Stone Circle optimist

Okay, so when Ikiaq had decided to finally face the world today, he certainly had not expected to meet a stranger. And absolutely not one around his own size - that was weird. Anxiety spiked in his chest and it took every bit of his courage to stand his ground, baby blue eyes watching the boy who approached with careful consideration. 

He looked sad. Sad was something Ikiaq was very familiar with - he'd seen the expression on almost every wolf he'd ever met, after his mother's death. And he really, really hated that expression.

The boy asked him a question, and Ikiaq, while being a late bloomer in most areas of life, was actually pretty bright for his age. "I lib here," he replied, shuffling his paws as he looked up at his newfound companion. "Whasser name?" the pup asked, tipping his head to the side.