Ripple Effect::Open

[fallenshadow]

He shouldn't be here, not without a warrior nearby, he knew that. The water was deeper here and new apprentices weren't allowed to be here for training so to that extent that probably meant that bored apprentices weren't allowed to here either. The stormy gray tom didn't care though, sure usually he followed rules and listened dutifully to elder warriors but today he just felt like doing something else.

So here he was laying on the bank of the water close enough that he could feel the cool mist of the water when it touched the sides. The gray apprentice reached out a paw towards the water and softly dabbed against the shimmering surface. It never ceased to amaze him that such a small movement could cause such a large ripple effect. Any silver fish that swam against the current quickly darted away from the movement.

"Oops," he said softly. Hopefully the clan's fresh kill pile was stacked enough that it didn't matter. Stormpaw shuffled himself closer to the water the tips of his paws nearly submerged, he was completely oblivious to any approaching cat.

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[Magicheart]

"What are you doing?!" Laughingfox meowed, his features screwed up in confusion. He trotted over, his long, thin legs and angular features making him look somewhat like an actual fox. "Hasn't your mentor taught you how to fish yet? Or were you just thinking about taking a swim?" the young warrior mused, a playful smirk on his face. "Snow is so much better." he sighed romantically. "And it will all be melting soon!" he wailed, lifting his paw to his chest dramatically.

[fallenshadow]

He didn't jump in fright at the outburst from Laughingfox, he probably should have. The fur on his shoulders did spike up though, just before he groaned. If there wasn't the chance in drowning Stormpaw would have shoved his muzzle into the stream and just pretend he was somewhere else. Why me? he asked himself.

Laughingfox wasn't a bad cat per say, just kind of annoying was all. Taking a deep breath Stormpaw drew himself, his paws still in the water. "Yes he has and the water's too cold to go swimming in," in fact it was kind of cold on his paws. He shuffled his paws out giving them each a shake. He rolled his eyes as the warrior spoke of snow. "Good riddance," he mewed, "I guess you're not here to take a swim either?"

[Magicheart]

Laughingfox huffed, fluffing up his sleek pelt. "And ruin my fur after I just groomed it?" What a mouse-brain. he thought. "You're young yet, you wouldn't understand how important these things are." he meowed with a tone of self-importance. "If you're lucky, someday the she-cats might look at you the same way they do at me." he meowed, padding over the water and admiring his reflection.

"No self respecting she-cat is going to want to twine tails with you if your pelt is all mangy and soaking wet." He suddenly darted out a paw and hooked out a fish. He trotted over to the floundering flash of silver and ended it with a quick bite. "Where's your mentor, anyway?" he asked with an air of indifference, setting down the fish and drawing his paw over his ear to wash off the few drops of water that landed on him.

[fallenshadow]

"Starclan forbid that happened," Stormpaw meowed sarcastically. He wanted to gag as Laughingfox suggested that he if lucky he would be like the older tom. Like I want them to stare at me like I'm some kind of furball? he thought with another roll of his eyes.

He thought his pelt was well taken care of already, when ever it tangled or had burrs in it the feeling made him way too uncomfortable for Stormpaw to leave it unattended. Plus, Stormpaw was only seven moons old, the youngest apprentice at Riverclan, she-cats were the furthest thing from his mind. All he wanted was to be a warrior because soon, he would be the only apprentice and be left doing all the duties. "Nice catch," he complimented, he did have to hand it to Laughingfox he was a talented hunter. Stormpaw sighed, "I don't know around I guess," he meowed dismissively turning his attention back to the water. He saw the silver fish, positioning his paw over the water he waited a long moment before darting his paw.

He skimmed the fish and missed it, "Foxdung," he spat.

[/size]

[Magicheart]

Laughingfox ignored the younger tom's sarcastic comment, however, his eyes glowed at the praise of the apprentice. He gave Stormpaw a sympathetic blink when he didn't know where his mentor was. He sounds disappointed... Laughingfox thought. He hadn't had his own apprentice yet, being a young warrior, and would love to have an apprentice like Stormpaw to teach.

He padded over to the apprentice and sat down beside him. "You're very fast, but you might have wanted to use your other paw or shifted yourself more to the left." he coached. "See?" he meowed, pointing his paw up at the sky. "The sun's rays are shining down across this way, so when you lifted your right paw, your shadow fell on the water just before your strike and alerted the fish. You can try to shift angles or use your left paw if you're comfortable with it." he meowed helpfully, without his usual tone of arrogance.

