Username: ArcticWaterDrake
Name: Snowball
Gender: Male
Rank: Subordinate Hunter
Age: 9 moons
Colony: Whispering WoodsPrompt:It all started when Snowball was 4 moons old, on his first hunt. A few of other cats were with him, but he was the youngest. Suddenly, he spotted a large squirrel scuffling among the roots of an oak. He crept towards it, imagining how impressed the colony would be when he brought back such a large prey animal on his first hunt. However, the squirrel swiveled around before he could pounce, and seeing the predator, scurried up a maple tree. Snowball tried to grab it, but he couldn't climb the smooth trunk, and it was too late.
"Mouse dung! I wonder what set it off?" he cursed. Another cat snickered behind him and then came out from behind a bush.
"Why, your tail, of course. Waving it around in the air like that, prey would notice you from a mile away!"
Snowball realized with a start the mistake he had made. Tail drooping, he met back up with the patrol and they started to go home, as the sun was dropping below the horizon.
"Don't sweat it, most cats don't catch anything on their first hunt," Another cat comforted him through a mouthful of feathers. Snowball snorted and kept plodding on. With a long tail like his, it was hard to hide among the undergrowth. He hadn't even been moving it! Whatever the case, Snowball is always extra careful to keep his tail hidden, but every once in a while, it betrays his presence. Oh how he envies the ones with short tails, but at least he can keep his balance quite well among the branches!