The Hunt

[Flamefur]

After having his silent Oath and Vigil to StarClan, Flamefur regained energy and spent it on a hunt. He started with a slick approach to the abandoned Twoleg nest. His paws barely touched the ground as he flew lightly over the broken twigs and rustling leaves. Thorns and bracken twisted at his fur and he recalled sharp pain as a clump of fiery pelt was torn out, but his sleek handsome look remained. His jaws opened wide and he sensed a small group of thrushes chattering in the brambles surrounding the outer left wall. He stalked slowly and readily after the biggest, juiciest thrush and soon pounced, dragging a claw along its wing. Several of the birds lifted into the air and flew away, but he had wounded two beefy ones that would make a good meal for a cat. He quickly covered them in soil and leafs, tearing up natural plants to create a good cover. He stretched and continued towards a rabbit nibbling the remains of an herb by a hole in the twoleg nest. He tracked it and killed it swiftyl with a huge thud over the neck, followed by a sickening crunch. Willowpelt, he remembered. The ThunderClan cat had snapped her own neck many moons ago. He shook off the thought and swept bracken and shrubs over the rabbit to hide it. His hunt was successful, so far. He would make a good ThunderClan cat. Suddenly, his thoughts whirled back to the two Clan leaders. Couldn't they both be his mates, like Tigerstar and Graystripe? He would be loyal to both of them. There was no way the tw Clans would go into battle, was there? If they did, he would be fighting against his kin either way. Flamefur was awoken again when he caught his pad on a thorn, yowling. He checked the paw and shook off the thorn and a few droplets of blood before returning to track a squirrel. Bunching up his back legs in a threatening lump, he lunged forward and caught the squirrel by the scruff with a sharp claw. He finally decided. He would be loyal to both leaders and be their mates evenly. But he would need there own permission before he could do it. His grandmother Sandstorm had gotten furious when Firestar had kept secrets from her. He would talk to them eventually. Burying his plump squirrel, he flexed his sharp claws and slapped the bright orange foot down onto a mouse's tail. He whacked it over the head with some satisfaction and almost was tempted to eat it. But he pulled away and covered it with leaves and thorns. Checking where he was, Flamefur found himself a short distance away from the abandoned Twoleg nest. It was about seven fox-lengths away. The bright orange tabby decided he would think of a wording for his little suggestion. "Hawkstar, Midnightstar, I cannot choose between you. I know you may not approve of this but may I have both of you as my mate, If I am loyal to both of you and will father kits that will come to have a great heritage. I will live in both Clans, and I really hope you grant my permission." He nodded satisfactorily at his statement and pictured what might happen. EWither one of them would be totally offended, or they would both grow to hate each other, or simply glare and say "No!". Much could happen. He looked at the positive side and pictured the two she-cats licking and nodding, rpoud and friendly. Very unlikely, he thought. It was almost sunhigh and he could maybe find a bit more prey before the animals went in hiding from the hot sun and blinding lights. He caught the scent of more mice in his jaws. He stalked a small pair of mice for a bit before realizing that two were female and one was male. "A sign!" he yowled, lifting his head. The three mice ran off but he was glad StarClan approved of his choice. Life would be difficult, two clans to hunt for, two dens waiting for him, and two mates there for him. If he became deputy to one clan, he would for sure stay there but never would he be a medicine cat. He longed for a mate, even more then being a deputy or Clan leader. But he was willing to spend his life with two Clans, and two lives. Flamefur sat up and turned to go get the rest of the prey. The sun would melt the dust and tasteless bracken, and he knew from experience that it didn't taste good. With one quick lash, he had turned awround and whipped back to the rabbit, squirrel, mouse and thrushes. This was a great hunt, he thought, and all this food would probably cover the nursery and medicine cats food for the afternoon. His only problem now was, would the two she-cats agree. He would tell them to come meet him on the island so he could talk to them. And so he returned from his successful hunt to feed ThunderClan.

As Flamefur passed the ShadowClan border, he hesitated. Maybe he could be accepted there if the other cats chose not to entitle him to Hawkstar and Midnightstar. If one said no and the other said yes... the one that said no obviosekly... his head whirled with thoughts as he breathed in the ShadowClan scent.