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[Hazel]

"GACK!" Emeraldgaze yowled as water splashed up, soaking her belly fur. She winced uncomfortably as she clambered out of the small pool into which she had just slipped. "Oh bother...I hate how slippery it is here!" she spat as she carefully backed away from the pool, wary of slipping.

Her paws found solid, non-slick ground and she flopped down to give herself a good wash. She wrinkled her nose at the briny smell but continued washing, determined to rid her pelt of salt.

Finally satisfied that her tortishell fur wasn't going to be caked with salt, Emeraldgaze padded off, mindful of her usual bouncing walk so as not to slip once again.
--------
She wandered for some time, guietly watching each of the little pools in turn, enjoying the way the creatures inside them moved. She glanced up every now and then, watching for fellow clanmates.


(ooc- Anyone who wants to join her is welcome to!)

[Jaqi]

Wingpaw leapt up from the sand onto the lowest rock, looking left and right for an appealing looking rockpool. Obviously, he don't want a very deep one, nor one that is too shallow. He wanted to learn how to swim, not how to drown in one.

As previously, in his excited state, he failed to notice another cat.
Instead his eyes fell onto a calm looking pool and bounced towards it, not too careful as to where he put his paw.
When he was close enough, he gave a huge jump and landed right in the middle of the pool that was about twice his size.
It turned out to be not that deep at all for the water only came up to his under belly, but it was enough to make a big splash.

Only then did he notice the deputy cat Emeraldgaze, standing not too far from where he was, when some of the splash he made landed on the cat.

'..a...' he stammered, looking back to where Dawnstar was making his way towards him.
'Sorry..'

[aciddwolf]

Dawnstar, unlike her apprentice, had picked up the vague scent of her deputy. Then again, being the leader, she was close with her deputy, and was one of the more likely cats to recognize her scent. Just as she made her way onto a rock to watch her apprentice, she saw the splash land upon Emeraldgaze. "Oh, StarClan, save us all," she mewed under her breath, hurrying to her apprentice, and looking to Emeraldgaze.

"Emeraldgaze!" she mewed loudly, hoping to distract the deputy from any anger of getting water poured on her by an ignorant apprentice. "Hi! What are you doing out here?" her tail twitched, and looked to Wingpaw. "You still need more training on scenting cats, Wingpaw. It should have been obvious when a cat's in splashing distance. Imagine if, instead of my now soaked deputy, it was a very irritable rogue. End result?" she didn't need to tell him what would happen if it were the case. She had been hoping the last time she said it that it would have gotten through his head. Obviously not.

"Sorry, Wingpaw and I came here for practice. He still needs training on paying attention and scenting cats," she explained, her tail twitching as she did so. "You know how some apprentices can be..." she purred faintly, trying not to sound too amused with the situation. Probably, the only reason why she found it funny was because it was her apprentice and deputy, meaning nobody was going to kill the other.

[Hazel]

Emeraldgaze gave a start, looking around widly. A growl rose in her throat, but died at the the sight of apologetic apprentice. She gave a playful snarl in the direction of Wingpaw and with a snort set about once again ridding her fur of water.

She looked up from her grooming as Dawnstar approached. Her nose twitched and she smiled, "Hello Dawnstar! I was just out wandering around," she replied glancing over at Wingpaw as her leader continued to speak.

When Dawnstar was finished she nodded, "Yes Wingpaw she's quite right you know. You should be more alert. Remember, 'constant vigilance!'" Emeraldgaze paused, faintly puzzled. Where on earth had that come from? "Constant vigilance?" What was I thinking?!

She snorted and shook her head. "Anyway, Dawnstar, you're training today? Do you need assistance? Or shall I simply continue about my observations?" she flicked her tail in the direction of the pools to indicate what she ment.

[Jaqi]

ooc: lol is it from harrypotter? aand do elder cats have special names (ie. if their warriors name was say, Leafheart, would it keep the 'heart' when it gets old?)

The orange furred apprentice flattened his ears as Emeraldgaze turned on him. But he knew they were right. Wingpaw often missed sensing other cats when his mind was on something else.

'Constant vigilance, I'll remember that,' he said, eyeing the deputy and his mentor in turn.

Wingpaw jumped out of the small rockpool and sat beside Dawnstar. It might be best if he waited until he was given further directions, he thought amused. It was the third time that day he had got into trouble by getting excited. Maybe he shouldn't get excited that much. Perhaps he should be old and boring like Mossfur, the elder Wingpaw had once rubbed mousebile on. All Mossfur did was sit and grunt occasionally for the entire time Wingpaw spent with him.

