race me! race me!

Hanako's legs throbbed as her muscles burned, she only had so much to give but try as she might it just wasn't enough. Her eyes widened as the realisation set in, the stranger had over taken her, even if only by a nose length. She pushed harder, faster-more than she probably should have- in a last second act of desperation but it was too late. And then he whooshed past the tree, a howl announcing his victory for all to hear. No matter how close it had been Hanako couldn't deny it, she'd lost. Hanako kicked up a whole lot of sand as she stumbled to standstill and bowed over to catch her breath. She would've laid down if she hadn't had company, she was that tired.

"I-wow!" She wasn't even mad or upset, just breathless and awfully impressed. "You're so fast!" She finally raised her head, her tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth as she offered him a humble smile, one he could actually see this time.

Now that her vision wasn't all blurry she took a moment to take in the sight of him. It was clear to see that he was a Fatalis, but try as she might Hanako couldn't put a name to his face. For reasons that were his own Azure hadn't mentioned him. But even then Hanako couldn't help but get the sense that he wasn't as firm or princely as his younger brother, that he was far more laid back, and softer around the edges. All down to earth and approachable, like he knew he wasn't fit for the throne. Hanako frowned. She felt a sharp pang of guilt in knowing that she was was so blatantly biased towards Azure, but really was that such a bad thing? It usually didn't feel that way so why should it now?

Instead of lingering on those thoughts any longer Hanako eyed his wings, just a fleeting glance so that she wasn't openly gawking like she assumed many often did upon first seeing them. They were pretty and she idly wondered if the feathers were velvety or coarse to the touch, she wanted to reach out and touch it with her tip of her nose but thought better of it.  After all, she could hardly go and poke him like he hadn't just thrashed her in a race. Even though the loss stung a little at first she knew that the best wolf had won and that there was no arguing with fate. She puffed a sigh, only just managing to catch her breath as she plonked her rump on the floor.

The mask was starting to slip into place.

"So what is your name, oh swift and mighty champion?" She swished her tail in the air, that was about as much fanfare as she could muster in that moment. Anymore and she might have keeled over.