Otatso Wetlands I'm getting Hickeys from my Bedbugs

The two strangers had high tailed it out of the Marsh to the Wetlands, which, though still soggy, was a much needed improvement. Mosquitos and other insects still flew about, but in far fewer numbers due in part to the birds. There were many kinds of feathered pest-control all around them. Taikon could hear calls from them among the strange, low canopy overhead. A heron poked through the reeds, hunting for small fish.
The greenery reflected wonderfully on the surface of the water. Taikon nodded as the female spoke of their unfortunate mistake. He laughed at her joke, nodding profusely. Yeah, no kidding, he agreed, looking down at his own legs that had been stained an unpleasant brown colour by the mud. At least the mud will keep us cool for a while, he said, looking only for a bright side to things. He looked at her more closely now that there was less distance between them and he wasn't stuck behind her. She was of a different build than other wolves he had known. Her eyes were like gems, fierce and calming at once with their blue colour. Her copper-tinged face was hardly unpleasant. I'm Taikon, he introduced himself at last.