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P** art Six: "The Exchange"**

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Whether or not Nyrina, whom had fallen asleep from exhaustion of crying in her father's arms, was to be given a punishment for having gone off on her own into the wilderness was quickly forgotten by her family. The instant that she saw her daughter's wounded status, Mistdrop's every other thought over the situation - worry, anger, annoyance, all of it - vanished from her head. All but one, mind. The one that was her caring, motherly side; to help her wounded offspring get back into good health as soon as possible.

Thus, without even speaking a word or question to one another about what was going on, even before young Clampter had fetched the medical supplies, the Urchinhide parents swam together with their hurting daughter across the Seidon River, brought her inside Dynamic's hut, carefully laid her out in her hammock bed and then went to work comforting her, healing her along with having her explain what had caused her to be so injured.

Naturally, not having wanted to worry her family in the first place, having only gone off on her own to make their lives better rather than harder, Nyrina could only manage to explain bit by bit through her sobs what she'd been through before Hudder had caught up with. All of the while, doing their best to stay as patient as possible, her parents listened closely as they worked on her. In the background, keeping quietly to himself and knowing his silence was appreciated, Clampter sat at a nearby window. A window that granted him a good view of the stranger outside. The stranger who was actually his older sister's champion.

During the time that Nyrina was being cared for by her family, not at all insulted at having been left behind without a word on the opposite shore, knowing that he would be given attention in due time, Ivan took to calmly sitting in the grass. There, with some rather good skill, he fashioned himself a good looking fishing pole from a nearby piece of slim timber. Then when finished in his crafting project, he attached a line to the simple pole, threw the said line with bait out into the passing waters, removed the weight of his weapons from his back and next... leaned back against a rock, put his hands upon his lap along with closed his eyes so that the rest of his senses could soak up the natural peacefulness of the world all around him.

Why Ivan did all of this crafting, this fishing, this relaxing was simple. It was something he'd come to adopt during his years growing up.

Truly, rather than panic or fret over hurt Nyrina wasn't an option much less a solution to the current event. Like other humans of the world, Ivan had been traveling Felldew for years seeking teachings in wisdom, courage, faith as well as many more profitable life lessons. And one of the said life lessons he'd learned during his journeying was that it did not help to freak out over anything. Instead, keeping a calm mind at the moment, staying in control of his emotions, would help him.

Not only would his stillness aid him but it'd aid the Urchinhides too. For by keeping to himself on the opposite shore, he was giving the otter family the necessary space as well as quiet to do their required work. Also, while he went silently fishing by himself, the human of Norlinth was doing another thing to help the tense situation at hand. With his eyes closed, his head bowed, his hands clasped together in his lap, he was mentally if not fervently praying to the goddess for Nyrina's good health.

"Goddess Gaia, up above

Hear me, your student, call your name

Heed my words, know my voice

Answer me and help those, the Urchinhides, in that raft across the water

Those whose daughter, Nyrina, has greatly suffered

Give them the knowledge to ease her pain, to heal her sorrow, to dull her aches

Goddess Gaia, up above

Help me help the Urchinhides remain strong"

Within the blink of an eye after the prayer was said for the Urchinhide daughter, many hours of the beautiful May day passed by. It was a grand day of summer that, truth unfortunately be told, was not noticed in the least by anyone near or inside the Dynamic.

For within their hut of a home, the Urchinhides were solely focused on doing many things to comfort their hurt family member. They were putting and replacing damps cloths on Nyrina's bruises, lecturing her on her actions of having gone off alone and also thanking the goddess that she'd been at least alive enough to come back to them to tell her tale. And on the opposite shore, having caught several curious herring during his fishing, the human champion was silently busying himself in cooking a good meal of seasoned fish alongside chopped, wild onions he'd found in the local woodlands.

Again, within a heartbeat, more quiet hours passed by where nothing was said nor done at the site where the Dynamic remained anchored to shore. To the west where the sun was descending downwards from the heavens, the glow of the afternoon was becoming more golden by the moment.

