went up the water spout

Allure, Swift, and Pasha dispersed almost immediately, breaking away to sniff out their new surroundings. Only Whittier remained, gazing tearfully up at his mother. The move was not agreeing with him, and frankly, Bazi was surprised that he had made it this far without losing his shit. She looked down into his pitiful face, willing herself to push him off and away - to tell him that he was perfectly capable of finding water without help. But she was not invincible to Whittier's sweet, plump little face, and eventually he cracked her.

"Fine, fine," the defeated mother agreed with a sigh. The boy deserved a drink of water for making it this far, and the Bitcurrent wasn't far off. "Come on, peanut," she urged, cooling his face with a few sloppy kisses before she set off - slowly, this time - in the direction of running water. It could be heard from where they were standing, but Whittier looked like he might be at the end of his short little puppy tether.