Willowpaw streched in her den. Padding out and touching her nose to her mentors cheek in an affectionate and excited greeting. "Morning! Swimming time!!"
Stagheart chuckled at her excitement. She really was an affectionate cat, he noted; not something he was used to.
"That's right. Get yourself somethin' to eat if you haven't yet — swimmin' is hard work, you'll need your energy. Then we can head out."
He sat back and curled his tail over his paws, patiently waiting for Willowpaw to get ready. The sun indicated it was something around mid-morning, the day's heat just starting to bathe the camp clearing. Stagheart took a look around as he waited, soaking in the comforting sight of his home.
Stagheart chuckled at her excitement. She really was an affectionate cat, he noted; not something he was used to.
"That's right. Get yourself somethin' to eat if you haven't yet — swimmin' is hard work, you'll need your energy. Then we can head out."
He sat back and curled his tail over his paws, patiently waiting for Willowpaw to get ready. The sun indicated it was something around mid-morning, the day's heat just starting to bathe the camp clearing. Stagheart took a look around as he waited, soaking in the comforting sight of his home.
Willowpaw shook out her fur and stuck her long tail up, padding over and grabbing a fish she called. "You want one!?" As she picked up a small carp. Looking at Weepingpaw and giving him the carp, she grabbed herself a slightly larger carp and clumsy swapped prey with her brother, licking her brothers ear she padded back to her mentor. With prey in her jaws. One for her, and one for him if he said yes, if not then just one for her. Regardless. Willowpaw dropped her prey and crouched to eat it.
__________________
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever" - Park Seonghwa
@/Beanz is haunting my profile :sniffles"
lio lurked here
hope dropped a bundle of chocolates here
Rose littered this profile with flowers
]@/Beanz@/mars@/Merp Machine@/CrimsionOaks@/WCUEhoneyfur@/Hollyheart of thunder@/MaplestrikeWCUE@/PINTO BEAN@/AriaTheFiremaiden@/Mike29@/constellation@/Snowyfeathr@/KestrelPaw@/Eucalyptuspaw @/rubberRatroom - "It's so preppy in here"
Willowpaw shook out her fur and stuck her long tail up, padding over and grabbing a fish she called. "You want one!?" As she picked up a small carp. Looking at Weepingpaw and giving him the carp, she grabbed herself a slightly larger carp and clumsy swapped prey with her brother, licking her brothers ear she padded back to her mentor. With prey in her jaws. One for her, and one for him if he said yes, if not then just one for her. Regardless. Willowpaw dropped her prey and crouched to eat it.
"Already ate — but thanks," he replied, intrigued at how thoughtful Willowpaw was. She always seemed to be looking out for others — something that both impressed him but also worried him a tad bit. Just like Berrypaw, she seemed pretty selfless. That could be great for the Clan, but also get you into trouble. As he was musing on this, he waited for Willowpaw to finish up and nodded his head.
"Alright... let's head out. We're goin' to the big river in the territory. It's a bit fast 'n strong, but we're goin' for the slower part to get you used to bein' in the water in the first place. Then we can work up from there."
He led the way into the forest, stopping by the river bank. They had passed the faster current on the way here, and now they paused where the water was just a bit slower. Still strong to give you an idea of how the river felt, but not overpowering. He sat down on the sand, waiting for Willowpaw to arrive and settle.
"Have you tried any swimmin' before?" He asked, glancing at the dark waters.
"Already ate — but thanks," he replied, intrigued at how thoughtful Willowpaw was. She always seemed to be looking out for others — something that both impressed him but also worried him a tad bit. Just like Berrypaw, she seemed pretty selfless. That could be great for the Clan, but also get you into trouble. As he was musing on this, he waited for Willowpaw to finish up and nodded his head.
"Alright... let's head out. We're goin' to the big river in the territory. It's a bit fast 'n strong, but we're goin' for the slower part to get you used to bein' in the water in the first place. Then we can work up from there."
He led the way into the forest, stopping by the river bank. They had passed the faster current on the way here, and now they paused where the water was just a bit slower. Still strong to give you an idea of how the river felt, but not overpowering. He sat down on the sand, waiting for Willowpaw to arrive and settle.
