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Post by Rainy on Nov 11, 2009 16:52:15 GMT -6
All of his warriors were doing it, so he had to start fishing sooner or later. He wasn't exactly sure, and he felt a bit awkward asking a RiverClan warrior for help. Pride had something to do with it. Besides, he got the basics. He could do this...
Early one morning he padded out of camp, and walked on down to the river. He had to admit, the babbling water had a nice sound to it... but if he had to listen to it all the time, it probably would get annoying. He liked hearing the wind on the moor.
He hissed as mud squished between his paws. He skirted that patch, and settled down on a pebbly, dry beach. This looked good. His shadow didn't fall onto the water, either, bonus!
He looked down, suddenly clueless. No what? Brr, that water looked cold... and very wet. For a moment he considered leaving, but he had to do this. "StarClan? A little help, maybe?"
He stared down again, examining the sparkling water, reflecting the sun. He saw flashes of silver in the water. Fish! Without thinking it sprang, just like he would do if he spotted a rabbit in front of him. He yowled furiously as water splashed all over him, and the fish darted out of side. He shivered, belly deep in water. "I'm such a mouse-brain!" he growled angrily.
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Post by hawK on Nov 14, 2009 20:28:05 GMT -6
A giggle came from a few rushes on the edge of the river. Bluewater stepped out, her blue pelt glittering with a few water droplets. "Nonsense. You're just inexperienced." She came closer, then stepped beside the river, beckoning to her leader. "Come sit by me and let me show you." Sensing his shame, she added, "I wasn't good at it when I first joined RiverClan either."
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Post by Rainy on Nov 15, 2009 8:21:12 GMT -6
Briarstar looked up in surprise. "Bluewater? What are you doing here?" He hesitated for a split second, but her offer was tempting. He had to learn how to do this, and with luck, it wouldn't get out how terrible of a fisher Briarstar was. He could learn! "Um... okay. I'm sorry, I forget you... were born into WindClan." He waded through the water and pulled himself up the bank. His fur was soaked through, and it was a bit chilly now. The wind cut through him like a claw. "Er, excuse me a moment." He moved away a few taillengths, and shook himself, looking not unlike a dog. His fur spiked up, bur at least it was a little better. He rejoined the blue she-cat and sat beside her. "I never realized how awkward it must have been. When Brightstar left, it was either follow her to who-knows-where, or go back to the Clan you left behind." His eyes widened. "I didn't mean it like that! I don't blame you for anything. I'm sure you had your reasons, and you're a loyal warrior wherever you went. You're loyal to the warrior code, I can see that." He looked away, feeling really stupid now, and embarrassed. He had probably just insulted her and now he would never learn how to fish!
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Post by hawK on Nov 15, 2009 17:43:44 GMT -6
Bluewater shrugged. "Most of my siblings are still here, and it was like returning home. I loved it in RiverClan--the first time I saw the river, when I was an apprentice, it was like I could feel it calling to me. I knew I belonged there." She sat down, and tried to remember what her RiverClan mentor had begun with. She wasn't easily insulted, so she wasn't sure why Briarstar was tripping over himself in his words. "First, make sure you're in a stable spot, so the pebbles won't slip and give away your position. Then, make sure your shadow is away from the river, so the fish won't know you're there."
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Post by Rainy on Nov 15, 2009 17:49:39 GMT -6
"I can understand that I think. I have always loved the moor, only I was lucky enough to have been born on it. You're siblings are great warriors. I don't know what I would do without Redstorm!" Briarstar meowed, then focused on the river and fishing. She was the mentor and he was th apprentice. The gorund beneath them was firm and flat, and he looked up. They were in the clear. His shadow was beside him. "Alright, I think I got that. Next?"
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Post by hawK on Nov 15, 2009 18:01:06 GMT -6
Bluewater nodded. "Good. Next, lean only slightly over the water, with your paw raised. Those silvery shadows you see are fish, but the water makes them look a little farther downstream than they actually are. You have to time it right to get one. Just wait for a fish to get to the right spot, and then..." She waited, to give a good demonstration, and then struck with a hooked paw, drawing the fish out of the water and slamming it on the bank to kill it. "Keep your paw hooked, to get it out. Otherwise, it'll just flop right back in."
