The otterbabes rushed back to the door, almost knocking Asrif down, but he was used to such a treatment and stood his ground as he hugged his children. Are you leaving now?”Īsrif nodded, picking up a rucksack with his traveling gear, and Bekka saw her brother’s spear, cleaned and sharp, leaned against the wall as well.
“Why, of course I would look after them,” smiled Bekka, remembering that her brother had only recently been promoted to the Captain of the Outer Guard, responsible for patrolling the lands away from Castle Floret. Ailika won’t return till tomorrow, so I wondered if you could watch over the little ones.” “Ailika had left for the Northern village two days ago to help them with the crops, and yesterday evening the Squirrelking asked me to lead an otter guard patrol to the Blackthorn Hill – there was reported some trouble with vermin. “You’re spoiling them, sis,” sighed Asrif when the children ran away with their trophies. “Of course I bring sweets,” smiled Bekka, pulling some candied chestnuts from her belt pouch and giving each otterbabe a treat. “Sorry we knocked you over,” chorused his two oldest daughters while one of their younger brothers peeped, “Do ye blin’ sweets?” “What do you say now, children?” asked Asrif in a stern voice. You’ve grown twice as big since I last saw you!” The otterwife was back on her footpaws in a moment. “Children, children! If you go on like that, you’ll trample your aunt down and there won’t be anybeast to tell stories for you!” That had a desirable effect: two older babes trotted away from their visitor, clutching at their father’s paws. In a moment, the otterwife tripped on one of the pouncing kits and dropped down on her knees, but she just laughed and pulled the babes into a hug.Īnother adult otter, a tall grey-furred beast with clear green eyes, came to her rescue, picking up the twins. She was brought down right away as a small bunch of otterbabes mobbed her with cries of “Auntie!” Two tiny twin otterbabes clutched at her footpaws, squealing with glee, while two older kits pounced round her, tugging at her paws and dress. She knocked at the door and immediately let herself in without waiting for somebeast to open it. The otterwife smiled when she reached the house she was heading to, for she could hear carefree voices and happy laugher even outside. “I really hope it is, Torlak Streambattle!” she called back. “Looks like it’s going to be a good day, eh, Ravenfeather?” called a burly otter from the riverbank.
Several early risers greeted her as she passed by, some of them slightly bowing their heads with respect upon seeing a circlet of woven bark on her head, a single raven feather attached to it. The glints of dawn reflected from the water shone into the otterwife’s hazel eyes, and she shielded her face off the sun as she neared a small house on the bank of a wide river that stood among other modest cottages. The sun was rising over the lands of Southsward, bathing hills and streams in its soft golden light.
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