Testing the Waters

[FunAdvice]

((From RC Camp))

The black and white warrior sniffed the river water, relieved that they were back to their normal level. "I wonder if the river's clean now..."

Nightfeather wanted to make sure the tragedy with Cricketpaw and Tawnypaw was not repeated. Until the river was clean, fish was not safe to eat.

"Anyone try to see if there's something alive in the water!"

[Whitestream]

Galepaw bounced after the black furred warrior, the moment he’d announced they were leaving she’d shot off, not even bothering to wait for her mentor. Blue eyes flashing excitedly, the little grey she-cat shot to the river’s edge. Looking over at the patrol leader as he gave his order she swung back around staring intently at the water. A silver shape darted under the surface and she gasped.

“Fish! There’s a fish!”

She cried excitedly, her whole body shaking with energy.

“Snowdapple! Show me how to catch it!”

She demanded, looking around for her white furred mentor.

Meanwhile her brother padded up rather less energetically, delicately sitting beside her the large ginger furred tom looked over at his mentor and then around for Iceflower, the object of his rather obvious affections. Wanting to seem important in front of her the ginger tom trotted forwards and peered into the water but was unable to see anything in particular. What if the water was still bad? Would Galepaw get sick from hunting in it? His heart was heavy – as was, although it would be impossible to tell, his sister’s. Their lost denmates still hung heavy on their minds and made their throats clench in grief when they were thought of, the ginger apprentice was terrified it would be his mousebrained, energetic sister who was next.

[Evangelion]

Snowdapple meowed to her apprentice, "Alright, but keep your voice down! You don't want to scare it!"

She bent her head to peer at the miracle fish, softly hissing to Galepaw, "First thing you do is raise your paw, like so..."

Her white paw hovered over the surface. "Wait for it to get a little closer, and then..." Snowdapple's paw suddenly slid into the water and flashed back out, the fish stunned and flying across the air. It landed on the sandy ground, wriggling desperately.

"It looks like it was healthy!" She went over to sniff it and was relieved to find no trace of poison. "I can't smell anything bad, other than the usual fish scent..."

Iceflower, meanwhile, stood next to Emberpaw as she gazed into the water. "You alright, Emberpaw? You look a little worried?" She followed his line of sight to Galepaw, who had discovered the fish Snowdapple had caught.

The white she-cat gently bumped the ginger tom and whispered, "It's okay, Snowdapple would never let Galepaw hurt herself. She's our leader and deputy's daughter! She knows what she's doing. Think you can catch one like that?"

[FunAdvice]

The black and white tom leant over the fish to confirm his mate's statement. "Not only that, but everything looks alive here. There's no real trace of any poison..."

Nightfeather gently touched his tail to Snowdapple's twining them together and squeezing tenderly. "I guess it was bad luck that..." He didn't need to say anymore.

[Evangelion]

Iceflower added her own comfort to Snowdapple, knowing how much her cousin was missing her siblings. "Let's go tell Flowingstar. She and Whitefeather will be so pleased to hear that the waters are safe again!"

Snowdapple quietly nodded and said, "Yes...Let's go back to camp."