The apprentice slipped into a daydream about whether to be excited or boring as he sat beside his mentor, his eyes fixed absentmindly on a seemingly moving seashell.

[aciddwolf]

((It's a special case with elders, if I'm not mistaking. They usually keep their name how it is, but in a rare case that they wish it changed, I think it can be.))

Dawnstar would have added another threat to make him take care of the elders for a day, however, let it slide this time. He was still young, and she hoped it wouldn't happen again. She'd have to think of something to make him want to pay more attention. Really, spending time with the story telling, lazy-appearing, occasionally grouchy elders would probably just make a cat want to sleep for the rest of their lives.

"You could help if you'd like," the leader mewed. "Wingpaw needs swimming lessons, and I'm not really sure where to start," her ears twitched. Dawnstar had naturally been a good swimmer, not even remembering any instructions as a kit on how to swim. "No chance you'd have any idea - other than to find a pool big enough for an apprentice to get in and swim.." she looked around at the rockpools.

"Wingpaw," the she-cat lightly rested her tail on her apprentice's shoulder, "would you mind finding a rockpool that you could practice in? Preferably without soaking another of my cats?"

[Puppet Fox]

Tigerkit trotted next to Goldwillow, his tail held high with happiness and pride. He couldn't believe he was going to take his first swimming lesson! With his mother teaching him of course, which was a bonus he was thankful for. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he turned to look at his mother, who was purring gently.

"Mother? Are we almost there? I can't wait to swim!" Tigerkit mewed and pranced around her, his tail twitching in delight.

"We're going to be there right when we get over this small hill, Tigerkit. Patience." Goldwillow purred and brushed him with her tail as she passed, leading the way over the light hill. She purred in delight when she saw a familiar face and raced over, pressing her flank to the familiar cat.

"Dawnstar! It's been a long time since we have seen each other!" Goldwillow purred happily and Tigerkit bounded after her.

"Mother! Who's this?" Tigerkit asked with wide eyes, his stance full of excitement and almost uncontrolled energy.

[Jaqi]

Wingpaw snapped back into attention when Dawnstar requested he find another pool.
At his mentor's last comment, he smiled slyly. 'Yes Dawnstar, a big enough pool for me..'

The orange-furred apprentice was about to leap off into the unknown when Goldwillow and one of her kits appeared.

'Hi Goldwillow,' he greeted her.

Wingpaw eyed the kit with large eyes, fascinated at the thought that perhaps he was once as exciteable as this kit. He liked to think that he was old and mature now, capable of doing grown-up things especially now that he was a warrior apprentice. He hadn't realised that his enthusiasm was not unlike this kit.

Wingpaw wondered why Goldwillow would be bringing her kit to the rockpools at this age, but then realised that a very likely reason was to show the kit how to swim. The apprentice's insides deflated.
Great. Not only does Dawnstar and Emeraldgaze know his inability to swim, now this kit would know too. And kit and apprentice would be learning to swim together. How embarassing.

Sniffing discontentedly, the young cat brushed past the group of cats and began to inspect the rockpools for a suitable size, never straying more than three metres or so from his mentor.

[Hazel]

(Yes that was from Harry Potter! Well spotted! Sorry for the short post, I think I'm suffering from a mild bout of the block...)

Emeraldgaze flicked an ear and glanced around, “Wingpaw, that might be a good place to practice,” she pointed with her paw toward a likely looking pool.

Now she turns her gaze on Dawnstar, “To be quite honest, I don’t remember much about my first swimming lesson. However,” she paused and scented the air, “I think you’ll have some help after all.”

She purred as Goldwillow came into view, Tigerkit bouncing along in her wake. “Hello Goldwillow. Nice to see you out, and you too Tigerkit.” She purred again at the kit’s excitement and glanced back at Dawnstar. “I’ll leave you two to talk.”

She flounced away, tail tip twitching and paws dancing.

[Puppet Fox]

"So long Emeraldgaze." Goldwillow mewed and flicked her tail in so long to her friend. She looked to Tigerkit, who looked like he was about to die if he didn't learn a swimming lesson soon. "I think I should get Tigerkit to a pool before he faints from the over-excitement."

"Finally!" Tigerkit mewed with wide cyan eyes and dashed over to a pool, batting the water with his small paw, shivering. "It's cold mother! Do I have to!"

"A sudden change of thoughts huh?" Goldwillow purred and licked his forehead as she trotted over. She then dipped into the small pool, it only coming up to brush her underbelly. "Get in. it won't bite you."

