Finally...

Keovi's eyes followed Mudpelt, careful observing how she stalked and swiftly killed the sickly deer. As she dragged it closer to him, his ears were back and tail hanging limply. " Wow she makes you look pretty pathetic huh?" Takara said out loud, giggling. The sides of Keovi's face wrinkled in a smile as he pounced at her, but she dove away agilely with her swift bobcat paws. He padded over to Mudpelt, now wagging his tail and ears perked. " That was a nice catch. " He said. His golden gaze was fixed on the blood slowly seeping through the deer's fur. " Thanks!" He added as she added to him that he could have first bite. His jaws bent down towards the deer and he finally tasted deer meat for the first time in a while.

" Thanks. Its not that hard once you get used to it. So do you like the clearing. I'm usually a good judge on shelters since I used to move around alot," Mudpelt asked.

Keovi lifted his now-bloodied muzzle and looked up into the sky. " I don't mind it, but I prefer the cover of trees myself. Just feels a little safer than out in the open." His ears went back just so slightly as he returned his amber-eyed gaze onto Mudpelt. " But I'd still stay here, I like the Lake." He took one last chunk of meat out of the deer and carried it a few feet away to lay down and eat. Takara, still a bobcat had grabbed her own share and was eating it up in the nearest tree. " It's really good! Have some Kuna!" She called down to them, her words slightly muffled by her mouthful of fur and meat.

" theres a great oak over there if you want to sleep there," Mudpelt said smiling. Kuna took his share and ate next to Takara.
Mudpelt saw Keovi just sitting there and she was feeling hyper. She crouched and then sprang rolling him over. She stopped with him under her paws.
" Gotcha," She said the sun making her fur glow.

Keovi at first let out a surpised yelp, Startling both Takara and himself. Takara was a Pine marten instantly, but saw they were just playing and calmed down another instant later. Keovi was also over the initial shock in a seccond, this was the type of play he missed as a pup. With a burst of energy he wriggled himself free from Mudpelt's grasp and bounded over the carcass and a few yards away. His dark fur was too glowing a little brighter, almost golden brown. He turned around and bounded back towards her, ready to spring

Mudpelt smiled to herself at the change that had come over her friend. This is all he needs, she thought. Is a little fun. She then jumped lithely to the side so that Keovi missed her.
" You'll have to be faster than that," Mudpelt taunted. She then jumped on him and rolled him onto his back where she pinned him.
" Gotcha again," SHe said.
Kuna looked up at their play and smiled. It's just like Mudpelt to bring out the good side of any wolf, He thought proudly.

Keovi squirmed, but couldnt set himself free as easily this time. He twisted his head to a side to try and gnaw at one of her paws to get her to let go, while his back feet kicked helplessly into the air. Takara laughed at him from her place by Kuna and continued to eat while she watched and when finished, she trotted over to the water for a drink.

Mudpelt jumped off him. She then sat down in a patch of sunlight, her fur warming and brightened by the sun. She looked over at Keovi, his fur all ruffled. Even though he looked like he had just been through a hurricane he looked a little cute. Did she really feel like that towards him?

Keovi sprung to his feet and shook his fur. It didn't help much, but it got the dirt off him. " I wasn't trying my best, I could have easily thrown you off myself." He made up and excuse and sat down too, watching Takara for a moment. She padded over to him and sat down in front of him, observing the messy fur sticking up on his head, an amused expression on her face. 'What?' ' Heh you got beat by a girl. ' She snickered and Keovi jumped out at her but she was too quick and darted away from his paws as they thudded down on empty ground. He lost interest and instead looked over at Mudpelt again. He thought her fur almost looked like it had a wonderful gold tint to it in the sun. Takara was padding back towards Kuna, stopping at the carcass for another small piece of meat to eat and then resuming her place next to him to eat it.

