Hunting Assesment :CLOSED:

[Spruceburn]

A squirrel sat on the root of a tree, a nut clasped in its small paws. The rain was coming down horribly, and thunder roared far off in the distance. It raised its head, the sound of the thunder-path near by. It suddenly turned its head to the right, its whiskers twitching, something had moved over there... Deciding the noise was nothing, the squirrel began to scamper off. Suddenly something heavy landed on its back and a sharp crack accompanied the squirrel's death.

Sprucepaw stood over his catch, licking his lips as his mouth watered at its delicious scent, but the young tom knew better then to eat his prey. It was for the clan, and plus today Sprucepaw was doing his hunting assesment. Wolfstar was probably watching him right now... Sprucepaw snorted in disgust to himself. Of course Wolfstar would give him one of the worst spots for hunting, right by the thunder path. Satisfaction welled up inside the soon-to-be-warrior, even though Wolfstar had given him one of the worst spots and despite the fact that it was raining so hard it was practically a storm, he had managed to catch three mice, a squirrel, and a thrush. Now on with the hunt... Sprucepaw thought to himself after burying his kill, thoughts of being a warrior flying through his mind. He would probably have a cool name, and get an apprentice soon with all the kits, and he could be in the same den with Birdsong again. After his warrior ceramony, Sprucepaw planned on sharing his true feelings about the beautiful tawny warrior with her. Plus, Wolfstar wouldn't be able to order him around nearly as much. Yes, warrior-hood held so much for the young tom.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar crept through the undergrowth, following Sprucepaw's path. His whiskers twitched as the tom caught a squirrel. He had to give him credit, Sprucepaw was an impressive hunter, he thought sadly, like his mother, Greenlily. Wolfstar pushed the thought away.

Sprucepaw was doing well so far, managing to get a mouse and two birds. His powerful back legs enabled him really good, accurate jumps. He smiled at how the apprentice inherited much of his father's skill. Sprucepaw wasn't a cat to be messed with. He was a ready warrior.

He noticed that they were drawing closer to the Thunderpath. Wolfstar decided to hang back and watch his son from farther away. He paused to smell the air and scent for prey, trying to predict Sprucepaw's next move.

[Spruceburn]

Sprucepaw made his way through the forest, the scent of thunder path drawing nearer and nearer. The young tom flinched as a few monsters roared by, their eyes casting light onto the thunder path. Did the monsters mind getting their paws wet? Sprucepaw wondered to himself but then focused on hunting again. He hid in the bushes, his green eyes scanning the forest floor for more prey. Suddenly, a robin caught his eye. The plump bird was placed conveniently on the ground, pecking the forest floor searching for food. Sprucepaw gathered the muscles on his back legs, preparing to spring. He waited a few seconds as a monster sped by, sending the bird flying away in a flurry of feathers, but the young apprentice was prepared. He jumped out of hiding toward the sky, his claw snagging on the robin's wing and he dragged it back to the ground along with him. A swift bite to the neck silenced the bird before it could let out an alarm call. Thankfully StarClan is on my side today... Sprucepaw thought to himself.

Suddenly Sprucepaw turned his head to the thunder path, the young tom could have sworn he saw the outline of a starry cat on the edge of the thunder path but there was nothing there. He blinked, willing the vision to come back. He stared at the spot, and suddenly it came back. The starry outline of a slender she-cat, her only visible feature were her glowing eyes. Sprucepaw blinked in awe, was that a StarClan warrior? The apprentice just stared, and the starry cat just stared back. After a few moments, she just shook her head as if saying No and then she was gone. What did that mean? Why had she shaken her head? Was she even real? Sprucepaw took a timid paw step forward, should he investigate? The she-cat had shaken her head no though... So did that mean she didn't want him to investigate? But why show up if she didn't want him to, he wouldn't have even considered going over there if she hadn't come...

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar looked up at the sky when he heard a distant rumbling. Dark clouds rolled overhead. It would storm soon. A flash of lightning shot down in the distance.

He decided he'd pick up some herbs that grew by the Thunderpath and call Sprucepaw so they could get back to camp before it started to rain.

