say you want me. [open]

Sometimes being alone was good. With his brother stashed back at camp, sleeping deeply after a too-early dawn patrol, Paleshine slipped quietly into the water on the edge of camp, paws knifing through the current’s gentle tug. It was lazy in the morning, the river not yet sun-warmed and a bit cold through his plush coat. Still waking up, he would have told an apprentice. If he had one.

Though he was not the best of the clan’s swimmers, he got on well enough, and Paleshine climbed up onto the nearest bank, giving a quick shake that begin with his wedge-shaped head and ended in his waterfall of a tail. Water sprang from his body, easily separating from the fine, thin hairs that made up the bulk of his coat. He yawned, eyes briefly squinting as he peered up at the sun.

Then, tail waving behind him, he trotted toward bank that stood across from Sunningrocks. The territory was unclaimed for now, but he wasn’t about to rile up any early ThunderClan hunters by stepping into the neutral zone. Instead, he stayed safely on RiverClan side, padding along the shore until the water grew shallower and he was able to see down into the bottom. Silver shapes darted beneath his eyes, scales glinting in the early morning sun.

He took a seat carefully, perched atop a small boulder that jutted out into the river, its surface barely a paw-length above the water. After hard rains, Paleshine had seen it submerged, but today it made the perfect fishing spot for him. He settled down on it, letting the sun-warmed rock thread pleasurable heat through the bottom of his pads. His shadow fell across the river and momentarily the fish that had been swimming along lazily darted away, instinctively escaping the cast of darkness.

Languid, Paleshine settled down into a crouch upon the rock, letting one paw dip gently into the water, only the smallest part of his toes getting wet. Still, the movement was enough to cause small ripples, and they pushed out from where he had broken through the surface. Further convinced death was upon them, the bolder fish that had stayed in the shadow he’d cast swam away quickly.

Paleshine watched them go then closed his eyes. He surrendered himself to the weak sunlight, focused only on his breathing and the way warmth slowly crept into his fur, drying out his damp coat.

And then he felt it – the smallest brush against his paw, an inquisitive mouth – and his paw lashed out, claws spiking across the fish’s side, scooping it out of the water and onto the grass that patterned the bank behind him.

It struck the ground and only managed to drag in one gasping breath before he was upon it, fangs catching it about the head, needle teeth seeking and severing the spinal cord. It was something of a kindness; he didn’t like to watch the poor things suffocate in the open air.

He pulled back, whiskers twitching in satisfaction as he looked it over. It was fat off a prosperous summer. It’d make a good shared meal, especially between a few of the apprentices. He’d take it back soon, he promised himself. But first he’d catch one more – perhaps Shadefin would be awake when he returned and the pair could share it.

Yes, he’d like that. He turned back to the river, settling beside it once more. This time he watched the waters keenly, eager to catch another and return to the camp.

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