camp NEW INVENTION // FALLING IN

[tanglepaw]

It is fear that controls Tanglepaw most. The river that feeds the Clan, their life-line, their namesake; to the color-patched boy, it is no more than a quicker means to death. Sure, he can fish (though he'd much rather catch birds and water voles), but the drypaw had never willingly set foot into the treacherous depths. It is so mysterious, so unforgiving - it gives plenty, but just how much can it take if he lets it?

If there is any safe waters, it is the winding river that surrounds the camp island. Kits grew up around this water, and many learned to swim in this very stream. If there was ever a watersource that the apprentice felt comfortable approaching, it was this one. How would he cross the stepping stones without?

That's what he's doing, now. Coming back into camp from a little outing with his mentor, like it's any other day. Tanglepaw jumps from one rock, to the next, and the next after that, something he had done many times now in the past three moons since he left the nursery. But.. perhaps, whether due to a miscalculation, or a recent rain, the fourth rock proves itself a trap. Upon setting an outstretched, white-toed forepaw on the rock, the boy slips and loses his balance, falling into the stream below.

It is not the deepest here, certainly not deep enough to drown a cat his size - just as his ear-tips dip under, his toes scrape the bottom. But yet, his heart still races and pounds with dread and pure fear. Propelling himself up from the sand underneath, Tanglepaw's head breaches the water just enough for him to splutter and cry: " N - no! No! Help! "

Instincts drive his paws to kick and thrash, to propel him to the bank of RiverClan's camp, and it is not long before he can touch the ground without dipping under. In an instant upon hitting land, the boy darts out as if a fox is on his heels, barreling into camp until he is a sufficient distance away from the water that terrified him so. He shivers and breaths heavy while his ears burn, keenly aware of the startled eyes that burn into his pelt.. and, shyly, he pulls his tail in to wrap around his haunches while his ears droop and drip the water that "nearly swallowed him".

TANGLEPAW ( he/him )​

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( ooc ) disclaimer: he's uninjured! just dramatic :)

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[eveningpaw]

Eveningpaw traverses RiverClan's land without a second thought now — the depth or swiftness of the rivers and lakes do not stop her from doing so. She still remembers the first swimming lesson her mothers have given her and her siblings; how the newleaf air stopped her from shivering whenever her body rose atop the glimmery surface. It had come as easy as walking... and for that reason, her heart always twists in sympathy at those who fall on the opposite scale.

Drypaws, the Clan calls them. Eveningpaw cannot imagine having to hunt and patrol and do everything else while avoiding a large majority of territory, but at the very least, she does not scoff and jeer at those who panic at the first drop of water. There is nothing amusing about their eyes going wide or their limbs trembling as they are forced to meet the source of their terror head-on.

She thinks of cats like Claythorn; the way they manage to slip into the cooling depths against all odds. Perhaps they would overcome it all in due time.

Evidently, Tanglepaw is not yet on that path.

His shrill yowl for help makes Eveningpaw come to a freezing halt. The way it reverberates through camp gives her own bones an unsettling shiver, and without a second's thought, she responds. "Tanglepaw!" A promise; help is on the way.

Eveningpaw just barely evades the- incoming Tanglepaw?

Golden eyes widen as all four limbs work hard to get her to stop, almost barreling into the other apprentice. He is positively drenched — in water, specifically, but the look on his face tells Eveningpaw he is more-so worried about the shame now.

"Oh..." Her sigh is one of relief. At least nobody is drowning... but Tanglepaw's pride has definitely taken a hit. She approaches him with tentative kindness. "Didn't hit your head, did you?"
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[STREAMSONG]

Just returning to camp, a panicked yowl reaches the molly's ears, and she takes off. The fish in her jaws had fallen to the ground with a thud, no longer on her mind. Fortunately, by the time her paws arrive on scene the ordeal had concluded. Pausing alongside Eveningpaw, Streamsong gazes sympathetically at the young drypaw. Stretching towards the apprentice, she sniffs him carefully, checking for any obvious signs of trauma. "You alright Tanglepaw?" Upon investigation, he seemed outwardly fine. At most, he'd continue to avoid the river, alongside those who'd witnessed the incident occur.

Drypaws. They were an interesting breed, but she couldn't judge them too harshly. After all, her own mate was a drypaw. No matter how persuasive she attempted to be, he refused to set his paws more than ankle deep in the water. While she personally loved the water, and the way it felt almost powerful to swim through the waves when no other clan could. The way it made her feel light, like she was on top of the world. While she couldn't wrap her paws around why drypaws despised water so badly, or exactly why they were so petrified of the water, she'd vowed would never treat them harshly or poke fun at them for their fears. Would she silently have an opinion of her own? Of course she would. Was there really a single cat in the clan who didn't have some kind of thought about drypaws? About why they were in Riverclan if they hated water so much?

i just need to leave this part of me behind do you remember me, when the rain gathers?　/　˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

