farm fresh

Sage River Lykoi · 01-03-2012, 07:01 PM

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puppy + farm animals = fun? sorry for being slow to start this also... you can assume she's out of the chicken coop by the time dalgina sees her (or she can go into the coop, if you want, lol) SOSU 444

Sage had been promoted to the role of Ma-tzu, a rank she had eyed since first joining. She had plenty of experience caring for her own horse as well as other types of animals, and her knowledge of Low Speech helped her communicate with the simpler creatures. Her face simply glowed with pride as she walked about the land and the house, familiarizing herself with the livestock and straightening up the stables and holding pens. So far, she fancied the goats the most; they were adorable and quirky, even though one of them had tried to chew on her skirt. They were alert and funny creatures, and unlike the llamas that stared at her so angrily, the goats at least came near. Sure, they were just looking for a snack, but still. And the goats didn't spit, either. Sage had learned of that annoying characteristic when mingling with the llamas earlier in the day. One of them had seemed particularly defensive and shy, so she'd tried to gently coax it to her, but the large beast wanted nothing of it, and she felt the pelt of a warm spit-bomb to the side of her head. Disgusted, she continuously worked on combing the mats out of her hair with her fingers as she flitted here and there throughout the house.

The house had already come decorated and filled with charming, kitschy accoutrements. She liked them, but decided she would add her own anyway, just to make it more personal. Since she hadn't taken much when she'd left Inferni, though, the tawny coyote had little to decorate her new home. A few pelts decorated the floors as well as the furniture, and the largest, most beautiful white pelt solely adorned her bed. It was her favorite to curl up against, particularly when she was alone as she had been so many nights recently.

Thinking that perhaps a bit later she would head out to find some more decorations for her small home, the fresh Ma-tzu decided for now to continue her work. She was getting tired in the mid-afternoon, but knew that if she persevered, her evening would be prosperous. Having something to do had kept her mind away from any of the negative thoughts that she'd been trying to avoid lately. She had a sense of accomplishment as she walked through the chicken coop, brushing the startled chickens gently to the side to retrieve their eggs to place in a padded basket. She even started humming to herself as she worked, and though this wouldn't take too long, she had already planned to try to learn to milk the goats next.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 01-03-2012, 10:57 PM

Dalgina had been taken out for a trip, far from her [html] ingali[/html]. Dropped off near the animals, Dalgina had been told to be good while her papa did some work. For the first little while, she'd sat still and waited patiently. The black puppy curled up, watching the birds fly around above her. It held her attention for the first hour, but Dalgina began to feel cold after that. Even with her arctic heritage she was still a puppy, and her pelt wasn't as thick as it would be when she was older.

Deciding that it would be okay if she moved around to keep warm Dalgina began to trot over the land. It wasn't long before she came across a bunch of funny looking animals. They smelled good, like something to chew on. Her nose pushed forward, trying to reach them. Further in, she could smell another canine. It was different again, not a wolf or a dog. Dalgina squeezed through the bottom of the fence and went to investigate, believing that it would be perfectly fine. A short trip later and she found herself standing before a miniature house. Curious Dalgina trotted up, to find lots of really big fat birds inside. Wow...

Sage River Lykoi · 01-08-2012, 07:31 PM

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SOSU 437

The Ma-Tzu moved through the small coop, gingerly moving the hens aside to gather what lay beneath them. One of them tried to peck at her, and as she jerked her hand away, she dropped an egg. Wide golden eyes watched as it shattered and splattered onto the wooden floor, her mouth half open in a silent No! She was too late as she tried to reach for it; the mess had already soiled the ground. Bending down, creamy fingers gathered the broken bits of shell into her palm, the sticky, gooey mess obnoxiously working against her. Once she gathered them all, she tossed them outside of the coop, onto the ground. At least there, they would be broken down, and not pose a threat to someone's bare feet. Then, she popped back inside to finish her duty.

The basket in Sage's arms was beginning to feel heavy with the weight of the eggs as she reached the final, twelfth chicken. Despite the coop only housing a dozen hens and a wandering rooster, their outputs were splendid. The basket was filled with plenty of large, well-shaped brown eggs, and as she even removed three more from the final, smallest one. Smiling, she reached a hand over to try to pet this one, as it seemed less timid than it's roommates. Two strokes of the soft feathers and it had had enough, moving away quickly and clucking in protest.