[fallenshadow]

Stormpaw's ear flattened against his skull as he heard Laughingfox approach him. He was probably going to be like all the other new warriors, criticize him and tell him what he did wrong in that same condescending tone that they all used. To new warriors Stormpaw wasn't afraid to confront and talk back to, they didn't deserve any respect from him if they were going to act snarky and better than him.

When Laughingfox did tell him what he did wrong Stormpaw was surprised that the other tom wasn't acting arrogant about it or uppity. Instead he was trying to help the gray apprentice and Stormpaw readily accepted the advise, it was better than what he already knew. "Thanks," he meowed gratefully.

Following Laughingfox's advise, Stormpaw positioned himself over the water again but this time had his left paw hovering above the surface. He waited for one of the silver fish to swim beneath the stretched paw, there! in a flash Stormpaw darted his paw into the water scooping out said fish. With a solid thump with his paw it died. A satisfied purr erupting from his chest.

[/size]

[Magicheart]

Laughingfox let out a trill of happiness and laughter as droplets cascading through the air along with the fish that Stormpaw hooked out. "Wonderful!" he meowed, his eyes shining with pride and affection. "You learn fast!" The young tom suddenly wished even more that young Stormpaw was his apprentice. Laughingfox found himself struggling to remember when Stormpaw had been apprenticed. There were some kits in the nursery now...would he get one to mentor?

"I love hunting. It feels so good when you put prey on the fresh kill pile and know that you are strengthening your clan...." the tom bent closer to whisper in Stormpaw's ear, "it doesn't hurt with getting a good rapport with the she-cats either!" he smirked with a wink. "What else have you learned in your apprenticeship so far?" Laughingfox inquired while straightening up.

[fallenshadow]

Stormpaw felt a surge of warmth ripple through his being at Laughingfox's compliment. He wasn't a glory hog but he rarely got praise as is so Stormpaw enjoyed every instant that came about where there was a compliment handed out. He nodded in agreement at Laughingfox's words.Granted, so far he wasn't proving himself to be the most skilled hunter but whenever he could prove to be an asset to his clan through hunting, he like that.

As the warrior whispered about she-cat's he didn't roll his eyes this time. Instead Stormpaw gave an amused purr. He now knew that the tom wasn't completely she-cat crazy. Dipping his head Stormpaw mulled over what he learned, "A few battle moves and some hunting ones too," he replied then his whiskers twitched, "But I'm not too good at the last one, obviously,"

[/size]

Notes;; Sorry I took so long to post and sorry that fail post=fail

[Magicheart]

(lol no problem. I'm just never sure how often everyone comes on yet)

Laughingfox purred with amusement. "You're young still. You have loads of time to get better."

The fluffy gray tom angled his head. "What do you like to do best? Hunting, battle moves, patrolling...collecting herbs maybe?" Laughingfox jested. "It your mentor insists on being a lazy lump, you can always find me and I'll take you out for some practice." he meowed, his olivine eyes glittering mischievously.

[fallenshadow]

Thank Starclan for that sure being an apprentice was a lot of work and he still desperately wanted to be a warrior, but being seven moons was good. That left him with plenty of time to learn more moves, for both hunting and fighting, and to experience his share of memories. He looked forward to every instant that would lead up to the day he finally received his warrior name, even if that was quite a few moons off.

"I like hunting the best," he answered truthfully, he wasn't much for violence. Besides with hunting he could take whatever he learned there and apply it to nearly everything else it seemed. "I may not be the best hunter but that's going to change," an edge of determination in his voice. He prevented his nose from scrunching at the collecting herbs. He didn't like the taste of the nasty things, sure they had their uses but he still didn't like them. "How about you?" he asked then paused, "Wait you probably like hunting down she-cats right?" he jested.

[/size]

[Magicheart]

Laughingfox's eyes glowed with an unreadable expression as his listened to the young tom. I like hunting best too. The warrior thought. Laughingfox grinned at Stompaw's determination, revealing some of his white teeth.

"I was never much of one for herbs either." The gray tom agreed. At Stormpaw's last comment, Laughingfox lifted a paw and ruffled the fur on the apprentice's head. "No, no! You've got it all wrong." The handsome tom mrrrowed. "The she-cats hunt me." He jokingly formed a spooked expression and winked at Stormpaw. "But, I think there's still hope for you yet." he smirked.