RiverClan Territory

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Training was more exciting than Amberpaw had expected it to be, but it was also more work than she'd expected it to be. She was happy, of course... it was nice, getting to be an apprentice, but it had put a lot more pressure on her than she'd expected. Not to mention, she still hadn't made as many friends as she'd thought. Which is fine, she had to remind herself, refusing to sink down into a pit of self-pity. That would eventually make her look unapproachable, and at the rate things were going, Amberpaw couldn't afford to look unapproachable. She focused on finding a good spot to sit - in the mornings, she liked to come out here (not far from the camp, of course) and sit for a little while. Splashcloud was nice about letting her sit by herself for a while, and eventually they'd jump back into training. More than anything, she was grateful for the supportive cats she'd gotten a chance to speak with - there were so many, she was surprised they didn't have more friends, either. It got hard to keep up with friendships, she knew, but she'd expected to do better. It's still early. I have a chance to do better. Besides, she had time to work on her relationships. For now, it would be nice to see where things went. Who knew - maybe she would come away from this a better cat. That was her hope, at least.

@Dipper

Fawnpaw had been blinking away the remnants of a failed night's sleep when he drifted across the camp only to notice a familiar scent had been through. Momentary contemplation identified it as Amberpaw's, and his eyes widened in astonishment upon finding it led out of the camp entirely -- the alarming bit was, her scent was alone. Which meant she was unaccompanied. In the territory, with no warrior escort. Startled, Fawnpaw jolted upright. He was instantly alert with his ears forward while he tracked the scent, vision sweeping for any sign of the other apprentice. Paranoia generated the worst of situations, forgetting he could land himself in the same with his presence; however, coming to Amberpaw's aid had compartmentalized that as an item to deal with later.

But when he found her, not far from the camp, there were no signs of a struggle - no badgers, no foxes. Fawnpaw melted, relieved she was okay and simply enjoying the solitude but simultaneously a tad embarrassed for his earlier panic that brought him here. Amberpaw didn't seem to be the type to dig herself into trouble anyway, and he winced at his unfounded concerns. As he watched from a distance, her serenity encouraged the fur to lie flat on his back, his preparations for battle ceasing, muscles returning to relaxation. Several minutes of his daydreamy gaze were only broken when he realized what he was doing and flushed, hot from the tips of his ears to his toes. Fawnpaw swallowed and quietly stepped to turn around but snagged his paw over his other foreleg, sending him into an off-balance tumble that ended in a wildflower patch. A clumsy flop that upped his humiliation to new heights as he tried to make it appear intentional if it'd caught Amberpaw's attention, rolling among the flowers to attract their sweetened scent and finally rising to his paws again with a cough.

[lone]

Originally Posted by Dipper

Fawnpaw had been blinking away the remnants of a failed night's sleep when he drifted across the camp only to notice a familiar scent had been through. Momentary contemplation identified it as Amberpaw's, and his eyes widened in astonishment upon finding it led out of the camp entirely -- the alarming bit was, her scent was alone. Which meant she was unaccompanied. In the territory, with no warrior escort. Startled, Fawnpaw jolted upright. He was instantly alert with his ears forward while he tracked the scent, vision sweeping for any sign of the other apprentice. Paranoia generated the worst of situations, forgetting he could land himself in the same with his presence; however, coming to Amberpaw's aid had compartmentalized that as an item to deal with later.

But when he found her, not far from the camp, there were no signs of a struggle - no badgers, no foxes. Fawnpaw melted, relieved she was okay and simply enjoying the solitude but simultaneously a tad embarrassed for his earlier panic that brought him here. Amberpaw didn't seem to be the type to dig herself into trouble anyway, and he winced at his unfounded concerns. As he watched from a distance, her serenity encouraged the fur to lie flat on his back, his preparations for battle ceasing, muscles returning to relaxation. Several minutes of his daydreamy gaze were only broken when he realized what he was doing and flushed, hot from the tips of his ears to his toes. Fawnpaw swallowed and quietly stepped to turn around but snagged his paw over his other foreleg, sending him into an off-balance tumble that ended in a wildflower patch. A clumsy flop that upped his humiliation to new heights as he tried to make it appear intentional if it'd caught Amberpaw's attention, rolling among the flowers to attract their sweetened scent and finally rising to his paws again with a cough.

