..Wet Paws

[hi]

Dustypaw made his way across the sand, working his way toward the river. The spot he was at was a slow current, and a fairly shallow place teeming with fish. Today he was going to practice fishing with Thunderpelt, and this seemed like the perfect spot. Dustypaw was nervus though... He had never really gotten the hang of fishing. He was pretty horrible at it, actually. The fact he didn't perticularly like getting wet didn't help either. I mean, he didn't mind it if he had to, but it wasn't like he was just going to jump in for fun.

Dustypaw made it to the edge of the river, where the clear water lapped lazily at the shore. It was relaxing to listen to. It seemed amazing to him how at some places the current was so strong it could kill a soul unlucky enough to fall in. He gave a little shiver at the thought, then looked around. Thunderpelt should be here soon. Where was he?

[Tanglekit]

Thunderpelt ran and jumped into the river, rushing right past his apprentice. Sooner or later it would get to cold for him to swim, and he figured her should make the best out of it. He lapped around splishing and splashing in the water, giving a little chuckle. "Aren't you going to get in?", he asked as his apprentice stood timidly at the shore. Nothing gave him more pleasure than to swim, and that's what made his Riverclan to the core. He came to the bank and gave himself a little shake and licked the drops from his fur, but he couldn't help but long to get right back in.

[Deleted]

Sunlight slowly followed ThunderPelt, only to see him rush right into the river. It was nice. The river was nice. Everything was nice!

Her eyes were opened up to new things ever since she started being so close of friends with ThunderPelt. She had a crush on him, too, honestly. She wouldn't dare say that to his face though.

"Hehe, having fun, ThunderPelt?" she mocked in a jokingly tone, soon hopping on over.

The golden she-cat dipped her head in greeting towards the apprentice, and licked her single white paw, "Hello, DustyPaw!"

She couldn't help but giggle, sitting down upon the ground.

"So, you going to learn how to fish?" she asked with a large smile, while her crystal blue eyes just twinkled at the male apprentice, "Sounds like fun, if you ask me!"

[/center]

[hi]

Dustypaw was unprepared for his mentor to dash right by him, straight into the water. He stood there shocked for a moment, watching his mentor splash around. He looked like he was having fun, but how could he? Right. Thunderpelt loved water. A lot. Watching him, Dustypaw was reminded of a kit playing. I wish I could be like him! Dustypaw thought, gazing at his mentor. He was just so awesome! Do i have too? the tom mewed, responding to his mentor's question. He dipped a paw in the river. It was turning cold, but it wasn't too cold yet. He was debating getting in when the she-cat appeared.

Dustypaw naturally shrunk away from her, before even realizing who it was. Dark memories of his sister washed over him like a tidal wave. He shook his head, trying to clear it. As she spoke, her soft voice floating towards him, he tried to reason with himself. It is Sunlight! She is nice! he scolded his mind. There is no reason to be afraid! He attempted a weak smile at her, but he was sure it failed. Y-Yeah, I-I-I am-m-m. The words firmly stuttered out of his mouth. His eyes probably looked like saucers. Get a hold of yourself!

[Deleted]

Maplepaw padded toward Dustypaw, Thunderpelt, and Sunlight. As she came close, she leapt in the air and landed on Dustypaw's shoulders. She rested her mussel on his shoulder.

"Guess who..." she whispered, leaping off of him. The dark brown tabby began to washed herself. She enjoyed messing with Dustypaw-his expressions were priceless.

"Hello, Thunderpelt, Sunlight." The apprentice scrunched up her nose in disgust as water splash on her neatly groomed pelt. "Hey, watch where your splashing!" she growled. "I don't want to be soaked when I get back to camp!"

[hi]

Dustypaw let out a squeek of surprise as a weight landed on him, making him fall to the ground. He then froze as he heard that familiar voice. His sister, Maplepaw. Oh no. She followed me? he thought in horror. This was supposed to be carefree! A day of fishing! Now he had to watch his back constantly. Well, at least she wouldn't do anything too bad while Thunderpelt and Sunlight were here. He knew she would constantly ridicule him though if he failed at fishing, like he normally did. He got up slowly as he listed to Maplepaw.

The tom stared in horror as she yelled at his mentor. Didn't she know he was a full warrior, and her just an apprentice? He held rank over her, and here she was, criticising him! He stood there, frozen in disbelief. How was Thunderpelt going to take that?

[Deleted]

Sunlight looked over at MaplePaw, and walked on over towards her. She was a little bouncy, and she noticed how rude she acted. It was good that Sunlight doesn't get angry easily. She was usually never mad or angry.

"Hello, MaplePaw. You should probably tell ThunderPelt sorry... He may be a cuddly mouse, but..." she softly mewed to where only MaplePaw could hear, "He might become a fox and snap at you!"

She couldn't help but laugh a bit afterward, and soon tackled MaplePaw. If done right, MaplePaw would most likely be in the water. Hopefully.

[/center]

[Tanglekit]

Thunderpelt simply shrugged at her comment. "If you don't want to get wet then why are you so close to the river.", he snickered trying to help Sunlight push the she-cat into the water. He didn't understand how water could bother anyone, to him it was the perfect element. He simply chuckled when he shook again hoping to get a few drops on her. He got off and padded over to his apprentice. "OK Dustypaw, ready to get started?", he asked smiling warmly at the shy tom. He padded back down to the pool and gave a few quick laps at the water before beginning the lesson. "How experienced are you at fishing?", he asked softly. None was really needed since it was his job to teach the young tom.