Mudpelt felt the warmth leave as the sun sank under the horizon. Soon it was dark. It was a warm night and Mudpelt could hear the crikets. She then padded over to the area where Keovi was and without really thinking about it she lciked down the up right fur on his head. She then embarrasdly moved back a little.
" Sorry," she said softly. she then turned her back to him so she wouldnt see his disgusted face and whispered a quick ' Good night "
Kuna, having finished his meal padded over to Mudpelt. He changged into a squierll and curled up on her flank.

Keovi froze as he felt Mudpelt groom him, sensing a strange tingling moving down his body from the spot she touched. When she turned away the feeling also left. He wasn't sure what it was but he wanted that feeling to stay. He tilted his head to a side, silently questioning why she ever said sorry, and soon felt his paws following her and laying down near her as well, murmering a soft "Good Night." back. Takara didn't question it and happily ran to Keovi's side to curl up in his soft fur, letting the sound of crickets and owls lull them to sleep. But before Keovi fell into his dreams he could feel the same strange tingling feeling come back to him as he thought of Mudpelt moments before.

~Morning~

Mudpelt stirred slitghtly and felt something next to her. She fully woke up and saw that Keovi was close next to her. She smiled warmly. She loved this feeling. It felt so foreighn but missed. She had no idea what had made her groom Keovi last night but she silently thanked it.
She knew now that her relationship between her and Keovi had changed, but for the good. Mudpelts heart was slowly belonging to this wolf that lay close to her.
' Im happy for you,' Kunas thougt interuppted her's. ' I feel the same about Takarra. She's wonderful,' Kuna said nuzzling Mudpelt. Mudpelt nuzzled him back. She then waited for Keovi to wake up. For some reason she didnt want to leave him; she never would.

Takara's eyes were first to see the warm sunlight hitting he leave-laden ground. She stretched, curving her back in an arc like a cat and sat down, yawning. She looked to Kuna and Mudpelt, and smiled, trying to say "Good Morning" But her voice wasn't awake yet. She coughed a few times, waking Keovi. He blinked slowly, thoughts on his dreams he was quickly forgetting, but a moment later was on his feet and stretching out his front paws. " G'Morning, Mudpelt, sleep good?" He said, smiling and sitting down with his back to the sun, letting it warm him before he got any more active. Takara saw he was awake and gave him cheery good morning through their thoughts. ' I felt it too you know.' ' What'd you mean?' ' That funny tingling feeling... It feels.. like I'm lighter and full of happiness.' 'Ya..?' 'I-I felt it next to Kuna...' She paused, neither replying for a few moments. ' You saw Mudpelt last night.. I got that same feeling, I didn't want it to ever go away.' ' Same here.' She said. Though their little conversation went unnoticed n the waking world both He and Takara were having a flood of thoughts and emotions going through their minds.

" Yes and you," Mudpelt said grooming her fur to perfection. " Always look your best," she could hear her mother saying.Mudpelt stared into the sun and coudl almost smell her mother. She imagined she would be proud of her for suriving and adaptiong. Mudpelt missed her mother and the love that she had given her.

"Like a pup." He yawned again. Takara had climbed onto his back and was grooming him herself, using her tiny paws to make sure his fur lay flat. Keovi gave a few wags of his tail to show his thanks for it and got up when she was finished. He started padding towards the lake through the trees but felt a strange tug at his insides. He stopped and looked back at Mudpelt, realizing he didn't want to even leave her to simply go the lake shore. Takara heard his thoughts and padded after him. ' Your only getting a drink, she'll still be there. It's only a few hops and leaps away from the clearing, Keovi. ' She lead the way through the few trees to the edge of the water, and already was in it, taking an early morning bath.

She saw that Keovi was leaving for the lake and even though she knew he would come back she let out a barelt audible wine. She tried to distract herself by looking at a butterfly, but everytime she heard a twig snap she woulkd look for him. "Calm yourself, Mudpelt. He'll come back,"Kuna thought.

