All around me (Kodi)

[$*CrazyHick*$]

My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Mirage

[/b]

The little wolf pup padded into the area her little tail wagging slightly. Her big ol paws seeming large seeming to show what she would like like in the near future. The sand coat glistened however the body that held all that beautfil color was skinny and amaciated. Mirage hadnt eaten in awhile and her little tummy was letting her know that. She was used to have her 'mom' go get stuff for her but for now she would have to go with smaller prey like rodents she had atleast been started on meat a month before. Her tummy let out a loud growl and she whined softly she was starving. She saw the lake and the glittering shards in the bottom of it and the water drew her like a mosquito to a bug light. The sun beat down on her meager frame her tongue slicking out in a fast pant she was so tired and starving.

She came closer and closer till she reached the waters edge the little chocolate orbs looking at her reflection and she was immediatly disgusted with the results. She was thin skin clingy to her bones her fur matted from dirt and other things she missed her 'mom' and she had to fend for herself from now on though she was scared dark was coming shortly. She looked at the water and saw something swimming but also it didnt look that satisfying so she turned her attention back to the glorious scenery of the setting sun and other things. Her harks twitched as well as her nose sniffing and listening a hawk caught her attention and she ran for the cover of trees hiding in the a little hole in the trunk wrapping her tiny tail about her and crying softly to herself she missed her home and needed some comforting. Soon night fell and Mirage drifted off into a fidgety sleep. All sounds awoke the poor pup and she felt so insecure. By morning Mirage was deprived of sleep, food and so much more and even more she was weaker and sickly. She didnt even have the strength to really move beside lift her head and growl and various sounds.

And so I cry
The light is white
And I see you

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Take my hand
I give it to you
Now you own me
All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you
I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healed

[<3Kodi]

Soul was on the move again, in a constant state of motion as the sun began her climb over the trees. His ivory coat shimmered as the sun gained strength and during summer months when everything was healthy and green Soul found his pelt to be a nusence, often being the reason various prey fled. He was like a white flag as he flitted through the forest toward the nearby lake. Soul had been on the move since sundown the day before after napping away the day in an abandoned badger sett. Now Soul didn't feel tired but hungry, his stomach impatient with him to find some decent prey. During summer that shouldn't be hard to do but in his constant state of drifting Soul hadn't actually set himself up for a serious hunt. According to his stomach however, it was about time he got down to business and actually looked for prey.

Pausing not far from the lake, Soul perked his ears. Stormy blue-grey eyes scanned the dark green foliage for signs of the scent he had caught. Drifting from his path the big male loped through the undergrowth. As he neared the source of the scent his strides became longer until the brute was at a flat run, weaving through trees and leaping brush. The source of his sudden fast motion was a dark brown rabbit bounding through the foliage in a frantic attempt to escape the wolf's fangs. The poor thing wasn't lucky enough that day for, soon enough Soul's fangs snared the little beast to end its life.

Carrying his prize, Soul headed toward the lake which glimmered as the sun rose over it. Pausing at the edge of the trees, Soul listened again, trying to ignore the temptation to be reckless and just go to the lakeshore and eat. Finding quiet, Soul padded farther out of the foliage so that his white fur lit up as the sun hit it full force in all its morning glory. Looking around, Soul's ears twitched. There was a faint sound coming from somewhere nearby. Putting down the rabbit, Soul raised his head and sniffed the air, looking away from the lake and back toward the trees. Abandoning his rabbit, Soul began to walk slowly toward a tall old tree, hollowed out at the bottom and whatever was within it hidden in shadows. A few feet from the tree, Soul stopped and swerved his ears forward, listening, his blue eyes trained on the little makeshift den.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Her harks flicked and she slowly got up on her pillars something was getting closer. However her little pillars wouldnt hold up her weight and she whimpered and then growled to her pursuer. She crawled to the very back of her little hideaway and growled louder b ut it was more of a dehydrated gurgle. However also her tummy growled right at that moment and she stood up on her front pillar her brown pools looking about the area. Blood hit her nostrils and it seemed to draw her out of her little hiding spot. She came out her little tail tucked firmly between her legs her harks plaster to her little head. The blood seemed to call to her and her tummy growled loud and her eyes were large and frightened like everything was going to get her.

