Stagheart nodded sympathetically, trying to keep his low, gruff voice as light and easygoing as possible. "...I know y'can, 'cause you're strong. But that's alright. If this is as far as we get today, that's no problem — it's a start in the right direction."
Then he silently gestured with his tail at the shallow water in between them, seeing tiny little silvery fish with large, round eyes darting around. Stagheart couldn't help but raise one of his paws and, in a quick and practiced lash, hooked one of them around his claw, letting it flail into the air before catching it again with a slight chuckle. He hadn't really tried to fish for minnows since he was a young 'paw... he'd almost forgotten how fun it could be.
"...Think y'can catch any of those lil guys?" He asked casually, not directly pressuring but adding a little challenge; some of them were daring to swim up near the water by her paws, though she'd have to step forward a bit towards Stagheart to get them. They were dumb and curious little creatures, often swimming towards disturbances in the water and then darting away like lightning. But like a kittypet with a string toy, they were almost irresistibly tempting in their quick, tantalizing movements through the shallow end.
Willowpaw shook gently as she slowly looked away from her mentor and took the water, she watched her mentor chuckle as he caught a fish. "I just...... scoop it up like normal?" Willowpaw asked, then seemed to answer her own question in her head, not really thinking about the water, and not being able to back down from a challange. Willowpaw took a slow step forward, and then another, pausing there as she pelt a fish under her, Willowpaw shot her paw under the water and a fish went flying upwards, water splashed on Willowpaw as she scampered to grab the fish, it flying a bit closer to Stagheart, "No no no! I wanna catch you!" Willowpaw yowled, giving an impressive leap forwards as she slammed her paws under water, as she picked up the fish she gave a triumphant fur, only to realize her shoulder was brushing Stagheart's side, with her frenzy of catching the fish. The Molly had leapt forward about two rabbit lengths, the water gently brushing her leg fur, due to her height and long fur, just gently brush her belly fur. Willowpaw noticed the water, holding onto her minnow for dear life as she stood frozen, though in her head she kept repeating. Stag is right there, he will catch you he promised. You haven't fallen yet. You can do it. Stag is right there....... Willowpaw slowly, veeeeeery slowly looked up to her mentor, her pretty blue eyes round in confusion on how she'd ended up there, and fear of being swept away.
__________________
Oceanstar is the leader of Beachclan!
"You did a great job today and I hope you smile a little by thinking about me at the end of the day" -Kim Hongjoong
Willowpaw shook gently as she slowly looked away from her mentor and took the water, she watched her mentor chuckle as he caught a fish. "I just...... scoop it up like normal?" Willowpaw asked, then seemed to answer her own question in her head, not really thinking about the water, and not being able to back down from a challange. Willowpaw took a slow step forward, and then another, pausing there as she pelt a fish under her, Willowpaw shot her paw under the water and a fish went flying upwards, water splashed on Willowpaw as she scampered to grab the fish, it flying a bit closer to Stagheart, "No no no! I wanna catch you!" Willowpaw yowled, giving an impressive leap forwards as she slammed her paws under water, as she picked up the fish she gave a triumphant fur, only to realize her shoulder was brushing Stagheart's side, with her frenzy of catching the fish. The Molly had leapt forward about two rabbit lengths, the water gently brushing her leg fur, due to her height and long fur, just gently brush her belly fur. Willowpaw noticed the water, holding onto her minnow for dear life as she stood frozen, though in her head she kept repeating. Stag is right there, he will catch you he promised. You haven't fallen yet. You can do it. Stag is right there....... Willowpaw slowly, veeeeeery slowly looked up to her mentor, her pretty blue eyes round in confusion on how she'd ended up there, and fear of being swept away.
Stagheart's eyes glinted in amusement as he saw Willowpaw copy his movements, starting to rush for the springy, quick little minnows. His whiskers twitched in satisfaction as well; he was hoping the challenge would take the young apprentice's mind off her fear, and get her to move towards him in the slightly deeper water.
When she finally realized where she was after an impressively quick display (although she managed to splash Stagheart several times and get him soaked in her frenzy), he chuckled a bit as she veeeery slowly looked up at him. He tilted his head down, comically shaking out his pelt that was above water and sending droplets flying.
"Well... you certainly got 'em," he mused, nodding to the minnow in her jaws. He glanced over his broad back, seeing his light brown fur now darkened by the water, his voice dryly humored. "And managed to give me a soak in the meantime. I'd say you were doubly effective."
