Chuck and started thumping their tails in steady, war-like drumbeats that were obviously intended to warn off attackers. And it appeared to work. Having promised their wives to stay out of trouble and look after the old boxers, Papa Brown and Papa Black exchanged a few mumbles and retreated, tugging Grandpa Jack and Grandpa Bruno away with them before they charged the dam.
The beavers looked very pleased with themselves as they bundled back inside the lodge. All except Chip, who paused to prod the dam with his stick, frowned at it, and then followed his family inside.
Woody and Sooty left their overhanging branch and hurried after their elders, who were swimming back downstream. Their fathers were up front, with their grandpas close behind still grumbling about honour and bravery and wanting to give Chuck the beaver a knuckle sandwich. The two young pups trailed behind everyone, looking and feeling completely deflated.
“I can’t believe our dads backed down,” said Woody.
“I think the beavers are very selfish,” retorted Sooty.
“Shellfish!” gasped Woody. “No more clams and mussels!”
“And no more crayfish,” gasped Sooty. “No more fish at all!”
“I don’t think we’ll be able to stay here if there’re no fish,” sighed Woody. “And I like living together. It’s so much more fun than when our families lived in separate dens.”
“You don’t think we’ll have to split up, do you?” asked Sooty.
“I don’t know,” said Woody. “But I doubt there are many other dens that two families would fit in so comfortably.”
The young pups looked ahead at their fathers, who they thought must be feeling pretty awful after their confrontation with the beavers ended so badly. Just then Papa Black and Papa Brown looked back and caught the looks on Sooty and Woody’s faces.
“Cheer up, otters!” smiled Papa Black, with a twinkle in his eye.
“Last one home’s a bubbly fish fart!” smiled Papa Brown.
Both otters winked at their pups before diving down with a splash. They soared underwater at high speed, taking the lead as they raced everyone home. The grandpas, always keen to show how fit they still were, also joined the race.
“Our dads seem strangely cheerful,” frowned Sooty.
“That must mean they’ve got a plan!” exclaimed Woody, and the two friends shared a happy high-five, before diving underwater with a double splash and zooming after the others.
When everyone was assembled, Papa Brown called for quiet and then addressed the two families. Sooty and Woody sat at the back and couldn’t wait to hear their fathers’ plan of action.
“Our meeting with the new neighbours did not go well,” said Papa Brown gravely. “In fact, it went very badly indeed. The beavers refuse to move their dam and we don’t know what to do about it.”
The otters all gasped and stared, wide-eyed, at him.
“However …” prompted Mama Brown, elbowing her husband.
“Huh?” said Papa Brown, who was always bad at giving speeches.
“The good news is that we all have different skills and talents!” Mama Brown continued, opening her arms wide. “And if we all put our furry heads together, we’re sure to come up with something brilliant!”
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