~The Kitten and the Wolf~

River spots two mice and a squirrel congregating in a small open area near the place the two of them had spent the night in. None of them seem to know that River is stalking them as they go about their own business and gather their food and such.

River watched the mice and squirrel a bit before getting ready, moving close enough so she could get one of them at least. She took a second before jumping on the squirrel and bite it as she did.

The squirrel doesn't even get the chance to squeak before River kills it, the two mice that were also in the clearing squeaking in surprise and immediately going to run. River notices that they're stumbling a little bit, their fear of her making them a bit slower than usual.

River noticed the mice and moved to pounce on them quickly, biting as she landed and pinned them down.

River manages to get the both of them before they could flee into their holes in the ground, the second one nearly making it there before River manages to pounce on it. Both die quickly and quietly as she bites their necks and swiftly ends their lives.

River swished her tail happily when she managed to get them all, moving to try and pick them all up and bring them back to Bramble since she wanted him to be happy when he woke up.

River easily manages to pick up the two mice and the squirrel into her jaws by grabbing them by their respective tails as she carries them back to Brambletail. He was just waking up when she had come back with her rather impressive catch, making him smile at her.

Very nice catch little hunter. The prey must be running very well for you to catch so much in such a small amount of time. How long were you out hunting before I awoke?

He asks her, still smiling at her impressive catch.

River purred happily at what he said, happy that he was praising her again as she padded over and dropped her catch next to him.

I wasn't out too long, I thought you might be hungry when you woke up is all.

Brambletail smiles and happily takes the squirrel for himself, nudging the two mice towards her for her own food.

Thank you little hunter. Don't forget to bury the bones and skeleton. It is the best way to thank your prey for its giving its life to you.

He reminds her, going to eat his share of her catch.

River nodded some at what he said, purring a bit as she pulled the mice over and started to eat happily.

Brambletail finishes the squirrel before getting up and stretching his legs. He goes over to a bare patch of dirt and digs up a small hole for the squirrel, leaving it unburied as he waited for River to finish her meal.

River moved to follow him when she had finished her food, pulling the bones along so she could bury them.

Brambletail stretches a bit more as he watches River bury her prey's bones. Once she had finished doing so, he sits down on his haunches facing her.

So, now that you're able to figure out shelter and you've learned to be quite the capable hunter, shall we proceed with your last lesson?

He asks her, smiling mischievously.

What is the last one?

River asked and tilted her head, sitting down as she looked at him and waited.

Brambletail narrows his eyes at her before his smile grows a bit bigger.

You must survive out here one night without me. I will not give you any help but I shall watch you closely from a distance. If you can pass this test then we will leave this place the very next morning. Where we go does not matter. You wanted to go on an adventure with me, and so you shall have it. It is now within your reach. Think you can survive by yourself?

He asks her, smiling proudly. He was really quite proud of the little kitten. River had quickly blossomed into a very capable wild cat after having been in the care of a human for so very long.

River looked at him surprised before she looked down and fidgeted a little bit.

I will have to be all alone? You won't be around all night?

Brambletail nods.

As a guardian of the forest, I had to spend many nights without anyone to depend on but myself. You must show me the same capability as you will not always be able to rely on me for survival. You must be able to believe in your own skills and be confident that you can take care of yourself before I let you come with me and leave this place. Now I offer one last chance to back out before I leave you alone to fend for yourself today and through the night. Do you want to back out?

He asks her, looking totally serious.

River looked at him before she shook her head, hesitant about it since she didn't like to be alone but she would take care of herself anyway.

I can do it, I will show you I can.

Brambletail nods and gets up, going to leave. He glances back at her one last time before walking off deeper into the forest to be by himself. He would check on her later but for now he needed to check the surrounding areas for possible places to venture out to, just in case River succeeded in her test and they needed a place to start exploring.

River watched him go and stood up a bit, wanting to follow out of habit but she just stayed there and looked around some. She wasn't sure what to do now, since she had already eaten, so she just went and wandered around a little bit curiously.

River doesn't really find very much that's interesting. Just lots of trees and bushes. She can smell lots of mice, squirrel's and even something new that she'd never hunted before: Rabbits.

River twitched her ears when she smelled the rabbit, looking around as she crouched down and tried to find out where it was.

River spots the rabbit near its burrow, sniffing the ground and looking for something to eat. It looks like it's about the same size as she is, meaning that it'll be a tougher creature to hunt than anything she's ever hunted before.

~Meanwhile~

Brambletail reaches the edge of the forest and spots a huge desert in the distance to the north as well as the charred remains of his old forest to the west. The sight of his old forest forces a wave of sadness and grief to overcome him as he remembers the tiny little kitten that he had tried and failed to save all that time ago. Reluctantly, Brambletail wanders back into the forest near the human's nest, eager to observe River as she tries to survive this night by herself.

River noticed the rabbit and watched it a bit, hesitant because of how big it was. She watched it before trying to creep closer without scaring it off.

The scraping of River's paws on the forest floor make the rabbit stop what it's doing and perk its ears and head up, looking around for what had made the sudden sound. It doesn't look like it's seen River yet but it's definitely twitchy and ready to run at a moment's notice.