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 Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:03 am
 ((assuming time loop for after ceremony that has not yet occured xD)) Reedpaw bounded out of the apprentices den early, her eyes wide with anticipation. She looked around camp, seeing her mother organizing a few patrols. She felt a bubble of pride in her, the daughter of a deputy...but she didnt get special treatment, just the satisfaction of being her kin. She had just been apprenticed yesterday too, and to Mothstar of all cats!
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:40 pm
Mothstar padded out of her den and purred as she caught sight of Reedpaw, up bright and early. The little cat had a spring in her step that made the brown cat smile. Endless possibilities filtered through Mothstar's mind. Should they visit the twoleg bridge today? Or perhaps Sunningrocks?
The familiar rushing of the nearby river, still cold but devoid of the layer of ice it sported in leafbare, pounding in her ears and the comforting warmth of the newleaf sun on her back made Mothstar reconsider. She had a better lesson plan for today.
"Good morning Reedpaw!" she called. "I know visiting the boundaries is usually first on an apprentice's agenda, but how about swimming today? It's a Riverclan cat's trademark skill!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:38 pm
"Swimming!" Reedpaw mewed exitedly. "I'd love too!" Reedpaw, kneeded the ground in anticipating and bounded to her mentor's side, and walked besied her. Reedpaw was always full of so much energy. Her tail was held high as she padded alongside her mentor, thoughts rushing around her, wondering if she'd be a good swimmer.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:49 pm
It only took a few rabbit hops for the two cats to reach the edge of camp and the river. Mothstar's paws sank into the ground saturated with water.
"A little north of camp is a nice spot to start," she mewed. "Some rocks block off the main current and create a small pool where you can practice first. There's still a current, but it tugs at you much less."
The pair walked along the bank for a bit, water plants tickling at their legs. Mothstar felt the day was turning out rather nicely.
Suddenly a fat duck cruising down the water quacked loudly, startling Mothstar and causing her to leap into the air. She flushed as she realized what it was and looked down at her paws. Way to ruin the image Mothstar, she thought to herself.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:58 pm
Reedpaw didnt jump, only stared at the duck with a cocked head. She shook herself and looked back to her mentor. She hadnt seen her jump and spoke up.
"Whats the matter? Its just a bird...right?" Reedpaw mewed, waving her tail, wanting to continue, but something in her made her not push it like she normally would.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:13 pm
Mothstar breathed a sigh of relief. Her skittish action either hadn't been noticed, or Reedpaw was polite enough to let it slide. Both options were pleasant ones.
"Yes, just a bird. They're almost as good at swimming as us though. My mentor challenged one of my denmates and I to catch one in the middle of the river when we were apprentices, and we failed miserably. It was prctically bigger than us! It was an amusing story in the warriors den for some time I heard."
Her talking had taken up the rest of the short journey.
"Here we are!" Mothstar purred and she jumped, breaking the pristine surface with her paws. Little drops of water showered her coat. The water was nice and refreshing after being in the sun. They were still in a rather shallow portion.
"Come on in!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:31 pm
"May I hear it sometime?" She mewed cheerily once they arrived at the pool of water. Reedpaw. stepped forwrd, slipping one paw in. The cool flow of watersoothed her paw, and she felt like plunging in. Shequickly withdrew, trying to trick her mentor, then made a beeline for the water and dove in. Her natual swimming abilities kicked in and she paddled with strong strokes to the surface.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:45 am
"I'm sure one of the senior warriors would love to let you in on my antics as an apprentice," Mothstar laughed, "but if you can't find anyone I'll tell you about the incident another time."
Mothstar's heart sunk as Reedkit backed away, afraid that the swimming lessons might require some coaxing, but her fears were quelled as the apprentice darted forward and slid beneath the surface of the water with all the enthusiasm expected of a Riverclan cat, more even.
"Wonderful!" she praised as Reedpaw used paddled to the surface. "Kick a little harder and you'll really pick up some speed!"
