As the riverboat Wisepearl floated lazily down the River Moss, story-telling could be heard from the cabin. There, in the cabin, laid Old Bluelord, the father of young Bluelad. Old Bluelord was perhaps the most ancient being in all the otter clans. Today he sat relating a story to his son Bluelad and other otter crewman.
"A long time ago, when the Wisepearl was a new vessel, I was Skipper of Otters. My clan commanded this boat. On her maiden voyage, we decided to take her out to sea, to test the strength of the stark white sails."
"As we neared the ocean, I could smell the salty air and hear the seagulls. It was nearing lunchtime, so we dropped anchor and unpacked a meal of oatcakes and hotroot soup. Just as we were finishing, a tapping noise was heard on the hull. I went outside to check it out, and there was the biggest, nastiest stoat you ever did see. He had a band of a dozen weasels, ferrets, and polecats. All of them looked to be thieves."
"I grabbed a javelin and set into the huge stoat. My ten comrades exited the cabin, each with a spear of javelin in their hands. They began to attack the other bandits, but the thieves pulled out short bows and began to fire upon my shipmates. Chane and Seastar went down. My companions re-entered the Wisepearl and loosed slings out the ports. I only began to fight the stoat harder. He wielded his cutlass well, but I was a better fighter. I began to push him toward the edge of the deck. He swung his cutlass hard, but I ducked and shoved his open back. 'AAAGH' he cried, as he fell into the river. I tossed my javelin aside, watched a weasel get hit by a slingstone, and dived into the river. I still had my dagger tucked into my belt, so I pulled it out and swam around behind the stoat. The archers on the bank were being decimated by the otter slingers, so the two polecats and three ferrets retreated into the woods. From there they fired small volleys of arrows, which had little effect."
"The big stoat was obviously not a swimmer. The current of the River Moss began to tow him. Every time he made for shore I was there in front of him, and attacked him with my dagger. He shied away every time, and soon he was almost in salt water. 'Belter! Komsun! Get a few otters organized an' send 'em after those thieves!' I yelled. Then I turned back to the ocean. Gulls were circling, intent on the stoat as their dinner. Should I let the river carry him to his death? I thought. For Chane and Seastar's sake, I will."
"I swam back to the Wisepearl, trying to ignore the stoat's screams. After giving my good friends Chane and Seastar a burial by the river, like they wanted, and caring for others wounds, the crew of the Wisepearl turned the vessel around. The course was for Mossflower Wood."
Bluelad sat, in awe of his father's tale. The crew complimented Bluelord on his tale and served a hot bowl of soup. After trying to cool the near-boiling liquid, Bluelad asked his father, "Is it all true, Dad?" There was no reply, just a tiny nod. Bluelord had gone to sleep.