Never to young to learn to swim..? (tagged/open)

[nomstar]

Twix

The little white kit padded through the undergrowth. He looked at all of the towering trees and bushes surrounding him. Where am I? He had been walking forever. How far was it to the border anyway? He wanted to explore the territory. Since he was deaf, Frostkit didn't know what was in the territory and wanted to explore for himself. Although, this morning Ravenkit had told him about a river. Now he knew a new word, river. Forstkit river. He mewed, using some of the only words that he knew. Soon his belly began to rumble. I'm hungry. The little tom kept on walking though, until he found a streaming torrent of water. The river! He stood on the shore and peered into the water. He could see his own blue eyes reflected in the water and he dabbed at it with a paw. The river is so cool! He thought, leaning over the edge of his rock. 

[Twix]

Silverpaw was out doing her favorite apprentice chore- hunting! She had already caught three mice and a sparrow. The silver apprentice had just finished burying her catch when she caught the scent of water vole. Dropping her body back into a crouch, she stalked forwards through the undergrowth. A few paw steps later, she could hear the sound of water and realized she was close to the river. She had been so intent on hunting that she hadn't even noticed how close to the Stormclan border she had came. The scent was much stronger here and she realized the vole must lay just in front of her. She pinpointed it's location from scent more than sight, and began drawing her haunches underneath her, getting ready to spring. She would have to be careful and not misjudge her leap, otherwise she would land in the river beyond. She didn't quite feel like getting her paws wet today!

[nomstar]

Just as Frostkit was leaning over the edge of the river, a tantalizing scent caught his attention. Vole! As jerked his head towards the scent, the kits paws slipped out from underneath him. He let out a gasp of surprise as he fell down, hitting his head on the rock with a dull thud. Frostkit slid into the river, barely conscious, and was swept downstream by the tide. He tried to paddle his fore paws and fight the tide but the darkness was closing down on him. He let out one last mew of help before he closed his eyes and let the darkness engulf him. 

[Twix]

Silverpaw leaped and landed precisely onto the vole, and it died instantly, but as she looked up she saw a terrifying scene unfold. A white kit slipped and fell into the river on the other side of border, hitting his head on the way down. The silver she-cat instantly forgot the prey she had just killed and instinctively jumped into the river as the tide began to drag the kit away, and she heard a soft mew escape from the small bundle. She kicked and flailed her legs furiously and she was just able to keep her head above the water. It was ungraceful and tiring, but at least she wasn't sinking. Midnightclanners weren't made for swimming, and yet as the apprentice padded through the water, it slowly got easier. Soon she was kicking off through the water toward the now limp bundle of fur.

The white kit looked puny with it's damp fur clinging to it's body, and Silverpaw didn't look much better off. She looked smaller than ever with her silver tabby fur soaked through, but she was happy her fur was short and barely weighing her down. She grabbed the kit by the scruff and strained her neck to lift it above the water. Her kicks were slowing and muscles ached, she was barely able to catch her breath with the white fur of the kit in her mouth and covering her nose.

She was suddenly lost in the waves of the river, her head and kit began to dip under the water. She popped back up and attempted a gasp of air, but barely got any. Her lungs were screaming when finally she caught a glimpse of land. She kicked off as strongly as she could towards it, and soon her paws met solid ground. She hauled herself and the white kit onto land and out of the river. She laid the kit down gently on the grass and plopped down next to it. Her breathing came in deep gasps as she sucked in the precious oxygen. A few heartbeats later she caught her breath, and begin to gently nose the bundle of wet fur. Only know did she realize the little white scrap was a tom. Is he still alive? She prayed to Starclan that he was alright.

[nomstar]

Everything was dark. Frostkit was being tossed around by the river like a leaf. He felt teeth grab his scruff through the cold waves and saw a flash of silver fur for a moment. Then all of the water was gone and he felt soft ground beneath him. The little white tom willed himself to wake up but couldn't do it. Everything was fuzzy in his mind and he couldn't think straight. but slowly everything was coming back to him. He tried to breathe but only felt cond, numbing pain. but Frostkit wasn't giving up. He tried one last time to gasp in air and he felt water rush from his mouth. The kit retched water out onto the shore, feeling better instantly. He managed to open his bright blue eyes and scan his surroundings. He saw a silver cat lying next to him. Frostkit had never seen this cat before and wondered where he was. I must be in Midnightclan! Despite the numbing coldness that was slowly spreading throughout his body, he felt triumph rise up inside of him. I made it. He tried to sit up but felt a rush of pain and flopped back down onto the ground. The world spun around him. What's happening?

[Twix]

Finally the tense moment ended as the white tom coughed up mouthfuls of water and finally began to stir. She let out a sigh of relief and moved closer towards him, leaning over him and nosing him softly. "Are you alright little one?" but she never got her answer. As the kit attempted to sit up, his legs instantly buckled and he fell back over. Oh no. He's not alright, and I can't tell what's wrong with him! Silverpaw began to panic, and she stared out across the river to Stormclan territory. There was no way she could swim the river again to bring him home. She would have to take him back to camp and let Spottedsky fix him up. She tried to stay optimistic and pushed away her panic as best she could. "I'm going to take you to our medicine cat, Spottedsky. Don't worry, you'll be in good paws." She hoped what she said was true, after all this was a kit from a different clan. Though the warrior code says no kit should be ignored, and the thought made her confident that the Midnightclan medicine cat would help. She picked up the white tom by the scruff again as gently as she could, and raced off back to camp. She went as fast as she could, trying to keep the ride there as gentle as possible for him.

(OOC: I hope this is alright? He's going to be getting a big adventure this time!)

[nomstar]

OOC: I was going to ask for Silverpaw to take him to Midnightclan :D Do you want to continue this thread in Midnightclan camp?

Frostkit watched the bigger cat's mouth move. What's she saying? Then teeth met his scruff and he was lifted into the air. He tried to struggle but was still too weak. He closed his eyes and thought about Ravenkit earlier that morning. River indeed. Why did you tell me to come here? Soon he began to shiver. His fur felt heavy and wet, the wind whistled against him making the little kit colder and colder. Where are we going? I wish I could hear! Then I would know.