Free Warriors: Power Of Three 4 - Eclipse by Erin Hunter

warriors and their apprentices were only a foxtail ahead of them. Jaypaw trusted that Lionpaw had chosen a spot where they were still well hidden, and hoped the mushroom dirt was enough to hide their scents.
    The air pricked with the excitement of the three apprentices waiting to begin their assessment.
    “Cinderpaw can hardly sit still,” Hollypaw commented.
    “Poor Honeypaw looks petrified,” Lionpaw whispered.
    “But Poppypaw looks as calm as a vixen.”
    “Nothing fazes Poppypaw,” Hollypaw mewed.
    Hopefulness and determination mingled in the air like meadow scent.
    “Good luck,” Thornclaw meowed.
    The three warriors melted into the forest, leaving the apprentices alone.
    “Where shall I hunt?” Honeypaw mewed nervously.
    “Trust your instinct,” Poppypaw advised. “I’m heading this way.”
    Jaypaw heard Poppypaw’s paw steps heading toward the bramble where he and his littermates hid. Not daring to back away in case he set the bush shivering, he f lattened himself against the ground. Lionpaw and Hollypaw tensed beside him, holding their breath as Poppypaw’s pelt brushed the leaves of the bush.
    Don’t let her see us!
    Hollypaw dug her claws into the soft earth.
    Shh! Jaypaw stiffened. Then he let out a relieved sigh as the apprentice’s paw steps scuffed away up the slope.
    “She’s heading to the shore,” Hollypaw guessed.
    “Honeypaw’s going the other way,” Lionpaw mewed.
    “What about Cinderpaw?” Jaypaw asked.
    “She’s tasting the air.” Hollypaw’s breath tickled Jaypaw’s ear fur. “She must have caught a scent. She’s on the move.”
    “Come on,” Lionpaw hissed. “Let’s follow her.” He began crawling out from under the bush.
    Jaypaw followed, his brother’s tail brushing his nose. Out in the open, he soon recognized the ground beneath his paws; they were following the bottom of the slope. Keeping close to Lionpaw’s tail, and with Hollypaw’s fur brushing his flank, he found it easy to keep up with Cinderpaw as she began to pick up speed.
    “She looks confident!” Hollypaw mewed. “Her tail is up.”
    Lionpaw stopped without warning. “She’s turning around!”
    he hissed.
    Jaypaw skidded to a halt just before he crashed into his brother. He felt Hollypaw’s teeth grasp his tail and drag him backward; then Lionpaw bundled him sideways and the three of them tumbled through a wall of ferns in time to hear Cinderpaw’s paw steps thrumming past.
    “That was close!” Lionpaw panted.
    In the distance, a screech split the air and Jaypaw heard the fluttering of wings.
    “Mouse dung!” An angry mew rang through the trees.
    “Sounds like Honeypaw’s missed her first catch,” Lionpaw guessed.
    “Never mind Honeypaw,” Hollypaw mewed. “Cinderpaw’s getting away!” She pushed her way out of the ferns and began to give chase. Lionpaw nudged Jaypaw after her, and they were once more hurrying through the forest after the apprentice.
    Jaypaw recognized a scent. “Squirrel!”
    Cinderpaw’s footsteps grew quicker.
    “She’s following it,” Lionpaw mewed.
    “I can see her!” Hollypaw whispered. “She’s definitely stalking it. She’s keeping lower than a snake.”
    “Has the squirrel seen her?” Jaypaw asked.
    “It’s fleeing,” Lionpaw answered. “But it’s still on the ground. I think it knows something’s up, but it’s not climbing yet.”
    “It’s trying to escape,” Hollypaw hissed to Jaypaw. “Cinderpaw’s going to have to make her move soon.”
    “It’s running along a fallen tree,” Lionpaw mewed,
    “heading for an oak. Cinderpaw’s got to attack now or she’ll lose it.”
    “There she goes!” Hollypaw mewed triumphantly. “What a leap—” Her voice broke off.
    “What’s the matter?” Jaypaw felt a flash of alarm. Through the bushes, he heard a scraping sound, followed by a dull thud.
    “She mistimed the jump!” Lionpaw gasped.
    “She’s crashed on top of the fallen tree!” Hollypaw yelped.
    The air was suddenly