Sawtooth Spire Paper Hearts

His father nosed him, and three glanced up at him but continued bathing his paws until he was satisfied that the only moisture left on them was the remnants of his own saliva. This, he did not mind, but he had no desire to soak his toes and did not follow his father back to the creek. Unfortunately for him, his father brought the creek to him, allowing it to drip onto his foxy head. His ears splayed to either side, and he scrunched up his face shaking his head as Iqniq spoke, and planting his feet when he was nudged. Nope, he was not doing back into that water.

He looked past his father, to watch his siblings frolic; but while he had demonstrated time and time again that he did not want to be left behind or left out of anything, he had no inkling to join his brothers in this game. Their actions, however, did encourage him to sneak closer, drawing along the ground on his belly until his toes were in line with the stream edge, as close as they could be without touching it.

He peered down at the water, and then leaned forward to touch it with his snout, which caused an instinctual reflex to lap at it. He smacked the water around in his mouth, and discovered he liked the taste and the coolness on his tongue, just not on his paws. He drank some more, tail wagging behind him.