Welcome to Canis Major

a wolf and animal rpg (role-playing game)

Canis is a writing community for play-by-post (forum-based), freeform roleplay set in a fictional dream world in the intrusion fantasy genre. Most characters on Canis are wolves; many play elements are focused around wolves and canids, but the world makes room for a large variety of other animal characters such as dogs, horses, cats, bears, deer, and many, many more.

Our community is focused on flexibility, creativity, and collaboration. That boils down to a few important features:

  • There is no set activity requirement to write
  • The setting and plot are member-created and staff-supported
  • The game is continuously improved to increase fun and decrease stress

Learn more in our Rulebook!

You're not my homeland anymore.


Afternoon Sunny/Clear
#1
07-26-2021, 01:00 AM
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“Once upon a time, a momma wolf found two orphaned wolfpups in the forest. They were the most perfect little wolfpups and momma wolf decided that she could not live without these wolfpups, so she took them home and gave them all the love in the world.”
 
That had been the story that the sisters had grown up with. The beginning of the web of lies, Cirilla reckoned. Didn't all fairytales start with that once upon a time nonsense? Fairy tales were nothin' but a fancy story, and as Cirilla ran through the snow, she had not even realized that she wasn’t home. There was nothing about the tundra that screamed ‘this isn’t kansas.’ No, instead, she realized that that's all her life was. A story. Make believe.

Was there even any truth to it? All the love in the world would not have saved Cirilla's heart from being broken from two of the three most loved canines in her life. And things had been going so well for the sisters. Or, at least, for Cirilla - the popular star of the Drifters. She had not known or considered the fact that her sister might not have been as happy with their pack that Cirilla had once been.

No more. She had gone to find her mother. Renny's birthday was coming up, so of course, Cirilla had wanted to do something special. A surprise birthday party. Maybe even a celebration? She hadn't known, but knew her mother could think of something. So, like any daughter would, she went to console her mother.

And that's when the earth shook with betrayal. Cirilla did not remember leaving (the den,) but found herself running through the snow as if her life had depended on it. And perhaps, had she not just been heartbroken, she might have noticed all the small differences that would have told her that she wasn’t in ‘kansas’ anymore.

Every part of her wanted to rage out against them both, but Momma had taught her against losing her cool. Said that’s why “them dogs called us monsters,” and wolves were not monsters, but “older and deadlier dogs just trying to live like everyone else.”

Guess wolves really were monsters after all. Cirilla felt sick to her stomach. Oh, gods, she was a monster, too, then. She stopped, in the middle of a clearing and threw up, disgusted. Disgusted with what she had witnessed; disgusted that she was a monster. After all, she was a wolf.

And that's when she saw it. The movement in the forest. Food? How long had it been since she had eaten something? The growls in her stomach told her it had been more than two days. The creature was the biggest thing she'd ever seen. It was like a mutated deer. She had not been on hunts with the pack yet to know what it was, and usually whenever she had eaten something, it had always been too maimed for her to realize what she was eating, but the scent was familiar.

That's fine. Despite its size, Cirilla was overly confident. Or perhaps she just wanted to feel something other than the pain and disgust. She crept towards it, but it saw her. It was not happy. It charged after her, and Cirilla yelped.

“ミスが行われました!” Abort! Abort! ABORT! She took a sharp turn, knowing big animals couldn’t handle such things, and ran until her little legs would carry her, running until it dawned on her that she wasn’t home. There, in the distance, were trees that hadn’t been there before. So, naturally, that’s where Cirilla went.

Not just a tree, but an entire field of them?! Whaaaa? As she came upon the Land of Cherry Blossoms, Cirilla slowed down to glance around with wonder. Her mouth hanging in wonder as she glanced all around, slowly taking in the sights as Cirilla tried to wrap her head around where these trees (and everything else) had come from.

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#2
Formation
Shiroshika
07-26-2021, 01:32 AM (This post was last modified: 07-26-2021, 01:33 AM by Reiko.)
tags for visibility!

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Wanting to pick some flowers for her daughters, Reiko had spent most of her day carefully picking low branches and cleaning off the leaves to leave only the blossoms on branches. With prudence she would try to clean off as much of the snow and water from their petals, leaving them out to dry in the clear light of the afternoon so they may be as presentable as possible when she would return to @Hotaru and @Rainier to offer the bouquets.