But suddenly, the others began to make noises of excitement, too. Sage hadn't been paying close attention to her senses, but now as she grew instantly alert she noticed a new scent. A young scent. Her golden gaze quickly flew to the entrance, where there stood on four small paws a black puppy. Sage breathed out a quick oh! before remembering her manners. She tried to calm the chickens, shushing them as their ruckus grew lengthy. "Why hello there," she said through a smile, her voice gentle and light. This wasn't the best place for a child, Sage knew, and she hoped that the young girl wouldn't think that they were food. "Who might you be?" she asked the child as she neared, bending down a bit to be more at her level. The basket full of eggs was held with both hands, and she was careful not to drop anymore now. She didn't need another mess to clean up, and she hoped that this child was a sweet one that wouldn't cause trouble in the coop. Sage had to remember she lived in Ichika now, and so far everyone she'd encountered had been lovely; surely the children were, too.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 01-09-2012, 12:42 PM

All the fat birds began to cluck and chuckle at her appearance. Curious Dalgina leaned in to get a better look, only to almost get pecked at. Hey! Dalgina was prepared to scold the bird, angry at it for trying to attack her when she'd just wanted to get to know it better. A voice greeted her though. Turning Dalgina faced a brown canine. It was a coyote, if her instincts were correct. It was her first time seeing one, and Dalgina wasn't completely sure if it was correct to believe her senses. They hadn't failed her before, but this was her first time seeing one, so she couldn't be sure if it was true.

The coyote worked on soothing the good smelling fat birds. They settled down slightly, but still seemed rather excited. Dalgina didn't see a need to calm them, thinking that they would make very good playmates, chasing them around. The female approached, and Dalgina's ears stood up as she recognized the same scent that all the canines she'd met seemed to carry. That wouldn't be so bad, if there wasn't another strange scent, barely there, underneath. Dalgina pushed that to the side, concentrating on what was before her. Dalgina. Your coat's pretty. She liked the mix of red and brown, creating a warm sunny feeling.

Leaning forward Dalgina stuck her head in the basket. Eggs! Gently she grabbed one and put it on the floor before her. She'd eaten one before, and it had tasted good. Now she just had to remember how she'd done it.

Sage River Lykoi · 01-13-2012, 12:29 AM

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a bit of pp assuming dalgina agrees and follows her... lemme know if you want it changed!

Sage was fond of puppies, and now that she was getting a better look at this one, she thought it might have been one of the puppies she'd seen at the Hibernal celebration. Already, the girl was bigger; it was amazing how quickly they grew. Her charcoal fur was still fluffy and thick, though, and Sage thought it looked incredibly soft. Strangely, the girl's next words were a compliment to Sage, and the Lykoi was awed. Such a polite pup, she thought thankfully, glad that the girl had not caused too much of a ruckus. "Why thank you, Dalgina! Your name is quite pretty as well," she said, black lips softly upturned. Now that Sage was done with the egg collecting, she could take a break for a while. She wondered if Dalgina was hungry; eggs were one of the few things that Sage could cook.

The hand-woven, fraying basket in her arms had held the light brown eggs safely until the young girl approached and stuck her head into the basket. After a moment, she plucked one out from their midst. Sage thought for sure it would burst between her teeth, that the excited puppy's jaw would close too tightly and send gooey yolk flying. Amazingly, though, the dark pup's mouth was gentle, and she removed the egg without problem and set it on the ground. Blinking, Sage shook her head and laughed after a moment, leaning down to scoop up the egg again before it did get broken. Hands were better for egg opening, anyways. "Are you hungry, love? If you want, we can go to the house and I'll cook a couple of these for you," she offered, gently waving the basket before the girl and stepping out the door, gliding easily towards the still dilapidated, but certainly quaint ranch house.

