Post by Therdde on Aug 17, 2008 16:52:58 GMT -5
Characters:
Conner - Male Adolescent Fox
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
- Field of Flowers -
Conner has found himself among a broad field of flowers he recognizes quickly. It looks quite different than it did in the springtime though. The dry late-summer flowers in bloom and many seeds catching the light as they float away in the sweet smelling summer breeze, each with a little white parachute to help it along. The young fox feels a grin spread on his muzzle as he spots a patch of late-bloom dandilions and bounds towards them, leaping into the white patch to scatter the little whispy seeds into the wind with a laugh!
Skelaghe has been staying in this field for nearly a month now. It has been a peaceful, rejuvenating month. Peaceful enough that she is just lying down when the sound of laughing reaches her. Her ears perk and she lifts her head almost immediately. Peaceful, yes, but she has not heard laughing since... When was the last time she heard someone laugh? The fact that she can't remember that gives her even more incentive to check it out, and she pulls herself to her feet with no reluctance.
Conner can be seen not far off, oblivious of any lupines making their home in the pretty field, he seems to be terribly lost in his own amusement. Leaping in gentle arcs from one patch of flowers to the next. Most of the time all she could make out was a flailing, bottlebrush fox tail swinging about merrily above the flowers. His next leap was followed by a surprised yelp "gah! Gedditoff!" he yips, hopping around and scampering away from the spiderweb he ran into, incendentally his path taking him straight towards the wolfess he couldn't see.
Skelaghe chuckles herself as she watches the antics of the youthful fox. Even when the fox runs into a spiderweb, Skelaghe laughs, enjoying the sight of a child playing. It is something she did not get to see when she last went to the mountains, and she enjoys it now. She takes a step closer to him, then stops even as Conner moves closer to her. She has seen many young foxes in these parts, and she cannot know them all, but... Not so many with fur coloured like that. She's reluctant to ask, reluctant the answer might not be what she's hoping for, but finally she says, "Conner?" Her tone is no longer amused. It is more hopeful than anything, though she tries to keep herself prepared for the strong possiblity that this is some other young grey fox.
Conner pantpantpants as he scampers thru the flowers, on a collision course with the wolfess which she halts by calling his name. The fox screeching to a halt and blinking. He looks around behind him briefly but all he sees is a slap-happy spider trundling away in a daze. Gingerly the fox raises up on his hindpaws to peek over the flowers and finds himself only a few feet away from her! His fur fluffs up in surprise as he flits his ears tall "Skel?" he asks, blinking his eyes at her once then breaks into a broad grin and bounds towards her in recognition! "Hi!!" he yaps again excitedly, racing to her and nosing up at her muzzle with a happy lick or two "Ohmygosh! I havn't seen you in forever! Are you okay? You look okay! Wow didjoo get bigger?" came a slew of questions as he sizes her up and presses a paw to one of hers comparatively.
It's him. He's well. Better than well. And this revelation has Skelaghe so happy, she's speechless. Even meeting up with Teketa when she saw him after she hadn't seen him for months didn't have this effect on her, but then... She didn't have to deal with the uncertainty of finding a dead wolf like she did with finding a dead fox. She lowers her head to nuzzle at the young fox, smiling slightly at the licks. She still has trouble finding her voice as she raises her head again. She can't answer the rapid slew of questions, so all she does is say, "I'm so glad to see you all right, Conner."
Conner huffs and puffs up a bit. "Oh sure I'm alright, I'm quite indestructible you know.." he nods certainly and struts a circle around her, a bounce in his step before plopping down infront of her again with a big smile. "You weren't worried were you? Thats sweet if you were though.." he chirrs and gently nuzzles under her chin once before chuffin "Ooo, so whatcha been up to hmm? Any good stories?" he dipped his muzzle, eagerly peering up at the wolfess. Clearly quite happy to see his pretty lupine friend apparently in good health. His tail dancing back and forth behind him, he's apparently lost none of his boundless energy.
Worried doesn't even begin to describe what she was. Skelaghe continues to watch the young fox, and her smile slowly returns. The final question is what finally allows her to regain he voice, and she responds with humour in her tone. "I always have good stories, pup." And now she has one more good story to add to the list.
