Otter Creek born unto trouble

@Shani but all welcome !

their travels have taken them from the heights of the wilderness, down into the lowlands, and back up into the flatlands. and as takota searches tirelessly for something that may just be out of reach,

his wife follows endlessly. loyal and supporting, despite her husband's stubborn, infuriating ways. and now he turns back along the connecting, winding creeks, following along the water bed.

dipping into the cold current and shuddering as of a result, those bronze eyes of his turning onto her. and in the glitter of the sunlight, she is radiant. pale pelt blending amongst the frost bitten foliage, though the gold upon her backside is warm beneath the sun's swathe.

kota chuckles, jerking his head for her. c'mere, his husky drawl is roguish, the water's nice.

liar.

shani dropped the pelts beside the bank, spreading them in a neat line for him to dry on. she planted herself at the ledge, unmoving.

absolutely not.

takota slipped into the creek like a shadow cut loose, all dark muscle and stubborn pride. even shuddering from the cold, he was strong in that rough, impossible way of his; the kind of strength carved by hardship, not vanity. sunlight caught on the wet line of his back, turning him into something fierce and untouchable.

god, he was handsome. infuriatingly so. and she loved him for it, even when it made her want to claw his ears off.

he jerked his head. come closer.

she didn’t budge.

takota huffs, water curling around his legs in restless spins as if even the creek knows he is full of shit. a stubborn man standing there with that half-crooked grin that always gets him in trouble, shoulders lifting with a slow roll as if the cold doesn’t bother him.

it does.

every inch of him is screaming, but pride is a cruel, loyal thing.

woman, you act like i’m tryna drown you! he bellows through the trees, voice rough with laughter, while qalu and many other birds go flying, startled. his bronze eyes rake over her where she stands firm on the bank, pale and gold and beautiful. a blow right to the ribs. she is the only softness that he has ever allowed himself...

and even she has teeth.

takota steps deeper until the water swallows him up to the shoulders, a violent shiver betraying him, though he tries to swallow it down like pride. see? warm as summer, he lies again, worse this time, because he shivers again. teeth chattering through a wide-lipped smile.

he flicks water at her with a sweep of his paw, grin widening. c’mon, baby. ain’t as cold if you come in with me.

shani sighed, eyes narrowing — and then, against her better judgment, she stepped closer. she eased her forepaws into the creek, cold biting instantly, breath catching.

…you’re an idiot, she murmured, lips twitching despite herself.

but she didn’t pull away. she never did. even when she should.