Yet, there was no one around to really enjoy the brilliant sight of approaching dusk. Not with the Urchinhides still inside tending to their ailing daughter and Ivan peacefully snoozing in the grass on his back, his fire having burned low until only embers.

At long last, with the sun beginning to lower behind the western horizon in a golden-red shine and night's shroud starting to fall onto the land, there was activity upon the deck of Dynamic. Hudder quietly emerged from the family hut. Close behind him was Mistdrop who, with a sweeping back of her long hair, with a deep inhale to control her shaken nerves, led the way swimming across the Seidon River and onto the opposite shore.

From there, the Urchinhide parents slowly, softly as well as respectfully approached where Ivan was calmly laid out in the fresh smelling, springy grass ahead. Feet away from him, having had plenty of experience with his all-knowing kind before, the otter couple were not surprised to hear their human visitor - even though his eyes were shut - question aloud to them from the spot where he laid.

"After many hours of toil and work, the good parents of Nyrina Urchinhide come to pay me a visit. Tell me, friends, does your daughter fare well? She had better be. I haven't been praying to the goddess for her health all day long for nothing."

"Our daughter..." Mistdrop began, sounding quite tired yet relieved as she walked with her husband towards the generous human man, "Is doing just fine. Mostly thanks to you, human."

"Aye. Thanks to ye', Ivan, matey." Hudder agreed wholeheartedly, sounding if not looking just as tired yet relieved as his wife at his side, "Nyrina, our little water lily, is going to be fine. She's back on the raft with her little brother watching over her... She explained to us a while back today as to why she went off on her own this morning. She told us that ye' were there for her when it mattered most. When she could have... been... well..."

"You need not say what could have happened to Nyrina if I hadn't been there. For I was there to keep whatever could have happened to her from happening. Please, my friends, do not let your minds nor hearts dwell on such horrid, depressing things as to what could have happened to your Nyrina this day." Ivan stated at once, sitting up along with looking quite kindly all about the subject being discussed, "Instead, think of this; Gaia did not allow me to save your daughter so that there could be further sadness over her predicament. Rather, I was allowed to save Nyrina to make her family happy. So come now. Judging by the redness of your eyes, I believe you've both done enough crying for one day inside your raft's cabin. Be merry this night and the days to come after. Your daughter is safe as well as back home. You can relax now."

There was a long pause of silence shared between the Urchinhide parents and their gracious human companion who did not seem to stop smiling for anything. Again, having had a human friend back in the earlier days of their youth, Mistdrop as well as Hudder were familiar with Ivan's shown, human optimism along with cheerful attitude. Humans were simply born that way, as every Felldewan knew. Humanity had forever been taught to be such icons of good tidings by the goddess. They saw only happiness if not hope in the darkest of situations. Never did they give in to despair or grief.

Bravery, wisdom, faith. Those along with many more valiant elements was why mankind's true blooded, valiant ancestors had won the final battle against their corrupted, enslaving kin ages ago during the days of the Reckoning. That was why they'd helped the anima of old keep their freedom rather than let them become slaves of selfish desires. That was why they were the vanguards of Felldew, this age.

Still, despite being told not to do so, having needed to since she'd begun tending to her daughter's hurt body, Mistdrop gradually caved into relieved tears as her husband hugged her tightly to his side. Truly, no matter their show of depression at the moment, the somber otters were grateful to Ivan for all that he'd done for their Nyrina. He'd not only dragged her away from the jaws of death but he'd tended to her wounds too.

Maybe that, the human's kindness, was what made the Urchinhide mother weep. And she only wept harder when the human smiled a knowing, reassuring smile at her. Even when he didn't know them, he acted as a pinnacle of strength. Ivan was just like "her"; the she-human who had long ago helped Mistdrop and Hudder find happiness at each other's sides.

"Please, she-otter, be happy. The goddess does not ever appreciate the children of her world weeping so. Besides, your beauty is not something that should be stained with tears tonight. It should be adorned with a smile instead." Ivan explained next , gesturing for his otter guests to take a seat with him as he went to bringing his campfire back to life, "Please, both of you sit. I happen to have some fresh herring at hand. Take it without fuss."

