The young river otter skims along the creek on his belly. But the water is still. No splash today.
He pauses. One paw hovers over flat stone. Where is the fat green frog? His ears droop. The creek is silent and dry.
Milo waddles to the wide river. A thick branch is wedged across the flow, holding all the water back.
He shoves and heaves at the branch until his paws ache. It won't budge. He huffs, frustrated, as the branch groans deeper.
Milo presses his ear against the branch. Gurgling — water trapped and waiting. Something clicks inside him. He stamps his foot.
"Friends! The river needs us!" His voice bounces off the trees and carries down the bank.
A rabbit arrives with long ears pinned forward. A frog hops down with a loud ribbit. A blue jay swoops low, wings clacking.
They pile onto the branch — Milo pushing, the rabbit pulling at roots, the frog hopping and shoving, the blue jay pecking at tangled twigs.
With one great crack the branch splits and water bursts free! The river roars back to life.
Milo rides the rushing water in a gleeful spin, splashing past the rabbit's wet nose, the frog's surprised croak, and the blue jay's cackling cry.
The creek and the river are singing again, loud and bright. Milo rests on a smooth stone beside his friends, listening to the happy sound.
The water gurgles and laughs. Milo smiles. Everything is right again.