The wind blew a strong gust and knocked the little she wolf over making her grunt and lay there so weak. She got back up though she was exhasuted it wasn't hard to tell that. She looked up finally feeling her little body shadowed and she figured her dead but when she looked up it was another wolf and she retreated thinking him going to eat her. She went all the way back to the back of the tree making small little growls which seemed cute yet dangerous but all the while they also sounded sick. She quieted after a few moments noting nothing came after her however her little hackles stood on end her lips raising showing her full grown up teeth.

[<3Kodi]

Watching the hole with mild interest, Soul perked his ears. Little gurgling sounds reached his ears, soft even to the keen ears of an adult wolf. Frowning slightly the male angled his head closer to the hole, trying to identify the sound. The light behind his eyes went on as two and two went together. Something was growling at him from the shadows of the hole. If Soul knew anything about anything he was sure it was a wolf pup, remembering similar but healthier sounds from his puphood. For several moments Soul watched the entrance to the hole, knowing whatever was inside, most likely a pup and a fae pup from the scent, was frightened but from the sounds of movement it was tempted by the smell of Soul's recent kill.

Soul's reluctant heart softened instantly and a gentle smile curled his white maw, stormy eyes gentle now rather then interested or curious. Turning. the big brute padded back toward the rabbit he had left. Picking it up, Soul carried the little burden back to the hole and laid down about three feet from it. In the shadows he could see a miserable scrap of fur moving around. With a flick of his muzzle Soul accuratly tossed the rabbit toward the hole and watched his dinner tumble down into the darkness toward the waiting pup.

Glancing around, Soul assured himself no one else was around. At least no foxes would try to make a meal out of the pup, that was a plus. From the softness of its growls Soul was fairly sure the pup was either very young or very unhealthy, probably both. Sniffing the wind, Soul found no femme scents other then the pup's. No mother, at least not a mother around recently. A frown marred his handsome visage but Soul pushed the troublesome thought away. Perhaps the pup had simply wandered too far from her mother and gotten lost? Oh well.

Resting his head on his paws, Soul flicked his ears forward. "I bed you're a hungry little pup" he barked, his deep tones soothing and calm. "Eat up, then if you want you can come out. I may be hungry but pups are too fuzzy for my taste."

[$*CrazyHick*$]

The little pup waited hearing the footfalls leave her be. She relaxed then heaving a heavy sigh she was safe for not. She looked out into the distance from her little cubby hole and watched hearing the brute come back and she got farther back into the darkness feeling the cool dampness of the interior of the trunk. She smelt it rather the scent of the iron in the red blood and it bout drove her made she was so hungry her mouth was watering oh she felt horrible her head spinning and little growls coming from her throat. She fluffed up like cat when the rabbit hit home and she growled and pounced on the form biting and tearing visciously at the flesh and rejoicing in the meat. Oh it practically melted into her mouth and made her just about moan in pleasure as her belly was soon satisfied and managed to actually bulge. She was so pleasantly plump but she was still skinny but not as much the meal had done her good.

He spoke to her and it was a very masculine voice which made her cringe. She had picked the rabbit clean no meat clinging on the bones. She yawned slightly already feeling drowsy. She got up and shook her little body she was still weak but not as bad and she slowly made her way out to the little entrace of her hideaway he was watching her and she couldnt help but smile shyly at his saying 'pups are to fuzzy to eat' she couldnt help but grin but it was weak. She practically wobbled over to him and looked up at him her ears plastered to her head tail tucked in a very submissive gesture. "Thanks mister" she said rather hoarsly coming up to him to sit on her haunches in front of him.

[<3Kodi]

Soul chuckled softly, listening to the pup ripping apart the rabbit. When his own stomach gave a weak, unhappy gurgle Soul mentally shushed his stomach and waited patiently outside of the little hole in the ground. He was glad the pup accepted the meal but it also meant she probably had gone a while without anything to eat which troubled him. Why would someone not provide for a pup? It didn't matter to him that he had no blood pups but it always troubled him to see a starving pup. He simply didn't have the heart to turn one away, knowing all too well it could have been him or his brother at one point in their lives. If he had chosen to run off sooner and Howl had followed, they very well could have been the pups starving in the forest all alone.

Awoken from his thoughts by the scrabbling sound of pup paws, Soul flicked up his ears and looked at the pup, running a critical eye over her. Her fur was a bit mangy and dusty but he could see the true color of it lurking under the grime. A good bath and she'd be as good as new, or at least a little better. The pup's belly was swollen with the meal but Soul could imagine well enough what she had looked like before he had offered his own supper to her and it saddened him. Sniffing curiously Soul found his suspcions correct. She carried only the very barest of mother scents. She had been seperated from her mother for a while.

