Dashing across the soft grasses on the bank of the river his lithe black form moved silently, or would have were it not for the short barks he sent up to disturb the roosting birds that found shelter in the reeds. Each time they flew up together, chirping in anger and disapproval his lopsided grin grew wider. He needed a break from Astrid and the growing number of wolves which had begun gathering in Taviora for the upcoming hunt. He still couldn’t quite see the point in it all. Sure the feast allowed the different packs to form a bond, nothing kept their kind together like hunter as one, but why exert yourself so much when rabbits and smaller, easier prey abounded? His sister seemed to think the more difficult the target the more worthwhile the hunt, but it made no sense to him.

So instead he took off for a jaunt as he was prone to do, giving in to his seemingly boundless energy and playful nature. He tripped as he ran, though his form seemed lithe and agile there was a lack of grace in the boy overall belied by his form. The afternoon sun was warm on his back despite the onset of fall and he decided to make the most of the uncommonly nice day. He veered from the banks in to the river, jumping about wildly in the chilly water as if afraid to touch the bottom. He bounded on, so engrossed in his actions and focusing on not face planting in the water that he didn’t see the whit e form of the wolf on the shore until he sent a splash of water that direction.

He pulled to a hard stop, smiling sheepishly though unable to wholly contain the laughter that seemed to endlessly bubble up from his chest. He tried to look apologetic, really did, but it simply wasn’t in his nature to apologize for how he acted so much had his sister sheltered him in the previous years. “Sorry about that,” he managed, despite the look on his face that spoke of the opposite. Tilting black and white head he waded forward toward this new, very possibly wet, stranger. “Fancy a swim,” he said around the barking laugh that the finally could contain no longer, tail wagging damply behind him in good nature.