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It felt like it was taking forever to a boy; but he was regaining his strength ─ his weight would take longer. But with his energy returning, and still being but a pup he was eager to explore this new world and - of course play in the snow. Mischievously did he flee from Cirilla's den, a flutter of giddy excitement chasing him as big paws pounced into the snow and pranced off into Ichorwood. Reckless abandon carried the boy across the territory, chasing every small critter that would catch his attention with his curled tail in a flurry of excitement atop his back.

He was chasing a squirrel when she stopped his play, movement of what he thought was under the snow initially from his distance and short legs brought the boy into a play bow ready to pounce whatever other small creature lived below. His butt wiggled, tail rolling over his back as his tongue was pinched out of the side of his maw in utmost concentration.

But then ─ another dog got up, and the pup bounced backwards suddenly. ❝ Woah! ❞ he beamed with a laugh, ❝ Where did you come from?? ❞ he tilted his head, looking between the striped girl and the snow pile she (according to him) emerged from.

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❝ speech ❞
ooc; notes

When the world had a tendency to steal you, and precious little loved ones from you, it had a lasting effect - sometimes, not a great one. Every time Cirilla would leave the den to find that Benkei was gone from the den, her anxiety would spike, and all she could think of was oh no, not again and she’d drop what she was doing and go on a hunt for him - similar to a dog who’d given birth and lost her puppies, because, really, what was the difference?

But hearing the barks of laughter was like a beckon locator, and Cirilla bounced on over towards them with a sigh of sweet relief, taking in his citrus herbal scent and with flared nostrils as she looked over at - oh, she knew that face, and she knew it well.

Serafina.

Would she take to the news as well as her sister had?