Adventure had always been awaiting Aoibhe, life itself beckoned to her in its ancient tongue from the earliest of moments. She did not mind a day spent lounging in the sun, or one where she ran all day and only rested when her paws were too sore to take even another step. There was always another morning waiting when she closed her eyes, and she would sleep with the same wild abandon that she played and explored—but she never let a day end too early, never gave in to boredom or anxiety about what she ought to be doing next. This was not a trait common to her entire litter, Aoibhe had been the freest spirit and the most like her papa in his early days before a gnawing melancholy had learned to live in his yellow eyes. Her siblings had been of a diverse collection of personalities, though none of them like sweet, silly Aoibhe. They had bullied her, like pups will. She was the most roly-poly, a poof-ball that never quite outgrew that chubby puppy look (much due to all that fur, but mean siblings ignore such technicalities). She had weathered it all with fewer tears than most, and would usually hold her own when the other’s attention turned physical. When they found that Aoibhe could manage trouncing them they would usually turn to tormenting scrawny Orpheus who would practically allow the others to beat him senseless—whilst snarling viciously all the while—until Aoibhe arrived to throw her weight into the fray, something that Orpheus had only resented, always repaying the rescue with a snap of his jaws and a cold look.

Still, she had followed him anyway. He was her baby brother, and they had been friends now and then—though the bond was always fleeting and usually quickly broken once Orpheus grew annoyed with her. He was likely annoyed now, just in knowing that she was within a 5 mile radius. Aoibhe knew it, and she didn’t let it wound her, that was just how her brother was. He wouldn’t be himself if he actually liked her. Unlike her antisocial littermate, the fluffy white wolfess would have taken to company very happily if there was any to be had. The sound of the breeze and the buzz of the insects in the grass were all that she had for company. She chomped a few blades of grass that she held between her forelegs, giving it an animated chew before shaking it out of her mouth again. She might have entertained herself for a while longer yet, but was instead blessed with a visitor before she had the chance to trample and chew-up the entire grassy expanse. A voice called out and Aoibhe’s large ears pricked in response. She raised her head a little higher and widened her golden, kohl rimmed eyes to see just who was speaking to her over the gently waving tops of the grass. A white face smiled down at her and after suffering the briefest moment of surprise, her tongue lolled once more as she returned the grin. “Hello!” barked Aoibhe cheerily, not yet realizing that she might not have been heard. Her white brush of a tail waving behind her as the stranger spoke and showed off his markings.

Understanding came to her quickly when the young male came to sit down beside where she lay. She had never met anyone who could not hear well, but Aoibhe was quick to put things together. He was clearly about her age, the both of them having the distinct look of not quite being grown up yet… Laughter crinkled the corners of her lips when he asked who she was hiding from in that odd way, though she meant no cruelty what-so-ever. White tail swishing over the flattened grass around her rump, she replied, “I’m not hiding. I’m sneaking…though, I’m not sneaking to or from anywhere either.” She realized it seemed particularly silly to be sneaking for no reason. Then the fact that they had not introduced themselves dawned on her, and Aoibhe raised the leg nearest the male and pawed at his forelegs with a warm, playful gesture, head tilting. “I’m Aoibhe.” Like her papa had been, she was always quick to try and make a friend.