When the otters didn't exactly look keen on eating anything, the human stated firmly, "You will eat what I offer. In turn, you will find a full belly will brighten your mood. Go on. You know what I say is true."

In several minutes, the human of Norlinth had the said herring ready to be eaten. And as he commanded of them, after he'd come to know their names and he'd given them his once more, the Urchinhides slowly ate while he continued to smile a knowing smile. As the fish was devoured slowly, Ivan looked to Hudder and asked curiously, "So why did your daughter go off on her own this morning when she knew she wasn't supposed to? Did she have a reason? Did she explain herself while you treated her?"

"Aye, she explained herself to me and her mother. Ye' know young'uns these days, Ivan, sir." The father otter explained, glancing back at the Dynamic over his shoulder, "After three days straight of being cooped up inside because of the storms of summer, Nyrina got a bit rebellious and decided she'd take a quick dip in the river further upstream. Apparently she remembered it was prettier up there than where our raft was. What she didn't know or could guess was that there was a killer fish that'd been washed down there."

"So... Nyrina merely went for a swim this morning?" Ivan wondered, looking unsatisfied with the answer while he handled a certain small, leather pouch in his hands, "Just a swim? Nothing more?"

"That's right. Why? Is something wrong with what she said? You think she may have been out there for something else?"

There was a moment of silence where nothing was said. Instead, Ivan looked at the leather bag in his hands in the firelight. He seemed very troubled over something only he knew about. Yet, as the Urchinhides were about to ask what exactly was wrong, he looked up with a smile and said, "No. Nothing is wrong with what Nyrina said. I'm just thinking to myself is all. Do not mind me."

"Well, actually, seeing as you put your cloak over her, you saw that my little tyke of a daughter didn't just go for any ol', regular swim." Hudder chuckled guiltily, looking embarrassed, "She, uh... was in the mood for a skinny dip. That was more than likely her reason for going upstream by herself. She was being a naughty soul."

"Ah, yes, that. I apologize for having seen your daughter in such a, er, inappropriate fashion." Ivan spoke truly if not gentleman like now, not at all blushing or flinching like any other young man would have at the thought of Nyrina nude but being serious over the matter, "I speak honestly when I say that I did my best not to look too long upon your daughter's body as I tended to her. I looked at her with only good intentions. Nothing more."

"Oh? Ye' didn't stare for too long, ye' say?" Hudder asked disbelievingly, sounding a bit humored, "I beg your pardon, Ivan, but was it only yer nature as a human that saved my daughter's life today like she described? Or was it perhaps her looks also that made ye' spring into action so fast?"

"Hudder, sweetness, now isn't the time for you to go trying to make the human feel uncomfortable." Mistdrop sternly hissed under her breath, giving her teasing, jovial husband a shake of her elegant head, "Really, let's stow your foolishness for now and focus on-"

"It's quite alright, Mistdrop. Your husband has spoken true." Ivan cut in, smiling an innocent smile to the astonished otter couple from across the fire, "I admit, I first and foremost came to your daughter's aid because she was calling for help from the goddess. Being the goddess's instrument, I answered Nyrina's cries of distress. However, with that having been said, your daughter is a most beautiful otter. And to have had such beauty as hers be lost in such a pointless fashion, well... I couldn't have allowed that to happen."

The human rather jokingly gestured with his hands next, a bright smile on his face as he said to Hudder, "Thus, as you described it, good otter, I sprang into action without a second thought."

"Heh, you entered the fray without a second's hesitation, eh? You're a right old knight in shining armor in my opinion, Ivan. Today, you were the classic hero in most anima romances I've read." Hudder laughed back, suddenly if not deviously cheerful as his wife gave him a weary look, "It's no wonder that I've listened to so many tales of anima following humans to the ends of the world and back. You're a good example of what humanity can do. You showed great courage on this day."