A sudden thump, coming from behind her, drew Amberpaw's attention. She got to her paws quickly, her fur fluffing up defensively - it made her look more like a kit than anything else, but it was an involuntary movement. The sudden appearance of another cat rising from the flowerbed left her stunned for a moment, but it wasn't long before her fur flattened down and her expression returned to a more relaxed one. Apparently, seeing a friendly face had left her speechless - had it really been that long since she'd seen a friend? Not to mention, Fawnpaw was about as friendly as it got. "Fawnpaw?" As soon as the word left her mouth, a smile broke out over her face. She trotted over to him, her tail held high, stopping before she bumped into him.

"Wow, it's been forever! I missed you!" She grinned, lifting a paw to give him a friendly poke in the chest. It had been a while since she'd hung out with anyone for more than a few moments in passing (except for Splashcloud, of course), and her newfound loneliness was manifesting itself in some odd ways. For one thing, she'd found herself getting a lot more physical - she didn't feel like she was touch-starved, necessarily, but then again, she was used to being around cats more often. She tried not to dwell too much on that, however, since there were nicer things to think about.

"Oh! Your training, how's training going?" Amberpaw asked suddenly, her eyes appearing to light up again as she glanced up at him. She was bigger than she'd been when they'd first met - however, since she was still fairly young, Fawnpaw was bigger than her. Maybe she'd catch up to him someday. It wouldn't be too much of a loss if she didn't, however... she didn't mind having to look up at other cats.

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

A sudden thump, coming from behind her, drew Amberpaw's attention. She got to her paws quickly, her fur fluffing up defensively - it made her look more like a kit than anything else, but it was an involuntary movement. The sudden appearance of another cat rising from the flowerbed left her stunned for a moment, but it wasn't long before her fur flattened down and her expression returned to a more relaxed one. Apparently, seeing a friendly face had left her speechless - had it really been that long since she'd seen a friend? Not to mention, Fawnpaw was about as friendly as it got. "Fawnpaw?" As soon as the word left her mouth, a smile broke out over her face. She trotted over to him, her tail held high, stopping before she bumped into him.

"Wow, it's been forever! I missed you!" She grinned, lifting a paw to give him a friendly poke in the chest. It had been a while since she'd hung out with anyone for more than a few moments in passing (except for Splashcloud, of course), and her newfound loneliness was manifesting itself in some odd ways. For one thing, she'd found herself getting a lot more physical - she didn't feel like she was touch-starved, necessarily, but then again, she was used to being around cats more often. She tried not to dwell too much on that, however, since there were nicer things to think about.

"Oh! Your training, how's training going?" Amberpaw asked suddenly, her eyes appearing to light up again as she glanced up at him. She was bigger than she'd been when they'd first met - however, since she was still fairly young, Fawnpaw was bigger than her. Maybe she'd catch up to him someday. It wouldn't be too much of a loss if she didn't, however... she didn't mind having to look up at other cats.

"Oh.. hey," Fawnpaw said, fighting to keep his chin raised so their eyes could meet despite the incredible temptation to lower his gaze to where his paw scuffed the ground. Suddenly self-conscious of his appearance, he gave his chest fur a couple licks to inch his way toward presentable. Fawnpaw resisted the urge to shake his fur and free the scraps of flowers that clung to him, determining it would have to stay there for... well, however long this interaction continued for. At least it carried a nice scent. "I..." There was an excuse on the tip of his tongue, a reason for being here, for... probably coming off as odd since she didn't know how long he'd been there. But he did, and he perceived it as unacceptably long. Luckily, her sentiment transformed the uneasiness in his stomach into a tight coil that wasn't nearly as unpleasant. And he already forgot what he was going to say.

Fawnpaw broke into a stupidly giddy grin instead and ducked his head, flush blossoming into a greater spread underneath his fluff. "I mean, I'm not sure if it's been that long but..." A breathless chuckle rolled from him. "I missed you too. I didn't... uh, I guess I did expect to find you out here since I followed your scent from camp, but--" The abrupt cut off was approximately where he'd realized words were failing him, perhaps making this worse. Fawnpaw jumped to amending it by explaining, "Sorry, I swear it's nothing weird-- I was wondering why you were out here alone so... I was making sure you were okay." The last piece was lifted like a question as he tried to gauge Amberpaw's expression, hoping she wasn't too... put off by it. He guessed he wouldn't blame her; curiosity often wedged him in uncomfortable situations, and he wished he had better rein over his unsatisfied mind.

