FauxEevee

"i just remembered something," willowpaw mumbles, hoping that will discourage the molly.

but mothwing is still watching, waiting; the golden tabby is oddly persistent when she wants to be, and there's still so much about mothwing that willowpaw does not know, that feels so unaccessible to her. they live together now: the bond between medicine cat and their apprentice is so much stronger than a warriors. while a warrior apprentice will get their adult name and leave their mentors side, willowpaw will remain with mothwing, constantly learning and seeking guidance from her, up until one of their death's.

willowpaw knows she shouldn't say anything. but she also knows that if she doesn't say anything now, she never will, and so, with a deep breath, willowpaw looks at her mentor and goes, "i was just remembering how...back when i was a kit, the very first time i learned how to fish."

mothwing blinks at her, head tilting slowly to one side.

willowpaw remembers the morning well: it was moons ago. she'd been pestering mosspelt with what seemed like an infinite amount of questions, and as her mother had grown more and more exhausted with her only kit, a passing warrior had poked his head into the nursery, taken one look at the mother and daughter and said, "i could take her out for a little bit, mosspelt. just across camp."

"oh, would you, hawkfrost?" mosspelt sighed in relief. "thank you."

willowkit hadn't needed to be told twice, especially since it was hawkfrost asking her to follow him. she'd been fascinated with the warrior for as long as she could remember - he was their medicine cat's only littermate, and was just as interesting as his sister.

willowkit had an odd fantasy that, if she didn't want to become a medicine cat so desperately, she'd love to have him for a mentor.

"how about i teach you how to fish?" hawkfrost laughed when willowkit squeaked in glee, twitching his whiskers as she dashed in little circles at his side.

"would you? would you, would you?"

at her chatter, hawkfrost had started to look like he begun to regret his offer, so willowkit made a show of putting a paw on her muzzle, laughing behind her fur when he dramatically sighed in relief.

"even if you're interested in being a medicine cat," hawkfrost murmured, leading her to one of the streams that cut through their camp. little minnows and other small fish came to this stream every now and then; it wasn't of any interest to full-grown warriors and apprentices, but for kits, a minnow was as good a snack as any. "but every riverclan kit needs to learn how to fish."

willowkit nodded enthusiastically, sitting next to the tomcat and watching with rapt attention as he began to explain the first steps, how to make sure not to let your shadow fall over the water. the best time to strike.

willowkit did not get it on the first few tries, but after hawkfrost splashed downstream and drove a minnow right into her waiting paws, she pulled the little fish out into the grass and squeaked in surprise, grinning up at the tabby.

"i did it!"

"thank starclan," hawkfrost drawled, but willowkit could see the humor glimmering in his eyes behind the faux-annoyance. the tom watched her take a few bites of the fish, twitching his ear as he asked, "so. you want to be mothwing's apprentice, right?"

"mm-hmm," willowkit hummed through a mouthful, swallowing. "yep. i can't wait."

"i bet," hawkfrost watched her eat for a moment, flicking his tail over her ears and nodding back to the nursery. "come on, show your mother your catch."

willowkit nodded, grinning up at the tomcat. "thank you so much, hawkfrost!"

willowpaw blinks, clearing the memory. her mentor is still watching, waiting, and there's a look in mothwing's eyes that lets her know that she does not need to say who taught her, that there will be a day - in the future, most likely - where willowpaw will get the answers she so desperately craves.