CH. 10, Fishing Patrol

Sunpaw waited till most of the clan went to their dens then asked Glimmerstar for a moment, "Glimmerstar, why me? Every kit wants to be your apprentice and I've caused nothing but trouble?"

Glimmerstar gently answered, "Sunpaw, Leaffur told me why you and Moonkit left the camp, you left for the benefit of your clan. You did this with full knowledge of the danger that lies in our forest, Moonkit did it for the excitement, to try to prove that he was growing up, to show the others kits that he can help, his motive were not bad, but motivated to bring himself glory. You did it knowing that Thunderclan would love to capture you again; you did it to feed the others and risk your life for your clan. Sunpaw, being held captive at two moons was not your fault, what you learn from that experience is what matters most.

When Sunpaw looked satisfied Glimmerstar added, "Yes as a two month you did break a law and left camp with out your mother, however, Thunderclan being at Sunningrocks was no coincidence. They were coming to our camp, Sunpaw, for a battle. We would have obviously fought them and some cat could have died. Sunpaw, you may have saved a warrior injury, or even another kits life.

Sunlight streamed into the apprentice den, Sunpaw stretched and looked around. For a moment, she didn't know where she was but then she remembered.

"I am an apprentice of Riverclan now!" Sunpaw meowed to herself.

Beside her Streampaw yawned. Sunpaw twisted her head in different angles to groom her ruffled fur. In doing so Sunpaw caught sight of Reedpaw.

"Ugh! That's right, we're going to have to share this den with the grouch." But Sunpaw shook the thought off and she stretched again and then trotted over to the fresh-kill pile. She was just to pick up the fattest mouse in the pile, when Glimmerstar walked over. Glimmerstar's glossy silver pelt shone in the morning light.

"So, my apprentice, a little greedy are we, today?"

Sunpaw, ashamed about her big appetite, dropped the plump mouse and picked up a scrawny rabbit that had come over from Windclan.

"Sunpaw, there are a few things that we should discuss about this fishing patrol. This is just an exploratory project. This could work, or it could miserably fail. If it fails, Sunpaw, don't take it too harshly, it might have been a one timer thing. Okay? Several of the cats want this to fail, new things scare them and they may say that we are leaving the warriors code by doing this."

"Alright, Glimmerstar…"

"Oh, that reminds me! There are some rules to cover; first of all, the warrior's code says that since you are hunting you cannot eat any of the prey you find until you have added it to the fresh-kill pile. Next, do not go swimming for a fish. It is too cold and it might sweep you away in the current, and no cat has ever caught a fish by chasing a fish into the water. Besides and you might develop a serious cold.

Sunpaw asked, "Glimmerstar, how do you know so much about fish?

Glimmerstar answered, "Sunpaw, we have more in common then you know when I was an apprentice, I caught a fish. However, the elders preferred mice and we had plenty of them so they dismissed the 'slimy' things. Anyway, the most important rule, do not under any circumstances go into Sunningrocks, understand?"

Sunpaw nodded but inwardly groaned, "Why does everything have to have some kind of rule?"

"When do we go?" Sunpaw asked.

"You can go wake up Reedpaw, Mudkit, and Cometkit, now, then I'll get Skypelt and Snowtail." Glimmerstar responded.

Racing back into the apprentice's den, Sunpaw reluctantly approached Reedpaw. She poked him roughly with one of her paws and said, "Time to get up, Grumpypaw!"

"Go away, Sunrat!" Reedpaw hissed through gritted teeth.

Sunpaw bounded away to the nursery, she went over to her mother's side and said, "Mom, can Cometkit go fishing now?"

"Sure. Cometkit get up now it's time to go." Morningdawn crooned to the sleeping kit.

Turning to Shimmerfur, Sunpaw asked, "Shimmerfur? Is Mudkit ready to go fishing, now?"

When the she-cat nodded and prodded her kit towards Sunpaw, Cometkit came up and said, "When do we go, oh noble Sunpaw?"

"She must still be crabby that I am an apprentice and not her." Sunpaw realized.

"Cheer up, Cometkit. You are only 4 moons, but who knows, if you learn how to catch fish today, maybe Glimmerstar will make you an apprentice too, with that Cometkit was eager to go. Soon you will be an apprentice too."

Sunpaw led the two kits away from their mothers and into the snowy but strangely sunny clearing. Snowtail and Skypelt, who had just come from performing a silent vigil all night, were already there. Reedpaw soon slunk reluctantly out of the apprentice's den.

"Are we all ready," meowed Snowtail, "Moonpaw, I will be back for a training session with you later!" he added when Moonpaw looked at him expectantly.

Sunpaw followed Skypelt out of the Riverclan camp, Cometkit and Mudkit purred with pleasure at being out of camp. Sunpaw wondered if she could remember her technique for fishing and if she would be able to teach it to the kits.

Coming up to the River, Snowtail stopped and said to Sunpaw, "Alright, here's the deal, Skypelt and I will watch and supervise the kits' safety; if you need our help we'll be right over there."

Sunpaw nodded her head and walked to the river's edge. She gulped and tried to calm her nerves. Finally, she relaxed and looked down into the water.

Staring back at her was her reflection, but instead of seeing the snowy background she saw a blinding flash of light: sunlight.

What did this mean: Her reflection being blinded out by sunlight? She would have to ask Leaffur. Now it was time to focus on the water-mouse that was called fish.

Statue still, Sunpaw sat at the water's edge with her right paw raised. She could here the river roaring under the rickety bridge, she felt the rushing water as it swept past. She could see: fish. Then, as Sunpaw's concentration increased, everything seemed to fade away except her prey.

There off to the side, in a shadow was her prey. It didn't see her, it swam closer attracted to an insect that was buzzing around the surface of the water. It was smaller than the last fish she had caught when she was a kit, but still big enough to sap the appetite of the biggest, hungriest warrior. Sunpaw could feel the gazes of all the cats staring at her in wonder.

"Closer, come closer, little fishy." Sunpaw thought, "Almost there! Come on!"

Sunpaw, without moving, unsheathed her raised black paw.

The fish looked hesitantly at Sunpaw but it really wanted the insect on the surface. Also, it hadn't seen Sunpaw move and thought it was just an odd shaped rock.

Suddenly, Sunpaw flashed her paw into the water. The fish was thrown onto the bank and quickly before it could flop back into its river, Sunpaw took its life.

"And that's how it's done!" Sunpaw said proudly dropping her fish next to Cometkit who stared at the fish as if it was something magical.