The child's excitement was contagious, the way he couldn't contain himself reflected back in her feverishly wagging tail in a circular motion. If it were possible, it might've taken flight, right off her rump! Her eyes shinned brightly as he danced about just waiting for her to give him his prize. After she'd chucked it safely away from the water's edge she stared back at the pup, confused as to why he hesitated. Was she doing this wrong? This was as much as uncharted territory for the young wolf as it was for the boy at her paws.

In a flash he was off, pouncing and yelling at the fish. She whined at him, teeth chattering, watching joyfully as he made his attempts. The yearling offered a couple of encouraging yips here and there not wanting to intervene and help him. She didn't want to spoil his moment. It was hard to watch him struggle though, she'd stepped forward a couple of times contemplating injuring the trout. Sage's eyes went wide as he shook the fish and she leaned back up on her hind paws then slammed down into the water, "Whoohooo! Jacy got a fish! He got a fish!" She practically howled out the words, running up beside the pup and circling him. She continued to chant the words over and over with a shit-eating grin on her face.

After a few more victory laps around him, she paused to ask, "Do you want another?"

"She speaks" She walks She thinks

Sage hadn't had this much fun in forever! She never connected with her siblings back home like this, they'd never wanted her around long. For the moment it was like having a little brother you never knew you needed. The yearling was having a blast goofing off and running around sporadically with him. She laughed deeply as he spun about gleefully.

The pale wolf giggled as his tongue dangled freely from his mouth and his head bobbed up and down vigorously. "You got it!" She hadn't expected him to run out towards the water. For a moment she considered letting him, but was quickly in motion to place a leg in front, "Next time after you've practiced some more." She spoke with a sweet voice and a clear promise. They'd do this again. She didn't mind taking the time out of her day for this. It was fun, and she was finally connecting with someone in the pack. She hadn't expected to befriend someone so young. A pup. Sage welcomed the company. She'd been lonely ever since she left her home, maybe even before that. She beamed down at him, her smile stretching across her face.

"You're my favorite." Her heart swelled, a single tear brimming her eyelid. She'd never felt so valued in her life than in what would become a treasured memory of helping Jacy with his first kill. Something that despite their celebration, she didn't fully comprehend just how momentous it was in the current moment. She gave an affectionate lick to his crown, "And you're mine" before trotting back out to her spot. This time she was waiting for something a bit bigger, one he could take home to show off. A trout he might trip over carrying...

Sage's eyes skimmed over the water as she patiently waited. The same silence from before filled the air as she allowed fish to swim on by until her target came about. Her muscles tightened, her body posing to strike. The trout darted near her leg, a near-fatal mistake, as the wolf plunged forward. The chilly water stung her face as she dove in, snapping her jaws and missing. Unwilling to give up Sage propelled herself forward and snatched it by the tip of its body. She pulled it above the water and the fish tore free from her grasp with a loud splash. She huffed out her frustrations and went back to try for another fish.

As time went on, the sun began to lower, and a small pile of trout rested next to where Jacy awaited her on the bank. She turned towards him, the sun glimmering on the scales of a fish she held. She left the water and shook her pelt, droplets scattering. She spoke, her voice muffled, "Let's head back before you get too tired. Don't want to miss your chance to show everyone!"

"She speaks" She walks She thinks