The cabin at the Broken Arrow Ranch was almost kitschy with it's exaggerated western decor, but Sage liked it anyways. In fact, she was growing fond of the charm; Inferni's Mansion hadn't had such decoration, and it was strangely comforting. In these small things, she made herself more at home in Ichika. She hadn't been gone too long, and as shoved open the door to lead Dalgina inside, she could feel the warmth that the steady fire maintained. It was dwindling now, but could be recovered easily. Sage had made a makeshift stove-top over the fire; a metal sheet with an inch-high lip lay across the flames, supported inside of the hearth by four protruding nails. This way, she was able to fry the eggs. Sage didn't own a frying pan, but this was close enough for now.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 01-13-2012, 11:37 AM

Dalgina looked up in surprise as she was laughed at. She didn't think she'd done anything funny. Only get an egg, and that wasn't funny at all. Dalgina knew how difficult it was to handle without cracking them, having ruined more than her share of eggs learning about them with her siblings. Her tail swished back and forth as she watched the lady pick up the egg she'd selected and return it to the basket. That was too bad, since Dalgina had wanted to eat it.

She was offered a meal though, and tail wagging she barked in agreement. Cheerfully she followed her out of the coop, away from the funny fat birds. Dalgina looked behind her, deciding to come back at some point to play with them. She walked behind the coyote, big paws causing her to trip slightly. They reached a slightly sagging house. It looked a lot like [html] ingali[/html] to the puppy, if it weren't for the fact that it smelled different and the windows were in the wrong places.

Heading inside Dalgina playfully pounced on a carpet sitting before her, a slight growl in her throat. She looked up, admiring all the decorations filling the house. She leaned up against a wall, tiny teeth trying to reach a wooden carving so she could get a better look at it.

Sage River Lykoi · 01-19-2012, 08:40 PM

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Sage kept a close watch on the child as they entered the house together. Although most of the things that already decorated the house held little emotional value to her, she would still not like them to be broken. Sweeping into the kitchen she set the basket down on the small counter and sorted through them, picking out a couple large, choice ones and setting them aside. Sage's limited cooking abilities had expanded slightly recently, but it did not help that she was without ingredients, spices, or anything of the like. Furtive, she opened each battered cabinet in search of anything she could add. It seemed that the eggs alone would have to do for now, and so she gathered the chosen ones and moved back into the living room, squatting beside the fire and glancing over to Dalgina.

Dark chocolate ears perked up at the sound and sight of puppy and rug sliding around on the floor, but this she didn't mind. She smiled at it, even. The rug was in poor shape anyhow, and she was soon likely to replace it with a handsome pelt, like those already covering much of the furniture. But then the ebon pup was reaching higher, snapping small, but strong jaws at some item hung on the wall. Noticing her struggle, and afraid that the girl might somehow hurt herself, or the wall, Sage rose, leaving the eggs on the hearth. "Here, love, I'll take it down for you," she said, moving over to the girl and retrieving the object easily from it's rusted hook. She bent down and held it out for Dalgina to see. It was a nice piece of work, and in good shape. It was an oval piece, a cross-section of a small tree trunk, and on it was carved the image of a moose surrounded by forestry. Sage couldn't help but laugh as she looked at it, musing, "Funny that the humans would have pictures of moose on their walls, isn't it?" Holding the piece at arm's length, she admired it for a moment. It was quite a good rendering, and she wondered how long it must have taken. Delicate cream fingers ran across it's surface, fascinated by the texture of the carved wood.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 01-19-2012, 09:09 PM

The wooden item was lowered, and Dalgina danced around, hoping for a closer look. It would be sad if she couldn't get a good look at it, the coyote moving the piece to somewhere she couldn't reach it. Instead it was held before her, the gentle lady crouched at her side. Dalgina placed her paws on her leg and looked over. Her tail wagged happily as she absorbed the work. It was beautiful, much better than anything she rubbed into the dust. Dalgina couldn't draw yet, though that didn't stop her from trying. Maybe next time she'd make a good picture, one just like that one.

She nosed the wood, tracing the curves of it and memorizing how it felt and looked. It was very nice. Dalgina didn't quite get the picture, though she understood the pine trees and that it was some kind of funny looking animal. It had a quiet feel to it though, the kind that Dalgina got when she watched Honrin stare out the window, or when her Papa was holding [html]Mahn[/html] in his arms. Dalgina looked up as she spoke, talking about the art. What's a human? Were they another kind of canine that she hadn't met yet? She really would like to, if they all made such pretty things.

