Otter Creek After the Storm

Easy roamed the flatlands with a tiny smile on her face, glowing with the hope of new life stirring within her. She would not know for a while yet if the adventurer's seed had taken, but she felt they'd both given it their best try. Now, her estrus was fading, and she smelled instead of their coupling — something she ought to remedy, before she returned to her boys!

She came to the creek and waded in without hesitation, and dripped her dark head to drink. When she lifted it again, it was to see an unfamiliar figure sparkling in the sunlight. Easy sloshed in that direction, and then pulled herself back onto the embankment to shake water from her dark fur.

"It's a beautiful day," she said, a knowing smile on her face. "Are you hoping for company other than me? Or might I join you for a little while?"