He weaved through a couple trees and the Thunderpath was soon before him. He bent down to sniff and see if he could pick up the herbs scent over the reek of monsters. It got darker.

Suddenly, a monster veered towards him. He hadn't time to run before it crashed into him, and he was thrown backwards. Brambles clawed hungrily at his pelt and a roar of thunder rang in the distance

***

When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a misty clearing. He forced himself to stand as a chilly voice spoke in front of him. "Hello, Wolfstar. You are losing your third life." He looked forward and about a fox-length in front of him sat a small, dusky brown she-cat, Sunclan's former leader, Fernstar. Behind her was a gray she-cat that was known as Juniperleaf. She looked sorrowful and was shaking her head. Something was wrong.

Before he could speak, he was thrown back into darkness. Relief washed over him as he knew it was over and he was back. But, it was short lived. When Wolfstar opened his eyes, Fernstar was still in front of him and Juniperleaf was still behind her, looking ghostly pale. "Wolfstar, you are losing your fourth life." Fernstar meowed.

Once again, he was inveloped in darkness. Slowly, the reek of the Thunderpath returned. He was back. He flicked his eyes open and almost uttered a cry of pain. The air was filled with smoke and fire crackled loudly, drawing ever nearer to him.

He tried to stand up, but brambles were wrapped tightly around his legs and his neck. His lungs screamed for air. He turned his head to look behind him. The monster loomed, it's paw standing stiffly and painfully on his tail.

"Help!" he screeched as the last of the clean air was used up. Relief washed over him as he saw liquid on the Thunderpath. Maybe the rain had come. But his relief turned to horror as he saw it was black, and oozing out of the monster. The fire had reached the edge of the other side of the Thunderpath. Then everything went silent. It had reached the liquid.

[Spruceburn]

Suddenly he heard a cat walking a few fox-lengths to his right. Sprucepaw raised his nose and sniffed the air, it was only Wolfstar. Ignoring his father, Sprucepaw crept a bit closer to where he had seen the she-cat, '' Hello? '' he whisper to the nothingness. Suddenly a screeching noise met his ears, he turned his head to the left, it was coming from the thunder path... It was faint, but got louder and louder until the monster zoomed right past him. The young tom jumped back with a startled cry, luckily he avoided making contact with the out of control monster. Suddenly his heart dropped; Wolfstar. '' Wolfstar! '' Sprucepaw cried but it was to late, he heard a sickening thump that he knew was the monster hitting his father and he flattened himself to the ground as the monster crashed, an array of loud noises and odd scents swarmed the air but one stuck out the most to the young tom; blood. '' Help! '' Wolfstar cried.

Sprucepaw ran to the right where Wolfstar was hit but was surprised when he saw no body. He looked around fractically and spotted his father clear on the other side of the thunder path, brambles and debris from the monster were tangled around his neck and limbs, this was not good. '' Wolfstar! '' Sprucepaw cried and dashed across the thunder path, noticing the odd black stuff coming from the monster underneath his paws and the scent of fire. '' Hang on Wolf-! '' he cut as he slipped, landing on his side and into the black stuff. The apprentice cursed to himself as he got to his paws, it felt odd. Half of his fur was covered in the thick sticky black stuff, even his face, and the other half was clean except for a few drops of the stuff. Ignoring this, he ran across the thunder path to his father, scanning the brambles for a thin piece he could begin cutting through.

Sprucepaw bit viciously at a bramble around Wolfstar's neck, he ripped and tugged and finally it broke. There were still many brambles but now breathing would be a bit easier for the gray and white tom. After cutting and biting for a few moments there were only very thin brambles around Wolfstar's neck that he could get himself. He clawed the brambles off of Wolfstar's legs, there were deep gashes from where the plants had been digging into his skin. Now only a large metal object lay painfully on Wolfstar's tail. Sprucepaw pushed against it with all his might grunting with the effort, grateful that he was big and muscular like his father. With a final grunt of effort the young tom got the metal thing off of Wolfstar. He looked over the monster, the scent of fire still in the air. The fire from the monster was getting dangerously close to the black stuff and Sprucepaw didn't want to figure out what would happen if the black stuff touched the fire, especially since he was half way soaked with the stuff.

