[burntToast]

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Aspenpaw had just swallowed a mouthful of river water when he felt himself suddenly being yanked away from the direction he was attempting to swim in. He hacked out the unwanted water as he was dragged towards the bank by his mentor. As soon as his paws landed on solid ground, he walked himself the rest of the way out onto the bank. Stopping briefly to shake out his fur, carelessly spraying droplets in every direction. His usual spiky fur now wet, stuck to his side's making him look smaller then he'd have liked to look. He gave his neck fur a few quick licks in attempt to dry it before turning to smile at his mentor. The pride of actually swimming burning within him but that flame quickly died at Floodsights expression. That was not a proud mentor face if he'd ever seen one. "What-?" he began to ask though it was cut off as Floodsight immediately began to reprimand him. Aspenpaw's smile turned to a frown, he didn't appreciate this scolding he didn't deserve? "what's wrong with a little lie? Never killed nobody plus I think I was swimming quite fine for my first try!" he huffed defensively.

What's was Floodsight's problem, not being able to swim in riverclan was a big deal! A really big one! It was embarrassing and he would rather keep his pride entact and not squashed under paw. "it is a big deal, swimming is riverclans thing. It's in your blood! I'm not riverclan- I am now but I wasn't. So of course I can't swim"

Scratching behind his head for no reason other than to prevent himself from sitting still, Aspenpaw snorted at the suggestion. "I don't want to be taught how to swim like a kit. I can do it myself. Teach me the apprentice stuff" so what if he could swim "prettily" or "majestically" he was moving through water without immediately drowning. That counted for something.

( Floodsight; @goodacacia )