"Have you tried any swimmin' before?" He asked, glancing at the dark waters.
Willowpaw nodded, eating her share and then thinking about her mentors question, "How is there a faster and slower part if it's all one body of water?" Willowpaw wondered, padding after her mentor and bumping his shoulder with hers with a teasing look, "I tried swimming one time, but my tail is long so it's hard to keep track of it.. I got stuck on a broken branch." Willowpaw grumbled gently, lifting her tail and revealing a tiny scar on the back of it. "It happened when I was a kit. I had to lie and say I feel on a sharp rock... and then fell into a puddle." Willowpaw purred.
__________________
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever" - Park Seonghwa
@/Beanz is haunting my profile :sniffles"
lio lurked here
hope dropped a bundle of chocolates here
Rose littered this profile with flowers
]@/Beanz@/mars@/Merp Machine@/CrimsionOaks@/WCUEhoneyfur@/Hollyheart of thunder@/MaplestrikeWCUE@/PINTO BEAN@/AriaTheFiremaiden@/Mike29@/constellation@/Snowyfeathr@/KestrelPaw@/Eucalyptuspaw @/rubberRatroom - "It's so preppy in here"
Willowpaw nodded, eating her share and then thinking about her mentors question, "How is there a faster and slower part if it's all one body of water?" Willowpaw wondered, padding after her mentor and bumping his shoulder with hers with a teasing look, "I tried swimming one time, but my tail is long so it's hard to keep track of it.. I got stuck on a broken branch." Willowpaw grumbled gently, lifting her tail and revealing a tiny scar on the back of it. "It happened when I was a kit. I had to lie and say I feel on a sharp rock... and then fell into a puddle." Willowpaw purred.
Stagheart glanced at the river with a shrug. "I ain't sure... I've heard some mention somethin' 'bout the current, how it can change dependin' on the river floor or how it bends. I don't know too much 'bout it... ask someone smarter than me," he advised with a low chuckle.
Recounting her harrowing tail as a kit, Stagheart's whiskers twitched in muted amusement at the thought of the little kit lying to save her skin. "Sounds like quite the story. Did anyone actually believe ya?"
As he spoke he tapped the river's water with his paw, feeling how cold and fast it was today. It seemed to be in good conditions, the water slowing around the bend and offering a considerable but manageable current.
Stagheart glanced at the river with a shrug. "I ain't sure... I've heard some mention somethin' 'bout the current, how it can change dependin' on the river floor or how it bends. I don't know too much 'bout it... ask someone smarter than me," he advised with a low chuckle.
Recounting her harrowing tail as a kit, Stagheart's whiskers twitched in muted amusement at the thought of the little kit lying to save her skin. "Sounds like quite the story. Did anyone actually believe ya?"
As he spoke he tapped the river's water with his paw, feeling how cold and fast it was today. It seemed to be in good conditions, the water slowing around the bend and offering a considerable but manageable current.
Willowpaw huffed. "Your old you should be wise" Willowpaw laughed at her own teasing and shot her mentor a look to let him know it was a joke. At the mention of her story from kithood. Willowpaw nodded. "Suprisingly most adults did. But my brother Weepingpaw saw right through me and snitched. Glad he did though so I got checked thoroughly for splinters." Willowpaw meowed with a small giggle. She crouched beside the water, using her long tail for balance as she ran her paw in it. Twitching her whiskers she exclaimed. "It's cold!!" Purring gently she scooped the water in her paw, splashing it at her mentor and bounding away in hopes to avoid any retaliation.
