A Firm Tap

Stiff neck. Warm air. I blinked the haze out of my sight and took in the brown current churning alongside me. My left paw answered when I told it to move. Solid. I reached forward, pressing down against the sugary red flagstone beneath my foot. Firm enough. Doesn't slip. Then I raised a claw and tapped the braided leather band around my hat brim, nudging it back just an inch to clear the view. Good. Ground holds, hat stays put. I can work with this.