A Little Character
Rio the River Otter
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An otter was a lovely thing to be on a hot, late summer afternoon. With sun so bright it pressed every living thing into momentary stillness. Even the wind seemed to tire under the harsh glare of summer's last hurrah.
The air was thick and heavy, filled with moisture that felt like breathing a wall of water. It was unbearable to some, it was torture to others and it was paradise to Rio.
He stood at attention on the river bank, warm rocks under his webbed feet. Toes gripping lightly for purchase, sun warming his whiskered face as he stared across the glittering river. Try as it might the sun couldn't penetrate the might of that river, down, down, deep below the shimmering surface the waters still ran icy cold. The mud thick and chilled against otter feet.
Thinking of it made his paws flex, remembering the silky texture of burying his toes in the cool slick mud that lay like a secret treasure deep beneath the river.
Thinking of it now, the sun still drying his fur, Rio knew he'd be diving in again soon. Already he was anticipating the sharp contrast of temperatures, the instant delight of prickling heat replaced with refreshing cold.
The heat waves shimmering on the ground above would be replaced with the subtle waves in the water. Ripples he created as his sleek body torpedoes downward, tail streaming behind. He felt he was a creature of two worlds. Above and below, wet and dry, and could not imagine life any other way.
He'd tried to coax friends, like the curious deer that delicately nibbled sweet grasses on the river bank, to join him. To dive beneath the waters experience a wet and wonderful other life, to watch fish darting by, see the wavering sunlight trying to reach as far as it could into the river's depth. To experience the storm of bubbles explode around you from kicking your feet, to float in near bliss, watching them sparkle as they rise quickly to the surface.
The deer usually ignored Rio. They were not interested in the river beyond crossing it as quickly as possible or sipping it's refreshing water, safely from the bank.
The heat pressed heavily against Rio's dark fur, already it was near dry.
But not for much longer. He stepped closer to the edge of rock, saw the familiar face reflected back on the water's surface where it gathered in still little pools amongst the rocks.
He smiled, a little, so did the reflection.
Rio breathed deep, filling his lungs with hot, humid air and leaning forward, slowly let himself fall. The world above blurred, the sun fell away in a shower of cold water. Soon he was darting downwards, to play in the mud, to spy on the fish, to leave the heat of day behind for a time, just because he could.....
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