Fishing for, well, Fish [Open/RC Patrol]

Fallowpaw scrambled back up onto her haunches without scaring any of the other fish away, so that Sleetpaw could get a good catch. She nodded humbly, and waited for Sleetpaw.

Sleetpaw bit his tongue to keep from cursing under his breath, doing his best to maintain his slick expression. She did this on purpose. Now the spotlight was on him. He watched Fallowpaw crouch beside the river, half hoping she'd miss, but with an easy swipe she hooked a fish out from the river. Her first try, too... The pressure mounted up in his chest as he took his place next to the riverbed, peering into the glittering waters.

Determination. He'd already failed too many times, and he wouldn't let himself fail again!

Don't think.

A silver shape flashed over the rocks, just out of reach.

Just act!

All his poise and careful rehearsal flooded out of his head at once. Without a second of hesitation, Sleetpaw slammed his paw flat over the water's surface, sending up a small cascade of white water that came back down over his pelt like rain. The fish froze as ripples rung out across the water, stunned, and Sleetpaw plunged into the river, halfway up to his belly fur, sending it flying out of the water and onto the shore with a scoop of his paw.

The fish flopped on the riverbank, helpless. He waded back to the shore and pinned it under his paw, stilling it with a flash of his claws. Sleetpaw lifted his head to look at the rest of his patrol, water dripping from his fur, insufferably smug as ever. "It wasn't my cleanest kill, but..."

That was a lie. It was his first. He fought down the swelling pride in his chest and turned to smooth down his fur, pretending like he'd already been through it all before.

Fallowpaw didn't scowl. She smiled. She gave a nod. "Nice catch," she complimented, not knowing such scorn that had resided swimming in Sleetpaw's mind during the heat of the moment. She looked back up at Tawnystorm and Ivyfall expectantly, tail waving.

"Yes, that was a...decent catch." Tawnystorm said, looking somewhat skeptically at Sleetpaw. That little smug expression shouldn't have annoyed her, considering how much she was like that as an apprentice, but for some reason it did. "I mean, it was good. How much have you gone fishing before?"

Shellpaw watched in awe as Sleetpaw made the amazing catch. She nodded as the others congratulated him, but she didn't say anything. She was tongue-tied. Great StarClan, that cat has some serious skills.

Fallowpaw was honestly astonished that the tomcat could partake in such skill. He had just been apprenticed recently. She nodded at Shellpaw, with an unknowing smile.

Ivyfall watched carefully, noting every little twitch the apprentices made as they caught their respective catches. The deputy simply nodded for Fallowpaw, noting her skills but that was to be expected considering her age. She was close to taking on a warrior name, catching fishes had to be second nature. Overall, she was impressed by her agility, she would make a fine hunter, not just of fish but with a little training, of the water birds that often came to Sunningrocks.

As for Sleetpaw, he lacked all finesse.

Though he had landed the fish, that was pure luck. He was heavy handed in his blow and took far too long to kill the fish. He had good instinct, however it hadn't been harnessed yet. She'd have to speak to Smokeface about putting a bit more pressure on Sleetpaw. She saw potential in him, but he seemed like the type to need a challenge to keep him interested. His smugness didn't bode well if his mentor didn't curb it properly.

"Good catch, Fallowpaw. Sleetpaw, though you caught the fish, you've scared away all the prey from here to SkyClan with that blow. Bury your prey in the sand, the two of you. We'll be going upstream to see if there's anything left to catch." She flicked to dismiss the two, before turning to face the rest. "Tawnystorm, why don't you demonstrate how to track prey through the reeds to the apprentices."

Otterpaw winced at the deputy's sharp words, thanking the stars that he hadn't been on the receiving end. Frogpaw didn't pick up on her berating edge, simply taking it as constructive criticism. "Good catch, Sleetpaw, Fallowpaw. See ya upstream!"

Fallowpaw nodded at Ivyfall's words, then turned to look at Frogpaw. She smiled at the kind young tomcat. She expected to see a bit of disappointment in Sleetpaw, but he had caught the fish, and that was pretty good for a first try. She headed upstream, bouncing over boulders that blocked the way.

Sleetpaw stood there, basking in all the awed looks, drinking in the praise, but Ivyfall's words sent him crashing back to earth. He let his tail droop, his hackles rising. "But...!" he blurted, but nothing. There wasn't a word he could say back to the great and mighty deputy of RiverClan. He'd caught the stupid fish, hadn't he? And he'd tried so hard to get it. That had to count for something if it'd fill some elder's belly. Instead, he just glanced away, sullen, a surly look swimming in his dark eyes. Frogpaw's good-natured words just felt like rubbing nettles into the wound. "But not good enough," he muttered back, keeping his voice low enough so the warriors couldn't hear.

The bitter taste on his tongue was like one of Cloudstone's herbs. Fine, maybe she had a point. Then he'd do better, and try harder, until he was better than any of them. Sleetpaw lashed his tail in irritation and padded after them, ears flattened to his head.

Shellpaw flinched at the deputy's words. It had been an amazing catch- what was wrong with Ivyfall? She tagged along by Sleetpaw. "She doesn't know what she's talking about," she muttered quietly, not sure if the tom could hear or not.