Arrow Lake white snake

Pukei’a sunny disposition returned almost immediately. Anselm’s residual guilt faded away, replaced with grim determination. 

This vay. He announced, picking up an easy lope that carried them up the embankment and towards a quiet creek.

It took some time for him to confirm the direction of the scents; some made for the creek, but others trailed along the embankment. He even found a fresh deposit of scat -- no doubt from a beaver just hours before.

He slowed as they neared, motioning with a paw towards the tranquil scene: dark and undisturbed still-water edged out for acres. Swamp-trees fought for their existence, though most had been cut down by excising teeth. 

Several hundred meters from where they stood, a large lodge rose from the creek bed and cast its reflection across the blackwater.