In addition to bordering the great Lake Azure, Azuren was a river state. Five large rivers ran through it, thousands of streams- some dangerous some not- and ponds so large they were often mistaken for lakes. For the smaller boats, this made travel extremely convenient throughout the state. There was one small issue though, the terrain was constantly changing. Maps that were accurate a few seasons ago were worthless now. The Azuren beavers were very busy beavers.

The Musclewood sisters were used to the stream having re-routes but Sylvie was not prepared for the huge dam blocking their way home.

“What has that colony been up to now?” Avery sighed placing ‘The Philosophy of Giants’ under the seat.

“Shush, Avery.” On top of the massive pile of sticks and mud, was a huge beaver apparently talking to the sky.

“This is my masterpiece. My glory. My favourite palace so far.” He was slapping his tail down and checking for any lose sticks or small gaps. Harvest would soon be over and he wanted to truly enjoy the season of Rest this year. He could hear four of his children laughing at him from inside of the lodge. “Stop it you little monsters. This is truly a lodge worthy of a King.” He smiled and puffed his chest out, I am pretty close to a King, aren’t I.

Sylvie cleared her throat and then everything happened so fast, she almost tipped the boat from surprise.

They were surrounded. 14 beavers with no weapons but their yellow teeth -teeth that chopped and dropped down massive trees every night- were hissing loudly at the girls. The self-declared ‘King’ was standing on his hind legs just staring. Not bad, thirty seconds and we were able to surround the boat and put the children in the lodge. But if the idiotic humans had come armed, they would need to be faster. He nodded to himself. Yes, tomorrow they would have to do drills all day. 20 seconds would be better. He glared at the two startled women; they would soon start paddling away he was sure.

Avery nudged Sylvie hard, “Say something.”

Sylvie had never had a conversation with a beaver before, they were nocturnal animals, and she was rarely in the woods at night. When she was in the woods at night it was with the wolves. Wolves and beavers do not mix. She stood up and eyed the leader. He was at least 5 feet tall, and definitely weighed more than her.

“Sorry for our disturbance, we truly mean no harm.”

Avery nudged Sylvie again and slowly they both bowed in the direction of the ‘King’.

The hissing immediately stopped as everyone gasped and began to talk.

‘The one with dark fur can speak’… ‘I personally think the red furred one looks better, more beaver like’…. ‘Does that mean they aren’t all dumb toads like the Chief said they were?’

The big beaver was horrified. He, the magnificent that planned for every situation, had not expected a talking one. He had heard they existed but never thought he’d meet one. Desperate to regain control, he did what he must.

He opened his beaver arms in a grand gesture, “I am Chief Red Aspen. This is my colony. Go in peace and do not disturb us again.” He was met with a large ‘hiss’ as a portly beaver climbed up next to him.

“Don’t be rude Red, these are our guests. That is not how you welcome strangers.” She looked apologetically at the girls. “Don’t mind my husband. He’s always one for the dramatic,” she poked him lovingly as he buried his head in his paws. “I am Twig, one of the very busy mothers of the colony. I don’t know about you; in my 16 years of life I have never met a talking human. Would you like to come in- we have fresh floating-leaf plants.”

The dark furred girl whispered to the red furred one. It seemed only the darker one could understand them. They seemed to disagree about something, but the red one bent over grabbing a pink wooden box. She was nodding excitedly.

“It is an honour to be welcomed by the Red Aspen colony. I am Sylvie Musclewood and this is my sister Avery Musclewood. We would be delighted to try a floating-leaf plant, and have brought a delicacy of our own to share with you, butter cakes. Uhm, how do we enter your lodge?”

The beavers were excited, they were superstitious by nature, and muscle wood trees were fine trees; the girls must be a good sign.

The Chief had regained his composure, his wife made him crazy. “You simply dive in Musclewood girls. We have two entrances that are easily large enough for you.”

Avery had already taken off her sandals and stripped off her cloak. She was so excited she felt she could burst. She was going to note everything down later.

“Wait, are you going in naked?!” Sylvie looked horrified.

“Don’t pretend now to be shy. They are also nude. I am not going to sit in their lodge freezing to death in a wet cloak. Hurry up now.”

Sylvie grumbled under her breath as she took off her boots, sandals were more comfortable but impractical in the woods. First my cakes, now I am going naked in front of a troupe of beavers, happy birthday to me.

The beavers were watching the two girls. The nudity naturally meant nothing to them, but now they all agreed that the red furred one was definitely more attractive. A skinny beaver meant death or sickness. This one was quite a bit curvier than the dark furred one, even if the darker one was taller and more muscular. The red furred one-handed Twig the box of cakes. “Please try not to get them too wet,” added Sylvie.

The beavers looked at Sylvie like she was completely daft. Twig just smiled though and opened a trap door from the top. Two little beaver hands promptly popped up and snatched the box.

Chief Red looked sternly at the two girls, “Never dare to come in a beaver lodge without a beaver escorting you. We are extremely fortified and it could cost you your life. Do you understand?”

Sylvie quickly translated and Avery nodded.

“Follow me then.” He dove in making only the slightest splash.

Avery didn’t need to be told twice; she was practically dancing in the boat. Sylvie had made the mistake of dipping first her toe in. The water was of course ice cold. The Azure Lake even in the hottest part of the Harvest was cold. Sylvie trailed the flowing red hair. Their father was quite the swimmer, and all three girls had learned to swim very young.

It was about a 15 feet dive down before the entrance could be seen. It sloped then quickly up, with little ridges mimicking stairs. Avery took a deep gasp of air. The Chief was deceitfully fast, but Avery had kept up. Sylvie had just reached the first ridge out of the water. “Mother of Gods, it’s cold.”

“I think it’s refreshing.” Avery had just reached the top ridge, “Sylvie, you won’t believe this.”

