Otatso Wetlands cold cold cold

He ran until he couldn't anymore, determined he would not return to Morningside— not just because he'd been told. The young Corten had yet to encounter any true danger in his excursions, and thus his boldness had grown immensely. The wetlands didn't bother him any— in fact, he thought the mud was pretty fun. So it followed that the pup entering the strange woman's line of sight was filthy, slick with mud and sporting a few leaves stuck to his pelt.
It didn't take long for him to spot her. When he did, a grin split his face, and he didn't hesitate to bound over to the stranger, laughing. You look like a monster, He informed her cheerfully. A big ugly one. What's your name? River was very charming, after all.