Mind Your P(aw)s [C]

Minkpaw had practically lept out of her pelt when her mother said they could go swimming. She'd been constantly dipping her paws in the water around camp, not to mention any single chance she got while out with Grebedance. It was something that excited her so much, she absolutely was thrilled that Sandykit would be joining as well. It concerned her a little bit that her sister hadn't yet been apprenticed, but at the same time, everyone learned at their own pace. That was something that she could never fault her sister for. At the same time, though, it meant that Minkpaw could help her sister learn! She wanted to do that, absolutely.

It seemed that her mother's request to stick close fell on deaf ears as Minkpaw bolted ahead. Her head was held high, her entire body confident as she practically charged at the waters. Her run eventually became leaps, mimicking the creatures her name very well came from, ultimately ending with a Splash! as she found herself in one of the pools. Glee, giggles, and grins were all that came from the apprentice as instincts took over, her legs easily treading the water beneath her. She was luckily enough still small enough to truly be able to swim around without reaching the bottom too badly, and she had the option to stand in certain parts of the water with her head still well above the surface. "Look, ma! Swimming is so much fun!"

Perchstar had initially been a little bit hesitant about this outing. It wasn't as if she was an expert in kits-- never having been a mother herself, all she could do was her best in that particular area. She was also not the greatest swimmer. Not the worst, certainly, but not the best. However, after what they'd been through... after that fox, after her death... she just couldn't say no to Poppyshine. And so it was that the leader of RiverClan found herself watching, with a tired and careful eye, the kit and apprentice who sprinted side-by-side toward the small broken pools.

She knew that they were excited to swim-- but Perchstar couldn't help but stifle a surprised chuckle at the speed the two jumped into the water. They certainly hadn't inherited their mother's apprehension towards water, likely due to their innocence and young age. That was good. The better they could swim, the safer they would be when the raging river of leaf-bare arrived. RiverClan did encourage swimming, after all. The gray and white she-cat settled down next to her deputy and friend, wrapping her thin tail around her paws. "Well, they are certainly RiverClan cats," she said, whiskers twitching slightly. It was nice to see the new generation of cats and what they would bring to her Clan. Despite the past few moons... they would continue to grow. It was reassuring.