Angling his head to one side, Soul kept his head low so he wouldn't scare or startle her. "Now what is a lovely little pup like you doing out here all on your own?" he asked, his voice soft and caring. He didn't want to scare her, that would definatly not be good.

From the look of her pup-fuzzed fur and big paws it was obvious the pup was still young, not even six months if he could give it a guess. It had been a while since he'd been around pups so his judge of their development was a bit fuzzy but he was pretty sure she was within her first months which meant she was in danger alone. If her starved appearance told him anything it was that she didn't know how to hunt for herself and that alone was plenty deadly not to mention she wasn't any bigger then a fox and a hawk might just find her rather tasty.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

The little fae looked up at the large brute she knew she needed a good bath and perhaps some tender loving care from this brute. He seemed nice enough but looks can always be decieveing and yet she wondered why he was here. She was so fulll and like a pup she was sleepy and her eyes were getting slightly drowzy and she folded her paws underneath her skeletal frame. She yawned her little puppy tongue curling up looking abnormally cute. Then he spoke to her not to anyone but her this was abnormal. The only thing that bothered her was she knew she heard the faint sound of a gun and her seregant mother hadnt returned so she had to be dead and that put a depressing mood on her little frame and she held back unshed tears they were so soft yet quiet but they fell down her small thin cheeks leaving a clean dark trail.

She looked up at the male wolf. She was in pain and didnt like to think about what happened to her mother. So she spoke "daddy said to save me so my seregant mother hid me here she left to find food but she never came back after I heard a loud booming noise" she said softly. Little Mirage sniffled hard " I waited for mommy but she never came back but I waited for mommy day on day she never came back" Mirage said finally letting heart wrenching sobs shake her body. Mirage didnt even know what happened to her father she knew what happened to her mother that wasnt very hard she even knew what happened to her previous mother she died giving birth to Sito and her. Mirage curled up into a little sobbing ball letting all the tears she had so long held in finally out like she had been wanting to do but now she hoped she would be protected and looked after. She was young and needed to learn basics of survival and she wouldnt want to be left alone all by her little lonesome she had found a friend perhaps or was she wrong.

[<3Kodi]

Oh of all the heartbreaking things in the world, there were only a very few things worse then pup tears. Mirage's story was indeed a sad one but one Soul had heard once or twice before. All those wolves however, had been older then Mirage when their parents had parted from the living world because of human killing traps or their guns. Soul knew his own story was a bit sad but he never admitted to his own grief for his family because succumbing to grief would mean he'd given up all hope and Soul refused to do that. If he gave up all hope and fell into his own pitiful sorrows then that meant he'd be giving up on his brother's life and he refused to do that. His brother was alive somewhere and that hope kept Soul going, traveling and searching. This poor pup however, didn't have his motivations nor his knowledge.

Fate had plaid the pup a cruel hand but she was dealing as best as any pup could. Soul felt a certain measure of pride and pity mix for the pup. With a soft whine the white male heaved himself to his paws and padded behind Mirage, laying down behind her so she was resting against his side. Rolling slightly onto his side so Mirage could snuggle up to the warmer and softer fur along his belly, Soul curled around the pup to offer some comfort and much needed warmth.

Rasping his tongue over Mirage's dirty fur, Soul sought to soothe the unfortunate whelp. "Shh now little one, it'll be alright." Soul pressed his muzzle comfortingly against the pup's shoulder. He was more of a wolf of actions, his words simple and sometimes few and far inbetween. Of course as a young wolf he had been very vocal, also very protective but he had had good reason back then. Now, it was more of a habit to be protective, an instinct to soothe small hurts, a reflex to stop the tears with words or actions, whatever worked. "What's your name?" Soul ventured, hoping to lead the pup's thoughts away from her painful sorrows.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Mirage body racked with shedding tears and wrenching hiccups. She whined and cried she had finally let loose after what had happened since she was separated from her father and not only that her mother. After a few minutes she felt the white wolf so closer to her she stiffened thinking something wrong. However when she felt the large body curl up beside her the little body relaxed fully he was soothing her with his words however she didnt want him to feel pity for her even though that had already happened and that made her grit her teeth she was so weak she hated it why did it have to be her why her. "My name is..is.. Mirage" she said ever so softly her voice hoarse like a little frog. Yea you could consider her life immaculate but it wasnt it was just as demolished as her little body was but she was still her deep down she just needed someone to take away her grief and every little worry with it to help her cope with her losses. After all she was just a pup she couldnt handle everything on her own or could she. The way she was looking now probably not but with alittle food and the company of another wolf things were looking better and better. Mirage had finally stopped sobbing and finally cuddled into the softness of the brutes fur. It was so warm like her mothers and father but somehow it was just so much softer than it appeared it was way thicker than her moms and that caused the little sandy fae to breath in deeply as her little body surrendered to a very tiresome sleep.

