Watch Your Step [C]

Honeypaw looked up from grooming himself, preparing for his next lesson with Iceheart. She was out on patrol, but he’s excited for her to come back and teach him even more about being a warrior! She doesn’t seem particularly enthusiastic about being a mentor, but Honeypaw was so excited to be her apprentice.

He resists the urge to wrinkle his nose at the smell wafting off of Fawnpatch. There are a lot of cats that smell like that in the camp, but Honeypaw still can’t get used to that. And they feel… wrong. A lot of the other cats seem nervous around them. It’s weird, and Honeypaw doesn’t really understand what the strange cats’ whole… deal is. But it’s always been this way, at least as far as Honeypaw can remember, so he figures it must be normal, no matter how he feels about it.

And besides, his mother always taught him to be polite and to respect his elders. Even the stinky ones.

So he straightens up and smiles up at Fawnpatch. "Thank you!" He says with bright eyes. “What’s your name? And I’d love to go hunting with you! I don’t know how good I’ll be, I’m still learning, but I’ll help catch as many prey as I can!" He meowed.

Honeypaw obidentally pads after Fawnpatch, smiling cheerfully and bouncing on his pawpads. He followed Fawnpatch’s direction, avoiding the holes full of water. “I am!” He mewed. “I’m so excited.”

He sped up a bit to fall more into step with Fawnpatch so he could look at her as he rambled. “Iceheart is really nice and a great mentor and I’m so excited to learn as much as I can.” He said. He puffed out his chest proudly. “One day I’m gonna make a great warrior, I just know it!” Then he ducked his head. “Or at least, I hope so.”

Honeypaw brightened at the praise, smiling at the idea that the older warrior truly believed he’d be a good warrior someday. His nose wrinkles when she flicks it with her tail, and he giggled a bit.

Although he drooped a bit as Fawnpatch talks about Iceheart. She did have a point… Iceheart did seem tired often. He suddenly felt a bit guilty. He’s been excited about his apprenticeship and pestering her often, but what if she didn’t want to be his mentor? Maybe Fawnpatch was right and he should avoid bothering her if he could…

He dragged himself out of his thoughts to look at Fawnpatch again, and he smiled. “Of course Fawnpatch! I’ll help you whatever way I can!” He promised, puffing out his chest again.

Honeypaw was sticking close to Fawnpatch and paying attention to her, so he’s quick to duck down when she does. When she pointed out the squirrel scent, he opened his mouth to smell better and nodded eagerly. A thrill ran through him. It would be a long time yet before he stopped getting deeply excited at the thought of hunting for his clan. He listened closely to Fawnpatch’s instructions and gave a serious nod, determined to do well.

He dropped into a hunting crouch. He made sure he was lined up with where the squirrel was peacefully examining a nut. He was completely oblivious to the danger lurking behind the squirrel. He took a deep breath, and then launched himself forward. Of course, he makes far too much noise and the squirrel is off like a shot before he even lands.

And when he does land, his momentum had him quickly sliding on the slippery ground, rolling for a few minutes before landing with a loud splash! Directly into the water. The pond was deep, and the water quickly covered Honeypaw’s head. And all Honeypaw can feel is panic, for he had never been submerged in water completely before, and he had no idea how to swim. He flails, splashing water everywhere as his heavy fur drags him down. He can’t find the surface in the dirty, murky pond and his claws can’t get a hold of anything.

Honeypaw can hear the sound of Fawnpatch calling for him through the water, but he can’t make out the words. He tried to orient himself toward the sound of her voice, but he couldn't seem to navigate through the murky water. An involuntary panicked mewl escaped him, which let his air out and just made him more panicked than before.

Honeypaw’s claws eventually latched into some of the shifting ground as best they can and he tried to push himself off the ground and back to the surface, but his strength was fading without air and everything was getting dim.

Honeypaw coughed and gagged on the nasty pond water that got into his mouth. He shuddered, trembling violently as his eyes stared at nothing for a few seconds. He doesn’t even register Fawnpatch words at first, just the comforting register of her voice and her warmth beside him. He pressed himself into her, slowly dragging his awareness back to the present.

“It-It’s okay,” He mumbled faintly, voice tiny and barely audible and nothing like the usual, cheerfully loud tone he carries. “You didn’t know.” He sniffed and briefly hid his face against her. “Th-thanks for rescuing me.”

Honeypaw was all too happy to stay sitting. He didn’t trust his legs right then. Even sitting down he felt shaky and unstable. He just sat, letting the adrenaline leave his body, too stunned to even help Fawnpatch groom him.

It’s Fawnpatch’s distress that pulls him out of his fearful trance. He looked over at her and his eyes widened as he listened to her words. “Oh- Oh, Fawnpatch, it’s okay!” He licked her shoulder, trying to reassure her. “I won’t tell anyone,” He promised. “No one’s going to hate you. I like you! See, not everyone hates you.” He smiled, just wanting her to feel better. He didn’t want her to get in trouble with anyone over his stupid mistake!