Larksong Grotto We are thankful for our iron lung

Failed Hunt Roll: 1

The Seer had returned to the grotto from her divine mission that had carried her away, yet strangely, the co-alpha's presence within the territory did not weigh on Reek's mind as much as he thought it woud. In fact, he thought of it little -- if any -- at all. Something (read: someone) else had taken hold Reek's thoughts. Vuk. Everytime he closed his eyes, he saw her face. Most notably, her sad turquoise eyes shining in the light that reflected from the lake. They beckoned him back.

He found himself unable to sleep deeply. His thoughts had a way about them in that his mind constantly repeated their moment of passion by lakeside. If it were possible for a wolf to sweat, Reek would have woken from his slumber drenched to the core. Instead, Reek awoke with an anticipatory chill running down his spine. His eyes snapped open and his initial thought was of her and the dance they had shared days prior. Unable to shake the thought, Reek rose from his empty grotto and plodded down to the lakeside where he had seen her last.

She had not been seen she had departed from his side. Reek figured this a source of worry, but he tried to not look too deep into it. After unceremoniously rubbing the sleep from his eyes with a swipe from his forepaw, Reek made his way to the edge of lake, dipping himself in the cool water. Continuing forward until he was about chest deep, Reek stopped and remained perfectly still in the hopes he would catch a glimpse of a fast swimming fish.

Hello ^.^

Zaavier's injured shoulder was bothering him once again. He wished he was able to find any herb at all that would soothe the ominous burning in his flesh, but there was nothing around. The only relief he could find was when he took a dip in the lake. So he changed his direction, heading down the slope and to the lake. 

It took him a while, due to the limp his wound caused him, but he eventually made it there, gaze hard with determination. He was going to get down there. Then, a scent drifted past his nose and his crooked frown slowly turned up to a smile. It was Reek, his alpha -- though he considered the black male as more of a friend, even if Reek thought differently. His tail swished as he approached the back, his eyes landing upon the leader as he waded into the lake. "Fine day for a swim, eh?" He said, his tone edgy with frustration from his shoulder. He soon waded in himself so he could close the gap between the two, and soothe the pain. He let out a long sigh of relief as the water soaked into the inflamed skin. He reached out a touched his nose to Reek's shoulder, glancing out to the other side of the lake for a quick moment.

From the corner of Reek's eye, he saw movent -- the quick swish of a tail-fin cutting though the still water like a knife though butter. Reek lurched forward, jaws parted as he crashed face first into the lake in pursuit. With his mouth clasping shut around nothing but water, Reek found the fish to be too fast for him. It slipped away, out of reach and out of sight during all the commotion. Inwardly, he cursed himself for letting his meal slip away as he breached from the water to try again.

His attempt has surely scared the fish and all of it's ilk away, but before the thought crossed his mind, the sound of another wading out into the water caught his attention. He turned his soaked head, hoping to see Vuk on the approach, but instead saw Zaavier. Though mildly dissapointed that he wasn't the pale wolf whom occupied Reek's thoughts as of late, he couldn't help but shoot Zaavier a small smile.

"A swim?" He asked, returning his greeting with a friendly and damp nudge. It had been so long since Reek had taken a proper swin -- not since he called the beaches of Ankyra home. Perhaps it would be nice to cut loose and have a little bit of fun for once. For the first time in a long while, Reek felt up to it. "That actually sounds really nice," he said.

"It'll probably do you some good too," he continued, eyes falling on Zaavier's injured shoulder.

Zaavier watched as the alpha attempted to catch a fish, ears pricked. The hunt failed, but the lanky brute didn't care. He listened as Reek spoke. He guessed his alpha hadn't swam for a long while and a mischevious smile formed on his handsome features. It slowly began to fade as he followed Reeks eyes to his shoulders. With the help of the water, the aching was subsiding, but with every movement, it fired up a bit. However, Zaavier knew that stretching it and moving it around was a good way to help it heal, so he gave a nod to his leader. "Yeah, probably," He admitted with a sheepish smile. 

