As he came to rest before her, Sleekwing continued to study her. The words he spoke to her seemed to ignite a fire within her, boiling her excitement to the brim. A most genuine smile graced her features, and she rose to her feet, unable to contain the joy that was so blatantly displayed upon her face. But the heather painted warrior remained seated for the moment, dial tilting slightly to the side with a smirk at her question of whether or not he knew the meaning of his not hurting her. He could only assume it meant she came from a horrific background, and had never had someone to truly care for her, if she was so thrilled about keeping company with a wolf who did not bring her harm. Her exuberance about her freedom caused Sleekwing’s tail to wag across the ground, happy for her liberation from such a past.

Before he can so much as react she is off, sprinting about in her delight, circling around him and tossing rocks and dirt about with the swift motion of her paws. Sleekwing remained as he was, chuckling softly at her enthusiasm. Only when she came running at him head on did he rise to his paws, given to indulge in her infectiously lighthearted nature. Even as she falls into a play bow he mimics her. It had been a long time since he had had reason to play, but with the presence of his children on the mountain he was reminded of the joy of youth. And it would seem that Kiyomi was in need of a way to celebrate her emancipation from her former home. That was something Sleekwing would hardly deny her.

Without warning he reached out with his forepaw and bopped her on the nose playfully. “Tag,” he said tauntingly, before spinning on a dime and rocketing away from her. He fell into a streamlined sprint, running down along the shore of the lake so close that he kicked up water in his wake. She wanted to celebrate? He could do that.