Sage trotted along merrily, bright eyes looking for her tiny friend. She had a bounce in her step and her tail wagged steadily behind her. She looked high and low, in and out of the shrubbery, sniffing about for the pup. The yearling tried to keep quiet and not call out for him, not wanting another to compete for what she'd brought him.

Crammed into her cheeks so that her mouth shut with difficulty were mussels. The shells threatened to cut her up, but she didn't mind. This was worth it. She wanted to see his face when he tried the peculiar texture. The earthy, creek and mushroom-flavored chewy thing inside. It was all in good-natured fun. She didn't think he'd be upset if he didn't like it. She was bringing him pretty shells and showing him how to open them, after all. Sage hoped he'd get all enthusiastic like he had during their fishing trip.

"She speaks" She walks She thinks

Sage shuffled through the vegetation, looking for her tiny friend. His giggle brought a playful smirk to her lips. He was hiding from her! She stifled a laugh, quietly creeping up toward where the sound had come from. She peered through the leaves at him and then quickly looked away. Fighting her own giggle she walked on by acting clueless to where he was and kept searching through the bushes.

After a few moments, she circled back and stood beside the hidden pup. She put on a dumbfounded look and sighed, dropping the mussels from her mouth, "Well, I guess I just can't find him." She moped, plopping down. She peered out the corner of her eye while shuffling through the shells. Grabbing one between her jaws she cracked it open and plucked the mussel out of it.

"She speaks" She walks She thinks

The woman smiled as he collided with her shoulder, "There you are!" Green eyes watched as the inquisitive boy sniffed about her catch. Jaws parted to answer him but shut when he spoke again. Instead of replying she softly laughed and nosed over an open shell to him. "They do resemble rocks, but these are mussels. You break open the shell for a chewy snack inside." She picked up an unopened treasure and gently cracked it between her teeth. Just enough that it wasn't truly opened but would have a start. She placed it down by him then instructed, "Watch me first, then if you'd like, try!" Her voice was cheery and boisterous. She was excited to be sharing this time with her friend. Curious about his young tastebuds and how he'd respond to the strange flavor.

Sage picked up another one, cracked it open so he could see, then laid it on the ground. Using her incisors she plucked the mussel out and ate it.

"She speaks" She walks She thinks

Sage immediately regretted not opening the mussel for Jacy. An apologetic expression crossed her face with worried eyes. She got up to gently nudge his face, landing a lick across his muzzle if he allowed. She hadn't considered a puppy's jaws not being strong enough. She didn't realize he could potentially hurt himself. "I'm sorry it hurt, are you okay?" The yearling turned back to the mussel, inspecting the crack with mild frustration. Why hadn't this worked out for Jacy?

The girl felt more guilt as the boy complained about not being able to open the rock. She wasn't going to correct him, her mind grasping for an idea. She looked around them for a high vantage point, perhaps if he couldn't break them open with his jaws he could drop it from somewhere? She spotted a tree with a low thick branch that'd allow her to climb up onto it and set in motion with another mussel grasped between her teeth.

Sage pulled herself up, making sure to gauge how far of a drop it'd be if her friend lost his balance. It didn't seem too dangerous. From there she chucked the mussel down as hard as she could, "Did it work?" She wanted so badly to find a way he could open it. "If not, maybe we could drop a heavy rock on it? Then you can break it too!" She enthused about the idea to try and keep his spirits up.

"She speaks" She walks She thinks

Sage quietly watched and waited from above, holding her breath in anticipation as her small friend inspected the mussel.  The boy let out a shrill note of excitement.  A gentle gust could be heard as she exhaled. Relief was expressed in her eyes and smile. Her tail gave a few stiff wags as she carefully climbed down, balancing on the branches.

The yearling turned around in time to see the end of his ravenous attack. A smirk spread across her lips while a chuckle rumbled out from her chest. She approached him, coming up along the boy's side and trying not to be too much of a distraction. She peered over his shoulder to watch. The mussel fell open to reveal the chewy treasure inside. Jacy beamed up at her and the girl's heart melted as she peered down at him. Her head nodded enthusiastically, "Perfect!" She kissed him on his crown before settling down beside him and gesturing to the rock as he so-called it. "Go on, give it a try, you've more than earned it." She spoke warmly to the pup, her smile a reflection of his.

"She speaks" She walks She thinks