Ocean's Breath Plateau Abreast of Waves

His tail beat the air when she accepted his gift with a lighthearted joke, and he listened as she detailed her trip. It sounded like the venture had been a good one. Oh, very nice! Phox beamed at the mention of Meerkat. He hadn't seen her in a hot minute, and it would be a nice (sort of) surprise if she came for a visit.

She had her own gift for him, which surprised him even more than anything else she could have done. It was a shiny, flawless stone that she laid down before him. Phox didn't even notice her nervous cough, too caught up in the thoughtful gesture she'd given to him. A faint bubbling of something he hadn't felt in a very long time fizzled in his chest, and he gently slid the stone toward him to examine it more closely.

He honestly hadn't given rocks too much thought since he was very, very young, but it really was a pretty thing, much like the wolf who had given it to him. It's lovely, he said, rolling it over a few times to observe each and every surface. And I'm sure it will be lovely in the moonlight, too.

Phox resisted the urge to reach out for physical contact, not quite ready to make that leap.