Lavenderwhisker.
Lavenderwhisker had woken that morning, with a mission in mind. She stirred, rose from her nest, and immediately went toward the Fresh Kill pile. She carefully selected a mouse for breakfast, close to the bottom of the pile, leaving the freshest and choicest pieces of prey for other members of the clan. If all went well, she would have a couple of birds to add to the pile today!

She was not part of any hunting patrol, not today, and she didn’t have to do the Evening Patrol until much later. She could afford to spend the morning and most of the afternoon searching for the most perfect of birds to add to the pile!

Lavenderwhisker was positively delighted with her choices for the day, as she finished off the mouse that rested between her paws. Once it was gone, she forced herself to take a few moments to groom herself before she hopped up, and in a flurry of movement from her thick fur, darted from the Camp, causing a slight commotion as she did so. She left the camp’s barrier trembling in her wake as she exited it and entered the forest beyond.

Within the hour, a small fraction of movement from the sun, Lavenderwhisker was climbing up the trunk of a tree, her claws sinking expertly into the rough bark of the towering oak. She climbed up the opposite side, as quietly as she could, from a singing cardinal, sending its sweet song out into the forest, waiting to hear a reply from its mate. The bright red bird was unaware of the cat stalking up so silently behind it! It was close enough to the trunk of the tree that Lavenderwhisker’s weight didn’t cause much movement of the branch, nothing that felt out of the ordinary for the small breeze that blew from the side of both of them, making even the branches of the mighty oak sway ever so slightly as if dancing in the gentle breeze.

Lavenderwhisker paused, a small movement rolling through her body as she collected her legs beneath her, looking at the branch beyond the bird. She would have to catch it with only her mouth so that her claws would have the opportunity to sink into the sturdy branch beyond. She was concealed within the opening leaves, sprouting from the buds on the branch. While her coat stood out, with the bird’s back to her, it didn’t much matter.

She sprung.

Feathers filled her mouth, the startled squawk from the bird filling her ears as her jaws quickly closed around the back of its neck. With claws sinking into the thinning branch, Lavenderwhisker worked her way backward, holding on for dear life as the bird struggled in her jaws, frantically trying to beat and scratch its way free, even though it couldn’t quite reach its assailant. Once she was on a sturdier portion of the branch, closer to the trunk, Lavenderwhisker took her front paws from the branch and pinned the bird down by its wings. A quick bite to the spine silenced it.

She slowly backed down the trunk, keeping her head turned to the side so that the now limp cardinal didn’t get in the way of her claws and legs as she worked her way back down to the ground. Once she was only a few taillengths up, Lavenderwhisker turned slightly on the trunk, and jumped down, landing lightly on her paws. She carefully covered up the cardinal with dirt and leaf litter to come back for later. She should be able to carry at least two more birds of similar size, she decided, looking at the small mound of dirt and crushed leaves.

Lavenderwhisker stood still as she listened for more birdsong, but… quickly became distracted by a rustling in the bramble and blackberry brush only a little ways away from her. She crouched, doing her best to pinpoint the source of the movement. She pounced, sailing over the arc of the brush, and landing… on a cat!

“Whoops! I’m sorry!” Lavenderwhisker squeaked out, as she quickly retracted her claws.