"You're it!" squealed Bubble as she tackled the little boar. They burst out laughing after the fifth game ended. By then, the sun was almost completely set.

"Dew! Bubble! Come inside!" whistled Beyla from inside the nursery. She poked her furry head out of the entrance to see the pups still batting at one another. "BUBBLE! Quit playing and come inside, you know better!"

Both pups flinched, ears flat at the older otter's tone. "We better go," murmured Dew as he untangled himself once more.

Had time really gone by that fast since they started playing?

They raced one another to the den, Bubble winning due to her longer legs. As Dew went to Beyla, the little she-otter trotted over to her nest she shared with River. The pup's back was facing Bubble.

"Why did you leave?" whispered Bubble as she placed a paw on his shoulder. He jerked it away, causing her to stumble a little.

"Leave me alone...why don't you go be with your new best friend?" sneered the boar with a slight hiss. He missed the hurt expression on the she-otter's face at his words, as he was still facing away from her.

"River...I-"

River suddenly jumped up, his sable fur rising on his back. Another hiss escaped his parted jaws. "Go away!" he nearly shouted. Bubble stumbled backwards, shaking with hurt.

The rest of the pups, including Beyla and Primrose, Rowan's mate, were drawn to the argument.

"What is going on here?"

Silence came from the seething boar while sniffles and held back tears were from the she-otter. "Well?" prompted Primrose when neither would speak up.

"She abandoned me to play with that scrap of fur!" he growled loudly. There was something more than anger in his brown eyes, something the little otter never saw before.

"That does not give you the right to treat your Holtmates so poorly. Apologize for your behavior."

"But-" River thought better than to argue once he saw the look Primrose was giving him. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry for yelling at you..." he mumbled without looking at Bubble.

Marigold and Honey glanced at their brother in confusion, then to their friend. Only Dew had a knowing look in his berry blue eyes. He had quietly crept up to the group as they talked.

"You like her, don't you?" Bubble heard him say to River. An unknown emotion soared through her body as she saw the sable otter nod his head.

That explains his actions toward me.

"Okay, pups, let's get to sleep," chirped Primrose from where she was laying with her oldest daughter, Beyla. Dew ran over to where their nest was and snuggled close.

Bubble sighed quietly and went to lay in her nest, assuming she will be sleeping alone. She jumped slightly when a warm, furry body curled itself around her small frame. She knew that scent anywhere.

"Bubble, I'm really sorry for snapping at you," murmured River, his voice slightly hoarse. He nudged her shoulder lightly with his. "Are we ok?"

In answer, the little she-otter placed her head next to his and her tail over his back. "Of course we are, fish-brain." Bubble nuzzled his cheek with her nose and fell asleep.