Fish Out of Water [Open]

More cats that Hedgepaw knew popped up to join the meeting--Heatherberry, Nettleweaver, and others. However, she found it difficult to look away from Fish, even when the leader and deputy of ShadowClan both turned their attention onto her. Of all the times that she had seen Fish, he'd usually seemed bouncy and full of life, even in situations where she would've been scared and shaking like a leaf. But now, even in the passionate way that he defended himself and the warmth with which he turned to regard her, he seemed... more subdued, slightly. More cautious. Perhaps because this place was an unfamiliar one to him? She knew what it was like to be frightened by things that were strange and new. Vaguely she cast her mind back to her kithood at the awful large-water-place, then tore her thoughts away from the discomfort that the idea gave her even now. See? She understood exactly what Fish was probably going through. All the more reason that she should be there to help him.

Though she had been extremely excited to be her friend, something whispered to her that it was not her place to speak now, when Leopardstar and Sablestrike were both questioning her mother for bringing the rogue. Hedgepaw stuck her teeth together to keep words from spilling out and let Pineblossom--her Mamma, always the best at talking and so smart and so kind to everyone--answer the questions. She sat up a bit straighter when she heard her name, but she was so short that no one could notice. Still, she was doing her best to pay attention to what Mamma said so that she could help if she forgot anything, but... all the words being flung around left her mind entirely when Fish turned towards her with that smile. Her heart flew all the way up into her throat, and suddenly she was not speaking not because she thought she shouldn't, but because her lungs had forgotten how to breathe. The green eyes shining at her, the bright gleam of fangs, the upward curl of the grin that directed itself entirely at her and no one else for just a moment. He turned away eventually to say something to Leopardstar--important things were happening right now, and she should be paying attention--but why was her pelt on fire? What was it about that smile that suddenly struck straight to the core of her being?

Finally her ears caught, belatedly, upon a few very important phrases. Fish's father had died... He wanted to join the Clan... He turned towards her again to whisper, and the warmth of his breath stirred the fur of her ears in a way that sent a not-unpleasant shiver down her spine. Like she was a co-conspirator... like she was a friend. Though she'd been the one to call him her friend, the label seemed all the more real, suddenly. Still--how could he be smiling so widely, be so okay, with his father dead? Hedgepaw tentatively reached out and laid a small white paw across one of Fish's, hoping that the slight squinting of her eyes could convey the necessary empathy and understanding. She didn't want to draw attention to his feelings or make him uncomfortable in front of the leader and everyone. But... it looked like they'd have plenty of time to talk later, from what Leopardstar and Pineblossom were saying. A wide grin spread across Hedgepaw's face, and she did her best not to explode with joy at how much she liked the thought of her and Fish training together. "Really? You mean he can really join? You mean it?" she squeaked out. Her words were meant for both the leader and Mamma, though she couldn't stop looking at Fish for some reason. This was just what she'd wanted! He could be safe here in camp, with them, and he could be part of ShadowClan and meet all her brothers and they'd be friends forever! Oh, he should meet Nightpaw, they'd probably be good friends too. Her short brown tail waved eagerly behind her. "Fish! You can be part of th' Clan! I can show you all the best places in camp! Are you gonna... Do you wanna..." Her tongue was moving too fast to keep up with her thoughts. She shook her head and tried again. "We've got three kindsa names. You got a kit name when you're a kit, but you're not anymore. You get a 'pprentice name and then a warrior name when you're all grownup. But since you're a 'pprentice, you gotta have -paw in your name. So you could change it if you wanna, or... you could be Fishpaw." The name sounded right, somehow. She liked it. When she thought about it, her eyes glowed.