Run. Run Run Run Run. The words echoed in her head and she used her large puppy paws to push her body forward. Brightfoot had always been a runner, she felt as if it made her feets look as if she was a living rainbow. She would sometimes look down at her paws, and soon after she would drop to the floor after tripping over her own paws. Her little butt wiggled, and she felt the air fill her lungs. She wasn't the brightest in personalities though, as the femme tripped over a rock a few feet away. Flipping head over paws, she yelped and rolled in a somersault before landing on her butt. She pouted, and then grunted. What had just happened there? She looked backwards, and stood up angrily. Storming over to the stone she growled at it.
"You stupid thing!" She said with venom as if the rock had just killed her mother. But one more stern look seemed to satisfy her and she turned to trot to the riverside. She heard the rushing water and it was freeing. Stepping into the water she began prancing and splashing, giggling the entire time.
She'd only just managed to skip away from the nanny, and for now.. she would just explore a bit before turning to head home. Hopefully momma wouldn't be too angry.
She knew this place. She'd talked to a few members of this pack before and wandered on her way. Izipho always needed time to ponder things. Joining a pack meant the adult's life would change. Her mothers, all three of them, her real mother, and her two adoptive, would all be a memory. She would have to learn to function with a pack mind. It wasn't that hard to do. This pack seemed simple enough to figure out; everyone here seemed to have a job, a task to do every day, and it made her just want to claim it as home.
A name was whispered by some of the others she'd talked to in her previous journey here. They whispered her name of Winterwind. It fit her. Izipho could come off as very cold and calculating, but she could shift and change her mind as easily as the wind changes directions. Oh, the wonders of being a woman.
Giggling and splashing caught her attention and the canine lifted her head and listened carefully. It was a pup, it sounded like. So, that's where her paws were taking her; to figure out just where that laughter was coming from and from whom.
She wasnt really trying to get anothers attention, much less an adult that could easily tell on her for being out here. Brightpaw had a temper though, and she wouldnt let anyone just walk up and start yelling at her.. No she wouldn't.
So when the other began walking closer, the pup paused. She saw her out of the corner of her eye, and she whipped her head around and was on instant alert. Who was this other wild dog? She wasnt sure she had ever seen her before. Of course Brightpaw hadnt seen many others since she was only recently allowed a little freedom. Of course if momma found her right now, those rights would be revoked so quickly.
She lowered her body into the water, her chin floating on the water as she hunched over to keep herself hidden. She reminded herself of a fawn hiding within the tall grasses. So she just watched, and made sure this other adult wouldnt be all bossy like others could be.
The pup, she confirmed it was, lowered herself in the water, as if she was being submissive. So, to put her at ease, Izi lowered herself and slowly made her way over, ears staying alert as she crawled on her stomach. "Why are you down like this?" She wouldn't boss a pup around, not one she didn't knew. But she would inquire the whereabouts of her parents. Now that Izipho was close enough, she confirmed it was, indeed, a little girl pup. "I'm not going to hurt you, pup. Don't worry. C'mon. Let's stand up."
To pups, she wouldn't be cold. She wanted to be a mother some day, and be better than any of the ones who raised her. She'd always be near her pups and take care of them, teach them to hunt and find good spots for dens. All the things a mother was supposed to do. "My name..." Which one did she give? "My name is Winterwind." If she were to join this pack, she had to get used to that name instead of Izipho.
"Are you OK? Are you hurt?"
When the female scooted closer on her body, Brightpaw couldnt help but giggle. She looked so silly, scooting on her belly like a pup, or a croc. She grinned, and stood, flicking her ear.
She cocked her head, looking the other one over and deciding that she would talk to this one. If things got hairy, she had an escape route. For now, things were okay. So she wagged her little tail.
"Nice to meecha, Winterwind. My names Brightpaw! Brightest little rainbow that ever did exist. Or thats what momma says." She said, sticking out her chest proudly. She smiled ear to ear.
"Im down like that, because you scared me! Cant just announce my presence to just anyone now, Can I?" She giggled.
She shook her head, looking down at her paws and then up at the adult once more. "Naw, It takes more than that to hurt me."
"Brightpaw. That is a fitting name." She looked over the pup and gave a small smile. Then she explained why she had gotten down in the water and Winterwind laughed and nodded. "I suppose that is a good reason to get low. However, if you want to hide from someone, next time, try staying perfectly still. Keep your breathing very, very slow. Then ripples won't show up in the water." Maybe the pup would find that information helpful and interesting.
"I'm glad you're not hurt. Are your parents about? I'd love to meet some grown-up and get to know the pack a bit better. I just came here the other day. Just joined." Her green eyes were focused on the pup before her, seeming extremely curious about her.
Bright pink eyes widened and her brows narrowed. Parents? She knew it! This adult, Winterwind, was going to tell her momma on her. She snorted, and her little nose sneered as she used her paw to splash the water in one fell swipe.
"Oh I knew it. I should have known it! Momma knows everyone. Youre going to go to her arent you? No I wont show you momma. If I show you momma, Im busted." She said, her innocence obvious, however it was also obvious that Brightpaws poor mother had her paws full.
"No ripples. Gotcha." However she was hardly paying attention. ADD on her best day, Brightpaw was notorious for forgetting conversations and things that she had done a few days before. Her brothers made fun of her, and said it was because she had hit her head when she was being born. But she just KNEW momma would never do that.
"But no. If you want to meet parents, go back the way you came. Im. not. going." SHe said, and began splashing in the water some more.
Winterwind could only blink and look confused when she started accusing her of telling her mother something. Her head tilted at that and her brows pinched together. Before she had time to react, the pup was splashing away again and she couldn't help but laugh at hat and nodded.
"OK. I don't know why I'd tell your momma anything. But thank you, Brightpaw, for pointing out the way." She bit down on her lip as the pup played, not sure if she should go or stay with the pup until someone came and got her. It seemed dangerous for a pup to go off alone like this. "You'll... be OK by yourself?" She was really, really hesitant to leave the girls side, but it looked as if she wasn't paying that much attention anyway.
She saw she confused her, but it wasnt intentional. However she was still not convinced that this Winterwind wouldnt go and tell momma where she was, or what she was doing. She hated trouble!
Moms face would get all squinty, and she would get a real deep stern voice. No thanks, not if she could help it. She didnt want to have to see mommas squinched up face. So she looked skeptically at
Winterwind and cocked her head, eyeing her.
"Youre welcome. Though watcha mean you wont tell momma nuthin'? I dont believe you." She said, already resigned to the fact that Winterwind was now lying. To her, it was completely unfathomable that she would trust this Wilddog again. So she shrugged it off and ignored it.
"Right right. Okay well.. Momma's gonna be mad if Im gone too long. Best be sneakin' back to her! And.. yes Im okay alone." She said with a grin, before darting into the opposite direction. Now she only had to hope she was heading the right way!
"I wouldn't tell your mother because I don't know who she is, her name or anything. I'm not a tattletale. What you do is your own business." She watched the pup for a moment longer and then laughed as she skittered away. This just made her want pups even more. They were so cute and innocent about everything; even when they got angry it was cute. Their faces and bodies would just puff up, trying to be intimidating and get their points across.
She took off the way the pup had told her, tail flicking quite happily behind her. Now she was convinced that she had finally found her home.