• ooc. <3
• streamsong.
  ⤹ cisgender female ( feminine pronouns )
  ⤹ 26 moons / ages realistically on the 4th
  ⤹ mates with bugbite / heterosexual ; monogamous
  ⤹ warrior of riverclan / currently mentoring none
  ⤹ lh blue tabby with low white
  ⤹ peaceful actions may be powerplayed / underline and tag account when attacking
  ⤹ "speech" / thoughts / hexcode: #afd2e9
  ⤹ penned by halimede
  
  
  

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[MIDNIGHTASH]

જ➶ Webbed toes push and pull against the current of the river with ease. Fish twitches and jerks in her maw as she goes, eyes narrowed against the splashing water. Swimming is second nature to her. Something instilled into her from a young age and honed plus it is one of her favorite past times. Allowing her form to be carried by the water's movements and easily feeling like she is gliding. Willowroot taught her well what it means to be Riverclan and she takes to heart the trait that has shaped her thus far. Paws gracefully touch down upon the bank of the water and she steps up and into the reeds, dropping the fish and shaking her waterlogged form. Her ears drip with the crystalline fluid as she looks at the flopping piece of prey before she easily dispatches it with grace. Her thanks go to Starclan for the food she manages to bring back to the clan. She is about to move when suddenly a screech hits the air. One in the need for help and her head whips around. The sounds of chaotic splashing meets her ears and she quickly makes her way over. Only to see Tanglepaw looking like a terrified kit at the water he just abandoned after going in.

There is amusement in her gaze at seeing this. Reminds her of the fact that they do have Drypaws lingering about who don't seem keen on actually being Riverclanners. Not swimming just seems like a waste of time especially when the river gives them everything. What is the point if they can't swim anyway? It isn't like hunting on land is special considering any cat can do that. But only a born and pure Riverclanner can take to these waters with ease like a fish. A snicker leaves her muzzle as she steps a bit closer. "I've never seen someone so afraid of water before. Don't let rain scare you too." She is jesting and joking or is she really? It is hard to tell with her as she smiles lightly. ​

 

[BLACKPAW]

While cats may be able to conquer certain animals such as birds and fishes, but in the end, no such creatures of any sort as their felidae kind can truly be able to take nature itself beneath them— not even twolegs, she can believe. Only a kit she is, yet, across her dark early time, Blackkit faced the natural's extreme sides within a few occasions that had her developed a great empathy for individuals who would fear certain aspects of life itself, as understandable. There is rare mercy present in nature. Blackkit knows this fact most painfully.

Quick to react when hearing a familiar cry that accompanied the sounds of splashing and sputtering, Blackkit abandons her self-training so she can run over to the source, her heart seized with anxiety that Tanglepaw is hurt. Though, relief washes over Blackkit when she stops by Eveningpaw to see he's drenched in light water and heavy shame. She is aware of Tanglepaw's dread to the water, recalling her time of breathing exercise when he had a strong reaction to her head beneath the river trail. Disquiet burns her whole.

"Tanglepaw..." The important inquiries had already been asked, so, Blackkit doesn't wish to overwhelm the apprentice more by her outspoken concern; whispering his name in sweet softest sympathy, a hope within the dark that he will be okay. She is most grateful to find Tanglepaw seems to lack any injuries, while is he only at shock. Blackkit can understand. She knows the horrors that dwell across the great water that ever devours every shapes and colours. There is no love in the deep blue end. Even the stars can fall into it and drown.
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[Pinepaw ⭒]

-ˋˏ ༻ ❆༺ ˎˊ- To say Pinepaw was above falling face-first into the river would be a lie, but something had come from her tumble. Watching Tanglepaw tip over into the water with a splash was just plain funny. At least Midnightash shared her sentiment.

Eveningpaws and Streamsongs concern makes the tortoiseshell feel a little mean when she trots into the scene, still breathing out in small giggles. “Wow! You could be a WindClanner with that kind’a speed.” Pinepaw snorts, gesturing nose-first towards the sodden and churned trail the other apprentice had left in his wake. Truthfully, it wouldn’t surprise Pinepaw at this point, not with all the code-breakers and only half-riverclanners crawling around this place. The sun-dappled girl lets her nose scrunch momentarily at the reminder.

“Honestly, s’just a lil’ water.” The others dry-paw status was an annoyance for Pinepaw, she couldn’t imagine not loving slipping into the river during a hot afternoon, or diving with the other apprentices. To be dry all the time wasn’t just pathetic, but also unhygienic! “Gotta get ‘ur paws wet sometime!”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── AND I BEG TO BE TESTED ⋅ ࿏ ⋅ BY GODDESSES RESTING ──┐‎

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  PINEPAW ✩ she/her, apprentice of riverclan, 6 moons.
  ⭃ stocky, coarse-furred tortoiseshell she-cat with large, white dipped forepaws, a white tail tip and muzzle. Honey hued optics take the shape of almonds.
  ⭃ apprenticed to Iciclefang.
  ⭃ daughter of Iciclefang && Stormywing ࿏ sister to Cragpaw && Crabpaw
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ⭃ penned by Noor ↛ @toyangel on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  

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