You realized that your clothes were fine, you were wearing old clothes because your good
clothes were still packed away. Looking around, you see a figure a ways down the
stream. Hey! Maybe you had neighbors closer than you thought. As you approach,
however, you notice something strange about them. You duck behind a wide oak tree and
check to make sure that what you're seeing is right. You were! Standing ahead of you is a
boy about 15 years old. But he was no ordinary boy. He was an anthropomorphic otter
boy! His lithe and muscular body was completely naked except for a tooth necklace and a
leather band around his left forearm. His fur was a milk-chocolate-brown on the back,
arms, legs, head, and top half of his tail. But his stomach, groin, muzzle, sheath, and the
underside of his tail was an oak-brown. So was his human-like hair that hung down past
his shoulders. He had white markings painted on his right forearm. Two white bands
around his bicep and a circle with a crescent above it on his lower shoulder and tricep. In
his clawed hands he held a head-height stick that had been sharpened into a spear. His
deep, brown eyes stared intently at the water over his black triangular nose. He hadn't
even seen you. His mouth open slightly like he had found what he was looking for, he
plunged the spear into the water. Pulling it out, a large fish stuck on the end, he let out a
laugh of delight. Tossing the fish onshore, he looked around, and saw you. Each of you is
as surprised as the other. But whereas you just stand there with your mouth open, he
goes into a fighting stance with the spear, his eyes never wavering from you. He starts to
slowly back away. Not wanting him to become agitated, but not wanting him to leave, you
call out,"Wait!" Much to your surprise, he answers.
"Who or what are you? And what are you doing here?"
Not sure how to answer, you simply say,"I'm Steven O'Connor, I'm a human, and I just
moved here!" Walking slowly from behind the tree with your hands up, you shout
back,"Who are you? Where are you from?" You see him relax a little, but he still appears
wary.
However, he answers back,"My name is Devan of the Kinzu Stream Tribe." This time, he
moves slowly closer instead of further away. You seem to have peaked his interest. He
crosses the wide stream in two hops, doing it in a way that keeps him protected and
ready even in midair. He is now five yards from you and he lowers his weapon, but not so
much so that it couldn't be quickly put to use.
"I'm not going to hurt you," you say,"I just moved into a house a little ways from here and
decided to explore the woods around it."
"Well," he says, seemingly in a much lighter mood,"I'd say these are more than just
woods! This forest stretches for miles in every direction! I know the house you are talking
about; it's big and made of logs, right?"
"Yeah!" you answer,"It's right up the hill from here! Where do you live? I'd like to get to
know my neighbors better."
"Our village is a mile and a half downstream from the Big Rock Pool, which is right over
there." He points at the place where he had been fishing. "Oh, no! The fish!" he runs over
and picks it up. Brushing off some dirt, he says to you,"I have to bring this fish back for
supper tonight. Would you like to come for dinner? I'm sure my parents would love to
meet our new neighbor!" You notice that, though he seems friendly, his spear is still easily
accessable. Clearly, he doesn't fully trust you. He then leads you down a well-traveled
path on the opposite side of the stream.