Lost Creek Hollow rowing

whenever you have time! <3

@Ashlar was over a month old now, and mona was eager to reintegrate with the pack. her legs missed the experience of running, which in turn made her think of what gannet had said — and that in its own right brought to mind the pleasant visage of the male who had taken ashlar upon himself to raise.
it was a quiet, winning arrangement, as far as mona was concerned, though her care with the matter was honed and ever-present. currently, she walked slowly along a little footpath, her small son toddling behind. "i want to take you to see the water," the cardinal murmured conversationally, turning to watch his progress behind her.

Ashlar followed Mona dutifully, and while every so often he would stray behind to sniff at an interesting something or other, as soon as Mona fell ahead he would bound up to near level with her.

Whasa the wadda, momma? he asked, and looking at her meant he stumbled a bit over the ground until he looked back down again. His babbling was fast turning to words, but walking and talking simultaneously took a great deal of concentration.

"it's the stuff for which this place is named," mona answered, pausing to allow ashlar's shorted legs a respite. a smile bloomed over his head at the effort of her son to both question her and walk, and she moved more slowly in the direction of the water. its scent filled the forest, calming mona in deep ways, and the scent of it was good, clear. "smell that," she murmured, stopping again to fill her lungs with the fragrance of the fresh creek.

He ran forward to catch up and bumped his head against her leg, laughing softly and childishly.  Ashlar was able to keep up a bit better as she started slower, and he could ask more questions, which was wonderful.  His mother was perhaps his favorite person to ask things of.

Smells dirt, he giggled.  Issit bad? He looked down, then around, as if expecting the 'water' to appear suddenly from the trees.

she laughed a little, amused by the bluntness of her small son. "i suppose it does smell a bit like dirt," mona admitted, grinning down at ashlar before continuing on. "and it isn't bad. it's actually very goood." the creek spread ahead, and in a few moments' time, she led her boy through thin birches and came upon the bank. 
swift and proud, the waters rushed over their stony bed, and mona watched it for a moment before glancing to ashlar, wanting to see what he would make of the creek.

It was good, not bad.  Ashlar turned his trusting eyes to her then, away from the trees, as he accepted completely now that there was no danger in them.  S goo, s goo, s goo wadda dirt. He sang quietly as he walked along.  His steps were ridiculously stiff legged sometimes as he attempted to step on a pattern of leaves that only really made sense to him.

Ashlar's eyes widened as he raised his head when Mona stopped, as the creek was laid out before him.  He'd never seen so much water, and the way it glistened in the light made it seem even more mysterious.  He needed to see it and to touch it in that swift, immediate way most children have with something new.  He took a step towards the bank, then halted, and glanced up.  Momma, see?! he asked, hoping she would say yes.

ashlar's immediate and eager reaction elicited another grin from his mother. "i do see it," mona answered. what a blessing he was! she thought swiftly of how laurel's children had disappeared, and then the somber merrick. a frown passed over her features, but in the next she was calm, focused on her son.
"come over here," she instructed, leading him a small ways downstream to where the gentler shallows lapped the rocky bank. "look," the firebrand went on, dipping a forepaw into the cool water. "see?"

He'd wanted to know if he was going to be able to touch it, and it looked like he was!  He watched with captivation as Mona dipped her paw and set ripples out.  He trundled over and waited nervously, because for some reason initially it had seemed fun, but now it seemed a little scary.  

See, he answered, then slowly he walked to the shallow.  First he sniffed at it, and fortunately he kept his muzzle high enough not get a nose full of water.  Then he too tapped it with a paw, and squealed delightedly at how cold it was.  S wet!

mona laughed, basking in her little son's exclamation over the water. "yes, very wet," she agreed, wading into the shallows a few paces. it would swiftly become too deep for him, but there was a length of creek enough that he could explore the mild depths if he so chose.
"look, ashlar," mona breathed, for not far at all from the pair there was a school of small trout, placidly searching for larvae on the stones beneath the clear water.

Her laughter was one of the best sounds to him, and in answer to it he splashed more in the shallowest reaches.  His giggles matched as the cold wetness seeped in and delighted him.  It was new and it was weird and therefore, it was fun.

When Mona called to him Ashlar stopped and came immediately to attention.  His eyes widened with awe at the fish, but he didn't dare get closer except to creep a few steps to see better.  Wha dey? he breathed.  The ripples and the shadows of the fish were entrancing, as were the lazy circles they roved among the stones.

"those are fish," his mother answered, her voice scarcely above a whisper as she contemplated whether or not she could get close enough for a strike. motioning ashlar back somewhat, indicating that he should stay silent, mona crept deeper into the shallows, willing her shadow not to fall across the water and startle the trout.
tensing, the firebrand allowed herself a brief intake of breath before she lunged, submerging her head swiftly beneath the water and snapping at the nearest fish. she reemerged with the smallest of the shoal, and it gave her a great fight, lashing at mona's face and ears with its wildly churning body as she dragged it to the bank.
there the woman flung it twice against the hard rocks and bit its spine, panting somewhat as the poor creature's maw gaped for breath. looking to ashlar now, she gave a wide grin. "and you can eat fish."

Fishhhhh Ashlar drew out the last sound, but he followed mama's example at least and kept his voice down at a hush.  He wanted so badly to join her!  His little toes danced under the water, but other than that the boy stayed obediantly back and silent.

Ashlar's instincts told him that he should pay rapt attention as mama performed for him so his eyes never left her.  He stared enraptured as she watched, then tensed, then struck!  The child couldn't prevent the squeal of delight he let loose as she emerged with something caught, some delightful silvery thing that shimmered.  Was that a fish?!

Up close Ashlar could see that it was in fact very shiny and very flat.  Eat!!! he exclaimed, hopping.  Now no doubt it was his turn, by his reckoning.  The small child began to march his way towards the fish without much stealth but with, at least, a great deal of purpose.

”yes! eat,” she encouraged the small boy, lowering herself over the stilled body. lifting a small paw, she touched the glimmering surface of the limp fish.
”scales,” mona murmured softly, slowly, before falling silent in anticipation of how little ashlar might approach this large and new meal.