Inside it was about 7 feet tall at the highest point. Two sunken-in living areas, and tons of little divots filled with food, decoration, and beaver treasure were all over the room. Avery had expected it to be dark inside. However, the sun streamed through certain places imitating windows. The ceiling had reddish, orange, and yellow leaves packed into it, making the rooms have a warm pinkish glow.

Sylvie, equally amazed but unfortunately not as eloquent as Avery, blurted out a simple “Whoa.”

Twenty eager beaver children wanted to poke and see how squishy the practically hairless humans were, but were instead unfairly being escorted out through the second exit.

Twig had two leaf blankets in her hands, “Come sit down, you will warm up quickly.” A female beaver had come up behind the two girls and was playing with their hair.

“Twig, it just doesn’t dry like ours does. Another area beavers are superior.” Chief Red nodded. He had allowed 3 of his brothers with their wives to stay. More would have been possible but he didn’t want it to be too cramped.

“Very well, just keep the blankets around them. I don’t want anyone catching the chill.”

Avery pinched Sylvie, got on her tiptoes and whispered furiously in her ear.

Sylvie blushed, this was so weird, being naked and without her bow wasn’t helping. Avery on the other hand, might have been a beaver in a different life. She had followed Twig’s gesture and was sitting comfortably on a seat like structure munching on a float-leaf sandwich. Twig was laughing and still trying to pat Avery’s hair dry, as Avery was using large hand gestures and smiles to communicate her thanks.

“Sylvie, tell them how delicious this is. And quit standing there, you look incredibly awkward”.

She finally walked over and sat down next to Avery.

The six beavers sighed in relief, and sat down next to them, Chief Red purposely sitting last.

Sylvie took a bite of the float-leaf sandwich. The salty leaves were folded in a ball and dried tomatoes were in the middle. It was delicious. At loss for her own words, she used one of her mother’s sayings, “Nothing unites strangers faster or better than good food”.

And just like that, the awkwardness left the room. The next two hours flew by. They discussed everything from orcs to architecture to wolf packs and even the delicacy of butter cakes. The adults had eaten only two, saving the remaining four for the others still outside swimming.

“We really must get going, although I promise we will be back.” Sylvie had stood up and then remembered why they were here in the first place. “Chief Red, your lodge is truly amazing but we will not have a way to get home if you keep your home here. Isn’t there a different stream or river you could set base in?”

The other beavers all turned to look at her. Avery poked Sylvie hard, “What is wrong with you?”

The silence felt heavy in the lodge. Chief Red stood up slowly and walked right up Sylvie. “Why must you humans be so arrogant?”

“Hey, we are Elf-hu, not just human.”

He snorted, “Even worse. Do you think the shape of your ears makes a difference to what you are? Elves and Humans are motivated by the same goals. Scared of the same fears. When they see our dams from their poorly constructed boats, it makes no difference if they are Elf, Human, or even Dwarf, in the end they all behave the same way.” He looked slowly around the room; Sylvie couldn’t make eye contact. She was about to whisper to Avery what he said but he didn’t give her the opportunity. “And Elves, thinking- no daring, to command the elements. It is a shame. Do you want to know where real power lies? I CAN LISTEN TO WATER. My kids, my wife, my entire colony we can hear what the water wants. When the water is not satisfied, we help it, we form it, we change its flow. We transform the Azuren landscape to benefit everyone. That is power. And you today, I thought you were different. You have a real gift Sylvie Musclewood. Do not ask me to move my home. An element stronger than all of us has placed us here.”

Sylvie was blushing deeply. She wrung her hands together in frustration. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean what I said.”

“You did. You have a lot still to learn. But…” he poked her in the chest, which would normally have upset Sylvie even with clothes on, but in that moment, it just seemed fair, “I think the water brought you to us today, and if the water believes in you, we must too. You will come to us in one month. We will trade. There are many alternative routes to get you where you want to be. You only need to learn the right questions to ask. Today my brother will show you one. I hope by the next time I see you; you will have learned something.”

Sylvie opened her mouth to say something but the Chief and his brothers were already going down the tunnel. Twig gave each girl a parting hug and a few sandwiches to take with to their sister that she had heard so much about. But she did not apologize for her husband’s tough words. She could see Sylvie was very shaken as they left the tunnel.

The girls didn’t talk as they clamoured into the boat. Still naked they bowed deeply to the Chief and his family before turning to get their clothes on. Sylvie sat down getting ready to row. But Avery remained standing, and began to sing an old sad Elven ballad about a child lost at sea. The beavers couldn’t understand the lyrics but they didn’t need to, Avery’s voice was pure and sad, but strong. When she finished it was silent, until the first tail slap in the water. Followed by another and another. It wasn’t like clapping but rather a steady drum beat.

So, they both have gifts, it suits. Chief Red wiped a tear from his eye.

Twig looked at her husband, “This is how a Chief transforms into a King,” she whispered. “I am so proud of you.” He wrapped his arm around her but only for a few seconds before he started mechanically checking for weak points on dam again.

His brother had brought the girls to the stream that was simply covered by a bunch of cattails growing there. Back in the boat, Sylvie had waited stiff backed until the brother had waved goodbye, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. The tears began to flow, and before she knew it, she was sobbing. Avery looked at her alarmed, Sylvie never cried like this.

She gave her sister a big hug, and because she was Avery and not Sylvie, she knew exactly what to say. “Everything is going to be okay. Wasn’t today magical? I am so grateful for your ability and that I got to experience that with you,” Avery paused, “you know when you said mama’s old saying…you forgot the second part.” Sylvie started to smile and picked up the oars.

“Nothing unites strangers faster or better than good food. If food is not an option, you sing the prettiest ballad you know.”