Ripples in the Stream

[shiningheart]

Ripplestream crouched on a boulder in the middle of the river, gazing down into the blue water. His green eyes darted to and fro, searching for the silver flash that would indicate where his prey would be hiding. The water being blocked by his perch misted behind and above him, making his fur slightly damp. But the ice-cold of the leaf-bare water was welcome. It woke him up, for Ripplestream was still very sluggish from sleeping.

There! A flash of silver had just splashed into the air. Ripplestream pushed off of the boulder and dived head first, grabbing the alread escaping fish with his claws. The water slid over his head, and Ripplestream was plunged into ice-cold water that made his very bones shiver.

[Hamster]

"Nice catch," a voice behind Ripplestream sounded. "Though it looks like you almost fell in!" The she-cat stepped forward, revealing that it was Nightshade. "The river's cold, isn't it? Thank goodness it's almost newleaf." She experimentally dipped a paw into the roaring water and almost flinched back.

"Aren't you cold when you jump into the water? I'm cold enough just by doing this," and Nightshade flicked a paw quickly in and out of the stream. A fish came with it, flopping on the bank.

[shiningheart]

Ripplestream placed the dead fish in his mouth before swimming toward where Nightshade stood, his paws cutting through the water like a claw through air. He slid neatly out of the water next to Nightshade before putting down the fish and laying a paw on it, almost like he was claiming it. "Yeah, but it's a good way to wake yourself up!" He meowed before shaking out his pelt, spraying the she-cat with water.