He tilted his head a bit, now switching to a more soothing tone, slightly adjusting his frame to be even stronger against the water. He could see the fear reentering her gaze and didn't want her to freeze up when she'd already made some good progress. "See? I told ya you could do it. And I gotchu, don't you worry. Ain't that bad right here, right?"
__________________
*despite everything, it's still you.
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat!
she and Cobwebfern have a semi-closed den policy.
Stagheart's eyes glinted in amusement as he saw Willowpaw copy his movements, starting to rush for the springy, quick little minnows. His whiskers twitched in satisfaction as well; he was hoping the challenge would take the young apprentice's mind off her fear, and get her to move towards him in the slightly deeper water.
When she finally realized where she was after an impressively quick display (although she managed to splash Stagheart several times and get him soaked in her frenzy), he chuckled a bit as she veeeery slowly looked up at him. He tilted his head down, comically shaking out his pelt that was above water and sending droplets flying.
"Well... you certainly got 'em," he mused, nodding to the minnow in her jaws. He glanced over his broad back, seeing his light brown fur now darkened by the water, his voice dryly humored. "And managed to give me a soak in the meantime. I'd say you were doubly effective."
He tilted his head a bit, now switching to a more soothing tone, slightly adjusting his frame to be even stronger against the water. He could see the fear reentering her gaze and didn't want her to freeze up when she'd already made some good progress. "See? I told ya you could do it. And I gotchu, don't you worry. Ain't that bad right here, right?"
Willowpaw shook lightly, staying in place as she stared at her mentor, her ears flattened slowly as she looked at her mentor. "Stagheart......" She whispered. Her eyes filled with fear as she looked around her..... she wasn't getting swept away.... even without touching her mentors safe and warm pelt, or holding onto his fur for dear life
__________________
Oceanstar is the leader of Beachclan!
"You did a great job today and I hope you smile a little by thinking about me at the end of the day" -Kim Hongjoong
Willowpaw shook lightly, staying in place as she stared at her mentor, her ears flattened slowly as she looked at her mentor. "Stagheart......" She whispered. Her eyes filled with fear as she looked around her..... she wasn't getting swept away.... even without touching her mentors safe and warm pelt, or holding onto his fur for dear life
Ah, the fear in her eyes, ears flattened and looking around wildly... and the way she whispered his name as if a plea for help tugged at his heart. Stagheart reached over with his half-soaked tail, lightly touching Willowpaw's shoulder, trying to keep his gruff voice gentle and soft.
"Hey... look at me, kid," he meowed, trying to catch her attention from the water lapping around her and ground her in the moment even with the shallow water lapping at her lower legs. Once he caught her blue eyes, he met them with his own, trying a small half-smile. "See? You're alright. The current's nice 'n slow here, 'n you're standin' right up in it on yer own. You're doin' just fine..."
__________________
*despite everything, it's still you.
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat!
she and Cobwebfern have a semi-closed den policy.
Ah, the fear in her eyes, ears flattened and looking around wildly... and the way she whispered his name as if a plea for help tugged at his heart. Stagheart reached over with his half-soaked tail, lightly touching Willowpaw's shoulder, trying to keep his gruff voice gentle and soft.
"Hey... look at me, kid," he meowed, trying to catch her attention from the water lapping around her and ground her in the moment even with the shallow water lapping at her lower legs. Once he caught her blue eyes, he met them with his own, trying a small half-smile. "See? You're alright. The current's nice 'n slow here, 'n you're standin' right up in it on yer own. You're doin' just fine..."
Willowpaw looked at her mentor slowly. Nodding softly as she let his words sink in little by little. she was safe, her mentor was holding onto her, she only had a little bit of water around her paws. Willowpaw inhaled, shivering softly as her tail quivered inbetween her legs, her minnows starting to bleed in her jaw, but due to the adrenaline, Willowpaw didn't realize the bleeding was actually from her long k9's digging into her lower lip.
__________________
Oceanstar is the leader of Beachclan!
"You did a great job today and I hope you smile a little by thinking about me at the end of the day" -Kim Hongjoong
Willowpaw looked at her mentor slowly. Nodding softly as she let his words sink in little by little. she was safe, her mentor was holding onto her, she only had a little bit of water around her paws. Willowpaw inhaled, shivering softly as her tail quivered inbetween her legs, her minnows starting to bleed in her jaw, but due to the adrenaline, Willowpaw didn't realize the bleeding was actually from her long k9's digging into her lower lip.
