the wisp has resigned himself to soak, letting the body hold metaphor for the internal state of affairs. plus what's the point of moving anyway, he just wants to sulk for a bit. he's alone anyway, no smell of wolf near enough to be worrisome, though apparently that doesn't mean he's alone, because suddenly something very small and very orange is speaking to him. del must have overlooked the fox earlier - and well duh, it's not like he's in the habit of paying attention to lesser canines - only now it's talking to him. for a moment the boy feels embarrassed to be caught in this situation, but really, who cares what a fox thinks of him?

"suffering," he announces, abandoning his usual sense of decorum. oh, but the water was getting chilly and felt a touch slimy on his fur, so he does go ahead and extract himself, rising on long limbs to shake himself out. he eyes the fox contemptuously, as if it's to blame for the neverending screeches of crickets and the dampness of his coat. "aren't you meant to be afraid of me?" the singing-sunlight asks with more teeth than usual, though he lacks any malice needed to actually be frightening - he's a soggy, sullen thing, hardly meant to be taken seriously. 

strangely the fox seems completely unperturbed by delight and his very sharp teeth. he frowns at the small creature, slightly put-off that his bluff has been called; there's really no way in hell he's got the energy to chase or maim the thing. "we are not," he says, scandalized, but maybe it's got a point in the second half there. but then again, "and because your lot steal food. and you're annoying," the boy adds, sticking out his tongue. he might be a yearling, but the singing-sunlight is still immature - childish, really. he sits in the mud, making a face as his body sinks slightly. gross. "well, whatever, you got a name?"

delight makes a hmph! face as the fox returns his rude gesture, but he won't be goaded any further into childish exchanges - wait is his name really "ursa major? like - a bear?" he can't help his laughing, even if it is a little mean. "nothing about you is ursine or major," the wisp points out, grinning, before answering. "and noyoumaynot, my name is delight singing-sunlight." here he does puff up impressively - not like a fox is gonna know if his surname carries any weight or  not, but to him it does and he will act like it around those who won't know any better. the effect is quite spoiled as a particularly bold cricket hops onto his paw, singing loudly - he shrieks and launches into the air, landing sideways in a sorry heap. ugh! crickets! the! worst!

oh great now he's muddy and being mocked by a fox. "sto-op," he tried to command, but it ends up sounding like a long, sad whine. this won't do at all, the wisp thinks furiously, skin burning in embarrassment, and scrambles to his feet. the fox is still wrapped up in laughter and delight takes advantage to put his shame to good use -- he smacks his paw into the loam and flings a pile of wet mud at the fox, intent on soiling his (admittedly beautiful) silky orange fur. "take that!" he yelps, a grin splitting his own muddy face, though it isn't malicious, it's playful.

it's not that delight was denied the chance at a regular puphood, or didn't get to play, or anything so insidious, but since the catastrophe he's worked to carefully wrap himself up inside, as if joy itself is something he's not earned yet. but here and now, with this weird little fox, it's easier for the boy to reopen a part of himself he'd been trying to keep closed - and major seems into it too. del's earlier animosity fades completely into competition as they fall into full-fledged mud war - the fox's attack splatters across the side of his face and he barks a laugh, returning the assault with another thrown glob, aiming for his face. it feels pretty good to let go, he has to admit.

he's glad for the break from - himself, really, a bright spot in an otherwise bleak canvass of existence. though he may never encounter his little fox friend again, delight will think back fondly on this mud battle for years to come: for now though, the heavy feel of mud against his fur and the laughter of two creatures enjoying each other's company rings true enough.