Sun Mote Copse whistle as I work

He did his best to imagine what his father described: solid land underfoot, contrasted with the cool give of water. Skip enjoyed playing in the copse’s ponds and streams with his sister, though he always stayed in the shallows. Deep water intimidated him, since he couldn’t fathom what mysteries it might contain. He only understood that he could not breathe in water the way he could when striding across terra firma, like so.

Grandma’s name is Towhee! Skipjack refuted with a boyish bray of laughter, entirely forgetting to question this ocean his da mentioned. He did consider Njord’s words enough to wonder, How you get here?

“I ken! He swimmed!” came Otter’s voice a little too close to his ear, prompting Skip to lean his head away.