[IC/OPEN] A toe in the water

Moonpaw padded through the forest. She felt nervous without a familiar cat, Burnpaw, beside her. Ever since they became apprentices their duties had been keeping them further and further apart. She missed her best friend, they were as close as littermates. Moonpaw scanned the ground before she put her paw down making sure she didn't step on anything like a thorn to implant itself in her paw. She could be careful, cautious. She pushed past the undergrowth to see Shaded Creek and more importantly Whimbrelfur. She had originally come her to see if she could collect moss for the elders. At least this would be more fun with company. She waved her tail in greeting. "Hi!" She announced herself with a squeak, becoming an excited overwhelmed kit. That was Moonpaw, always the playful, energetic cat. She bounded forward to settle next to Whimbrelfur. "What are you doing?" Moonpaw asked politely. "Fishing?"

Whimbrelfur spun around, gave Moonpaw a cursory look up and down and then, abruptly turned back to the murky water. “Oh, it’s you.”

Whose apprentice was she? It took Whimbrelfur a moment to realize; Moonpaw was Rookstar’s apprentice. Heat flooded to her face and she spun around again, all purrs.

“Hi Moonpaw!” She said falsely bright. “I don’t think I ever congratulated you properly on your new name. Well done! I was just out for a walk and decided to sit her awhile.” The lie felt as stilted as the cheery voice, this just wasn’t her, but she ploughed on anyway. “Come, come and sit.”

Moonpaw shrugged at her sudden change of demeanor. She padded next to Whimbrelfur and sat down. She stared absentmindedly into the stream, watching fish dart by. Moonpaw knew some cat fished but she shivered at the thought; she hated water and the taste of fish. Moonpaw looked back at Whimbrelfur, she already ever noticed the young warrior let alone talked to her. Moonpaw was always preoccupied with her duties and then trying to spend some time with Burnpaw. "Thanks," Moonpaw said to her congratulations, snapping from her thoughts. Moonpaw swung her head up to the side and the bright sun before averting her eyes from the glowing orb in the sky. "I guess it is a nice day for a walk!" Moonpaw yelped energetically, leaping to her paws. "So why are we sitting here! Wanna walk with me?" Moonpaw asked, looking begging at Whimbrelfur.

Whimbrelfur waited, watching the gentle sway of the reflection of the leaves on the lazy creek, for the apprentice to call her out for her falseness but it never came. Instead the apprentice her congratulations, perhaps this would be easier than she first thought.

The suggestion made her pause. Moonpaw no doubt had duties aplenty and training, and Rookstar was no doubt working hard to temper that boundless energy but… when would she get another chance to buddy up to Rookstar’s apprentice?

“Okay!” Whimbrelfur tried to bounce to her feet, the way the apprentice did but ended up stumbling slightly. She shook out her pelt and started off down the stream. “Let’s go then! How is your training going? Rookstar must be an exciting mentor.”

Moonpaw trotted along Whimbrelfur's side, careful to keep pace. Moonpaw loved leaving the camp ever since she became an apprentice and could. "Oh, my training's going good." Moonpaw shrugged. "Rookstar?" In truth Moonpaw didn't like her mentor very much. He was too serious and all about work and no play. "He's okay I guess." There was doubt in Moonpaw's words. She shook her head to clear her head from the doubt, she hated bad and serious emotions. "Enough about me. How have you been doing?" Moonpaw asked.

Under the protective embrace of the trees the day was light and the moss lined bank was cool against Whimbrelfur’s paws. It was a wonder the creek was so quiet; when she left camp the sun had been glaring down at full force making the creek a welcome respite. She strode evenly across the bank the soft sound of her footsteps swallowed beneath the babbling of the creek and couldn’t help but admire the spring in the apprentice’s step. If she’d ever felt that wonder lurked behind each tumble of undergrowth, the novelty of the forest had long since fallen away.

He’s okay I guess? Whimbrelfur glanced down at her paws to hide the scowl creeping across her face. A little excitement wouldn’t kill her. Rookstar had chosen Moonpaw as his own apprentice but ehh it was okay?! The brown tabby paused to knead her paws, tearing up great chunks of moss and dirt. The desire to cuff the apprentice’s ears abating Whimbrelfur turned to Moonpaw and managed a false purr.

“Well, it can’t be that bad.”

Could it? Memories of her own apprenticeship, trailing after Mossfur, the former deputy, for any hint of advice came to mind. She swallowed. At least she had the good sense to be honoured by the choice.

“I’m doing adequate. Thanks for asking.” Whimbrelfur racked her brain trying to think of a way to push things forwards. “It must be difficult being Rookstar’s apprentice. You do know we’re all here for you Moonpaw, if you ever need a paw to keep yourself from disappointing him.”

Moonpaw shook her head other thoughts on her mind. Disappointing Rookstar was not one of those thoughts troubling her. In truth she didn't care if she disappointed him, taking comfort in the thought that, that was the least of her worries. She just didn't like how serious he was, cats hat loosen up and play once in a while. Moonpaw shrugged again. "Its not too hard. The hardest part is when he's so serious and expects me to be like him." Moonpaw suddenly leaped to her paws. "Ohh what's that!" Moonpaw ran forward with a burst of speed. She ran along the water's edge and spotted something sparkly beneath the surface. Moonpaw darted a paw in but as soon as she touched the water she jumped back with a yelp. She didn't enjoy that at all. "Whimbrelfur can you get me that shell?" Moonpaw asked, indicating the shell beneath the water with her tail.

Whimbrelfur turned to look at Moonpaw in disbelief. No, she hadn’t imagined it; her carefully chosen words had fallen on deaf ears. It was hard not to admire the apprentice’s pluck -- nearly every cat Whimbrelfur knew would be mewling wreck if someone implied their leader was disappointed in them -- but it would have been great if Moonpaw were a little less resilient.

…so serious and expects me to be like him. Whimbrelfur had scarcely ran the words back through her mind, the shadows a of plan forming, and Moonpaw was off down the bank tearing after the creek as if she was being chased by bees. The young warrior smirked and trudged after her, tail lashing in frustration. How was she supposed to help if the mouse brained fool couldn’t even sit still?

Whimbrelfur leaned over the water, peering through her murky brown reflection to see the shining object belief. If you want a kitten’s toy, get it yourself. With a sigh she bit back the words, crouched down on the bank and, teeth gritted, plunged her paw into the water. It wasn’t cold but the way the current pulled at her leg and her fur billowed around her paw was uncomfortable to say the least. Leaning forwards until her leg was submerged to the shoulder she flicked the shell (and with it a cascade of water) onto the bank. With any luck Moonpaw would get the drenching she deserved.

“There.” Whimbrelfur groomed her leg with levels of ferocity best suited to battle.

Moonpaw leaped back with a yelp as water leaped from the river. She got slightly wet but for the most part, got out dry. She moved close to the shell to inspect. It certainly was shiny. She had never seen anything like it, but that probably came from being stuck in camp as a kit. Moonpaw looked up as Whimbrelfur seemed to be in a battle with her wet leg. Oh did she cause that! "I'm sorry if you don't like water!" Moonpaw cried. "Maybe I should've gotten it myself. Next time, I promise!" Moonpaw leaped to her paws; now she felt bad! She knew how awful it was to get wet. "But look, I have something shiny!" She pushed the shell for Whimbrelfur to see and admire. "Isn't it so cool! I've never seen anything like it!"