.:Stormy Disaster:.

[{Lunarstar}]

Prairiestep stood up immediately and began thinking. These cats would probably need more shallow water, she figured, and began mapping out the river in her head. There was a stream not far from where they were that would probably work. At least to teach them.

"Come on. There's a stream over here." Prairiestep mewed, heading toward the stream. She stopped in front of it and waited, choosing the side where her shadow fell behind her, and not into the river.


Ravenwing followed Prairiestep without a word. He silently sat beside her and glanced down into the shallow water. There were a few faint shadows that would dart around or leisurely float. He figured those were fish.

[*Beechstar*]

Ringtail immediately knew where they were going when Prariestep started walking. He followed her, Ravenwing, and Cloudpool, staying in the back. When they reached the stream, he stayed behind Prariestep so she could show the SpiritClan cats how to fish. When Cloudpool just stood there, he said, "Watch Prariestep."

Cloudpool padded behind Ravenwing and Prariestep. When they reached the stream, he didn't know what to do so he just stood there. Then, when Ringtail told him to watch Prariestep, he sat on the other side of Ravenwing so he could watch her.

[{Lunarstar}]

Prairiestep stayed still. Yellow eyes glued to the water and the faint shadows, she carefully raised a paw. As she kept watching, her eyes never blinked. She waited for a long time (about five minutes maybe) before striking. Similar to a snake striking, she flashed her brown paw into the water, just as a shadow started to travel directly in front of her. She struck when he was a few inches away. Her yellow eyes still didn't blink. Her pink pads met fish scales and she wrapped her paw under its body, lifting it out of the water and throwing it onto the ground. She bit it's spine and throat, quickly releasing the air it had left.

"And that's how it's done." Prairiestep mewed, looking at the two toms. "Remember, you may have to wait awhile. Fish don't always like to travel in front of you."

Ravenwing watched with growing impatience as Prairiestep waited. When she brought a fish out of the water he let out a relieved sigh. He listened intently to her instructions and had a question. With a slight struggle he mewed, "Shouldn't we move? Didn't your splashing scare the fish down deeper?"

Prairiestep gave the shy tom a small grin. "Yes," she meowed, "we do. Follow me. We won't go very far." She picked up her fish and led them down the stream a few yards and rested her tail against Cloudpool's shoulder. "You fish here. Ringtail, can you take Ravenwing a little farther down? I'll stay and help Cloudpool." she meowed after setting down her fish.

[*Beechstar*]

Cloudpool watched impatiently as Prariestep showed them how to fish. He almost said something once, but figured it would scare the fish and upset Prariestep. Plus, that would make it take longer.

When Prariestep finally caught the fish, Cloudpool was relieved. He listened to what the StreamClan she-cat had to say, and then nodded. He waited for Ringtail and Ravenwing to leave so they could begin.

Ringtail watched as his mate showed the SpiritClan cats how to fish. He smiled when she finally caught a fish. When she told him to take Ravenwing down the river to show him, he nodded. He started to walk away, waving his tail at Ravenwing as a sign to follow him.

[{Lunarstar}]

"Okay, you saw what I did. Try it yourself. Just don't let your shadow touch the water and don't bend over very far. Fish are smarter than most cats think." Prairiestep meowed to Cloudpool, stepping a few feet back to let him concentrate. Then she added, "Remember! You may have to wait a very long time! Just be patient." Then she sat and waited for him to begin.

Ravenwing followed Ringtail, staying a few steps behind the tom. It was strange. Even though he was StreamClan, he was still bigger than Ravenwing. And he hated it. His whole life he'd been deemed 'short', sometimes even being mistaken for a she-cat.

[*Beechstar*]

The tom nodded. He sat by the river, making sure that his shadow wouldn't fall on the water. He watched the water for some time before he saw a fish. He slowly raised his paw, waiting. When the fish was directly below him, he scooped it out of the water. He was about to bite it when it flopped out of his paw and back into the water. "Mouse-dung," he cursed. He looked at Prariestep. "Can I try again? I'm pretty sure I'll get it this time."

Ringtail stopped as they reached a spot that was far enough down the stream. He stood back a few paces and nodded towards the river. "Go ahead. Try it. Just like Prariestep showed you."

[{Lunarstar}]

"Sure." Prairiestep answered, not giving him criticism or help. She knew what his issue was. He needed to put it on the ground, using his claws to hold it. Fish are slippery, they're not going to let you kill them that easily. She would've helped, but she wanted to see if he'd get it using his strategy.

Ravenwing nodded and sat on the side of the river opposite the side the sun was on. He watched the water for a while. Steadily filling with impatience. He waited a few more moments before letting his stiff posture sag and growing bored. The next moment a fish appeared a little to the left of him, swimming quickly. As quick as he could, Ravenwing jumped up and flashed a paw into the water, pads connecting with the fish's tail. It disappeared down to the bottom of the stream. He glanced sheepishly at Ringtail.

[*Beechstar*]

Cloudpool nodded. He thought back to Prariestep's demonstration and realized what he had done wrong. He hadn't flipped it out onto the ground. He looked back at the water with determination, waiting.

