Silverpaw was always a bit uncomfortable when she left camp on her own. She knew that while it was recommended for apprentices to have a warrior with them if they left camp, they were not forbidden from hunting or even patrolling without a warrior. But it still made her nervous to leave camp without a more experienced cat accompanying her. She wasn't quite brave enough to go on patrol on her own (what good would she do if there were invading cats?) but she often found herself on solitary expeditions anyway.

She just got to antsy to stay in camp all the time, after all.

Having already hunted for the Clan, the gray tabby now made her way to the stream. Since she didn't have a new mentor yet, Silverpaw often had free time to do as she pleased. (Not that she was lazy! SHe really tried to train as much as she could without a mentor.) Right now, she had her heart set on a swim. She hadn't had a good swim in days and it was soooo hot. Wading a few pawsteps into the cool, clear water of the stream, Silverpaw paused and smiled as the stream water soaked into her fur.

(OOC: I'm assuming they know eachother now Icepelt's been accepted :))

Icepelt had been out patrolling himself when he caught the whiff of another cat. He could tell by her sweet scent that she was female, and young. An apprentice, from his own Clan. He took another sniff of the warm, muggy air, identifying the scent. Silverpaw, the young grey tabby. And she was out on her own.

Unease flickered across the warriors mind. Would she be alright? Not that she couldn't handle herself, all of the apprentices could, but it was always best if a warrior was present. Icepelt swiftly decided to take a look. Make sure Silverpaw was okay.

The white Maine Coon set off at a steady trot, silky fur ruffling as he went. It didn't take him long to pinpoint the apprentice's scent. She was just wading into the cold water of the stream when Icepelt caught up with her. Smiling gently, the tom sat down on the bank, long, feathery tail curled around his haunches.


"Greetings Silverpaw. Out on your own I see. Enjoying the water?" he said warmly, mirth shining through his pale green eyes.

Silverpaw was kind of a nervy cat and jumped, then crouched (and got her belly wet) when she heard the sound of quick-coming pawsteps. A number of scenarios zipped through her mind (rogues, invading Clan cats, foxes, badgers, or raccoons--oh my!) before the white-furred tom popped out of the light brush by the stream. At first she mistook the snowy warrior for her leader and felt a sudden zing! of... something, then realized that it was not. It was Icepelt, the kittypet. Or, former kittypet.

"Hello, Icepelt," she said politely, trying for dignity when she straightened back up with her stomach dripping. Well, it was no big thing. She had been planning on taking a dip, after all. As he quizzed her about the water, she blinked and automatically glanced down at it. "Yes. It's... nice. And--" she cut off before she could say the boneheaded finish of "and wet". Yes, Silverpaw, the water is wet. And what else have you learned during your training?

A bit awkwardly, as she was forever awkward around cats who were older, male (especially), or talking to her, the gray she-cat made a move as to sit down, and then remembered she was still standing in the water. "And... you? I mean, are you going to... ahm... swim?"

Icepelt arched a brow and smiled at the little female as she started, landing awkwardly on her stomach in the water. She certainly seemed surprised, and a little awkward around him. Well, that was only natural. He was a large male cat, looking rather formiddable. But everycat knew that Icepelt had a heart of gold under that sea of white hair.

Well, he just hoped Silverpaw gained her confidence by the time she received her montor. Icepelt was secretly hoping to mentor an apprentice very soon, providing Calmingstar saw him fit. It was odd, compare the two cats, and they could look like brothers - both large, Main Coon- like cats, long haired and white. The only difference was their eyes, and of course, their status.

"And... you? I mean, are you going to... ahm... swim?" the little she-cat asked.

"I may just join you." he said with a smile. He slipped down the bank and into the cool water, his long hair bouying him as he pushed into deeper water.

"Ah yes, most refreshing! We could always go fishing later on, perhaps? Find a quieter spot first, of course." he suggested, eyes glinting. Of course their movement in the water would disturb any fish nearby.

Shyly, Silverpaw glanced down at her paws, which looked funny in the water. Icepelt must think her quite the dolt, she thought to herself. It was only natural, seeing as she acted like a dolt. Even so thinking, she couldn't quite figure out how to act around other cats. Well, she was mostly OK with other apprentices. But warriors made her jumpy. Silverpaw wasn't sure why.

The gray tabby hadn't actually expected him to join her in the water. Which was probably kind of stupid. It was RiverClan after all. Everybody that she knew liked to swim. But now what was she supposed to do? Trying to not look like a complete amateur (which she really wasn't, so she wasn't entirely faking confidence) Silverpaw waded deeper into the stream herself.

"Sure, I'm good at fishing," Silverpaw smiled as Icepelt mentioned fishing and tried not to laugh at the way his fur billowed out on the water. "Fishing is probably the type of hunting I'm the best at, actually."

The water was surprisingly cold, despite the sun's warming rays. He was paddling along, gently, his fur flowing behind him... pressed flat against him underwater, still fluffed out on top, not yet wet. It was a rather ridiculous contrast, making his legs and stomach look ridiculously skinny compared to his top half. That just wouldn't do at all.

He took a breath and ducked himself under for a brief second, his hair flowing like threads of silver in the water. He looked quiet the sight. Strangely fitting in such an environment... while at the same time, so unnatural. He was a cat, after all. Not an otter.

But then again. He was Riverclan. The cats of the water.

He surfaced, shaking his head to clear his ears of water. He looked smaller now... still huge for a cat, but a great deal smaller without his hair puffed out. He didn't look quite so uneven now.

He was aware his actions might seem odd to the young she- cat. He merely flashed her a grin.

"Ah, I see! Quite the fisher eh? Good, we need good hunters these days. If you're happy with that then, we shall go fishing whenever you're ready. I'd like to see you catch something... see if you live up to your claims." he said, winking at the apprentice playfully.