Oh My Godot!

[J I N G O]

Being quiet enough so that Bonestep wouldn't hear, but Goldenrod could Sparrowpaw mewed, "Yet he can be disrespectful to Mothkit? I guess an apprentice learns from her senior warriors, after all." then turned to Bonestep, resting her cold gaze on him. "Sorry." she mewed with no real concern, then scampered after Mothkit.

Before she had completely caught up to the tom, she saw a mouse scuttling about on the ground not so far away. Getting into a hunters crouch, she crept up on the small creature. She quickly pounced and ended its life before bounding up to Mothkit. "Let's catch as much prey as we can!" she said around a mouthful of fur.

[amaterasu]

"Yeah!" Mothkit cried, excited once again. He scented the air, trying to target the closest prey. He got into the hunters croush and jumped into a bush, but the two mice that were there went running. Mothkit scrabbled after one, but it got away from him.
"Mouse-dung!" he cursed under his breath, then scented the air once again.

[J I N G O]

After watching Mothkit try and catch his prey, Sparrowpaw made her way over to him and put her mouse down. "Maybe if you keep to prey that is within your sight for now, not hiding in the bushes." she said lightly, and then pointed her tail in the direction of another mouse who had been scared out of his hiding place by the ruckus.

[amaterasu]

Mothkit turned his whole body to see the mouse. He slowly stalked it, pausing a few times as the mouse looked like it was about to flee.
Finally he lunged forward and caught the mouse. He bit it swiftly on the neck, then carried it back to Sparrowpaw.

[J I N G O]

Sparrowpaw YES THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I DIDN'T WRITE SPARROWSONG purred with delight. "See? You caught that one no problem!" she mewed happily. "It won't be long before you're catching all the prey in the forest." she encouraged.

[amaterasu]

"Ha, yeah. If only I had a mentor that could help me." Mothkit answered. He picked up his mouse and headed back toward the camp.

When they got back, he put his fresh-kill on the pile. He purred in delight when he saw how full the fresh-kill pile was looking for the end of greenleaf.

[J I N G O]

Sparrowpaw brought in her fresh kill and threw it down on the pile as well. So much for catching tons of prey. TWO MICE. Good job guys. Good job.

[amaterasu]

Mothkit thought two mice was a lot of prey.

Mothkit turned to Sparrowpaw and mewed, "Now what should we do?"

[J I N G O]

"Let's bring some fresh kill to the queens." Sparrowpaw suggested. That's something apprentices did. And the queens were a good a place as ever to start the epic plot to make everyone love Mothkit.

[amaterasu]

"Alright!" Mothkit said happily. He picked up one of the mice he caught and headed into the Nursery. He set his prey down in front of Nightstripe, whose belly was just starting to swell. She could still perform warrior duties, but the old she-cat had never been one to actively go out of camp. She always liked to lounge, and she blamed it on her old age. (Cinderstar could tell you that even when she was younger, for they had been denmates once, she still slept most of the day away)

Anyway, Mothkit set the mouse down in front of Nightstripe and announced, "I caught it myself!"

Nightstripe laughed a little and commented, "Really now?"
She obviously didn't believe it.

[J I N G O]

Sparrowpaw brought in a random piece of fresh kill to give to Brokensong. "He did." she mewed, "I saw him." and then set down her mouse in front of Brokensong who nodded her thanks to Sparrowpaw.

[amaterasu]

Nightstripe gave the kit a small flick on the head with her tail.
"So you're trying to be an apprentice now, huh?" she asked.

Mothkit eagerly nodded his head.

Nightstripe gave a long laugh, though Mothkit saw nothing amusing.

"Don't give me that look!" Nightstripe suddenly hissed, causing Mothkit to jump back about a fox length.

Nightstripe continued, "I wasn't laughing at you. If any cat, I was laughing at your mother."

Mothkit tilted his head to the side.

[J I N G O]

"What do you mean, Nightstripe?" Sparrowpaw butted in, curious.

[amaterasu]

"Hm?" Nightstripe gasped. She looked at Sparrowpaw as if she had just remembered the apprentice was there.

"Ah, well," she began, "Darkember and I have never been on good terms. She has never had a surviving litter, and was always jealous of my wonderful kits. Of course, when she had kits that made it through leaf-bare, she had to shove them in my face. But eagerly she hid you away, because you weren't...perfect, I suppose."

Nightstripe stopped to take a bite of her mouse. She chewed it thoughtfully, then finally finished, "If you were my kit, I would be proud that you are trying your hardest to make your mother proud. Of course though, you are not my kit. So why don't you two get out of here and check some elders for ticks or something."

With that, the dark tabby laid back down.

[J I N G O]

Sparrowpaw nodded and backed out of the nursery, hoping that Mothkit would follow even though elders seemingly didn't exist in this world.