Wolf RPG

Osprey Jr. woke to a sunny, breezy morning. Finding herself the first to rise yet again, she left behind her foster family and went wandering across the territory. She followed a strange scent that strengthened each time the wind gusted, whistling in her bat-like ears and tousling the velveteen fur at the base of her neck. As she walked along, she tried to decide whether or not she liked the smell. Ultimately, she found it favorable and this increased her desire to find its source.

The thick forests gave way to grasslands not unlike the ones surrounding the plateau, which she scarcely contemplated as she broke into a gallop. The grass up ahead faded to a pale yellow color, which the puppy found strange and intriguing. When she reached the area where it transitioned, she braked to a halt with a surprised bark, then lowered her dark head to nose at the strangely textured ground underfoot. She sneezed and when she lifted her head again, bits of sand clung to her black nose.

Junior's eyes crossed as she wiggled her nose, then rather abruptly she noticed the vast stretch of blue in front of her. The pup's waving tail stilled and drifted down to lay against her legs. Her two-toned eyes widened. It was like the river, yet so... vast. When she turned her head sideways, the water stretched all the way to the left and all the way to the right. If she looked directly across, she saw no opposite bank. She took in a deep, surprised breath and realized that the strange, briny scent was blowing off the water.

She stood there and marveled for a long moment, then quite abruptly hurled a yip into the windy sky and tore down the spit of sand toward the water. She charged right into the depths, unafraid despite nearly drowning just days ago. Osprey Jr.'s girlish laughter filled the air as she frolicked in the shallows, kicking up her black heels like a wild filly and running parallel with the sandy shore. She had only just discovered the sea and she never, ever wanted to leave this most gigantic of swimming holes.

[size=x-small]ooc: yess I was hoping this thread would stay open long enough for me to put up a reply <3[/size]

Surra had decided today was a day to walk on the beach. It was a beautiful, breezy day - not too hot, but the gusts were still a welcome relief to the thick furred male. He had just spent his first night in his new den, which the two Bay captives had assisted him in digging. He had some things he wanted to do to perfect it, of course, but the morning was too beautiful to pass up and spend digging into the hillside. So instead, he opted for the open, salty air of the beaches.

He was doing all right in his quest to meet all of the other members of his pack. Surra was surprised that he had made it to the higher tier of ranks, now only a subordinate to his Alpha, his wife, and the woman names Julooke, who he had yet to fully meet. He was flattered by the honor, but felt even more compelled to get to know his packmates. The grey-brown male scented in the air at least three fresh newcomers in the last week, besides the two captives, and he hope to run into them this morning on the beach - little did he know that he would run into a fourth newcomer, only a rumor he had heard. A pup that Ragnar and Thistle had stumbled upon. He just assumed that this pup would be with them and their children at all times, but the young male did not know her adventurous personality.

He did not expect to see a small black shape pouncing around in the water, as he himself padded through the shallows. He was confused at first, wondering if it was some sea creature stuck on the beach, but as the shape came closer, the quiet young adult noticed it was a wolf pup - running towards him. He laughed through his confusion of who she was or where she came from or if this was the pup he had heard about; the pure energy and sprightliness that poured off of her seemed to already be seeping into him. "Hey there, girlie," he called out to her when she was two or three wolf-lengths away, unsure if she had seen him. "Are you some sea creature or a wolf pup? I can't tell."

She didn't realize she had company until a voice spoke, just barely audible over the pounding surf and the additional noise of Osprey's splashing paws. Grinning and dripping, she turned and saw a strange male a bit further along the beach, also wading in the water. Osprey Jr. woofed at him, her sopping wet tail flinging saltwater every which way, and splashed in his direction.

"Howy, howdy, howdy!" she barked with each hop, until she reached him. His markings drew her eye and she said, "You're pretty!" Then, recalling his playful query, she told him, "I'm a sea critcher and a wolf pup and a Junior," in a bright chirrup. "Oh," she blurted before adding, "and a Warrior Shield Maiden!"

Her head cocked as she wondered who and what he was but before the puppy could ask the question, another one sprang to her lips. "Why's the water taste like..." Osprey paused, searching for a word to describe the flavor. It tasted like the air here smelled. "It stings my tongue and my eyes," she explained, hoping the stranger might have an explanation.

"Howy, howdy, howdy!" The black child frolicked in his direction, and Surra smiled. His eyes reflected her energy, the usually calm blue flickering brightly. "You're pretty!" She exclaimed, and for a split second Surra was taken aback, never having been called "pretty" before - but then he let out a chuckle, seeing the youngling's eyes wander over his strange white markings. His chuckle continued even as he listened to her describe the multitude of things she was - sea creature, wolf pup, junior, and a warrior shield maiden. Yep, Ragnar had gotten to this pup already; this must be the one he had heard rumors about. "Really?" Surra queried, humor in his voice. "And here I am, just a regular old wolf. I am honored to be in your presence, sea-creature-wolf-pup-junior-warrior-shield-maiden." He reached a single paw out and dipped his head in a low bow, his nose almost touching the surf, a smile still stuck across his lips.

