"Tornfoot." Swamppaw and her mentor were wading idly in the swamp. Leaf-bare had ended and the clan was well-fed. "Do you think I'll ever be allowed to attend a gathering?"
Tornfoot though for a long moment, pushing deeper into the water until only his head and back were dry. "Perhaps. You've been an apprentice for a few moons now, it would odd to deprive you of attendance for so long. It's up to Specklestar. I'll bring it up with Fishheart and see what he thinks."
"Thanks. I feel like I'm missing out on something important."
"Nothing too important. Some border skirmishes between Tunnelclan and Bushclan. Both suffered a shortage of prey to the cold, and so have been encroaching on each-other's territories. Nothing much important has happened with Bogclan."
Swamppclan opened her jaws to comment on the fourth group of cats before remembering her promise to Silverwhisper to stay silent on the matter. Instead she plunged her head into the water, enjoying the feeling of cool liquid in her fur. Tornfoot had promised to teach her to swim, as they had been granted a day of leisure, but they had ended up lazily chatting and meandering through the water. Tornfoot jokingly remarked that the rumors of Bogclan's laziness were largely based on fact when he noticed how far the sun had moved.
"Here, come deeper. This section here is the deepest." He headed to the center of the largest chunk of swamp. Before his back could get wet, he began paddling. Swamppaw stayed at the boundary between wading and swimming, experimentally casting her paws out and attempting to obtain buoyancy. Eventually she managed to stay afloat, but did not move with the speed or elegance of Tornfoot. He watched her from the center of the swamp, mirth flickering in his usually critical eyes.
Swamppaw felt her legs growing sore at the excessive movement. Determined, she made her way to the center where Tornfoot was treading water.
"How are you holding up?" He asked. "Tired?"
"A bit, yes. I'm not-" she sank for a second before doubling her efforts to maintain her position above water. "I'm not used to this."
"Well, let's get back to shore then."
Tornfoot nudged her forwards, following her. Her muscles were burning; she did not realize how quickly she would tire. Suddenly safety seemed so far away, and instead of moving water, it felt like her paws were slicing through it. Her paddling quickened, but her speed did not. Suddenly exhausted, she paused. Just a short break to regain miniscule amounts of energy, but instead if felt as if her energy had fled her in one exodus.
She sank without the energy to fight it, every hair on her pelt was tugged on by the depths. Under the water, she saw Silverwhisper. He was mirrored, as usual, jumping in from below. To save her? The look in his eyes betrayed more emotion than even her- the one at risk of death. He seemed panicked, perhaps. Before he could make contact with her, she was yanked up by teeth in her scruff.
Tornfoot forcibly pulled her to shallow waters, and helped her walk to shore. She didn't recall inhaling any water, but still found some in her to cough out. She didn't mention Silverwhisper. What would she say?
"Thank you Tornfoot," she dipped her head to her mentor, and licked his chin. She would have to thank the Deadclan cat later.
"Anytime," whispered Tornfoot. Without another word, the two headed back to camp.
Who was most upset in this situation? This Swamppaw wondered.