Chuck, a chubby adolescent beaver with spiky blue hair and bushy eyebrows, shuffles through the grass, a folding chair and a canvas bag of toys in his paws. His swimming trunks are slightly too big, and a thick stripe of sunblock sits on his nose. He glances around, taking in the peacefulness, before settling his things on the sand.
Chuck notices the ducks but tries not to make eye contact, busying himself with arranging his toys beside the water. He selects a handful of twigs and small branches, kneeling at the shoreline where the mud is cool and soft beneath his knees. The ducks' voices drift across the pond, laughter rising like the caw of crows.
Chuck[/@ch_1]'s fur. The ducks, emboldened by each other, begin to call out insults, their words cutting through the quiet morning.]
"Hey, look at the pudgy freak with the blue hair! What are you building, a nerd fort?"
"Is he trying to dam the whole pond with twigs? Maybe his tail's big enough for it!"
Chuck pauses but only waves, pretending not to hear. His hands tremble, but he focuses on stacking his twigs, determined not to let them ruin his morning.
The ducks begin tossing the ball back and forth, splashing and shouting, moving closer to Chuck's spot. The water churns with their energy, droplets catching the sun like tiny mirrors. Chuck tries to ignore them, but their shadows stretch longer and nearer on the sand.
Chuck[/@ch_1]'s dam. Another follows, hitting him square in the face, the shock stinging more than the pain.]
"Nice shot! See if you can knock over his whole pile!"
A third ball thuds into Chuck's stomach, knocking him to the ground. The ducks howl with laughter, water splashing wildly around them, and his carefully constructed dam collapses in a muddy heap.
"Get your freaky tail off our pond, loser!"
Chuck sits up slowly, brushing mud from his fur, his toys scattered and broken around him. He looks out over the water, eyes shining, but refuses to cry. Instead, he gathers his twigs and begins again, a stubborn hope flickering in his heart as the pond returns to quiet.
