Slavik had been thinking a lot about where he would settle lately, and had decided that he at least wanted to try Sunspire out. He and Rannoch had hit it off great, Slavik considered him a friend and he wouldn’t mind hanging out with him more. Not to mention the other Sunspire wolf he’d encountered, Wraen. He liked them both, and from what he’d learned about the pack they were a tight knit bunch, and if they were all like Rannoch and Wraen then that was the place he wanted to be.

But still something in his soul told him to explore just a little more. He remembered his earlier mantra, walk till you drop! And that he would! He wanted to see as much as he could before he went back to the pack he’d chosen, so he’d continued past the Sunspire and through the rest of the mountain range. He found himself in a very familiar place, a spiky ridge that he’d been to a week or so ago. He smiled as he remembered the footprints he’d made, and the dust clouds that had billowed behind him. 

He followed a new path this time, one that led him down to the lower sections of the ridge. He came across a scent trail, and always curious he began to follow it. He’d expected to find a wolf at the end, but he first came to the mouth of a tunnel. He stopped and wondered whether or not he should enter, then without another cautious thought he padded forward. It was a little spooky at first, the darkness was truly blinding. But still he followed her scent, for if she could make it through then so could he.

He ended up in a large cavern, an unbelievably and otherworldly  sight. Wow, he said loudly and wonderstruck, looking around with eyes wide. Crystalline water lapped at a shoreline of earth and dirt. There was glitter and shine on the surface, from a distant sun, and it looked somehow inviting. It was like an entire lake at the end of a tunnel, he felt like he’d entered another realm. He only knew he didn’t because the wolf he’d been seeking was here too, lapping gently at the water. Surely she’d heard his exclamation upon entering, but he greeted her with a friendly chuff anyway. He could’ve waited for a response, but he was too intrigued to virtue patience at the moment.

How did you find this place? Do you live here? he asked, too excited for a real introduction. He simply had to know!

Slavik always seemed to be surprising people, the female jumped but turned quickly and didn’t appear afraid once she did. Slavik always tried his best to look nonthreatening, for he was big and knew that could be a little off putting. This female was smaller than usual, with luminous golden eyes like his. He watched her as she spoke, but looked around again  when she’d finished, Amazing doesn’t cover it, this is crazy dude! I didn’t know they had lakes underground, he said with a awestruck expression.

His gaze shifted back to the pretty female when she began to move towards the water, and when offered a spot next to her he eagerly obliged. He moved forwards and sat down next to her, the crest of her head reached just below his chin. He bowed his head to lap at the water, and found that it tasted different than water he was used to. I wonder why it tastes like this, all rock-ish, he wondered aloud to her, rock-ish being the best adjective he could think of.

Slavik contemplated Speedy’s explanation for the water’s ‘rockiness’ and then decided she was probably right. And if she wasn’t, well he’d never know or need to know honestly. Cool, he agreed with a shrug and a smile. She introduced herself as Speedy next, to which Slavik raised his eyebrows. Not in a, ‘that’s weird’ kind of way, but more of a ‘no way that’s awesome’ kind of things Is that a nickname or your actual name? It’s awesome, oh and I’m Slavik, he said with a quirked lipped smile, his own name added as an afterthought.

When Speedy stood, Slavik remained seated and watched her. She looked very excited, her tail wagging happily behind her. She surprised him first with her name and then again when she enthusiastically stepped into the underground lake. He watched as she waded in until she was chest deep, and then she turned and asked him to join. He grinned and stood, his own tail waving to her above his hips. Hell yeah! he said, then followed her in quickly, making loud and frothy splashes as he bounded through the cold water.

He came closer to her, then with a mischievous look kicked a front paw at the surface of the water and splashed it in her direction. He didn’t wet her yet, he wanted to make sure she was ok with a water fight before he wholeheartedly worked to annihilate her at it. Today was for fun, he’d decided.

Her real name huh? He liked it, and he liked her too.

Slavik waited patiently to see her response to his splash, his grin still there and anticipating. She glared playfully, and sent another small splash his direction before sending an entire wave at him. He squeezed his eyes shut as it neared him, but let it wet his head fur. He was fully damp now, and decided that she should be too. With a playful growl, he gathered up all his weight and reared onto his hind legs. He crashed back down on the water’s surface, leaving his stomach tingling with the flop and a tsunami headed Speedy’s way.

