A loud clap of thunder awoke the young boy from his slumber, his eyes opening wide and his head shooting up from his curled position to look outside. Before he had drifted off for a nap, the outside world had been suspiciously dark. He knew, even though he had no true concept of time as of yet, that it was supposed to be bright outside. The sun that he so loved to bask beneath to warm his grey pelt was hidden beneath a giant mass of grey that seemed to run in fluttering fluffs above his head. He’d let out an annoyed huff before turning and making his way back into the den, disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to go out and frolic as much as he liked to do that day. No, instead of braving the too strange conditions he had opted to stay inside the den with his mother and siblings.

A bright flash of light and another loud sound made a wimp of a growl escape from his chest, his now risen ears angling forward as if to threaten whatever was outside making the sounds. He pushed himself to his paws, much of the awkward movements he had had beforehand now gone with his experience and travels. Moving forward he poked his muzzle out, blue eyes searching the darkened area before he was suddenly hit in the muzzle by something. With a yelp he fell back onto his butt, giving his head a shake and crossing his eyes to try and see what had ‘bitten’ him on the muzzle. All he could see was a clear droplet before it rolled down his maw and fell to soak into the ground. Confusion caused him to tilt his head, silver paw reaching out to scrape at the ground where the thing had fallen as if doing so could give him answers. What had just happened?

The water that feel from the sky seemed to cease and he watched in interest as the dark rolling clouds in the sky were lit up from within by light. It flashed, sometimes lighting up their world with cracks of loud noise that caused him to cringe, but the lights fascinated him all the same. He raised a paw to bat at them, as if he could touch the bright lights. He had done the same thing when he’d first seen the sun, and even though he knew that he likely couldn’t touch it that didn’t stop him from trying.

Suddenly movement was heard behind him and he looked back in just enough time to see his mother leap from the den. He was on his paws in a second, partially thinking something was wrong but also because he was curious as to what she was doing. If she was going somewhere, so was he! It seemed that he wouldn’t be going anywhere though, for she stopped just outside where the rain seemed to have picked up again full force. He wondered why she would want to be outside in the wet stuff, but she definitely seemed to be enjoying it. She splashed, the wet stuff that had pooled on the ground making her fur dirty. She turned to him, a smile on her face which he knew was a good thing. Her stance was playful, and an excited wag to his tail. The young Lagina’s face lit up like the lights above them, offering a yip before bounding out after forgetting the downpour above. “Muh, pay!” he spoke choppily, grinning ear to ear.

It seemed that he would be indulged in his wished as his mother’s grin only grew wider at his following. Small yips filled at air as he skidded to a halt in the mud, just in time to get a little splatter from the wet stuff. He blinked, head tilting to the side in curiosity as he watched her leap to the side and bow into a playful pose. A bark filled the air, and he offered a small one back, leaping to his paws and allowing his tail to give a wag that nearly shook his entire tiny frame. The expression she had on her face he knew well, for eve at their young age Ari was known to make the same one to him when she challenged him. He had asked for play, and his mother was giving it to him! Now, how would be get her back?

The young boy looked around them, searching for any way he could repay her but finding none. His expression scrunched up as he thought, taking a step forward before leaping back with a squeal as his paw landed in a deeper puddle of water. He looked down at it and gave it a sniff before hesitantly putting his paw back out and pawing at it. The stuff rippled, and he hit it a little harder. He found that it had the same effect that his mother had given him before! He looked up at her with a mischievous grin, having found out her secret. With a bark he rushed forward, slipping and sliding on the wet ground combined with his already limited motor abilities. He gave a leap, intending to land in a puddle to splash the woman but, much to his dismay, he landed and slid practically in a somersault right into his mother’s muzzle! Mud caked his fur, matting it down as he looked up at her with wide eyes. “Wat ap’?” he said, his mouth not being able to properly form the words ‘what happened’.