Mojito was nearly a season away from being a full-year-old and frankly, he didn't feel like it. The boy had come to terms with the fact he likely would never grow to the towering heights much of his family did, he'd be lucky if he surpassed his father at this rate, and while his horns had finally grown in it hadn't been for a lack of headaches and it hadn't stopped the scornful stares of his cousins. No the horns weren't what they hated about him, it was the way his ears flopped and were covered in long fur, it was the way his fur grew in wavy rows and the way his tail fur draped in a long curtain unlike his lupine cousins. He'd spent a decent amount of time wishing he could have looked more like his mom, which was perhaps ironic because aside from the doglike traits he bore he was plainly his mother's son. But that had also been a painful wish, he loved his father, his father was someone he looked up to and he'd not take any slight against him.

He'd pulled himself from the den that morning and decided to move into the bulk of the packlands. He walked now with a sort of angry pride. He kept his head held high, and would jerk it slightly at the slightest provocation, flashing his horns as a sort of warning. Mojito finally decided to go for a swim, enjoying the turn of the season and splashing through the waters. What he wouldn't give for some friendly company. The poor boy had too few friends outside his brother and sister, and though he'd not admit it the half-wolf was lonely.

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It is a beautiful day. The pleasant weather has led Meadow to go exploring. Well that and a dove. It had caught her attention while she was exploring near the border of Ashen territory and now she finds herself tracking the dove further in. As she listens to the cooing song it sings Meadow finds her cares falling away.

When her paws hit water, Meadow’s attention is drawn down from the sky. The cool liquid laps at her paws and brings out her inner pup. Just when she is about to run out into the water and frolic around she hears the sound of splashing water. Curiosity peaked and the prospect of meeting a new friend weighing heavily in her decision, she moves quickly toward the noise.

Nearing the source, a smile breaks across her face as her eyes fall upon a young wolf. He seems to be enjoying himself, splashing and swimming peacefully in the water. With great enthusiasm, Meadow bounds out into the water and dives under the cool liquid. When she reemerges, splashing water every which way, Meadow’s laugh splits the air and her joy bubbles over into her words as she calls out, “Hello! My name is Meadow! It is a fine day for a swim!”

Only now does she take a longer look at the young wolf. His appearance is strange to her but that does not make him any less of a wolf in her eyes. Meadow finds that he is very striking. Mouth opens of its own accord and words tumble out unbidden, “Wow. Those horns are amazing!” Tilting her head slightly, a thoughtful look on her face as she asks, “Do they hurt?” Eyes trail to his ears and she exclaims, “Oh, I really like your ears!”

When she realizes what she has said, a sheepish grin appears and she ducks her head slightly in embarrassment. Right now, she wants to melt away into the water and she hopes that her idle chatter won’t chase away the young wolf. She really needs to start thinking before she speaks. Really.



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Mojito was pretty wrapped up in his playing, a light giggle pulling from his lips, a light childish sound for one who was as old as he was. It was a moment of levity when he otherwise he spent most of his time brooding. So it was that he didn't notice much, including the woman as she approached. The boy let out a yelp, jumping back as water splashed and a head poked above the water suddenly. He blinked blankly at the woman for a moment, taking a moment to process her words.

"Hi, I'm Mojito..." He was taken aback by the flurry of words that dropped from the woman's lips and he blinked again, a little shaken by the bombardment of compliments. Still a small smile pulled at his lips, the way she was all over him reminded the boy of the small girl he'd met some months ago, his face flooding at the thought of her. He tossed his head a bit at the mention of his horns. He shook his head at her question. "They did a little bit when they were growing in but not anymore." He ducked his head a bit at the mention of his ears, his face flushing again, just like the girl again. "Th-thanks." He slowly lifted his head again, seeing the sheepish way the woman was holding herself now.

"You're pretty pretty yourself." He said, his voice sounding boyish even to his own ears, it was an innocent comment, meant to help lift up the woman and well... he wasn't totally lying but the boy was mostly eager to get the woman smiling again.


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When the boy offers his name, Meadow dips her head in greeting, offering him a smile. The words that come bounding out of her are met with answers and she listens intently to each response. Mojito. What a kind wolf. So far, he has not run away and that gives the older wolf some hope that she hasn’t ruined everything.

