Phoenix Maplewood i'll wind up working in the thick of it

Later, Phoenix would reflect on how glad he had been in this moment. To be a loner and find this feeling of camaraderie was rare. He'd half expected to go without rejoin, but Indra seemed as partial to the labor of his game as he was. She dodged behind him, and in the absence of red fur in his sights, he felt white teeth on his heels, tugging sportively at his tail-strands.

A growl of a laugh bubbled up his throat, and the banded maverick stretched into a racer's run. He could never outpace the fleet vixen, but his goal became suddenly clear when they had come suddenly upon the low banks of a fogged-over lake. He charged eagerly into the shallows -- a welcome shock of cold taking the burn from his muscles -- as he turned expectantly to face his pursuer. He hoped the water would assail her on his behalf, but he was prepared regardless to meet her playfully with a jawspar.