She then asked him about the water - had she never seen the ocean before? Surra supposed not, if she was asking these questions. "It's salty," Surra explained. "The ocean has salt mixed into the water, which makes it taste funny, and makes it sting your eyes. It also makes it not good to drink. It will only make you more thirsty," The young male added as a slight warning, though his tone was still light.

Although she knew that he was only playing, Osprey Jr. arched her head and puffed out her chest when Surra bowed to her, her soaking tail curling proudly over her back. Remembering her manners, she answered, "Nice t'meetcha, Mr. Pretty Surra," and grinned impishly at him before her pink tongue lolled from her her mouth, flopping to the side in a gentle pant.

He explained that the water was salty. "What's that?" she blurted without thinking, then lapsed into silence as he described what he meant. "Is salt a, um, poison?" she wondered, thinking about the various times when Blue Willow had told her bits and pieces of medical and herb lore. She looked down at the water frothing and churning around her legs and wondered if she should be concerned.

At his bow, the young girl arched her neck and lifted her tail in a show of dominance. Though he, as an adult, obviously outranked her and may have been offended had it come from another adult, Surra's eyes only flickered good-naturedly her - she would be a fierce one when she was full grown, he guessed. "Nice t'meetcha, Mr. Pretty Surra," The young male was surprised she knew his name - he had not said it. He figured maybe Ragnar or Thistle had mentioned the names of all the Bay wolves, and as the black-coated girl pointed out his markings were not usual, so maybe she identified him based off of that. "Now how is it that you know my name and I do not know yours, young one?" Surra asked with a smile. "Junior..." He mused, remembering one of the many titles she introduced herself with, "does that mean you are named after one of your family members?"

"Is salt a, um, poison?" The girl asked him then, looked down at the water at her feet with concern. Surra chuckled. "No, salt is not a poison. It's actually good for you, in small amounts," he emphasized, trying to describe to her in simpler terms the concept of moderation. "Salt water is tricky though - you can't drink it instead of fresh water. You can drink a little bit, but too much will make your stomach hurt and dehydrate you." So much for using small words, Surra thought after letting the word 'dehydrate' slip from his lips. Though, she wasn't too young, he realized - he supposed he was used to Thistle and Ragnar's children, who had to be at least a month or two younger than this feisty girl.

"Ya," she answered simply. The conversation regarding salt was much more interesting to her than the story behind her name, however, and she didn't elaborate beyond that. Somehow, the youngster had completely avoided revealing her full first name to anybody and she could only remember her complicated surname on a particularly good day.

"What's that—de-hi-drape?" she inquired, just as he thought she'd might, only bungling the pronunciation slightly. She wasn't a fan of tummy aches, so she added, "Don't drink it. Got it!" It was much more fun for splashing and playing than drinking anyhow, though it was a bit crazy to think that there was all this water and not a drop to drink.

Once she understood the meaning of the word, Osprey was ready to move onto other things. "You wanna play a game, pretty boy?" she asked, unaware that it sounded like she was coming onto him.

[size=x-small]ooc: haha no problem, I figured, I just rolled with it :) also, lol, "pretty boy".[/size]

Well so much for figuring out her name, Surra thought, as the young girl only answered with a "Ya". He decided he would just refer to her by one of her many self-given titles for the time being. "What's that—de-hi-drape?" Yep, just as he had thought, the girl didn't know the word. "It's..." Surra thought for a moment on how to best explain it, chewing his tongue. "It's when your body doesn't have enough water - fresh water - in it. And you feel really really thirsty." He made the distinction between salt and fresh water just in case. For a split second the thought flashed across his mind that if somehow this girl got herself sick from drinking seawater because Surra had not explained it well enough, Ragnar would have his "pretty" hide. Thistle probably would, too, but Surra did not know that, having only seen her soft and kind side, and not yet her fierce protectiveness.

"Don't drink it. Got it!" Surra was inwardly relieved, his moment of worry dissipating from his mind as Junior's decided tone. "You wanna play a game, pretty boy?" Surra had to hold in an incredulous laugh. He was pretty sure he had been hit on once with similar words, back when he was a lone wolf, and had run into others occasionally. His voice couldn't help but carry some laughter with it as he responded. "Sure thing girlie, how does it go?" He tilted his head down towards her, his tail swaying playfully behind him.

She didn't have a particular game in mind yet, but when "Mr. Pretty" assented, the child scrunched one eye, her tongue poking thoughtfully into her cheek. Hide-and-seek was one of her favorites, yet this simply wasn't the landscape for it. She didn't think it would work very well for tag, either, nor a plain and simple race.

But that line of thought gave way to an idea for a game she'd never had the chance to play until now. "I got it! Wanna go up there," Junior said, motioning toward the grasslands overlooking the beach, "and race back here to see who makes the biggest splash?" As she described her idea, she pursed her lips and puffed out her cheeks, making a splashing sound effect.

Junior seemed to think about it for a moment, as if considering her options for games. Or maybe she was coming up with a new one, Surra thought. "I got it!" She said suddenly, and Surra's ears pricked in interest. "Wanna go up there," His calm blue eyes followed her gesture up towards the grasslands beyond the sandy beach. "and race back here to see who makes the biggest splash?" The epsilon smiled, lifting his head. He knew that technically he would probably win this one - she was no baby, but he was still three times her size.

