Otter Chaos! by Michael Broad Page A

came from Woody.
    Four minutes in, she was still quite happy at the bottom of the pool, but Coal was looking uncomfortable, having to use quite a lot of energy and oxygen flapping his paws to stay submerged. Beanie managed this much more easily as her huge tail and heavier weight provided extra ballast. She was so happy that she stayed underwater for a whole minute more to enjoy her triumph after Coal gave up and swam to the surface, and when Beanie resurfaced she was greeted by riotous applause from her family.
    The twins lifted Beanie up and gave her a victory lap on their shoulders, while Coco chased Woody around them, which didn’t do Coco’s lily headdress any good at all.
    The excitement was high in both camps now the Browns and the Blacks had three wins each, and there was only one event to go – the underwater obstacle race with Woody and Sooty!

veryone was excited about the underwater obstacle race between Woody and Sooty, but they were all hungry too. Luckily, Mama Black and Mama Brown had laid out a huge fishy buffet for the athletes, so the teams agreed to resume the racing after lunch.
    The day had begun with a definite divide between the two families, but after watching and competing in the exciting events, they were now mingling and chatting cheerfully. The young otters had had great fun spending time together, and even Papa Black and Papa Brown found they had a lot in common, just like their wives. Woody and Sooty enjoyed the sight of their families getting along so well, as it meant they could laugh and play without feeling guilty about letting their teams down. All was going swimmingly until Grandpa Bruno and Grandpa Jack reached for the same fish.
    â€œOh, no, you don’t!” growled Jack, tugging on the slippery fish tail.
    â€œNice try!” growled Bruno, tugging on the slippery fish head.
    â€œLet go, you crooked old toad!”
    â€œYou let go, you sly old crow!”
    â€œI saw it first!”
    â€œWell, I grabbed it first!”
    â€œStop!” yelled Grandma Maple, but it was already too late.
    The fish shot up in the air and everyone craned their necks skywards, watching as it landed in the river with a loud PLOP! And when they looked back, the two old otters were rolling around the bank in a furious ball of brown and black fur.

    Team Black and Team Brown quickly re-formed and pulled their senior members apart, arms and legs swiping at the air like a pair of upturned turtles.
    â€œI’ve had just about enough of you and your jibes!” growled Grandpa Jack, rising up and dusting himself off. “Let’s get on with the last event and out of each other’s lives forever!”
    â€œI’ll second that,” said Grandpa Bruno, flicking mud off his fur. “Let’s put an end to this so we don’t have to spend any more time together!”
    With help from Papa Brown and Papa Black, Woody and Sooty had spent a good portion of the previous day building a large obstacle course for their event in the competition. The course had hoops and tunnels, ladders and funnels, all going in and out of the water, followed by a final short dash to the finish line.
    Before mounting their diving boards at the start of the course, the two friends hugged and wished each other the best of luck. The pair looked down at their families, who were waving and cheering, all except for the grandpas, who had their arms folded and were scowling at each other.
    â€œDo you promise to stay friends?” asked Woody, who was worried about competing against his friend – because for one to win, the other would have to lose. “No matter who wins the obstacle course and gets to stay in the den?”
    â€œI promise,” said Sooty.
    â€œMe too,” said Woody.
    â€œBut what if one of us gets cross because they lost the race?” asked Sooty. “Our grandpas probably thought they’d always be friends, and now they can’t stand one