[Wolfy//June]

Boom![/b] The fire burst out as it finally reached the liquid. Wolfstar gashed for breath as he was freed from the cursed brambles. He stood up and meowed, "We must get out of here," but his voice was drown out by the explosion. The black goo had inhanced the fires power. Sprucepaw's tail sagged on the ground and a line of fire hit him in a blast. "Sprucepaw, NO!!!!!"

[Spruceburn]

'' Oh thank StarClan... '' Sprucepaw whispered as his father got up, '' Lets go. '' he turned around the face the thunder path when BOOM! The young tom cried out in agony as the left side of his face caught fire, the side that had been covered in the black stuff. It felt like thousands of white hot claws were being raked across one part of his face and all he could smell was fire, the black stuff, and the acrid scent of burning flesh and fur. Through all the pain and agony and the sound of his own screaming, things fell into place in the young tom's mind. Doveheart's vision... This must have been what she saw. Fire and the monster, StarClan had tried to warn them. And again StarClan had tried to warn them with the she-cat Sprucepaw had seen. And maybe even the storm clouds were a sign, and they had been to stupid to see it...

Suddenly another boom came with a flash of light. Oh no... not another monster... Sprucepaw wailed inside his mind, the pain was so much that he couldn't actually form words with his actual wailing. But then something hit his face, and it felt good. And soon another something hit his face. And another. And another until sweet relief rained down upon his blistering face. The relief actually was rain. Though the left side of his face still screamed in agony, the rain put the fire out. He had been lit on fire and lived through it. Wow. He dared to open his eyes, his left one would not respond but his right one did. Everything was blurry and dark, he could see the smoking swirling around him. His wailing eventually quieted and turned into ragged gasps for breath. '' Wolf... Wolf.. star... '' Sprucepaw gasped, his eyes, or eye, searching for his father. He made out the blurry shape of a big broad shouldered cat which he knew was his father, but there was another one beside him. A slender she-cat, the one he had seen before.

[Wolfy//June]

WOlfstar never would've guessed that he'd ever have to see something as aweful as his son being burned alive. The rain brought relief and his sons agonizing wails subsided. "Are you ok?" he meowed, walking up to Sprucepaw. He froze as he noticed the She-cat beside him. He dipped his head respectfully. "Hello Juniperleaf." he meowed. He rain poured harder, but he didn't care how wet he got, or whether he was soaked to the bone. This downpour had saved his territory.

[Spruceburn]

Sprucepaw closed his eyes, unconsciousness coming over him. Wolfstar was ok. He was alive. The fire was out. He didn't have to fight anymore, he could go to sleep now. No... he had to answer his father, sleeping wouldn't cancel out the damage that had been caused. He opened his right eye slowly, but not all the way. '' I... My... My face... '' he gasped, his chest still rising and falling a bit to quickly. '' Wolfstar... What... What do I look like...? '' he asked his father. All he had to know was this and then he would give into the wave of nothingness that threatened to sweep him away. Wolfstar didn't look away, he was strong... But the starry she-cat, she turned away... What did that mean? His fur was probably just a bit singed, right? Nothing time and Doveheart couldn't heal... Wolfstar's question remember? A little voice said inside his head. Oh yeah.. Sprucepaw thought sluggishly to himself, his brain working to slow for his liking. '' I... I'm ok Wolfstar... '' he meowed.

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar looked sympathetically at his son." The left side of your face is peeled away to just raw skin. Your eye is burned shut. You have a few singed hairs on your side, but those will return. Your face, will probably never heal fully. The fur will never return. I'm sorry." he meowed sadly

[Spruceburn]

Sprucepaw listened to Wolfstar, his eye slowly sliding shut. He was lying. Wolfstar always was a liar. '' You... You're lying... '' Sprucepaw muttered more to himself than Wolfstar and then tried feebly to get up. He was almost on his paws but he slumped back to the ground breathing heavily. Sprucepaw grunted with effort as he tried to stand up again but yet again he slumped back to the ground, the rain still coming down in buckets on his drenched and ragged pelt. Two more times the young tom tried this but still he was unable. My face is burned not my paws! Sprucepaw thought angrily to himself as he lay on the ground, not ready to give into unconsciousness just yet despite the fact that pain on the left side of his face was becoming unbearable despite the rain. The apprentice looked up as the StarClan she-cat came over to him and gently touched her nose to his.

