Big Salmon Lake the paths before us

it had become warm enough to swim, if he so desired it, but castor found himself hesitating at the lake's edge. it had been a long time since he'd last been in the water.
as he hesitated, a strikingly familiar scent wafted in on the breeze. it didn't belong to anyone he knew - but he knew the scent of heat very well. he froze as he heard the approaching footsteps, and turned with some effort put toward masking his sudden tension. hello, he greeted as another wolf came into view, a woman he didn't recognize. he was too caught off-guard to think of anything else to add.