Fluttering Wings

' "It has to be done," I think. '

I am in a line of some of the best hunters in my Clan. I am one of them. Rather than hunting, I would like to join RiverClan and learn to swim.

Instead, a threat looms over my Clan. Literally. I have been chosen to drag it down, kill it, and bring it back to the Clan for a feast of some sorts. I would be more excited if I wasn't so scared. This threat isn't a normal threat, like ShadowClan or a badger attack.

Rather, it is our prey making us its prey.

I look up at the sky. It seems clear, with few clouds.

The she-cat next to me, Brambleface, leans over and whispers, "Perfect conditions! Don't you think?"

"Yeah," I breathe back. "Just perfect."

"Just think, if it was cloudy..."

I nod as our leader, Tanglestar, comes walking down the row, speaking as he walks.

"You five warriors are part of an elite force, trained to be rid of the threat looming above us. Just yesterday, it killed Vinekit-"

A she-cat in the crowd behind us wails and is taken back to the nursery. Tanglestar speaks over her:

"All of you will survive." He looks into my eyes. "Even you, Birdbrain."

That is not my name, but I've been called by it so often now that I'm sure even StarClan recognizes me by it.

"I know," I tell Tanglestar, "no need to remind me of the nightmares."

Tanglestar and the rest of the Clan chortle. Tanglestar says, "I'm so confident in your abilities to kill this thing that I'm appointing you leader of the patrol, just under Woodclaw."

The buff-looking tom to my left's nose twitches. "Are you sure?" he asks.

"Positive, Woodclaw," Tanglestar snaps back. He raises his tail. "Now, go, kill the bird!"

The Clan roars their excitement as we- the hunters- pad out of the camp.

The hunt has begun.

 ~*~*~*~ 

' My name is Birdbrain. Well, actually, that's my nickname. ' My warrior name is Birdheart. I was named for my high hopes for the future and for my feather-like coat. I almost wish my mother had named me Featherkit, because now I would be named Featherheart and I wouldn't have this horrible nickname.

When I was just a kit, my brother was taken by an eagle. Since then, I have had a supposedly "irrational" fear of birds. It's not my fault. I just see their beaks and their beady eyes and their sharp talons and I can't help but be afraid.

I know for a fact that Brambleface has a small fear of water, more obvious than the average ThunderClan cat. And Woodclaw has a fear of dying by greencough.

This is why I don't really understand why I'm the one teased. I'm still a good warrior and a fantastic hunter.

Tanglestar is a bully to me, too. I know he just wants to make me scared, but what if something really does happen to me today? How will he feel then?

I almost hope something would happen to me today.

 ~*~*~*~