"Hudder... Please... Not tonight." Mistdrop murmured anxiously, seeing the look of innocent confusion coming onto Ivan's face who wasn't realizing that Hudder was teasing him that he'd save Nyrina purely because of her looks and nothing more, "Ivan was passing by at the right moment and he saved our Nyrina from certain death. You know humans as well as I do. He rescued our daughter because the goddess commanded him to do so. Leave him be. Don't go confusing him."

"Humph, very well, me beaut' of a wife." The father otter chortled, giving his serious wife a playful bump in the side with his elbow, "Still, Ivan... you should know that my daughter hasn't had many good, proper matches in her lifetime. And out of all of 'em, why, you're the finest. So tell me, ye' really didn't stare at my daughter while you patched her up? Come now, don't lie. The goddess doesn't appreciate fibbing, does she?"

"No, she doesn't." Ivan answered back, looking bright all of a sudden as Mistdrop put her face in her hands at her spouse's funny antics over the fire, "Truth be told, perhaps I have taken notice of some good things about your daughter since we only just met."

"Oh?" Both otter parents wondered back, "Like what?"

"Well, where her beauty and strength come from to begin with." The human chuckled, gesturing to his companions as he explained his thoughts like they should've been common knowledge already, "Since the moment where I saved her back upstream, I know now that Nyrina inherited her mother's good looks as well as her father's strength. And don't tell me otherwise. I'm sure I'm not the first to say that to you both."

Touched by the sudden praises from their human fellow, the Urchinhides couldn't exactly find anything to say back. It was true. Numerous times in the past, they'd been told the same thing he'd just told them. Thus, the otters simply sat feeling a bit proud of themselves as Ivan took their empty plates, set them aside along with leaned back onto the grass. With the sun slowly vanishing behind the western horizon, the human looked to the darkening heavens where the stars were beginning to appear.

"Ivan, sir, it is without a doubt that the goddess sent you to our daughter today. With you being here, Gaia is watching over our family even now." Mistdrop explained warmly, pulling something out of her tunic pocket to present to her daughter's savior, "Thus, here, we wish to give you this. It may not be much payment for you having saved Nyrina's life but... please accept it with mine and Hudder's utmost gratitude."

"Aye, take that, mate. It's all that we can offer ye' as thanks for what ye've done." Hudder modestly said, observing Ivan politely receive the wrapped gift meant for him, "It may not be much but it's the best that we Urchinhides can offer at the moment. As the goddess said at one time or another in the past; it's the thought that counts in the end."

The Urchinhide gift to Ivan turned out to be something he was actually familiar with. He was also delighted by it.

The present meant for him was an exotic, delightful item common to Onyx Bay. It was a splendid set of fishhooks crafted from real coral, scented with a curious odor that was supposedly used to attract even the biggest fish to take a nibble every so often. Truly, although simple in appearance, the hooks - which would undoubtedly help him snag many a proper fish for dinner in the future - were a grand enough gift for Ivan who grinned broadly before setting them in his satchel. Then, straightening up, the human had something else to speak of with his newly made otter friends.

"It would seem that we are off to a grand start, Urchinhides. I very much appreciate your gratitude as well as gift of coral hooks. Honestly, I did not require a gift for saving your daughter's life. However, as you, Hudder, said; it is the thought that counts in the end." Ivan began, a generous twinkle showing in his sapphire eyes, "Now, seeing that we've discussed the well-being of your daughter, I have something to discuss with your river worthy kind."

"And what would that be?" Hudder replied graciously.

"Truth be told, thanks to the storms, I've been stuck in this area like you for the last three days." The human of Norlinth explained, looking thoughtfully southward in turn, "You see, I was off on a voyage for the lands to the south; the Southern Valleys, if you will. However, due to the bad weather, I've been held up and lost valuable time. I need to make that time back up and I cannot do so on foot. I could gain it easily back by sailing along the rivers throughout River Country though."

"Ad let me guess, you wish to have us sail you south through River Country?" Mistdrop guessed, sharing an excited glance with her husband who was already on board with the idea, "Why, if that's truly what you're about to ask of us, human, then myself and Hudder would be more than happy to take you south! That was where we were heading before the storms too. We're off to see family down there during this most pleasant season."

