It would appear that my presence had gone unnoticed as I stood upon the banks of the river opposite to him. I watched as he soaked his face in the attempt to get a drink, and then lose much of the liquid he sought to consume when he tried to correct himself. But I did not laugh or make any attempt to catch his attention. Instead I slipped into the cool waters of the river. The liquid lapped against my legs as I preceded forward, the sounds of the river masking my progression towards the male. It was when his tongue caught in his mouth that his eyes finally met mine. I stopped, lowering my tiara and lapping at the cool waters once more, waiting for him to greet me, or not. This day I had not descended from the mountain in search of company; rather I had come seeking solitude. My tongue extended gracefully from my maw, cupping into the water and returning to my lips with cool refreshment. And yet I kept my mahogany eyes focused upon the other wolf. All the while I continued to lap easily at the water, enjoying the coolness that ran down my throat and coursed around my legs.

He seemed slightly frantic in realizing that I was there, and for a moment I considered turning upstream and wading away from him so that he might be put at some ease. When first I had looked upon him he had shown signs of being exhausted, and I hardly wished to put undue stress upon him simply by being present. But it is his questioning greeting that ceases my consumption. Slowly I lifted my crown, eyes still locked upon his, but saying nothing in return. His head tilts slightly and he tells me the obvious, that I am, in fact, wet. This elicits a slight tilting of my own head, a single brow rising inquisitively. He stammers through a few more words, trying to make what he’d already said somehow less awkward. I straighten my dais as he drops his eyes to the sand, but still I do not speak. He seems somehow troubled, his tongue vexing him. Finally he emits a single word, a common greeting.

“Hello,” I reply, the smallest hint of a smile toying at the corners of my lips. Just then a stronger current pushes through the water, washing up over my knees and touching my belly. A light gasp escapes my lips, and then my smile widens. I seek his eyes once more, wondering if perhaps he might lift his gaze, for I would give him no reason to feel bashful. “Perhaps you’d care to join me?” I asked, not entirely sure why, but for some reason wishing to extend the invitation never the less. I glanced over my shoulder then, at the dark sky that seemed to creep closer to the main land all the time. Lightning lights up the sky, and finally I am able to hear the first distant rumblings of thunder. Looking back to him, my smile endures. “It would seem it may be inevitable, the getting wet part, that is.” Both brows lift, and I motion for him to join me if he would so desire, hoping to coax him into the water. The cool water could be quite relaxing for some. But if not, perhaps I might be persuaded to change the intentions of my visit to the river today after all, and rise to the shore beside him.