Like a puppet on strings

Sirus' aurous eyes blazed with the first few shining rays of the sun that steadily rose just beyond the distant horizon. Steaks of mauve and periwinkle were the first signs of the coming dawn, and for the first time since he had stumbled upon this foreign land, the beauty of the scenery kindled his sense of awe. There had always been something mystically peaceful about the early hours of the morning, just before daybreak. It caused one to wonder what the hours ahead may bring, and instilled a sense of mental acquisitiveness in the one who bore witness to its splendor.

Though Sirus could have easily been deemed more indifferent and dispassionate than his sister Neika, he was not without the deeply rooted desire to explore new places and experience new things. He was wise enough to know when to disregard his curiosity for the sake of their safety, but not so stoical that he couldn't be moved to act on his officiousness. In truth, his heart was full to the brim and overflowing with longing to find them a new place to call home; impatient to belong a pack and again know that he was a part of something bigger than himself.

At first, Sirus failed to notice the wolf who shared the shore line with him, too busy observing the hundreds of tiny bubbles left behind in the wake of a wave that slid steadily back to sea. It made him recall the words his mother spoke to him and Neika when they were but pups; that the bubbles were made by tiny crabs that lived under the sand. Both he and his sister had dug and dug and dug in a quest to unearth one of these elusive critters, but never did succeed. Now that he was grown and far more logical than he'd been in his youth, he believed the emerging bubbles to be nothing more than air escaping from among grains of dry sand. Still, it amused him to think back on how easily excitable and carefree he'd once been.

The chill in the ocean air and the mist that drifted along with it made him forget of the stifling heat of summer. In a spontaneous decision to enjoy the coolness while it lasted, Sirus rose up off his haunches and bounded wildly towards the sea, eager to be reunited with its salty depths for the first time in well over a year. Not slowing until his chest met the resistance of crashing waves, he waded further until his ivory fur was thoroughly soaked and his paws could hardly stand firm in the sand. Only after fully submerging his head did he turn his attention back to the shore, not wanting to drudge out so far that the tide would make it difficult for him to travel back. It was then that he noticed the wolf with fur the color of a bruised evening sky. He couldn't recall ever having seen fur in such a hue, but whilst standing there in silent watch of the female, he decided that it was certainly an exquisite color to have to wear.