Fish Out of Water [Open]

Fish had never been so deep into ShadowClan territory. He thought he’d strayed far on that fateful day where he first met Pineblossom and Hedgepaw, but today it felt like they walked forever. The land did not get easier to navigate as they went. More plentiful puddles formed, or deeper ones, or ground that appeared solid was not. Fish stumbled frequently and feared he would lose his balance, but Pineblossom did not let him fall. He was pretty sure he would be grateful to her for the rest of his life. In a way, she’d saved it.

For once in his life, Fish remained quiet for the majority of their walk, allowing both of them time just to reflect. It was only when he made out the shape of a huddle of bracken and ferns tucked against the earth that he said, ”Oh, wow,” around the vole in his mouth. Pineblossom’s steps were slowing, so his did, too, and he turned his head up to look at her. Fish didn’t like the sound of being scrutinized, nor of being polite. He did not know if he was the latter, and the former set his teeth on edge. But he nodded and, muffled, agreed, ”Right.”

Be gracious, do not let their assuredly-hostile looks and words get under his fur… it was a tall ask. Fish could taste his failure already, sour in the back of his mouth. They would turn him away. He would make a fool of himself, or misstep somehow, or they would simply hate him like Pineblossom’s son did. The myriad voices he could hear lying in the valley were just waiting to reject him. He already knew it all.

But he was here. He had to try. Pineblossom believed in him, and surely his sole friend Hedgepaw would believe in him, so he had to try. ”I’m… ready.” He wasn’t sure if he was. There was no more time to wait.

Fish ducked beneath the thorns as Pineblossom helped him through. A few caught against his fur but they did not grab deep enough to hurt, just to give him momentary pause. It was only a short few steps before they were stepping through the barrier and into… Shadow Clan’s camp. Dozens of cats milled about. Many stopped short as he padded through the entrance, likely given pause by his unfamiliar scent. Eyes quickly turned his way. Fish swallowed around his vole and did his best to meet them, but not stare. Pineblossom came to a halt beside him and called out names he didn’t know, likely their leader and another cat of import. He shuffled a step closer and continued looking around. He did not see Hedgepaw immediately, and that made his ears tilt back. But he did see her brother, glaring daggers into him from across the fluidly moving bodies of camp. Fish’s heart dropped into his paws and he quickly wrenched his eyes away before fear could crowd the space in his chest. He pressed against Pineblossom’s side.

It wasn’t long before someone was crowding his sight to distract him. Fish wanted to shrink away from the ginger tom’s inspection, but he forced himself to remain tall--as tall as he could be, at least. The tom’s back was smeared with cobwebs and he smelled overwhelmingly of plantlife. Fish wondered what had tried to crush his spine, and nearly opened his mouth to ask, but a glance toward Pineblossom quickly made him think better of that. He finally set down the vole and looked toward the unfamiliar cat-- a warrior, he wondered? --deciding it was better to focus on the one that had approached so far rather than staring into the dizzying crowd. All the eyes would make his head hurt. The voices were already starting to.

”My name’s Fish,” he answered, even though he hadn’t been asked. Was that impolite? He shouldn’t overthink it. ”Pineblossom’s helped me get home before. But I’m an… orphan now.” Was he doing this right? Surely orphanhood would appeal to them. He had to perform his best. He had to do everything he could to ensure they liked him. He could not make the proclamations that he wanted to, which were that there was no point in introducing himself or trying to appeal to some sense of emotion, as he was a lost cause. Fish had to bite his tongue for a moment. He just had to be polite. Normal. ”She brought me here so I could have a home,” he said. Fish looked away from the wounded tom down toward the vole he’d brought along. He suddenly did not want to part with it, and he grimaced briefly at a nagging reminder from his stomach of why he’d been out hunting in the first place, but he sighed and carried on with his words. ”I brought this vole as a gift to the… Clan. I hope--” he felt so wheedling, and he hated it, ”that you’ll accept it. And me.”

It wasn’t long before cats began to descend upon him from all sides. He was the most interesting object in their camp at the moment, obviously. One that smelled distinctly like the plants Alethea kept, or more similarly, like the cinnamon-striped tom who’d been the first to greet him. Fish ducked slightly away from her nosing but he let the assessment carry out. She sounded kind, and he appreciated the gesture, but he did not really care what she said. His attention was elsewhere: Hedgepaw. She’d appeared from behind him, materializing suddenly at his side. And boy, did she sound glad to see him. Her words came tumbling out faster than Fish ever heard her talk, racing with her enthusiasm. She’d been… thinking of him? His ears felt warm at the thought. He felt warm all over when she pawed at him. A smile wobbled its way onto his muzzle.

”Well, yeah. I’m always okay,” Fish said, puffing out his chest a little bit. Wolfpaw’s burning eyes or the other mystified sneers in the crowd suddenly didn’t matter anymore. Flanked by Pineblossom and bubbling Hedgepaw, he felt fine. Warm and safe in… a way he’d never felt at home. His paws wouldn’t stop tingling.

Before long a tall, dappled cat approached them. Fish had to crane his neck slightly to meet her eyes. She was far more interested in him than the scarred black tom--Sablestrike, he figured--that approached next. This Sablestrike was the first to reflect his expectations of rejection. Fish wanted to wilt, but he did not let himself. Beside him, Pineblossom calmly answered the questions posed of her, not missing a detail. Fish nodded along to supplement her story and turned to smile at Hedgepaw when Pineblossom gestured toward her.

To his surprise, the dappled cat stood up for him against Sablestrike’s sneering. Fish’s neck ruffled a little bit with shock--and pride. He stretched slightly onto his toes. It irritated him, the way she asked Pineblossom rather than addressing him directly, but… but she was willing to accept him. Her eyes did swing back around to him. What was her name--was she the Leopardstar that was mentioned? Fish pushed himself to stand a little bit taller.

”I know you guys have funny laws and all that,” Fish said. There was a bit of a sniff in his voice, like he’d been offended by the fact the would think otherwise, but he kept talking before anyone in his audience could choose to take offense in return. ”I understand what she’s asking of me. I’m young, but I’m not a complete kit. I know what this means.” He swallowed. Leaving everything behind--the remainder of his family behind… for a sheltered life where he’d always be fed and looked after. Yes, Fish understood. ”This is what I want. I can adjust. I’m smart--very smart. I’ll learn.” He let the words sit before turning to Hedgepaw and lowering his voice--or, more accurately, attempting to lower his voice--into a poorly effected whisper. [color:c378=#2F8A7B ]”You here that? She actually wants me to join, Hedge. We might get to train together afterall.”