At first Taika was cautious when the other female leapt forward to nip at her. Not all wolves were friendly, and not all would have let their teeth stop just short of her flesh. In the first movements she stepped defensively to the side, ready to flail around and flee if the need arose. To her laughing relief the other’s jaws closed on solid air, from from anything that could have been vital. She bounded away, paws making excited splashes in the water. Taika’s front half pounded on the surface, creating a wave around her, head just above the water, ripples licking at her chin. She watched the other female, her grin growing. The multi-colored wolfess’ tail merely twitches while Taika’s sent whips of water flying through the air in every direction. It was the sign of someone who was just learning how to play. Or just re-learning how to play. The shining in the other’s eyes excited Taika. Her body quivered more with excitement and she dashed forward. The water around her sprayed everywhere and she zipped back and forth, trying to create as many waves as possible. Water was so cleansing and refreshing. It had the power to completely change everything. She used it to bring back everything that she was. She hoped she could use it to bring this stranger into whatever the stranger wanted to be.

Another yip and a bark and she bounded towards her new playmate, shoving her once with her paws before racing away through the water. Back onto the solid shore she ran further, water still spraying everywhere from her sopping coat. Eventually they would both be so wet and muddy there would be no difference between when they went into the water and when they ran out of it.