Big Salmon Lake Preface

Confidently, to reinforce her mark, she scraped at the dirt. Several raking strides of her back paws. A thorough shake of her coat, once she was finished. Huffing out a breath through her nose, Aliki was satisfied for the moment.

The peace did not last.

Perhaps her calling card had worked a little too well. A turn of her head saw to her a complete stranger, closer than she was comfortable with so early on. And, he was prattling on. Running his mouth a mile a minute like they were long lost buddies.

Violet eyes narrowed as she took a step back to put some space between her and the male. Her lip curled, flashing a warning. Tail raised, a signal of her own self-confidence.

Wordlessly, she stared him down. Taking in all he said about how he tried his luck in the lake. How she stank, scaring off the fish. How she should sit back and watch him, a supposed master!

Finally, she broke her silence in a short, dry laugh.

"That stench, is the signature of a true water wolf." Born and bred, she might add. She stepped towards him with a firm, assertive growl. But instead of a head on collision that seemed to be coming, the audacious female simply passed him by.

And smoothly into lake. Where water slipped and molded around her form. Seeming to pay him no mind (yet suspecting he was watching) she scanned with a practiced eye. Then, in one single, fluid motion, dove under the water like an otter. Slick coated, she re-surfaced with a massive four foot Chinook salmon. With no small amount of pride, she strode back to dry ground to enjoy her catch, as if to say; that is how it's done.