“I’ll beat you to it, pig!” Roscoe looked over at Clementine as he passed by. The pig sped up, determined to jump in before him. They all could see the edge of a cliff fast approaching. The goat and pig huffed and puffed, neck and neck with each other.

Benjamin and Paco watched the two launch just short of the edge, soar through the air, and splat!…fall into the creek that had no water. Goat and pig were covered in slimy dark mud up to their heads. Benjamin and Paco looked over the edge at the two.

“Ugh!” Roscoe kicked around wildly, trying to get out.

“Ahhhhhh…now this is the life!” The blissful pig sank deeper into the cold, soft mud. “I could stay here all night.”

“Even with that thing out there?” Benjamin said from above.

In a panic the two squirmed out of the mud and onto some flat rocks. Benjamin and Paco carefully made their way down to the creek bed.

“I hear water, but where is it?” Roscoe asked. They looked up and down the bed.

“Listen! I think it’s coming from this way.” Paco nodded to the left. They crossed the white flat rocks illuminated by the moon. The trickle got louder.

“Look at that!” Benjamin pointed to an alcove in the creek’s walls, half-covered by tall grass and tiny trees. A cold, natural spring dripped into a small pool. He pushed the foliage aside and slipped through the narrow opening. The others followed.

“Wow! Kinda reminds you of home, huh?” The muddy goat entered the water.

Paco drank the water dripping down the wall. “Just like home!” he smiled.

Benjamin joined him in a drink. The pig stood at the edge of the pool debating.

“Come on!” Roscoe rolled in the water. “It feels good getting that slimy mud off!”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Why, you nasty thing! Do you know how bad you smell without that mud–”

Splash! The pig belly flopped into the small pool, drenching every square inch of the goat. Paco and Benjamin laughed as the two spit and splashed and tried to dunk one another. No one noticed a pack of deer racing through the trees on the ledge above.

“Hey!” Paco shouted. “You’re getting me all wet!” He shook his drenched fur.

Boom! A thundering clop from the creek echoed in Benjamin’s ears. “Did you guys hear that?!”

“What? Paco complaining his pretty fur got wet?” Roscoe spat more water.

“Come on, Paco. Jump in!” Clementine encouraged.

“You’ll get used to it instantly!” Roscoe lay on his back, hooves above the water.

“Oh, alright!” Paco plunged into the water and emerged screaming. “C-c-cold! It’s s-s-so cold!” The others laughed. “I don’t know how you two can stand this!”

“Well, King Benjamin, you’re next!” the pig said, delighted.

“Nuh-uh! No way are you getting me in there!”