last summer smiles

The weather was becoming so nice and warm lately, and Solveiga welcomed every bit of it. She had missed the feeling of the sun on her back, and the smell of fruit filling her nose and making her mouth water. Besides, with her tiny frame, she really didn't agree with the snow or the icy winds that bit her down to the bone. She preferred warmer climates and seasons and thankfully, summer had finally arrived. She was tempted to stick to the coast and enjoy the feeling of the hot sand beneath her paws. After all, there was something so nice about soaking in the heat and then diving into the waves for a cool refreshment.

But today, Solveiga decided to leave the beach for a different kind of summer treat. Fresh berries. She knew that further inland there would be flourishes of berries. All kinds of berries, too: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, maybe even strawberries! She hoped she could find a little of everything, though strawberries were her favorite.

And so, the small woman traveled inland in search of some sweet treats. She searched for most of the morning, and it wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that she finally found something promising. Up ahead, in a sprawling green grove, her eyes caught a bit of color. Red. Excited, she picked up speed and went loping into the greenery, giggling in delight when she found a raspberry bush and wriggled her face into the vines to snag one. It burst on her tongue in a rainbow of flavor, reminding her of her childhood and bringing a smile to her face. But it was then that she noticed that she wasn't alone. Someone else was enjoying the treats summer had to offer, and Solveiga looked up in a bit of confusion as she tried to place the scent. It wasn't quite wolfish, but it was certainly canine. It was unlike any other scent she'd encountered, and being her curious self, she chose to investigate.