Noir paced uneasily on the bank of the rapids, the maple tree was behind him and he could hear the sound of raven chicks in the nest. He hadn’t been able to articulate how incredibly jealous he was that Poem had a companion in one of the chicks that lived above his den. The young Destruction boy decided that he hated her for it.

Poem was a know it all who was almost as annoying as Theory. At least she managed to give him a good reaction when he messed with her. The blue marked boy huffed heavily, looking back towards the nest longingly. His brows knit in frustration as he swore that one of the baby birds would be loyal to him.

A heavy sigh fell from his lips as he lowered his haunches to the ground as he looked out over the fast moving water. He fully blamed his sister for the uncomfortable feeling that welled within his gut. He’d get back at her for it, and the thought of making her as miserable as he was comforted the boy.

Now at the height of summer, the water had slowed considerably. Theory was taking full advantage of this, bouncing from flat rock to rock and enjoying the cool water. With her dark coat, she soaked up the sun, and the summer so far had been lazy days strewn in the shade. It was only recently that the rapids had dried up enough that it was safe to play. As Theory pranced along the shore, dabbling in and out of the water, she spotted another dark shape further down the rapids. Scent told her it was Noir. She considered her options, but figured it would be a coward's move to turn and head back to the den. Besides, she'd seen how upset he'd been over Poem's raven, and her magnanimity won. He could use a friend right now. "Noir!" She called, padding down the shore towards him. Theo could already tell he was in a sour mood based on his pensive glaring at the water. It was getting more and more difficult to tease a smile out of him, and Theory thought that was sad. "What are you up to? Want to play in the water?" She asked, ears pricked forward. "speech" & thought

His voice was on the wind, and as he turned reluctantly to look towards the voice he wasn’t very excited by what he saw. Verse was a chore, but Theo was something else. She was always fun and chipper and trying to get him to be the same way. She was exhausting, when he teased her she didn’t even fight back like Poem. He rolled his eyes and turned away from her, kind of wanting to play in the water, but not really wanting to with his sister.

”None of your business, and maybe.” He was still a pup, and he liked to get id of his excess energy like any other pup. ”depends on what you’re doing.” If it was something annoying he was going to back out, if it wasn’t he was going to reluctantly join her. Maybe he’d get a chance to dunk her face in the water.

Noir's sour attitude was the worst. As he gave her the cold shoulder, Theory play bowed and wagged her tail. "What's with the face? Did you eat a sour berry or is that just, uh, your face?" She laughed, leaping circles around him. She hated how he teased their sisters! But, she reminded herself, she was here to cheer him up. Not make him feel worse. That wouldn't be very diplomatic at all. "I was just seeing how many rocks I could jump to before falling in the water... but we could play whatever you wanted to," she offered generously, tilting her head to the side. Hopefully it wouldn't be a terribly cruel game. If it was, she could always refuse. "speech" & thought

Maybe Theta had been right, his sisters were too smiley. His littermate bounced around him and asked light-heartedly about his face. He scowled back. ”Was that supposed to be an insult?” Noir’s voice was unamused as he pushed himself to his feet and shook out his bright blue striped pelt. Her boundless energy was already tiring as he watched her with a hard gaze. ”That sounds stupid.” He admitted to her before turning his tall and disproportionate frame towards the water. ”I guess I’ll try though.” He didn’t actually dislike the idea, and her didn’t want to admit he couldn’t really think of his own game anyway. ”You go first though,” The boy motioned for her to lead the way with his midnight furred head. Noir’s brightly colored tail swung amusedly at his ankles, as he stated to come around to the possibilities of their fun.

Theory shrugged nonchalantly when he asked if it was supposed to be an insult - although she knew it was rude, it wasn't not not an insult... Noir was just fun to tease, and it felt good to give him a taste of his own medicine. She rolled her eyes when he said her game was stupid, "Fine, I'll just go back to - " "I guess I'll try though." Slightly surprised, she nodded and turned back to the water. Theory wanted to believe that he would play, but she wasn't cautious enough yet to think he might not play by the rules. She was young, and innocent still. Though he teased her and her sisters mercilessly, he was still their brother, and that counteed for an awful lot. The young wolf bounded back towards the rocks, splashing through the water as she went before she scrambled on top of the first flat surface. "Okay, let's make it a race!" "speech" & thought

Theo didn’t give him a real answer as she shrugged off any confrontation he had hoped to start. She was about to turn around and leave him be when he decided he could use some entertainment. His huge frame followed after her, leaving unconcealed the amusement of splashing along the tamer parts of the river. Noir followed after his nearly tailless sister as she positioned herself on one of the flatter dry ones.

He wanted to make his own path though, and chose a similar one as few wolf lengths away. It was a bit taller but his long legs carried him easily. ”If that’s really what you want.” The boy had always been a bit bigger than all of his sisters. Though all of them but Verse were practically the same size anyway. ”Where to?” He asked as blue and lavender eyes looked around.

Theory was surprised that Noir was joining her, but she tried not to show it. She didn't want to give him any openings to tease her - even if she had to trick him into it, they would have fun! Her docked tail was twitching with excitement. Theo looked over her shoulder as he chose his rock, offering him a smile. "Yes, let's!" She reiterated eagerly. Theo hoped a race would ignite his competitive spirit, so he was bound to enjoy himself without even realizing. At least, that was her hope. "How about... to Rhyme's den?" She said. "But we have to try and use the river as much as possible to get there, that's the rule!" Well, she would follow the rule, at least. Maybe Noir could use a win. "Are you ready? You can say go." Excitedly, Theory play bowed in his direction and twitched her bunny tail furiously. "speech" & thought

His sister was intent on the race, and he’d allow her to be so. A race would really get their blood pumping despite the heat. After a quick run in the water likely they’d remain cool all the way back to the den. Rhyme had been hinting about them finding their own dens soon, the one all four of them shared was becoming awful cramped. Only Verse seemed completely comfortable anymore, not that the fact was a surprise she was so tiny. He had given a little thought to where he’d want his own, but the thought of being denless was beginning to appeal more to him. Rhyme hadn’t had a real den until he brought their mother home anyway. He could be like his dad and sleep out under the stars.

Theo gave him their destination and he nodded as she listed off her one rule. Use the river to get there. ”Alright.” He agreed verbally as she bowed and he got himself into position. Noir coiled his limbs beneath him as he kneaded his front legs, balancing himself for the launch. ”Three, two, one go!” He offered in quick succession as his large paws pushed him from the rock with incredible speed. His stride was longer than his sister’s, and with obvious effort the boy surged forward through the water towards the ancient maple tree.