Big Salmon Lake in the corner with the scarlet letter

When she didn't move to push him back into the water, Mordecai rose out from it swiftly. The solid ground felt wonderful beneath his feet, but the sodden nature of his pelt did not. He gave it a rough shake, expelling the water from it as his companion bolted away. Almost at the moment he finished, he found her whirling around and striking a playful bow. He snorted with amusement, springing away to meet her. But Mordecai did not give her chase like she may have anticipated; instead he dropped swiftly to his elbows in a mocking bow, his tail meeting the wave of her own with excitement.

“I guess we're in a standoff,” he told her with a laugh. If competition was what she was after, Mordecai could have certainly gave her something to run for. But he was just as content with the thought of a passing playmate, as though they were really children once again. Sometimes, the mundane deserved a break for something a little more entertaining.