WC: 419 → Blahhhh.
Vesper was submerged for only a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. The water was unusually clear, sunlight slanting through it like gold knives, sharp as the feel of the cold on her skin. Her body shivered even as she thrashed her paws in an attempt to break the surface again, and she found solace only in the fact that the mountain lion was even less of a swimmer than she was. At least she was in a stronger form and a healthier state than when she and the Ichikan had braved a stretch of ocean; she knew she could do this. Teeth set, she hissed bubbles out of her mouth and swam.
Jaws closed around her scruff as she neared the icy edge of the river, and hearing and scent returned to as she broke free. Gasping once, the coywolf twisted her head the best she could, trying to paddle to help the golden-tinged female out when it came to pulling her to firm ground. At least she was still comparatively small in her secui form, about the weight of the average lupus wolf.
She felt the other slip, her leg splashing into the water, but Vesper had managed to gain some purchase on the bank by this point. She pulled herself up, using her hip against the other’s chest to help the stranger back up. The command made her ears prick before she saw that the mountain lion was clawing at the ice, trying to find a solid enough platform for its heavy, waterlogged body. Eyes narrowed, Vesper gave a decidedly coyote-like leap like she’d seen her mother do when hunting for lemmings—and the ice managed to crack after a few challenges between the wolf and cougar.
The woman laughed and barked for her to run, and Vesper grinned. “You don’t have to tell me twice!” she replied, whirling away with her and bounding across snow and grass and leaves. Now that their near-death experience was over, she found the rush of adrenaline pleasurable, ecstasy in her veins. She even let out a coyote-like yowl before grinning and running harder, at least until they were under the cover of the trees and she decided it safe. She doubted that the mountain lion, as pissed off as it was, would follow the canines this far.
“Once again,” Vesper announced, throwing herself to the ground with chest heaving and tail wagging, “I’m sorry!” The apology was coupled with cackles that seemed to hold little remorse, though.
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