Otter Creek Put on my thinking cap

The annoying little brown things seemed to get the point that she would literally eat them if given the chance and backed off leaving her to just stand there bristling at the water. She thanked the stars that nobody had been around to see tha- "Oh shit!" she cursed and whirled around, startled. Her heart dropped and raced simultaneously at the sight of Howl and she stepped forward, almost rushing to greet him before she stopped completely and her face fell.

She had left to avoid this, to work out her emotions while resisting temptation in the form of a very handsome, very kind man. Now she was face to face with him and she flattened her ears back "Small brown water prey. They bit my belly" she explained in a soft voice. She sighed and climbed from the stream, standing next to him and resisting the urge to lean in and kiss his cheek. "We have to talk Howl. Something's happened" she said and sat down on her haunches.