Slay inhaled deeply, appreciating the salty scent of the coastline. The pups had all but settled into their new home; they often spent their whole days outdoors wandering the packlands, and each night they all obediently trundled back into the church to be fed and go to sleep. It had become a routine now, and since they had each proven their independence, Slay felt it was safe enough to go on an excursion of his own. The beach was a fair walk from their home, but it was one of the arctic wolf's favorite places, and one that was important to him and his mate. Anxious thoughts still worried the big male, though - how were the children handling their abandonment? None of the brothers or sisters had really opened up to him, or Cer as far as he knew. He was already feeling attached to the patchwork puppies, but it hurt him to see that none of them were attached to him. Sighing, Slay let his ice-pale eyes comb the shore, watching the placid waves lapping at the sand.
Was that... a puppy?
Slay sprang to his paws, scattering sand about him. Avarice - no, Roulette - was on the docks! He hadn't expected the little boy to make it this far from the den. Playing in fields was one thing, but the ocean could be dangerous for a small child to be unsupervised! His natural protective instincts flared as the pup teetered on the edge, staring at his own reflection. "Oh, he's too close, he's about to-" Slay's mutterings were cut short as Roulette splashed into the cold saltwater, just as predicted. Grimacing, the big male bounded down the beach, splashing through the shallows along the docks to reach his adopted kin. Scooping the de Sadira between his jaws, the adept swimmer paddled back to the safety of the dock, his thick arctic fur shielding his large frame from the chill of the spring sea.
He gently dumped the boy onto the slippery wood before clambering up himself, his ebony-daubed pelt heavy with dripping water. Would the boy understand his English? It wouldn't hurt to try, he supposed, before roughly shaking his coat drier. "You need to be more careful, mate," he lectured sternly, before cracking a smile. No harm, no foul. "Do you even know how to swim?"
I've got soul but I'm not a soldier
