Soothing waters, soothing company

Surely his mate had been startled at first. But as far as complaining? Didn't hear a thing from her. Bane's shoulder tingled from where it had been ruffled by her pressing touch. Water droplets trailed from his jaw across Tahlia's scruff as he rested his muzzle above her shoulder. At her question Bane couldn't help but give a sly smile. "Now I'm serious. I mean it. Let's just say that was holdover until the next time you needy thing." Bane froze for a moment when she placed her head on the back of his neck and gave her retort. He reached around to his side and nibbled the edge of an ear, from tip to bottom. Tahlia stepped away right as he started to go up the ear again. She headed towards the shore.

The pale elder's head dipped to sip some water, ears listening to his mate saying that they should go. He spit a stream of water after her retreating form with a harrumph, submerged ankles sloshing in the river as he followed her to the shore. Bane shook his pelt and curiously eyed Tahlia as she took took off ahead of him. His eye narrowed, also feeling the brow above his missing eye behave oddly at his expression. A few hurried paces were taken, and when he saw that he wasn't going to catch up, began to run. Tahlia was a bit ahead through the trees, Bane weaving past the pines to stride next her. Their damp pelts touched as the grey wolf nudged against her, a lick being snuck against the side of his mate's cheek. "I'll, uhhh." Bane began with a pause. "If it's all the same to you I'm going to sleep this morning off at the entrance to the den." Bane spoke into an ear, still staying by her side until they got to their den. The exhausted wolf sat down and nuzzled Tahlia's cheek as she passed by, curling up to quickly fall asleep.

-Bane is asleep-