While it was supposed to be nearing summer, Ghoul thought it was awfully chilly. A brisk wind rubbed against his coat as he wandered across the plains. Thick clouds rolled by as it threatened to rain. It was quiet today as he listened to the chatter of birds and rodents. Off in the distance, a herd of deer grazed lazily unaware of his presence. He had left Cricket to nap in his den while he took his afternoon stroll. Working up his muscle endurance was harder than he imagined. Feeling the pain now as he neared a flat area void of any grass, Ghoul plopped himself down and laid his chin upon his paws. Releasing a sigh, he watched the clouds continue to roll in off the coast while he rested. Ghoul Klein

The air was getting warmer, wasn’t it? Or maybe it just seemed like it. Morticia spent her time bouncing between visiting the tar pits and tossing bugs in the goop to playing in the territory of the plains that her mother claimed. She was happy, though she hadn’t seen much of either sibling. She didn’t mind. She was often on the move, running, playing, chasing Daag as he flew across the area or helping Skua find things to munch. For a chunk of the morning the snake around the back of the pup’s neck. Were it actually sunny she might have been in a better mood since she could soak up the rays that came towards Morticia’s darker coloration, but no, it had to be overcast and ready to rain. Giving in, Skua requested to be set down and took off through the grass, leaving Morticia to her own devices as she ran through the plains. She didn’t run to go anywhere - she just had a ton of energy to burn. She had kept running until she almost ran into some guy laying in a flat area without any grass. She hadn’t seen him until she was almost on top of him, stumbling and rolling off to the side behind him with a burst of giggles. She had come from the grass like a bat out of hell, and as she looked up at him with a wide grin, her bi-colored eyes widening. “Palecoat is out and about now?” She had seen him before, one of the wolves her mother brought here. She didn’t know his name, but she knew he had issues with his legs. She bounced up and down before dropping in a play bow, her entire rump wiggling in the air with her tail. “Then Palecoat can play with Morticia, yes yes! Skua too cold. Skua went to find hidey-hole. But Palecoat is here, so Palecoat can play!” "Talk," 'Think.'

Ghoul had been content to doze off in the afternoon sun. Until some pup zooming through the grasses caused him to lift an eyelid. He stayed perfectly still as she careened off to the side and took a tumble. From what he could see, he could tell it was another Medusa offspring. How many had she had? His brow would furrow for a moment as she righted herself and wandered on over. Now what did she want? Pretending to be asleep, Ghoul quickly closed his eyes back up. Alas, he was not quick enough as the girl was chattering away. Palecoat? Who the hell was Palecoat? Him? He furrows his brows again as he peeks out at the rainbow-coated girl. A quiet huff of breath leaves him as he stares at her. Watching her wiggle about in a play bow, he would not entertain her proposition for now. His bones ached and he was in no shape to be rolling and romping about with some measly pup. Ghoul assumed this Skua was her companion and that at least he would agree with it since his own reptilian companions were tucked away in his den to stay warm. "Palecoat's name is Ghoul, dear Morticia," he replies simply as he finally lifts his chin to continue to stare at her with his ruby eyes. "And what, pray tell, would you like to play with me today?" His deep vocals hint at pretend boredom and honest curiosity. Knowing that she was Medusa's offspring, he could only imagine what sort of odd games she would want to play. Ghoul Klein

He wasn’t very energetic, was he? Even as Morticia bounced energetically, chatting away, the young male furrows his brow and huffs. Wait, was he protesting? That wasn’t any fun! Her smile slipped away for a moment and Morticia tilted her head sideways. He spoke, correcting her on his name. Not Palecoat… but… Ghoul? Her eyes lit up then. He sounded almost bored, but Morticia has found a point of interest in him already. “Ghoul…” The girl tastes his name on her tongue and begins bouncing again, starting to prance before him as she moves back and forth with hyperactive energy as the wide grin reappears on her face. “Ghoul, Ghoul… Morticia likes Ghoul! Bestest name!” Okay, points for Pal–Ghoul! She noticed how he didn’t move much and she slowed again, gaze appearing thoughtful as he asked the question. “Ghoul chooses.” It was a simple statement. “Morticia always picks games… Skua and Dagg play, but Morticia is bored! New game, so Ghoul chooses the game!” Her voice was excited but moments later she frowned, as if it finally clicked that he wasn’t really… moving around like she was. He’d been resting. Morticia came closer, perhaps too close to his personal bubble as she reached out a paw slowly, lightly, reaching out in an attempt to lightly tap his paw as if scared it might break at her touch. “But… Ghoul is not bouncing like Morticia. Morticia thought Ghoul being here meant his legs were better… Medusa told Morticia and Rou that Ghoul’s legs were very, very badly hurt.” The rainbow-skeletal marked girl draws back then. “What games can Ghoul play with ouchie legs?” She is still insistent on the idea he could play, but she is at least bright enough to recognize there might be a problem with her method. "Talk," 'Think.'

