tread carefully

Hattori strode across the mud and muck with practised ease, his paws barely even sinking into the mud despite the bulk of his frame and heavy bones. His pace was slow and considered, with his toes splayed wide as he remained on the move, leading by example. He knew this place was not befitting of a princess, that no doubt there were a myriad of other ways Kiyohime would like to spend her afternoon, but this was an important lesson for her to learn. For all her enthusiasm and natural talent, her lack of coordination was truly holding her back. The sooner she got to grasp with her own body and learned how to best utilise it the better.

It was not her fault, Hattori did not blame her for this, but she would learn today.

And what better place than swamp where each stumble and fall would leave smeared reminders on her coat, amping up the challenge to where even Hattori might misstep if he did not take care. He had found the closest thing to an opening that one could find within these parts, it had enough room to move about without getting caught in the foliage but like everywhere else the ground was slippy and uneven.

"Here will do." Hattori concluded, rumbling in his native tongue, as he drew to a stop and cast a look over his shoulder to see how his youngest was faring.