Stupid croaking beasts...

[x - Barking Treed - x]

^{Strayer plopped down on his haunches, ears perked up, panting in exhaustion. Watching as the frog he had been chasing hit water with a splash.
These creatures didn't know how to do it right, were they never taught that scampering up a tree so he could have his satisfaction of treeing them was what they were supposed to do?
He sighed unhapily, and slid down in the grass uneasily. Still panting in the hot Florida sunshine that the humans called "nice day", or "swimming weather".
Swimming was alright, and he was okay with water... but only if there was a reason he wanted to splash and play, which wasn't very often. Besides, he wouldn't get in the water with those frogs anyways. I mean, who would want to?}

[|x spin]

<sup>Spin gently placed a paw in the water, a slow grin spreading across her muzzle as she felt the cool liquid. Ahh, that was more like it. This summer heat was absolutely killing her. She waded forwards, her toes sinking into the silt and soil base of the canal as the water rose almost to her shoulders. The chilly water was a comfort to her sweltering frame, and she let her piercing blue eyes slide shut in contentment. Her coat wasn't nearly as thin as she would like it to be, or as the hot Florida weather required, but as long as she had somewhat cold water, she could manage.

A small splash made her ears prick, and her eyes flew open. For a moment, she'd totally forgotten about the other creatures who shared the canal. Frogs, herons, alligators. The last was what concerned her the most; alligators didn't usually venture into such shallow waters, but you never know. Anyway, Spin just happened to have a clinical fear of alligator. Alligator-o-phobia. Another splash from near the center of the water was enough to get her out, and she started for shore, suddenly not finding herself as fond of the canal as she had been before. d**n alligators.

Her eyes flickered to another dog, on her side, glaring at something that had apparently just disappeared beneath the surface of the water. She gave her pelt a few hasty shakes to rid it of wetness, then jogged over to him, collapsing beneath the shade of a weeping willow nearby. "Nice weather, huh?" she commented with a roll of the eyes, noticing that he was also 'enjoying' it.</sup>

[x - Barking Treed - x]

Strayer tilted his head to one side, ears perked as he watched the fae collapse contently under the willow just a few yards from him. Panting contently, he lifted one of his paws over the other casually.
"I'm not sure 'nice' would be my choice of words." He replied. "'Sweltering', 'horrid', or 'uninhabitable' are more like it. Atleast to me, anyways. But I suppose I'm lucky, beings that I'm not double coated, Miss." He said noncomittically.
His tail curled itself behind him, and he yawned. Atleast the tree he lay at provided some shelter from the merciless rays of the sun.

[Spirit]

<sub>Leiyana tread slowly, parallel to the canal, head and tail held high, as if to challenge the heat. It was steaming hot today and the tranquil azure stream seemed to call her into it. She sighed. Canal water was not her favorite swimming spot. As she positioned herself in front of the surface to wade in, she noticed a thing gleam of bumpy emerald protruding from the water. "Well," she thought to herself, "it seems as if this way of cooling has already been taken by the alligators." Flicking her gaze from the seemingly still reptilians, her concentration moved to a shady spot under a tree.

Interestingly, there was a dog under the tree. Judging appearances, he seemed to be a coonhound. And he, she observed, had rested neatly in the coolest part of the shade, which meant that he wasn't there for more than a few hours. Ears perked, Leiyana cautiously proceeded to give the dog a little visit. Perhaps he'd be more willing to share his way of protection from the heat than the alligators.

Proceeding to the shade, she broke the taciturn silence by gently nudging the blueticked dog and exclaiming aloud, "Hey there, would you mind me lying in this shade with you?" Nodding at the alligators, she continued, "Those bloodthirsty brutes there seem to be prowling the canal water for a poor being to attack."</sub>

[x - Barking Treed - x]

^{Strayer was lazily watching the frog that he'd been chasing surface, and was fighting the instinct to bound after him- into gator infested waters- and try to tree him again that he'd barley noticed the presence of the vix beside him. He nearly jumped as she nudged him, and his head snapped around alertly, then relaxed as he saw it was merley a young fae. Oh well, those frogs didn't seem smart enough to know how to tree anyways.
"Oh, I- um, certainly." He said, a smile spreading across his wide black and white splattered maw. His tail wagged welcomingly, and he peered back out to the waters. Somewhat lost in thought about those gators- he'd never seen one of those before.}

[Spirit]

The moment Leiyana had nudged the seemingly sleeping dog, he leapt up, scaring Leiyana half to death. She wasn't expecting such an immediate reaction. It seems as if he was actually watching something in the water with his eyes half-closed. But, whatever the thing was, it was definately not the alligators...they were more upstream. It was a good thing too, you never know what a gator can do if you get too close.

"Oh, I- um, certainly," said he, with a grin. Glowing at the oppurtunity of a shield against the intense infrared rays, Leiyana tiredly collapsed beside the dog. Resting her head against her muddy paws, she stared back into the serene canal. Aaah, perfect. This was tranquility. The waves and the water lapping against the sandy ground always seemed to calm Leiyana inside her heart. thingying her head to her right side, she carefully observed her now-fully-awake neighbour with her amber eyes.

"So," she said slowly, her gaze never wavering, "What would your name be?" She wouldn't nudge him this time, he'd jump a mile in the air this time - teehee. "Mine's Leiyana, daughter of Cristamar, champion czechoslovakian wolfdog." She was extremely proud of her champion bloodline and heritage. If she hadn't gotten lost after months of wandering, she'd have been a champion herself - she was sure of it.

