The Sunspire So close to going all the way

Referencing the food shortage thread in the MO forum: "Weekly group hunt results for 30th July - 5th August: wolves are lucky this week again, they manage to surround and kill an unusual visitor in the plains - a wild horse. There is enough to satisfy hunger for the next few days.

There are also hooves, a mangled head and other remnants for the puppies to play with."

Day by day, Breccan was becoming more and more active. He wanted to move and play as much as possible, to satisfy some deeply-felt itch that told him to keep going. His energy was all but endless, and when he did run out of steam, he crashed hard. Presently, he had just woken from one such power nap, and he bounced out of the den and into the bright midday sunlight.

The puppies that had joined them in their den for a short time were gone, leaving him with only his sisters as playmates. They didn't always want to interact with him, though, so for now he planned to amuse himself with some of the toys that had been dropped off a few days prior. Crouching with his rump in the air, wiggling in preparation, he eyed a horse hoof and then pounced on it. He seized it between his forepaws, then batted it away, sending it skipping over the rocky ground to come to a stop a few feet away. With a yip, Breccan repeated the maneuvers, his little tail whipping happily over his back.

Rueger had finished patrolling the borders and decided to head inward to make sure nothing had gotten past them. So far, so good. He could have probably found a spot to rest, but truth be told, he wasn't ready to. Rueger was a highly disciplined, high-energy wolf, and it wasn't often he was actually ready to rest. He mostly did it because he knew his body needed it.

A yip caught his attention, and his ears perked as he quickly changed his direction and headed towards the noise. He was worried one of the pups was in dangers, but as he saw a young male pouncing on the hoof of a horse, he knew all was right.

For a second, he thought about turning to leave, knowing he hadn't expressly been given permission to be near the pups. But, watching the young one, he couldn't help but smile. He went down to his belly a couple yards from him instead of approaching. He did leave himself to being approached, however, if the pup wanted to.

Breccan continued to swat the hoof back and forth in front of the entrance to the family den, having so much fun that he didn't notice the approach of another wolf for a good minute or two. He was quite intently focused, though the way he played and paid attention to his toy was much different than the rigid fixation of his sister, Wisp. He was simply enjoying himself.

It was only when he kicked the hoof and it bounced away from the den's mouth that he noticed the older male. He pounced towards his plaything and then drew up short when he spotted his bigger packmate watching him from a distance. He grinned broadly at the wolf and stood up straight to bellow, "HI!" His loud vocalization drew his mother's attention, and @Liffey looked up and then smiled and nodded her approval at Rueger.

He watched as the pup played with his toy, his maw curving into a smile. Rueger was content to just lay and watch the youth use his imagination with the hoof. But, after a few minutes, he was noticed. His eyes widened a little when the boy hollered his way. His watchful gaze turned worried as it searched for the person who would shoo him away from the area. It settled on the boy's mother, who, instead of growling his way, smiled and nodded. He knew it meant he could stay, and he responded with his own grateful smile.

His attention turned to the young male, and he introduced himself. Hello, there. I'm Rueger. He was excited to have the opportunity to interact with the pup, and wasn't going to waste the chance. Nice looking hoof ya got there, he complimented.

Breccan's tail whipped back and forth so fast and hard that the movement threatened to throw him off balance. His entire rear end swayed as he looked expectantly up at Rueger, who introduced himself. "Woo-guh!" he repeated, forming the consonant sounds of the older wolf's name to the best of his abilities.

When he commented on the hoof, Breccan looked at it quickly. He worried that Woo-guh might try to take it away, but he didn't seem to be making any movements to do so. Still, Breccan swiftly closed the gap between himself and his plaything and then scooped it into his mouth. He regarded Woo-guh thoughtfully for a moment, then decided to share. He stepped closer to his new friend, then dropped the hoof at his feet.

"Pway?" he requested, fervently hoping in the back of his mind that Woo-guh wouldn't steal the hoof.

Rueger might not ever hear anyone say his name so adorably, and he could help the grin that came to his maw. Sure, it was a little off, but it was obvious the child's brain new his proper name. His mouth just had a little more time before it caught up.

He watched as the pup went back to his hoof, after a moment of consideration, dropped it at the male's paws. This tail wagged and he nodded. You want to play with little ol' me? he expressed gratefully, with some theatrics to entertain the child. Of course he wasn't going to say no. He stood and pawed at the hoof, sending it flying a few feet away from them. Ah! It's getting away! Let's get it! he exclaimed, pausing to give Breccan a head start.

"Pwease," Breccan requested earnestly, bobbing his head up and down to accentuate his speech. He giggled at Woo-guh's silly tone of voice, then his expression became more serious as the hoof was batted away. "Let's get it!" his new friend prompted, and the little Frostfur was quick to oblige.

He pounced after the object, hopping across the uneven terrain with an ease that came from being raised here on the mountainside. The hoof hit a particularly large rock jutting from the ground and took a sharp left before coming to rest. Breccan landed on it with his forepaws, securing it safely between his toes before picking it up in his mouth. With his tail flagging behind him, he began to trot away, hoping to entice Woo-guh to chase him.

After a short while of playing, Breccan grew tired, as puppies do. He crashed in a pile in front of the densite, tongue lolling, and fell asleep almost instantly.