[Jos]

Squirreltalon

Squirreltalon had taken it upon himself to do some hunting. He figured that the Tribe’s hunting grounds would be similar to Stoneclan’s, what with all the stones and all. But he was sorely mistaken. Hunting in the mountains was very different to hunting in the valley. Even if Squirreltalon knew how to find prey hiding in among the nooks and crannies of the stones, the air here was different and the prey acted different, and it made everything that much more challenging.

He had spent a decent amount of time unsuccessfully stalking mice in the stones. He had figured out that the mice must have had some sort of secret tunnel system…or they were magic, and could just appear and disappear at will. It was lucky that Beetlejaw wasn’t there to see him failing so miserably or else he might consider demoting him back to a ‘paw!


With that helpful mental image in mind, Squirreltalon decided to try his luck in some trees. Maybe some birds or a squirrel would be around, eating nuts and bugs or whatever they did up there all day. There was evidence of small critters among the roots of the pines that dotted Tribe territory, but it was clear that the prey were hiding among the branches. Ever the optimist, Squirreltalon decided that today was the day he would try to climb a tree! He took a few steps back, bunched his hind legs, wriggled them into pouncing position and took a deep breath.

He counted three heartbeats: one… two… three!


The fluffy tom launched himself at the tree as though fighting an enemy, claws outstretched and tail flicking behind him like some sort of rudder. It was an excellent pounce, perfect form, and if the tree had been another cat it would have been in serious trouble. Unfortunately for Squirreltalon, the tree was a…well, a tree. He hit the trunk head first and fell straight down at its roots. The air was knocked out of him and he lay there for a moment, gasping and wheezing.



Today was apparently not the day he was going to climb a tree.

Ain't nothin' gonna break-a my stride

Nobody gonna slow me down

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