Conner grins and prances his forepaws eagerly a moment. "Well I'm glad to see you're OK" he smiles, and he truly was, nudging her muzzle with his own once more before glancing around. "There is a little creek on the edge of the field here, les' go get a drink of water!" he suggests, prancing around her again and swatting playfully with his tail, his tongue lolling a little before he starts towards the trickling brook, chuffing for her to follow. "You can tell me all the news!" he chimes.
Skelaghe chuckles again and turns to follow Conner to the creek. Yes, this is definitely the young fox she once knew and has not seen in a very long time, there is no doubt about that. "Of course. How much do you know about cougars, Conner?" He wanted to know if she had any good stories. She'll tell him the last happy story she had, right before she returned to the grasslands and found that dead fox. That way she can fill him in about what she has been un to and entertain him all at the same time.
Conner humms thoughtfully as he trots along. "cougars huh? Well I know they are very pointy...not like porcupines but very pointy in all the right places..ooo and very quite and very fast...big cats!" he hops to better emphasize the word "big". "I try t'steer clear of em, they always look at you like they are trying to decide which part will taste best.." he shivers and shakes his head "Even the nice ones...and I use the term nice loosely.." he nods and smirks a bit. The pair wandering down a short slope to a trickling brook on the edge of the flower field. The fox crouching a bit to lap up a cool drink. "Why do ya ask?" he wonders, glancing to the wolfess.
Skelaghe laughs again at Conner's description of cougars. She knows a few who might be a little upset at hearing themselves described like that, but from the fox's point of view, it's nothing but truthful. "Well, that's why I haven't been around for a while. I went to visit the cougars who live up in the mountain." Granted, that was in the spring, and it is now fall, but everything that happened after that, her long absences, were all a result of that one trip to visit Amaranth.
Conner gapes at her a moment, his eyes wide "wow, you went to visit them? At their home?" he takes another look over the wolfess from ear tips to tail...she seemed to be in one piece which was a miracle in itself. He huffs "Well..whatever for? I mean...I guess some of em are sorta nice but...at least you've still got your paws and tail and everything!" he whines softly and lightly swats her with his own tail before lapping a couple times at the water.
Skelaghe can't help but laugh again. She was never at risk, not really, and the assumption that she might have been in danger, might have put herself in danger... It doesn't upset her. It just amuses her. She answers the question, though, explaining why she went there. "Two of them helped my pack brother once. We were all very sick, and he was the only one well enough to help us get better, but he didn't know how. They helped him find the way, and they saved much of my family. They are my friends." That sums it up as well as any explanation she could give.
Conner huffs softly and nods "Well...glad you got better then....still I like to pick friends with less sharp parts.." he nods wisely and flashes a little smile at her before lapping up another drink then takes a moment to make a big deal about stretching out with a wiiiiiide yawn. Incidentally for all his anti-feline rhetoric foxes tended to have plenty of feline tendencies of their own, stretching and yawning and making a grand display of laziness.
"Ah, but friends with sharp parts are the best friends to have. How else would they protect you, without their teeth and claws, and surely you would not prefer to have enemies with sharp parts, right?" She waits for him to see the logic in this, if he does. She is not so thirsty as he apparently is, so she finally just sits beside the water.
Conner blinks and thinks this concept over for a moment then huffs and nods "I guess you have a point but...hmm..yeah thats a good point. Still I'm notta fraid of any ole cat or wolf!" he yips challengingly, racing off a few feet then turning and racing towards her with a mighty pounce! At least mighty as he was concerned, he'd be lucky to knock her over. Barking playfully as he makes his leap to barrel into her side! "Have at thee, wolf!" he yaps, of course feeling himself in no danger as he knew she'd never hurt him and he was unlikely to so much as faze her.
So much for that. All the same, perhaps it is good that Conner is more interested in play time than story time. Skelaghe laughs as Conner begins racing towards her, and she allows herself to be knocked over when he leaps, though she doesn't merely let him stay atop her. Rather, she attempts to roll with him, ideally right into the creek, though she'll accept just rolling.
Conner blinks in surprise, generally this manuver results in him bouncing harmlessly off his target, he wasn't expecting her to roll! Taking the full expected effect of her countermove he tumbles head over tail with her, his surprised yap cut off as he's submerged in the cold creek-water. "Yipyi-glubglub!" he says along with a splash as the pair tumble in the shallows. He sputters and pops up a second later, looking spikey and droopy all over at the same time and thoroughly confused for a second. "Well..that was humbling." he comments, looking himself over, up to his shoulders in the water.
