Otter Creek Otter spotter

Patches of light and shadow passed over the dark male as he stalked toward the otter. The creature’s face had barely changed upon noticing the wolf – its whiskers had drawn back a little, its eyes were a litter wider, but other than that the otter seemed as bright-eyed and eager as it had when Nisus had first clapped eyes on it.

He didn’t anticipate an otter being an easy meal, particularly one so close to the water it excelled in, but Nisus was hungry and this might be an opportunity to get his jaws around a meal. If he was quick enough and willing to get at least a little wet. He almost shivered at the thought.

There was a growl so deep it could’ve rocked the earth itself and the wolf’s forward movement ended abruptly, his head swinging towards the far larger form of a bear. Not just a bear – a bear on the move towards him. Pale amber eyes widened a fraction.

“Ah, hell.”

His posture dropped, changing from intent on the chase and hopeful for a meal to reluctantly acknowledging the bear’s size and strength – and in the meantime the otter moved back toward the creek.