Prey is killed to be eaten. Thank Starclan for its life.

(Outskirt Territories Warrior Code, Code 10)

Asterpaw and Icepaw stood still, frozen in fear.

Oakfur said snakes will usually ignore you if you stay still, so just don't move. Don't end up like Specklepaw in Skipperflower's story. Asterpaw thought. I just hope Icepaw doesn't try to-

Before she could finish her thought however, Icepaw turned to run.

The snake lunged at Icepaw.

Asterpaw leaped at the snake in an attempt to stop it from reaching Icepaw.

Icepaw turned her head in fear.

Asterpaw slammed her front paws down behind the snake's head and landed on it, stopping the snake from reaching her sister. But before she could react, the snake's tail whipped around and began to constrict one of her front paws.

Icepaw unsheathed her claws and tried to take a step forward, but couldn't.

"I-Icepaw, you can kill it!" Asterpaw said, trying to hide the pain she was in. "Think of it like any other prey, just pounce and slice!" And please do it soon, I can't feel my paw! Asterpaw added to herself.

Icepaw tried to step forward, but froze again when the snake hissed, revealing its sharp fangs.

"Icepaw please kill it, I don't think I can hold it much longer!" Asterpaw shouted, trying to slash the snake with her other paw but missing.

Icepaw took a step back.

Is she running away? What is she doing? Asterpaw thought in a panic.

Icepaw took a few steps to the side, her eyes showing nothing but fear.

"Icepaw I can't feel my paw!" Asterpaw yelled.

Icepaw hesitated, then leapt forward in an attempt to slash the snake's neck but missed, causing her to barrel into Asterpaw instead, knocking her over, and off the snake.

The snake, now able to move its head, repositioned itself and prepared to bite Asterpaw.

A rustling was heard in the bushes as a figure leapt out of them, stabbing the snake with unsheathed claws.

"I heard a cry for help, is everyone okay?" Silverpaw inquired as she sliced the snake's head off.

"I-is the snake dead?" Icepaw asked as she stood up and got off Asterpaw, still frightened by the encounter.

"The snake is dead as mousemeat, you're welcome." Silverpaw mewed confidently.

"Thank you for the help Silverpaw, but shouldn't you be on border patrol right now?" Asterpaw meowed.

"The patrol ended a while ago, and when I heard that you two hadn't come back I came to look for you." Silverpaw answered.

It's a good thing she found us when she did, otherwise we may have been crowfood. Asterpaw thought to herself, though she didn't say it out loud. "Well we are probably safe to head back now." She added.

Icepaw nodded silently, still a little tense from the encounter with the snake.

"What's wrong with her?" Silverpaw asked.

"Icepaw was a little... well..." Asterpaw trailed off, trying to think of a kind way to put it. Cowardly? Incompetent? She thought to herself before shaking her head. "Icepaw was a little worried when I was holding the snake down." Asterpaw said. "But while I couldn't hit it, she tried but missed."

"So then I arrived just in time?" Silverpaw asked smugly.

Asterpaw groaned as she picked the mice she caught.

Icepaw picked up her vole and quickly padded after Asterpaw, head angled towards the ground.

Silverpaw sprang towards them, doing her best to catch up. "Hey, wait up! I didn't get to tell you about the cats I saw while I was on patrol!"