Skelaghe closes her mouth as she rolls into the water, but when she is certain her head is clear, she laughs again. She is truly soaked, but it does not feel unpleasant in the still-warm weather. Remaining in the water, she grins at Conner and says, "You're quite strong, but you have to be careful with us wolves. We're tricky."
Conner huffs and raises a paw to splash some water at her by slapping the surface. "Hardly, you're just lucky thats all, pure luck!" he proclaims and snickers a bit and half-walks half-paddles a circle around her, bumping his muzzle at hers in passing. His silvery eyes sparkling up at the wolfess, he was quite happy to see a friend again apparently as he just couldn't stop beaming at her. "I missed you!" he finally admits.
Skelaghe pulls her head back to avoid the splash and laughs again as Conner proclaims that she is pure luck. That's not altogether inaccurate. She is just glad that her luck, her faith, and her guidance are all returning. She spent to long feeling as though she had been abandoned by the spirits she worships. "I missed you too, Conner. I /was/ worried for you." She admits something, herself. Why not let him think she's cute?
Conner dips his muzzle rather bashfully and flicks his clawtips at the water a bit as his ears splay and little droplets of water fall from the tips. "Hee, well Immokay..I dunno why you were so worried though, this part of the forest has always been really safe..." he peers at her curiously a moment "...right?" he asks for confirmation of this idea. His silliness pausing for a moment despite that they were still comically sitting in the creek bed as the water lazily washes around them. His tail waving a little underwater with the current.
Skelaghe looks over Conner. He is every bit as carefree as the last time she saw him, and she doesn't want to take that away from him, like it was recently taken away from her for a time. So, after a moment of hesitation, she says, "It is safe now, pup. That is what matters." There is no reason to tell him about the other young fox who was unnaturally wounded, killed, or what killed him, if he has seen no humans. They have gone, and there is no more reason to worry. Not right now.
Conner he peers at her a moment, clearly not entirely convinced but he trusts her either way and quickly that smile returns to his muzzle. "Well don'tchoo worry, if things start getting dangerous you know who to come look for.." he puffed his chest out again slightly and put on an important look as he glances at the shore on either side of them like some soggy vulpine sentry. "Just so happens I'm an excellent guard-fox." he nods and quickly splashes her once more before paddling to the shore! Flashing a dashing smile at the wolfess in passing.
Skelaghe laughs again and makes her own way to shore, walking there instead of having to swim. It is slow going, so she won't make shore before him, but once she is there, she shakes much of the excess water from her fur. Yes, next time there is danger, he will be once of the first animals she looks for, but it will be with a mind to protect him, at least until adulthood. Not the other way around.
Conner times his shake-off to happen right after she finishes hers just to be obnoxious. He flashes another grin at her and side-steps a few feet away to shake off again, the pair of them looking spikey and damp but he was having fun all the same. "So now what?" he asks eagerly of the wolfess, bouncing on his forepaws once or twice as his wet tail swishes about behind him. "should we find someplace to dry off? Maybe on that big warm rock in the field?"
Skelaghe laughs at the droplets of water that hit her, then smiles at the young fox's suggestion. Basking in the sun sounds like a perfect way to wind down to the female wolf, and she nods. "Just lead the way." The animals around where she has been staying for the past while can do without her for a night, and if she sees Teketa soon, she can give him the best news she has had in months. Not only has she found Eclipse, but Conner as well. Hopefully it will make him happy.
Conner he puffs up and prances away from the creek, blazing them a trail or rather just following one left by the bunnies. He trots along merrily, swishing his tail about and looking as if he frankly owns the place. He certainly was completely oblivious to anything that happened regarding humans in this area. Though he still hasn't revealed just what he was doing during that time but he seems to be in good spirits and fine health, especially for a lonefox. He casts glances back at Skel to make sure she's following. By the time the pair reach that large flat rock his fur had dried a bit. He scrambles up onto the broad surface, still warm from sitting all day under the sun.
Skelaghe follows after Conner and climbs the rock shortly after he does. Once up there, she lies down and closes her eyes immediately. With the warm rock on her belly and the sun on her back, she couldn't feel much better, and she really wouldn't mind a nap, but after a moment she opens a single eye to look at him.
