Lily took a deep breath, opening her mouth so the new smells could wash over her scent glands. "What can you smell?" Cloud asked her. "I smell fresh water nearby. And something meaty and tantalizing. Is that mouse?" She reported. Cloud purred in amusement. "That's squirrel." He replied. Lily glanced at Max, embarrassment making her pelt hot. He nudged her playfully. "Here, try the hunter's crouch." Cloud suggested. He dropped to the ground, his belly fur brushing the dead leaves. His tail was wrapped neatly around his hind legs as he crept forward. His paws skimmed the ground, making no contact with leaves or twigs. He brushed through the undergrowth silently. Lily admired his cunning. She dropped into a crouch, her belly fur brushing the ground. She made sure not to step on any leaves or twigs as she moved forward through the undergrowth. "Good. Just make sure to tuck your tail behind your legs. And move your haunches forward a little more." Cloud said. Lily nodded and jumped up to watch Max. He skimmed silently over the leaves and grass as if he had been doing it his whole life. "Okay, let's try it on some prey. What can you smell?" Cloud asked. Lily watched as Max lifted his head and sniffed the air. He opened his jaws slightly to let the scents flow over his scent glands. "Squirrel?" He replied. Cloud nodded. "Good job. Lily scented it earlier." The gray tom responded. "Now we need to find it. Try to pick up its scent and follow it." Cloud suggested. Max immediately put his nose to the ground and began sniffing around. He reached the roots of an oak and looked up suddenly. "It starts here." He said, glancing around as if he expected the squirrel to jump into his paws. Cloud purred. "It's not going to be around here anymore. Not with us nearby." He said, dipping his head towards a clump of bramble bushes. "Follow the scent trail. It'll lead to your prey." He told Max. Lily watched as Max padded forward slowly, his nose pressed to the ground. Suddenly, he stopped, his gaze fixed intently on something ahead. Lily and Cloud padded forward after him as he continued his search. Finally, Max stopped and crouched low to the ground. Lily glanced past him and spotted a small gray squirrel chewing on a nut. It's bushy tail was waving wildly as it ate. She watched as Max crept forward quietly, his pawsteps small. He was only a few mouse lengths from his prey. Lily watched as he bunched his muscles and flexed his claws. Then, he leapt, soaring through the air and sending leaves spraying out behind him. He landed square on the squirrel and killed it with a quick bite to the neck. Lily purred happily and bounded forward to touch her nose to Max's cheek. "Great!" She congratulated him as they settled down to share the prey. Max tore a chunk of meat away from the squirrel and tossed it to Cloud. "Thanks for teaching me." He said to the tabby tom. Cloud dipped his head gratefully and bent his head to eat. Lily took a small bite of the squirrel and chewed. She swallowed and took a few more bites before pushing the rest towards Max. "Eat your catch. You deserve it." She told him. He nodded and finished the prey off. Lily licked her muzzle and paws, then groomed her pelt. When she finished, the sun was already setting. Rays of dying sunlight flashed through the treetops, making it look as if the trees were on fire. Orange light drenched the forest floor and the cat's on it. Lily relished the feeling of warmth on her flanks as she closed her eyes to sleep.