Puddles! Puddles! PUDDLES! ((OPEN))

[.:Fawn:.]

"It . . . was my father's," he answered quietly. "I . . . he died before I left home." I like to keep it as a reminder of the heinous crime I committed against my entire family. He let out a short sigh. "I am sorry. It is not something I like to remember." No, because I killed my d*mned father.

Freya's smile vanished along with his, her ears flattening against her skull in a look of dismay. Oh darn it, now I've gone and upset him! Why couldn't I have just let it go? Because I'm too nosy for my own good, that's why. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you -- here, let's just forget I brought it up. It's your ring and your business, so I promise not to pry anymore." Freya leaned forward to hug him, churning the water between them as her long, thin arms wrapped around his torso. "Cheer up, okay? Or else I'm telling Sister Annabelle you need a nap too." Trying to get back into the spirit of things, Freye soon slid out of his arms and swam around him, ducking beneath the surface to give his rudder a playful tug.

Bobbing up a few feet away, Freya tried to give him her best, sunniest smile, as though to erase their previous conversation. "I bet I can reach the other side of the pond before you can -- the loser has to help my mom cook dinner tonight, and buuh-lieve me, she cooks a lot, especially if there's guests."

[Cross]

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you -- here, let's just forget I brought it up. It's your ring and your business, so I promise not to pry anymore." Freya leaned forward to hug him, churning the water between them as her long, thin arms wrapped around his torso. "Cheer up, okay? Or else I'm telling Sister Annabelle you need a nap too."

Cross gave a small smile, moving to return the embrace. But before he knew it, she had slipped from his grasp, diving back under the water. He made to follow her, but she was quick, and his face flushed again as he felt a playful tug on his rudder. He chuckled lightly. Obviously, he was a bit rusty at swimming after spending over a month in the sick bay.

"I bet I can reach the other side of the pond before you can -- the loser has to help my mom cook dinner tonight, and buuh-lieve me, she cooks a lot, especially if there's guests."

Cross didn't care if he won or lost, but he laughed and replied, "You're on." He dove beneath the pond, rocketing towards her like a torpedo. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her along as he made a full lap around the pond. Resurfacing near the shore, he gently deposited her on the bank, grinning like a naughty dibbun.

"Did I win?" he asked innocently, hoisting himself out of the water. Great seasons, when had he gotten this . . . playful? It was fun!

[.:Fawn:.]

Cross didn't care if he won or lost, but he laughed and replied, "You're on." He dove beneath the pond, rocketing towards her like a torpedo. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her along as he made a full lap around the pond. Resurfacing near the shore, he gently deposited her on the bank, grinning like a naughty dibbun.

"Did I win?" he asked innocently, hoisting himself out of the water. Great seasons, when had he gotten this . . . playful? It was fun!


Freya rubbed the water out of her ears, giggling. Who knew that big ol' serious Cross was this playful? Was this the side of him that Koa knew best, or was he behaving like this just for her? Freya's stomach fluttered at the thought, and for a second she'd forgotten he'd spoken to her. ”Did you win? Hmmmm...welllll...considering you pulled me along with you, and since you so kindly put me on the bank first – I'd say I won. Well, maybe it was a close tie.” Playful smirk on her face, sparkle in her eyes, the ottermaid gave his nose a gentle poke before resting her cheek against Cross's shoulder. Yeesh, was this big otter made of rock and earth all compacted together? Seemed like the only thing soft on him was his heart, especially when Koa was involved. While that was all good and fine, it certainly didn't make Cross a good pillow, as far as 'soft and comfy' went. Perhaps she hadn't noticed it earlier, when they'd been under that tree during Cross's recovery, because his fur hadn't been plastered to his frame like it was now?
Hmm.

It was nice to have someone to be silly with, like their little race around the pond, the sliding through the mud – all of it was a wonderful kind of bliss she hadn't felt since Bruno had been home, but she was singing a different tune this time. Ah Bruno... Freya had a feeling Cross and her brother would've been friends – maybe not right away, Bruno didn't care much for otters who took things too seriously (what was it he always said? “Life's one big river, so just go with the flow”), and Cross probably wouldn't like Bruno's carefree attitude... But perhaps they'd realize they weren't so different after all? They both cared about the same thing; protecting their friends.

[Cross]

”Did you win? Hmmmm...welllll...considering you pulled me along with you, and since you so kindly put me on the bank first – I'd say I won. Well, maybe it was a close tie.” Playful smirk on her face, sparkle in her eyes, the ottermaid gave his nose a gentle poke before resting her cheek against Cross's shoulder.

Cross let out a short breath, not quite a chuckle. This girl had a way of making him smile. Were all river otters like that? He enjoyed himself in Koa's presence, as well. Perhaps it was just being around other otters. He hadn't been in the company of so many of his same species since leaving home.

"I warn you, though," he teased, setting her comfortably in his lap. "I am not a good cook. Your mother might throw me from the kitchen after burning the salad."

((Short, sorry.))