Open to Join The Otter Routine

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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The rabbit warren had been relatively quiet until Skykit had heard Otterwhisker enter and leave, Skykit had been drifting in and out of sleep then and when she left, Skykit had grown curious. With her soft paw pads silencing each step, Skykit followed behind Otterwhisker as she stepped into the clearing. 

Skykit didn’t utter a work while Otterwhisker did some exercises to help keep her fluid, just watched with an intrigue that would probably bore her brother. The little white kit knew when to speak and when it was best to stay silent, learning from Lilyriver the power of silence.

When Otterwhisker had finished her stretches, Skykit flicked one of her ears, tilting her head in curiosity. Seemed Otterwhisker might not have noticed her. So, breaking the silence, Skykit let out a small: "Hi Otterwhisker!"

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker blinked, her whiskers twitching as she caught the small voice. She turned her head, spotting the little white bundle of fur lingering at the edge of the warren. Straightening, she gave her pelt a brisk shake before padding closer, sunlight silvering the tips of her fur. "Morning, Skykit. You’re up earlier than I’d wager most kits care to be."

Her gaze softened at the curious tilt of the kit’s head, and a purr bubbled low in her chest. "You’ve been watching, hm? When you get older your bones need a bit of coaxing to behave themselves and stretches keep them from stiffening up." She lowered herself back down, easing onto her belly. "But they’re not just for elders like me. They help any cat stay strong and limber - even apprentices and warriors."

She paused, eyes twinkling. "Care to try a few with me?"

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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"Galekit is still sleeping." She informed politely before moving over to Otterwhisker, now standing beside the elderly she-cat. Otterwhisker had somehow read the small kit like a book, Skykit wondered how, and perhaps one day she would be able to do something like that, something that amazing.

Skykit nodded at the elder's question of her observing her stretched. "I followed you out of the warren" she explained softly, twitching her ears, alert to the sounds of an early morning RiverClan camp, of which there weren't a lot. "Keeping your bones healthy is good, maybe I could invite Lilyriver to join you next time, maybe you could ask her" Skykit added with a fond purr, smiling up at Otterwhisker. "Do you do this all the time?"

At the offer, Skykit stood tall, trying to look a little bigger than she actually was, an attempt that might be seen as cute from the elder or whoever might be watching on. "I'd like that a lot, if you'll have me" She mewed, a soft smile blessing her pale features that much resembled her dame, just, softer and less scarred.

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker’s whiskers twitched with amusement, her eyes softening as she regarded the kit’s small but earnest form.

At the mention of Lilyriver, her gaze turned thoughtful, the silver about her muzzle creasing with a faint smile. "Your mother’s always been stronger than most give her credit for. If you think she’d fancy a stretch or two, I’d not be opposed."

She lifted one paw, stretching it slowly out in front of her claws flexing against the earth before drawing it back beneath her chest. She nodded. "I do this near every morning. If I don’t I might end up stiff as a river stone before the sun’s even set."

Lowering herself more comfortably onto her belly she gestured lightly with her tail. "Come then, let’s see how your stretches fare. You can reach your paws out like you’re trying to catch a stone in front of you, then lean into it until your belly nearly brushes the ground. We’ll see if you can keep pace with me."

A purr rumbled faintly in her chest. "I’ve a feeling you will."

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit listened as Otterwhisker explained her routine, looking on thoughtfully, as if focusing on a strategy to catch prey that seemed just out of reach, understanding, but not quite. "Lilyriver likes you, if you ask nicely I think she will" she replied with a soft smile still not completely grasping the instruction of the stretch, but was willing to try her best.

"If you were stuck in one spot all day, I'll happily be stuck with you. Maybe your kits can visit us if you get stuck too" she admitted, her voice holding that familiar polite lilt, wishing for a day like that but hoping that Otterwhisker didn't have to be stuck in one place to let that happen. "Lilyriver says they're grown now" she added with a innocent gleam in her eye.

Regardless of the small lack of understanding, Skykit nodded at the stretch instruction, shuffling herself into a comfortable position beside Otterwhisker and looking down at her delicate paws before flexing her tiny claws into the dirt.

She stretched out her front paws, pulling his haunches back until her white belly fur nearly brushed against the ground, it ached a little, but not in the way that elders' joints ached, more-so in the way that a cat would feel if they hadn't done a more rigorous stretch before. Skykit let out a small grunt then moved her gaze back up to Otterwhisker "Somthin' like this Otterwhisker?"

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker’s eyes warmed at Skykit’s words, her purr deepening. Skykit seemed to have a gentle heart, and she hoped she'd keep it close. At the mention of her kits the mink she-cat nodded fondly. "Grown, aye… they’ll always be my kits, no matter how many moons pass."

She leaned forward, mirroring the kit’s movement. Her forelegs stretched long, shoulders dipping until her chest nearly touched the ground, and she let out a soft hum of approval. "You’ve got the shape right."

Slowly, she eased herself back upright, rolling her shoulders with practiced care before nodding toward Skykit. "Now, we’ll try the hind legs. Stretch one back at a time like you’re pushing the earth away from you."

Her eyes glimmered with queenly mischief as she steadied herself into position. "If you manage it without toppling over, I’ll consider you a natural."

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

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Skykit nodded at Otterwhisker's comment about her kits being her kits no matter how many moons follow their warrior ceremony. Skykit didn't have much understanding of the fact, but she was sure Lilyriver felt the same about them, something about it felt sentimental, especially from a mother speaking about her kits. Something about the way Otterwhisker said it made her feel like the new warriors would be loved for a long time.

Although, with her belly close to the ground and her front paws outstretched, she wasn't completely sure on how to recover from the position she'd found herself in. The white kitten wriggled her haunches, eventually rolling to her side, there, much easier to get up now, she thought to herself as she returning back to all four paws sturdy on the ground.

"One at a time?" She glanced at her hind legs, ear flicking, then eyes narrowing in concentration. If she wanted to get this right, she would need to do it the Otterwhisker way!

She lifted one leg up, holding it there to see how well she could balance, then stretched it back as far as she could, feeling the muscles in her body stretch with the light strain of making sure she kept herself upright. But once she could do it with the first leg, the other side didn't seem so hard. "This is easy! I'm sure Galekit could do this too!" She cheered after bringing both her hind paws to the ground "I can teach him how you taught me."

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker chuckled warmly at the kit’s wriggling recovery, the corners of her mouth twitching in amusement. "Well done." She purred, watching with pride as the little white kit mimicked her hind leg stretch with such earnest concentration.

Her eyes softened as Skykit straightened again. "Galekit would be lucky to have such a fine teacher. You’ll have him stretching in no time, I’m sure."

Settling her own weight back into her haunches, the older queen arched her spine into a slow, rolling stretch, her body lengthening until her tail tip brushed the ground behind her. A sigh of relief slipped from her muzzle. "Now for the back and belly. This one’s the most important of all."

She eased herself down to the grass, rolling onto her side with practiced grace before arching into a full, luxurious roll that brought a laugh bubbling from her chest. She shook a bit of dirt from her pelt before looking at Skykit again her aqua eyes gleaming.

"Your turn." She'd be an expert quicker than a frog rushing into water.