stuck in colder weather [open]

[Dawn]

[th]

A large dark brown tom sat at the edge of the fish pond, his body poised over it. His large, bright green eyes were intent on the peacefully rippling water, awaiting the sparkling movement of a fish. He was careful to keep his body from making a shadow on the water, which was not an easy feat for a cat his size. Broad shoulders, thick limbs, fluffy fur, it was times like this, when he was trying to hunt the quickly darting fish, that he wished that he had a somewhat sleeker build.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed towards a sparkling movement at the edge of his vision. A silvery fish was swimming towards the surface of the water, apparently unaware of the cat standing a pawlength away. Pineclaw lapped his chops eagerly and lifted his paw, careful not to cast a shadow or move too quickly. With a sudden flash of his paw, he had forced it forward and clawed the fish up to the surface, flinging it onto the earth beside him. He quickly bent down and bit into it's throat so as to subdue it and straightened, it's silvery form limp in his jaws. It wasn't huge, but it should be able to feed a queen or two.

Suddenly his ears pricked and he looked around, the sound of lumbering feet catching his attention. A sudden yowling broke out and a twoleg came into view, swinging his hands angrily at Pineclaw. "Fox dung."

[/color] He managed around his mouthful of fish. He darted away from the place, hearing as the twoleg continued to yowl at him. "Stupid twolegs, don't put the fish there if you don't want us to catch them."[/color] He growled to himself, ducking under a low branch.

He slowed and finally stopped, his ears still pricked for the sound of the twoleg. It sounded as though it had stopped at the pond. No more yelling reached his ears, nor did any sound of lumbering feet. Pineclaw snorted slightly and sat down, dropping the fish at his paws. "Stupid creature, they should defend their borders better if they are going to chase us off."[/color] He meowed scornfully, shaking his fur and licking his shoulder, cleaning it of some dead grass that clung to it from his run.

He was still close to the fish pond, he could probably go back after he made sure that the twoleg had gone. Though perhaps he should wait a bit, just to make sure that they had truly gone. They would surely check to make sure he hadn't come back; if they were smart anyway. That's what he would do, most likely. He bent down, picked his fish up once more and started back towards the fish pond, ears pricked for any sound. He paused a few foxlengths away from the area where it was and buried his fish, prepared to come back for it later.
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[Holly]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,600,true][atrb=height,500,true]

[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=d1dbb6] A fluffy red calico sat on the bank farther down wind from her clanmate. She looked like the size of an avenge 10 moon old cat, but in reality she was full grown and 35 moons year old. She highly doubt he saw her. She watched as Pineclaw hooked a fish out of the water. She was about to speak up when she heard the yowl of a twoleg, it scattered the fish with it's thunderous food steps. She watched as it chased her clanmate away. She, too, then left as it turned away and stopped chasing Pineclaw. She did not want to get herself caught. She followed after her clanmate. She padded up to him as he came back to the pond. "Stupid twolegs! They think they can chase and scream at us like were there kittypets! The clan deputy, Hollybreeze, huffed. She turned around and gave her pelt a frustrated lick. She let her tiny claws from her tiny paws dig into the ground. Why were they surrounded with stupid fox brain twolegs! She flickered her fluffy tail. Her pale-greens narrowed, but suddenly relaxed. There was no point in getting angry with them. She turned her pale green eyes to the fish as her buried it. Great catch, Pineclaw! It should feed multiple cats! Hollybreeze purred. She stepped up to the pond and sat in the shadow and watched the fish come back up to the bank, but also keep her ear pricked as she listen for the twolegs. She held still and lunched her paw into the water and grabbed the small fish with her paws, but the creature slipped through her paws. She let out a small sound of frustration. "Stupid slimy creatures! Hollybreeze huffed. Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

[Dawn]

[th]

"Stupid twolegs! They think they can chase and scream at us like were there kittypets!"

