Relief from the Sun (Open)

[Deleted]

Shallous padded softly out of the bushes and to the riverbed. A warm breeze blew through the area, ruffling the brute's neck mane. His light blue eyes were narrowed as he looked around cautiously. When it seemed that he was alone at this part of the creek, he walked into the water. It soaked his curly leg fur and his belly fur stuck to him, but it cooled him. Shallous awkwardly splashed in the water, using his paws to throw the water up and around him. He ventured further into the current, the water soaking up to his back and barely touching his mane.

After some time of relaxation in the water, he dipped his head under. Shallous jerked his head from side to side as he swam back to the shore. His legs bent under him as he got closer to the dry land. Then he breached the surface for air as he touched the dirt of the riverbed. "That's enough nonsense or today." He sighed as he fully got out of the water and vigorously shook his fur. After a few shakes, his fur stuck up around his neck and tail. Shallous snorted and walked over to the shade of a tree, laid down, then closed his eyes in a false rest.

[Argus]

Zoey was free, and consequently happy. She had no obligations, no responsibilities, no one to expect things from her. In a long swinging gait that ruffled her white and cream fur she walked confidently into a clearing surrounding a creek. It was hot and she found herself missing the snow of winter. Not only could she blend in better but it didn't leave her panting for relief from the heat. She had saw the flowing water of the creek from a distance, and she thought that she might find salvation from the heat in the cool water. She had hoped there would be a few trees to offer shade after she cooled down in the creek. As she got closer, she realized that while there were some vegetation which would offer shade, someone was already occupying the space.

She noticed that they were sleeping or pretending to be sleeping at least. She shrugged, and in a manner resembling that of a pup's forgot that she wasn't alone. She walked up to the water and with a considering gaze backed up a few steps. She took a running start, jumped as high as she could above the creek, and landed into the welcoming coolness of the water with a splash. She laughed with great cheer and begin to paddle around the body of water. It wasn't terribly large but it was wide enough for her to swim comfortably. There were some rocks sticking up out of the water and she made sure to navigate around them but as she did so she remembered the sleeping wolf. She glanced guiltily in that direction, hoping she hadn't woken them with her rather loud playing.

[Deleted]

Grace was walking a few tail lengths from the creek, she was enjoying this warm summer day. The sky was clear without any clouds, and the grass was dry, scratching her paws. Grace looked closer in the creek, she saw splashes. Big ones. Then she saw a small white wolf jump out of the water, laughing and playing like a pup. This was a weird sight to see, but Grace did not judge, and this sight made her want to go and jump in the water.

Grace took one last look at the white and tan wolf, and she ran up towards the water, not stopping to jump in with quite smaller splashes than the young wolf had. It was quite nice, her pelt was slightly damp, and the sun didn't heat her too much anymore. It even felt a bit chilly, and energising at times, when the wind would blow. She looked up at the small wolf, and she noticed that behind the two playing wolves, there was another wolf, laying in the shade quite close to the creek. She wondered how she had not noticed him, because he wasn't exactly hiding. 'Hey, im Grace, do you know who he is?' Grace asked flicking her tail towards the resting wolf.

[Argus]

Zoey looked back at the new wolf who had jumped into the water with her. She played a little while while Zoey floated in the water watching her. She seemed to notice the sleeping wolf some time after she had jumped into the water. Zoey swam to the back and heaved herself up. Hello, Grace. No, I don't know the other wolf. I feared I might have woken him up but he hasn't stirred so he must still be asleep." Zoey shook out her over long pelt the water droplets flying in the air. He studied both of the wolves more closely. The one that had been here when she arrived was dark and serious looking and Grace was quite the opposite appearing laid back and understanding.

Zoey knew some wolves thought that she should grow up. After all she was 6 years old and should have been behaving like an adult by now but she refused to do so. She didn't want to have to behave responsibly and disliked it immensely. It made everyone so serious and that in itself was enough to annoy her. She acknowledged the fact that she was getting older in body but refused to change her behavior for it. Her ears flickered and she laid down in the sun to relax for a while the fact that she was slightly overweight becoming apparent with her position.

[koolpup]

Aerwyna slowly stalks to the creek. She pants, cursing the sun silently as she moves. Heat is not the she-wolf's thing, neither is cold really. The only thing that she really enjoys is water. She is ready for the cool liquid to wrap around her and purge away the heat from her body, the gentle current tugging at her fur and paws. She can already feel her crabby mood drifting away like the water in the creek just by imagining it. She pauses, her ears perking to attention.

Splashes.

She hears splashes, and, much to her chagrin, other wolves. Her ears fall back and flatten to her head. She isn't in the mood to deal with other wolves that she doesn't know. She now wants to turn back, but it's almost as if the water is serenading her with a cruel siren song. She feels pulled to it. Her paws itch for the gentle caress of the cool water. Maybe the wolves will leave her alone if she doesn't say anything? She already knows that thought is absurd. Though, the heat is becoming unbearable to the teal wolf. Socializing won't be too bad. She always makes a big deal out of it, maybe because most of her interactions with her own species end poorly. She pushes that thought aside and pads into the open. The water is worth it.

She notices three wolves on the opposite side of the creek. She lets herself relax slightly. At least they are on the other side, and one appears to be sleeping. She quickly slips into the water, sighing as it drains the heat from her, cooling her down. Being rather small in stature, it does not take long for her to be unable to touch the creek bed. She simply, lazily, kicks with her front and back legs, gently propelling herself through the deeper parts of the creek. She dips her head under, trying not to be acutely aware of the other wolves. When she resurfaces, she returns to the side in which she entered the creek, still standing belly deep in the water. The she-wolf shakes herself, only to get the water out of her ears, praying that the other wolves are paying no attention to her arrival or swimming session.

[Deleted]

Grace splashed and played in the water for a while, but then she got worn out. She went to sit on the shallow side of the creek, closer to the sleeping wolf. The day was bright and still very hot, and only after a few minutes of sitting in the sunlight, Grace felt warm, and sweatier than ever. She lay down making sure to have water cover her back, but leave her muzzle in the warm air.

She heard something, not sure what it was she looked across the water and fields, only to notice nothing. She felt uneasy, since the smaller wolf was on her right, still playing and jumping, and the wolf behind her, laying in the shade had not moved an inch.

Grace stopped laying in the cool water of the creek, to walk a bit across it. Then behind the jaggedy rocks, on the other side of the water source she saw movement in the water, and she saw splashes. The movement was explained when another wolf came out of it. The other wolf shook herself off and she looked scared. Grace felt a need to watch this wolf. She studied it carefully hoping that it wasn't aggressive. She hoped that the other wolf would not notice her excessive staring.

[Argus]

Zoey glanced towards the new wolf but didn't say anything or try and communicate with them. Zoey was sleepy something that happened when she laid in the sun for too long but she didn't think to worry. At that moment the wolves could have slit her throat and she wouldn't have noticed until it was too late to stop them. While she could always get up and go into the shade and relax there, she didn't want to. For one, the sleeping stranger was there and for another the sun was pleasant on her fur. She was very light colored so she didn't attract the same amount of sunlight the darker colored wolves did and she was fine with that.