Hunting

The sun filtered through the forest as a small breeze blew through the valley. Things were calm since the rogues were defeated- animals were scrounging the forest floor for food, birds were singing their songs, and the river babbled as the fish swam through it with ease. The valley was full of life again, not fear and distress.

It was because of this that the clans decided to stock up on food again. It was coming up to leaffal, and soon, leafbare would be hitting them hard and fast. So Poppyflake decided to go on some solo hunting of her own.

The leaves rustled in the wind as Poppyflake slowly crouched down, watching the pheasant as it went about looking at the ground. The she-cat felt her claws flex as she thought about bringing in the pheasant for Lynxclan. This is what she was good at- she could do this.

No matter what anyone thought, she was named for her stealth and her stealth translated to her hunting abilities. This was what she was good for.

She felt calm. She felt at peace. She felt like she could finally make a difference for her clan, instead of being just plain old Poppyflake….

“You know, I think you are great for who you are...not just for what you can do!”

Her fur prickled and she could feel a heat enter her body as she thought about what Saltfang told her earlier. Why was he entering her mind? She was hunting! Nothing ever entered her mind when she was hunting, it was just her and her thoughts, always! So what if he was kind, and thoughtful, and funny, and actually really really cute…

“What are you staring at?”

“Oh you know….you.”

Agh!! Why was he still in her head? Why did he enter her thoughts all the time? Did...did he think about her as much as she did him? Or was she doing some wistful thinking?

“It doesn’t matter that you have scars Poppyflake, in fact, they prove how strong you are!”

Saltfang was kind, and nice yes- but she was….herself. Poppyflake wasn’t strong...or smart...or even funny like he was. All she could do was...hunt. And even then it took her forever to even admit that, many cats working on her so that she could admit even a small amount of personal success…

“Hey Poppyflake! I was thinking we could-”

“What are you doing Poppyflake? Mind if I join?-”

“So, isn’t Peppernose great? You agree right? Well since I think you’re as great as Peppernose, that means that you just agreed that you’re great too ha!-”

“You know, Briarheart is watching me down here, I just know it….and I know that Pikefoot is watching you too…”

So why did Saltfang stick with her? Why did he talk to her, and walk with her, and just hang around her? Why did he go on patrols with her? Why did he…?

Poppyflake shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, and in the process missed two squirrels rushing into the clearing, clearly bickering about something or another. The pheasant however, did not miss those two squirrels. The she-cat was brought back to reality when the pheasant let out a startled cry, and flapped its wings as it started flying away.

Poppyflake let out a small wail. No-!

“Come back here!!”

The she-cat raced after the pheasant and launched herself into the air, just barely missing the pheasant as it flew away to safety. No! She lost it- all because of those squirrels. And Saltfang. Stupid, funny, kind Saltfang- ahhh!