The Otter's Oath

On my honor, I will do my best
to seek knowledge in the face of ignorance;
to stay my balance, have a discerning eye;
to be true and tried, almost never lie;
to guide my fellow forthright otters
in their voyage through uncharted waters;
to blaze a trail in jungles dark,
warding off the conniving shark;
and to keep, both inside and out, a tidy den
for the world that is coming to an end.
But most of all, I must hold this stance,
"Leave not my survival up to chance."