[ti]Private[/ti]Bonding Time

[silverfang218]

Fish had just needed some alone time; ever since he became a to-be and naturally learned to swim, he had found himself at the pool near the top of the waterfall paddling around. It wasn’t necessarily quiet there, but the sounds of water are relaxing to the young tom. He is humming softly to himself; his big paws sweep through the water with each broad stroke of his legs. He was in no danger of drowning at all, everything was completely in control.

It takes him a few moments to hear the voice calling for him, as Fish’s ears were back to try and keep the water from splashing into them; once he hears the voice, which he identifies as his mentor’s voice, Fish instantly turns back towards the shore. He pulls himself out of the water, but his entire demeanor seems to change as he leaves the safety of his happy place. While his movements had been very confident in the water, each motion filled with the knowledge of his mastery over the water, on solid ground Fish steps carefully, knowing a wrong or hasty action could send the klutzy young tom tumbling to the ground.

“Yes, Thunder?” Fish responds in a respectful, polite tone, wondering what could have caused the older cat to seek him out all the way out here. Very few cats ever disturbed Fish here, not that he minds the interruptions. Ever since becoming a to-be and first starting to spend time with his mentor, Fish has come to trust and truly like Thunder, so any time Thunder shows up a smile appears on Fish’s face. “What do you need from me?”

[Meow]

Thunder has been searching all over for his to-be, Fish. He adored the younger cat with every fiber of his being, but he couldn’t help being incredibly frustrated with how often he seemed to just disappear. At times, it was like Thunder was on a treasure hunt when he wanted to find his to-be for a simple training session. He never knew if Fish was sleeping, out hunting with his peers, or down by the Swiftwater, enjoying the water in a way few other tribe cats did. Thunder still didn’t understand how he was so graceful in the water, when the poor to-be was so klutzy on land. A friendly, hardworking klutz, but a klutz nonetheless.

When he neared the Swiftwater, the bubbling of its waters growing louder with each step, the prey-hunter quickened his steps. By the heavy scent of the to-be in the air, Thunder didn’t have any question in his mind that he had located the younger tom. “Fish! Fish!” Thunder’s deep voice boomed throughout the area as he called, his large, satellite-like ears listening for a response. As he approached the calmest part of the Swiftwater, he could see the white pelt of Fish as he cut through the water, then proceeding to pull himself out onto land.

Thunder was greeted warmly by the to-be, as always, as polite and respectful as ever. “Fish- young one. I’ve searched all over for you,” Thunder mewed as he came to a stop in front of the to-be. “Have you forgotten the plans I had for you today? It’s time for you to learn how to hunt effectively in the trees,” Thunder explained, before a small smile crossed his kitty lips, letting out a quiet purr of amusement. “Just swimming and fishing won’t be enough to serve the tribe, you know.”

[silverfang218]

Fish’s ears lower a bit as Thunder tells him he has been looking for the to-be; Fish doesn’t mean to always disappear on his mentor, he just likes to slip away to the water every now and then… or he occasionally joins his fellow to-bes on hunts, usually not of Fish’s accord. The young tom’s ears twitch as Thunder asks him to recall the plan for the day. I must have forgotten, Fish believes… until Thunder reminds him, or perhaps I blotted out of my memory on purpose.

The younger cat looks skeptical of Thunder’s words; the klutzy tom is unlikely to make a good hunter, as he’s more likely to fall out of a tree than snag a bird. Even so, Fish is more than willing to give it a try if Thunder wishes it. “Lead the way,” Fish can’t help but sound a bit resigned to his fate. He has accepted the fact that he’s gonna fall out of at least one tree today; let’s all hope that Fish’s tribemates like fish, because that’s probably going to be the only prey that Fish is going to be able to bring in reliably. But this is happening. Fish is gonna try.