annoyance. They kept walking. Crystalpaw could see, even though he had his back to her, his ears were flattened. She frowned. Something was up with him too. "Whatever you want

[/b]," she said breezily. She carried on staring at the ground then. She caught up with him and her paws nearly matching his stride. She kept looking down at her cream/ tabby paws. She probably looked tiny compared to him, not that she cared. He's all talk and no action. [/blockquote]

[Wolfy]

Glenpaw

I keep running away.
Even from the good things.

[/font]

Glenpaw watched with resentment as Crystalpaw answered him and she kept an even pace to him as he tried to lead her to the exit. She was trying to prove herself. He really didn't enjoy this she-cat. She was all action no talk. He watched as she let her head drop to her paws again. He rolled his eyes, ignoring his thoughts and continue to push them out of the camp. Relaxing his muscles he leaped onto the fallen trees around the camp and gracefully pushed through the forest. He wasn't trying to show off. Once he was out in the forest, showing off was the last thing on his mind. He felt free out there. His muscles rippled under his black pelt, helping him glide across the floor of the forest. He thought about slowing down for the she-cat, but he remembered something. If she was so defiant to catch up with him while walking, then she would be fine to catch up to him while leaping from tree trunk to tree trunk.

He stopped when he was at the top of the hill and let a cool breeze fly through his pelt and he lifted his chin to enjoy the weather. He glanced back at the cream she-cat, her brilliant blue eyes kept flickering all over the place. Please! No one would hurt her out here! We're all in a Clan! He ignored her and continued to run through the forest, heading towards the Celestial Stream. Once the ground sloped down and Glenpaw ran out of oddly shaped trees, he placed his paws carefully on the dirt below him. He slid down the hill towards the stream and once he was at the bottom of it, he bent down and got a refreshing drink. His pink tongue slid out and lapped up the cool, delicate, feathery water and dipped his paws in the stream as he did. Part of him wondered what Crystalpaw thought, but he shrugged the though away and enjoyed his drink.

[Swift ✱]

Crystalpaw

In this beautiful life,
there's always some sorrow.
And its a double-edged knife,
but there’s always tomorrow

She followed him through the trees. He leaped over logs and she followed daintily. She was quick and caught him up easily. Her paws stepped lightly across the damp ground. Glenpaw said nothing and went down to the stream to take a drink. She followed but sat a bit away, testing the air for any signs of prey. Blinking her blue eyes she peered about herself. The trees towered above them and Crystalpaw felt a sudden urge to climb them. She looked back to Glenpaw who was still lapping at the water. She realized that she hadn't thought much of her parents since they left camp, and she was glad. She felt so free out here, like someone was taking the load off her shoulders. She tested the air again. She caught a whiff of squirrel and stood up silently. She turned her head and looked back at Glenpaw.

She inhaled a deep breath of forest air. It seemed to refresh her mind. Crystalpaw lowered herself to the ground and swiveled her ears in all directions. She picked up rustling a bit ahead of her; the squirrel was on the ground. It was her first time even trying to hunt a squirrel. She had no idea how to go about it. But if the hunt failed, it failed. But it would alert the other prey to her. Then she and Glenpaw would have to move off somewhere else. Crystalpaw tried to imagine his face if she missed the squirrel. She rolled her eyes. He would so not be happy. He already hated her, obviously. She didn't hate him, but she didn't exactly like him either. Hate is a very strong feeling, though. She glanced back at Glenpaw. Suddenly she felt nervous. She never had a proper hunting lesson; she was a complete beginner except for what her mother had thought her. It all seemed so long ago now, almost like another life, but she remembered it clearly.