The morning after dinner with Chips family, Sam was floating downstream, as was her wont to do on her days off. Her swimming costume, in a form fitting white with black horizontal stripes covered from her hindpaws to her upper arms. As an apprentice merchant, she was in the running to get the nod to become a full merchant at the end of winter. She savored these days doing precious little as she drifted on her back. Ahead of her the large flagship of the Riverfolk Company was docked, a good walk Northeast of the Yellowrock mesa. As the water flowed around the built up area, the Flagship, had to dock farther out. The ship itself was where the Riverfolk did all of ther big ceremonies, and it was known to take on jobs that had big importance to the otters and beavers. It had to be on a deepwater dock, and the salty brackish water around the long docks was her first clue that she was floating in the right direction. Ahead of her workers ferried crates down off of the gangplank and down to smaller boats. The dock itself was entirely surrounded by water, making no allowance for the other creatures of the coalition to drop in uninvited. They would have to paddle their own watercraft out to the large dock, or in the case of the aviary, fly in. There was, of course stairs in the water for riverfolk to walk up. Climbing up and out, Sam shook off some of the salty scents. Casting about, Sam looked to see lines of dockworkers and then she saw the line of little shops selling trinkets and snacks. The sweet aroma of Ka-pi mixed in with the baked sugary smell of treats that she had grown up on. Sam plodded over to the line of shops. Large signs indicated prices in company scrip first, and then clams and pearls second. Behind the shop, a two story warehouse reminded her that she probably needed to see what they had in stock after she got with her contact. A system of delivery beavers maintaining the docks stood next to the beaver she had come to meet. "Chuck!" She said, arriving at the Ka-pi and breaded treats stand. "Well, if it isn't our Sam." Chuck said. "I've heard that you've the eager beaver that volunteered to get me a flyer for the upcoming baking contest on board..." She motioned over her shoulder to the flagship. "Ah, I've got it right here. The competition will be fierce, I think." Chuck handed Sam a sweetroll with the list. Sam quickly read the flyer. "It says here that there will be a special guest judge. Do you know who?" Sam asked. "Oh you won't believe this one, Sam." Chuck grinned.