Pineclaw turned at the new voice, his eyes falling upon his Clan's deputy, Hollybreeze. He dipped his head respectfully and snorted. "You're telling me."

[/color] He growled, casting another glance around to make sure the twoleg had not returned. "How many moons do you think they have tried to chase us off of their precious pond? And how many moons do you think will follow?"[/color] He asked, a slight smile on his face. For as long as he could remember, twolegs had tried to protect this place for whatever reason.

"Great catch, Pineclaw! It should feed multiple cats!"

Pineclaw felt pride surge through him and stood up a little straighter. "Thanks Hollybreeze."[/color] He meowed, his chest puffed out slightly. He had never really been an attention hog, but a compliment from the deputy of his Clan was definately welcomed. Being complimented by someone so high up had always made him feel very accomplished. He always tried to serve his Clan the best he could but knowing he was really doing it made him believe he was going about it the right way.

"Stupid slimy creatures!"

Pineclaw tipped his head slightly to one side and padded towards the pond, positioning himself a little ways away from Hollybreeze. He looked into the pond to see a silvery creature darting away, into one of the deeper areas of it. He pricked his ears, but no sounds of twolegs or otherwise reached him. Apparently it had retreated to wherver it had come from. It's scent still lingered around the pond, but it was certainly not close anymore.

"You'll get the next one, sometimes I find that missing the first is good because the others may come up to see what is going on. Not all the time of course, but they aren't bright enough to know not to come towards the danger a lot of the time."[/color] He meowed, his attention focused back onto the pond, waiting for another fish. Hopefully another would come back to the surface to be caught.
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[Holly]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,600,true][atrb=height,500,true]

[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=d1dbb6] ""You're telling me. How many moons do you think they have tried to chase us off of their precious pond? And how many moons do you think will follow?"" Hollybreeze grumbled at that fact,"They have been chasing us away before I joined the clan. You would think by now they would learn that we will not give up, so they should. Were warriors and will not be pushed over by some soft twoleg! Hollybreeze growled quietly. She had not moved yet. She did not want to spook the fish. "Thanks Hollybreeze." Hollybreeze chuckled, "Your welcome, Pineclaw. Good catches should be mentioned to the great hunter. "You'll get the next one, sometimes I find that missing the first is good because the others may come up to see what is going on. Not all the time of course, but they aren't bright enough to know not to come towards the danger a lot of the time." Hollybreeze nodded in agreement at Pineclaw, her nod though was just a slight tilt and was very slow, yet again not wanting to scare the prey. She, then, turned her glaze back to the fishes. She narrowed her eyes at the next fish, her next piece of prey. She licked her lips as the fish came to close to her waiting paw. She launched the fish out of the water and onto the shore. She pounched and made a quick kill. She looked up at the sky and sent a silent prayer. Thank you Starclan for this kill and for the food to make our clan continue. She turned her glaze to scan for twolegs. None were in slight. She picked the fish up and walked away from the pond a tad. She dug up a hole and buried her fish within the dirt. Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

[Dawn]

[th]

"They have been chasing us away before I joined the clan. You would think by now they would learn that we will not give up, so they should. Were warriors and will not be pushed over by some soft twoleg!"

Pineclaw flicked his ears slightly, thinking about how many seasons now the twolegs and FishClan had probably been at odds. At the mention of her previous life before the Clan, Pineclaw was slightly diverted from his attention on the pool. He knew of course that Hollybreeze had not been born in FishClan, but it was still somewhat difficult to imagine. She seemed to fit in with the Clan so well and had been trusted enough to be made deputy.

"Your welcome, Pineclaw. Good catches should be mentioned to the great hunter."

Pineclaw smiled slightly to himself and continued to watch the water. He did not move as he saw another fish swim into view, and saw, out of the corner of his eye, Hollybreeze tense slightly. This was her catch. He remained still, his eyes following the moving silvery form. Suddenly, Hollybreeze's paw shot out and she flung the fish onto the bank, making an easy kill as he flopped on the earth. "Nice catch, the fish are particularly fat today, don't you think?"

