Rising Sun Valley Dear Fellow Traveller

He’s trolling! Poking at the bear.

She pivots fiercely, diving forward and snapping up those taunting toes with her teeth!

Her heart hammers, but the mischief returns to her eyes. Shall I relieve you of a troublesome limb? Her growls seem to stoke.

But she’ll release the boy in favor of scampering tight circles around him instead. Underbelly, chin, tip of tail, she reaches for all these soft places with cursory nips and spins round and round in an endless loop.

The tension scatters a little with each leap, and every feigned yelp of ache shared. She allows her mind to wheel with the giddiness she feels. This play with Louis is no small risk. It means allowing herself to be exposed, to trust that he won't hurt her, even though he can. She puts her mouth around the crux of his neck, but never bites down.

He can trust, too.