really, okeanos should just leave the other puppies alone. brilliance and mali have made their feelings on him clear enough. when he was younger it hurt him so -- he's never done anything to them! -- but he's not stupid. they've clearly had it harder than him and his siblings, so he thinks its probably okay that they're a little mean sometimes, even if it's unwarranted. for not even bein' half a year old yet he thinks he's pretty darn grown up about all this stuff, and maybe that's exactly the sort of force mali needs in his life!

it is with this (naive) enthusiasm that he spots aforementioned boy, just a sliver of dappled silver fur against a gnarly willow root. as he watches brilliance too makes her appearance. okeanos, who has yet to lose the baby chub rounding his figure, draws himself up importantly and makes his way toward them, waiting 'til he's nearly on top of the root to bark a greeting. "whatcha doin'?" he asks innocently, his green eyes round and oblivious.

mali's insults never really bother him for long, though he doesn't always get them (he's not dumb, he doesn't think, and while he's a little younger than them its not by that much, and anyway he's bigger'n both of them by now, probably). still, combined with brilliance's laughter it doesn't make him feel too good, and he frowns, taking a step back. but! never fear, he won't be disturbed from his attempts at making any sort of positive connection with them.

"sorry," he tries, his expression still tentatively hopeful, "i didn' mean t'interrupt." not that he has any intention of leaving, but he does settle down against another root, making a sort of gesture as if to say you two can keep talkin', i'll just be hanging out right here with you.