"My training?" He tilted his head, then understood. "Oh! It's... fine, yeah. Definitely fine. I have a new mentor and she seems pretty nice-- Troutrunner, do you know her?" It'd be unsurprising if she did because from their brief interaction, her worldliness had been pronounced. "Maybe this one will actually manage to teach me something," he offered in a lame joke, "not that I think she's.. unskilled or anything. Honestly, I'm probably way less qualified to be an apprentice than Troutrunner is to mentor one."

[lone]

Originally Posted by Dipper

"Oh.. hey," Fawnpaw said, fighting to keep his chin raised so their eyes could meet despite the incredible temptation to lower his gaze to where his paw scuffed the ground. Suddenly self-conscious of his appearance, he gave his chest fur a couple licks to inch his way toward presentable. Fawnpaw resisted the urge to shake his fur and free the scraps of flowers that clung to him, determining it would have to stay there for... well, however long this interaction continued for. At least it carried a nice scent. "I..." There was an excuse on the tip of his tongue, a reason for being here, for... probably coming off as odd since she didn't know how long he'd been there. But he did, and he perceived it as unacceptably long. Luckily, her sentiment transformed the uneasiness in his stomach into a tight coil that wasn't nearly as unpleasant. And he already forgot what he was going to say.

Fawnpaw broke into a stupidly giddy grin instead and ducked his head, flush blossoming into a greater spread underneath his fluff. "I mean, I'm not sure if it's been that long but..." A breathless chuckle rolled from him. "I missed you too. I didn't... uh, I guess I did expect to find you out here since I followed your scent from camp, but--" The abrupt cut off was approximately where he'd realized words were failing him, perhaps making this worse. Fawnpaw jumped to amending it by explaining, "Sorry, I swear it's nothing weird-- I was wondering why you were out here alone so... I was making sure you were okay." The last piece was lifted like a question as he tried to gauge Amberpaw's expression, hoping she wasn't too... put off by it. He guessed he wouldn't blame her; curiosity often wedged him in uncomfortable situations, and he wished he had better rein over his unsatisfied mind.

"My training?" He tilted his head, then understood. "Oh! It's... fine, yeah. Definitely fine. I have a new mentor and she seems pretty nice-- Troutrunner, do you know her?" It'd be unsurprising if she did because from their brief interaction, her worldliness had been pronounced. "Maybe this one will actually manage to teach me something," he offered in a lame joke, "not that I think she's.. unskilled or anything. Honestly, I'm probably way less qualified to be an apprentice than Troutrunner is to mentor one."

Amberpaw cocked her head to the side, following his stumbling speech. "Hey, don't worry about it. I think it's sweet you were worried about me," She answered, with another bright smile. The smile faded, however, when she remembered she wasn't supposed to be out here on her own - and, although she had never been much of a rule-breaker (she liked pleasing other cats, and cats who broke the rules all the time didn't do that), everyone needed some space sometimes. It had become part of her daily routine, and as happy as she was to see Fawnpaw - her happiness was now mixed with guilt.

"Hey, Fawnpaw, if me being out here doesn't come up, um... would you mind not telling anyone? I mean, don't lie if they ask you, but - maybe just - don't bring it up?" She felt bad for asking him to keep her secret, even partly. She wouldn't have wanted that on her, and she stopped for a minute before giving a little shake of her head and continuing. "Actually, you know what, uh - you don't have to do that. You can tell someone if you want to, I mean - sorry. You, uh, you didn't need my permission for that." Amberpaw didn't like feeling flustered, and she liked it less when she felt cornered, but she knew Fawnpaw hadn't been trying to corner her. He was being nice. She appreciated that, it felt good to have cats care about her.

"Troutrunner, huh?" The name wasn't familiar, but Amberpaw didn't know many of the warriors yet. She had met a few - all nice, really - but no one that she could recall being named Troutrunner. "Hey, I bet you'll make a great warrior. You're trying, right? That's a big part of it," Amberpaw grinned, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment. She was glad Fawnpaw had a new mentor. He was older than she was, and he'd probably get to be a warrior soon - that would be exciting. She couldn't wait to go and watch, and get to congratulate him afterwards. It would be the first time any of her friends had become a warrior, and she couldn't wait for it.

