Nootau grinned at her wide, puppy eyes and he waved his tail with taunting slowness behind him. He chuckled with her sweet laughter and he bowed once more for play and also so that she head was level with her. At her somewhat random question, Nootau tilted his head. Lots of people had been asking him that. He wondered if he should feel special about it. “Well, in-” But he had started to answer her a bit too late and she was flying off in another direction entirely.

A cursh?! Nootau blinked in surprise. An image of that pretty she-wolf he had met during Voltaire’s story came to mind, but he refused to believe he was smitten with her. After all, he didn’t even know her name! And then an image of Celeste manifested itself against his will. Oh no! Not a chance. That brat could go and get mud in her fur for all he cared (which was the worst punishment he could think of for her). Other than that, all the females he had met were older than him or had been a part of his old pack. Still, the question flustered him, but lucky she was prattling on about Meryl and Ceal and Dae, so he didn’t need to right away.

That was a hilarious bit of info, though. If he ever met Meryl he would have to bring it up. Nootau shook his head and had his answer ready at this point, “I don’t have a crush on anybody.” He next reply startled him and confused for a moment. He completely laid on the ground (abandoning his playful bow) and blinked at her before he understood that she probably didn’t really know what she was talking about.

That must be it. After all, she was just a puppy! Nootau laughed and barked, “I can’t be your crush, but I can be a best friend.” He meant only to correct her misperception of the word, but he was a boy, and he wasn’t sure if his words were received harshly or not. Hopefully not. He really liked Flicka, after all, and found he was growing attached to her company. Also, because she was a friend, the last thing he would intend would be to hurt her feelings.

But as he replied, he doubted she had listened because she had pounced his tail again! Oh the clever little pup. Her teeth glommed down on the fur of his tail for a tight grasp. It didn’t hurt, as his fur kept his skin safe, but her grip was strong and could be felt. Nootau yipped in surprise and then jumped to his paws. “Flicka!” He exclaimed as he stood. He laughed uncontrollably, having found her clever distraction technique quite amusing. He lifted his tail upwards with the hopes of freeing it from her jaws. It this effort failed, though he would bat at her softly with his paws by curling around and trying to get her.