He had to wait longer this time, and remembered to flip it onto the ground after he flipped it out of the water. He then quickly bent his head down and bit the fish, killing it.

"I did it!"

Ringtail watched as Ravenwing tried to catch a fish. He could tell that the SpiritClan cat was filling with impatience by the way he slouched after a while. When he missed the fish, the StreamClan tom stepped forward. "Nice try. But remember not to slouch, no matter how long you have to wait. It makes you off balance which makes you slower and gives the fish longer to realize what's happening. Watch." Ringtail repeated what Prariestep had showed the SpiritClan cats, just to show Ravenwing what he was doing wrong.

"Like that. Try again."

[{Lunarstar}]

"Good job." Prairiestep purred, slowly walking behind the tom. When she was right behind him she butted his back with her head, pushing him into the shallow water. It went just passed a normal sized cat's head. Before he could drown, Prairiestep jumped in after him, grabbing his scruff and yanking his head up. "Time to learn how to swim! Just kick your legs, but calm down!" she mewed through the mouthful of fur.

OOC: Sorry If I sorta god-modded!

Ravenwing nodded and watched Ringtail. He then waited again. It took much longer (15 minutes) then last time. But he stayed rigid and still, waiting. When he finally saw the fish, he flashed a paw into the water, curling his claws around the slippery body. He flipped it up out of the water, where it landed with a wet smack on the ground. He quickly bit into it's throat, officially noting that if given the choice, he'd never eat fish again.

[*Beechstar*]

Cloudpool gasped as he was pushed into the cold water. He started breathing quickly, and was somewhat panicking. Then when Prariestep said to calm down, he did. He figured that there was a reason for him to be calm.

He started to kick his legs, like the StreamClan she-cat had said. "Like this?"

Ringtail ate his fish quietly while watching Ravening. When the SpiritClan male caught the fish, the StreamClan cat nodded approvingly.

"Good job!" He smiled at the other tom. "Now you need to learn how to swim." He stepped forward and padded into the water, where it was deep enough that he was mostly under, but not so far that he couldn't touch the bottom.

He went out a little farther. "You just kick your legs like this," he said, kicking his legs, "and make sure to keep your head close enough to the top so that if you need air, it won't take long to come up and get some."

He came back in so that he could touch again. "Try it."

[{Lunarstar}]

Ravenwing's green eyes widened but he followed the StreamClan warrior without a question or complaint. He walked in the water until it reached his belly. And stopped. The stream was shallow, and the current was slow, but the sight of churning waves stopped him. Pinned him still in fear. The waves, though small, could still swallow him, the water, though shallow, could still throw him around. He swallowed, and slowly started to back out of the cold water.

Prairiestep grinned. "Yep. It's almostlike running, or jumping. Now try to actually swim." Prairiestep murmered, stepping a few steps away from Cloudpool.

[*Beechstar*]

The tabby plastered a confused look on his face as Ravenwing backed in then out of the water. "What's wrong? Nothings going to eat you." Ringtail smiled at the SpiritClan cat, hoping to bring up his confidence.

Cloudpool did as he was told. He starting to kick like he was running, and almost gasped at the results. He was swimming! He smiled and swam to Prariestep. "This is awesome!"

[{Lunarstar}]

Ravenwing shook his head and stammered, "N-no! I-I can't! It's just -- I can't..." He sat down a foot from the water's egde, green eyes watching the slowly turning waves. He'd never known he was afraid of water. This was the first time he was so close to such a big stream... The water seemed endless, and dark nearer to the bottom. It was like something could reach up and grab you...

Prairiestep laughed and dove under the water. She opened her yellow eyes spotted a fish frantically swimming to the bottom. With an inward chuckle she swam toward it, easily beating it in speed. She bit down on it, hard, clamping it in her jaws. With a few strong kicks she was back on the shore, setting down her fish to eat.

[*Beechstar*]

Ringtail sighed. If this cat wouldn't cooperate, he would just give up and let Prariestep deal with him. He climbed out of the stream, and walked over to the tom. "Fine. I'm not going to push you. Lets go back then." He started walking towards where they had left Prariestep and Cloudpool, not waiting for Ravenwing.

Cloudpool saw Prariestep dive under the water, catch a fish, and brought it ashore. He followed her and sat down next to her, grabbing his fish that he had caught. He started to eat, deciding that he didn't like fish, but he would eat it unless he had to.

[{Lunarstar}]

Prairiestep happily finished her fish, just in time to hear paw steps behind her. She stayed perfectly still, listening intently. They were soft falls, meaning no fox. She sniffed the air and was relieved to smell the familiar scent of Ringtail. She sat and waited for him, hoping Ravenwing's fishing lesson went well.

Ravenwing sighed and followed Ringtail after a final look at the stream. He couldn't believe he was scared of it. From the bank it looked barely six tail lengths deep, but once he was in it loomed over him. He followed Ringtail to where Prairiestep was and walked passed her without any acknowledgment. He went a little farther from the other cats and sat, trying to regain his pride. Or what was left of it.