The happiness that ran through Eclipse was like no other she felt. She was in love and she told him.... and he reciprocated. It did not void out her sadness for her pups but time was wearing away and she knew she would have more and she couldn’t help but think of puppies with Rob. They would have his thirst for knowledge and her thirst for adventure. She was not ready to have any yet. By no means, she was still recovering from her last litter that now lay in the earth.

She was racing with Grace, it had been some time since she rode the horse in a full gallop along the hillsides and much longer since she really rode so fast in her life. Grace was a fast horse and she was so agile, Eclipse felt free and let her spirits lift as she rode with the mare. She did not ride her too long and soon slowed her to a canter then down to a trot where they went for a little while that way, then she slowed the horse to a nice walk, panting heavily as she remembered the exhilaration she had only moments ago and all she heard was the music of Grace’s wonderful hooves. There was a figure in the distance now and she pulled her bow from her back and rested it with an arrow across her lap as she moved toward the figure. She was cautious these days, it was best to be after the rumors and things she heard about. “Hello” She said kindly but a wary look on her face as she came closer, the horse was still at a walk but they were many yards from the canine before she spoke. She could see the woman, for she got that information from the scent that carried in the wind, was black and white. It reminded her of Naryu and for a second she thought it was the woman who was more like an aunt than any thing to her.

Eclipse eyed the woman as she sat up, and she kept a grip on her bow just in case, but she was greeted warmly and offered a place near her. Eclipse hesitated slightly but she nodded, the woman seemed nice enough, she put her arrow and bow away and climbed off the horse who was now at a stand still. Graces nickered at Eclipse and then went about to forage around to see if she could find any sweet grass or something in the old forest floor. Eclipse knew she wouldn’t go far and she moved toward the woman, but did not sit right next to her. She sat across from her about a foot or so away. They were within arms reach, but Eclipse was sure if the woman would attack she could hold herself.

“My name is Eclipse Soulstorm.” She said quietly, almost shyly. She sat on her knees and her tail wagged nervously, but she was being as kind as possible. She was a good woman but she was beginning to be more cautious. Life threw crazy things at her lately and it brought on older instincts she used when she ran away from Dahlia. “Thank you, she is a fine horse, I am very lucky to have her as my friend. Do you know much about horses?” Eclipse asked curiously. She was learning day by day, but she was in no way an expert on the animals. She was a cooking expert, or an archery expert, but she still had so much more to learn about horses than she could ever think about, but her pack was helping her.

She looked over at the woman’s stallion who grazed on his own. Eclipse knew Grace would steer clear of the horse as she just birthed her own foal earlier in the summer and would not be willing to make any more until after he was grown and entirely weaned, which he wasn’t still, though close to it. She turned back to the woman as she answered Eclipse’s question and she couldn’t help but being disappointed; “Ah I see, I’m still trying to learn about them. Grace came upon me and she just wouldn’t leave me alone. So she’s been with me since. She was once owned by someone who’s passed on so she’s probably still hoping I’d find her master or something.” Eclipse said, though she suddenly felt she said a little much but she couldn’t help but being prideful she didn’t actually have to capture the horse herself, in fact she barely got to touch her for the first few weeks the animal followed her into Nova Scotia. Eclipse wouldn’t hurt the horse as she had saved Eclipse from falling to her doom, even when she was still pregnant with a foal, well at the time two, though one had not made it.

“You know jokes? I think I know a few people who know some. I am a hunter, and I cook.” Eclipse said shrugging, but she turned the attention back on the woman; “Might I hear some of your jokes?” She asked, She was in no way depressed but had been cautious. It was always good to be cautious. She thought as she waited for something, anything the other woman had to say. She needed a laugh she knew that much, though Robert made her feel special, and happy she wondered if others could too, and so far this woman was nice enough but Eclipse was still unsure of how to act around her at the moment, being an outsider and someone she just met and all

The pleasant sound of the woman’s hum came to Eclipse’s ears and the young woman smiled at the pleasant sound. It almost reminded her of her own mother who once upon a time did the same thing just to get her to sleep. She liked it but didn’t really say anything about it. She didn’t have to if the woman was confident enough to hum in front of a total stranger then she knew she was good enough. The woman commented on her own abilities, using the word cool, it must have a different meaning than what Eclipse thought it was but did not have the woman elaborate because it seemed she was thinking of a good joke.

Eclipse blinked at her thinking, something that was bigger than her but didn’t weigh anything? That was a hard question surely, there wasn’t anything like that was there? she pondered on this her eyes looking around; “Grass?” She asked confused, it could get taller and really didn’t weigh anything when one was picked. She shrugged giving up really wondering what this would be.

Eclipse bit her lip in anticipation, but her answer was wrong. When she heard it she looked at the woman incredulously, then looked for her shadow, it was hidden with the grasses but she could see the shape of it and she started laughing. “Oh I see yes! That is pretty funny, very witty.” She said with a giggle. “I do not know of such jokes, I have never really been with any others who do such things, but jokes are good I think.” She said smiling at the woman, it was something she was sure could brighten her day up if ever she needed it. She wondered if the woman had other jokes like this.

She probably wouldn't find out today because Grace came to her nosing her, letting her know the mare was missing her colt. Eclipse smiled and rubbed the mare's nose; “It seems my horse is telling me she wishes to see her child, I cannot keep her from him too long. It was good to meet you and I hope to again, to learn more of your jokes!” She said with enthusiasm. She took the mare's mane and pulled herself up on her back and gave the woman a head nod. Then trotted the horse out towards their home. She reflected on the other woman and thought, she was a good wolf.