The pines were indeed sparse, all spread out with plenty of space between them. From the corner of her eyes they looked like judgemental figures, all staring her down as she strode through the open space. She held her head high, posture confident and tail arched up to help her balance as she moved through the shin deep snow. Maybe she was getting a little too old to play pretend, like she should grow up and act more...mature, you know? She didn't re-enact her little fantasies and stories so much any more, they just rattled around in her head, like bones she couldn't get enough of chewing on.

She paused for dramatic effect, twirling around as if she fully anticipated to spot a figure weaving through the trees. Using their wide trunk for coverage, their chests heaving, heart racing at the thought they'd nearly just gotten caught. Her mismatched eyes narrowed into thin slits, her ears flitting to the side to listen out for the crunching of paws that she'd never hear cause no one was there. She didn't have a secret mystery- and maybe a little handsome-stalker. It was just one of those Maki things, forbidden fruit that tasted all the more sweet, you know?

Ursa was growing into her own. Though still a pup, she felt... different. Maybe it was the fact that her puppy fat was being stubborn. Or how her other siblings seemed more preoccupied with fighting while she would rather tend to the garden. Stories made up in her head would ramble on about how the bunnies made their families and the deer ran their own kingdom. Who said that wolves were the only rulers of the land anyway? Lost in the clouds little Ursa was. Not so little anymore as she trailed north into the pines. Sparsely growing into the heavens, she imagined how lovely it would be to look down from the tops. Is that why birds enjoyed being in the air so much? Content to daydream, Ursa was pulled from them with a furrow of her brow. The crackle of dry leaves and old sticks put her on alert. Someone else was out here? That much was odd to the girl since she hardly ever saw anyone out this way. Suddenly, a twirl of black and white made her hair stand on end. Rushing over to a tree, Ursa huddles up behind it though she is most obviously sticking out from the sides of it. Peeking her chubby face around the tree trunk, she watches as the girl in front of her twirls and dances around. Amazed, Ursa's eyes widen. So pretty! But she couldn't possibly bother the girl... Nerves prickle at her skin as she fights the battle of say hello or mind her business. Ursa & Maki

There wasn't anyone around...till there was. Funny how things changed. It was easy for even head up in the clouds Maki to notice them since, well wolves weren't tree shaped nor did they have fur. She wasn't offended really, all good-natured with even the points of her horns rounded at the edges. Just because she spent so much time alone didn't mean she disliked being social, yanno? She turned properly then, moving to a pointing position, tail stiff and leg raised. Point! "I see you!" She called out, not unfriendly or accusing. It was more of a statement than anything else, Maki was far from offended or weirded out, if anything if she knew of the concept of meet-cutes she would have approved wholeheartedly. Maybe this was how one of her characters could meet the other... a chance of fate that grew into something else entirely. Yes yes, Maki approved.

I see you! "Oop!" Ursa squeaks and ducks behind the tree with her paws covering her eyes. Both ears twist and turn as she tries to listen. The girl isn't approaching but she doesn't sound mad either... Her nerves skyrocket as she slowly lowers her paws and peeks back around the trunk. "H-hi," her voice is soft and delicate, almost a whisper. Pulling herself away from the tree trunk, she shifts her paws through the leaf litter and pine needles. "I-I wasn't spying. I just s-saw you dancing and thought it was, was really pretty," the words tumbled quickly and stumbling out of her lips as she tucked her chin and stared at the ground. Her tail curls up to her belly as she tries to look at the girl from her hooded lids. Ursa & Maki

Maki felt warmth rush to her cheeks but she was quick to recover, or at least she thought she was. Her heart was forever on her sleeve and it was clear she was both a little embarrassed and pleased by the girl's praise. Pleased that she'd met someone with good taste, but a little flustered that she'd opened herself up for teasing. Heaven knows that if it was Delphi who had found her she would have gone right for the jugular. "S'fine. I was just- thinking bout stuff." She bounced closer, her long leggy-legs crossing the snowy terrain with ease. "I ain't mad or nothin', it just sounded like a cool thing to say. I'm Maki."

Ursa visibly sighs with relief as the girl tells her that it is okay. She was just thinking! "Whew, okay. I just always get so worried," the admittance was unexpected and she shrinks back a moment with embarrassment with her ears falling back to boot. Ugh, she wasn't used to being around wolves that weren't family! But then the girl is bouncing over to her with long, graceful legs. Ursa looks down at her paws and back at her chubby belly. Dang, she couldn't move like that. Her nose wrinkles, but the girl introduces herself and forces Ursa to look at her. She can't help but wag her tail a few times at Maki. "Hi Maki!! I'm Ursa! It was totally cool! I, uh, I just get startled easy," Ursa's lips pull up in an awkward and embarrassed grimace as she shrugs her shoulders. Ursa & Maki

Maki could get that. The brief moment of silence between whenever Maki spoke and the other person responded, there was always so much tension there. Concerns as to whether she shouldn't have spoken at all, whether they thought she was weird and not in a cute and quirky way. More of an ew, eyebrow raised I'm totally judging you right now, kinda way. Maki didn't mind being the odd one out, cause she was totally different from all the other girls, but sooometimes worries managed to slip in. Ursa was indeed a very cool name. It sounded kinda...well, if she'd used that name in one of her stories a character like that would probably be one of those mean girls. The sort who would try to get between the main couple. But this Ursa, the real Ursa didn't look mean at all. Maybe her parents just weren't very good at picking names that fit her thematically, you know? "Hellloo" She greeted again, clearly quite pleased. "Hey Ursa, do you like stories? I'm working on one right now and it's actually really good." She puffed up her chest, brazen and cocky like any pup on the cusp of yearlinghood was.

