[Deleted]

children, don't stop dancing
believe you can fly away

---

Otterpaw stepped through the trees, the dangling branches of the willows acting as a perfect curtain into a realm apart. It was quiet here, the water of the small stream choked out in this area, at the very head, where the willows grew past the source of the stream. It was his favorite spot in the whole territory, his little corner of creation. It was a place of peace, a place where he could be free of his fears, where he could shed his fur and shine anew.

A butterfly fluttered by his face, a beautiful blue and green thing, and Otterpaw rose up on his hindlegs as it circled his head. Balancing, he sat on his haunches, forepaws gently batting at the butterfly, light movements with sheathed paws. He didn't want to harm the poor thing, just admire the way it would dance around his outstretched paws. A smile ghosted his lips, and his eyes blinked closed as he breathed in the evening air.

The wind whispered through the trees, setting the weeping willow strands in motion. Otterpaw opened his eyes, a soft smile still ghosting his maw. The butterfly drifted away, and Otterpaw watched as it danced among the willows. With a gentle leap, the apprentice left his position, landing softly a few tail-lengths away, poised on the edge of a moment. With a careful breath, he leaped again, this time aiming high, forepaws batting at empty air, landing hindpaws just pawsteps away. He sat on his haunches, turning his head a heartbeat later.

The next heartbeat, he slipped forward, a long, low motion, moving forward and right. Forepaws lighted down first, followed a heartbeat later by a pair of hindpaws. Without hesitation, he sprung upward, twisting and stretching his right forepaw high in the air, landing on his haunches. Another heartbeat, and he moved forward again, back across the small area perching precariously on a root. The content of the ground made the motions difficult, forcing him to land precisely or risk losing momentum or falling over. The roots and rocks and moss-covered ground made the dance difficult, but all the more beautiful.

Otterpaw moved with a delicate, practiced ease, that didn't reveal the strain in his muscles or the power of his quick-moving mind. From the inside, he was a powerhouse, movements decided only milliseconds before they were performed, each leap quickly calculated and calibrated to perfection. From the outside, it was a beautiful, fluid series of motions, backlit by the oranges of the evening and the faded greens of the weeping willow trees.

---

O T T E R P A W

[Insidious]

The young tabby had been pursuing her brother for a long period of time, having taken an interest in the whereabouts he planned to pay a visit. Truthfully, her intentions of following him had been a tad more selfish than she would admit. With so much on her mind, it was only natural that she was in search of a faithful listener that she could pour her heart out to – as her brother, Otterpaw was technically obligated to fulfill the role – it was only a bonus that her sibling happened to be headed for privacy.

Taking cover in a concealment of thick greenery, the she-cat peeked her head out from the abundance of leaves in order to receive a better view of Otterpaw's intentions out in the middle of nowhere. Did he perhaps have a secret too? It was a nice thought to have, though Minkpaw didn't believe her brother capable of anything even mildly treacherous to RainClan – then again, she hadn't thought herself capable of such things either. Her expression dropped, morphing into a display of her own sorrow. If RainClan couldn't depend on the loyalties of their future warriors, what was that going to leave of their clan? The picture newly painted in her mind was one of war: agony inscribed upon the features of every RainClan individual as they battled with their obedience. The ordeal of it all was rather unlikely, though Minkpaw couldn't help but jump to conclusions in this one of her darkest hours.

The sound of light, continuous thuds upon the ground managed to bring Minkpaw back to reality, cautiously blinking pale gold eyes in an attempt of refocusing upon her reasoning for following Otterpaw to this unusual part of RainClan – it was oddly lacking of water, the dryness foreign to underneath the apprentice's paws. Momentarily uncomfortable, Minkpaw found herself shifting positions – her brother, ever one to avoid his greatest fear. How ironic that what it was he most despised was what his sister held in such high regard.

Was he... dancing? Minkpaw's nose wrinkled in amusement, her ears pricking forward in contentedness of remaining secluded in order to observe. She held back the immense urge to burst into laughter, not wanting to announce her presence and eternally embarrass Otterpaw – what was she saying? Embarrassing him was a perfect idea; what was a sister if they weren't around to play the card of mockery when catching their brother in such... feminine times.

“I understand that you need a hobby since you don't swim, but this is just sad, Otterpaw.” A light giggle exploited Minkpaw's hiding place, taking two gracious steps forward so that she would be in perfect view of her sibling when he twirled to face his pursuer. The tabby folded her hind legs into a sit, tail making way for an amused flick before settling atop tucked forepaws. Her stance radiated mockery at its finest, the way a devilish grin – in the most sisterly love kind of way – spilled across her jaw as pale gold eyes peered forward, a conniving twinkle in their depths.