[/color] He commented with a slight smile, watching as she buried the fish a little ways away from the pond.

He turned his eyes back towards the pond as a sparkle caught his attention from his peripheral vision. Another, smaller fish had swam up. Pineclaw turned, careful to keep his shadows away from the water and keep himself from turning too quickly. "Come on little fish."[/color] He meowed quietly, waiting with tensed shoulders as it swam slowly closer. "Just a bit further, come on."[/color] He whispered, urging it forward. It was close enough now, he shot out a paw and scooped it out of the water, a tad more clumsily than he had caught his other fish. It landed flopping on the ground behind him and he turned to finish it off. It was not nearly as big as the two others who had just been caught, but it should feed an apprentice or a large kit. "I suppose we are lucky that they are not smart enough to go away from the commotion all of the time."[/color] He meowed, padding away from the pool with the fish in his mouth and burying it beside his other catch.
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[Holly]

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[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=d1dbb6] Hollybreeze notice Pineclaw's face upon her being rogue born. It wasn't of distaste, but more of I can't believe she was not clanborn, because she fit in well. Of course she still got jeers from cats about her past. She didn't care. "Nice catch, the fish are particularly fat today, don't you think?" Hollybreeze nodded her head in thanks,"Why thank you, Pineclaw. Is it just me but are fish stupid mousebrains? They come closer when something happens!" She let out a small chuckle. She licked the water off her paw, not because she didn't like her paw wet, but out of thirst. She couldn't drink in the water where the fish were or she'd scare them. "Come on little fish. Just a bit further, come on."" Hollybreeze whisker twitch in amusement at Pineclaw calls to the fish. She held in her laugh. She shook her head. She watched the tom check his fish. "I suppose we are lucky that they are not smart enough to go away from the commotion all of the time." "Yet again, nice catch. These fish seem to want to be caught. And oh yes thank goodness they are not smart enought, otherwise we'd be wading into the water to catch them. Not that I mind. Hollybreeze heard a rustle and rolled her eyes as the scent of her kit, Wolfpaw, drifted into her nose. Her kit had a lot to learn about stalking. Her poor mentor had his/her paws filled. "Wolfpaw, you have a lot to learn. Frst your paws steps are to heavy. Second, your up wind, you want to be downwind to avoid being scented, and third stalking us while were on guard doesn't work very well. Hollybreeze chuckled and padded over to her daughter and nuzzled her. Wolfpaw grumbled up at her mother and nodded respectfully to Pineclaw. Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

[Dawn]

[th]

"Yet again, nice catch. These fish seem to want to be caught. And oh yes thank goodness they are not smart enought, otherwise we'd be wading into the water to catch them. Not that I mind."

Pineclaw smiled slightly, looking up from burying his fish. "I think that would be less effective that way. They may figure out a large something splashing through the water is going to end in their capture."

[/color] He meowed, looking back at her through amused eyes. He did not know if he would like splashing around for prey as much as she would. His thick fur didn't dry as quickly as his Clanmates and on a cold day, that could be a problem.

"Wolfpaw, you have a lot to learn. First your paws steps are to heavy. Second, your up wind, you want to be downwind to avoid being scented, and third stalking us while were on guard doesn't work very well."

Pineclaw looked around, smiling in an amused way at Wolfpaw as Hollybreeze called out her mistakes. The young she-cat was enthusiastic, that was a good thing. All she needed was the proper mentor and she would learn all she needed to know in no time. Many may think that, because Wolfpaw was half blind, she would not become a good warrior. Pineclaw felt differently though. He believed that anyone with the will and determination to do something could, despite what difficulties stood in their way.

