Testing the waters

Freedom! For the first time in her life, a ramp was placed across the barrier, made from a sturdy piece of wood. Her mother stood by the entrance, regarding her with a steady, observant gaze. She only flashed her mother a smile as she took the ramp at a gallop, letting out a cry of delight and paying no mind to the soft, exasperated sigh that left her mother's lips. She knew Shaye had hoped she would take it cautiously, explore in little bits, be safe but that sounded like no fun at all.

She jumped off the ramp before she reached the end of it, her little paws touching down on the earth on the other side, for the first time. She let out a brilliant laugh of joy, before the young wolf was out of there. She knew her boundary was the Monument Rapids, and wouldn’t stray from there - that would just signal the end of her fun as her parents dragged her back home again. She didn’t want to stay in that dusty old den any longer, she wanted to Explore.

“I’m going to find you the best feather, first” she threatened her sister, before taking off in a different direction to her. She was a little obsessed with feathers, always wanting to see her mother’s collection, and touch the soft edges. Her mother had a story for each and every one of them, a recollection of where she found them and what they meant to her. Because of that, she was determined to find her own feather, and it would be brighter and cooler even then her mothers.

She took off along the side of the rapids, ignoring the many eyes upon her. Her mother was certain she would fall into the water and drown, but what she didn’t know was that Motif was an expert swimmer.. At least in her dreams. She prances along beside the water, before braving a toe, dipping it in, before jumping back with a shout of surprise. It was cold freezing, even.