Otter Creek born unto trouble

takota huffs, water curling around his legs in restless spins as if even the creek knows he is full of shit. a stubborn man standing there with that half-crooked grin that always gets him in trouble, shoulders lifting with a slow roll as if the cold doesn’t bother him.

it does.

every inch of him is screaming, but pride is a cruel, loyal thing.

woman, you act like i’m tryna drown you! he bellows through the trees, voice rough with laughter, while qalu and many other birds go flying, startled. his bronze eyes rake over her where she stands firm on the bank, pale and gold and beautiful. a blow right to the ribs. she is the only softness that he has ever allowed himself...

and even she has teeth.

takota steps deeper until the water swallows him up to the shoulders, a violent shiver betraying him, though he tries to swallow it down like pride. see? warm as summer, he lies again, worse this time, because he shivers again. teeth chattering through a wide-lipped smile.

he flicks water at her with a sweep of his paw, grin widening. c’mon, baby. ain’t as cold if you come in with me.