ooc: yesssss :| that must happen. perhaps she could wander too far when looking for herbs, or perhaps Caillen wanders too far and bumps (rather luckily, all things considered), into Gabe o:
For a moment, she was at loss at to whether he even saw her. The boy's gaze was dull, and the flames that had leaped with energy seemed extinguished by the salt-water yonder. But after her meek tone Gabe's eyes rose to her own and an awkward pause was quickly filled with the scuffling of a pre-pubescent voice that tried, with admirable gusto, to ease the situation.
She would have loved him like that, as little girls were so want to give their hearts, but she settled instead for 'likealot'.
Round emerald orbs rose shamefully to the boy, his excited tone slowly amping up the low energy in her veins till they stirred again with youth and vigor. A soft dimpling smile eased over the collie-girl's features, made flammable by her companion's bravado and pride, till she herself had risen and stood just as pigeon-chested, her own tail a blur of soft hue in the warm mellow light. Happiness restored, Alaine beamed merrily at her co-conspirator, and considered pouncing him again for the fun of that hapless look on his face.
" Yeah, you did! That was real brave of you, Gabe. That pirate was a real wuss!"
Her soft voice swelled with chortle at the mental image of the grey male floundering, his glazed eyes bugging at the two explorers. She'd fabricate that memory with time till it became no more than a story she thought she remembered being told, once when she lived by a coyote pack and her Papa still knew a loving touch. No matter, for now it was real, and the princeling was real, and that great big golden thing between his paws was real.
When he nudged it towards her for not the first time that day, Alaine took a moment to watch the boy carefully. He'd gone to all that effort, too, just to take it like that... And, in spite of how pretty it was, and just how much she ITCHED for it, surely he might be able to make something of it. For a moment the girl danced between wants and morals, whilst her gaze darted with an air of pleading between the glittering embedded stones to the luminous sparks of his eyes. Then, with a huff that seemed to deflate her whole body, the young princess sat down heavily.
" N'aww, I'd better not. You worked so hard for this, E'splorer Gabe. Maybe your Mama would like it, or something... It's awful pretty."
A petty scowl crossed her features, which then made her flush with shame. The necklace really was beautiful, but there was no need for her to be greedy and accept gifts just because they were offered, especially when she'd done nothing to earn them. Papa used to say that hand-outs were for people who didn't have pride, and she sure had pride. The necklace had been a present from him the first time, but the second time, especially after ditching like that...
With a disappointed sigh, she scratched little circled into the dirt with her paw. If only she had something to trade him for it!
Speak think walk!