"You'll learn as you progress through your training, Wolfpaw."[/color] He meowed brightly, inclining his head slightly as she nodded to him. He considered her through his large green eyes. She was about as large as her mother, and would perhaps grow even bigger. She might be able to develop into a strong fighter with the natural born strength she possessed, despite her partial blindness. "Would you like to try catching a fish? They seem to like coming to the surface today."[/color] He meowed, stepping aside so she had a clear path to the pond.
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[Holly]

Hollybreeze chuckled at this. "Well instead of watching Wolfpaw fall into the pond and scare the fish, I am going to go hunt and find more prey and Shadestar." She turned around under buried her fish and padded away from the pond.

"You'll learn as you progress through your training, Wolfpaw."

Wolfpaw looked at Pineclaw with a smile and blind in her eyes. She held her head high. She then, turned and watched her mother leave. Did she really have to live up to her mother. She felt like she'd never be as wise and talented as her. She gave her pelt a shake, before looking at Pineclaw with her good eye. "That is true!"

"Would you like to try catching a fish? They seem to like coming to the surface today."

Wolfpaw pounced onto her paws with excitement. She was shaking with excitement. "YES! I would love to catch me a fish for my clan! I want to catch so many fish to feed the clan forever!" She ran around Pineclaw and purred. She wanted to catch so many fish to last them through leaf bare. She wanted to prove she was not a burden to the clan because of her one bad eye. She wanted to prove to her mum she was good, although her mother did not care f she could not catch the slowest mouse she'd still love her. The gray calico fluffy she-cat sat in front of Pineclaw. "So what do I do?"

[Dawn]

[th]

"Well instead of watching Wolfpaw fall into the pond and scare the fish, I am going to go hunt and find more prey and Shadestar."

Pineclaw watched her go, his brows slightly furrowed. At the mention of Shadestar, he had wondered she was. When he had woken up that morning, he had been the only one he had seen around. He had headed off fairly quickly to hunt while it was still cool, and also he had wanted to hunt before the storm came in. It was coming closer now, sweeping towards them on the wind. The sky was getting slightly darker as the clouds eclipsed the sun and he could scent rain.

"That is true!"

Pineclaw was snapped away from his thoughts at Wolfpaw's voice, breaking through his distraction. He smiled slightly, liking the way she was so confident. You couldn't become the best warrior if you didn't believe you could. That's what he had always believed. All those cats who doubted themselves and their abilities were doing themselves a disservice. You needed to believe you could do something in order to do it.

"YES! I would love to catch me a fish for my clan! I want to catch so many fish to feed the clan forever!"

Pineclaw laughed as she ran around him. She was so excited to begin learning how to fish, it was nice. He suspected that being half blind had instilled a determination in her that would serve her well in the future. She would no doubt disprove the belief of some that you needed to be like everyone else in order to do good. He doubted very much that she would be a disappointment, enthusiasm like that.

"So what do I do?"

"Well, first you want to find a place along the edge of the pond where your body will not cast a shadow over the water. The nice thing about fishing is that you don't have to sorry about being up or downwind because they can't tell the difference. You just need to pay attention to the sun's positioning and make sure you take full advantage of it, wherever it is.."

[/color] He meowed, demonstrating to her by positioning himself facing the sun, so that his shadow was behind him. He looked back at her expectantly, waiting for her to get into position.

"Now, the key part of fishing is timing. You need to wait until the exact moment or you can scare them off. The timing differs between every cat because some are larger than others."[/color] He told her, a sparkle at the edge of his vision. Perfect timing.

"You need to wait for the fish to get close enough to where you are, then lash out a paw and scoop it back out of the water. Make sure it can't flop back in, because they will swim away."[/color] He said, then turned back to the pond, standing perfectly still. The little fish was getting closer, searching the pond for food. When it came close enough, he lashed out a paw, scooping it out of the water and onto the ground beside him. He bent down and bit into it, killing it quickly.

He looked up at Wolfpaw, his most recent catch in his jaws. "Now you try."[/color] He said around his mouthful of fish, padding a little ways away from the pond to bury his fish. "Just be patient."[/color]
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