Watching Medusa’s little bundle of joy bounce around nearly made him dizzy. How did a puppy have this much energy? Also… who had Medusa slept with? Not that it was his business, but he had never taken the odd woman to be the romantic sort. It was a question he would save for later when he could ask her personally. Right now, he had to focus on the little rugrat that was zig-zagging in front of him. He wasn’t sure he would agree with her that Ghoul was the bestest name, but he did have a fondness for it. That brought about a slight smile to his lips as she finally slowed and announced that he would choose their game. For theatrics, Ghoul brings his paw to his lips and lets out a thoughtful hum. His choice, huh? His slight smile grows into a grin. Though he is a rather sour being that doesn’t typically indulge in fun, he does have a very tiny and minuscule soft spot for puppies. Their boundless enthusiasm and ignorance for the real world makes it impossible to be cruel to. “Alright Morticia,” Ghoul begins but is quickly cut off when the pup is reaching forward to tap his paw. His head tilts to the side as she wonders about his broken legs. He can’t help but allow his expression to contort slightly. Ah, yes, that issue. The man looks down at his paws as she draws away and he stretches out his toes. “I cannot run or jump, yet,” he begins as he brings his ruby eyes back up to her. “But I have a game we can perhaps play,” there is a twinkle in his eye as he cast a look to the inner depths of his den. “If you can get past me and my three companions to retrieve the skull that is at the back of my den, I will do or give you whatever you want,” Ghoul looks back at Morticia with a tilt of his head. What could a pup possibly dream of ever having? Ghoul Klein

Morticia watched as Ghoul seemed to become thoughtful, considering the game that they could play, despite the issue with his legs. She was glad he wasn’t a stick in the mud! That would be no fun. Well, not as fun as a stick in tar, but that would only be fun for a few moments before the stick was lost forever. Morticia’s ears twitched thoughtfully, and the girl focused on the older male’s face as he spoke again. His expression got a little weird for a moment, brow furrowed, thoughtful as he assessed the issue that Morticia brought up. It was something he was aware of himself, and he said that he wouldn’t be able to run or jump… but there was a yet in there that caught the eager child’s attention. So he would at some point! That was good news! Her tail wagged back and forth at that, her wide, almost too wide grin resting on her face. But he still had a game that they could play. A light danced in the man’s eyes and Morticia wiggled in place eagerly as she looked behind him. A game of getting past the guards? There would be four of them, and only one of her, since Skua and Dagg weren’t with her, but that was okay! She bounced on the ground before Ghoul again. “Yes yes~ Morticia likes this game!” She would pause for a moment again, declaring what she wanted if she were to win. “If Morticia wins, then when Ghoul can run Ghoul helps Morticia collect some skulls too!” She liked bones, but she wouldn’t ask for one that was his. That wasn’t very nice! She glanced past him into the den, wiggling in place again. “Is Ghoul ready to begin?” "Talk," 'Think.'

Morticia’s eagerness gives him some sense of excitement during these dull days while he was healing. Unable to really move his body around, it got rather boring after awhile. Thankfully, he was presented with ample opportunity to keep his mind and some of his body active. Watching her wiggle in place as she grew more excited about the game, Ghoul would nod in agreement. “That is a fine bet,” he replies slowly as he keeps his chin lifted. All the while, his caimans linger in the shadows of the den, their matching ruby eyes trained on the girl. They are harmless as they know not to hurt wolves that smell like Ghoul, but they too enjoy games. “Ready whenever you are,” Ghoul finally says as he winks at her. Ghoul Klein