The joys of running. [Open]

[Nakaharu]

      It wasn't at full speed, but it was enough to feel the gentle winds against his fur. Nakaharu, a short white wolf, was running through the fields of flowers. This was his usual "run for fun" routine. Nakaharu ran across the wide, never-ending field, enjoying this exhilaration. The sunlight's warmth against his back made it all the more glorious, even though he was a tundra wolf.

      Nakaharu did eventually stop, having been running for almost a full hour. He slowed to a walking pace, being careful not to stop too quickly, then he sat down. The taller of the flowers lightly brushed against Nakaharu's neck. Looking up at the sky, he saw the sun and little more than two clouds in the sky. He laid there to graze for a bit and then, most likely, he'd go back to running.

      Nakaharu paused, sniffing the air. Something smelled really bad. He recognized this smell somehow, though. He looked around before realizing what it was. "Darn it, I have got to stop hitting those skunk flowers," he says to himself, shaking his body, realizing he had carried the nasty scent of the flowers.

[Streak]

Streak, a black she-wolf lay in the grass, gazing at the sky. She smelt something. It was the smell of a wolf mixed with a horrendous smell. Streak sat up. A wolf. The first wolf she has smelt in ages. Streak jumped up and followed the scent to where the wolf would be.

[Nakaharu]

      Nakaharu stretched, telling himself that he has gotten enough rest for now. He was preparing for another dash across the field and maybe around more of Shinkou. Trying to ignore the scent of the Skunk Flower he had run into, he started walking slowly, preparing for more speed.

      Nakaharu was about to take off when he heard something. There was a rustling sound along the grass. He thought it to sound like something moving. Nakaharu stopped what he was doing to see what it was, as it sounded like it was moving toward him. Whether to flee or not, he would decide later.

[Streak]

Streak saw the white wolf turn in her direction. He seemed to have heard her. Was she really that loud? She decided to introduce herself, in a playful way of course. Streak flattened herself against the ground, wtih a devious grin on her face. She studied her target, the white wolf. Streak judged the distance between them. It was a long shot but, if she made contact, it would leave the wolf on the ground, with her on top. Streak looked again at her target. She pushed off her back legs into the air towards the white wolf. Her face was alight with joy of playing a prank on someone at last.

[Nakaharu]

It was too fast for Nakaharu to detect, and he was unable to react . The wolf made contact with him, knocking him off his feet and onto his back, allowing the wolf the chance to land straight atop of him.

Nakaharu closed his eyes, in a cringe. He was a bit afraid, this being his first impression. He didn't know the wolf was playing and assumed he was attacked.

[Streak]

Yes, she made contact! Streak looked at the wolf and saw he was a bit frightened. She decided to cheer him up a bit by tickling his tummy. She wondered if he was ticklish. I guess I'll find out, thought Streak as she began making circular motions with her paws.

[Nakaharu]

      Nakaharu had still been in a cringe when he felt the paw drawing across the fur of his belly. This was a weird feeling that made him pull his body together. He felt himself laughing for some reason. He hadn't known himself actually having a ticklish spot on his body, yet it was found so easily by this wolf. Upon this happening, Nakaharu tried to calm himself. He understood now that this wolf had no intention to try to hurt him. It took a moment, but he opened his eyes to whoever happened to be on top of him.

[Streak]

Streak stopped tickling and got off the wolf. She stood back, waiting for the wolf to catch his breath.
"Hello, I'm Streak. Sorry about that, but I just love a good joke. What's your name?" Streak inquired.

[Nakaharu]

After the wolf was off, Nakaharu rolled to his side. He got to his feet and gave a good shake, making his fur become puffed before it settled back down against his back. Some of his shed fur sailed off from his body and some of the dirt was shaken off. He looked at the wolf who said her name was streak. "Er... hello, Streak," Nakaharu says, still sounding a bit shaken. "I would be called Nakaharu," he finished. His brown-tipped white ears were focused to Streak's voice, though not enough for Nakaharu to seem aggressive. "I like to 'Run for fun,' which was the reason I'm here." Nakaharu's tripping over words would make one certain that he wasn't all that used to talking.

[Streak]

"Nakaharu, huh. Nice name." Streak looked around the plains. "Let's have a race. It's been a long time since I raced anyone and I want to see how much fat I've gained. So, what do you think?" asked Streak. She pointed to a tree in the distance. "The tree is the finish line. The loser has to catch a meal for the winner. A nice one." Streak looked at Nakaharu with her piercing violet eyes. She smiled and looked at the tree, calculating the quickest route, if indeed Nakaharu would accept her challenge.

[Nakaharu]

      Nakaharu's ears went up to the word, Race. He wasn't sure how well he would fair in one, but he still had wanted to try. However, he didn't know if he would be able to keep up to the bargain that was made. Nakaharu wasn't exactly the most skilled hunter. Even through all this, Nakaharu said, "Ok, I... accept." He didn't know if it was his inability to say no or if he actually wanted to race. Nakaharu got himself ready to race to the tree that Streak had motioned to. "So... when do we... well... start?"

[Streak]

"Right now. Ready! Steady! Go!" And with that last word, Streak rushed off. It wasn't her best of starts but it would have to do. Streak ran towards an abyss, where there lay a narrow log. It was a short-cut that suited Streak's ability. She ran across the narrow log with no trouble whatsoever as she has an unatural sense of balance. She could see the tree. She looked back at Nakaharu. Where is he? He was no where to be seen. That would make sense as she was running and looking behind you whilst running is a difficult thing to do. Streak concentrated on running. She would worry about him later.

[Nakaharu]

Nakaharu had been running on the word go. He had followed most of the way. However, being constricted to a single path, he forgot to maneuver around a bush and had crashed straight into it. He had gotten himself stuck rather deep into the thing and struggled a few minutes to actually get out of the situation. Nakaharu looked at himself, feeling an odd weight around his body. There were multiple burrs, not just a few, even twenty seemed to be a small number compared to the amount in his fur. Nakaharu tried to shake the things off. No matter how much he tried, however, the things wouldn't come off. Surely, he wouldn't win this race now... as well as the fact that he looked rather embarrassing now.

[Streak]

Streak looked back again. She could see Nakaharu behind her. Streak stopped and waited for Nakaharu to catch up. She was feeling exceptionally kind today.

[Nakaharu]

Nakaharu caught up to the wolf that he had been racing against, Streak. He was a bit slower though, in discomfort of burrs all over his fur. This wasn't the first thing he had messed up. He was actually rather clumsy at times, even. He still tried to shake the things out, with no luck. He tried to keep Streak's attention from the burrs and he decided to try a spring when he had completely caught up. He still wasn't fast, however.