Mirage slept and slept however it wasnt very long until she found that she was well rested. When her little chocolate orbs opened to look up she saw the white peltage and unraveled her limbs and tail from her and stretched. It had only been two hours the sun was just now disppearing behind the clouds the darkness surrounding them almost. However their was still light and she smiled with her little eyes landed on the hundred of fireflies. She looked up at the big brute and she wondered if she had been rude to fall asleep on him but she couldnt help it. After you cry so much you tend to exhaust your body and fall to sleep and the wake up later with puffy eyes and sore body and stopped up nose like MIrage was now. She backed up some from him and smiled softly "didnt mean to fall asleep on you and not give you enough time to answer" she said referring to her falling asleep right after she revealed her name after all she didnt even know his name. She began to stand up noting she was much more stronger now and loped over to the watering hole which she snaked her little pink tongue out to caress the surface of the cool liquid wetness letting the droplets take her thirst away and it was quenched quickly. She headed back to the brute who took care of her and she smiled not sitting on her hauches but rather her rump with her hind legs out to the side. She looked up at the brute and noticed the markings on him finally "those are awesome" she said and then had the grace to look embaressed "oh um mister what your name" she asked curiously her harks perking up she looked healthier now.

[<3Kodi]

Mirage was a nice name and seemed to fit the little femme. Soul smiled softly as he watched her begin to drop off into a much needed sleep. It would do her more good then anything else Soul could do for her so he let her be. As the pup slept, Soul's blue gaze wandered from the sandy little body to the surrounding landscape, his mind thinking things through like it always did. Mirage was a lot like his brother had once been. She needed someone to be around and be with even if she hadn't admitted to needing that yet. Despite her age, Soul still thought even if she were an adult Mirage wouldn't go far without a pack or some sort of close companion. Howl had been similar, social and more friendly then Soul had been in his younger years. It saddened him now, the way he had treated his family. If he had known their fate he never would have said half the things he did or done a quarter of what he had done.

Laying his head on his paws next to Mirage the brute laid his ears against his skull. As the sun rose higher and more clouds began to appear in the sky, Soul dropped into a light doze. As much as he hated his past and dreams, there wasn't anything Soul could do about them but usually if he slept lightly he wouldn't dream as much or at least not remember his dreams. It was a mix of hunger and lack of recent sleep however that turned Soul's light doze into a fitful slumber, his ears twitching and sometimes his paws as well, his face twitching into frowns or grimaces as he slept.

It was shifting and movement at his side the woke the brute. Raising his head quickly and blinking away sleep, Soul looked down and saw Mirage rising, ears flicking up just in time to catch the fae's apology before she set off for the waterhole. Soul smiled for her but the expression slipped from his face as she walked away. What had he been dreaming about? Whatever it was had unsettled him, like always. Heaving a sigh the male straightened his face as the pup padded back toward him. His markings? Oh right, he had a moon on his forehead and a lightning bolt on his nose. Right. Soul chuckled and rasped his tongue over his front paws for a moment.

"My name is Soul and I must say little sleep and a meal goes a long way. I've got to get to hunting for myself soon but...." Soul trailed away, his gaze lingering on Mirage. "I can't just leave you here on your own again." Soul's stomach growled impatiently and the male had the grace to look abashed. "Ahem, sorry about that. What do you think we should do? I can't leave you here but I can't take you to your home because I don't know where your parents are and I can't just stay here. Any suggestions?"

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Little Mirage was sitting minding her own business when she heard like an echo in her head. 'Mirage be strong I'm no longer ther but this brute could very well be the answer to you pain perhaps he could ease it' the voice was so familiar and then a strong. 'Who are you' she asked quietly and the voice returned back like gentle silk 'I am the voice of the past that will always be, I am the voice of your hunger and pain, I am the voice of the future' it said so sweetly. Mirage shook her head yep it was official her puppy imagination was getting to her. She stood up and shook her small body knocking the dust and debris from her pelt. She yawned and sat back down awkwardly. She tilted her head as he spoke to her she had no problem being left him thought she felt like he would leave her too maybe he would let her go with him she had to learn to hunt at any rate why not start now. She licked her lips after all she was hungry again her mom would have called her alittle piglet what could Mirage say she liked food and knew how to put it away and her little tummy gave another growl and she rolled her eyes. However when Souls answered her she grinned and beamed up at him "seems your hungry to mister soul" she said.

