Otter Creek Rivers flow only one way

She hadn't spent much quality time with Charon lately, so when the Alpha seemed interested in exploring with her, Wildfire happily seized the opportunity. She led him due east, pointing out the burnt woods where they had chased each other through the ash many months ago. They crossed a small river, roamed across a familiar prairie, then skirted around Greatwater Lake. From its southeastern shore, they traipsed along the bank of a partially frozen stream, stopping just as the scent of a nearby pack began to tease the young scout's nostrils.

Her leader's voice caused her to slow, then stop. "I've never actually been to this exact location, though I've visited many of the surrounding areas," she told him. "I've met her," she added with a small smile, recollecting her one brief encounter with Potema. "We actually met on Moonspear, believe it or not, before it was claimed," Wildfire recollected aloud. She had been looking for Uncle Papa Pan at the time.

She reminisced for a moment, then began to ask, "Hey, do you sm—?" but before she could get out the entire question, Charon stiffened noticeably. She followed his gaze, her own amber eyes clapping upon a large, swarthy figure. For an instant, she thought it might be her father, though she quickly realized it was a total stranger. His cold, pale eyes were so different from Peregrine's dusky jade.

Charon hadn't said anything yet. The redheaded diplomat exchanged a quick glance with him, then faced the stranger again and called, "Hey." She sidestepped a bit closer to her pack mate, their shoulders brushing, black tail waving speculatively as she anticipated a reaction.