Spa day

When the other wolf returned her friendly stance, her eyes all but squinted with her happy smile. People were just so much friendlier than they had been in Ashen. No wonder her mother had wanted them to get out and see the beauty of creation!

She showed some interest in the basket as it was lifted into the tree but really, plants were more Pontifex’s thing than hers. When he mentioned this was where he was born, she took a sniff of the air and couldn’t help but exclaim “Wow! We were almost neighbours! My friend lives in the Armada but I was born in Ashen! We’ve left now though.” Her tone wasn’t terribly sad. She very much enjoyed being out and about much more.

She took the other wolf’s advise to heart, where there was less algae made a lot of sense when he put it like that. She watched as her new friend scrambled (just a little) and moved to follow, her weight helping to sink her into the sucking mud, her movements far less graceful that she might have hoped if she was wanting to make an impression.

She could feel the difference as they approached, the sun was warming the mud and it seemed to squelch even easier through her toes. Her eyes lit up, it really was perfect! She hadn’t expected the gob of mud to come flying at her face, catching her straight between the eyes. Thankfully she had managed to close them in time, and when they opened again, shock was painted on her face, jaw dropped like some sort of swampy fly catcher.

Still, she managed to laugh, if that was how he wanted to play it then fine! First she threw herself onto her side, rolling to make sure her back was thoroughly coated, and all the way over. The mud slid and rolled down her sides, her legs, and dripped from her chest. Next she pushed herself back up onto her paws, giggles filling the air as she moved to pursue her latest friend. If she ever got close enough, she would attempt to wrap the other wolf up in a tackle hug, making sure they ended up as thoroughly muddy as she now was. After all, it was good for you.

“Speech”