Mothstar tried to recall how much practice she'd required of her last apprentice before they swam in the open river, but she just couldn't grasp it. A few days? Or was that the length of time they'd fished by the camp before going to fish at the bridge? Still Reedpaw took to the water like fish, and the river did seem rather calm today. She looked at the main current, and back at the puddle.
Maybe at the end of the day, she thought to herself. No, then the apprentice might be too tired. Maybe she would let Reedpaw decide when she wanted to enter the river. Yes, that would work, when she felt confident enough, Reedpaw would let her know.
"You can practice diving over here," Mothstar called, paddling to the far end of the sheltered pool, hoping to give the younger cat options. "It goes down for a fair amount of tail lengths."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:16 pm
Reedpaw kicked as hard as she could and swam around the pool happily, enjoying the feel of the water in her fur. It was cool and soothing and she dove under and flipped. She came up soon enough to here her mentor speak.
"Okay then!" She mewed happily, darting toward the ledge and up onto the small bank for diving. "I tricked you, didnt I?" Reedpaw teased, a harmless smile lining her face. She looked to the water, and was about to dive when a silveer glint a little ways away caught her eye. Without thinking, she dove for it. The fish turned to see Reedpaw coming, but that was enough time for her to close in enough to grap it with claws. She grabbed it in her mouth and swam strongly to the surface. She wasnt even aware what she had caught was a fish, having not looked prperly. She swam to the bank and laid it down. Her eyes widened, realizing what she had caught.
"Did I just...?" Reedpaw mewed, astounded. How many apprentices did this on their first day?
((Shes gonna be a good swimmer and good at fishing in water >3))
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:05 pm
Mothstar gaped as Reedpaw put down the silver fish, so stunned by its capture that it wasn't even flopping anymore.
"Yes!" she mewed happily. "You caught a fish! Keep this up and you won't even need a mentor," she laughed. "Do you want to eat it or bring it back to the fresh kill pile? We can take a short break if you'd like or we can go out into the main river. We normally let apprentices practice for a few days before they go there, but I think you're ready."
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:54 am
Reedpaw smiled, still surprised.
"I...I didnt even realize it was a fish, I just saw it and instinctivley dove for it..." She mewed. when she heard the part about the main river, her ears pricked.
"Can we eat then go there?" Reedpaw asked happily, then she cocked her head. "isnt there another way to catch fish other than diving for them?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:23 pm
"Why don't you start on your fish and I'll stay by the bank? If I see something I'll beckon you with my tail, and I can show you how to grab prey from land. It can help a lot if you don't feel like getting your fur wet, like in the middle of leafbare."
The large cat padded upstream a bit, away from the shallow waters so she was positioned where fish would actually swim by. She crouched, staring into the depths, alert for any flash of light reflecting of silver scales. Lastly she shifted her weight so that she could hold one quivering paw barely above the glistening surface of the river.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:39 pm
Reedpaw nodded ands bit ito the fish, savoring the flavor. It tasted like the best fish she had ever eaten, and that was probably because it was her first catch. She was almost finished, having not eaten that morning, she realized how hungry she was. She washed her face qucikly after finishing and bounded over to sit my her mentor.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:14 am
Mothstar's eyes widened as a small silver sliver surfaced seconds after her apprentice joined her. She held still, the waiting almost painful, as the fish grew closer. And closer. Its metallic skin broke the surface of the water and it would have dived once more, had a wide dappled paw not darted beneath it. Razor claws grazed the fish ever so slightly, and then in one fluid movement Mothstar scooped it out of the water, hurling it on to the shore. The fish flopped desperately for a few seconds before Mothstar slapped at it once again. The killing blow complete, the mentor turned to her apprentice.
"What did you notice about how I caught a fish from land?" she purred. "What do you think was most important?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:06 pm
Reedpaw had almost instinctilet dove once aghain for the fish, tensing when it drew close, but held herself back. This was mothstar's catch. She mewed happily when her mentor caught the fish out of the water.
"Patience and timing, right?" Reedpaw mewed.
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