Sage River Lykoi · 01-25-2012, 05:32 PM

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Sage hadn't been prepared to answer in-depth questions for the child, and as soon as the girl asked it, the Ma-Tzu began flipping through the possible answers. Should she know about death, about extinction? Surely the humans were nearly extinct by now. It was a strange thought, to know that they once ruled here instead of canines. Clearly, Sage was glad for the change. She took a breath, smiling down at the ebon pup. "Humans were two-legged, mostly hairless creatures... They were as smart as we are, and they made all of these cities and this building, and the ranch, too," she said, gesturing around the room. "Most of the humans died a long time ago. Some people say there are still some hiding in far away places, though," she mused, rising and staring out the window at the field wistfully, lost in thought, remembering all of the stories she'd been told. She knew they were true; so many artifacts from the humans still remained, and the evidence was clear to her from their books and clothing alone. Dalgina would learn in time, too; Sage knew that Jace lived in one of the old human cities, but she wondered how much about its remains the wolf-dog had taught her. "I've never seen one," she finished, turning back to the girl and smiling as she slid the decoration back onto the wall with a flourish.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 01-25-2012, 10:38 PM

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Dalgina crinkled her nose at the description. Humans sounded ugly. No fur, no pelt, nothing to protect them and give them beauty. If she had known they had no tails Dalgina would have labeled them as a kind of monster that was best off gone, not understanding anything beyond that they were gone now and made most of the stuff. Looking at the woodwork again Dalgina softened. They couldn't be all bad if they made such pretty things. Perhaps they did that, trying to make themselves beautiful with their surroundings. She didn't understand dead, but she knew that the coyote was much older than her, and had never seen a human, making Dalgina assume no one had.

Tail wagging she watched the wood be returned before the smell of eggs reached her. Food! The pup scrambled across the floor, bounding to the source of the smell. Whining softly she pawed at the fire, burning herself slightly. Yelping she leaped back, licking it a couple times before moving back forward, stomach rumbling. Dalgina obviously couldn't get the eggs on her own like this, with the fire biting her when she tried to. Expectantly she looked at Sage, waiting for her to bring the eggs out where she could eat them.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii

Table by Alex

Sage River Lykoi · 02-02-2012, 09:12 PM

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she hadn't actually started cooking the eggs yet, but it's cool!

The girl didn't seem to take too much interest in the subject of humans, and Sage was almost glad. The Ma-Tzu didn't know a whole lot about them, anyway, and would not want to be barraged by puppy-questions about them. Golden eyes lingered on the carving again for a moment, one testament to a species' existence. This house was another; the ranch, another still. Many parts of Ichika housed the remains of human cities; they were lucky to have such advantages. Inferni's man-made buildings were sparse, but Sage had found comfort in it's largest. Here, her accommodations were less grand, but more her style, she thought.

Sage's attention was drawn back as the girl's excitement returned and she bounded back into the living room. They had come in for a meal, after all, and Sage hadn't yet fed her. The ebon pup's stomach was probably grumbling in protest. Suddenly feeling bad, the tawny coyote rushed to the fireside.

The flames had heated the metal surface intensely, and as she deftly cracked the eggs onto the scalding plate, tossing the shells aside. They sizzled and smoked angrily, clear goop that quickly turned white with the heat. With a wooden spatula, she pushed the eggs about, scrambling them quickly while the child waited. "Oh! Careful, Dalgina," she cautioned as the girl scorched her little paw on the flames. "You won't win against the fire... are you alright?" Sage smiled warmly at the girl and scooped the fresh, steaming eggs onto a chipped plate. She fanned the plate for a minute before offering it to Dalgina, lowering the food to the floor and setting it there. Sage would eat later; for now, she wanted to make sure the child was full and happy. She might have to look at her paw, too.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 02-03-2012, 12:19 PM

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Dalgina whined a little, licking at her sightly burned paw. She looked up at Sage as she spoke. Her tail wagged a little, though the warning came too late. Fire bite me! She growled at it, warning it not to come close. She didn't think Sage was telling the truth about not being able to defeat it. After all, Sage put her hand in there without being injured at all. The sizzling of the eggs held the puppy's attention more than the fire though, and she barked happily as it was placed on the ground.

