Out Fishing!

[Yoko]

The morning light was growing brighter with each moment, and it left the forest floor an ever-changing pattern. The breeze rustled leaves and gave the shade a soothing feeling.

Shellclaw walked ahead of the patrol, tail and head high. "Come on, we have to wake up all those lazy fish!" he mewed brightly.

The river was up ahead, a beautiful winding stripe, the silver and blue bright against the green grass. on the otherside of the river, Sunning Rocks was already gleaming. He felt a sting of envy for ThunderClan. It'll be ours again...someday...

He trotted right to the edge and peered into the water. A school of fish scattered beneath his reflection. He looked back at the patrol. "The river looks full today. Mistflower, shall we begin our lesson?"

[:c a i:]

"Hmmm?" Mistflower hummed happily for a second, then blinked at Shellclaw and snapped back to reality. "Oh, of course. Sorry." She looked sheepish, then glanced around for Pebblepaw. "Well, I'm ready. Why don't you get us started?" She offered, half-smiling kindly at Shellclaw, moving her tail to signal her apprentice. She was feeling lazy today. Maybe she'd just let Shellclaw take the lead. He seemed rather content to do that, so no harm in indulging him a bit.

"Pebblepaw, are you ready?" She purred, enjoying the warm day and the cool river, rushing gently over the rocks. Everything felt peaceful, if only for a while.

[/color]

((*Pukes* That was awful. I'm sorry.))

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Graypaw trotted along excitedly with the patrol, easily keeping up with the other three cats. Another day of training with Shellclaw was sure to be fun, and this time there was another apprentice coming with, too. He was eager to try out his fishing skills again. It was something he was alright at, not terrible but not shockingly good either. As they approached the river he caught sight of Sunningrocks on the other shore. Had they really once belonged to RiverClan? He was too young to remember any battles over it but wondered what it was like over there. Graypaw stood for a moment, quiet and looking out at the river and ThunderClan territory.

[Yoko]

((ooc: No puking necessary xP It was a crappy opening to begin with and here's a another to confirm the first one's badness >.<))

Pebblepaw padded a few steps behind Graypaw, not quite confident enough to walk side by side with any cat. She was more alert than usual though. Her dull grey eyes swept over the glistening river. The water was where she felt most comfortable. Swimming, fishing, just taking a nap beside it made her brighten up. So with her ears perked, and her tail erect, she made her way to the River Bank and awaited instruction. She herself was not a marvelous fisher, but she was getting better quickly with each practice (though she herself sees no progress in any of her training, poor unconfident wretch).

"Mistflower," She turned to Shellclaw as he addressed her mentor. "Has Pebblepaw had any fishing lessons? I think it might be helpful first to see what they each know."

[:c a i:]

"She knows the basics." Mistflower smiled down at Pebblepaw encouragingly. "We've fished before, and she's definitely getting a lot better all the time. /but she hasn't had that much practice yet. Maybe Greypaw could start the hunt off to remind her what she has to do." She guessed her shy apprentice wouldn't want to be put on the spot and forced to show everybody what she knew. In fact, that was probably the worst thing she could do to the poor she-cat. After all, Pebblepaw was one of the most shy, quiet apprentices Mistflower had ever seen, meaning she felt an almost maternal affection towards her.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

((Bleh post.))

Graypaw was younger than Pebblepaw and he probably hadn't had as much practice as the other apprentice. But he was eager to get started and had no problem with trying to fish first, if that was Mistflower's idea. He quickly nodded and said, "Sure, I'll go first." he glanced at Shellclaw to see if he would agree and moved closer to the water. He looked down and thought he could already see the dark shadows that gave away the prey.

[Yoko]

Pebblepaw looked relieved, but Shellclaw paid no notice to that and mewed, "Don't be disappointed, you're turn will be up soon." To which Pebblepaws shy smile faded and she looked at the ground. "Eyes up, Pebblepaw! Graypaw, show us what you've got."

THis apprentice was trained by his sister, Puddlepelt, who was precise and perfect at just about everything, and diligent in her duties, and kind to her clanmates, and he would not expect any less of his new apprentice- umm, temporary pprentice.

(OOC: We might as well stop complaining and have some fun xD *plots random but realitic events to make crappy posts interesting*)

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

((Ooh, Yoko is plotting? >3))

Graypaw nodded to Shellclaw, then turned to face the water. A look of concentration came over his face as he studied the water. He crouched by the edge of the bank and became still, watching the water and blinking occasionally. He just had to wait for a fish to come along, and- there!

He saw the flash of silver beneath the water that gave away a fish. A large one too, it looked like. The apprentice lashed out an unsheathed paw at the water and tried to grab the fish. He felt it go past his claws, but he was unable to get a good grip on the slippery creature. By the time he had created a small splash and picked himself out of the water again, he was empty-pawed. "Darn, I missed it..." he sighed, wishing his first time fishing in front of another mentor and apprentice had been more impressive. "Should I try again?"

