At the quiet bend of the river, Tumblefin skipped stones in the sun.
Then another little otter popped up behind the reeds with a shiny shell. “Want to play?”
Tumblefin held still with one stone in the air. “Uh... maybe,” Tumblefin whispered.
The river went shhh against the smooth rocks.
Tumblefin tried to toss a stone toward the shiny shell game.
Plunk! The stone dropped straight down and splashed them both with cold water.
Tumblefin scrubbed drips from Tumblefin's whiskers and gave a tiny laugh.
The reeds swished, and the other little otter giggled. “That one was a belly-flop!”
Tumblefin picked a flatter stone and tried again.
Zip! The stone flew past the shell and bopped a cattail.
A frog sprang up with the shell on its head like a hat.
Tumblefin stared. Then both little otters burst out laughing as the frog plip-plopped back into the glittering water.
Then the shiny shell caught in a clump of reeds and began to drift toward deeper water.
Tumblefin paddled after it while the other little otter braced on the slippery stones and reached out a paw.
Tumblefin felt brave enough to shout, “I've got it—pull!”
Together they tugged until the shell popped free.
Tumblefin set the rescued shell between them.
Now the stones skipped side by side across the sunny river. Tumblefin grinned. “Your turn!”
