"Come on - we've got to be going!"

Not a question, not a suggestion, a demand as she pulled gently at his ear, her lips pulled up into a broad grin. He may have had other plans - sleep, relaxation, border patrol - but that didn't matter, not today at least. She'd figured there were much more beautiful, if not arguably more important, things to be seen and done. She bounced and then she bounced some more, still nipping and pawing at him from the mouth of the den, her tail wiggling behind her in the air like a ridiculous flag.

"Ascendit, ascendit, ascendit!"

He'd never hear the end of it until he rose and began to follow her, her dainty paws quick and nimble across the landscape - endlessly, ceaselessly jogging on and on. She'd hardly say a word, simply flash him a playful smile before dashing forward once more. Where they were going was a secret, and she would waste as much time getting there as possible despite the relatively short trip usually. It would take at least an hour of this following and circling until they arrived at the tree line - before them stretched a momentous field of snow, endless it would seem, freshly fallen and illuminated like silver beneath the midday sun. With the onset of winter had come a heavy fall to bury the usually grassy field in a wonderland, a utopia in Calista's eyes. She had always loved the snow - she remembered attempting to teach Ava how to play in it, how to enjoy the cold between your toes. It had seemed like so long since she had a chance to enjoy it and with any luck, she could do so now with her beloved Swallowbane by her side. If she could do that, she would have discovered the perfect afternoon.

"Beautiful, no? Like cloud on earth!"

She giggled, the entire of her body radiating with joy as she waved her tail and began to jog forward once more, wading into the fresh fall. Instantly, she fell through somewhat until the snow was at her elbows - she paused momentarily, staring down with her mouth in the shape of a soft 'o' - and then, she bounded forward heavily, crunching through with a shrill laugh. With a flick of her tail, she turned to face over her shoulder, a mischievous grin forming on her muzzle as she narrowed her eyes at her beloved - game on.

"Be catching me, if you can!"

Without hesitation she was off once more, bounding heavily through the snow in a futile attempt to be as speedy as usual. Despite her love for winter, she'd never quite grasped just how well it could slow her down. Oh, maybe she would bring RAINBOW too next time!