It is when he talks about his horns that Meadow feels great empathy for him. She cannot imagine the pain the poor boy must have felt as they grew and she nods sympathetically, eyes full of compassion for him. As Mojito ducks his head at the mention of his ears, she finds herself chuckling softly at the way he stammers his thanks.

The sheepishness takes hold and she ducks away, ashamed of the way she has bombarded the poor young wolf. But then, she hears his kind words, calling her pretty pretty. Her eyes find him again and she stands from her semi crouched position. A bright smile appears and a soft, gentle laugh escapes. It is not mean or condescending in any way, instead filled with joy and levity.

In that moment, she knows he is truly a compassionate wolf. She speaks again, this time slower and trying really hard not to overwhelm him, “Thank you Mojito. That is extremely kind of you to say.” The brilliant smile once more materializing on her face as she continues on, “I am really sorry that I startled you and for flooding you with questions. I was wandering near here and found the water. I was going to jump in but heard you splashing around. I had to see who was having so much fun. When I found you, well it was infectious, the spirit to play. So, I jumped in.”

Pausing to allow him time to take in her words, she adds, “I really hope I haven’t ruined everything. My mouth sometimes runs away from me. Well… to be fair… more times than not. And I… just wanted to go swimming.” Another laugh fills the air and Meadow’s eyes sparkle with mirth. Tail wags in the water, spraying droplets in every direction as her front paws start moving, making small circles in the water. It is an action she is unaware of but it calms the nervous energy that is building in her.

With yet another smile she says, “Again, thank you Mojito. Water just… has too strong a pull on me. My mother use to say I should have been born a fish because I love water so much.” With a chuckle, she again dives under the water, this time moving in a little circle while blowing bubbles out of her mouth. When she reappears with her fur soaked, Meadow laughs merrily at the joy that has taken a firm hold of her heart. Today is shaping up to be a great day.



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Mojito can't help but smile as the woman began to speak again, this time clearly and deliberately slower. He shook his head at her apology, it was refreshing enough to meet a friendly face, especially with his cousins lurking in his own home. She seemed nervous, and Mojito jumped quickly to reassure her, he found himself wanting to preserve her happy mood, maybe even make her smile? "No, no it's okay. You just startled me is all and you seem like a nice wolf so I don't mind." He glanced away sheepishly for a moment before turning his gaze back to the woman, this time his gaze clearly carrying a sort of determination. "I really don't mind, it's nice to see a friendly face." He'd leave it at that, though the words implied his own struggles with feeling accepted in his own family pack.

He chuckled as she dove below the surface again, and he followed the trail of bubbles that indicated her location. He waited for her to surface before he added his own comment. "My parents used to accompany me and my siblings here, we'd play in the shallows with my dad. I've loved the water ever since."

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His smile is infectious and Meadow finds herself answer Mojito’s with her own. The way he shakes his head at her apology and offers kind words has the small female’s demeanor changing. She relaxes, smile coming easily now. Dipping her head in a bow at his words about a friendly face, she brings her head and says, “Well, it is easy to be friendly with someone as kind and sweet as you.” Offering him a wink and a small happy laugh, Meadow starts to feel accepted by Mojito. She adds softly, “Thank you.” The word is laden with her gratitude of his kindness. Her fear ebbs away and is slowly replaced with happiness.

The joyful wolf knows she is strange and even maybe even a little crazy. However, she is always genuine. She struggles with worry every day of her life, afraid that she won’t fit in or will scare off a new friend. But even after diving under water and having made a fool of herself, she is finding approval in this kind young wolf. She feels like, she can be her silly self and he won’t judge harshly. Maybe it is his youth that allows him to do this. Yet… Meadow feels like it is something more. Mojito has heart of gold and she appreciates that. She cherishes him.

Listening as he speaks of coming here with family, Meadow nods and smiles. It sounds like he has happy memories of this place and the water. When she speaks, her words are still slow and deliberate making such not to rush and overwhelm, “Those sound like beautiful memories Mojito. My mother use to take me to a lake near where I lived. I played in the water for hours before we would have to leave. She had to drag me, kicking and screaming out of the water.”

She laughs at the memory, the way her mother would feign being mad at her as she dragged the small wolf away and the smile that was always present as she pretended to scolded her. A small, melancholy filled sigh escapes her. Looking at Mojito she says, “Well, what if me make some more good memories here? Make this place extra special, for both of us.” Her tail wags as she looks at him, eager to make him as happy as he is making her.


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