Territory RiverClan that which is now hath already been ✦ torrent

[Galepaw Galepaw]

{$title} gale and torrent have some fun hanging out (warning for potential drowning mentions!!)

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

He was alone, as he ought to be. Gale never often sought out the company of others, though not out of any particular dislike of other cats. It simply didn't think about it, didn't consider that other cats existed outside of his own narrow scape whenever he was alone. And he was happy, more than content to exist alone—the world was interesting enough on its own to keep him occupied. The fluffy tom laid easily beside the rushing water of the river, but his blue eyes were trained not on the river, but on the fish between his front paws.

By all accounts, it was an unremarkable catch. A small herring, good for a meal but not much else. Gale was little focused on the value of the catch as a food item, rather instead on the pale, vaguely iridescent scales peppering the sides of the fish. With gentle surgical precision, the tom carefully shimmied a thin claw under a scale, severing the little connective tissue that held it on. Then, he carefully brushed the scale to the side, instead focusing on popping another scale off the flesh. And another. And another.

By now, his fur was all but entirely dried from his earlier lone fishing expedition, and a small pile of shimmering scales was slowly collecting beside him. He still worked tirelessly, and the fish was pristine and free from any marring from an uncareful claw.

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• @Torrentpaw come. get your boy
• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Breaking away from his hunting patrol as they split up to cover more ground, Torrentpaw's gaze was suddenly pulled towards a bright shape that sat along the river's edge. Ears perking, he instantly recognized the pelt of his friend, Galepaw. It wasn't unusual for the tom to be alone in the territory, so the sight was far from concerning. Paws carrying him quicker across the ground, he leaped into the open against the riverbank where the other apprentice was settled.

"Hi Galepaw!" He meowed, expression bright as his gaze fell on the other. "Mind if I fish with you?" He asked, padding closer but not yet seeing the bare fish between his paws. "Littlebrook has been teaching me to dive, and–" He cut off, body halting as his eyes had finally travelled to Galepaw's catch.

Torrentpaw's gaze flashed towards the pile of scales, then back to Galepaw's fish as his whiskers twitched in curiosity and a bit of confusion. He watched as the tom ever so carefully and delicately slid his claw under another scale, before prying it out and laying it down on top of the others.

Interest fully piqued, Torrentpaw crept as close as he could to get the best look, lowering his head and body next to Galepaw's. He gently sniffed the pile of scales, blinking as one had blown and tumbled from the wind of his exhale.

"Sorry!" Torrentpaw meowed, instantly drawing his body up to a sitting position. Whatever this was, he didn't want to mess it up.

"Does that make the fish taste better or something?" He asked after a moment, tilting his head to the side as his eyes flickered with wonder at the other apprentice's work.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

The only indication of surprise Gale let out at the sudden appearance of his friend was the light raising of his eyebrows as his gaze momentarily flicked up. "Hello, Torrent." It hummed in response, blue eyes returning to the repetitive task at paw. The tom didn't look up again as the familiar bengal drew closer, though the speed at which he was descaling the fish slowed considerably. He did enjoy Torrent's company, to be sure—well, as much as he could enjoy someone's company. The fellow apprentice was cheery, bright, a welcome unpredictability to his life where he otherwise would have repeated the same things over and over. Gale couldn't help but enjoy the way the tom derailed his days, a stubborn rock in the usual flow of his hours.

"I don't see why not." Gale chimed in, brushing another glittering scale to the side, not caring to wait and see if it made its way into the pile or not. The tom listened with slightly perked ears as Torrent rambled, tilting his head slightly in curiosity, though his eyes never left the fish. "Learning to Dive, now, that sounds fun." He responded quietly, with not much emotion inflected into his voice—but the corners of his mouth perked up all the same.

At the apprentice's sudden pausing, though, the tom cast a sideways look at him in interest. Gale watched as Torrent drew closer to the accumulated pile of shimmering scales, and closer, and closer, until a single fragile scale tumbled from the gathered pile. "Hm." The tom hummed, setting the nearly entirely scaleless herring down gently. With a gentle paw, Galepaw carefully reached over the pile and retrieved the wayward scale—but instead of replacing it in it's rightful spot, the lynx point reached further, depositing it gently on one of Torrent's massive paws. "You know I don't mind." The tom assured him softly, returning his vibrant blue gaze back to the forgotten herring at his paws.

He had to pause at Torrent's final question, though. "...Well, I can't say I can tell a difference." Gale mused, turning the long-dead thing over in his paw curiously. It didn't look all that different, though the particular sort of sheen he was after had definitely dulled. The kaleidoscope of colors that still remained glinted at him dully, as though enticing him to continue picking until there was nothing but fragile skin left. "No, I'm much more interested in the scales." The tom gestured gently at the pile, careful to not make a gust of air with his movements. "Pretty little things, aren't they?"

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• @Torrentpaw
• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Torrentpaw turned the scale over in his paw, hooking it with a claw before drawing it to his face to inspect it closer. He was delighted at Galepaw's gesture–and he was right–it was pretty, glimmering as the sun washed over its surface. Torrentpaw's gaze travelled back towards Galepaw, watching him as he turned the fish over between his paws. He let out a soft purr, a smile still plastered across his muzzle. He admired his friend's keen eye for detail, and especially that he shared that part of himself with him.

"Very!" He agreed, giving his friend an enthusiastic nod. Torrentpaw then leaped to his paws, a sudden burst of energy as he hopped over Galepaw before creeping closer to the river's edge. His eyes scanned the surface as it flowed calmly with the breeze, seeking to test out his new diving technique. Torrentpaw knew Galepaw would be honest about his progress, as Pineheart was, so it would be good to practice in front of him.

