Catalina had let go of her tail-plucking habits. After leaving her family in search of a new life, she had decided to let her fur grow back in -- perhaps in the hopes that it would lend her a fresh start, or perhaps simply to help ease the pain of remembering the family she no longer had. Indeed, though she had longed for new horizons, she missed her relatives dearly.

Unfortunately, it seemed she had done far too much damage over the years. The fur at the base of her tail was thick and course, and stood only half the length of the rest of her lush coat. It seemed she would always have a mark to remind her of where she had come from. Perhaps... perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing.

Catalina, much like her sister, adored spring time. She stood happily atop the rise in the sea of grass, closing her eyes against the warm sunlight for a moment. A smile had come softly over her pale lips, giving her a look of peaceful serenity. For a moment she merely stood this way, soaking in every scent and sensation that surrounded her.

But just then, a very particular scent caught Catalina's attention. Her ears swiveled and her rainbow eyes opened wide. Surely she was mistaken... It was impossible, wasn't it?

And yet, there she was -- just as if they had never spent any time apart at all. Delighted, Cat's bright eyes locked onto her sister as if she feared her beloved sibling might vanish if she looked away for even a moment. She moved swiftly and straight through the grasses, her long legs carrying her with such grace and poise that it seemed her little feet hardly touched the ground at all.

"Oh Shimza!" she laughed, delighted. "You know I hate it when you call me 'older'.." She wrinkled her nose in feigned distaste, though her eyes were still beaming with joy.

She quickened her pace, coming up to the younger wolf with a waving tail and a happy smile. When she got near enough she whined softly, nuzzling up under her sister's chin in adoration and affection, rubbing her cheek alongside Shimza's.

"My sister, my dear, dear sister!" She could hardly believe that this was not a dream. She had wanted nothing more than to leave her family behind, for so many years... and yet, now that she was without them, there was an aching emptiness inside of her. Seeing Shimza made Catalina feel whole again.

"I can't believe it's really you," she whispered, her tail wagging so fiercely that her slender sides undulated along. She sat back, looking her sister over with beaming pride in her eyes.

"You look wonderful, my dear! Magnificent!"

catalina