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Post by Rainy on Nov 15, 2009 18:32:15 GMT -6
"You make it look so easy!" grumbled Briarstar. "Can I just stick to rabbits?" he mewed, half-joking. "Okay, okay... I'll give it a shot. Lean slightly, paw raised, claws hooked. Time it..." he fixed his gaze on the river, leaning forward with a paw extended, watching the streaks of silver dart around. They wouldn't hold still! The water kept moving. Where the fish moving now or was it jsut the water? ARGH! One finally came within striking distance, and he waited... it still looked a little far away, but she had said about the downstream thing... the fish moved a little farther up, and an instinct triggered in him. The same instinct that told him when to pounce on a rabbit. NOW! He lashed out, his claws slicing through the water and through sleek skin. He pulled back and a fish wiggled on his claws. "Ugh! I wasn't supposed to do that? I clawed it! Ah! Now what!" he quickly tossed it on the bank. He jumped to his paws and watched it flop around, alarmed. He wacked it with a paw, forcing it to lay still. "That was awful!" He yowled, staring at her with wide green eyes. "I panicked. I don't think I caught it right. I made it bleed." ( i dont know why hes spazing but its kinda funny lol)
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Post by hawK on Nov 15, 2009 18:38:05 GMT -6
Bluewater laughed, sounding like the bubbling of the river. "Hook your paw, not your claws. You can extend them, but it's better to scoop with your paw than your claws. Make sure and slam it once it's out of the water, to kill it."
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Post by Rainy on Nov 19, 2009 19:50:33 GMT -6
Briarstar stared for a moment, then purred too. He realized how foolish he must have looked. He really hadn't expected all the flopping and flapping around, it had really shocked it. He kind of knew it was coming, but... (dont know how to explain it. kinda knew but when it happened was like, WHOA holy crap! lol sorry...)
"Paws, right. I hope the blood scent doesn't scare the other fish away," he murmered, looking at the slightly darkened water in the river.
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Post by hawK on Nov 20, 2009 19:25:50 GMT -6
"They won't be able to smell it from under the water. I'm not even sure if fish have noses like we do," Bluewater mused. "Oh, here's another group. Why don't you try again, see if it goes any better this time?"
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Post by Rainy on Nov 23, 2009 20:30:36 GMT -6
Briarstar breathed a sigh of relief. Besides, the fast-moving water soon carried the darkness away. He nodded, and settled down again for try number two. He bent forward slightly, paw extended, careful not to let hsi shadow cast over the water. The fish darted around, pretty little jets of silver light. It was memorizing, almost, but he concentrated on catching and feeding his Clan. He followed one with his gaze, waiting for it to come closer... he felt like a spider, waiting for a fly to land on his web... suddenly, he struck, keeping his claws sheathed this time. He slipped a paw underneath it this time, and pulled it up out of the water. He tossed it like it was hot on the bank, where it wriggled and flopped around. "Wow! You did it, Bluewater. You taught a dry-paw like me how to catch a fish!" This time he sprang on it, pinning it down like a regular piece of prey and sank his teeth where its neck would be. His eyes glowed like a praised apprentice, but he didn't care. Now no cat could critisize him. He was part RiverClan, too.
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Post by hawK on Nov 25, 2009 14:41:47 GMT -6
Bluewater smiled. "You'd be surprised at how different the Clans are. For instance, we all have different fighting styles. What I learned as a kit in WindClan was completely different than what I learned in RiverClan."
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Post by Rainy on Nov 26, 2009 14:05:06 GMT -6
"True. But that's what used to make each Clan unique, and gave every Clan a fair and different advantage. If we all fought the same way, well, I guess that would be fair too, but we wouldn't get anywhere. Who would win and lose? You know what I mean? Besides, every cat is different too, with different strengths and weakness. I am a bit stronger than most WindClan cats, but I'm also a tad bit slower. But not much!" he added quickly. "I can still catch the fastest of rabbits!" His eyes were bright with determination, but suddenly his shoulders sagged and he sighed. "You're right. What if we are TOO different? Do you think RiverClan and WindClan can really become one? Can this forest survive with just two territories?" His guard had fallen. He had opened up to Bluewater, letting all his fears and worries out and asked for her own opinion. He was tired of doing this alone. And he sensed he could trust Bluewater.
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Post by hawK on Dec 1, 2009 6:05:21 GMT -6
Bluewater blinked at Briarstar with her serene gaze, like the river floating on by. "We are already one. The decision has been made, and now we have to follow it through. We can do this, if we have the determination to stick with it," she finished. Her last sentence seemed directed at Briarstar himself.
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Post by Rainy on Dec 3, 2009 19:08:14 GMT -6
Briarstar visibly relaxed. Bluewater was like a doze of lavender or chamoile, soothing his mind and body. He sighed, his fur lying flat. "I am determined. I just wish Rainstar was still here sometimes. It was so much easier offering advice and suggests than being to one to make all the final decisions. Redstorm is a fantastic deputy, but sometimes I long for the days when I was just Briarclaw. But we can't go back, we go only move forward. I believe this can work, and I'm not given up. I will give up every one of my nine lives trying!" he vowed. He glanced at her. "I just wanted to know I'm not alone. You know, you would have made quite a deputy yourself, Bluewater. You're wise and thoughtful and honest. Thank you, this talk really made me understand, and I feel better. And thanks for the fishing lesson as well."
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