The Fern Gulley was beautiful. Surprisingly, despite focusing on healing and exploration, this was a land she had not gone into before, and she was intent on changing that now. It was absolutely stunning in spring. So many plants, and her nose picked up on quite a few small animals as well - something she will note, but she also didn't want to trample herbs and flowers in her chase for prey. While small and light, that would not make a difference in pursuit. Besides, she had eaten earlier; there was no reason for her to go hunt again while she was in this absolutely stunning land. Flowers were already starting to bloom, and new plant growth visible. Some of those early blooming flowers, such as dandelions or periwinkle, could be seen. While not extremely common, periwinkle was rather distinctive when it was one of the only blooming flowers during this time. Easy to spot, with the trademark blue or purple flowers, though she also knew they came in white.

Trotting around, nose to the ground, she enjoyed the feeling of the afternoon sun on her fur, the delightful sights surrounding her, and even the buzz of bees as they flitted from dandelion to dandelion.

"Speech" "You"

Ahh... Spring! The early days of spring were Morwenna's absolute favorite. She roved over the gully in search of the telltale signs of the new crop of herbs to be found. The area was already awash in chartreuse greens of new growth and flowers abound. Dandelion, clover, crocus, even a leaf or two of feathery yarrow and wide leaf plantain arriving from their winter beds.

The soil was softer and more moist than it had been in the summer, but so it was in a wet spring.

The wolfdog lifted her nose as a... notwolf scent crossed her nose and caught her immediate attention. She crested a hill and smiled delightedly! It wasn't just a notwolf! It was a sighthound! Just like her! She bounded toward the dog feeling giddy and playful. She made a high yip-howl to call to the other as her long legs carried her closer to the hound.

"Hello!!" Her tail waved long and flashy and cascading behind her! She slowed as she neared and stretched out her long nose to greet the other.

Her nose filled with the scents of herbs, and the wind blowing uphill from her, meant that she was completely unaware of the approaching wolfdog until the cheerful, friendly yip-howl reached her ears. Head snapping up, her ears pricked in alertness at the figure zooming towards her, before flattening again. Instinctively, fur bristled along her spine at the sight of a stranger bounding towards her, and she skittered back several steps away from the wolfdog before fully processing. First off, that noise was a friendly one. It was meant to notify her of the other's approach, to prevent rude startling. Second... that wolf was not just a wolf. That dog was very, very distinctly sighthound, too. Sighthound genes were strong, and they made their mark on any dog that had their DNA in them. In this case, apparently... a wolf. Not something she had seen often, but something that she knew existed.

This was not a dangerous animal, though. This was an excited one. Very happy, very excited, and reminded Eleven of a couple of dogs she knew back home. And besides, she was also sighthound. She had always been more comfortable around those like her; they understood her so much better. Quietly, somewhat hesitantly, she stretched and returned the nose boop, sniffing lightly as she took in the other dog's scent. Wolfdog, Dog. Whatever. She was a part of a pack. She could smell the many many scents on her, that all jumbled together into one defining scent.

"Hello," she returned the greeting lightly, lightly wagging her own tail. "I did not expect to see one of my own." The comment was true, although it was a bit weird seeing the wolf and hound mix together. Even so, she considered those mixes to be one of her - a sighthound, because of how strongly those traits were. She did, however, take a couple of steps back after that. Not out of fear, but rather because.... she was tiny. This wolfdog was not tiny (although nowhere near the tallest of the wolves she has seen), and she did not want to cause a crick in her neck by staring up at close proximity.

"Speech" "You"

Speech // thought // Serbian

Morwenna grinned softly and allowed the other her movements without much assuming. She let the other girl step back through the growing grasses then forward and Morwenna danced in a circle after their initial greeting sniffs! It had been so long since she had seen another with the dog half of her kindred out here!

"Oh, the same! I haven't seen one of us for quite some time! You're a rather small one! I'm so glad to meet you. I'm Morwenna." She greeted delightedly while she laid down and rolled over on her side. She hoped she would be at a better angle now! The soil here was still a touch damp and clung to her own long strands of fur. The scent of new herbs rose around them both.

"What's your name? What're you up to here?" She asked with a languid pose, letting the other girl fill in. Morwenna was always eager to make new friends!

The intrinsic understanding of Morwenna as Elesin stepped back was something that she noted and approved of. There was no rudeness here. Elesin was thoroughly amused by this, as well. Friendly, cheerful, delighted. Those words just about summed up Morwenna. The familiarity in the interaction, too, gave Elesin ease. "There seems to not be a lot of us!" It was rather unfortunate, though, she thought to herself. She wasn't sure if she fully made the right decision here to split off and go off on her own, especially noting her size - which Morwenna brought up "My people are smaller, usually, but I am on the smaller end even for them," she informed Morwenna as the other rolled onto the ground. Elesin huffed in amusement, tail wagging loosely as she eyed her. She hadn't ran or wrestled with someone in a while. And someone who was so clearly a sighthound would be delightful to play with; they just typically understood each other.

"I am Elesin, or Ellie! I am here looking at herbs, because of some early spring growth. Haven't been here before, but had heard of it being a beautiful spot and great for herbs." Once again, she stared at Morwenna, tail twitching as she debated acting on her impulses or not. Ah - screw it. Letting out a light, clearly play growl, she dropped into a play bow, ears pricking forward. She was making an absolutely clear invitation, and she held it, ready to pounce and do a darting grab of Morwenna's throat - if said invite was fully accepted. She suddenly, really, really wanted to run. Silly? Yes.