[hi]

Dustypaw watched his mento have fun. He wished so badly that he could join in, but his sister and his shyness kept him from doing so. He just watched, amazed by the easyness of Thunderpelt. Uhh... n-not much. Dustypaw responded to Thunderpelt's question. I've tried before, b-but i n-never cought a f-fish.

Stupid shyness, making him sound like an idiot. He walked over Thunderpelt, watching the water. He didn't want to fall it. that would be miserable.

[Tanglekit]

Thunderpelt gave an encouraging smile at his young apprentice. He wasn't angry or upset at his lack of experience, because he was there to teach the young tom everything he had been taught. "So watch carefully as I catch a fish.", he enthused as he leaned over the river watching for the fish. He walked the tom very carefully through the steps until, at last there was a fish at his feet. He bit into it's scaled flesh killing the prey before it's slippery flops flipped it back to the river. "Now don't feel embarrassed if you don't catch one the first time. It takes time and practice to master this skill.", he purred enthusiastically.

[hi]

Dustypaw followed along as his mentor walked him into the water. He cringed slightly at it at first, but after a moment the movement of it swirling around his legs felt not so bad. Somewhat natural even. He let out a squeak in surprise when he felt something brush against his legs, until he noticed the fish. ALL the fish. There were so many! It must be almost impossible not to catch one. This gave him hope. He might just catch one today.

He stared at his mentor as he explained how to catch a fish, committing all the steps to memory. His amber eyes watched Thunderpelt carefully, drinking in every fluid movement that accompanied catching a fish. He was just so awesome! He did it with great easy, something that Dustypaw could only dream of doing. He nodded his head enthusiastically at his mentor's words. It was his turn.

His eyes darted all over the place, the rippled forms of fish going close and far. Which one to catch?! He didn't know. He then let out a held breath. Think. Step One- Choose a fish. he repeated to himself. He chose one, a nice sized one at that. It was swimming quite lazily toward him. Perfect. Step Two- Stay Still. Dustypaw froze, watching the fish as it came closer and closer, unsuspecting it's inevitable fate. A smile came upon his lips as he waited. Step Three- Grab It! He was perhaps a tad too enthusiastic, because his grab turned into a full flailing pounce toward his pray. The fish darted away as he splashed into the water in a mass of falling and confused limbs. All he knew is that he was suddenly underwater.

His head broke the surface, and the apprentice gasped for a breath. Head down, he stood back up, his tawny pelt soaked dark. He looked at him self, wondering how it could get worse. He then looked at Thunderpelt with an embarrassed, apologizing stare.

[Tanglekit]

Thunderpelt smiled and gave a little chuckle at the tom's first attempt to catch a fish. He had watched all of his steps as he copied his own, and he saw a tiny mistake. "You acted to quickly Dustypaw, let the fish come to your resting paw and then scoop it out onto the bank.", he purred demonstrating what he meant by scooping another fish our of the water.

[hi]

Dustypaw gave a weak smile, glad that his mentor didn't seem disapointed in his failure. He nodded at Thunderpelt's words, then scrutinized his movements as the tom demonstraited again. He would do it right this time! He had too!

He watched with envy as his mentor scooped up the fish as easy as could be. Now it was his turn. Dustypaw shook his body, showering water droplets everywhere. The water was annoying, and not drying fast enough. He sighed, then watched the water.

The slender forms of fish swam around him, all heading every which way. He focused in on one, stared at it as it swam towards him, then away, then back. He waited for what seemed like ages until it finally got close enough. There! He scooped it up, pulling it out of the water in his claws. Sunlight bounced off it's shining scales as it flopped in his paw. He was so amazed the he cought it that he let it wriggle free from his hold. He swated at it, attempting in vein to catch it. As it plunked down in the water, he headed after it in a huge splash of flailing apprentice. There was no way this fish was getting away! He had cought it fair and square. It was his!

After a moment he came back up, the limp fish cluched firmly in his jaws. He had done it! He had cought a fish!

[Deleted]

Maplpaw laughed mockingly as Dustypaw didn't manage to catch the fish. "Taking a dip, I see!" she chuckled. "That's not how you catch fish!"

She scowled as Thunderpelt showed his apprentice how to do it correctly. "Don't bother trying to teach him. He's a hopeless case," the dark tabby hissed.

But to her surprise, he did catch the fish the next time around. She glared daggers at him. "I'll show you how a pro catches fish!" she boasted.

Maplepaw bent down and stared into the water. A flash of silver caught her eyes. A swift target! I'll catch this one for sure!

Just as she was about to make her move, she lost her footing and went plunging into the river. Water swirled around her, only going as high as her waist.

"Bleck!" she spat. "Well? Get me out!"

[Tanglekit]

Thunderpelt gave a low growl at the apprentice as she boasted about her perfection. He usually didn't have a problem with cats and was a happy little fellow, but this she-cat was the very first to irritate him. He had never been bothered by a cat's attitude before, but the way this cat strutted about and made rude comments. Her very air seemed to bother his pelt. He pushed up his fur and he was ashamed that he was acting so rude towards the she-cat, and he didn't want to act this way. "He has more respect than you", he growled at her, never speaking to someone so harshly.

He gave a low chuckle when she slipped and fell into the water when she had tried to show his apprentice up and was proud that Dustypaw at least had the footing to remain in the water without falling, and he couldn't help but think she deserved to fall. When she yelped for help he would not go into the water to save her and hoped the others would follow his example and let her stay in the water. She deserves it right? he questioned himself not wanting to aid the she-cat from the water. "If you are such a pro then get your own self out", he mewed the same harshness in his voice. He didn't know what it was but this she-cat seemed to rub his pelt the wrong way.