__________________
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever" - Park Seonghwa
@/Beanz is haunting my profile :sniffles"
lio lurked here
hope dropped a bundle of chocolates here
Rose littered this profile with flowers
]@/Beanz@/mars@/Merp Machine@/CrimsionOaks@/WCUEhoneyfur@/Hollyheart of thunder@/MaplestrikeWCUE@/PINTO BEAN@/AriaTheFiremaiden@/Mike29@/constellation@/Snowyfeathr@/KestrelPaw@/Eucalyptuspaw @/rubberRatroom - "It's so preppy in here"
Willowpaw huffed. "Your old you should be wise" Willowpaw laughed at her own teasing and shot her mentor a look to let him know it was a joke. At the mention of her story from kithood. Willowpaw nodded. "Suprisingly most adults did. But my brother Weepingpaw saw right through me and snitched. Glad he did though so I got checked thoroughly for splinters." Willowpaw meowed with a small giggle. She crouched beside the water, using her long tail for balance as she ran her paw in it. Twitching her whiskers she exclaimed. "It's cold!!" Purring gently she scooped the water in her paw, splashing it at her mentor and bounding away in hopes to avoid any retaliation.
Stagheart snorted in mock indignation as Willowpaw mentioned he should know more. "Older don't always mean wiser — even if it did, don't mean I'd suddenly know how rivers work." He pretended to sound annoyed even though he was clearly joking in his usual dry tone.
As she went to touch the water, he was just about to lightly tease her for the water being cold; it wasn't that cold to him, but then again, he'd been in the river during leaf-bare before. Everything else had felt warm after that. He was just opening his maw for some snarky comment when he felt the splash of water on his face.
Immediately he shook his head, letting out a startled mrrow and blinking the droplets away from his eyes. He scoffed and shook his head as Willowpaw bounced away, out of range. His eyes were narrowed with an amused glint to them, betraying how funny he thought that was despite his "strict" words.
"Ohh, now ya done it — think y'can just splash your mentor when he's teachin' ya to swim? We'd better go over Clan etiquette again," he growled into a soft chuckle, wiping droplets that clung to his nose. The younger, mischievous cat inside him wanted nothing more than to splash Willowpaw back, but he held firm, only betraying his humor with the situation with the twitch of his whiskers.
Stagheart snorted in mock indignation as Willowpaw mentioned he should know more. "Older don't always mean wiser — even if it did, don't mean I'd suddenly know how rivers work." He pretended to sound annoyed even though he was clearly joking in his usual dry tone.
As she went to touch the water, he was just about to lightly tease her for the water being cold; it wasn't that cold to him, but then again, he'd been in the river during leaf-bare before. Everything else had felt warm after that. He was just opening his maw for some snarky comment when he felt the splash of water on his face.
Immediately he shook his head, letting out a startled mrrow and blinking the droplets away from his eyes. He scoffed and shook his head as Willowpaw bounced away, out of range. His eyes were narrowed with an amused glint to them, betraying how funny he thought that was despite his "strict" words.
"Ohh, now ya done it — think y'can just splash your mentor when he's teachin' ya to swim? We'd better go over Clan etiquette again," he growled into a soft chuckle, wiping droplets that clung to his nose. The younger, mischievous cat inside him wanted nothing more than to splash Willowpaw back, but he held firm, only betraying his humor with the situation with the twitch of his whiskers.
Willowpaw laughed. Noticing his words about being wiser with a friendly flick of her tail. Her eyes alight with amusement as she watched her mentor shake the cold water from his fur. "Maybeee~" Willowpaw teased, trying to draw her mentor closer to his playful limit and get him to splash her back. "Come on! You know you want to! It'll help me get used to the cold water.... or could we play in the water after swimming? So I don't tire myself out first?" Willowpaw asked, her eyes wide and begging, hopefulness and amusement in her bright blue hues. "Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee~!" Willowpaw asked, bounding back to her mentor.
__________________
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever" - Park Seonghwa
@/Beanz is haunting my profile :sniffles"
lio lurked here
hope dropped a bundle of chocolates here
Rose littered this profile with flowers
]@/Beanz@/mars@/Merp Machine@/CrimsionOaks@/WCUEhoneyfur@/Hollyheart of thunder@/MaplestrikeWCUE@/PINTO BEAN@/AriaTheFiremaiden@/Mike29@/constellation@/Snowyfeathr@/KestrelPaw@/Eucalyptuspaw @/rubberRatroom - "It's so preppy in here"
Willowpaw laughed. Noticing his words about being wiser with a friendly flick of her tail. Her eyes alight with amusement as she watched her mentor shake the cold water from his fur. "Maybeee~" Willowpaw teased, trying to draw her mentor closer to his playful limit and get him to splash her back. "Come on! You know you want to! It'll help me get used to the cold water.... or could we play in the water after swimming? So I don't tire myself out first?" Willowpaw asked, her eyes wide and begging, hopefulness and amusement in her bright blue hues. "Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee~!" Willowpaw asked, bounding back to her mentor.