She turned to look at the landscape her little orbs running over the large grassy terra wouldnt be hard to find something else to eat out here in this wonderful place."Its nice to me you mister Soul your name fits those awesome markings on you" she said averting her gaze from his very odd marks not wanting to make him uncomfortable. She giggled softly at his little comment about the hunger and little sleep but that was it. "I can go with you if you dont mind" she said looking at him her harks plastering to her head knowing he would probably say no because she was young and she hate being referred to as being weak and it made her grit her teeth always wolves thought her weak she would show them wrong someday but she never got the chance for all she knew they were probably dead and she didnt even get to say goodbye. She shook her head and looked down at the ground and growled softly she wouldnt be considered weak anymore she would show them she could be more than a wolf pup she could be an actual wolf a killing machine. She looked up at him and her eyes seemed so much brighter today and full of alot of mirth. She grinned "please mister Soul" she begged softly her little chocolate eyes probing his for a yes.

[<3Kodi]

Soul was hesitant to let Mirage come with him, even though deep down he knew that was what was best for her. She would be just as safe with him as without him and had a chance at a longer life which was something she obviously deserved. Still, the ivory brute was hesitant. Why? Well, the last wolf he'd taken care of, he'd failed. Howl had been killed because Soul had gotten mad and run off, he hadn't been there to help his brother or his parents or anyone else in his pack. What made him think he could do any better with Mirage? Soul looked down at his big paws, thumping his tail as he thought. Mirage was a sweet pup, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed like any parent would want but Soul couldn't be a parent. He didn't know how. He knew how to be a protector but that wasn't the same thing as a parent right? Mirage needed a mother to take care of her. But...he could feed her, offer shelter and protect her. What was missing?

Raising his azure gaze, Soul met Mirage's pleading brown orbs. His resistance crumbled to dust but in a heartbeat it was building up again. Now he knew what was missing. It wasn't something for Mirage but, for him. She was just like Howl and it broke his heart. She was staring at him with big eyes, pleading and innocent as a fawn's. Howl had always known he couldn't resist big eyes and had always used that to his advantage. Now Mirage was doing it too. If Soul took her in, would Soul be giving up on Howl? Saying his brother was dead and it was time to move on? That didn't seem right but leaving Mirage all alone....that seemed so much worse....

Heaving himself to his paws, Soul let out a heavy sigh. "Alright Mirage, you can come with me but you need to be very quiet or we're not going to have an evening meal."

Raising his head, Soul breathed in deep, ears perking forward. Near the lake there was the trees where Soul had wandered hours ago. He could smell deer faintly, a buck though probably a young one. Soul's stomach squirmed impatiently and instinct told him to hit the brush and start tracking. Glancing back down at Mirage, he twitched his tail for the pup to follow as he began to move toward the trees, his pawsteps silent. The big brute appeared to glide as he headed for the trees again, now defiantly needing a meal soon or he'd be no better then Mirage had been.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

Mirage met his gaze and smiled brightly however what she seemed with it she didnt like. She rolled her eyes and went back to being a pup. Getting low on her forepaws and chest rump up in the air banner waving like a victory flag. She began stalking forward watching the various little bugs flit about waiting for a fat juicy one to come out. They were fun to chase and seeming Soul was busy in his own thoughts she went about her business. She saw it then a beautiful yellow butterfly with little brown spot on its wings and a full black body. It was to pretty to play with however the butterfly took flight and came for her and she gave a yelp and fell backwards the pretty insect landing directly on her nose. She looked up at the little yellow buttergly it tickled so bad and when she breathed she got some dust in her nose from its wings. She was about to sneeze however she noted she liked the pretty butterfly it reminded her of her mother well her actual mother her father had told her the color and the sound of her mother.

In these exact words 'your mother was like a ray of sunshine she stood out even among gold itself she was so beautiful and yet she had superb brown eyes which could very well melt you very soul so much beauty and it was all mine... and now its gone' her father had seemed so hurt and it made her hurt she never liked seeing her father hurt it was horrible. Mirage remember she told her father

'dont worry daddy I can be like momma cant I' he had merely laughed and spoke so softly for only her ears

'you and she will be my rays of sunshine little mirage.' Mirage shook the images from her head and looked up at the butterfly he did say she was golden in color but she was sandy brown not like any wolf she had seen. She now looked at the butterfly it was pretty but would never measure up to her mothers beauty. She sneezed and sent the butterfly on its way.

