Cottonbright & Sturgeonpaw
Fishing lessons
River's edge
26
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖
The sun had risen higher than usual for early newleaf, warming the breeze and softening the frost bitten edges of RiverClan's familiar paths. Cottonbright padded along the worn trail to the riverbank, her white pelt catching the morning light like a dusting of snow beneath clear skies. The air was crisp, but not biting. It was almost pleasant.
She cast a glance back at Sturgeonpaw, making sure the young tom was keeping up. He’d grown into his paws well, and today would be a chance to see that strength put to use. "The river’s finally thawed enough..." She mewed, voice soft but touched with excitement. "P-perfect time to practice your fishing. N-not just theory this time..."
As they neared the river’s edge, the gentle sound of running water filled the air, mingling with the occasional call of birds. There was no mistaking the clear surface of the river now that the ice had broken and moved on. Cottonbright stepped onto a flat sun warmed stone near the bank and sat, curling her tail neatly around her paws. "R-remember what I showed you about watching the water’s surface. You can see the ripples change when fish come close."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
It was a miracle Sturgeonpaw hadn't already thrown himself into the river with gusto, the way his tail was flicking with excitement.
"Do you think I could catch a fish? A big one! I wanna show Otterwhisker that I'd be a good swimmer." Merrypaw had told him about how Otterwhisker wanted them all to learn to swim properly - and he wasn't about to let his dame down.
Still. This was the first time that he had properly seen running water. So he could be forgiven for slowly edging towards it in many small steps. Like he was wary that the fish would jump out at him like a vole being flushed from it's nest.
Characters:
Coldgaze: (he/him) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (she/her) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (he/him) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (he/him) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (he/him) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (she/her) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (she/her) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖
Cottonbright's whiskers twitched in quiet amusement at the sight of Sturgeonpaw's eager little steps. Her own tail tip flicked, betraying a spark of fondness as she watched him inch closer. "You can catch a fish..." She assured him softly, her voice still light with that tremble of shyness that never quite left, even now. "Y-you just have to be p-patient with the river. It’s not like land prey"
She rose and padded to stand beside him at the water's edge, careful to place her paws where the mud wouldn't suck her down. The current sparkled in the sun, calm for now, but alive beneath its surface.
"Otterwhisker will b-be proud either way. Let's stay on the shore...." Her gaze dropped to the water, scanning it with that same trained calm. "Try to watch before you strike. F-focus on how they swim. L-like little shadows. W-want to try spotting one together first?"
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Cottonbright was right. Even if he tripped over his own feet, Otterwhisker would still be proud. And he'd done that a lot.
The entire river seemed like some shimmery shadow to Sturgeonpaw, but the flicking of movement against the current is what really tipped him off to the presence of minnows. He shot a glance at Cottonbright.
"There are little ones here, maybe a mouthful for a kit." He kept his eye on their shimmering tear-drop like shadows. "Should we catch those? Or find something bigger?"
Characters:
Coldgaze: (he/him) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (she/her) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (he/him) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (he/him) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (he/him) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (she/her) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (she/her) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖
Cottonbright leaned slightly, following Sturgeonpaw’s gaze until she, too, caught sight of the darting little shapes flitting beneath the surface. Her ears perked. He was seeing them. That alone was a small victory.
"You spotted them." Her voice carried a note of pride, soft but clear. "T-that’s the hardest part at first." She flicked her tail toward the riverbank, signaling him to stay still a moment longer. "Minnows are a g-good start. N-not much meat, but catching one takes the same focus as catching bigger prey. Better to learn the rhythm now than fumble when it's a trout." It would be safest too with little chance of being dragged in by a bigger fish.
Her green eyes shone with approval as she shifted to give him space. "W-when you’re ready, crouch like I showed you. Watch the way they move. Then - strike fast, from above. N-not too deep or you’ll lose your balance." The key was patience. If he missed and disturbed the water the fish would come back - but it would take time!
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