"Speech" "You"

Speech // thought // Serbian

The other seemed to be just as delighted if a little more nervous at meeting Morwenna as the wolfdog was.

"Ellie!" She repeated, "This is indeed one of the best places for herbs!" Morwenna was feeling particularly playful and daring as she met this smaller hound. She was instantly on her chest as Ellie dropped into an obvious play bow! Yes! The little one dove for a grab at Morwenna's throat but the larger woman skirted back with a laughing yip, a full body spin on the spot, and then a full-out dash across the growing spring grasses, aiming her mouth to nip at the other girls jowl in a tug to chase her as she zipped by.

Mowenna lopped with her gangly legs around the gully and up a hill, she bowed as she waited for the girl to catch up to her and opened her mouth with a playful growl and a gentle round of Bitey Face! It had been so long since she had played with another nosey hound! Since she had been a young child!

Ellie's eyes lit up as Morwenna flipped herself back upright, her play invite obviously accepted. When her mouth closed on empty air as Morwenna wiggled out of the way, Ellie let out a grrrrbork noise, dropping back into a play bow and tail stiffly wagging. Her ears, normally held back, were raised and alert as Morwenna took off. Ellie leaned back to avoid the nip, before launching herself full force after Morwenna, pure delight filling her as she stretched out in an all-out run. There was absolutely nothing like the feeling of the wind in her fur during a run. It was her happy place, and it had been a long time since she had been able to chase like this - this wasn't quite the play style of a lot of dogs or wolves.

Ellie pushed herself hard, stretching and opening up her stride. She knew she was fast - much, much faster than one would expect her size to be. Even so, she knew it was quite likely Morwenna would still be faster, and that was okay to Eleven. She was one of the fastest where she was from, and sometimes it was enjoyable for the other dog to be the 'bunny' and for her to have to run as hard as possible. Although, it can be fun for her to be the 'bunny' as well.

She didn't slow as she caught up to Morwenna. She could see the invite for bitey face, but it was something she ignored for the time being, barking once as she blew past Morwenna, glancing back over her shoulder as she did so. Chase chase chase. She'd have the opportunity to chomp Morwenna's face later.

"Speech"

Photo by Steve Surfman

Speech // thought // Serbian

The other hound zipped by and Morwenna couldn't help herself but reach out for another nip, her teeth missing entirely and her legs shooting out from under her to chase Ellie down over the greening grass. She hadn't run like this since her race with Scald! Which wasn't too long ago now. She barked with excitement as she overtook the smaller woman, running alongside her and then swerving away with a yip to chase her again! Morwenna went flat out, her legs stretching and coiling beneath her, her mouth agape and her tongue lolling. Her chest nearly skimmed the ground as she leveled her pointed head with her shoulders and her tail streamed behind her like a long rudder tied with a banner!

Her wildflower eyes spotted bits of pants and she pulled her body up the side of the gully and back down it again. Then she reached the other side of the small valley, up the sides, and then sailed back down again in the middle until she was panting hard.

She fell into the very middle of the depression with a heavy flop and ran her legs through the plants. Her side's heaving.

Ellie was fast. Very, very fast. There were few dogs that could compete with her speeds, but she was no match for a much larger wolfdog. She knew Morwenna would catch up, but she was going to make her work for it. She was light and agile, sailing over the few obstacles with ease. The wind blew through her fur, and adrenaline and joy rushed through her even as she heard the telltale sounds of pursuit. Digging in harder, she launched herself full force into the run. Still, Morwenna overtook her, matching her, and Ellie eyed her as she suddenly split off. Barking a laugh, she twisted, paws digging into the soil as she abruptly changed direction to chase Morwenna. Morwenna was faster but Ellie cheated - as Morwenna headed back down, she swerved to cut Morwenna off, shooting past Morwenna lightning fast just behind her.

This was sheer happiness. She had missed this beyond what words could describe. There was nothing like it, and to feel companionship in doing so with another creature that needs the run like she did. Wolves played. Wolves wrestled. They bounced around each other. They did not go full force running with a joie de vivre unmatched by anything else. It wasn't so much a want as it was a need, and it was hard to do when alone and not in a known, safe area.

She skidded to a halt, joining Morwenna as she flopped flat on her side, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth as she regained her breath from such a wild run. Eventually, her breathing started to slow, although she did notice her throat was now parched. Water. She wanted water. Yawning, she glanced over at the wolfdog and wagged her tail lightly. "Thanks," she said simply.

"Speech"

Photo by Steve Surfman

The chase was fantastic! Twists and turns, snapping at the air, taking turns to be the bunny. Morwenna had almost forgotten what it was like to be a sighthound. Even her adoptive family had been full wolves.

As they flopped together, gathering their breaths, Morwenna heard the girl's thanks by her head. Wenna pushed her head through the grass to look up at Ellie. Tail thumping the ground.

"Oh, thank YOU, actually. I don't think I've played with another hound like us since I was very very small. It was delightful." She sighed contentedly against the tiny spring sprouts. What heaven.