Open to Join The Otter Routine

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

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.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

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.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

"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.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

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.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

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.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

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.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

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.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

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.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

Skykit's little paws shuffled excitedly on the ground, her eyes bright as she dipped her head to Otterwhisker. "Thank you!" She chirped, her voice bubbling with delight at the praise. "Galekit's gonna love this one, I just know it. He might even try to show it off to everyone else if i teach him right." A giggle slipped from her maw, the thought of her brother's puffed-u[ pride making her whiskers twitch with amusement.

She lowered herself carefully, mimicking Otterwhisker's graceful motion as best as her tiny body would allow. She arched her spine, stretching it as far as it could go. A little hum of satisfaction rumbled in her throat. "Ooooh, this does feel nice." She admitted, her tail flicking happily.

When she finally straightened again, there was no boast in her voice, just quiet joy. "I think Galekit will like this one the most. It feels like you're reachin' up to tuch the sun and the earth at the same time!" She smiled wide, the thought warming her chest.

With a little bounce, she looked up at the elder, her blue eyes shimmering with eagerness. "Did I do it right, Otterwhisker?" She asked softly, her tone more hopeful than proud, careful not to sound like she was seeking too much praise.

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

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Otterwhisker watched closely, her purr steady as Skykit threw herself into the motion. The kit’s enthusiasm made her eyes narrow with fondness, though she tilted her head thoughtfully as the little one straightened again.

She reached to smooth a stray tuft of fur along Skykit’s shoulder with her tongue. Her gaze might have been softened but remained sharp, the practiced eye of a cat who had done this many times before. "Good, but don’t let your paws scuff so close together. Keep them a bit wider, like roots holding firm in the soil. That way, you won’t wobble or topple if someone gives you a nudge."

She demonstrated by planting her forepaws firmly, arching her back in a fluid stretch once more before settling with ease. "Solid as a rock."

Her aqua eyes glimmered with approval as she looked down at the kit. "For a first try, I’d say you did better than most warriors would manage when they’re still half asleep." With a sly little hum, she leaned closer and whispered. "But remember the trick isn’t just stretching high and low. It’s about balance. Makes for a steady cat no matter what the day throws."

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

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

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Otterwhisker’s chest rumbled with a gentle purr, her whiskers twitching at Skykit’s bright determination. "Aye, just like the riverbank." Balance was an important trait in a RiverClan cat.

She lowered herself into a more comfortable sprawl, her tail curling neatly over her paws as she watched the little white kit settle at her side. For a long heartbeat she simply enjoyed the warmth of the moment the soft sound of Skykit’s giggle still lingering in her ears.

"You’ve done well..." She gave her paw a lick. "Do you suppose Galekit might like these stretches? We could try to make some sort of game out of it if you think that'd help. Kits like games, right?" She mewed innocently enough, although there was a flicker of michief in her eyes as her tail draped a bit over the small white she-kit.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

Skykit's ears perked at Otterwhisker's suggestion, her tail swished in a small, excited flick. "Oh, yes! I think Galekit would love that!" She chirped, eyes sparkling with the idea. "We could make it like a little adventure! He could try to reach the highest paw stretch or the longest roll without tipping over!" She giggled, imaging her brother wobbling but determined, and her tiny shoulders lifted with a happy shrug.

"And maybe," She added, nudging gently at Otterwhisker's paw with her own, "we could even have a little race, see who can finish their stretches the fastest. Kits always like a game, especially when it makes them laugh!" Her voice was light and cheerful, the kind of optimism that made even a simple plan feel bright and full of fun.

She paused for a moment, glancing at Otterwhisker with sincere appreciation. "Thank you for teaching me... it really helps, and I think Galekit will enjoy it so much too. He'll be lucky to have me showing him." Her smile was modest but warm, radiating that gentle encouragement she carried for anyone around her.

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

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Otterwhisker chuckled, her aqua eyes gleaming at Skykit’s bubbling excitement. "I could use an adventure." She gave the kit’s ear a fond lick, her purr rumbling deep in her chest. "Sounds like a fine morning."

She shifted her paws, stretching one last time before settling back into comfort with a soft sigh. "You’ve a good heart, Skykit." Her maw tipped back into a brief yawn and she blinked the rest of the sleep from her eyes. "Now then, why don’t we leave the rest of the stretches for tomorrow? Give your brother something to look forward to...." The elder queen let her gaze linger fondly on the camp, the sunlight warming her back, before standing on all four feet and padding towards camp. Maybe she'd go just far enough to hear the murmur of the river filling her ears.

Even the smallest smile can brighten the darkest den.

═════ ∘◦⛅️◦∘ ═════

"Lets go on an adventure next time we see each other! Galekit can come too!" Skykit happily suggested, tail standing tall with excitement as she followed Otterwhisker, though her ears twitches as Lilyriver called her back

"That's enough stretching for now Skykit" Lilyriver called from the nursery "You can keep stretching with Otterwhisker next time, come on, it's still nap time for you."

Skykit twisted around to face her dam then turned her head. While she was disappointed she had to continue her nap so soon, she didn't mind as much as her brother might. She knew she'd see Otterwhisker again, and she'd be able to show Galekit those amazing stretches when he woke up with more energy! More pros than cons on Skykit's account.

"Goodbye Otterwhisker!" She called out finally before skipping back toward her dame who was waiting in the nursery, giving a slight nod to the elder as Skykit settled beside her littermate.