saturday sun [c]

Sleepypaw

"Interested in learning how to swim?" The voice of Sleepypaw carried over the water towards Stormpaw. She sat just in front of him, hardly paying the water any mind as it swept over her paws. The cool water felt nice, as her thick pelt warmed her even more than the heavy sun. "It's good to learn. You never know when the river will flood." Apparently it had done it before, many moons ago. Lots of cats died. "It normally does after heavy rain, but especially when the snow and ice melt after leaf-bare." What's what her father had told her.

Sleepypaw's gaze caught a fish as it swam by, its dark form cutting her thoughts to an end. "How are you doing, Stormpaw?"

Sleepypaw

Sleepypaw shook her head, amused. "Beliving in fantasy stories that elders tell, huh?" She mused with a tilt of her head. "Didn't take you as the type." She checked the water for any fish worth catching before she eased into the river, pelt flowing around her. With a swish of her tail, the apprentice crossed with expert practice. Settling on the large flat rocks, Sleepypaw shook out her pelt, sending cascades of water pellets into the air.

Dried enough for her taste, Sleepypaw settled on a large sunlit rock, close to the border of the Sunningrocks. That way, they could still talk. "What have you caught today?" The apprentice herself had a vole buried across the river. But, she did want to bring more food than that back.

Sleepypaw

Sleepypaw shook her head, giving her pelt another shake. "No, that would be my brother Hawkpaw." She explained, beginning to groom her paw and run it over her head, giving special care to where the water had lapped at her ears. "I'm known more for my fighting than anything." Sleepypaw had inherited her father's battle tactics. She showcased not strength, but cleverness. As her smaller form wasn't condusive to raw power, she got around with what Kitespring and her father had taught her. "I could teach you how to fish. Might be an interesting meal for anycat in ThunderClan who hasn't had fish before." She glanced towards the river. "The river is RiverClan's. But, we have plenty of prey at home. We could consider it a gift."

Of course, she wasn't supposed to be giving out a fish to ThunderClan. But, cats were not going hungry in RiverClan. And the apparent strained relationships with SkyClan, it would be better to create good relationships with other clans. Especially one they usually fought with.

Sleepypaw

Sleepypaw seemed satisfied with the deal, getting close to where Stormpaw was, though still on the SunningRocks, Sleepypaw fought an amused laugh. "You won't have to swim. Just don't fall in, mouse brain." She shot him a grin and got into the correct posture. "Alright, try and mirror me. No, tuck your hind paws in. You look like a non-threatening goose. Try again." Sleepypaw corrected his posture for a while until it looked about right.

"Now, don't let your shadow fall over the water. The fish will swim away." Oddly enough, Sleepypaw loved teaching Stormpaw how to hunt. Maybe she would be a good mentor. But the thought was driven away by a small shadowy form. She stiffened and nodded towards it, looking back at the tom, eager to see if he caught it.

Sleepypaw

Laughter escaped the apprentice. The amusement seemed only to get stronger as Sleepypaw looked up at his face. "You got a little--" Laughter bubbled up again. "A little water on your face!" Sleepypaw roared with laughter again, throwing her head back and staggering to his side, placing a paw on his sopping wet face. "Watch."  Pushing off, she eyed the water for a half second, then she darted her paw in--

With a flourish of sparkling water, a fish was routed out of the water, though, instead of on the rocks, the silvery fish found its way to Stormpaw's face. "Fox-dung! Sorry!" A pause, then her laughter resumed.

Sleepypaw

"And what if I did?" She quipped, a cheeky grin crossing her face. "I'm not sure why you are complaining; you've got a fish to bring back to your clan--HEY!" She ducked her head away from the water to keep it from hitting her face. But the torrent from Stormpaw's swipe left her face also dripping. "You're going to pay for that!" Sleepypaw laughed, taking a few steps back and then launching herself into the river, sending a cascade of water racing towards the shore. "Take that!"

As she watched his reaction, Sleepypaw wondered why she didn't joke around like this with other apprentices. Sure, it wasn't as funny if they got sopping wet; they were used to it. She couldn't teach them to catch fish, as they already knew how. But, Stormpaw had his own draw to him, perhaps because he was from another clan or because he was such good company. Sleepypaw wasn't certain, but the apprentice hoped that making friends with him wouldn't be against the warrior code either way. Because this was too fun! She didn't even feel tired!