How To Have Zoomies And Make New Friends

The sun’s warm light filters through the drooping branches of the willow tree that Ricin lounges under. He is waiting for Chade to return with food and trying very, very hard to not go explore. However, he had promised his brother he would wait here while he hunted. Sure, the place is idyllic, picturesque, and every other nice word to depict it. But it is boring. Ricin stands and shakes his pelt out, trying to fight the urge to run around under the trees. He might be getting older and taller but Ricin still retains the energy of a puppy and his paws itch to run.

Huffing a sigh, Ricin looks around for any sign of Chade. When he hears and sees nothing, a smile tugs at his lips. Talking softly to the air around him, Ricin says, “What Ny doesn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.” With one finally glance around, Ricin releases all his pent-up energy. Paws strike the ground in rhythmic strides as he runs straight out away from the willow tree he is supposed to wait under. Without warning he turns at a ninety-degree angle and zooms off in the new direction. Ricin circles, loops, zigs, zags, and runs as fast as he can for as long as he can.

Ricin knows he is making a ruckus, sometimes even releasing a happy woof against his better judgement but he cannot help being lost in the moment. For months the brothers have tried to grow up, be adults because their circumstances demanded it. In this moment, zooming around, dodging trees, making crazy patterns with his paws, Ricin is pup again. His boundless energy is unleashed and he enjoys every second of this.


"Speech"