"It's nearly sunhigh, I really need to get back to camp." Dipperflight meowed, his tail flicking restlessly. The brown tabby stood in a clearing, a freshly caught robin and a few mice at his paws. Fallen leaves coated the forest floor, and light birdsong and cricket chirps hummed at the air. A pale striped calico she-cat stalked back and forth at the edge of the small clearing, her eyes scanning the undersides of the bushes and ferns that crawled out from the surrounding wild. She flicked her tail for silence. Dipperflight sat neatly, wrapping his tail around his paws to try and keep them warm, though his whiskers still twitched with unease.

The calico gave up with a huff, turning and sulking back.

"I was hoping to find at least one more mouse...." She mumbled, scooping up the three mice by their tails.

"I think the robin I caught will help make up for it," Dipperflight rumbled, starting away with relief. I need to get back to camp-- I'm almost late. The calico stopped, raising her tail and setting down the mice as she dropped to a hunting crouch. Dipperflight's tried to keep as still as he could, anticipation churning at his paws. We can't stop now..!

The tabby calico stalked forward quietly, her ears swiveled forward and body so low to the ground she appeared to be sliding along like an adder. She pounced forward suddenly into a pile of leaf litter, reemerging proudly with a mouse in her mouth.

"See? I knew there had to be another mouse around here. No cat has hunted in this clearing in a few days, so I just knew there had to be at least one more."

"Yes, yes, can we go now? I really need to be back by now, if we don't hurry it'll be past sunhigh by the time we make it back, Dawnwhisker." The calico waved her tail in dismissal to the dark tabby. She picked up the other mice, her amber eyes glancing to him.

"What, do you have some hot date?" She paused, a purr escaping her jaws. "Pfft, you probably do. You and Fennelstorm are so cute; he's always worrying about you." Dipperflight flicked a dark ear deftly, concentrating on the tantalizing scent of the prey they were bringing back. "I personally don't really want a mate, but I guess I can see how some cat might want one," she meowed, making conversation. Dipperflight barely heard her though, and she ended up giving up on talking.

The pair wove their way through the brambles, ferns, and trees. Finally, the gorse tunnel came into sight, and Dipperflight bounded the last few steps, pushing through the entrance.

As soon as the brown tabby set paw in camp, he was met by the green gaze a handsome golden ginger tabby. Fennelstorm. He stood under the High Rock, having stopped pacing.

"Dipperflight!" He called, his tail high and twitching. Dipperflight quickly padded to his mate, dropping the robin at the tom's paws.

"Sorry--" he began to mumble, but Fennelstorm cut him off.

"You're late. How inconsiderate of mate are you that you don't even come back to camp when I ask you to?" The dark tabby ducked his head lower, his ears flicking back. I should've pushed Dawnwhisker to hunt faster. I should've run faster when we came back.

"I know, the hunting just took a little longer than I thought it would--"

"Then you should've hunted faster," Fennelstorm looked down on the thicker-coated warrior. "You're lucky you have me, you know. Any other cat would've left you by now." Dipperflight nodded slowly. I should've never gone out with Dawnwhisker.

"I'm sorry, Fennelstorm," Dipperflight meowed. He felt his mate nose him, pulling his head up.

"Just don't do it again. Come on, bring that robin over here to eat." Fennelstorm pulled away to lead to a patch of ferns. Dipperflight looked down at the bird.

"Actually, I think the robin was going to go to Lionfur and their kits," Dipperflight meowed sheepishly. Fennelstorm's eyes narrowed.

"I'm the deputy of ThunderClan. If I want to eat, I will eat." He hissed. Dipperflight nodded quickly, picking up the robin and taking his place at the patch of ferns. Fennelstorm lay down next to him, beginning to pluck the robin's feathers in order to eat it.

He glanced to Dipperflight, who was staring at his paws. I shouldn't have said anything. Now Fennelstorm is mad at me. He looked over to his mate, who was slowly eating the robin, his eyes moving across the camp to watch the other cats. He should be. I shouldn't have doubted him.

"Hey, Dipperflight." Fennelstorm murmured. He pricked his ears, sitting up slightly.

"Yeah?"

Fennelstorm nosed the half-eaten robin over.

"I'm done, you can have the rest." He began cleaning his fur. Dipperflight tucked into the meal, watching his mate. He's so kind and forgiving. He's right too, I really don't deserve him.

He closed his amber eyes. I'm lucky to have him.