"Watch this." He meowed, eyes burning brightly as they locked onto a fish that swam around the shallow part of the river. Torrentpaw readied his body, balancing his weight on his paws as his tail flicked back and forth in excitement.

Before his paws could leave the bank, a sudden thrashing tore his attention away from his prey, eyes travelling up the water as they fell onto a bundle of soaked fur. Rising out of a crouch, Torrentpaw quickly stepped forward, paws nearly slipping into the water as he tried to get a better look at whatever had fallen into the river. It pawed at the water wildly, as if it was trying to grip onto something that just wasn't there. The water that splashed around the creature made it hard to make out what exactly it was, but it was obvious that it had no experience swimming.

"Galepaw, look--Is that a kit?" He took a pawstep into the water, voice quickened with urgency as his body tensed to jump into the river at any second.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

Ah, there was that happy grin the tom had hoped for. Gale watched as Torrent inspected the little scale carefully, the iridescence sparkling in his companion's golden eyes. It was charming seeing how the little thing delighted him so... perhaps it'd collect the rest of the scales, tuck them into the other's nest instead—

Galepaw let out a gentle Mrrph! of surprise as there was a sudden blur of charcoal fur, the cat that had been sitting next to him instead flying to his feet and sailing overhead. Gale raised a little brow in curiosity, studying the form of the other as he stalked the glints in the water below. 'Perhaps he could catch another fish... would be nice to make a day of collecting scales...' He hardly paid attention to the dead creature in his paws anymore, claws sheathed back in gentle paws. He'd much rather observe life than do anything, and thankfully Torrentpaw was an interesting enough source of entertainment. It was more than happy to just watch him.

Galepaw's eyes were drawn to the thrashing just mere seconds before the other's, and for a moment the cruel fate of the creature flashed in his mind. "Mm... as the river does...' Gale mused to himself quietly, returning his eyes to—TORRENTPAW NO!

With a flurry of movement, the tom burst to his feet. Gale simply just reacted, the sudden adrenaline carrying him straight at the poised-to-strike tom. The scales scattered beneath his paws, glittering in an unseen display of beauty as he crashed into the other. The impact knocked his breath out of him, and for a dizzying moment they found themselves winded.

"Don't—" The apprentice gasped, a strange whine to his voice that was just short of begging. "The water- The water's strong." As though it were some poor bird trapped in a cat's claws, its heart hammered against his ribs with anxiety. His mind swirled like the rapids ahead of them, painting pictures of long ago. Images of death, of the tide pulling his sister under, pulling his mother—and never letting go, throwing the poor body around like some dog with its prey. The tom pressed his blue eyes tightly shut, trying to dispel such thoughts... particularly when the body was no longer of those he had long since forgotten, but instead of the tom beneath his paws. The thought of seeing his ... seeing Torrent's dark fur become strewn about the shallows further down the way ... Galepaw swallowed heavily, forcing down something wretched that burned the back of his throat.

"It's strong." He echoed miserably, eyes still closed intently. It couldn't see the water, not now. "Stronger than you."

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Just before he could jump into the river ahead of them, his body staggered to the side as weight crashed into him, gripping earth beneath his paws as he steadied himself from toppling into the water. Torrentpaw whipped his head around, wondering what could have stopped him with such a force at a time like this.

He blinked in surprise, eyes darting over Galepaw's face as he stood in front of him, his expression holding fear that he had never once seen displayed by the tom. He parted his jaws to protest, but was quickly left jaw-dropped as the other apprentice practically begged him to stay put. Torrentpaw's eyes continued to search Galepaw's, bewilderment causing his brow to lift with concern. Did Galepaw realize what he was saying? To condemn another cat to die? To just sit back and watch?

Impatience caused his fur to prickle with unease, his eyes darting back to the bundle of fur that continued to thrash its small paws against the water as it threatened to pull its body down. He gritted his teeth, there just wasn't time for this.

Torrentpaw gazed back at his friend, an apologetic look flashing in his eyes.

"You have to trust me." Was all he managed to blurt out, before crashing hastily into the river ahead of him.

Water swirled around his body as he submerged, flowing through his fur and filling his ears as his head went under. Opening his eyes with jaws fur of air, Torrentpaw's eyes darted across the surface, freezing as they locked onto the kit. Torrentpaw had hardly realized that despite what he had originally believed, the creature didn't look like a kitten at all. Its hind paws were long, and they displayed tiny claws that had the inability to be sheathed.

Kicking strongly against the river as it tugged against his body, Torrentpaw's head breached the surface, violently shaking the water away from his eyes as his paws treaded rapidly. He struggled to keep his balance, finding it difficult to keep his body upright in place to grasp the "kit" between his jaws.

With one last desperate kick of his hind legs, Torrentpaw lunged forward, plucking the creature from its struggle as he lifted its scruff into the air. His eyes flashed with relief as he felt its fur between his teeth, moving it around to get a stronger grip before turning back towards the direction of the riverbank. His muscles screamed, growing tired from swimming in place with no place to stand and rest his limbs.

Without another moment's hesitation, Torrentpaw started towards the edge of the river where galepaw stood, his head held high in an attempt to not dip the creature's own head into the water. The bundle of fur remained still in his grasp, exhausted from its fight against the river. Though it's chest still heaved rapidly against Torrentpaw's.

By the time Torrentpaw reached the pebbly shore of the riverbank, his speed had slowed significantly, body exhausted from combatting the strength of the water. He pulled himself onto the rocks, water dripping from his pelt as it painted the stones. He stood, catching his breath with the kit between his jaws, not daring to let go.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid