Swiftcurrent Creek acqua più blu

It was time to go home. Although Tambourine was enjoying this change in pace and scenery, he knew Stark and Banner would be worrying about him. Plus, he was starting to miss them as well as his other cohorts in the Keep. So he ignored the wild instincts that coaxed him to keep heading south and instead turned back toward the mountains. Before he reached the bypass—once through it, it would be a direct line north to home—he must first cross the cold stream.

He stood on the bank, reluctant to dip his big feet into the frigid waters. The current was quite swift here, so he moseyed along the shore, searching for a calmer or at least shallower place to cross. What he found instead was a bony, sandy shape curled up beside the water. Tambourine came to a stop a few yards away, tail sticking out behind him as he sniffed the air. Although the smaller canine appeared sort of dead, he didn't smell like it...

"Um," the boy rumbled lowly before clearing his throat a little and raising his voice a few octaves, "are you dead?"