She pounced on the plate eagerly, chomping at the hot eggs. The yolk leaked down her black fur, staining it. Messily she licked at her face, happily enjoying the meal. It was quite good. She snuffed at the plate happily, chasing the pieces around until each one was hunted down and eagerly swallowed. Licking the plate clean Dalgina sat back, tail wagging. She looked up at Sage, smiling. Fat birds make good eggs! She moved to step forward, hesitating a little as the paw still stung slightly.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii

Table by Alex

Sage River Lykoi · 02-04-2012, 09:58 PM

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The girl was nothing if not enthusiastic. Sage couldn't keep the amused grin from her thin black lips as she watched the child chow down. It was amazing what large appetites the young ones had; Sage's own stomach was quickly filled, but she snacked often. Creamy fingers reached for two more eggs which she cracked onto the skillet now. The raucous sizzle returned.

"Oh yes, they sure do," Sage said with a laugh, agreeing with Dalgina's comment. Sage liked to keep the hens healthy, but on the more plump side of the word. "Are you still hungry?" asked the Ma-Tzu, smiling down at the girl, creamy hand wielding the spatula. She's so young, she thought suddenly through a motherly gaze.

Sage had seen war and death in her few years, things that she had hoped she would never see again. Her gut wrenched as she was reminded of the bloody battle, a day she would never forget. She hoped that Dalgina would never see such things. Now, the curved lips fell, tragic accents to squinted eyes full of sudden concern for this girl's future. A pack was meant to nurture and foster, and Sage would do just that.

Although Dalgina was not her child, the Ma-Tzu was keen to treat her as such, a relationship she had only cultivated once before, with Wraith. But it hurt her again to think on that. With a sigh, she shook her head and looked away, staring back into the settling flames. "Does your mother know that you're away, love?" Sage wouldn't want to go against the Yakuso's wishes, especially when she had yet to privately meet the woman. Thoughts reeling, she stared hard into the flames, bright ambers reflecting the red-orange glow somberly.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 02-04-2012, 10:22 PM

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Dalgina's tail wagged happily as Sage agreed. It beat even faster as she was asked if she was still hungry. With more food on the horizon Dalgina grinned, trying to look as starved as she could. Dalgina sucked in her stomach before looking up pleadingly at Sage. Very hungry. She twisted her head to the side, adding in her natural puppy charm to the mix. If she could get more tasty egg Dalgina would do whatever she had to to convince the coyote she deserved it.

Her act must not have been very convincing, because Sage became very sad. Not too sure why Dalgina walked up to the adult. Placing a paw on her leg Dalgina looked up, whimpering softly. She nuzzled into Sage, trying to cheer her up, to assure her that things would be better. Dalgina gazed at the fire, following the coyote's gaze. She stared at it stoicly, trying to pick out some small meaning to it. She didn't see any though, and turned back to gaze up as she was asked a question. Yes. Mahn knew that she was out. She had watched her leave with Papa.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii

Table by Alex

Sage River Lykoi · 02-15-2012, 07:58 PM

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Relieved that the girl was not out without notice, Sage didn't hesitate to respond to the young girl's rabid hunger. "All right, then," she said with a laugh as she swept into the kitchen, gathering up a few more eggs. This time, she'd cook some for herself, too. The smell of the cooked yolk made her mouth water, and pink tongue flicked out to lick her thin black lips. When she came back into the living room, she smiled down at the fuzzy black pup. "How many more would you like, Dalgina?" she asked before cracking that number onto the sizzling pan. Golden eyes watched the familiar process, humming while she used the wooden spatula to move the eggs around here and there as they cooked. Once finished, she plated the second batch and fanned them for a moment before placing them down for the pup. "There you are," she chirped happily.

