The dark pelted yearling moved with an ease and grace as he bounded through the trees. He was able to make the sharp turns needed to avoid running into anything. And why was he doing this? Because he had seen a rabbit and decided to chase after it. It wasn't for food that he was going after the rabbit but because he was convinced the rabbit was his friend and was playing a game with him.

If only he could catch up to the rabbit then he could convince it to play a new game with him. Ephy was starting to get tired of playing chase. He was panting as he put on a burst of speed to cut around a tree in an attempt to try and catch up to the rabbit. But this was all for naught as the rabbit ducked down a hole, stealing away into its burrow.

Ephemeral stuck his nose down the hole and whined when he couldn't manage to get his body to fit in after it. This led to him digging at the hole in an attempt to widen it so that he could follow his "friend" inside.

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Beauregard was excited. Menagerie had been formed, the pack residing in Gale Gorge officially now. There was still much to be done, the youth knew, but even still the Mage’s sense of wanderlust pulled him away from the pack. At least for a little while. While he sought out into another part of the North he left Trill to keep a watchful eye on Tanelan. He had not one, but two others now that Beau had become aware of. It was his duty to monitor him, but he also didn’t want the other to feel like he was smothering him either with his presence. So when he decided to give Tan space he had Trill stay close by instead. No doubt Tanelan knew the bluejay, but it was a safety precaution. He found himself in a different sort of forest sometime later, paws moving at a steady pace as his gaze wandered. It felt good to get out and stretch his legs. He was proud to be part of a pack, but he recognized that taking some time for himself was important too. He had been wandering for the better part of half an hour in these woods when movement suddenly caught his attention. Beauregard slowed, his blue gaze shifting towards a male who seemed quite intent on digging out a rabbit hole. His expression softened and Beau called out to the stranger who appeared a bit younger than even he was. “Hey,” He barked. “You won’t get to a rabbit that way, unfortunately. You’re better off finding some other type of prey if you’re hungry. Their homes run through the earth and he’s probably through some other hole elsewhere and away.” "Speech," 'Thought.'

 

 

     

Ephemeral was quite intent upon getting himself into the burrow that it took the other wolf speaking to him for the youth to realize that he was no longer alone. "No hungy." The boy said with a shake of his head. "Fluff friend. We play. Gots find." Because Ephy truly believed that everything he saw was a potential friend for him that wanted to play with him. It was typically the creatures of the land that he ended up playing with since his mother kept them clear of most other wolves. There was the occasional loner that they had ran into but his mother was always quick to vacate the area once she became aware of the loner.

"Where hole?" The yearling asked, his tail wagging excitedly at this new bit of information. If he could find this new hole then he could find his rabbit friend and win the game. Not that winning was really all that important to Ephy. Moreso he just wanted to continue to play. He hadn't even paused to consider that the rabbit had actually been trying to get away from him and wasn't playing a game. He hadn't even considered that his rabbit friend could possibly even be considered food.

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Beauregard blinked with surprise as the other youth stated that he wasn’t hungry. If he wasn’t hungry then why was he digging into that rabbit hole so wildly? Surely he knew rabbits were skittish creatures? The ashen cream male tilted his head to the side, visibly confused, even as the dark-furred boy said that the rabbit was a friend. That they were playing… Considering the fact that the rabbit wasn’t coming back out he didn’t think that was the case. His gaze softened though. Maybe the other was lonely? He didn’t speak the same as most wolves Beau knew. He was strange, but not in a bad way. “I’m afraid I’m not sure where the other hole would be. Rabbits are very good at hiding the other one so wolves and other things won’t find them. They can get scared easily.” It was funny how many different sorts of wolves he was meeting since he came to Boreas. He hadn’t met very many other yearlings though. There was Sybill in Menagerie but she wasn’t even in the same training class as he was… But… maybe… maybe this yearling could be a new friend? He missed having others to hang out with, and though he had met Benson, one of Tanelan’s others, it wasn’t the same as having someone who was there all the time. “If you want though, maybe we could play?” His tail had started to wag behind him. “I promise I won’t try to hide too good or run away where you can’t find me.” "Speech," 'Thought.'

