Big Salmon Lake Icarus

The she wolf's absence of retort toward his flirty quip was without surprise. He nodded in agreement even with though her beginning sentiment was void of actual seriousness. "I'll be a King someday you know," he declared smilingly. "Grandpa Fao said so."

Though he was entirely aware she was tired the verbal confirmation of such made his heart pang a bit. She'd been a whiny little thing during their early childhood but she'd refrained from complaining almost the entire trip thus far...and he felt himself wishing she'd allow herself to fret a bit like the old days. "Mhmm," he sounded in agreement as his gaze wandered skyward. Their campaign had begun in the peak of summer several weeks ago; a spontaneous choice of departure that hadn't left either wolf much time to consider neither a destination nor a timeline. The blame was entirely upon him of course, since Caeli was more or less a tagalong, but despite the risk of their inexperience together they'd assembled their talents and created one functioning entity.

The elders back home would be proud, he was certain.

"We'll rest here for a few days," he decided...asserting his vote on the femme's behalf. "We can fish here and rest. Look our best for the audition." He spoke as the thoughts came to him so that the words came out halting if not a bit choppy. But the blood of savvy leadership, of Erom, flowed in his veins. Despite his greenness he generally made good choices.

He moved forward then and trotted a short distance away to drier land. The shallow slopes of the bank were pocked with nooks made naturally by the earth but he set to work on one whose particular shape he liked best; soil went flying on either side of him as he began scratching out a makeshift den for the two of them.

"Now don't-" he panted as he dug, "-go falling in love with - my manliness right - now!"