Just breathe! I thought to myself, my heart racing with the adrenaline of my defiance of the boundaries that had been set for me. I was way beyond them, and sitting two inches higher in the world made me so excited and nervous. Looking out at the water that crept up the sands, my little tail wagged happily. Each time the foamy edges of the sea water came a few centimeters closer. Standing on wobbly legs, I leaned forward slightly to watch the wetness creep closer. I lowered my head and barked at it, warning it that this was my rock and it was not allowed to touch it! I tottered back and forth slightly, and promptly rocked backwards and sat down unceremoniously on my behind so that I would not fall from my self proclaimed throne. My tail continued to wag, and I found myself almost bubbling with happiness. I glanced around me, wondering if maybe Mana would join me in my play or if Mom might be nearby and unhappy with my wanderings.

That was when I spotted the black wolf. My head tipped slightly to the side as I watched her approach me, and my tongue continued to loll lazily from my maw. I wondered who she was. So far, I knew four wolves other than myself. Mom, Mum, Mana, and Los. That was it. I did not naturally fear strangers, instead I saw it as a chance to make a friend. Maybe she wouldn’t ditch me like Mana and Los always did! That prospect had me excited all over again, and I jumped up onto my paws again as she came closer. I nearly lost my balance, but recovered my footing and my tail wagged harder than ever behind me.

As my newfound friend fell into a bow, I mimicked her and dipped my head between my front paws, tail lifting and curling over my back as it wagged back and forth. Its movement distracted me from the corner of my eye and I made to grab at it with my teeth. Didn’t really think that one through! I tumbled off the rock and rolled in the sand at the black wolf’s paws, somehow managing to have grabbed hold of my tail as I fell. From my back and gazed up at the shewolf, tail grasped happily between my teeth and creating a most comical of grins upon my face. But I didn’t really care, I had done it! I had caught my tail! How many wolves could say that? I laid there for a moment longer, and then my tail started to wag again of its own accord and it slipped from my mouth. Rolling onto my side I scrambled to my paws and promptly began running in circles around the wolfess. I bounded between her legs and grinned up at her, excited to play. She looked a little bit like Mom, and when she was in the mood this was how I played with her!