♒RiverClan!♒ (Moderators please lock.)

[Goldy~]

"Breathtaking, right?" Hollowflight saw how the apprentice was looking at the lake.

He had closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the sound of the river. At the sound of a screech, his apprentice's call, his eyes snapped open and his head jerked to see Podpaw struggling to stay afloat in the forceful current of the river. "Podpaw!" he shouted, eyes wide as moons. He looked around and grabbed the first stick he could find, a thick one that could hold enough wait. "Podpaw! Don't fight the current!" he called from a little ways down the river, where Podpaw would head if he let the river take him there. "You need to let the water pull you over here, hear me? Grab the stick when you get to me!" the brown cat called, firmly grasping the stick between his jaws.

[Cιєℓ Pнαηтσмнινє]

Between his head bobbing above and below the surface, Podpaw strained to listen to his mentor's instructions. Let the current take me?! I'll be crushed into a million pieces! He thought, kicking his hind legs around in the water. He felt himself go under, in which flailing his paws wasnt helping much, but only made matters worse. He relaxed his limbs, trying to let the current take him towards the stick that Hollowflight held out for him. On top of being unable to swim, the lack of any sight in his right eye made things more stressful. He saw the stuck dangling slightly above the water, and he thrusted his paws out, digging his claws into the splintery bark. He held on for dear life, his lower-body dangling with the current as he yowled wildly, "Hollowflight!" He gasped, choking as water filled his mouth. He decided not to speak, and clamped his jaws shut, simply emitting a high-pitched screech.

[Goldy~]

Hollowflight watched as the apprentice struggled to stay holding onto the stick, trying to keep the fear that was bubbling up inside him down. He began to pull the stick that was clenched in his jaws with all his might to lift the apprentice out of the water, his claws digging into the mushy riverbank. The current was not helping at all; it was so strong that it was difficult to not be pulled along. He grunted as he pulled back on the stick, slowly beginning to lift the apprentice out of the water.

[Cιєℓ Pнαηтσмнινє]

Podpaw flailed his hind legs, scrabbling at the water below him, until he felt soft earth. He scrambled up the edge of the river, most help coming from Hollowflight. The tabby Tom dive into the grass beside the river, sprawled out as he coughed up water, a small whimper escaping his throat.

[Goldy~]

Without a second thought, Hollowflight nudged his apprentice well away from the rushing waters. "Podpaw!" he was panting from pulling him out, but didn't even notice because of the worry and fear that had taken over his mind. "You'll be alright... Just get all the water out of you. Good.." the tom watched as he coughed up the river water. "Take your time. You need to recover."

[Cιєℓ Pнαηтσмнινє]

Although Podpaw could hear Hollowflight, his ears didn't allow the words to filter through his mind. His main goal was just to stop coughing all of this water up. His stomach lurched as well, as the Tom swallowed water in opening his mouth underwater. He hacked up the clear liquid, coughs causing his throat to hurt. He opened his mouth to say something to his mentor, but was halt at a mother fit of coughing and hacking. Eventually, his loud coughs died down as his lungs and stomach emptied the water that had filled up. Podpaw looked over at Hollowflight. "My body hurts" He whimpered, curling up in a tight ball.

[Goldy~]

Hollowflight nuzzled his apprentice gently, hoping to comfort him as the liquid came up out of him. "I know, I can only imagine..." the discomfort and pain he could infer Podpaw was experiencing made his mind flash back to the vicious training in the dark forest, and how much pain the unsheathed claw fights had given him. "You'll be alright. Just rest." he sat down by his apprentice, letting out a sigh of relief.

[Cιєℓ Pнαηтσмнινє]

Podpaw nodded, trying to sit up. He managed slightly, remaining crouched iver. "I am such a mole" He muttered, hissing at himself with frustration. Although he wasn't in perfect condition, his tail still lashed irritably, unaffected by his ingestion of the water.

[Goldy~]

"Podpaw, don't downgrade yourself like that." Hollowflight scolded him gently. "You handled the situation very well. Much better than a lot of cats would have." He explained.

[Cιєℓ Pнαηтσмнινє]

Podpaw let out a huff, staring his mentor right in the eye. "But I wouldn't have fell in if I wasn't as blind as a mole!" He said, frustrated with everything. He sighed, "I feel so pathetic around big normal warriors" He meowed, head drooping.