But she probably had three times his energy. "Sounds like a plan to me!" Surra said light-heartedly, stepping out of the shallows. He briefly shook out his coat, including each of his wet legs individually, before trotting up towards the grasses, watching over his shoulder for Junior to follow (and allowing her to take the lead if she chose). "So who's judging the splashes, huh? I'm a little worried it's gonna be a close call between me and you, we might need to find a third-party observer," Surra suggested in a casual joking tone.

Surra seemed game and even began to stride up the beach. Junior sprang after him, leaving a trail of droplets on the sand as she loped toward the strip of green sea grass. En route, he asked who would be judging the contest. As it was her idea, Osprey Jr. fancied herself the only viable judge.

"Me!" she declared. She didn't really know about bias and other such abstract concepts, though on some level, she knew she would be cheating if she simply nominated herself (which she most definitely would). Junior's mismatched eyes glittered impishly. "What's a third-party obsurfer?" she questioned as they arrived at the grassy edge and stopped to turn around and face the waterline.

As Surra thought, the juvenile girl proclaimed herself as the judge they trotted up towards the grasslands. Surra merely chuckled to himself at this, knowing better than to challenge a pup about fairness. Not like he cared about "winning" this game anyway. The point of it was for Junior to have fun. "What's a third-party obsurfer?" She asked, and Surra could see the impish flickering of her eyes. She was clever, the young male could tell. He spoke through a light laugh; "It's someone who isn't involved in the game, who can judge it fairly," he explained, but did not push the issue.

Now turned back towards the water, Surra exaggerated a sort of runner's crouch, looking ready to spring forward. He looked over at Junior with a coy smile. "Ready when you are, Miss Sea Creature," He playfully (but gently) poked her in the shoulder with his nose, and said, "Bring it on!"

Surra gave a succinct explanation and, though she understood, Junior didn't see how this could be an option considering there were no third party observers available. Therefore, she was still the obvious choice. She didn't announce this out loud, though her shit-eating grin was probably indication enough of her devious train of thought.

He assumed the position, so Junior did the same. Still smiling like a mischievous Cheshire cat (was there any other kind?), she returned his nudge with a nip. Just the other day, Ragnar had explained the art of feinting to her and although he'd demonstrated it in a combative context, it dawned on her right then and there that she could totally use the same tactic to fake out her racing opponent.

Unaware that utilizing a false start might actually give Surra an advantage, Osprey broke into a gallop without warning, ran a dozen yards, then froze and whirled to see if he'd started running too. Supposing he had, Junior planned to call him out for falling for her false start, unaware that he would probably gain on her and pass on by before she even got a word out, thereby leaving her in his dust...

[size=x-small]ooc: no problem, I've been pretty scarce lately anyway! want to finish this up soon? :)[/size]

When Junior nipped at him, Surra responded with a playful flash of his teeth. This girl was fierce, that was for sure - and then she was off. Surra was a few steps behind her, not quite going full speed but running up just a pace behind her. Suddenly the girl stopped and whirled to face him, and Surra almost bowled right into her. Instead, he just barely sidestepped her, with a surprised "Woah!"

Once he realized he had safely passed her, he laughed at the close call, looking back over his shoulder. "Are you coming or what?" He called back as he raced towards the water. With a few last paces he reached wet sand, and in a leap, jumped into the water. He wasn't really trying to make the biggest splash he could, but he wasn't necessarily trying to let her win, either - regardless, the judgment was up to her, once she reached the ocean as well.

Osprey gasped unwittingly when Surra brushed past her, then whirled to watch as he continued racing toward the water. "Hey!" she yelled indignantly, pumping her legs to catch up to him. That wasn't how it was supposed to work!

Despite her best efforts, she didn't manage to overtake him, though they hit the water at nearly the same time. She impacted so hard with an incoming wave that it knocked the breath out of her momentarily. Her legs dropped out from under her as the water deepened and she gasped, then managed a whoop that was almost immediately muffled by a second wave crashing over her small black head.

[size=x-small]ooc: Perfect. Last post from me. :) [/size]

Surra watched and laughed as the waves that crashed up into his chest and neck went over Junior's head. Quickly, however, a father-like instinct came out of him and he reached a paw over in the water, attempting to gently push Junior back to where her paws could touch sand and her head was above water. He was not about to have her drown on his watch.

Once he was sure she was out of reach of the undertow, whether by his own doing or her own if she fought his paw, he asked; "So, who's the winner girlie?"

Between the waves' pull and Surra's push, Osprey washed toward shore and soon found her feet. She hopped closer to land, then began to run parallel with the cresting waves, her feet sloshing in the surf. She zigzagged back and forth, barking loudly at Surra and daring him to give chase.

"Me!" she boastfully declared when he asked her to name the winner. One day, Osprey Jr. might mature enough to realize it was more fun to play fair... yet she hadn't reached that age quite yet. After pausing to leer playfully at Surra, she then resumed running to and fro until she wore herself out and plodded up to the beach to collapse into a sleepy heap on the warm white sands.