At Play:
An unexpected piece by Lone Wolf

	It was about four in the afternoon. Vincent, a teen otter, was at his
favorite spot in the woods, Krystal Lake. Oh how did he love it at that time
in the afternoon. It was about the only time that the lake wasn't bustling
with one form or another of chaos. It was, at best, serene. He was under his
favorite elm tree, laying down, relaxed, and half asleep from the soft
chirping of some sparrows up in the trees. The late noon sun beat down on his
soft, brown fur. For a late September afternoon, it was heaven.

	His attention was caught by some splashing. He sat up and looked to
see a graceful crane landing on the water's surface, as if it were an ice
dancer. He chuckled to himself and watched the magnificent creature do a
little fishing for itself. The crane caught it's dinner and took off, just as
smoothly as it had landed. He watched in utter amazement.

	There was some more splashing. Figuring it was another waterfoul, he
turned back to the lake. Instead of seeing what he was hoping for, he was
drenched as someone surfaced. "Ah jeeze!" he said aloud. "I just dried these
off!"
	He heard a giggle. "I'm sorry," a femanine told him. "I didn't know."
	He chuckled. "Jodi! What did I tell you about surfacing when I'm
trying to relax?"
	Jodi, the otter that lived next door, flicked some more water at
him with her tail. "C'mon you. It's the perfect time for a swim!"
	"Nah, I dun think so. I'd perfer the peace you interrupted. Sorry."
He stretched and layed back down.
	"Oh, you're no fun!" She flicked some more water at him. "An' you 
mean to tell me I'm skinny dipping for nothing?"
	He chuckled. "Jo, the only thing you do is skinnydipping."
	"Well, true, but I wasn't planning on doing that until I saw you. Too
bad, eh?"
	"Too bad indeed," he muttered to himself. He took his wet jean jacket
off and hung it up on a tree. All he had left was a pair of shorts, which he
told himself he could survive. "I still don't know how you can be so 
energetic."
	She rested on the side of the lake. "Well, I just think of life as a
big part in a play and, well, make my part fun."
	He chuckled. "So you're always at play by nature?"
	She got out of the water and sat down next to him. "Of course. What'd
you think?"
	"I've always thought you were nuts." She chuckled and gave him a soft
punch in the arm. He grabbed her hand and smiled. "You really want me to go
skinnydipping with you?" She nodded. "All right, if you insist." He hung his
shorts next to his jacket. "So much for rest and relaxation."