Hawkbite had given her the idea.
Dawnstar obviously didn't like her, but was it really a problem? The real mess was that no matter how hard Lynxshade tried, it seemed that she could never really fit in the new life of a clan.
And now, she had a chance to prove it wrong.

She had jumped on a rock in the middle of the clearing, waving her tail in signals and throwing gazes at cats around her to catch their attention. "Silence, please." She cleared her throat while her clanmates gathered around, satisfied that someone was at least paying her attention. "I have something to say."
Se was searching in the crowd with the corner of her eyes for Hawkbite, hoping she would see the familiar tom looking at her, but she couldn't locate him among all the cats.

Well, time to start then.

"Hello everyone, my name is Lynxshade. I know many of you recognize me as the cat who recently came from outside, and all I can say is... that it's true." She expected some sighs of boredom, and some of surprise. But that was okay; she didn't really care what others thought of her, as long as there were still closer clanmates she could put her faith into.

"I come from outside the clan territories and I bring with me knowledge, too. Today, I would like to give you the opportunity to learn something that could maybe save your life some day." And that, of course, saved mine at least once. But that's a detail none of us really needs to hear.
"As a lonely wild cat, you need to learn as much skills as you can and rely on them to survive. One of these skills is... swimming."

She gave the other cats some time to murmur between each other, knowing it would be unreasonable not to expect any comment about it, be them rude or harsh. But everyone was free to learn or not learn.
"Yes, I know perfectly well that swimming is an important part of Riverclan life; and I don't mean to stain Shadowclan's tradition by transforming it into a group of cat-tailed fish." She stared at the cats around them with serious, burning eyes. No one would dare accuse her of such thing right now, would they?

After a few seconds of silence she relaxed again, and her voice even sounded lighter.
"I want apprentices and warriors only, for this course. No kits. No elders. No queens." I don't want to endanger uselessly anyone who doesn't need these skills, or the most vulnerable members either.
"In the first part, I'll teach you how to move to let water push you and sustain you. Secondly, the most talented warriors will have the opportunity to join a friendly swimming race and show everyone your progresses." She announced proudly, happy that she had finally some role in the life of her clan.

Green eyes surveyed the clearing; would she see some of the highest ranks today? And what about Hawkbite? He would really need a lesson, hmpf.
"Well, everyone who wishes to join me... gather here in front of this rock. We're going to Sunkissed Creek. No apprentices are to walk out without a warrior by their side." And that was an order. Who cared if she didn't have the authority to give one.

"The warrior who'll win..." She began, leaving some suspence before continuing. But seriously, where was Hawkbite?!
"...will be able to ask me any type of prey as prize. Might be a mouse or a quail, a frog or a squirrel. Just don't ask for too much." She continued with a less cool tone, thinking about some crazy cats who might ask for hawks or lynxes as prize. Starclan, let's hope these cats have some sense in them.

"Shadowclan, are you ready?!" She yowled from her place on the short rock, showing her teeth and rising her green gaze to the sky.

 

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