It is clear that Ursa is visibly relieved when Maki says hello. She even lets out a quiet sigh as Maki begins to speak again. A story? Of course, she liked stories! Her tail begins to wag happily as she nods vigorously. "Oh, I love stories!" Ursa quickly tucks her bum under herself and puts herself into a sitting position with her tail still thumping happily against the snowy ground. "Please tell me! I'd love to hear it!" Her wispy-sweet voice is full of eagerness as she stares at Maki and waits for her to begin. Already, Ursa is amazed at how cool Maki is. Ursa & Maki

Ready with her captive audience of one, Maki cleared her throat and stomped down the snow a little, so the terrain was more level beneath her paws. She hadn't really told that many people about her stories, scenarios and daydreams, but if Ursa was willing to lend a couple of ears, who was she to say no? "Kay, so. It ain't done yet and I'm still thinkin' of stuff, but it's about this Goddess who don't know she's a Goddess. She has amnosia. She's like real pretty and real powerful n'd everyone who meets her thinks she's amazin'! " She explained, thunking down on her rump so she could gesticulate dramatically with a front paw.

Ursa waits as patiently as a pup can. Her body wiggles and her tail thumps repeatedly as Maki prepares her stage. Watching her monochrome-spotted friend stamp down the snow and clear her throat, Ursa smiles back. She loved, loved, loved listening to stories! Albeit a little cold to be staying outside, she didn't care. A new friend and story time was worth the cold toes.

As Maki begins, Ursa slowly slides down onto her belly with her front legs extended. Getting comfortable, she even lets out a little amazed gasp. "What's amonsia?" Ursa whispers quietly under her breath as she stares wide-eyed at Maki. "Is there more!? What's her name? Where does she live? Does anything happen to her?!" Her exclamations grow as her paws tap against the ground, waiting not-so-patiently for Maki to continue with more details.

"Speech"

"Means she don't remember nuffin. " She explained quickly, feeling a little smart about that. Not in a braggy, ha ha I'm better than you kinda way but just pleased, a warmth settling in her chest. And speaking of pleased, it made her smile, all wide and toothy, her eyes squinting all cute in the corners as her tailed wagged. It was very much a WIP, she plucked inspiration from here and there, it was a far cry from a proper story but she hoped one day she could sit down and tell it. That it'd be something shared and passed on, maybe like those old stories that came from waaaay far away, across seas from a land she'd never seen. More than anything she wanted kudos and likes for her stories, was that such a bad thing? "Her name is Megami Tsuki Luna n'd when she walks her paw prints sparkle like falling stars. She fell from the sky n'd has this necklace that's real pretty but don't shine no more." She started to ramble, less like telling a story and more like spitting head canons and lore at poor Ursa. "She also can't go out at daytime cause she was bitten by a vampire, n'd has long teeth n'd cries bloody tears when she's sad. But she's strong an' can fight really well with her powers, but she's really kind n' shy though. "

Ursa listened with rapt attention as Maki puffed up and told her more details about the beautiful goddess. Fully amazed and yearning to know more, she lets out a quiet coo. "She sounds so nice!! Why she get bit by a vampire?" Ursa's brow scrunched up. "Wait, what's a vampire? She cries bloody tears? Cause of the vampire?" There was so much that Maki knew that she didn't! Tilting her head slightly to the side, Ursa decides to slide her paws forward so she can lay down and get more comfortable. Obviously, she was in it for the long haul. Maki was going to tell her everything! "You think wolves really like have sparkling paw prints? Does she fall in love? Does she have a family? Where she live?" The questions came spitfire from her mouth as she looked at Maki with full interest and expecting lengthy answers. Ursa & Maki

Ursa asked a bunch of questions, some Maki had considered already and some she had not. She made a thoughtful noise in her throat, expression pinching as if this was a matter of great importance. To Maki it was at least, her stories took up a massive part of her life and as silly as they might sound to someone else, they meant.a lot to her. "It's this monster that drinks blood, but she's not a bad wolf. It ain't her fault she's like that. N'd yeah she does, she's real special and important. She ain't got no family or a home, she's real lonely cause its soo dangerous, she can't stay in one place for long. She had this friend she used to love loads, but she couldn't stay n'd it broke her heart real bad." Maki explained, her story admittedly wasn't much of a narrative yet. Just jumbled ideas tied together with enthusiasm. "I'm still kinda workin' on it, " she admitted, her tail wagging still, excited for whatever it might turn into one day. "You should make a character, they could be friends!"