one teaches, two learn (c)

She had told her new apprentice to come fetch her when she was ready, but by the time she had, Cindersky was not sure she herself was ready. Larkspring and Rookflight seemed to confirm to being a mentor like it was their true calling, seemlessly falling into step and having their apprentice follow suit. Her? Not so much. She still felt too wet behind the ears. She had become a warrior in a place that was not home, and before she could even act on being a warrior, she was nest-ridden with illness. Then wolves and she was too injured during the journey back to their territory to be a warrior, and then the battle-- Her breathing stuttered, and she had to take a deep swallow of air to try and steady her heart again. Creekpaw deserved a good first experience on the territory. She pushed everything aside and replaced it with a faux smile, but hope it would not deter the youngling from learning. If she could teach it.

The forest had a certain chill to it, not too unlike her first foray as an apprentice. She did not avoid the puddles like she used to. She did not even realise she was standing them, really. They dipped into the chilly water and out again, some parts still sludge from the melting snow. There was little of it now, more ice than anything else, but the rain still was frigid. There was little birdsong, that much was different. And she could see her own breath. The burbling of the river was getting louder, and only when the first stone came into view did she realise she was being followed. The short molly flicked and ear and turned her head, blinking as her apprentice seemed black-furred for a second and then gray as she was meant to. She swallowed thickly.

"Are you ready?" Cindersky asked, forcing some kind of confidence into her tone. If she was too afraid, jumpy, uncertain to teach an apprentice, how would they ever feel confident in themselves? She gestured her snout to the river. "The lifeblood of our clan. Tell me what you know of fishing. And don't be afraid if you don't know anything. Tell me what you think you know." Did that sound alright? Her ears were angled back, and she fought to keep her eyes on her apprentice. Be a guardian. Role model. Not a mouse. Not a mouse, Cindersky.

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Cindersky coiled in front of the young apprentice, moving slightly further downstream and then planting herself there so that the she-cat could not go any further toward the deeper, rapid parts of the river. It was like Perch--... Her heart clenched, and she swallowed.

"Quiet is good," She confirmed. "That is one of the few things you must do on every hunting trip. Silence, stillness, surveillance. When it comes to fishing, stillness and surveillance are the most important. We can whisper, but speak to loud and the fish will feel it in the water."

She crouched by the river, peering into it. At very least, she had experience teaching in fishing. Littlesplash had taken to it like it was second nature. She was sure Creekpaw would do the same. She beckoned with her tail for the young cat to join her.

"Crouch and make yourself as small as you can, put keep your paw out and hooked like this..." She lifted her paw, unsheathing her claws and keeping it poised. "Pay attention to where the sun is, too. A fish will run away... Swim away? Swim away, if it sees your shadow. Wait until it is close, and then hook it out of  the water. Catch it just below the skin with your claws, and toss it behind you."

She waited until Creekpaw had mimicked her, and tipped her nose to certain places to adjust her. Once she was satisfied, she nodded. "Give it a try. I will tell you how you do, and what to try next. Do not worry if you don't catch it first try. Let your instincts guide you."

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