Mirage was coming to his side watching his face distort as he was in deep thought. Great he thought her too young for the job and that made her groan out loud and make her want to bite his leg and shake it she grinned maliciously and was creeping closer when his voice rang out and she stopped short sitting down like she hadnt been up to anything. However she wandered what it would be like if she actually did nip him aint like it would hurt he was a big wolfie right. He was going to let her go hopefully he didnt feel sorry for her or she would be to happy about that. However she had so much excitement bubbling in her she shot foreward bounding like a little rabbit barking scattering little grasshoppers and other little buggies. She stopped remembering he told her to be quiet or no lunch. "Oops " she looking embaressed she was just a pup she was a little bundle of energy and was even now having fun. "Come on Mister Soul and gets soem grub" she said bounding over the highgrasses so she could see out and where they were going.

[<3Kodi]

Soul mentally heaved another sigh as he began to head for the trees again. How old was he? Five years? Why did he feel so old? Maybe Howl had aged him or something but as he led the bouncing pup toward the trees, Soul couldn't help but feel like he was a hundred seasons old. Oh well. He would just have to get back in the habit of acting less like a mute wanderer and, well, more like a foster father. Soul swung his head high again, scanning the trees and listening intently as a breeze whispered through the branches. It was late afternoon so most deer would be bedding down to wait until the cool evening to go out to the meadows and graze. Soul had no problem kicking up a deer from its resting place, especially since with Mirage with him they'd probably make more then enough noise.

Ducking his head to Mirage's level, Soul caught her by her scruff to get her to hold still. "I need you to be very quiet and when I start running you stay here and don't move until you hear me howl" Soul ordered.

Please please please let her be better at listening then Howl, was all Soul could think as he straightened up and dropped his bulk lower to the ground and began to creep through the undergrowth. His nose filled with the scent of deer, indeed a young buck as he had thought. Pausing in a patch of thick brush, Soul listened and looked. To his delight he saw the deer's head up, turning its antlered head and looking as well, no doubt it had caught Soul's scent. That was fine. Soul glanced around in search of Mirage, mindful of his new energetic shadow. Trying to convay the need for silence with his gaze he held her eyes, hoping she would indeed remain down while he chased out their meal.

Mirage was far from big enough to be any help in a hunt but she could watch and learn but only from a safe distance. Deer were known to turn and kick or try to ram a wolf with their antlers if they were cornered or injured. Hopefully that wouldn't happen but if it did, Mirage would be safest at a good distance. Not a hundred yards away in a dip in the brush, a young buck was hidden, listening for Soul's approach. Mirage would be safe but only if she listened.

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Barking and boucing like the little bundle of joy and energy. She knew she was bound to strike a nerve or soemthing else along those lines and she waited and waited. She jumped onto a rock and lookced around her little harks plastering to her head. Her little sniffer going ninety to nothing. Oh she smelled it food and it made her mouth water. Gosh she figured she ate to much and she began to crawl back down her little hide rock and she began to bounce once more and bark scattering all the little critter that managed to crawl into her way or slither there. She stopped halfway when her legs were not touching the ground and her traveled up to Soul.

Mirage growled as she felt the scruff of her neck become taken up. She was feeling prissy and she didnt like to be man handled her mom didnt do this to her and neither did her dad. She gave him an irritated growl bark combo saying she meant business and to put her down that minute or she would nip his heels all the way to the deer. However when he told her he needed her to be very quiet she did exactly as she was told. Her body stilled and all even her breathing was soft barely noticeable. Her eyes had grown to slits however with her irritation and she waited for him to put her down.

When her tiny rumb hit the ground she gave a startled grunt and she nipped at his heels with her teeth. They were sharp but it was puppy payback. She then dashed away out of view to watch the coming hunt. She crawled up back onto her previous rock and watched soul head off to take on the young buck. She popped her rump on the rock and couldnt help but feel the urge to join in the hunt it would be fun and she was very sure of it. However she knew herself way to young for the job so she could sit out and watch what was going to happen she was very excited and kept low though her eyes were all on Soul and the young buck. She even tilted her head and looked with her little pink tongue lolling out her mouth in a soft pant cooling her body.