[x - Barking Treed - x]

"Me? Oh, I'm Strayer." He said happily, wagging his tail in enjoyment. "And I'm a- erm... ah.. Bluetick Coonhound, I guess?" He said, debating over his sentence in his mind.
Strayer was known to be forgetful and ditzy at times, often called a daydreamer. When Strayer drifted off to a far corner in his mind, it took a lot to bring him back to reality as Leiyana had just found out. Strayer was currently though(thanks to the new fae beside him) fully at time and present.
There was also something else about him that differed him from other hunting dogs, Strayer absolutely LOVED to hunt everything, anything, anytime and anywhere. This was a downside to his Master's old housepets- ferrets and such- that often found themselves on the top shelf of the bookcase, treed by a howling yet satisfied Strayer. He wondered if that was why Master left him behind. He tilted his head, and lay it on his paws, thinking again.

[Spirit]

<sub>"Strayer," repeated Leiyanya, camly rolling the word off her tongue, "It has a nice ring to it. It's very nice to meet you." She noticed that this time, the curious dog seemed to give her his undivided attention. Interest sparkled in her eyes as she observed that he wasn't distracted by outerworldly things at the moment, like he was when she first met him.

Turning her head around, ears erect, Leiyana continued to observe the canal. Leiyana had been born the calmest child in her litter. She never mewled or complained. And, when she was angry, she'd quickly storm off to the outdoor pool that was filled with a broad spectrum of koi, goldfish and catfish. Water tugged at her spirits and finally freed her into its cool realms. Soon, her soul would come back to her lithe body and she would be alright again.

A little rustle brought Leiyana back to the willow shade beside Strayer. Interestingly, he seemed to be in his pondering state again, with his head placed between his paws. But, his misty orbs weren't focused on anything particular in the canal, he was thinking of something in his head. Not wanting to startle him again, Leiyana quickly got up on her elegant legs and commenced the play-bow with her fluffy tail quickly swerving in the air. "Care to catch me?"</sub>

[x - Barking Treed - x]

"Catch you?" Strayer smiled, reaching out one paw, as if in a shaking hands manner as he did when he was wanting to play. He jumped to his feet, crouching low to the ground, sending a playful nip at her shoulder, only far enough to nip the ends of her hairs. "What makes you think you can even get the time to run away from me?" He grinned, Wagging his tail rapidly.
Strayer had a huge grin on his face, he began to pounce in place around her, she'd clearly figured out the one thing Strayer liked more than hunting, playing. His tail thumped rythamically. "I want to be fair, you know." he said. "So, I'll give you a head start." he smirked.

[Spirit]

<sub>Grinning a bit, Leiyana quickly observed the results. Strayer had obviously loved to play. He jumped quickly and nipped playfully at her shoulder in a knowing fashion. Well, she mused, let's not keep him waiting! She swiftly turned around, tail weaving through the air. With a last fleeting glance and a grin, she bolted cleanly across the canal side.

Free! Free! Leiyana was free! This was what she was designed to do. Moulded by Mother Nature to be her swift runner, Leiyana definately enjoyed every ounce of running pleasure she had. Focusing back on the enlarging plains, she switched to medium gear. Her feet were a blur as her paws trod across the emerald grass. Lowering her head to enhance her speed, she ran and ran...and ran. Joy. Pleasure. Euphoria. Leiyana was made to do this.</sub>

[x - Barking Treed - x]

Strayer let out a playfull bark as she shot across the mixture of sand and dirt that made up the only spots of dry land. Strayer didn't much hold back before taking off after. Dirt and natural debris flying up from his heels as he sped behind the femme. She was fast, he had to admit, but he thought he could be faster.
He licked his lips as he ran before closing them, inhailing rapidly through his nose to keep his lungs and heart satisfied as the young brute flew over the Earth as he was used to doing when he would chase a racoon, squirrel, possum(but those didn't run very fast) or even the tiniest chipmunk. And Leiyana was an equal match in speed to all his prey, well, he couldn't exactly tree her, but he could chase her alright!
His powerful hind legs springing with each step, making his strides longer, covering more ground with each great leap of his body.

[Spirit]

<sub>Leiyana heard a bark behind her shortly after she had taken off. The chase has begun. Slowly urging her legs to go a slight bit faster - to give the hound come real pleasure in chasing - she shot past the cracked lands before meeting up with some wilderness. This is it. This was the place. Leiyana twisted her elegant head around to check on her pursuer. Looking past her furred tail, she saw that he had made up for lost time on their trip across the plains. He was quick and determined to catch her. This was definately going to be more interesting than the other chases Leiyana had attended. The dogs there were nothing more than proud and arrogant. Strayer, though, seemed to just enjoy the fun.

Returning back from her thoughts about the Arutio Chases, Leiyana scanned the horizon with her formidably amber eyes. Seeing a little glint somewhere farther ahead, she put more hard-fuelled determination in her running as she controlled the massive amount of adrenaline, powering her muscles. Strayer is definately going to wonder where we've gone.</sub>

[x - Barking Treed - x]

He kicked up earth behind him, the wind whipping through his hair and blowing back his ears. He licked his lips as he strided forward, power coursing though his veins. Strayer enjoyed the chase as he inched closer to Leiyana, grunting quietly with each stride of his front legs as they hit the gound and carried him forward. Nipping at the hairs on the ends of her tail like a wolf after his rabbit, a bird of prey after a fish, or a snake after a mouse. But unlike the metaphors stated above, Strayer was not after her for his supper. He was purley enjoying the wind in his face, the packed-down dirt under his paws, and the sun beating down on his darkish colored coat high up in the sky above. It was a truly beautiful day, the puffy clouds dotted the sky, occasionally providing relief from the suns hot rays, the grass was cool, the water was rippling, and it was the perfect day for play.