Conner is laying nose to nose with her filling her vision entirely, blinking at her as she opens that eye to peer at him. He was hunkered down mimicing her position as best he could and clearly unable to fall asleep himself, a grin spreads on his muzzle when she peers at him with that one eye. He reaches out and gingerly taps her nose with his paw. "Beep!" he says.
Skelaghe laughs again. "You know, I think you will be the death of me, Conner." He could easily run her ragged, and she'd be right there every step of the way, just having fun. To keep that from happening, though, she reaches out with a paw and attempts to pull Conner back with it by trying to drape it over his back and pull it back in. "Come here, you."
Conner beams at what he only takes as a compliment, tail popping into view with a happy flail before that large lupine paw wraps around him, he gives a surprised yip and squirms a little as he's snugged up close, limbs kicking briefly as he gnaws harmlessly on that paw then finally relents with a fond grin at her. "This isn't so bad I guess.." he admits, tucking his forepaws close to his chest snugged up against her, tail flitting and flopping on the stone behind him.
Skelaghe grins and lowers her nose to brush against his head. After that, she removes her paw from him, though she stays close. "If you want, you can take a nap while I keep an eye out for you." She says this specifically because she thinks he'll object to the idea... And because if it gets him to turn the offer back around, it will be well worth it.
Conner sputter-scoff-huff! "Thats very kind of you however..you forget that foxes are master tacticians, supreme warriors, invincible guardians and impervious to any sort of feline shinanigans or otherwise..." he nods and puffs a bit after rising up and stretching out. "I, infact, shall keep any harm from befalling you while you slumber" he says in his most chivalrous tone and even leans down and places a sweet lil lick on the end of her nose for good measure. "Don'tchoo worry, I've gotcha covered!" he beams and sits beside her in a regal posture, ears splayed and eyes squinted in concentration as he surveys the area. "Besides, foxes don't need t'sleep.." this was an outright lie if she ever heard one, as she's probably caught him herself multiple times snoring away in the midday sun.
Skelaghe laughs again, but she nods. "Very well, young fox. I shall expect to see you awake and watching for danger when I wake up." Not really, but she'll humour him. And, with a deep breath, she closes her eyes again.
Conner would deny the nearly 100% chance he's going to be fast asleep curled up against her by the time she wakes up!
Conner - Male Adolescent Fox
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
- Field of Flowers -
Conner has found himself among a broad field of flowers he recognizes quickly. It looks quite different than it did in the springtime though. The dry late-summer flowers in bloom and many seeds catching the light as they float away in the sweet smelling summer breeze, each with a little white parachute to help it along. The young fox feels a grin spread on his muzzle as he spots a patch of late-bloom dandilions and bounds towards them, leaping into the white patch to scatter the little whispy seeds into the wind with a laugh!
Skelaghe has been staying in this field for nearly a month now. It has been a peaceful, rejuvenating month. Peaceful enough that she is just lying down when the sound of laughing reaches her. Her ears perk and she lifts her head almost immediately. Peaceful, yes, but she has not heard laughing since... When was the last time she heard someone laugh? The fact that she can't remember that gives her even more incentive to check it out, and she pulls herself to her feet with no reluctance.
Conner can be seen not far off, oblivious of any lupines making their home in the pretty field, he seems to be terribly lost in his own amusement. Leaping in gentle arcs from one patch of flowers to the next. Most of the time all she could make out was a flailing, bottlebrush fox tail swinging about merrily above the flowers. His next leap was followed by a surprised yelp "gah! Gedditoff!" he yips, hopping around and scampering away from the spiderweb he ran into, incendentally his path taking him straight towards the wolfess he couldn't see.
Skelaghe chuckles herself as she watches the antics of the youthful fox. Even when the fox runs into a spiderweb, Skelaghe laughs, enjoying the sight of a child playing. It is something she did not get to see when she last went to the mountains, and she enjoys it now. She takes a step closer to him, then stops even as Conner moves closer to her. She has seen many young foxes in these parts, and she cannot know them all, but... Not so many with fur coloured like that. She's reluctant to ask, reluctant the answer might not be what she's hoping for, but finally she says, "Conner?" Her tone is no longer amused. It is more hopeful than anything, though she tries to keep herself prepared for the strong possiblity that this is some other young grey fox.
