By the River
Short Story
Romance
Hope x Apple

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"--and then he ran into a tree!" Wolfpaw was telling the apprentices a not-so-funny joke, yet they laughed. Not because it was humorous, but because the way the patched tom told it, acting out different scenes, raising his voice in inappropriate times, and mocking the characters.

And still, Applepaw could not focus on his friend. His attention had long-since drifted to a gray tabby apprentice, occasionally catching her eye. It stayed like this for several moments, each second a new butterfly bloomed in his chest. But Hopepaw abruptly stood, casting him a glance, then trotted out of camp after whispering something to Snakepaw, who stared after her.

Finally, Applepaw couldn't take it any longer. He stood, leaning over to excuse himself politely from his friend's side and trotted away. Wolfpaw casted a knowing glance toward the ginger apprentice, but only nodded and returned to amusing the apprentices.

Applepaw tracked Hopepaw's fresh scent through the forest. The trail was broad and thickly laid, as though she had deliberately rubbed against trees and foliage for him to find her.

And find her, he did.

She was sitting beside the river, a paw raised above the churning water. In a flash of gray, Hopepaw swiped at the waters, throwing a writhing silver fish. Applepaw watched in amazement as she delivered a clean bite to its head, purring at the thought of having such an amazing she-cat.

Hopepaw returned his purr with a shy one, nudging the fish toward him. "Would you like some?"

"Isn't that against the code?" he tilted his head a bit, bewildered.

Hopepaw gave a bashful shrug, "the prey pile's stacked high. We have enough food for the entire Clan to have seconds."

Applepaw gave in to her glittering eyes and crouched to take a bite. He found it disgusting at first, because of the slimy texture of the scales, but he slowly became accustomed to the taste. He and Hopepaw shared the fish before she straightened, sidling up to Applepaw's side to twine her tail with his.

Butterflies partied inside their chests as they simply sat their, small talk passing the time by. After awhile, Applepaw nodded toward the river.

"Where'd you learn to fish, anyhow?" he prompted curiously.

Hopepaw lifted her shoulders in a shrug, "I just.. knew. Maybe StarClan helped me, or maybe it's because I'll be leader of RiverClan."

Applepaw's heart clenched at the reminder. He'd have to choose between Wolfpaw and Hopepaw one day soon. He knew Wolfpaw would understand if he went with Hopepaw, but it was hard to imagine a life without the patched tom's mischievous grins and bad jokes.

Instead of voicing his concerns, Applepaw asked with a small smile, "Care to teach me?"

"Sure!" Hopepaw nodded vigorously, excitement and pride rolling off her fur as she led Applepaw to the river's edge. She tried her best to guide him through the technique, step-by-step, but Applepaw had trouble with it. He was a ThunderClan cat, and they never fished. How had Hopepaw managed this so effortlessly.

One time, he had nearly caught one, but it had slipped between his paws. Not before slapping him in the face with its tail, however. Hopepaw tried her best to fight back the laughter, but couldn't help it when Applepaw turned to her with an expression of shock.

"Did I just get..?" he trailed off in disbelief.

"Yes, you just did," Hopepaw giggled. A silent moment passed between them before they simultaneously burst into laughter.

After their mirth died, Applepaw gave several more vain attempts. On his eighth and final try, he flung the fish hard enough that it hit a tree with a small crack.

Applepaw pranced in a circle triumphantly, a broad grin adorning his face. Hopepaw smiled, too, with a proud glint in her eyes as he strutted humorously to retrieve the motionless fish.

He turned to twine his tail with Hopepaw's as they headed back toward camp. "Thank you for teaching such a.. slow learner," he mumbled through fish scales with embarrassment.

"It's okay," Hopepaw smiled up at him, tangling their tails tighter, "I had fun. Especially when.."

"Don't say it," Applepaw growled playfully, "especially to Wolfpaw."

Hopepaw's eyes glowed with mischief, "Wolfpaw's going to be the first to know. He's gonna have so much fun with it, too."

Applepaw sighed, defeated, "I know..."

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i apologize if i got any of the characters' personalities or reactions wrong!!!