Without looking back, the coyote-like wolf launched himself into the deeper part of the lake, splashing his dark furred friend in the process. He made sure to used his shoulder as little as possible, but it felt a lot better with the chilly liquid splashing against it. He swam in a circle or two before glancing back at Reek. "So, when was the last time you swam? For me, it was like years ago. It's nice to do it again." Even though Zaavier had matured a lot throughout his years, it was still great to act like a pup sometimes. He was truely young at heart.

Out of nowhere, Zaavier surged forward into the water with a swiftness that was unbecoming of his injuries. Reek couldn't help but think about how freeing it looked to swim. He could let go of his cares in an instant. Like old times, perhaps he could cut-loose and reconnect with that childlike desire to enjoy life that he had somehow lost along the way. It was so tempting. Reek's legs begged to push forward -- to kick out at the water and take the plunge.

Zaavier called out, egging Reek onward. "It's been so long," he muttered as he reluctantly took a step forward in the waist deep water. "Maybe— maybe—"

With that, Reek let go of his unease. Kicking out with his back limbs, Reek felt his paws leave the comfort of the ground as he began to swim out in pursuit of Zaavier, who swam in circles not so far away. There was a foreign sound, one that Reek hadn't heard in ages. One that he had forgotten entirely.

He was laughing.

Zaavier swam around, waiting for Reek to follow him in. Finally, he followed and swam up to him. Zaavier saw something he'd never seen from his alpha before. His face was lit up with joy, and he was laughing. It was a laugh that seemed to have been stuck inside him for years, and Zaavier was happy to have helped set it free. Zaavier laughed along with him and lifted up the foreleg with the non-injured shoulder, bringing it down upon the water's surface and splashing Reek in the process. His childish instincts began to come out, and he laughed some more.

However, his shoulder began to ache from all the movement, and he moved towards the shallow end, letting his paws rest on the murky floor of the lake. Now, he was able to rest his shoulder and just let the water do it's work. The water lapped at his neck and back and his salmon tongue lolled out of his mouth. This was easily one of te best moments he'd had in the pack so far, and he was thrilled to be able to share it with his leader.

After a few moments of paddling outward, Reek soon found that there was no better way to spend a hot summer day. His heart beat to a joyous rhythm as he went, and his laugher failed to cease. He could live again, he realized. His faith had granted him a second chance in which he could shed his painful, guilty trappings and be free. He felt the love of Raas around him -- his warm embrace carried by the rays of the sun.

As he pressed forward, Zaavier sent a playful splash in Reek's direction. In a hastily prepared evasive menouver, Reek dove head first into the water. Beneath the water, his wheezing laughter brought bubbles to the surface.

Zaavier's laughter never ceased and continued to slpash at Reek. Suddenly, Reek dove under the surface and bubbles could be seen coming to the surface. He was laughing underwater! Zaavier laughed harder until he realized that the bubbles were getting closer by the second.

Swim away! He leaped away and began swimming as fast as he could, although his shoulder slowed him down significantly. If Reek was really chasing him, there was no way he could escape. aquatic plants grabbed at his legs now and then, but he paid no mind, he had to get away!

He kicked and flailed underneath the water like a drunken fish. Surely, he sent a cascade of droplets in his wake as random limbs clumsily breached the surface. How different it was now, swimming with joy as opposed to his last foray into the lake -- a suicide attempt. At the time, Reek believed it to be his cowardice to thank for drawing him away from the water that day, but now he knew it had been the hand of Raas. The Lord was not done with him yet.

With his eyes opened like slits under the water, Reek could see Zaavier slinking away. He gave chase, but could not stay under the water for long. He returned to the surface like a breaching submarine, and as he did, he spit a mouthful of water at his retreating subordinate.

Reek gave chase, but soon breeched like a giant whale, bursting from the water and spitting a mouthful of water at Zaavier. He yipped in laughter as the mouth-water hit him and he raised a paw, slapping Lake water back at him. 

He was breathing hard and his shoulder pained him, so he took a rest, bracing himself for another wave of revenge from Reek. Placing his paws on the slimy rocks on the lake's bottom, he let the water lap at his back and neck, watching Reek with intent eyes.