way down south

Walk | Talk | Think

Living by the river was proving to be an experience. Room had needed to be made as soon as they had arrived, the trio of children no longer small enough to simply curl up beside their parents inside the limited confines of the den, but the living arrangements were nothing compared to the true issue for the gold-grey girl. The water alone was making itself out to be her worst enemy. It was just so loud compared to the quiet within Seracia that she had grown used to over the past six months, peaceful and comfortable and relaxing when she would finally lay her head down to rest. She had been told she would get used to it, that eventually she would not even notice the sound at all, but restless nights had worn on her and ground down her patience and optimism, adding a somewhat dour note to her typically chipper mood.

Thankfully what her parents had said was slowly beginning to take effect, though the stolen naps during the day were just as helpful in remedying her touchiness. But these naps could not simply be taken at different locations along the riverbank. Everywhere she went along it, she heard its sound, and so she had gone further, sneaking out of the Rio Grande and venturing into neighboring territories that were both safe and less frequented than others. There was no use trying to sleep somewhere that was typically busy with visitors.

It also meant that the further away from the water she got, the more strongly she was able to feel the heat on the air. How was she going to nap like this? Maybe she could find some nice little shady spot, or a quiet pond somewhere to cool off by. Instead, she seemed to have gone in the entirely wrong direction. There was nothing here, just open space, burning sunlight and--

Oh. That was unexpected. Seated here, amid the heat and looking a bit perturbed, sat another pup, a youth of a dark coloration and vibrant eyes. Who was this? She could not recall hearing about any other families living around here, and she was sure she did not recognize him as a roaming pup from Seracia. Unless he was newly added anyway. Suddenly very curious, Anais felt the little bit of sleepiness abandon her as she turned her course for him, approaching with her customary smile and a friendly, wagging tail. "Hey!" she greeted, padding over to join him with her yellow-gold eyes quickly assessing him while her mind puzzled over his being here. It was only when she was close, feet away, that she halted. "I'm Anais." Her introduction was spoken simply, more naturally, lacking the formality that her mother so longed to instill in her. But she was no longer in Seracia; the rules no longer applied. "What's your name?"