Otatso Wetlands the sweetness will not be concerned with me

she dropped river's scruff very suddenly when aditya rounds upon her.  some kind of emergency resposne registers in her and instead of running away like she might have done, she goes to gather the moss.  

when she comes back aditya takes it from her and applies it and another adult arrives — one she has smelled but otherwise not met.  she was useless, quivering in silence.