"By the way, I like your new look," She commented a moment later, glancing at the flower petals still stuck in his fur. "It's nice, it accents your fur and everything," Amberpaw added, before leaning forward and gently picking a couple of them off. "As much as I like it, something tells me you don't want to go back to camp like that." The end of her sentence was accented by a soft laugh, a hint of mischief sneaking onto her expression before it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

[Aroogi]

Originally Posted by Lilyfur2

Eaglepaw listened intently to Scarfang, ears peeking up when the older cat explained that swimming would become easier with time. He let out a relieved breath, then stopped. Wait, I'm going to go first? He gulped, screaming on the inside. He attempted to put a brave face on, and smiled affectionately at Dreampaw.
"Okay." He mewed, approaching the edge. He breathed in deeply, and waded into the river until he was submerged up to the top of his legs. He froze.
"Oh great Starclan this is cold!" He yelped. He turned his head towards Scarfang, eyes wide.
"W-what do I do?" He asked.

@Nebby

@Lilyfur2
Scarfang's eyes softened and he waded in beside the scared apprentice.
"First," he mewed softly. "Go further in and cup your paws, like this." He lifted a paw and demonstrated, curving his toes inward so it looked like a leaf filled with water. "Now, paddle with your paws cupped and use your tail as a rudder: the direction you move your tail dictates the direction you turn in the water."


He flicked Eaglepaw affectionately with his tail. He already liked this tom.
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here to help you if you need it."
----------------
Dreampaw listened to Scarfang's swimming advice.
Cup my paw? She thought, copying Scarfang. Ah, that makes sense.
She purred. They were in good paws here.

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Amberpaw cocked her head to the side, following his stumbling speech. "Hey, don't worry about it. I think it's sweet you were worried about me," She answered, with another bright smile. The smile faded, however, when she remembered she wasn't supposed to be out here on her own - and, although she had never been much of a rule-breaker (she liked pleasing other cats, and cats who broke the rules all the time didn't do that), everyone needed some space sometimes. It had become part of her daily routine, and as happy as she was to see Fawnpaw - her happiness was now mixed with guilt.

"Hey, Fawnpaw, if me being out here doesn't come up, um... would you mind not telling anyone? I mean, don't lie if they ask you, but - maybe just - don't bring it up?" She felt bad for asking him to keep her secret, even partly. She wouldn't have wanted that on her, and she stopped for a minute before giving a little shake of her head and continuing. "Actually, you know what, uh - you don't have to do that. You can tell someone if you want to, I mean - sorry. You, uh, you didn't need my permission for that." Amberpaw didn't like feeling flustered, and she liked it less when she felt cornered, but she knew Fawnpaw hadn't been trying to corner her. He was being nice. She appreciated that, it felt good to have cats care about her.

"Troutrunner, huh?" The name wasn't familiar, but Amberpaw didn't know many of the warriors yet. She had met a few - all nice, really - but no one that she could recall being named Troutrunner. "Hey, I bet you'll make a great warrior. You're trying, right? That's a big part of it," Amberpaw grinned, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment. She was glad Fawnpaw had a new mentor. He was older than she was, and he'd probably get to be a warrior soon - that would be exciting. She couldn't wait to go and watch, and get to congratulate him afterwards. It would be the first time any of her friends had become a warrior, and she couldn't wait for it.

"By the way, I like your new look," She commented a moment later, glancing at the flower petals still stuck in his fur. "It's nice, it accents your fur and everything," Amberpaw added, before leaning forward and gently picking a couple of them off. "As much as I like it, something tells me you don't want to go back to camp like that." The end of her sentence was accented by a soft laugh, a hint of mischief sneaking onto her expression before it disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"I knew you could handle it," he tried to protest while battling the explosion of fuzziness within from being called sweet, "but... I wanted to make sure, I guess." The half-truth rested on the omission of his overworking mind that crafted the most traumatic of situations and devastation, even if there were no clues to suggest such a thing. Anxiety had its teeth sunk into him, only now loosening the grip since Amberpaw was obviously okay.

Her request dragged Fawnpaw back to the present with a puzzled 'hm?' spilling into her words while he attempted to form a better picture of where she stood on this. Until she was finished, he stood silently, mouth working like he was performing an intense calculation needed for comprehension. "Wow, it's... it's actually kind of flattering that you think I talk to others," Fawnpaw said, a laugh intertwined in his partial joke. A preference for logic bypassed the surface-level nature of her wish, instead prompting him to inquire, "Is it because you don't want anybody else coming out here? If it's where you go to have time alone..." That was where it occurred to him to take a step back. He didn't want to be the source of disruption.