Conner pantpantpants as he scampers thru the flowers, on a collision course with the wolfess which she halts by calling his name. The fox screeching to a halt and blinking. He looks around behind him briefly but all he sees is a slap-happy spider trundling away in a daze. Gingerly the fox raises up on his hindpaws to peek over the flowers and finds himself only a few feet away from her! His fur fluffs up in surprise as he flits his ears tall "Skel?" he asks, blinking his eyes at her once then breaks into a broad grin and bounds towards her in recognition! "Hi!!" he yaps again excitedly, racing to her and nosing up at her muzzle with a happy lick or two "Ohmygosh! I havn't seen you in forever! Are you okay? You look okay! Wow didjoo get bigger?" came a slew of questions as he sizes her up and presses a paw to one of hers comparatively.
It's him. He's well. Better than well. And this revelation has Skelaghe so happy, she's speechless. Even meeting up with Teketa when she saw him after she hadn't seen him for months didn't have this effect on her, but then... She didn't have to deal with the uncertainty of finding a dead wolf like she did with finding a dead fox. She lowers her head to nuzzle at the young fox, smiling slightly at the licks. She still has trouble finding her voice as she raises her head again. She can't answer the rapid slew of questions, so all she does is say, "I'm so glad to see you all right, Conner."
Conner huffs and puffs up a bit. "Oh sure I'm alright, I'm quite indestructible you know.." he nods certainly and struts a circle around her, a bounce in his step before plopping down infront of her again with a big smile. "You weren't worried were you? Thats sweet if you were though.." he chirrs and gently nuzzles under her chin once before chuffin "Ooo, so whatcha been up to hmm? Any good stories?" he dipped his muzzle, eagerly peering up at the wolfess. Clearly quite happy to see his pretty lupine friend apparently in good health. His tail dancing back and forth behind him, he's apparently lost none of his boundless energy.
Worried doesn't even begin to describe what she was. Skelaghe continues to watch the young fox, and her smile slowly returns. The final question is what finally allows her to regain he voice, and she responds with humour in her tone. "I always have good stories, pup." And now she has one more good story to add to the list.
Conner grins and prances his forepaws eagerly a moment. "Well I'm glad to see you're OK" he smiles, and he truly was, nudging her muzzle with his own once more before glancing around. "There is a little creek on the edge of the field here, les' go get a drink of water!" he suggests, prancing around her again and swatting playfully with his tail, his tongue lolling a little before he starts towards the trickling brook, chuffing for her to follow. "You can tell me all the news!" he chimes.
Skelaghe chuckles again and turns to follow Conner to the creek. Yes, this is definitely the young fox she once knew and has not seen in a very long time, there is no doubt about that. "Of course. How much do you know about cougars, Conner?" He wanted to know if she had any good stories. She'll tell him the last happy story she had, right before she returned to the grasslands and found that dead fox. That way she can fill him in about what she has been un to and entertain him all at the same time.
Conner humms thoughtfully as he trots along. "cougars huh? Well I know they are very pointy...not like porcupines but very pointy in all the right places..ooo and very quite and very fast...big cats!" he hops to better emphasize the word "big". "I try t'steer clear of em, they always look at you like they are trying to decide which part will taste best.." he shivers and shakes his head "Even the nice ones...and I use the term nice loosely.." he nods and smirks a bit. The pair wandering down a short slope to a trickling brook on the edge of the flower field. The fox crouching a bit to lap up a cool drink. "Why do ya ask?" he wonders, glancing to the wolfess.
Skelaghe laughs again at Conner's description of cougars. She knows a few who might be a little upset at hearing themselves described like that, but from the fox's point of view, it's nothing but truthful. "Well, that's why I haven't been around for a while. I went to visit the cougars who live up in the mountain." Granted, that was in the spring, and it is now fall, but everything that happened after that, her long absences, were all a result of that one trip to visit Amaranth.
Conner gapes at her a moment, his eyes wide "wow, you went to visit them? At their home?" he takes another look over the wolfess from ear tips to tail...she seemed to be in one piece which was a miracle in itself. He huffs "Well..whatever for? I mean...I guess some of em are sorta nice but...at least you've still got your paws and tail and everything!" he whines softly and lightly swats her with his own tail before lapping a couple times at the water.
