one step at a time [c]

Finally, she'd been released from the practical prison otherwise known as the medicine den. While her siblings got to go out and explore the territory to train, she had been practically imprisoned in the medicine cat's den. All because of a stupid cough. Stupid, stupid whitecough. It wasn't even supposed to come this season, anyways! It was saved for leafbare! She had pushed through it, teetering dangerously close to greencough. Sure enough, it had hit, and bound her for far too long. She wanted to train. She hated being behind, hated how her body had done nothing but force her to rest. She'd learned to pick out which herbs Sandyshell used the most to help her, at least, and the poppy seeds - it only took one for a cat of her size - that helped her during the fitful, unsleeping nights where she spent her time doing nothing but coughing. That burn in her lungs didn't seem keen on going away, but at some point, she grew used to it. Mistpaw at least got to see her mother somewhat often, having seen the leader popping in to check on her former apprentice that was there as well.

But finally, she was deemed good enough to leave. The apprentice spent no time going straight to her mentor and deputy. "Poppyshine. I'd like to go out and train. Sandyshell says I'm okay now." Her voice was still a bit hoarse, even crackling a bit. But she stood as tall as she could, with wide, alert eyes.

Mistpaw had let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Poppyshine gave confirmation that she could, in fact, learn how to train. The fluffed molly's tail flicked for a moment of excitement, that kittish joy of being able to learn something that was a rite of passage, a vital role for all clanmembers. Save for Sandyshell, perhaps. That particular clanmate had an entirely other set of skills that she had to hone and know in-turn, and Mistpaw had learned first-paw just how important they were. It was why she was even able to leave camp.

So she followed dutifully behind. However, as she heard the rushing of water, a long-forgotten anxiety pricked at her paws. It was almost instantly soothed by the sounds of her sister having come to show her the water was just fine, that they were Riverclan cats. The memory ultimately warmed her heart, allowing her to take just one more step forward as she listened to her mentor's instructions. For a moment, the way Poppyshine's fur stood on end made her wonder if the deputy was afraid of the water. Surely not. However, she gave a nod towards the warnings. "Yes, Poppyshine. The river is to be respected. It gives us our food, but can take us as well. But if we respect the river, it will help us." She relayed what she took away from Poppyshine's message with a nod of her head before continuing closely behind towards the river.

The instructions to fish seemed easy enough. One peer into the waters at her paws told her there were more than plenty of creatures to attempt to hunt, that she had gotten lucky with the time of year she would be working on her apprenticeship. It was a luck she would not take for granted, adjusting and shuffling herself as close to the edge of the waters as she could. "Wait for the scales..." The moment they shone, her paw dipped into the water, instinct taking hold.

It served her well, as her claws hooked easily beneath the gills of the creature. It swooped into the air, and her claws followed. She let her claws sink in, killing the creature, and looking towards Poppyshine with a massive grin on her face.

Mistpaw attempts to hunt the fish! Success! -3SP

The pride funneled her way had the apprentice glancing towards the ground. Not out of shame, but out of bashful pride that also burned beneath the feathery fluff of her cheeks. Mistpaw couldn't hold back her own wide smile, that feeling of pride practically ready to leap forward out of her chest in the excitement of it all. "Thank you, Auntie Poppy." She purred her gratitude. Most of the time, the apprentice wasn't sure of how to properly address the deputy. On one paw, she felt like her mentor was due the respect of her title, to be called 'Poppyshine' and nothing more. But on the other paw, the close relations between her mother and the deputy were always on full display, and that relationship she wanted to respect. At some point, Mistpaw had to simply accept that she would be corrected if she called her the wrong name.

As for how it felt, the apprentice could only straighten as she considered. "Is there ever any easy way to tell if a fish is... ill? I would hate to catch a fish, only for it to make my clanmates sick." When it came to prey that walked and flew upon the forest itself, signs would have been easy enough. A slowed movement, or perhaps their steps were misplaced, or they had a stench to them that told the hunter they were poor quarry. But within the water? There was a diluting factor that could easily hide whatever was lurking beneath their scales. "And, if I accidentally catch one, is there anything I should do?"