Art & Code by Rex 2023
"Speech!"
His day was just great, if you counted that he had finally after a long time found a beach. He was panting as he hauled himself down the shoreline, unknowingly going further from home as he did so. He couldn't smell that delicious smell anymore and now he was sure this was the way home. It had to be. He had been smelling around and he couldn't figure out which way was which. Mom had been out with Tani getting herbs and dad was doing well, whatever it was dad did when he had went outside and smelled the smell. He went to find it but ended up finding himself lost. Iki having the smartest idea he had had in the longest time, if he did say so himself(and he did say so), had decided he would find the beach, only he didn't remember how to get to the beach.

It had been a few days since then though and finally he had found the beach!

He was starving and he was hopeful that his dad might have a nice juicy dik dik when he got home for him. Only this beach kind of looked wrong. But it just had to be because he had never actually seen the beach right? His paws also hurt and his belly growled reminding him how hungry he really was. He sat and lifted a paw to his belly and smacked his lips. thinking of the dik dik he wanted to eat made him even hungrier. Not to mention he really wanted to sleep. He really missed his bed and snuggling his brothers. His eyes watered just thinking of it. His tears falling on his cheeks as he looked around. Mom or dad had to hear him and come running right?

He tossed his head back and loosed his voice in a, probably to others pathetic, howl. It sounded a bit like a hound dog, but it was his. Dad would come running right? He lowered himself to lay and laid his head on his paws as he let his tears fall.

Sulfur was enjoying himself. His big sister was watching him and had brought him to the beach. After catching him a big fish to snack on while she searched for shells the red streaked woman left him alone. With the raiders having been here so often she was sure he’d be alright. Sulfur was a well behaved pup for the most part, and unlike many of her family didn't seem to have the Praetor demon within him. He was pure… and it showed in the innocence of his bright red eyes.

He had taken a few bites of his fish when the sad howl filled the air. Oh no… he didn't recognize the voice, but he didn't always hear the best, apparently. It had frustrated his big sister earlier and she had gotten really loud when she repeated herself. Hopefully she hadn't gotten mad at the other wolf too! Sul grabbed the fish in his maw and started to waddle down the beach in search of the other.

He found the older boy alone and in tears. His tiny ears fell back against his head and he crept closer. Bit by bit, making sure that the other boy didn't move. Why was he crying? He didn't smell like the ocean… Slowly Sulfur set the fish down in front of the older boy before a whine left his lips. Would giving up his lunch make the other boy feel better?

Art & Code by Rex 2023
"Speech!"
Iki hadn't been alone long here after his howl before another was coming his way. His tears still fell but he swiveled his ears forward, keeping his head down. He wasn't really a runner so if the other boy expected him to run, well it just wouldn't happen. It wasn't anyone he recognized but maybe he knew where home was!

He eyed the fish the boy put down, offering his own whine in a plea for a bite to eat from the boy's fish. He didn't care if it was raw either, he was so hungry. His teary emerald eyes turned up to the other boys ruby ones, hope in his eyes. He could feel it he was withering away to nothing but he couldn't just be rude and take it without permission. He dropped his ears to the side as he gave the darker boy his begging face. It always worked on dad. It should work here too.

The quiet whine was lost on the dark-furred boy, his red gaze fixed on the other boy as he watched him. He had set the fish down, meaning to give it to the other lad, but it seemed the orange, white, and black yearling had not understood the gesture. They were just starting at each other for a long while, confusion slowly slipping onto Sulfur’s face when he realized Ikuchi wasn’t going to eat. Well that was no good! The boy tapped the fish a couple times with a forepaw, gestured at it with his muzzle, and then moved his muzzle toward Iki. “For you,” he was trying to say. He stepped back, tail wagging as he lay down in the sand and set his head on his paws. Food would help the other boy feel better, and then maybe they could play before his big sister came back!

"Speech," 'Thought.'

coded by NachoMumma

His breath hitched as he waited for the other as he moved. The moment he nosed the fish towards him iki let out the breath and his face turned up un a massive grin. A mantra of thank yous released as he moved towards the fish on his belly.

He dug in the moment it was in his possession. Food had never tasted so good! As soon as it was all gone his tail was wagging and he was grinning up at the other boy. "Thank you! Im Ikiuch Agatsuma-Kedieo. You saved me! I was gonna starve to dead!" his paws tapped happily in place as he stretched on his belly. His white flag wagging furiously behind him. Nothing but gratitude in his emeralds for the other boy. Everything was close to shouting in his happiness.

The other boy seemed endlessly grateful for the fish that Sulfur had given him. He hadn’t been able to speak, but the other boy understood it was a gift, and as Sul watched him eat his tail wagged back and forth and his tiny ears twitched happily. He was so glad that he had been able to help! The food helped the other boy feel better too, and, as he was thanked, Suflur gave several nods, a big smile on his face. Good! The dark-furred boy got back to his paws, looking up to see if he could see his big sister. No, not yet! That was okay though, he made a new friend in Ikuchi. He frowned… Ikuchi had given his name but…

His ears fell. He didn’t like speaking, didn’t like the garbled way his voice sounded… He was mute because he chose not to speak… not because he couldn’t. The boy shuffled on his paws and whimpered. But his new friend didn’t know his name… Mmm… “N-no… talk…” His voice, quiet and sloppy, fell from his lips before being followed by another whimper. It was clear that doing so made him upset. “S-Sulfur…” He looked away from his friend then. There, he had given his name, but his happiness had gone, replaced by the awkward upset he now felt.