Sitjariaq was dancing around all proud and happy. Glad that he had caught his new playmate and was still playfully batting at him. It ended in time though, with the brute slowly getting to his feet and nudging the pup along gently. He listened intently to the new wolf, a smile now spread across his face. It was his turn to be caught now! How exciting! The white and black mottled puppy shook his head yes in response, then took off like a little shooting star back up the trail that they had left, hurrying to get a head start as fast as his little fluffy paws could carry him.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed, the little explorer was ready to continue play. A ferocious nod bobbed the boy's head as he agreed to the head start. Arlen could catch the elated beam within those Olive eyes before they turned away. The boy darted up the hillside, back the way they came. A white flash darted beneath the worldly greens of the forest.

One... Two... Three... Arlen climbed to their feet. Indigo gaze watching the pup's silhouette grow smaller and smaller. Four... Five... Six... With each increasing number, their voice grew louder. Rising to carry to the boy as the distance between them grew. Arlen stretched their legs, splaying their toes into the dirt. Seven..Eight-nine-ten!

Leaping forward, Arlen bounded up the slope after the pup. Legs extending as far as they could to cover the lost distance between them.

Sitjariaq kept on running up the mountain trail, ears pinned backwards listening in on the his playmate's voice. The clock was ticking for the boy to get as fast away as he could. Small paws quickened at the count of ten. Eyes were wide and full of excitement. Adrenaline was kicking into high gear through his veins. Then came the inevitable rush of large paws coming his way. The large wolf that was bounding after him was coming for him fast. The white and black spotted boy took to the nearby small crooks and crannies within the mountain trail's walls to try and hide. Maybe then he had a chance of getting away.

---

For flavor I rolled D20 for a perception check. Arlen rolled a 15.

With each stride their paws beat against the earth. Somewhere ahead of them was the spotted little boy. The rush of his pawsteps were soft when compared to their own.

But he was there, somewhere, and Arlen was going to catch him.

Sucking in a deep breath, Arlen tucked their head and powered up the hill. Their gaze lowered to the ground between their feet, they tuned their ears to the world around them. There wasn't much to hear past their own breathing and the thud of their paws. Concentrating harder, they searched for the boy's paws.

Wait... where were they?

Hitting the brakes, Arlen planted their paws into the soil. Steadying their breathing, Arlen pinched their eyes shut and listened again.

No little pawsteps to be heard.

Wisening up to a change in the game, Arlen opened their eyes and glanced around them. The little explorer must have been hiding nearby.

Hrmmmmm. Arlen took a page from their father's book, and hammed it up. Sweeping their nose above the ground, they huffed and puffed with exaggerated sniffs to catch the boy's cold scent. With a great show, the Bearclaw stalked over to a stone that was simply impossible to hide under, flipping it over with dramatic flair. Arlen stomped the ground in mock defeat before rallying their strength once more.

Shoot! You're a clever boy, but I'll find you yet!

And, truth be told, they meant it. Playing as they were, a competitive edge had taken root within their heart. Perhaps the seed had always been there, sown the day they were born. Indigo eyes swept the environment, searching for a flash of white fur or a scuffed trail in the dirt.

The little white pup stayed right where he was, sharp ears listening for the large playmate he had made friends with. There was the sound of huge paws coming his way, scuffing up the dirt and debris as he looked for the boy. But it didn't take long for olive eyes to spot the other wolf, almost meeting their gaze and looking away at the last moment.

There was a show of strength and a playful gesture, a game that they had started for the boy and intended to keep playing for as long as they could. Sitjariaq leaned a little closer, curiosity getting the better of him as he tried to see where the wolf had gone. A scuffle here, a struggle there. Now the boy was stuck and couldn't get out. A loud squeak erupted from his maw, calling out to the wolf for help in getting him out. This game was not fun any more! Help!

In lieu of applause or laughter, Arlen's grand show was met with a squall. A child's cry that sent them cringing.

Alright, okay! Quit your crying— you're gonna tell the whole damn mountain you're here!

If Arlen was lucky, it'd be an angry mother that did not ask some teenage nuisance to babysit. If they were unlucky, well... Arlen was perhaps the nicest thing the boy could have run into as he bumbled about the mountainside.

Moving over to the nook the boy wailed from, Arlen leaned to look into the opening. As much as they could, anyway.

You've gone and got yourself real stuck, didn't you? It was of no surprise to Arlen. Whether or not they themself had wound up in a similar situation at the boy's age had absolutely no bearing on this fact. Give me your paw, alright? It might hurt a bit but I don't think I can grab your scruff just yet. I'll pull your leg just until I can get a better hold of you. That okay?

Sitjariaq knew that he was in a horrible predicament. So much so, that when the wolf had found him, he quite willingly wiggled his leg out for them to grab and pull. The boy shook his head in a yes very rapidly, trying to get himself to stop squeaking in fright and concern. The rocks were closing in on him, making the world feel so small and dark.

A puppy now on the edge of sheer heart attack, was now placing his life in the paws of a near complete stranger. Now he had to trust in the fact that this newcomer would not hurt him at all in the end. Closing his eyes as he held out his paw, the spotted puppy waited for them to come to his rescue.