The air was hot and stale. Annoyance was apparent on the black wolf's face as she paced toward the water, her chestnut gaze blank. Her mouth was dry; her legs sore. As she nears the water, she parts her jaws, lowering her head toward the water. Her dry pink tongue snakes from her mouth and Pharika begins lapping greedily at the water. It was crisp and refreshing, more so than any other body of water she had drank from before. With a bit of life returning to her eyes, she lifts her head, taking in a deep breath of the summer air. Her body yearned for rest, but the woman refused. She didn't trust other wolves. What if she fell asleep and was attacked? She couldn't have that. Not as a lone wolf.
With a short glance around her, she lifts her right front paw, slowly lowering it into the springs before her. The cool liquid surrounded her sore paw; it was instant relief. Without realizing it, Pharika had closed her eyes. A small grin had plastered itself on her dry lips. Her ears flatten backward before she suddenly wades into the water, allowing the water to envelope her. Pharika opened her mouth, and an amused laugh escaped. With her ears flicking, she huffs now, having noticed she hadn't talked or made a noise in quite some time. She hadn't even been talking to herself. All remained thoughts rather than verbal words.
Pharika dips below the surface, air escaping her dark nose as she does so. Bubbles rush to the surface before she herself does. Taking in a deep breath, she allows her body to go limp. Her thick fur buoys her in the clear waters. Chestnut eyes fall to the water below, observing small fish as they swim about. It had been an eternity since she swam. She turns, doggy paddling back to the shoreline. Her ebon coat is heavy with water as she wades back out. Splaying her legs, Pharika shakes her body, water droplets shooting off her coat as she does so.