5 feet apart

A soft chuff, friendly yet… cautious, broke through the steamy air. Ludovic paused mid-motion, one paw still submerged in the inviting warmth of the water while the others remained grounded on the slick edge of the pool. His gaze lifted toward the sound, narrowing slightly as he regarded the figure approaching—an unfamiliar woman, her pink-hued pelt adorned with feline-like markings.

For a beat, he held his silence, curiosity sparking in his emerald and crimson eyes as he tested the air for any lingering traces of others. Finding none, his features softened into an easy, roguish smile. "Oh, hello miss," he called, his boyish tone laced with that playful charm he used so effortlessly. He straightened then, pulling his paw from the water, droplets scattering across the stone as his tail swayed in a friendly rhythm. "Come to relax? You look like you’ve had a bit of a day." His brows furrowed faintly, easy-going humor wrapping around his words. Not meant to offend, he was still learning to shed his mother’s bluntness off in the face of strangers.

"Don’t mind me—just testing the waters." He tilted his head, the gesture a thoughtful one as his gaze lingered on her. He liked meeting new wolves, hearing the tidbits of the world from different maws. It helped him to understand, and helped him refine those social skills his mother taught. Being a good conversationalist was just a part of that.

"speech"