Ephemeral frowned when the other male said that he didn't know where to find the other hole. Well how was he to get the rabbit back out to play with him then? He certainly wasn't getting anywhere with the current hole. But if he could find the other one then he could possibly get to the rabbit that way. But then what the other was saying drew the yearling out of his thoughts. "No scare!" He declared with a vehement passion. He wasn't trying to scare his friend at all. This thought had Ephy dropping his muzzle back down the hole again to call into it. "No scare!" He repeated once more for the rabbit's benefit. Maybe that would make his fluffy friend come back out then.

The offer to play had the dark yearling lifting his head once more. "I play! I good run!" He offered up with an excited wag of his tail. He might not be able to speak properly but speed and agility were things he excelled at. "You play chase?" After all the other said something about not hiding. Chase and hide were the only games that Ephemeral knew.

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Beauregard felt bad. The other yearling might not have meant to scare the rabbit but it was in the creature’s nature to be frightened of a wolf. Rabbits were, well, food… it wasn’t often that one with the intelligence on their level came along either. He had always found creatures like Trill a rarity… ones who understood and worked with wolves. Still, he did feel a bit bad for the other yearling. He seemed innocent, just wanting to play. His way of speaking was odd, sure, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Heck, his own little trio he had been part of before he left Abyssium had been a bit odd too, hadn’t they? Maybe this other yearling just needed some friends too! Then he wouldn’t feel like he had to play with the bunnies. The other seemed to say he was good at running and Beauregard grinned. “Yeah? I’m pretty fast too. Don’t think I’ll make it easy if we were to race.” He had gotten the other male’s attention. “We can play chase, I don’t mind.” The ashen cream yearling’s tail was swishing happily back and forth now. How long had it been since he’d just been able to play? Too long! Chasing each other was one of the most simple of games but it was fun. “If you catch me,” Beauregard’s grin grew wider. “I’ll tell you my name. Then I’ll chase you!” He reached out, lightly tapping the dark-furred youth’s paw. “You’re it!” Then Beau spun on his paws and leaped away with a big hop. His ears perked and he glanced over his shoulder, calling to the other as he took of. “Catch me if you can!” "Speech," 'Thought.'

 

 

     

Ephemeral was eager to get started with the game and it showed with the way he pranced about on spot. It wasn't often that he got to play with another wolf. The few times that he had his mother had been quick to put a stop to it and move them out of the area. He didn't know how he stacked up against other wolves but he did know that he could start out hot on the heels of a doe. In fact deer was what had always made up his diet. He could gorge himself on the meat and be ready for a long day of travel. It didn't show with his slender frame and high metabolism but the boy could put away more than his fair share of a meal.

"What race?" The yearling asked when an unfamiliar word was uttered. He only knew chase and hide. He didn't know what game this race would be. But then it was agreed to to play chase. Simple rules were put into place for the game. He had never had a game with rules before. This extra layer to the game excited the dark teen and had his rear wiggling. He had no idea that you could add extra stuff to a game.

Then his paw was being tapped and the other male was racing away. Ephy didn't give chase immediately as there was something else that needed clearing up first. "I no It! I Ephy! Ephemeral, Ephy!" The dark yearling called out after the other as he started to run and give chase. What was so hard with names that everyone thought that he was named something else entirely?

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It was strange the other didn’t know what a race was but Beauregard made a mental note to tell him later on. For now, he needed to focus on staying ahead of the other yearling. Still, as the other, Ephemeral called back to him, Beauregard called over his shoulder. “You are Ephy, and Ephy is it! It means the wolf who is chasing, and I’m not it, because I’m the one being chased. When you tag me I’ll be it next, and you won’t be it! Then you get to run after I tell you my name!” The yearling giggled a bit. Already he was enjoying himself, trying to keep ahead of Ephemeral while dipping and diving between the trees. It was definitely taking more effort than he thought to do so though. The yearling wasn’t sure how close Ephy was getting as he focused on what was in front of him. The last thing he needed was to trip on something or run into a tree. He couldn’t help but let laughter spill from his maw as he raced ahead. Thankfully he was used to running with his wraps and knife - he only took them off to wash them after all. Ephy had no such armor or weapon, or companion as far as he could see. Especially if he’d been chasing after that bunny for someone to play with… but… He risked a quick glance over his shoulder, just to see how close Ephemeral was to him. "Talk, 'Think.'

