Unlike her brother, Ophelia could not remain entertained by the endless droves of bugs and, unlike her sister, could not for the life of her be confined by the rules set before them by Mama and Daddy and Papa. The little princess wanted to see what else was out there just outside of pack territory. What made it off limits? She'd find out for herself!

Fearless, Ophelia plodded deeper into the forest than she had ever dared before, skipping right over the scent markings that detailed the end of Grizzly Hollow lands. Nothing in her short life had given her reason to be wary so she continued on walking even as the forest grew darker with gathering clouds overhead. While she didn't care for rain, it wasn't anything she was afraid of. Now, just where did everyone go when they left them behind in the den? Out here to hunt? How did they hunt? Ophelia only knew they came back with bellies filled with food which was promptly regurgitated for them.

Spotting a nearby stick jutting out of the ground, the pup became momentarily distracted and began to chew on the end of it until it lay in pieces at her paws. A mild hunger prompted the tiny princess to pluck up one of the smaller pieces and swallow it. She stuck out her tongue. "Taste bad," she said to no one.

Hoping to meet a new wolf out here, Ophelia then began barking as loudly and shrilly as ever just as the first drops of rain began to fall.

Her ears pinned back as soon as she heard her sister's voice. Annoyed, Ophelia turned to pin a stare that said just that to @Joan. She lifted her chin, not keen on letting the eldest sibling dictate what she could and couldn't do. Besides, Mama and Papa and Daddy had gone off for a while and she was bored! "What you care?" she asked, sticking out her tongue.

Just as quickly as her tongue had appeared, so did a flashing smile. "You break rules," she pointed out. She never would have expected her straight and narrow sister would be the one to follow her out this far. If anyone, she would have thought it would be @Felix. Not only that, but Joan offered to play first? It was a day of new things!

Pleased with this new side of her sister, Ophelia barked, bowing down in play. She launched at Joan in the hopes of grabbing an ear or tuft of fur to tug on. In their wrestling though, a quiet rustling caught the pup's attention and she rolled to an upright position, the game momentarily forgotten.

"Hear that?" she wondered. Ophelia sat upright as a skinny face slithered into view and peered at them from under some rotted leaves. Without waiting for her sister's approval - or more likely refusal - the pale princess giggled and raced at the creature.

She reared back in shock when the creature lifted itself from under the leaves, its neck flattening just under its head. With such a great view of it now, Ophelia marveled. It was all neck! She yipped and padded around it and found a tail-end. With a growl, she pounced on it, little needle teeth catching hold. To her surprise, the creature flailed wildly, lashing against her small body with its long one until she let go.

As soon as it was free, the harmless snake darted off. On a warrior's cry, Ophelia looked back at Joan. "Get it!" she laughed.

Unlike her sister, Ophelia didn't curl beneath the gaze of her mother as she assumed the growl had been meant for that silly moving stick rather than her. While @Joan hunkered down, the pale princess wagged her tail and yipped in greeting to her mother. She would have raced over to go lick at Mama's muzzle, too, but Joan had interrupted the action with lies! Joan didn't lie.

Without realizing she would be telling on herself, Ophelia whirled on her sister and barked a sharp "Na uh, Liar!" She turned towards @Oula with a stern pout. "Mama, she lie!" She raised herself up importantly, standing as tall as she could, and declared with pride, "I came first!" Whether it was a competition or not, Ophelia was going to win!

Going on without concern for the trouble she may be in, the little princess continued yammering on. "Mama! Found moving stick! It wrapped me up and worm-wiggled away! Let's get stick!" Inviting Mama along only made sense she was already there. No doubt the strongest wolf in the world would be able to catch that moving stick with no problem! "It go that way," Ophelia informed Oula proudly. She'd been watching the yearlings with how they would track prey across the territory. Even if she'd never witnessed a hunt yet, she had a good idea of what happened. But watching Mama get that stick would be the best treat!

Unlike her sister, Ophelia was unfazed by Mama's tone. The pup had never been treated roughly and Oula's tone didn't speak of impending doom to warn the pale princess that there was anything to be concerned about. Mama was not happy. It would pass. It was all simple math to Opie and she would do it all again for the simple reason that she'd wanted to. Mamas were supposed to stifle fun and pups were supposed to have it anyway.

Of course, Joan didn't see it that way. Suck up. While the oldest sibling cowered, Ophelia stood there without a worry.

That is...until the moving stick came within view again.

Ophelia gave a warning bark before shooting off after it again as if her mother had not just scolded her for being out there in the first place. It was safe to her - Mama was here. What could there be to possibly worry about? Nothing she could think of.

"Moving stick, moving stick!" she giggled as she ran after it, needle teeth searching to grab at its tail. The snake, in alarm, whirled upon her to strike harmlessly at her face, leaving the pup to yelp with concern before giggling and resuming her chase after realizing no harm had come to her.