Otter Creek Falling to pieces

Duh, Junior's inner voice blurted. "You're right," she agreed, smiling sideways at her sibling. "You always were the wise one, Saēna. Whenever I make my way there, we should go check it out. Hey," she added even as the thought occurred to her, "where exactly did you go when you left? Anywhere fun or interesting?"

Even as she waited for an answer, Junior looked ahead along the creek. They were approaching a bend where a few trees grew along the bank. The two juveniles passed beneath them. The wind shook the boughs overhead, causing a few leaves to flutter downward. Simultaneously, sunlight shifted and twinkled in the spaces between the leafy branches, casting iridescent patterns that fell over their backs even as some stray leaves came to rest there.

Soon, they emerged back along a clearer stretch of the small waterway. Ahead, Junior could see that it led into the mountains. She paused, glancing at the water. They were actually walking upstream, against the current, so that meant the creek originated in the mountains. Junior tipped her head and gave Saēna a curious glance, questioning whether she wanted to proceed toward the foothills or perhaps turn back.