Skelaghe can't help but laugh again. She was never at risk, not really, and the assumption that she might have been in danger, might have put herself in danger... It doesn't upset her. It just amuses her. She answers the question, though, explaining why she went there. "Two of them helped my pack brother once. We were all very sick, and he was the only one well enough to help us get better, but he didn't know how. They helped him find the way, and they saved much of my family. They are my friends." That sums it up as well as any explanation she could give.
Conner huffs softly and nods "Well...glad you got better then....still I like to pick friends with less sharp parts.." he nods wisely and flashes a little smile at her before lapping up another drink then takes a moment to make a big deal about stretching out with a wiiiiiide yawn. Incidentally for all his anti-feline rhetoric foxes tended to have plenty of feline tendencies of their own, stretching and yawning and making a grand display of laziness.
"Ah, but friends with sharp parts are the best friends to have. How else would they protect you, without their teeth and claws, and surely you would not prefer to have enemies with sharp parts, right?" She waits for him to see the logic in this, if he does. She is not so thirsty as he apparently is, so she finally just sits beside the water.
Conner blinks and thinks this concept over for a moment then huffs and nods "I guess you have a point but...hmm..yeah thats a good point. Still I'm notta fraid of any ole cat or wolf!" he yips challengingly, racing off a few feet then turning and racing towards her with a mighty pounce! At least mighty as he was concerned, he'd be lucky to knock her over. Barking playfully as he makes his leap to barrel into her side! "Have at thee, wolf!" he yaps, of course feeling himself in no danger as he knew she'd never hurt him and he was unlikely to so much as faze her.
So much for that. All the same, perhaps it is good that Conner is more interested in play time than story time. Skelaghe laughs as Conner begins racing towards her, and she allows herself to be knocked over when he leaps, though she doesn't merely let him stay atop her. Rather, she attempts to roll with him, ideally right into the creek, though she'll accept just rolling.
Conner blinks in surprise, generally this manuver results in him bouncing harmlessly off his target, he wasn't expecting her to roll! Taking the full expected effect of her countermove he tumbles head over tail with her, his surprised yap cut off as he's submerged in the cold creek-water. "Yipyi-glubglub!" he says along with a splash as the pair tumble in the shallows. He sputters and pops up a second later, looking spikey and droopy all over at the same time and thoroughly confused for a second. "Well..that was humbling." he comments, looking himself over, up to his shoulders in the water.
Skelaghe closes her mouth as she rolls into the water, but when she is certain her head is clear, she laughs again. She is truly soaked, but it does not feel unpleasant in the still-warm weather. Remaining in the water, she grins at Conner and says, "You're quite strong, but you have to be careful with us wolves. We're tricky."
Conner huffs and raises a paw to splash some water at her by slapping the surface. "Hardly, you're just lucky thats all, pure luck!" he proclaims and snickers a bit and half-walks half-paddles a circle around her, bumping his muzzle at hers in passing. His silvery eyes sparkling up at the wolfess, he was quite happy to see a friend again apparently as he just couldn't stop beaming at her. "I missed you!" he finally admits.
Skelaghe pulls her head back to avoid the splash and laughs again as Conner proclaims that she is pure luck. That's not altogether inaccurate. She is just glad that her luck, her faith, and her guidance are all returning. She spent to long feeling as though she had been abandoned by the spirits she worships. "I missed you too, Conner. I /was/ worried for you." She admits something, herself. Why not let him think she's cute?
Conner dips his muzzle rather bashfully and flicks his clawtips at the water a bit as his ears splay and little droplets of water fall from the tips. "Hee, well Immokay..I dunno why you were so worried though, this part of the forest has always been really safe..." he peers at her curiously a moment "...right?" he asks for confirmation of this idea. His silliness pausing for a moment despite that they were still comically sitting in the creek bed as the water lazily washes around them. His tail waving a little underwater with the current.
Skelaghe looks over Conner. He is every bit as carefree as the last time she saw him, and she doesn't want to take that away from him, like it was recently taken away from her for a time. So, after a moment of hesitation, she says, "It is safe now, pup. That is what matters." There is no reason to tell him about the other young fox who was unnaturally wounded, killed, or what killed him, if he has seen no humans. They have gone, and there is no more reason to worry. Not right now.
Conner he peers at her a moment, clearly not entirely convinced but he trusts her either way and quickly that smile returns to his muzzle. "Well don'tchoo worry, if things start getting dangerous you know who to come look for.." he puffed his chest out again slightly and put on an important look as he glances at the shore on either side of them like some soggy vulpine sentry. "Just so happens I'm an excellent guard-fox." he nods and quickly splashes her once more before paddling to the shore! Flashing a dashing smile at the wolfess in passing.
