[Deleted]

The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all SWALLOWPAW

Ice reflected off of the jet black apprentice's fur as he crouched, his fluffy bodice so close to the ground that his belly fur dragged against the ground. It wouldn't be such a surprising feat for the tom, had it been a warmer season and had he not been a very vain apprentice. But, as it were, Swallowpaw was hungry and completely vain -- it was surprising that he allowed his luxurious black fur tread the ice covered ground, let alone that he actually could touch his skinny belly to the ground.

But alas, Swallowpaw was concentrating particularly intensely. A young, skinny mouse sat in front of him, feeling particularly safe and feeling hidden based on the color of the mouse's pelt. Though Swallowpaw's hunter's crouch was in no way in perfect form, the young black tom was so hyper sensitive to his goal that the tom felt that her was no way he could miss.

The tom's tail, tucked under his body and his ears pinned back, Swallowpaw barely breathed. As time passed, the tom's hind legs began to tense. Then, without warning, snap! The obsidian tom sprang forward upon the innocent mouse who was digging for any plant remains it could find. The young apprentice was so certain that he had the mouse in his grasp -- but suddenly his catch darted away, leaving the inexperienced tom falling hard against his forepaws and skidding to a halt with his back legs.

Kicking up snow, the black tomcat let out a huff. "Mousedung!" he cursed.

And even if I could it'd all be grey

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[Phoenix]

The frigid air nearly froze her every time she left her warm den, but obligation and duty dictated that she try her best at hunting for the clan every day. Not to mention that apprentices were never allowed to linger around camp all day, even after one of their number left to join the warriors. Nobleheart's ceremony had been the subject of her thoughts almost ever since it occurred, despite her less than pleasant feelings toward the tom; however, she had to admit that he had matured some in the moons following Demon's attack. Though he still had a tendancy to brag, he was tolerable for a short time. But the warrior ceremony had made her consider her own ceremony, which she felt was rapidly approaching. She was torn between feeling ready to take on the challenge of warrior duties and wanting to run back and voice her insecurities, convince the others that she was not as ready as they thought, that she would never be ready enough.

Littlepaw's success that day, however, contradicted her thoughts. Even in the dead of leaf-bare, she had caught a rather plump squirrel, a testament to her hunting abilities. Hoping that her luck would continue, she had decided to bury her catch and not return to camp just yet. Small paws scraped dirt over the shallow grave, and she found herself wondering if it would be enough. Due to leaf-bare's chill, the ground was practically frozen solid; it had taken her far too long to dig that hole. Green eyes skeptically studied her work as she debated digging up her catch and seeing if she could increase the size of the grave when something made her pause. What was that? An ear flicked as she turned, rounding a nearby tree just in time to see a mouse scamper away from black paws.

On a reflex, she lunged for the creature herself, but due to her lack of preperation, her move was sloppy. The mouse had no trouble escaping. Frowning slightly in disappointment, Littlepaw straightened up and turned back to the ebony tom, whom she identified as a fellow apprentice, Swallowpaw. "Hey Swallowpaw," She greeted him politely. "You have no idea how many times I've done that, missed a mouse like you did. My first attempt at catching one ended like that."

[Deleted]

The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all SWALLOWPAW

Large black ears had not even noticed the approaching cat -- the apprentice's mind was too focused on his own frustrations. Despite how self absorbed Swallowpaw was, even he recognized the need of his clan in terms of food. With NightClan sapping their source of food, TreeClan was basically starving. And even if Swallowpaw had the most perfect looking pelt in the world, he would not trade if it meant the death of others. He had a pig head, not a cruel of malevolent mind.

When the older warrior finally addressed him, Swallowpaw nearly jumping out of his jet black coat in surprise. 'Hey Swallowpaw,' Littlepaw greeted the younger apprentice. Shock still clung to the jet black tom's pelt and his tossed his long pelt before dipping his handsome face in greeting. "Littlepaw. Have you had any luck?" Swallowpaw questioned, swishing his fluffy tail and wondering if he had the right to be jealous of the other apprentice or not. Though the older apprentice attempted to console the jet black tom, it did little good for him. Swallowpaw had finally found the initiative to hunt -- and it was a complete flop so far. The chatting of the two apprentices had probably chased away any lingering prey in the area, anyways. "There's been so little to eat this Leafbare. We can't afford to miss any prey," Swallowpaw told Littlepaw and let out a heavy sigh.

And even if I could it'd all be grey

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[Phoenix]

Her tail flicked as she dipped her head in response to his question, pride flickering through her chest at the thought of the plump rabbit buried barely a few pawsteps away. "Caught a rabbit a little while back," Littlepaw answered, a smile ghosting over her features. She decided against returning the question; though it was important for the clan, she felt that it was irrelevant for her to know how much prey her fellow apprentice had caught. If he had caught some, then there was the possibility of him volunteering the information himself. If he hadn't, then she might have saved him the embarassment of having to admit his failure. She was very conscious of the fact that he was a tom and an apprentice; if he was anything like Nobleheart had been, then pride was very important to him. Littlepaw did not want to risk hurting it.

Swallowpaw's second statement had her nodding once more in agreement. "Yeah, it's horrible," She commented, glancing around the area as if willing hoardes of mice and rabbits to reveal themselves and lay down before her. The clan would certainly rejoice in the unlikely event that their prey walked into their claws. There was a queen back in camp that needed the plentiful prey that came with New-Leaf. The fur seemed to hang off the bones of the leaner warrior's, and the a few of the elders had started skipping meals in favor of letting a younger cat eat their share. It was a noble act, and Littlepaw respected them for their choice; at the same time, it denoted the severity of the prey shortage. "We should... We should probably get back to hunting," The apprentice suggested quietly. "Or I can go get my rabbit and we can bring it back to camp. I'm not sure what else there is out here."

[Deleted]

The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all SWALLOWPAW

Jet black paws crunched against the soft qhite snow the moment he heard the fellow apprentice announce that she had caught a rabbit earlier back. It was true that the jet black tom had been out for a short period of time, but he still felt bad that he had yet to catch anything. The young apprentice knew that he did not have to tell Littlepaw what or how much he caught. The response with his paws had most likely already gave Swallowpaw's failure away.

The young tom simply nodded at the other apprentice when she agreed with him. Of course, she would. Swallowpaw figured that any cat willing to say that the prey situation wasn't bad at this time was either joking, lying, or completely out of his/her head. Or both, Swallowpaw thought, grimacing as he observed the icy wonderland stretching out before them as far as the contrasting young apprentice could see.

When Littlepaw suggested that the the two of them get back to hunting, Swallowpaw let out a sigh but nodded in complete agreement. "I agree, but I think we need to go out a little further. Our voices carry, we've probably scared off all the prey in this area," Swallowpaw meowed to Littlepaw in a quiet voice. The tom was unsure if the older apprentice would want to follow him or to head back and press on in another direction.

Therefore, the fluffy black tom did not wait up at all. Pulling his black paws high in the air, Swallowpaw silently crept forward, prancing towards a more fruitful area.

And even if I could it'd all be grey

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