Reflections (Open)

[Iv]

Trotting along the riverbank, Halfpaw had no thoughts. She was consumed with the water; watching the crystalline fluid swirl and pitch, agitated by the rocks and currents. It was mesmerising, how it flicked into the air as it came to a disturbance, first turning white and then forming into little drops as it went up, up into the air, then back down to once again meet with the river.

She could stare like this for hours. However, she had work too
do. It was time to catch prey. Taking her time along the sand, she followed her river (while still staring at it, of course) until the current slowly ebbed away, the depth disappeared, and what was left was simply a clear, belly-high pool without a ripple.

As seagrass liked these gently ebbing waters, the pool was lined with it. In areas she would have to swim to stay above the surface. Right now, she decided to just follow a sand line were she could stand. She was thankfull for her short fur; it was oily, as RiverClan pelts tended to be, and sleek; it would require minimal grooming later, and offer little resistance once swimming.

She peered into the pool, looking for fish. Instead, she caught the sky; reflecting off the shimmering water. It was as if the sky was under her, and she were walking through clouds.
She felt as if she was falling into the sky. It did not scare her, as she wasn’t actually moving, but gave her an excited, powerful feeling. She felt like a bird; able to fly high into the clouds, forever free.

Unthinkingly, she took a step; instantly falling off the shallow sand bank and into the deeper part of the stream. She went right under, not expecting it. Shocked, she broke from the surface; crawling back onto the bank and giving a slight hiss.

She didn’t mind the water, and she could swim like a fish. She wasn’t so much displeased about the dip, either.. It was the fact she was no longer in the sky that turned her happiness. She felt as if she had been thrown back to earth, at once bound by earth and paw again.

It was a sad, cramped feeling, but she got over it quickly. She was a RiverClan cat, and she adored it; she would much rather be a cat then a bird, truthfully. But..How amazing it would be, if she could have wings!

With a dreamy glance back at the reflection of clouds in the water, she decided to look past it; once again scanning for fish.

[Delillah]

Slipping through the undergrowth, the she-cat moved with careful stealth, paws touching the ground in a delicate manner, minimizing the resulting sound. A slight pause, and she listened, scented, and made her move. Launching forward, a tiny squeak was heard -- before the prey fell silent permanently. A mouse; not the most common prey for a Riverclan cat to hunt -- but still a nice treat, since the opportunity had come.

The apprentice lifted the tiny body and moved on, selecting a spot, dropping the mouse, and brushing dirt over it. She'd return for it later, when finished the hunt entirely. Then, Leafpaw was off once more, sliding through the undergrowth carefully; least more opportunity appear. Of course, she'd be better off fishing -- it was by luck alone the mouse had been so simple a prey.

Today seemed to be a nice day. Ears flickering, she listened, now, to the birds chattering; they continued their songs without a care about the predator lurking below. They were, afterall, carefully out of her reach, in the branches of the trees. Perhaps a Thunderclan cat might've tried to make the climb to snag one; but she'd much rather remain, all four paws on the ground, or splashing in water.

Whiskers twitching, Leafpaw paused slightly. There was a scent of cat nearby. Though, the scent wasn't unfamiliar. Infact, it was Riverclan. Halfpaw. An apprentice, also -- and the same age as her. Perhaps hunting, too? There were no scents of a full patrol; just the other apprentice.

Perking, Leafpaw edged nearer, ears flickering forward at the sound of a splash. Through the undergrowth she came, blue-and-green eyes blinking. It seemed Halfpaw had fallen into the water? Or leapt in, for some reason or another. It really wasn't the best way to find fish, either way. They tended to retreat from such occurances. A slight purr came, entirely good-natured.

"What're you doing, Halfpaw? Scaring all the fish away?"