mysterious omen

Ordinarily, Mossy wouldn’t have heard the low summons. While much of the family resided among the mangroves, she often frequented the swamplands herself. It was only the intrusion of a family of loud and colourful giants that had driven her to, at least temporarily, relocate closer to this particular heart tree. The company here had always been good, and maybe just a little of her teenage, I don’t need no help I can make it on my own! was wearing off… Maybe.

She had been up to her chin in the water, mimicking a gator in the way she was attempting to stalk the family of swine on the banks. Her nose, eyes and ears were all that stood above the waterline, concealed among the finger-like roots of the many trees that made up much of the solid land around here. Sure, on a larger wolf, maybe one like Puddle, it’d probably only come up to their chest, but she had to work with what she was given, and the water didn’t get much shallower than here.

The summons, however, was enough to put an end to her stalking, her porky pals were now on high alert and any surprise advantage she had was lost. With some amusement, despite her grumbly belly, the girl leapt towards her porcine prey with a loud growl and a peal of cackling laughter. They scattered like the wind, squealing all the while.

Not bothering to shake off the sea grass that was tangled in her fur from the estuarine waters, or to lessen the weight of her waterlogged fur, Moss sloshed her way towards the caller. Her legs lifted unnaturally high across drier sections of ground, just in case she accidentally stepped into a concealed patch of sucking mud. Again. After all, it wasn’t like she had a lot of tail left to spare after the last time…

Finally finding Mud, looking very concerned, the tiny girl plonked herself down, lifting a leg to scratch at the loose skin and fur around her neck, sending debris scattering from her fur with the movement. All this salty water and sand wasn’t doing her skin any good. ”What you got there?” She asked the other woman casually. Whatever it was STUNK! …and Moss was barely resisting the urge to roll in it.