Chapter Three! Basically developing caracters right now, if the storyline seems a little slow at the moment. Enjoy!
**Oh, one more thing, I may not be able to publish another chapter for a while. June and July are really busy for my family. We are currently in the middle of preparations for my brother's graduation. We also have a string of celebrations through July, so I'm not sure when I'll have time to write. I promise I will put up chapter 4 as soon as I can!**

~MarbleTabby

Young creatures love having freedom from adults. The otters of the Rainwake and Stormriver tribes were thrilled to be on their fishing trip. It was a chance to get to know each other and make a few close friends before meeting dozens of other tribes at the Hullabaloo. Their laughter mingled with the sound of the river and the songs of the birds.

Pippin and Theo had bonded quickly. Pippin, who never really had many friends, found Theo quite charming and easy to talk to. They had set up their own nets and lines on the river, and were sitting on the bank talking and watching other groups. One group, mad up of three Rainwake and two Stormriver females, was clumsily setting up fishing gear.

Pippin nodded towards one female in the group.
"That's Variana, she's Garad's daughter."
Theo chuckled, "One would think that a chieftain's child would know how to set up fishing gear."
"She's just faking it so that some handsome beast will come and help her," Pippin said, rolling her eyes.
"Well it looks like it's working," Theo said. He pointed across the river. A Stormriver otter was setting up Variana's gear.
Theo shook his head, "Let's hope they don't catch anything."

Pippin laughed, and turned her attention to the nets that she and Theo had set up. One of them was jiggling wildly.
"Oh, look!" she cried, jumping into the river with a splash. Theo followed, and the two of them began wrapping the fish in the net. It didn't take them long, but they once again drew a crowd. As Pippin and Theo hauled the net ashore, the crowd drew in closer. They were eager to see the size of the day's first catch.

It was a monster. Still flopping and thrashing, the catfish was almost as long as Pippin was tall. The otters broke into cheers.
"Strike me rudder, another 'un that size and we'd have supper and tomorrow's breakfast!"
"Congrats mates! Ye might just set a record!"

Only Variana and her friends seemed unimpressed. The rest of the crowd dispersed to see if their nets and lines held any spoils. Variana came forward as Pippin and Theo were loading their fish into a woven reed basket.
"Congratulations on that amazing catch, Theo," she said, fluttering her long eyelashes.
"Thanks. It wasn't just me, though. This is Pippin's catch too," Theo said.
"She couldn't have done it if you weren't here. Do you really think that she would have been able to get that thing on the bank by herself?" Variana said. Theo could feel Pippin fuming behind him.
"I think she'd find a way," he replied. Variana glanced back at her friends, and then shrugged.
"Maybe we can hang out later. You could give us some fishing tips," she said.
"Maybe," Theo muttered.
"Great," Variana said, giving a big, fake smile, "See you later, Theo." She turned around, and began walking away.
"Bye Pipsqueak," she called over her shoulder.

Theo turned to face Pippin.
"Wow," he said.
"Can you believe her?" Pippin hissed, "Maybe you can give us some fishing tips later." She said, imitating Variana's high-pitched, stuck-up voice. Theo laughed.
"Just ignore her. Come on, I think one of our other lines might have something on it."

The rest of the afternoon was fairly uneventful. The young Rainwake and Stormriver otters headed back to the camp with their catches. Several otters had caught some good sized fish, but none came near the size of Theo and Pippin's. There were three baskets bursting with watershrimp. The seven or eight youngest otters, who were not far out of dibbunhood, all carried bundles of hotroot, watercress, and wild green onions.

When they arrived the large group went to drop off their hauls at the largest tent, set up as the kitchen. As they were walking away, they heard one of the cooks cry out.
"GREAT SEASONS OF THE SEVEN SEAS! WHO HAULED THAT BEASTIE IN?"

Garad and Vanthur were alerted by the cook's cry, and went to investigate. When they entered the kitchen tend, their admiration of the giant catfish was plain to see.
"Who did bring that one in?" Garad asked.
"It was Pippin and Theo," an otter called out.
"Pippin and Theo?" Garad repeated.
"Yessir, that's our catch," Theo said, stepping forward.
"Well good for you, m'boy!" Vanthur said, slapping his son's shoulder, "That'll make for good eatin' tonight!"

Please R&R!
As I said at the top of the page, I am really busy through June and July, so it may be a while before Chapter Four comes out.

Sorry!
~MarbleTabby