Territory Water never stays where it is put // Swimming lesson?

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

She sits dutifully at the bank of the river, green eyes staring wordlessly at the surface for a moment before looking at the apprentice beside her. She'd had some...misgivings about being assigned Thunderpaw as her apprentice. A lot of misgivings actually. Russetfall was not good with adults on a good day, even less so with kits. And now she was expected to have this kit trailing in her pawsteps everywhere she went? Iciclepaw following her around and pestering her already felt like too much and the boy wasn't even hers in any sense of the word. She was expected to do this with Thunderpaw now.

Where to even begin?

She clears her throat finally, head turning once more to the water. "...This is the calmest- and most shallow for our needs- part of the river that I've been able to find." The words are slow, gauging the response of the other before she continues, rising to wade into the water. "I'm not saying you have to swim like a fish or anything like that, but I want to be sure there won't be any...accidents."

The Life Guard finds herself grimacing at her own choice of words before shaking her head. She makes a sweeping gesture with her tail, trying to coax Thunderpaw closer to the water's edge. "Don't worry about slipping or anything like that, I'll catch you. I'm right here."

ITS BEEN DECIDED HOW WE LOSE

RUSSETFALL

— Life Guard of Riverclan
— She/Her
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A Green-eyed Chocolate Mackerel Tabby With Low White
#8a2c55

Ooc: @Thunderpaw

 

[Thunderpaw Thunderpaw]

——————————————————— You who bares all your teeth in every smile. ✦

She remembered how maybe a moon or so ago, she was so excited to meet her mentor, to begin training, and to become a warrior at the side of her siblings. Now? Well, she felt like she was wading through mud every single day. Her stomach churned every time she heard Russetfall's call for training. This time was no different; she just expected another border patrol or maybe training to hunt, but her blood ran cold seeing the tabby stop at the river's edge, looking over like the water wasn't some cruel, careless thing.

Russetfall looked to her, motioning her towards the water. Hesitantly, she walked ahead, the water seemed shallow like her mentor promised, though the apprentice's throat tightened, mouth going dry with her mention of accidents. She had to look away, head spinning a little with the sound of the rushing water, wincing as she recalled the panic that gripped her slipping underneath. The tightness in her chest... The sight of-

"No-" She managed to wheeze, stumbling back a little. Even with Russetfall's reassurance that she would catch her, fear clung to the apprentice's chest like how the water logged her fur that day. "I can't I..." Thunderpaw blinked hard. She was meant to be brave and strong. Just like her mama always told her to be, but how could she when she wasn't here anymore. She looked up at Russetfall with watery eyes, wrapping her long, feathery tail around her paws, trying to comfort herself. "I-I'm scared I'll...", 'THOUGHTS'

Shame burned in her chest. She had tried so much these last couple moons to be brave, but nothing was going right; she had found comfort in the idea of things going a certain way. The predictability of events was all she could cling to, but now with everything changing so fast, she felt like she was floundering. Guilt writhed in her chest too as she stared up at her mentor, sitting at the bank of the river, waiting expectantly. Now Russetfall was stuck with a scaredy little drypaw apprentice rather than one who would be able to do everything they were asked. Her paws felt far more interesting to stare at now, expecting to be shamed for her cowardice, how else would she react to an apprentice refusing to even try and swim?

——— Take a swim in the water

Dear Arkansas daughter. ————

• 
  Thunderpaw
  ✦—Riverclan apprentice | 7 moons
  ✦—She/Her
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A stocky, fluffy cinnamon sealpoint kitten with long curled ears and soft blue eyes.
  #DE966C