Wheeling Gull Isle i'm growing and it hurts

He was a good sport, keeping his distance and letting her run unchallenged before finally seizing the tip of her tail with his teeth. She laughed, skittering to go after him, her three paws kicking up surf and wet sand. She slipped and fell with a muffled oomph, shaking out her pelt and looking slightly abashed, then took off again, pale fur caked with dark gold.

Maegi hadn't had this much fun in a long time--moons. She'd been forced to grow up too quickly, and it showed; her countenance was rarely anything but serious, her words dripping with dour worldliness. But now she had a friend who just wanted to play, and she was going to take advantage of it as much as she could. Before he disappeared on her, too.

Perhaps he would sooner than she thought. His ruddy form was vanishing into the near distance, Maegi finding herself unable to keep pace. "Wait up!" she called out, sides heaving with unfettered giggles.