After learning how to swim it was really difficult to get Moonshine out of the water, whenever she could the young puppy was in the ocean. She spent her endless energy with hours just chasing the waves. Moon didn’t mind the taste of saltwater, and occasionally she’d find an interesting shell or edible ocean creature. Her tail wagged excitedly at her little rump continually even though she was wetter than a drowned rat.

Moon’s long fur flopped against her body with none of the usual natural softness it had when dry, because of this her tiny body was even more evident. The young girl didn’t have a care in the world. The ocean was warm, the waves were gentle, and she was having the time of her life. Ears flopping and huge grin playing on her pale lips.

Pestilence was livid, fuming even. The pup stomped away from the shrine and as far from Toxicity as she was allowed to go while being grounded. Angry tears still stung her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, her muzzle stained with the moisture and her fur tousled from their fight. She had half a mind to go find her mother, to demand that she refute everything Toxicity said and then to challenge the alpha for her freedom early. She knew she'd lose, her mother was too formidable an opponent for a not-yet yearling to even come close to managing in battle. But somehow she thought even the loss - the explosion of emotion and rage - would make her feel better.

When she came upon the pup splashing in the water, Pestilence's lip lifted in disgust. Toxicity had been right about one thing, and that was that these half-breed mutts were nothing more than coyotes. A slave dog bedded her aunt and for some reason she'd chosen to throw her spawn into Ashen and call them Klein's as if they could ever wear the proud name. And now here this one was, having a gay old time playing in the ocean when it should be doing something useful, like fetching food or cleaning pelts.

Pestilence moved over to the pup, seeing a safe outlet for her anger. She pictured leaping onto the small child, pressing it's face into the ocean and letting it writhe and drown beneath her paws. However even Pesto knew how bad an idea it was - one that would cause her more punishment than the mere grounding for running away. She stamped her paw down on the sand instead, clearing her throat to demand the attention of the lesser. "Hey, get out of there. Nobody wants filthy livestock to bathe in our water." Her lips pulled back to show her teeth, challenging the mutt to argue with the princess.

Moon was quite focused on her task of catching waves, she didn’t notice the wolf standing on the shore. She certainly didn’t hear her stamp her foot and only barely managed to catch a glimpse as the ‘hey’ was offered. The young Klein didn’t lose her grin, this she wolf looked a lot like aunt Deathbelle, but definitely was not her. She made a point not to move from the water.

”You can’t tell me what to do. You aren’t my mom.” She giggled, excitedly making a pirouette as the energy built back up and forced its release. No one had shown their teeth to her, so Pesto’s silent threat went unnoticed to the happy go lucky wolf dog. ”What’s a livestock?” She called out curiously before racing a couple meters to the left, chasing a particularly tasty wave. ”Da said the ocean is only good for snacks and fun.” Her first experience drinking the salty brine had been unpleasant.

Pestilence huffed angrily as the innocent pup took no offense to her words. So she was stupid, too. That made sense. "I'm not your mom, I'm a princess. One day I might be the future Empress." She lied, infusing her words with as much of a firm threat as she could. It didn't occur to her that whatever she might say to the pup could get back to Lucretia and therefore to her mother, only that she was angry and this child was someone she could take it out on. "Livestock is an animal less than a wolf, that we kill or eat or keep around just to entertain us." Having to explain her insult frustrated Pestilence further, how were you supposed to get under the skin of someone so young who knew so little? Her jabs would fly right over the stupid pup's head and there was nothing she could do about it. "Like you. Your dad is our dog, our pet. That makes you a pet. You're not a real Ashen member, you're just here until we get bored of you." There, maybe that one would stick.

”I like to play princess too!” She called out as she spun around to face the older girl. Her tail wagging excitedly at her hips. ”Maybe I’ll be Empress someday!” Would that be something! Her mom and dad both said she could do whatever she wanted… The thought amused her and distracted her train of thought as Pestilence tried to explain livestock. She was too long winded though and Moonshine had long since stopped listening. She wouldn’t be called in by anyone other than her recognized authorities. Mom, Dad, Aunt Deathbelle, and Iolaire. ”Oh yeah!” She was much more bright and sunny than any wolfdog being insulted should be. ”I’m gonna be the best dog!” She saw how well Bourbon doted on her mother, who arguably needed him beside her. He was the strong one that she looked up to. Her mom gave her comfort and taught her how to be a proper Klein.

Pestilence huffed a heavy frustrated sigh at the pup's unwavering positivity, grumbling under her breath. "Look." She pointed her paw towards the deeper water. Her voice was incredibly flat and defeated. "A stick. Fetch." She rolled back on her haunches to watch the dog, deciding she was obviously not intelligent enough to harass and could only be good for mild entertainment.

Just in case the pup had other ideas and decided not to obey her command, Pestilence added an afterthought. "That's what the best dogs do, they fetch." She spoke as if the information was common-knowledge, and then flopped down hard upon the sand with her head on her paws. Maybe if she was lucky the current would wash the half-breed away forever.

Moonshine wouldn’t be told what to do, but her bright blue gaze was forced to look out into the open ocean as her cousin said to look. She had no desire to go out and ‘fetch’ said stick. She didn’t like driftwood first of all, the feeling of the wet wood in her jaws was gross and Moonshine didn’t like it. ”My Dad is the best dog, and he doesn’t fetch.” She retorted as her attention waned. Pesto was hardly interesting and the waves were calling her once more.

While Pestilence grew frustrated and deflated Moonshine only perked and grew more happy go lucky. The older girl completely lost the puppy’s attention and Moon went back to chasing her waves. However a sudden thought struck her. Cog didn’t like to play in the water, his balance was far too compromised. Mo was a much better partner in the water, but he wasn’t here right now.

”Do you want to play?” Moonshine suddenly asked as another wave crashed around her charcoal speckled legs. Her blue eyes focused on her tall cousin again, even though she was now convinced the near yearling was a boring lump.

Pestilence was becoming more and more annoyed at the happy-go-lucky pup, and lifted a paw to cover her eyes in mock-horror. How the hell did anyone put up with children? They were so stupid, too stupid to even know when they were being insulted. "No." Pesto responded, definitely unwilling to play with the other girl. "Go play in the deep water, I'm going home." With her luck, the half-breed would drown or something and she'd not need to deal with her ever again. With one last annoyed look towards the girl, Pestilence huffed and headed off towards home.

-exit-