 

 

     

Long limbs ate up the ground quickly enough. His paws felt to barely touch the earth. The yearling was built for this. He was tall yet slender, a runner's body. Plus he was conditioned to handle it with the constant travel his life had always been compromised of. He had never been in one place for too long so he was used to being constantly on the move.

The male's tongue lulled out from the side of his mouth as his breath came in soft, controlled pants. He was able to weave around obstacles easily enough. This was something he was used to when he was chasing down his own dinner. Deer were good at this too. Maybe after chase they could have some deer. This thought caused the youth to put on a extra burst of speed. He had to be able to catch up to the other in order to be able to tell him his idea.

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Beauregard kept running, though it was clear that Ephemeral was built for speed. The other yearling was catching up to him rather quickly, not that Beau minded that much. It wouldn’t be much fun if he could run and run and Ephy never caught up to him. The ashen cream male let a laugh spill from his maw as he ran though it wouldn’t be long before the dark-furred yearling caught up to him. It seemed like Ephy was already putting on an extra burst of speed to try and catch up, and Beauregard didn’t want to waste all of his energy in the first part of their game, so he even let himself slow a little so that the other could catch up. Once he felt Ephy at his heels Beauregard slowed to a stop, a warm smile upon his features as he turned to him. “Looks like you caught me, so a deal is a deal.” The ashen cream male’s tail was wagging back and forth. “My name is Beauregard Ravenwood, but you can call me Beau!” He grinned. “And now I’m it,m so you’d better run, Ephy! Because I’m going to come to get you!” Once the other yearling took off Beauregard would be at his heels. "Talk, 'Think.'

 

 

     

Ephemeral eventually ended up catching up to the other yearling. And just as was promised a name was given to him. "Beau." The name was repeated, Ephy tried it out in order to commit the name to memory. "Wait. Wait!" The boy said after he had pretty much been told to hurry up and run. "Deer dinner after chase?" The suggestion was tossed out there. The thought was on his mind and so he just had to end up voicing it. It was why he had tried so hard to catch up to the other yearling.

Ephy waited long enough to hear the other male's response to his plans before he took off running again. They had to finish their game first before they could have dinner. At least that was how it worked out in Ephy's mind. They would finish their game of chase. Then they would find a deer and catch it. Then finally they could have deer for dinner. It all worked out perfectly in Ephy's mind.

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Beauregard grinned. Ephemeral had caught him and was set to run, but the other yearling asked him to wait. Beau paused, blinking. What was wrong? Why did they have to wait? Did Ephy think of something else they should be doing? The ashen cream male tilted his head to the side as Ephemeral put a suggestion out there. A deer dinner huh? So he wanted to hunt with him after their game? He smiled a little. It was harder for a loner to get food… sure, why not? He could eat his feel and leave the rest for Ephemeral. Depending on what gender they brought down maybe he could bring back some antlers or something for Menagerie. “Yeah, lets get something to eat after this. Deer dinner it is.” He grinned widely, waiting until Ephemeral took off after that. It seemed that was all the other yearling was waiting for, now that Beau could really blame him. Food was good! But Ephemeral had taken off and, deciding to give the other yearling a little bit of a head start, Beauregard waited for a couple of extra moments before calling out after him. “Alright, ready or not Ephy! Here I come!” Beauregard took off after the other yearling with a burst of speed. His black-topped tail flowed out behind him like a banner as he weaved in and out of the trees, looking for the best path to catch up to the other yearling and cut him off. "Talk, 'Think.'