Shyla the Otter was a very sweet and playful little critter. She could never resist playing games like hide and seek with her friends, but was otherwise very shy and soft-spoken. Today found her sitting under a blossoming cherry tree with a crown of flowers on her head. She was reading a book and soaking in the sun's rays.
As Shyla was reading and drifting off into faraway lands, she was suddenly jolted into reality by a strange rustling noise in the bushes behind her. "Who's there?" she called into the dense brush. The head of an otter poked out of the bushes. "Mikaruse!" she cried, "Don't sneak up on me like that."
Mikaruse giggled as she climbed out of the bushes. "Sorry. Hey, it's hot. Do you wanna go swim in the river?"
"I would LOVE to!" Shyla said with a grin.
So the two of them swam about in the river for a while, but when they got out and started drying themselves off, Shyla noticed some strange footprints on the river bank.
"Mika, come look at these strange footprints," Shyla called to her friend.
"They seem to lead into the woods," commented Mikaruse as she examined them, "let's follow them and see where they lead." They followed the strange tracks deep into Mossflower wood. They were getting into the deeper part of the woods when Shyla, keeping her eyes on the prints, said, "They are too big to be mouse or squirrel footprints, and too small to be a badger's. They definitely aren't from any otter either. What do you think, Mika?" There was silence. "Mika? Mika, are you listening to me?" She turned to see Mika, frozen where she stood, her eyes wide open, and mouth agape. She slowly raised her paw and pointed. Shyla looked in the direction Mika was pointing, and screamed.