While the girl ate, Sage cooked her own eggs. "When does your mother want you home?" she asked, wondering. When she was a child, her curfew had been whenever the sun set, and she thought that was a reasonable expectation. Glancing out the window, she noted that the sun was lowering in the sky, but there was still time. When her food was done, Sage nestled herself onto a fur on the floor beside the fire and slowly ate her meal. She savored the flavor, and though it was only a snack for the coyote, it was a pleasant, filling one. Sage resisted the urge to lick the plate, and instead turned to her new young friend. "What's your favorite food?" She wondered what sorts of things the girl had tasted in her short life. Sage had been introduced to many flavors in her childhood, but most often she still preferred meat.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 02-15-2012, 08:35 PM

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Sage laughed at Dalgina's eager response, causing the pup's head to twist in confusion. Adults were confusing, going from sad to happy in an instant. Dalgina hadn't done anything funny. Sage wandered away to get more eggs, and asked how many Dalgina would want. Her eyes widened as she tried to figure out how many she could get. Um...four! That was a lot for her. It seemed like a very big number to the hungry pup. She watched happily as the eggs were made and placed on the floor before her. Quickly she wolfed them down.

Full now Dalgina flopped over, watching Sage finish up her own plate of eggs. Her tail wagged faintly as she was asked when she was expected to go home. Don't have home. She was sleepy now, and her eyes began to droop shut before being propped wide open. Her tail thumped against the floor at the mention of her favorite food, and Dalgina clambered to her feet again, pressing against Sage's leg. Like meat! And egg! Not like bread though. Have no taste.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii

Table by Alex

Sage River Lykoi · 02-29-2012, 06:08 PM

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mind if we wrap this up with your post?

It quickly became clear to the Ma-tzu that the child was becoming weary. Youngsters got sleepy quickly, she recalled, and such an adventure as she must have had so far today was surely tiring for the young pup. Dalgina still responded to Sage's patient questioning with vigor, but she noticed the way the girl slumped against her that the evening was wearing on her. Her odd phrasing confused the coyote; certainly she had a home, Sage knew she did. With Jace and Temo, in Westville. Assuming she meant that she had no curfew, Sage conceded with a sigh. She hoped she wouldn't hear complaints about her hospitality from the Yakuso later; she still barely knew the woman and didn't want her to think she was trying to raise her child.

"Bread can be good, with the right toppings," Sage quipped, remembering fondly the taste of buttered sweetbread she'd had so long ago. "But meat is best for us anyways," she said with a grin. She knew that some of her family embraced a vegetarian lifestyle, but it was not for her. To Sage, the balance between predator and prey was as important to Mother Earth as anything else on the wondrous planet. Without canines to keep the rabbit and deer populations in check, they might someday outnumber them. Sage was personally grateful that vegetarianism had not yet spread to more Luperci. Meat was instinctively their food, and she would not shun it for living.

As Dalgina's small body pressed up against Sage, she smiled, kneeling down to stroke her soft puppy fur gently, soothing the sleepy girl. If she fell asleep right here in front of the warm fire, with a full belly, Sage couldn't blame her. She would at least be safe until she wanted to go home, and then the Ma-tzu would be happy to take her. Leaning behind her, Sage pulled a thick fur from the dilapidated couch and draped it over the young girl gently. It looked silly, nearly drowning her small dark body in the pale cream fleece of a once-living sheep, but it would suffice to give her comfort until her next adventure.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii · 02-29-2012, 09:52 PM

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OOC yup

Dalgina didn't believe Sage when she said bread could taste good. There was no way that was true. She did agree that meat was the best though. Sage dropped down, softly stroking Dalgina. The soothing movement relaxed her, and Dalgina moved around so that she was curled up next to Sage, hoping that the coyote would stay and keep her company. She wasn't ready to sleep after all. Not really. Another large yawn escaped her, brown eyes closing.

A thick soft covering settled over her tiny body. Twisting around Dalgina got part of it in her mouth, chewing on it lightly. It was only a few more minutes that Dalgina was actually awake, enjoying her new friend's soft touch and the warmth of the fire. Her dreams beckoned, and soon she was traveling new worlds filled with strange creatures, all eager to meet her.

Dalgina Wolfe-Denahlii

Table by Alex

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