Although he murmured his appreciation for the encouragement, Fawnpaw wasn't as convinced that he'd be a great warrior. It was difficult to envision being anything more than he was now, especially when warrior status tended to be incompatible with a peaceful view. "I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it," he confessed, almost guilty in how he peered away over his shoulder, staring at a future he was barreling toward but would've preferred to approach tentatively. "Not for another three moons, at least. I mean, I might not be any good at it-- like swimming? I learned how to with the SkyClan cats, and I swear they're already way better at it than I am." The memory elicited a frown, yet it was quickly startled off his muzzle when Amberpaw complimented his appearance, and he blinked dumbly for a moment.

And then he remembered. It flooded to him alongside the wave of leftover embarrassment. "Yeah?" Fawnpaw was a ball of skepticism, flattered, and shy weaved into one. "Truthfully, I'm pretty sure all they accentuate is my clumsiness since I didn't really intend on taking a flower-bath," he admitted, pawing a few of the petals away himself. When she said he probably shouldn't return to camp like that, Fawnpaw raised an eyebrow in mock offense and replied, "Hey, I'm starting to get the impression maybe you aren't as... uh, enthralled as you've led me to believe. Just for that I should knock you into the flowers too."

[Moon Lily]

Originally Posted by Nebby

@Lilyfur2
Scarfang's eyes softened and he waded in beside the scared apprentice.
"First," he mewed softly. "Go further in and cup your paws, like this." He lifted a paw and demonstrated, curving his toes inward so it looked like a leaf filled with water. "Now, paddle with your paws cupped and use your tail as a rudder: the direction you move your tail dictates the direction you turn in the water."


He flicked Eaglepaw affectionately with his tail. He already liked this tom.
"Don't be afraid. I'm right here to help you if you need it."
----------------
Dreampaw listened to Scarfang's swimming advice.
Cup my paw? She thought, copying Scarfang. Ah, that makes sense.
She purred. They were in good paws here.

Eaglepaw mimicked Scarfang's cupped paws. His ears perked up. I can do this! He thought encouragingly. He waded further into the dark water, trying his best to hide the shivers that wracked his pelt. Once he could feel his paws float a tiny bit, he paddled, turning his tail in all directions. He swam around to face Scarfang and Dreampaw. He grinned widely.
"I did it!" He mewed happily. He glanced at Scarfang. "Thank you!" He mewed to the warrior, beaming. He turned back to Dreampaw, purring happily at her.
"It's your turn now Dreampaw!" He mewed supportively.

@Nebby

[Aroogi]

Originally Posted by Lilyfur2

Eaglepaw mimicked Scarfang's cupped paws. His ears perked up. I can do this! He thought encouragingly. He waded further into the dark water, trying his best to hide the shivers that wracked his pelt. Once he could feel his paws float a tiny bit, he paddled, turning his tail in all directions. He swam around to face Scarfang and Dreampaw. He grinned widely.
"I did it!" He mewed happily. He glanced at Scarfang. "Thank you!" He mewed to the warrior, beaming. He turned back to Dreampaw, purring happily at her.
"It's your turn now Dreampaw!" He mewed supportively.

@Nebby

@Lilyfur2
Dreampaw nodded.
"Alright."
She waded in, turning to Scarfang.


Scarfang nodded. "You got this. Remember what I told you."


Dreampaw cupped her paws and began to paddle.
I'm doing it! She thought, swimming in circles.
"Look Eaglepaw! I'm doing it!"

[Moon Lily]

Originally Posted by Nebby

@Lilyfur2
Dreampaw nodded.
"Alright."
She waded in, turning to Scarfang.


Scarfang nodded. "You got this. Remember what I told you."


Dreampaw cupped her paws and began to paddle.
I'm doing it! She thought, swimming in circles.
"Look Eaglepaw! I'm doing it!"

Eaglepaw beamed, whisking his tail excitedly. He waded into the water again, and swam over to Dreampaw. He purred happily.
"Good job!" He mewed, nudging her affectionately. He treaded the water, looking at Scarfang.
"What do we do now?" He asked curiously, eyes full of excitement
@Nebby

[Aroogi]

Originally Posted by Lilyfur2

Eaglepaw beamed, whisking his tail excitedly. He waded into the water again, and swam over to Dreampaw. He purred happily.
"Good job!" He mewed, nudging her affectionately. He treaded the water, looking at Scarfang.
"What do we do now?" He asked curiously, eyes full of excitement
@Nebby

@Lilyfur2
Scarfang shrugged, looking at the pair.
"Go to camp?" He mewed. "Maybe you would want to meet my kit, Tigerkit? He could use some friends other than his father, you know?"