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As the Six Splendid Trees were attacked the animals fled from the fury of the dragon who would be named Big Blackie. All the animals fled except one, the oldest of river otters. He pleaded, crying aloud with hope the Creator would hear him: "Creator, stop that dragon and save the trees!"
But there was no answer, and the first tree was ruined. So the otter pleaded a second time: "Victor, stop that dragon and save the trees!"
But there was no answer, and the second tree was ruined. So the otter pleaded a third time: "Vigor, stop that dragon and save the trees!"
Still there was no answer, and the third tree was ruined. Then the otter was silent as the fourth tree was attacked and ruined, for it knew not what to say next. Whom else could it call upon? The Behemoth would have protected the trees, but the Behemoth was slain.
As the fifth tree was attacked the otter pleaded even more loudly, "Oh, Arlin River, arise and protect your trees!" But there was no answer.
Finally, as the dragon turned to approach the final tree, the otter cried aloud to no particular ear, "Help me!" Then the oldest of river otters leapt and attacked the dragon. But the dragon slew the otter in the briefest of moments, and then ruined the sixth tree.
Later, after Big Blackie was pinned under Pillory, the Creator visited the spirit of that oldest of river otters. But the Creator did not say anything, and after many minutes the otter's spirit whimpered and quietly asked, "Why did you not stop the ruin of the trees?"
The Creator replied softly, "The Age of Animals must draw to a close. There were other ways but each alternative was even more terrible." Then the Creator asked, "Why did you call upon the river? And why did you attack when you had no hope?"
The otter's spirit thought for a long time. Then answered. "I knew not whom to call upon. But the river is mighty. What if it could arise? But it did not. Then I knew not how to make a difference, but doing nothing would have been wrong."
"Wrong?" mused the Creator, "Wrong by what standards? How did you know it was wrong?"
Without a pause the otter's spirit replied, "I have no name for those standards. But I do not regret dying on their behalf."
Then the Creator chuckled. "You shall live again," he said, "on behalf of those standards and to teach the river how to rise up against what is wrong. But you will need a new body and a new name. Your old ones are ruined and too small."