Skelaghe laughs again and makes her own way to shore, walking there instead of having to swim. It is slow going, so she won't make shore before him, but once she is there, she shakes much of the excess water from her fur. Yes, next time there is danger, he will be once of the first animals she looks for, but it will be with a mind to protect him, at least until adulthood. Not the other way around.
Conner times his shake-off to happen right after she finishes hers just to be obnoxious. He flashes another grin at her and side-steps a few feet away to shake off again, the pair of them looking spikey and damp but he was having fun all the same. "So now what?" he asks eagerly of the wolfess, bouncing on his forepaws once or twice as his wet tail swishes about behind him. "should we find someplace to dry off? Maybe on that big warm rock in the field?"
Skelaghe laughs at the droplets of water that hit her, then smiles at the young fox's suggestion. Basking in the sun sounds like a perfect way to wind down to the female wolf, and she nods. "Just lead the way." The animals around where she has been staying for the past while can do without her for a night, and if she sees Teketa soon, she can give him the best news she has had in months. Not only has she found Eclipse, but Conner as well. Hopefully it will make him happy.
Conner he puffs up and prances away from the creek, blazing them a trail or rather just following one left by the bunnies. He trots along merrily, swishing his tail about and looking as if he frankly owns the place. He certainly was completely oblivious to anything that happened regarding humans in this area. Though he still hasn't revealed just what he was doing during that time but he seems to be in good spirits and fine health, especially for a lonefox. He casts glances back at Skel to make sure she's following. By the time the pair reach that large flat rock his fur had dried a bit. He scrambles up onto the broad surface, still warm from sitting all day under the sun.
Skelaghe follows after Conner and climbs the rock shortly after he does. Once up there, she lies down and closes her eyes immediately. With the warm rock on her belly and the sun on her back, she couldn't feel much better, and she really wouldn't mind a nap, but after a moment she opens a single eye to look at him.
Conner is laying nose to nose with her filling her vision entirely, blinking at her as she opens that eye to peer at him. He was hunkered down mimicing her position as best he could and clearly unable to fall asleep himself, a grin spreads on his muzzle when she peers at him with that one eye. He reaches out and gingerly taps her nose with his paw. "Beep!" he says.
Skelaghe laughs again. "You know, I think you will be the death of me, Conner." He could easily run her ragged, and she'd be right there every step of the way, just having fun. To keep that from happening, though, she reaches out with a paw and attempts to pull Conner back with it by trying to drape it over his back and pull it back in. "Come here, you."
Conner beams at what he only takes as a compliment, tail popping into view with a happy flail before that large lupine paw wraps around him, he gives a surprised yip and squirms a little as he's snugged up close, limbs kicking briefly as he gnaws harmlessly on that paw then finally relents with a fond grin at her. "This isn't so bad I guess.." he admits, tucking his forepaws close to his chest snugged up against her, tail flitting and flopping on the stone behind him.
Skelaghe grins and lowers her nose to brush against his head. After that, she removes her paw from him, though she stays close. "If you want, you can take a nap while I keep an eye out for you." She says this specifically because she thinks he'll object to the idea... And because if it gets him to turn the offer back around, it will be well worth it.
Conner sputter-scoff-huff! "Thats very kind of you however..you forget that foxes are master tacticians, supreme warriors, invincible guardians and impervious to any sort of feline shinanigans or otherwise..." he nods and puffs a bit after rising up and stretching out. "I, infact, shall keep any harm from befalling you while you slumber" he says in his most chivalrous tone and even leans down and places a sweet lil lick on the end of her nose for good measure. "Don'tchoo worry, I've gotcha covered!" he beams and sits beside her in a regal posture, ears splayed and eyes squinted in concentration as he surveys the area. "Besides, foxes don't need t'sleep.." this was an outright lie if she ever heard one, as she's probably caught him herself multiple times snoring away in the midday sun.
Skelaghe laughs again, but she nods. "Very well, young fox. I shall expect to see you awake and watching for danger when I wake up." Not really, but she'll humour him. And, with a deep breath, she closes her eyes again.
Conner would deny the nearly 100% chance he's going to be fast asleep curled up against her by the time she wakes up!