Bane Waters

Chapter 1
"Are you done yet?" Graycloud asked as his apprentice hovered over the river, taking shot laps at the clear water.

Creekpaw lifted his head to reply, but so much water was collected in his cheeks he only mumbled through pursed lips. Graycloud, confused grumbled and waited for the apprentice to swallow. Creekpaw lifted his head, allowing the water to travel down his throat.

"Yeah." He said, panting as he wiped the water away from his mouth with the back of his paw. Graycloud arched a brow, continuing to wait. "What?" Creekpaw asked, then noticing Graycloud's soft smile. "Why are you smiling?" Creekpaw didn't know whether to smile back or look concerned.

Graycloud shook his head. "Oh, Creekpaw. Why do you think I'm smiling like this?" The gray-speckled tom asked in a leisurely voice. Creekpaw shook his head quickly.

"No, Graycloud. I don't." Creekpaw began. "You hardly ever smile." Which was not a lie, Graycloud always seemed to have either a frown plastered to his face. Then, he figured it out. "You're mad, aren't you?" He concluded, lowering his ears.

Graycloud, once again, shook his head- keeping the gay smile going. "I'm smiling, because I am disappointed. Creekpaw, you are constantly taking breaks. It's as if you're trying to avoid your training. Believe me, this does not make me happy." Creekpaw noticed the emphasis Graycloud added onto "happy", and he took a step back so his paw was submerged in the icy river water.

"Then, why are you smiling?" Creekpaw countered, sneering.

Graycloud suddenly flared his nostrils and opened his mouth- exposing the rows of white teeth. His fur lifted, making him look more than twice his original size. "Oh, fishdung!" Creekpaw yelped out in alarm as Graycloud unsheathed his unusually long claws and slashed them against the wet earth. Graycloud stalked closer and closer, his lower jaw hanging open.

Creekpaw clumsily splashed out of the water, yelping he felt the water drip off his toes and onto the shallow bank. Cats weren't meant to walk on water! Creekpaw climbed out of the waves, feeling a burst of adreniline