Firefly Ravine River Crossing

Tohka staggered to the bank, freezing cold water dripping from her drenched coat. So much for crossing the river without getting soaked as she had hoped. By the time Katora had reached the edge of the ravine and called out to her, she had recovered from the shock of the sudden fall and the cold water. However, as the initial shock wore off, a few new pains set in. She had a sore spot on her left flank where she had landed on a small boulder and some scrapes on her left hip where she had slid down the embankment. She also felt a sting on her right hind paw where she had cut herself at some point during the fall. She didn’t think she had sustained any injuries, and her mother had taught her how to keep cuts from getting infected, so she wasn’t in bad shape at all.

But Tohka liked attention and didn’t mind using her fall and exaggerating to get it. Since Katora was close by, there was no need to howl, so she called out her answer. “I’ve got some bumps, but I think I’m alright.” She deliberately limped, dragging her left hind leg behind her, knowing that the other could easily see her, and added, “but my side hurts pretty bad.” The pain was tolerable and would heal in time, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t complain about it.