"See? That's it... you're just fine..."
Stagheart repeated his soothing ministrations, not noticing the blood trickling from Willowpaw's lip at first. But the moment the metallic scent hit his nose, he peered at her a frown crossing his maw at the realization — it wasn't just her minnows, it was her own teeth digging in from freezing up and tensing. He lightly nudged her with his shoulder — well, at her height, it was more like his leg.
"Hey, hey... easy now, Willow... don't hurt yourself," he drawled gently, trying to knock her focus away and realize what she was doing. He was concerned over how tense she was, but he did his best not to show it and make her worry further.
__________________
*despite everything, it's still you.
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat!
she and Cobwebfern have a semi-closed den policy.
Stagheart repeated his soothing ministrations, not noticing the blood trickling from Willowpaw's lip at first. But the moment the metallic scent hit his nose, he peered at her a frown crossing his maw at the realization — it wasn't just her minnows, it was her own teeth digging in from freezing up and tensing. He lightly nudged her with his shoulder — well, at her height, it was more like his leg.
"Hey, hey... easy now, Willow... don't hurt yourself," he drawled gently, trying to knock her focus away and realize what she was doing. He was concerned over how tense she was, but he did his best not to show it and make her worry further.
Willowpaw looked up to her mentor as he nudged her, pinning her ears to say sorry as she flicked out her tounge to wipe away some of the blood. She looked towards the shore and gave her mentor a pleading look. Not able to speak as she didn't want to drop her catches.
__________________
Oceanstar is the leader of Beachclan!
"You did a great job today and I hope you smile a little by thinking about me at the end of the day" -Kim Hongjoong
Willowpaw looked up to her mentor as he nudged her, pinning her ears to say sorry as she flicked out her tounge to wipe away some of the blood. She looked towards the shore and gave her mentor a pleading look. Not able to speak as she didn't want to drop her catches.
Stagheart nodded, seeing her pleading look and the way she apologized. He'd prefer if she wanted to try to stay in longer, perhaps get more desensitized... but he also didn't want to push the young cat. Especially if she was so nervous that she was unknowingly drawing her own blood. It sent a pang of sympathy through his heart, and frustration on her behalf; this might take awhile...
"Alright. You've done good right here... let's git ya back to shore."
The scarred warrior gently walking alongside her through the shallow water, using his tail to urge her along as he guided her. His large frame was a proper barrier from anything else, keeping her safe and secure until they reached the pebbly bank.
__________________
*despite everything, it's still you.
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat!
she and Cobwebfern have a semi-closed den policy.
Stagheart nodded, seeing her pleading look and the way she apologized. He'd prefer if she wanted to try to stay in longer, perhaps get more desensitized... but he also didn't want to push the young cat. Especially if she was so nervous that she was unknowingly drawing her own blood. It sent a pang of sympathy through his heart, and frustration on her behalf; this might take awhile...
"Alright. You've done good right here... let's git ya back to shore."
The scarred warrior gently walking alongside her through the shallow water, using his tail to urge her along as he guided her. His large frame was a proper barrier from anything else, keeping her safe and secure until they reached the pebbly bank.
Willowpaw gave a swift nod, letting her mentor guide her back to shore, as soon as her paws hit dry land she shook off her fur and licked her paws of the water. Putting her minnows down beforehand she licked the small nick in her lip she's made, the bleeding had already stopped, it just stung.
__________________
Oceanstar is the leader of Beachclan!
"You did a great job today and I hope you smile a little by thinking about me at the end of the day" -Kim Hongjoong
Willowpaw gave a swift nod, letting her mentor guide her back to shore, as soon as her paws hit dry land she shook off her fur and licked her paws of the water. Putting her minnows down beforehand she licked the small nick in her lip she's made, the bleeding had already stopped, it just stung.
Once they got back to shore, Stagheart was silent for a few moments, carefully watching as his apprentice tended to her tiny wound and settled down. He frowned a bit in thought as he watched her, his blue eyes careful and inspecting.
"...How ya feelin'?" He asked almost gently, hoping the answer wouldn't be that she'd been half-petrified again; maybe it would've helped... at least a little? But he wouldn't bet too much on it.
__________________
*despite everything, it's still you.
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat!
she and Cobwebfern have a semi-closed den policy.
Re: Willowpaw's Training! [p]
Berryshine is RiverClan's medicine cat! 