Salty Dogs

Salty Dogs

Written and Illustrated by

Lady Li Andre

Published by Lady Li Andre at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2016 Lady Li Andre

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Smashwords Edition License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

About This Story

Chapter 1

Tuck cuddled close to Mama as the waves rocked them gently. A small dribble of warm milk escaped the corner of his mouth. Mama continued to work on his fur, gently rubbing it and blowing into it. The warm sun on his back was soothing.

Tuck felt full. He let go and nuzzled deeper into Mama's chest. Where does the ocean come from, Mama?

She paused in her grooming. Some of it comes from rivers that flow from land and some falls from the sky as rain. She began working down his side.

Tuck rolled a little so she could reach it better. What's land?

Mama chuckled. You'll see it someday. She started on the fur of his stubby front paws. You ask so many good questions. I know that you will be very smart when you grow up.

Tuck pushed his nose under her chin. I love you, Mama. I want to be with you always.

Mama turned him slightly so she could reach his back flippers. Oh, my little Tuck. Someday, when you are much bigger, you will live with the other male sea otters by the island.

Tuck frowned. Won't you be there, too?

Mama gently rolled him and continued her grooming. I will be on the other side of the island where the other Mamas live.

Tuck didn’t like the idea of being away from Mama. What’s an island?

Mama blew a tickling stream of air into the fur on his tummy. An island is a place where land sticks up in the ocean. Most of the sea otters in this area live in groups called rafts around the island. You are almost big enough for us to rejoin a raft there.

Tuck's questions rolled through his mind as fast as Mama's paws worked through his thick fur. He still wasn't sure what land was. Can you show me one?

Mama looked up, scanning the sky. I suppose it's safe. She began to paddle with her broad flat flippers. They rode the wave up to the crest. Mama turned and pointed. That is the Island of Sea Otters.

Tuck pushed himself up on Mama's tummy and looked across the waves. He could see something tall and white surrounded by fuzzy green. Oh, what is that tall white thing?

Mama chuckled. That is a rock made by humans. My Mama told me light once shone from it at night but I have never seen that happen.

Tuck didn't know what a human was but it must be very strong to have made such a tall white rock. How did the white rock make the light? Was it like the sun?

That I do not know, my little one. I have lived in the shadow of the tall white rock my whole life but I know very little about it. Sea Otters don't go onto the island. They only live in the water around it.

A vast shadow swept across the water and passed over them. What is that, Mama?

Mama looked up into the sky. She hissed and grabbed Tuck with her paws. Hold your breath! She dove under, pulling him down into the water.

Tuck had only been under the water a few times. His nose and ears closed instinctively against the cold ocean. His body wanted to float and fought against Mama's pull.

Tuck looked back at the surface of the water where they had been just heartbeats before. A dark shape with a lighter head and tail loomed over the water. Yellow legs armed with sharp talons plunged under the surface, reaching for them.

Mama fought to pull him farther down, away from the hunting claws. Tuck felt his body slipping from her grasp. He clung to her.

Mama used her tail and flippers to propel them away. They popped up back in the valley of the waves.

Tuck wasn't cold. The air that Mama had blown into his fur had kept the water away from his skin. But he was shivering. He climbed back onto Mama's chest. He could hear how fast her heart was beating. She hugged him tightly. Oh, my brave little Tuck. Are you all right?

Tuck couldn't stop shaking. He hid his face under Mama's chin. What was that?

She sighed and began grooming him again. "That was an eagle. It's one of the reasons that we live out here away