[center][h1]Sandfire[/h1][/center]

"Snakerocks hmm ok let's hop to it Sandfire" 

Sandfire tipped her head and allowed her eager apprentice to lead the way. Snakerocks lay mere fox-lengths away from the Great Symcamore, and the walk would be brief. Stonepaw's tail disappeared between the fronds of tall grass that encircled the Sycamore, and Sandfire brisked her pace to keep up.

The two cats padded in a silence in which Sandfire reveled. It gave her time to muse over the succinct and angry conversation she had, had with Bravefeather. Away from her brother's curious, scrutinizing stare, Sandfire allowed herself to review what Mallownose really meant her. Nothing serious, surely. Sandfire had carefully avoided deep interaction with Mallownose since she had realized her own feelings. And she planned for those feelings to stay stunted; Mallownose himself, however, seemed to hold no aversion for Sandfire. He would acknowledge her presence when their paths crossed, and for the most part, Sandfire had reason to believe that he was none the wiser about the way her paws tingled, and her fur burned.

She shook her head. It didn't matter if he was aware of her feelings or not. The Warrior Code was the Warrior Code. And what the Warrior Code stated was that a respectable Medicine Cat was to, by no means, engage in relations with another cat. Sandfire resolved to squash her dreams of an improbable and unreasonable future with Mallownose; he was a dedicated Medicine cat, and among the clan, was highly regarded as a decent and caring tom. Tempting him (and somehow succeeding) would only tarnish his reputation among his fellow clanmates.     

Deep in thought, Sandfire nearly collided with the rump of her apprentice. He had stopped abruptly, and, blinking in surprise, Sandfire realized that they had reached a cradle of bush tucked almost exactly between Snakerocks and the Great Sycamore. Scanning the bristles of grass around them, the lean she-cat spotted a slanted rock protruding significantly from the green stalks that surrounded it. Bounding over, she settled herself on its tip, and, tail curled comfortably over her paws, proceeded to diligently observe her apprentice. 

For a moment, his mouth hung upon as he seeped in the scents of the surrounding forest. Something seemed to hold his interest, and in the next instant, he was flying through the air gracefully, landing a few tail-lengths away from where he had been standing. His head disappeared beneath the sea of green, and resurfaced with a look of triumph. 

A mottled brown mouse lay lifeless by his gray paws. He beamed a proud smile up at Sandfire, and she returned it with a flourish of her tail and an affectionate purr. Always having been the humble one, his mind did not stray from the task, and soon he seemed to be on the trail of a handsome crow that Sandfire had spotted from her perch on the rock. 

Crow in sights, Stonepaw crouched deeply into the surrounding brush, his gray pelt melting into the thicket of twigs, grass, and shadow that surrounded him. His haunches bunched; then he was flying again, only this time, it was more like flailing. His paws whipped out in all directions as he struggled to reach the crow, which, alarmed by his attempt, had fluttered off into the sky.  

Briefly, he looked back around to the sandy ginger she-cat, before his eyes fell on his stone colored paws, and, sounding extremely regretful, he meowed, "Sorry Sandfire."

For a moment, Sandfire's deep emerald eyes filled with surprise. A crow was, by no means, an easy catch, and the fact that Stonepaw had tried only proved his great determination to succeed. If anything, the she-cat was proud that her apprentice showed such great aspirations. 

Seeing the disappointment etched deeply in his face, Sandfire leaped from her rock and padded to where he stood. 

"There's nothign to be sorry for, Stonepaw," she meowed, laying her tail on his shoulder, "You did the best you could! Crows can be difficult prey, even for experienced warriors. You should be proud of yourself for getting as close as you did!" 

Nodding at his mouse, she added, "And look! You still caught something. Remember, every bit of prey, no matter how small, matters to the clan. In times of harsh weather, why, a mouse like that could be the saving morsel for a kit!" 

Hoping her apprentice had been eased by her words, her eyes flickered back to the Great Sycamore, where Bravefeather and Shadowpaw had stayed to hunt. 

"Perhaps we should head back."