Redhawk Caldera AQUACULTURE

Wildfire squeaked when the droplets of water hit her back. She shot Peregrine a look of reproof, then smiled as she turned back toward her mother. Fox led the way into the water and Wildfire waded in after her. It was cold! The puppy found herself arching her back to avoid letting the water touch her belly. It lapped around her legs. She wiggled her toes and found her paws adjusting to the water's temperature. She eased forward, squeaking and gasping as the water finally licked at her tummy with its ice cold tongue.

The child was ignorant to what was happening behind and on either side of her. She kept her amber gaze fixed on her mother, who coaxed her to come out farther. The puppy looked perplexed when Fox said the water would hold her up, though the next instant she was marveling when that was exactly what happened. She felt herself floating for the very first time (since escaping Fox's womb, anyway), her little toes suddenly losing contact with the lake bottom.

"Mama..." Wildfire cried in an uncertain voice. She couldn't decide what to think. She felt so disoriented! Luckily, instincts began to kick into gear, causing her to start paddling her legs to stay afloat before she could even begin to sink. In this way, she avoided getting a mouthful of water or any of the other unpleasant side effects of drowning.

"Mama!" she cried again, her tone entirely different this time. "Look at me! I'm swimmin'!" she crowed. She began to curve to the left—perhaps her right legs were stronger—and she spotted Finley on the shore. "Aunt Flea, look! I swimmin'!" she screeched in excitement.