Slavik started to laugh as his tidal wave drenched Speedy, but was cut off when she suddenly splashed through the water towards him and nipped at his shoulder. He yelled in surprise at first but that sound turned back into laughter a moment later, a smirk spread across his face. She backed up, looked him over and bounded towards him again. He nipped lightly at her cheek when she did so, feeling just as frisky as she. When she went into a play bow, the soggy boy did the same, his big fluffy butt swaying in the air.

He made the first move with a loud happy bark, then playfully splashed towards her and head butted her in an attempt to knock her off her feet.

Speedy tumbled into the surf with a loud oof, he smiled triumphantly as she rolled through the water. When she resurfaced, she immediately moved towards him, and threw her body at him. He too oofed as he fell into the shallow water and as he scrambled to stand he found that Speedy’s butt was still on top of him. He could easily throw her off, he thought, but where would be the fun in that? Too predictable! Slavik’s head the only part of his body not submerged in the water, he turned it and reached for her tail.

He would bite down on it, gently of course but hard enough to jolt her.

Speedy let out a string of cute giggles, and leapt off of him and back into the water. He smiled, thoroughly enjoying himself as he started to stand. He was once again barraged by a wave, much smaller than the one he’d sent at her. Still though, it made him close his eyes, and when he opened them again Speedy was attached to his spare neck fur. He let out a giggle of his own as he shook his mane gently, tossing the attached female about. Then he ducked his head under her chest and pushed up, hoping to knock her off and onto her back. If it worked he would stand and wait, his tail wagging ferociously behind him.

Slavik successfully knocked Speedy into the water, back on her bum. A low rumble of laughter escaped his mouth, his chest vibrating with the sound. She stood back up, and moved towards him while catching her breath. He too was winded, but not so much it seemed as her. He would definitely give her as much time as she needed before- oop! He was shocked when she moved forwards and licked his cheek, and it was slightly evident in the way his eyes widened. The yearling had only ever been licked by his family members and his first crush, somehow it felt like a very special thing to him.

But it might not have meant the same to her. He tried to shake off the fact that he was flustered now, because he didn’t want her to think he was silly or anything. She began to mouth at his scruff, her eyes moving to his. He smiled, brushing off that surprise quickly when he saw that she was just being playful, and he bent down his head to nip at her ears.

Speedy returned his ear nip, then backed up to meet his gaze. Darn it! She's seen his surprised look. At her question Slavik diverted his gaze, embarassed, Yeah, yeah. Nothing, he said, his voice low. He wanted to play it off, get back into the swing of their game, so his sheepish look slowly melted into a grin and he as he turned to splash her he said, You surprised me. On the word surprise he swept a mini wave it her direction. He watched her again, tail wagging to see a response.

Speedy apologized, and let out another string of giggles as his wave crashed on her. She bounded towards him and planted another lick on his cheek before turning and giving him a coy look. He wasn't surprised this time, and he actually liked the way it felt. He loved physical contact and affection, just like her. He began to pounce towards her again, looking as if he were about to tackle her into the water, then just before he slammed into her, he halted, reached forward and gave her a quick lick on the cheek. Then another. Now we're even, he said with a coy wink of his own.

Speedy flashed him with a look of surprise before smiling, and raising an eyebrow. I guess we are, she said before leaping, splashing and running. This time away from him, initiating chase. Slavik watched her for a moment, enticed by the young female who he'd met in the cave. She might've been the most fun he'd had in a while! With a playful growl and ran after her, unfortunately his size didn't aid him in the water and Speedy was much speedier than him. That didn't stop him though, and ran back towards the shore, in an attempt to corral her to shallower waters, where he could pick up the pace.

Slavik's plan panned out how he hoped, his hunter instincts telling him how to move. He was able to move a little faster in the shallower area, with the wall of the cave blocking her from going forwards. She made a sharp turn, losing a bit of her speed in the process and as she did Slavik hit the gas pedal. He lunged towards her, slowing down just as he got close to her and attempted to tackle her down. If successful he would pin her and say, Gotcha! Being so close to her then, he would  notice her faint smell of blood, and at last would realize she was injured.