[Yoko]

Shellclaw blinked in astonishment. "My sister taught you to fish like that?"

He shook his head. "Well, I can't expect that she knows everything, I guess. Here, let me show you the best way to catch a fish!"

The gray and white tom bounded forward to the riverbank. He stood a little back so his shadow and reflection did not fall upon the water. The fish were taking a long time to come along, and he found his tail waving about impatiently. But a small fish finally slipped into his range and without hesitation Shellclaw plunged his entire head into the water, jaws wide. He came back almost instantly, grinning widely behind the mouthful of fish. The fish was flopping wildly but was utterly unable to escape his grasp. He bit down harder until he crushed the fish's frail bones and it went limp.

"See, no chance of dropping a slippery fish that way!"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Graypaw licked at his wet fur for a few moments, ears back in embarrassment. Puddlepelt had taught him how to fish, he had just messed up that time. Hopefully his bad streak wouldn't continue the whole time hunting. He wanted to catch at least one fish before the day was over. Graypaw looked up again curiously when Shellclaw went closer to the water and stood still, waiting for a fish to come along. When the warrior attempted to make his catch, the apprentice let out a bit of a gasp. Why was he dunking his whole head into the water? Did he trip and slip in? His eyes widened when Shellclaw came out of the water with a fish firmly in his jaws.

"Woah, you can fish like that?" He simply meowed, astonished. He glanced toward the water again. "Puddlepelt never taught me to fish that way."

[Yoko]

Shellclaw laid his catch far from the river bank and puffed his chest out proudly. It was nice to know he did something better than his littermate. He would make a fine mentor for sure. If only Willowstar could see this! He'd be given an apprentice on the spot.

"Well, chances are my sister simply forgot. After all, she's been taught the other way for a really long time. Anyway, you're a smart apprentice. Why don't you give it a shot?"

The gray and white tom sat on his hindquarters and looked expectantly at Graypaw. After all, Puddlepelt always talked about how well he was doing.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Graypaw nodded and moved closer to the water, wondering if this method would really work. Shellclaw had caught a fish but Graypaw had never tried it himself before. He looked over the bank and into the water, waiting until he saw the shadow of a fish swim by. He hesitated, but then had to get himself out of it. He was a RiverClan cat, not afraid to get a little more wet than he was used to while fishing.

Soon enough he saw a small shadow move by under the water, the telltale sign of a fish. Graypaw held his breath and plunged his head under the water, reaching out to try to grab the fish. But by the time he pulled himself out of the water, he was empty-jawed. He hadn't even felt the fish swim by! Was his timing wrong, or...? He looked back at Shellclaw, drenched, the disappointment showing on his face.

[Yoko]

Shellclaw's tail twitched in anticipation. He waited as excitedly as if he were the apprentice. But then...he had never been that good of an apprentice. He had been lazy and careless. He tried to push that aside and be proud of Graypaw anyway.

The apprentice dipped his head! And came up empty...His small disappointed face touched the gray-patched warrior's heart. He straightened up.

"Don't make that face," he chuckled. "It was only your first try. Did you expect to manage the best way to catch a fish on your first try?" he answered for him, with a big grin. "No! Of course not, now show those fish what a real RiverClan tom like you can do!"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Graypaw shook himself out, trying to get as much water out of his thick fur as he could. While he didn't mind water, it would be distracting the rest of the time fishing if he was wet. It would take some time later to dry off, but he couldn't worry about that now. He nodded at Shellclaw's encouraging talk, resolving that he just needed more practice. This method was strange... but the gullible Graypaw was eager to try anything new. So he waited at the edge of the water again, knowing he had to get the timing right if he wanted to catch anything. He eventually saw more movement under the water and, acting more quickly this time, dunked his head under the water and snapped his jaws shut. He felt something that time! Something thrashed against the grip of his teeth but soon wrenched itself free. Just a fish's tail fin. It had gotten free before he could pull it out of the water. But still, Graypaw knew he had done better that time. He pulled himself out of the shallow water and shook again, now with a more excited look in his eyes. "I almost had it that time!"

[Yoko]

Shellclaw waited patiently while his apprentice...oh wait, Puddlepelt's apprentice....hum I'll just call him Graypaw... went on fishing. Truly, all that mattered was spirit for the young gray tom had such excellent form and was so excited that Shellclaw half-expected a fish to leap into his jaws. Unfortunately, Graypaw missed again. But this time the tom's attitude was so optimistic that all Shellclaw could do was purr and nod towards him to try once more. Though, admittedly, they were wasting a bit of time here. He simply could not give up without seeing the spirited apprentice catch a fish.