banding together

It was wet and hot in here, with the sound of running water filling her ears. Maki was enthralled with the idea that there were caves and caverns right beneath their paws. Lands to be explored, just waiting to be found. Of course, she was too small to go wandering off and explore them on her own but that was what her friends and family in the band was for, right? Not only was Ulmaria pretty as a princess, but she was smart like one too! Knew all sorts of things about plants and the world around her. Maki hoped to be as smart as her one day.

Approaching the water's edge, she peered down at her reflection as the stream rolled past. Droplets of water would occasionally spray up and hit her nose, making her go a little cross-eyed as she watched them.

"What would happen if all the water was gone?" Maki asked, in the typical childlike habit of asking a question then a dozen whys after it.