Sprucepaw hopped to his paws, his heart beating faster than a rabbit's. He looked around, he was in a clearing and it was night time. The crescent moon and stars shone brilliantly into the clearing spilling their crystal light onto the sparkling grass. The pain was gone, but Sprucepaw still couldn't open his left eye. '' Hello? '' he called out hoping the she-cat would come to his aid. Sprucepaw's prayers were answered; a slender blue/gray tabby she-cat with burning sapphire eyes came out of the surrounding forest and sat in front of Sprucepaw. When she spoke, it sounded like a brilliant chorus of all the birds in the forest, '' Greetings young Sprucepaw. I am Juniperleaf, once a warrior of SunClan. '' she meowed. '' What's wrong with my face? It'll heal right? '' Sprucepaw asked her, the panic and desperation obvious in his voice.

Juniperleaf shook her head sadly, '' No Sprucepaw, I am afraid the damage is permanent just like Featherheart's and Roseflight's. '' she explained to the young apprentice. '' No, that can't be... '' Sprucepaw meowed quietly, thinking of the clan mates Juniperleaf had mentioned. Roseflight had had to give up warrior training because of her injury... and kits flinched at the sight of Featherheart, even Sprucepaw couldn't help flinching at first. Sprucepaw looked up, his one open eye shining with hope, '' You're a StarClan warrior, right? '' Juniperleaf nodded, '' Well you can heal this then right? Or some StarClan medicine cat can? '' he meowed hopefully. The blue/gray she-cat shook her head sadly, '' I'm afraid it doesn't work like that young Sprucepaw. If it did, we would have done the same for Featherheart and Roseflight. '' She padded up to him and placed her muzzle on his head, '' Be brave young one, you will have to be. '' Sprucepaw was silent for a moment, his deepest fear swirling around his mind, '' What if... What if Birdsong won't love me anymore? '' he whispered. '' If it's meant to be it will happen. Now go Sprucepaw, it is not your time to walk with the stars yet. ''

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar watched his son be engulfed by the Starclan she-cat. A few heartbeats later, his eye fluttered open. Shock and horror took his expression. "Sprucepaw, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. That doesn't mean anything will change. You will still have your ceremony tomorrow. If Birdson really feels for you, she will still be just as enthusiastic. Now, come on. We need to get your injury treated.

[Spruceburn]

Sprucepaw got to his paws shakily, ignoring Wolfstar. The last person he wanted relationship and life advice from was him. '' Lets go... '' The young tom meowed, his voice raspy from all the smoke. He began walking slowly, the rain still pouring onto his drenched and ragged pelt. He took a few more paw steps but then stumbled. He gritted his teeth in frustration and got back to his paws determined to make it back to camp. He looked at Wolfstar who stood by his side looking pretty ragged himself. Suddenly all of the young tom's frustration spilled out, '' Are you insane? How can I be a warrior? In case you didn't notice, I can't really see out of my left eye! I can barely walk! Everyone only accepts Roseflight because at least she's still helpful and Featherheart is nice so everyone still loves her and she can have kits for the clan! I can't help the medicine cats, the last time I tried that I smashed all of Doveheart's juniper berries and looking like this I'll never have a mate if what you say is true! '' he meowed angrily, not even sure who he was angry at. Tears began spilling from his right eye and a few tears made it out of his closed eye though they were hard to notice in the rain. What was he going to do? He hid his face in his father's wet fur, he didn't want Wolfstar to see him cry. [/color]

[Wolfy//June]

Wolfstar listened to his son. Sprucepaw was working himself up too much. Alot of what he said wasn't true. He wasn't being fair to himself. "Sprucepaw, you'll be just as much use as any other cat in the clan is. You're a great hunter and that doesn't mean that this incident will alter your skill. You saved my life, that is what's really important. I love you, and I'm proud of you. Starclan made you an honorable warrior today. And don't worry about the prey. What isn't charred will be soaked." he meowed.