Even in Otter’s world there were dangers. From apple time onwards, the human hunters came out and killed creatures. The snow and cold could be deathly and the little river where Otter and her mate fished, swam and slid held its own menace. After a long, hot spell when the animals didn’t feel like moving … More Storm – The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

Days grew longer and the sun was warm. Otter’s mate returned to the holt and took his turns guarding the pups while Otter swam in the river. Their friends came to join them, and, relieved of her maternal duties, Otter could concentrate on her studies as a Bard and healer. Late one evening she played … More The 12 Days of Christmas – Sun

 For two moons, Otter would have to stay underground with her new cubs but her friends came to keep her company. This was a time of reflection. Each morning, Otter would clean out the holt and look at the year unfolding.  Her own talents as a Bard began to stretch and grow as the leaves and flowers danced in … More 12 Days of Christmas – Flowers

With the return of the sun, Otter felt the need to move. It was time for changes. She made a new holt further up the bank, away from possible floods and prepared for her cubs to arrive. On the newly-warm afternoons she would lie on her back and spend long hours cleaning her fur meticulously. … More 12 days of Christmas Blog Hop – Rebirth

  The days lengthened and Otter had to remember that she was a Bard. The Equinox was coming. All the creatures would gather by the stones to give thanks for the day and night being of equal length and their Bard would have to sing. Despite the snow having disappeared and the temperatures risen, the … More The 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hope – Music

 The snow had gone, but it was bitterly cold. The humans were wrapped up in layers of fur. The female that brought her dogs down to the river every morning was unrecogizable in her hat, gloves, thick coat and boots.. Otter looked at her and wondered how she moved. The big male that had slid … More The 12 days of Christmas – Day Two – Love

 Otter poked her nose out of her holt and sniffed. Then she opened her eyes and squeaked in surprise. The world had turned white! Brown earth, green grass and ever-changing river colours had disappeared while she was curled up, pushing out wheezy little snores in her snug den.  The whole world had transformed. Pressing her … More 12 days of Christmas – Snow