Later

"That was amazing mother! I can't wait to show the others I can hold my breath underwater for thirty seconds! Thank you so much!" Tigerkit mewed and tapped noses with her excitedly, dashing out in front of her. "Let's go! Let's go!"

"Alright. Alright." Goldwillow purred amused by her son's enthusiasm. She'd have to take her second born Featherkit next time to teach her the same thing, and by then his breath-holding ability would amount to almost un important compared to learning to paddle like a fox would. It was the basic swimming technique.

Goldwillow bounded over to Tigerkit who had raced ahead and picked him up by the scruff of his neck, racing to camp quickly. She then set him down and sniffed the air, her kits weren't back, neither was Forestheart. She hoped they were alright....

"Tigerkit, how about you see how the elders are doing. I'm sure they'd like a visit." Goldwillow meowed lovingly and liked a strand of fur on his head that was sticking up.

"Mother!" Tigerkit mewed in distaste but lightened at the thought of visiting the elders. "I'll go there! And I'll be asleep by the time the sun touches the ground!"

"That's a good kit. Now run along." Goldwillow purred and saw Tigerkit dash off, turning to the scent where her kits were strongest. 'I need to find you before I can rest.'

She trotted off in that direction and soon came to see Forestheart being dragged into 'battle', holding back a loud purr of amusement at the shocked and surprised look on his face.

[aciddwolf]

Dawnstar nodded her farewell to Emeraldgaze, and looked at Goldwillow as her kit pawed at the water. "Good luck, Goldwillow," she purred, "I'm sure Tigerkit will be a strong swimmer. If I could, I would watch, however, I've got my own apprentice to be teaching," she mewed, "so I'll see you back at camp," she flicked her tail, and hurried after Wingpaw, "it shouldn't be too difficult to learn to swim," she mewed just loudly enough for him to hear, "whenever you're ready to begin, just tell me."

[Jaqi]

Wingpaw turned his head to the direction Emeraldgaze was pointing in and bounced over to the pool. It was perfect! Not too deep but not too shallow so that Wingpaw can't touch the deepest depth in the middle with his paws.

'Thanks Emeraldgaze,' he yelled across the rockpools and stood at the edge, looking down at his own reflection swaying slightly in the still pool. The apprentice leaned down, touched the water with his nose and yanked his head back.

'Brrr, it's so cold,' he muttered, as Dawnstar joined him.

He sat down and curled his tail around his legs, his big eyes on his mentor.

'So what's the plan, Dawnstar? Do I just... jump in?' he asked, remembering the last few times he had acted without permission. Wingpaw tilted his head around to look at Goldwillow teaching Tigerkit swimming and frowned. Was that kit already better than him?

[aciddwolf]

Dawnstar watched her apprentice for a moment, "well, getting in would assist you in learning how to swim in water," she purred in amusement, finding it entertaining that he asked if he could get into the water.

"The salty water is usually more cold than shallow pools, so you shouldn't complain. At least I'm not making you learn how to swim with a bunch of waves eating you," she mewed. "Just don't splash me when you get in."

The she-cat shifted, "get in deep enough that your paws still touch ground and your head isn't under water."

[Jaqi]

Wingpaw got up again and nimbly touched the water with his forepaws. Then slowly, he eased himself forward, letting the water soak up his body until he was shivering again.
'Gee it's c...' the apprentice began, but remembering what Dawnstar just said, he bit back his words.

Soon the water was touching his chin and he had to tilt his head up to stay above the water. He was standing on his tippy toes on the pool floor. Wingpaw knew he had not reached the deepest part yet, but already he wanted to get out of the water. A breeze of wind swept through the rockpool area at that moment and a small wave crashed into his face. The orange apprentice began to panic again, paddling in a circle to face his mentor. He gulped nervously as he waited his instructions.

[aciddwolf]

"First, calm down," Dawnstar mewed, noticing her apprentice's panic setting in. "If anything happens, I can pull you out of the water. It's not too deep, so I'd be able to get you within a few moments," she informed. Really, the rockpool seemed just deep enough to take the apprentice a little ways under. Then again, that's all she saw from the surface. Under could be further than she thought.

"Alright, just continue what you're doing now, but in a calmer matter. When you feel a little more comfortable, try to move your paws a little slower," to demonstrate, the silver she-cat made her way into the water, managing a short distance between her and her apprentice, "much like so," she mewed, swimming past her apprentice, into the deeper part of the water. This, the she-cat knew, was where she would not be able to touch the ground if she attempted. Once again, she made her way around her apprentice, coming close enough that if she reached out, she could have touched his pelt, before making her way out of the water, to give him more room. "I want you to try to do what I just showed you, okay?"