There was a moment of shock shown on Ivan's expression. Then, when his brain had caught up with the program, when he seemed to understand that his otter friends were speaking truly, the Norlinthian couldn't help but crack into an excited smile.

"Alas, if you are heading that way, I would be greatly in your debt if you would allow me to sail with you south." He said, looking very pleased about how easily the arrangement had been made, "As you just said, Mistdrop, I too am off to see family. I'm heading for the Pebble Plateau. Ever heard of it?"

"Why of course! During our many years of traveling this world, myself and my family have heard of that place plenty of times." Hudder exclaimed, looking very jolly, "That's where you can find the best salmon if not wisest Ursine in Felldew, ain't it?Iit's only about a day's journey from where we intend to go too. Ha ha, Ivan, good sir, this is great! It almost seems now like the goddess intended for us to meet this day, eh, Ivan?"

"There's always a reason for everything when the goddess is involved. You come to learn that as you grow up." Ivan replied, laughing softly at seeing his otter companions were so riled to have him join them in venturing south, "Regardless, you have my thanks for letting me join in on your travels southward. Naturally, I would be more than willing to pay for my lodgings, food and water-"

"NONSENSE!" Hudder boomed out at once as he leapt to his feet, interrupting the human's good natured words, "Ye' saved my daughter, Ivan! Ye' prayed for my family's well-being all day. Ye've shared nothing but good words with my wife and I all this time. Well, now it's my family's turn to repay ye' for yer generosity, laddo! And I won't hear you argue about it."

Next, with much happy chuckling, the otter father hoisted the grateful human man onto his feet. As he did this, Hudder cheerily said, "Come on. Up on yer feet and follow me to the raft, bucko. I'll get ye' the longboat and get you aboard. Tomorrow, ye'll be one of the family. Ye'll be an Urchinhide!"

"An Urchinhide, you say? What a curious family title." I van said thoughtfully, showing his curiosity over the title, "Regardless, though, I still would really rather pay for your troubles-"

"My husband is right, Ivan. Payment is not needed from you. You've done enough for my family already. Above all, you saved my Nyrina. Now it's time that we repaid you for such an act." Mistdrop cut in, helping the uncertain human gather his things along with having him follow her to the river where Hudder was already swimming for the Dynamic, "Besides, I expect you'll work for your keep aboard our home, the Dynamic. It's in your kind's nature to work hard and honest. Not only that, it'll be good for you to be there for my Nyrina. Your presence will help her heal faster, don't you think?"

"I... Yes, I suppose you're right about that. I would help Nyrina heal faster by being at her side, wouldn't I?" Ivan admitted, giving the otter mother an understanding look, "Tell me, your kind words towards me, the way you speak of my race's nature... Have you and your husband had experiences with humans before me?"

"Oh yes. My husband and I know what a blessing it is to have humans for friends." Mistdrop said back, smiling a sweet smile as Hudder dislodged along with began paddling the Dynamic's longboat out into the river, "In fact, it was a human woman who helped my husband and I realize our love for each other. She was one of the main reasons I married my dear Hudder."

"Truly?"

"Indeed. That's the truth."

"How grand." Ivan chuckled, looking encouraged by this news, "If you would be so kind to do so, I would like to someday hear of this human woman who helped you and Hudder marry. What, pray, was her name?"

"Ah, her name was quite beautiful. She had a good name like yours. It was Veronica. And you will hear of her in the future, my friend. I would be more than happy to tell you about her." Mistdrop said, gracefully stepping into the longboat with the human as her spouse brought it up to the shore and then pushed it back towards the Dynamic when loaded with passengers, "For now though, settle down, Ivan. You've had a long day like the rest of us. You're more than welcome to our humble, river sailing abode."

"Aye, matey.' Hudder declared proudly into the darkening atmosphere of the afternoon, paddling with great gusto towards his floating home, "Welcome to Dynamic, Ivan T'lore! Brace yer'self for adventure, friends and jolly good times all around. Har har."