Stagheart let out a huff, shaking his head like the grumpy "old" cat he was. He hesitated for a moment, however, knowing his darn soft spot for his apprentice was briefly showing. But he still denied her request, knowing she'd be disappointed. "The time for playin' ain't in the middle of trainin'. Maybe you 'n Weepin'paw can come up here some other time. First, I gotta teach ya to swim... so long as neither of us drown in the process, then ya live to splash another day. Deal?"
He used his dry humorous tone, his eyes glinting as he anticipated a challenge from his apprentice. As good-natured as she was, he also saw a fire within her, one that showed both in playful excitement and fierce determination. He didn't doubt she'd be a pawful and a half if she was determined to go through. He stepped into the shallow part of the water as he watched her whine, staying firm on his resolve and tilting his head at her.
"Now... get on in here. We'll start shallow 'n work our way deeper. Right now we're just tryin' to get you to stand in the river without gettin' knocked over."
Stagheart let out a huff, shaking his head like the grumpy "old" cat he was. He hesitated for a moment, however, knowing his darn soft spot for his apprentice was briefly showing. But he still denied her request, knowing she'd be disappointed. "The time for playin' ain't in the middle of trainin'. Maybe you 'n Weepin'paw can come up here some other time. First, I gotta teach ya to swim... so long as neither of us drown in the process, then ya live to splash another day. Deal?"
He used his dry humorous tone, his eyes glinting as he anticipated a challenge from his apprentice. As good-natured as she was, he also saw a fire within her, one that showed both in playful excitement and fierce determination. He didn't doubt she'd be a pawful and a half if she was determined to go through. He stepped into the shallow part of the water as he watched her whine, staying firm on his resolve and tilting his head at her.
"Now... get on in here. We'll start shallow 'n work our way deeper. Right now we're just tryin' to get you to stand in the river without gettin' knocked over."
Willowpaw listened to the rejection with a small pout. Murmuring. "Weepingpaw's blind... he would fall in and then I'd feel bad"..
Not letting this get ahead of her Willowpaw playfully pouted and then agreed. "Challange accepted! I won't fall over! " Willowpaw exclaimed, her tail lashing excidedtly as she tiptoed into the water beside her mentor, she shook a tiny bit, having a thinner pelt than most Riverclan cats. Willowpaw blinked carefully and examined the rush water, "If I stand with my tail to the side the waters opposite from, my balance will be focused to the opposite side causing me to stand up perfectly... And I need to keep my paws firm on the..... rocks? Pebbles?" Willowpaw wondered, "The hard stone things!" Willowpaw meowed. Looking at her mentor Willowpaw kept one paw close to him, ankered towards him so if she slipped she'd catch onto him easily.
"Jeez how do cats do this?" Willowpaw wondered, Wading a bit deeper, now reaching hers shoulders which a cat her age it should have reached just over her belly. "Dang it! I'm to short." Willowpaw huffed, "What if I float away? I'm to short to hold onto things...." Willowpaw paused, "Well my tails not I guess but same difference!"
__________________
"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever" - Park Seonghwa
@/Beanz is haunting my profile :sniffles"
lio lurked here
hope dropped a bundle of chocolates here
Rose littered this profile with flowers
]@/Beanz@/mars@/Merp Machine@/CrimsionOaks@/WCUEhoneyfur@/Hollyheart of thunder@/MaplestrikeWCUE@/PINTO BEAN@/AriaTheFiremaiden@/Mike29@/constellation@/Snowyfeathr@/KestrelPaw@/Eucalyptuspaw @/rubberRatroom - "It's so preppy in here"
Re: Willowpaw's Training! [p]
Berrypaw is RiverClan's medicine cat apprentice! 
