The Almost-Lost Owl (clever title is clever) {CLOSED}

With the morning sun quite low in the sky, signaling the start of a new day, and a gentle yet cool wind fluttering through the trees, Clan life slowly woke up, with Warriors staggering from their dens and Apprentices play-fighting in the dusty confines of their camps. All around the Clan territories, the land seemed to be waking up, with the sun shedding its' golden light over the bright green foliage and shimmering on the rivers throughout the territories. Birds chirped, rabbits skittered about, squirrels hid and fish splashed as life continued living after the dark night.

Deep in ThunderClan camp, a young apprentice stirred in her nest. Soft light filtered in through tiny gaps in the sheltering leaves above the she-cat's nest, and the air around her was far too warm for comfort, as if inviting any to be drawn in for a hot nap. Though as the young apprentice awoke, a nap was the last thing on her mind. This she-cat, Owlpaw, had such thick fur, she couldn't wait to be out of the stuffy one-cat den of her own station, just barely spending enough time to lick down her thoroughly sleep-ruffled fur before pushing out of the den entrance. Of course, as per usual, she would be expected to hunt so early in the morning, when the prey was out and about and it wasn't yet midday, so they wouldn't be hiding in their cool burrows and nests. Without further ado, Owlpaw made her way out into the lush forest.

What I wouldn't give for a nice vole, Owlpaw thought as she licked her lips, hungry but not too hungry to go without for a while as she hunted. Making her way silently through the undergrowth was Owlpaw's forte, which covered her as she made her way to the place she knew best for hunting. With tufted ears pricked and eyes wary, the apprentice struck at any chance to detect prey; a snapped branch, a gust of wind, a rustle of grass. She took in everything, her blue-green gaze intent. Suddenly, though, she heard a slightly louder noise than was usual, being quite far from camp now as she was. Her body stilled, and her senses became on alert as she tried to sense the prey. Her ears caught it first, though: something snuffling in the grass not too far off at the base of a tree. Crouching down until her belly fur almost touched the grass, Owlpaw turned and crept towards the source of the noise, intent on making a kill. She crept towards the noise until she could see and scent what it was: a vole, digging around for seeds.

Narrowing her gaze intently, Owlpaw tensed, waiting for the perfect time to strike. However, as she was just about to leap, the wind changed directions. Owlpaw's eyes widened in horror as the vole scented her, perking up before suddenly shooting away- however, Owlpaw wasn't going to let it go that easily. She shot after it, her paws barely touching the ground as she pelted through the forest after the quick little rodent. They grew closer and closer to the edge of the territory, and Owlpaw was wondering where on earth it thought it was going. Suddenly though, Owlpaw found herself alone, the rodent disappeared down a hole suddenly. She could still hear it, quietly, through a bush, but was confused as to how it got there without her seeing. Creeping forwards, Owlpaw figured she'd jump into the bush to surprise it. So intent she was on sensing the vole that she didn't hear the familiar rush of water from the river- or didn't notice it.

Owlpaw leaped forwards, sure her paws would hit their mark, but they hit nothing at all. Paws were flailing at the air as Owlpaw suddenly tumbled down a steep incline straight into the river. She had thought that there was land on the other side of the bush, not expecting to be so far away in the territory, and didn't recognized her shrub-filled surroundings until she hit the water, the cold water sucking the breath out of her lungs. Pushed under by the strong current, the small apprentice went slack at the pull of the wetness, not knowing how to swim and in shock of the cold and impact. At one point her head surfaced briefly, giving her time for one ragged, small breath before she was pulled under again. Owlpaw knew she should try signal for help.. but from who? Who would see or hear her? No one, I'm underwater. I'm doomed, Owlpaw thought with a sinking (no pun intended) and panicked feeling rising in her chest, her lungs burning as she fought against the current feebly.