#sunnyleaf

It wasn’t fair of her, Sunnyleaf knew that. Every apprentice needs to learn about StarClan, and most cats would be pleased to have such a curious and studious apprentice. Sure, Sunnyleaf’s faith in their ancestor’s guidance was being tested by the grief left by the storm, but that wasn’t Lilypaw’s fault.

Today they were assigned hunting duty–Sunnyleaf didn’t mind as the guilt was souring her appetite anyway–and she was eager to try to make it up to the apprentice by taking her to her favourite fishing spot.

This time of year, mid-greenleaf, countless shiny minnows swim through the river and into the ocean, making the water sparkle and dance before their eyes.

Here, the young fish are so eager to enter the ocean that they don't get scared by the meows of conversation between cats as they scoop them from the waters by the pawful.

“I’m sorry for yesterday,” Sunnyleaf said, muffled by the fish in her mouth she was burying in the sand. “I’m afraid I don’t really know all that much about StarClan.”

Lilypaw nodded her head graciously, but kept her gaze focused on the fish in the stream. “It’s alright, Sunnyleaf.”

“Spidershade or Cinderstar might be able to answer some questions for you,” Sunnyleaf suggested, covering her catches to prevent scavengers. “That old molly loves to tell her stories, she’d be glad to have someone to listen.”

As she was turning around to come back, something in the ocean caught her eye, and she turned suddenly to Lilypaw, tail twitching in excitement.

There were big, claw-like fins piercing through the waves!

“Hey, you know what? I can’t tell you much about StarClan. But what I can teach you about is the ocean.” Sunnyleaf reached her paw into the river, scooping a fish up in her claws and signaled to Lilypaw to do the same.

The two cats ran down to the cliffs with fish wriggling in their jaws, and Sunnyleaf dropped her catch into the ocean. Lilypaw looked shocked, dropping her own fish in surprise and scrambling to pick it back up.

“Watch, Lilypaw.” Sunnyleaf said, tail twitching as she perched on the edge of the cliff face precariously. At this point, she was close to the water she could nearly touch the two massive, sleek, fish-like creatures that emerged from the waves. “See? These are dolphins. They're friendly.”

Lilypaw nodded, but still looked horrified. “Okay… but why give them our prey?! They can catch their own!”

The dolphins clicked and squealed, gobbling up the fish that Sunnyleaf was tossing them, before vanishing under the surface.

“The dolphins are allies. FogClan has had a special bond with them for some time now, and we trade. They’re going to get their side.”

Lilypaw nodded, eyes wide with wonder. “Can you understand what they're saying?”

“No, but I’ve seen how they treat their enemies, and how they treat their allies. We’re definitely an ally.”

After a moment, many more dolphins returned, with soggy plants in their long, strange maws. Land plants.

Sunnyleaf’s eyes widened and she purred in delight as she took them and placed them near Lilypaw.

“Wait..” Lilypaw gasped, turning over the wet herbs with her paws. “These are Spidershade’s herbs, from the old camp!”

Sunnyleaf purred, touching noses with one of the dolphins before they swam away, filling her senses with the scent of the ocean.