Keovi dipped his nose into the water blowing a few bubbles before he got a drink. He found it hard to lighten his own mood so just sat down, submitting to his usualy feelings. Takara noticed it and bounded out of the water. "Common Keovi, what's wrong?" She shook, getting his slightly wet but he didnt say anything of it. "I'm sort of.. confused i guess... I really like Mudpelt, I dont want to leave her again, what if she doesn't follow and I never see her again?" He whispered. " Now why are you thinking like that? You just answered yourself, didn't you? " Takara stopped there, Keovi tilted his head slightly. " But what if she doesn't want me to stay around? Like those other wolves... We don't know what they really are thinking, maybe I'm being a pest, sticking around like this..." At that point Takara bit him and glared up at him. Keovi didnt yelp but pulled his paw away. " What was that for?!" "Being negetive." She said. Keovi seemed to know what she meant and pulled his ears back. " I'm sorry, its just hard.."

" I cant take it any longer," Mudpelt said to Kuna. She got up and headed down to the lake. As soon as shespotted him it was like a weight had lifted from her. As she padded up to him she saw that Takarra and Keovi was talking.
" Hope I'm not interrupting anything," Mudpelt said.

"Nope, your fine." Takara said for Keovi. He nodded, and in an effort to make Takara and perhaps himself happier, padded belly-deep into the water, taking a drink while dunking his head under every few seconds to look for fish. Takara bounded after him, changing into an otter as she jumped in. It was crisp, and cold, steam was still coming from the surface from the morning heat. she jumped onto Keovi's back and shook out her fur, changing back into a pine marten. "Don't you dare go any deeper, its cold!" She warned him, playfully biting at his ears. She looked back to the shore at Kuna, and noticed a moth fluttering around right behind him. Her pupils dilated but she didn't move. Keovi helped her out and sent a swift and sudden wind blowing the moth towards them. It sent leaves flying and covered Mudpelt and Kuna, but Takara had leaped up into the air and caught the moth in her paws. "Sorry," Keovi said with a laugh at Mudpelt and her anima.

" Thats fine," Mudpelt laughed while shaking off the leaves. The leaves crackeled as she stepped on them. She submerged herself in the watter and she immediatly felt calm. Mudpelt felt like she was on top of the world. She had a great home and someone that made her feel happy. She had never felt more happy. All those years of howlings that never were returned until now.
Mudpelt, having had her fill of water, came onto land. The water droplets shown in the early morning glow like crystals on her fur. Kuna was examining the moth with Takara.

Keovi followed Mudpelt out of the water, and felt a strong chill as his wet pelt hit the crisp morning air. Another gust of wind, this time warm and calm, blew down onto both him and Mudpelt, Keovi directing most of it towards her. He kept up the warm wind as he sat down to lick his fur dry. Takara turned the twitching moth over in her paws. " I wonder if it tastes good..." She grinned deviously and stuck the moth into her mouth and ate it without much concern. " Eh, butterflys are much tastier." She said, grooming around her mouth with her paws.

" Thanks, keovi," Mudpelt said gratefully the warm air like a caress to her cold fur.
" I've never tasted a butterfly," Said Kuna thoughtfully.
Mudpelts stomach grumbled unexpectandly.
" Lets go get some breakfast," She suggested.

Keovi nodded and hopped to his feet. The carcass still had some meat on it but flies had started to gather around it and Keovi knew flies meant rotten food. " We probably should have buried some of that last night..." He murmered. Takara finished grooming and perked her tiny ears. " Want any fish?" She suggested, knowing how it could be a very easy meal for any of them. Keovi didn't protest or agree, he looked over to Mudpelt to see if she wanted to decide. The warm winds slowly died away as Keovi's focus was put on their next meal, and instead his stomach started growling as well.

" Thank you Takarra. That would be great," Mudpelt said warmly.
" I'll help," Said Kuna eagerly. He rushed up to Takarra.

Dear Members,

On 09/22/08 more recent posts were deleted. It is currently a mystery as to how it happened, or possibly who did it. Please bare with me that I am also clueless so please don't send private messages to me asking if I can get them back; I'm trying my best to find out why they've been deleted and I'm trying my best to try and get them back.

~WildWind, Site Owner.