After all, she had no husband to show how a young lady should be treated by her dad - and so it was up to Reiko to do both the role model and teacher for them both. With her front legs up high on the bark of the trees, she snapped off another branch and turned to begin taking off the leaves of this one too, leaving behind her a trail of little green leaves in her wake.

Then she paused.

The pinks and green on the branch she held lightly in her teeth swaying with the breeze as she saw an unfamiliar face some walking into the blossom grove. Their pelt almost reminded her of Rainier's but they were definitely canine.

With the recent event of prey being hunted and dragged off their land, she was cautious with this stranger wandering their lands. Slowly putting her branch on the ground to clear her throat and gain the stranger's attention. “Uh — hello.” She would be cautious, but not aggressive. Not without provocation or need to call Tiberus for his aid. After all, there was no proof that this was the prey thief. 
 
“You are on Shiroshika lands, may I help you?” From the looks of it, it was almost safe to assume that this one was lost.
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#3
07-27-2021, 11:16 PM
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Lost? Oh honey, lost was the understatement of the decade. Cirilla had known these lands. Cirilla had been raised in the tundra, she would have noticed the Land of Cherry Blossoms, had it existed in her world. It hadn’t, yet somehow, these were the same lands she’d grown up in? No, no… it couldn’t be. It simply didn’t make sense, and Cirilla liked things to make sense.


First came the snapping of branches, and Cirilla froze. Oh, oh this wasn’t good. She’d immediately thought that some other type of predator was nearby, lurking in the trees, ready to pounce. Cirilla’s hackles rose, muscles tense as she continued to slowly look around. 


And then came a voice that seemed unsure as Cirilla felt, and when she looked in that direction, there stood a tiny woman with blue eyes. Almost as if she were made from the snow itself! Frosty the Snow-wolf? Renfri? No, this woman held a different scent than the sister that she grew up with; the sister that had been left behind. 


The structure of this canine, this Snow-Wolf, was different than the structure of her siberian husky sister, who looked similar in appearance, though this one was smaller - not that Cirilla could really see or notice; it was the scent and voice that told her that no, this was not her sister Renfri. Someone else. An imposter?!


Yet, the snow-wolf imposter did not claim to know her, or try to pretend to be her sister. Her voice held a certain authority that her darling little sister could never have. Cirilla nearly barked a laugh at the thought of it. 


“Shira-what-a?” Cirilla blinked several times as she eventually came to shake her head. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to trespass. I thought I knew these lands…” Cirilla nearly whispered, lowering her head. What was going on?
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#4
07-28-2021, 12:18 AM
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As calm as winter snow on a breezeless day. With age, children and people to care for - she found it easier these days to push aside her anxieties and focus on the tasks at hand. She now had guards to call for aid when necessary, all she had to do was send a call for them and they would come running. So she had no fear. Not here where she was safest. 

So she stood carefree and serene as the other pondered the answer. There was no need for them to leave in a hurry, just a simple reason for them being here and see if they could aid the wanderer in a way. Perhaps she too was a lost soul finding their way here into the strange new lands.

The non-wolf looking woman tried her best to repeat the name, and Reiko smiled sweetly at the attempt. “She-roh-she-kha.” Sounding it out might help the stranger in figuring out how to pronounce it. The stranger sheepishly explained that they "thought they knew these lands", another way of saying they were lost. “Oh dear...” Which only meant truly one thing. But they had to be certain. “Would you like to walk with me and see if you recognize anything?”

If this woman was lucky, perhaps they accidentally settled in someone else's home and could come to a conclusion that could make them both happy.
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#5
07-29-2021, 02:42 AM
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Cirilla had never met an aggressive canine before, though the Akita found herself grateful that this one seemed patient. She had no fear about her and a welcoming aurora that consumed her; it gave Cirilla the feeling of home and safety, like she never wanted to leave. What an odd sensation to have over someone she’d literally just met.

Hell, she’d even given a sweet little smile as Cirilla responded, and then repeated the name of this place, though slower, for her to understand. What a god damn blessing. What’s better, she even stopped what she was doing to offer to walk Cirilla around to help her see if she would recognize anything. Cirilla almost wanted to call her Mama, despite the fact that Cirilla had never called anyone that, but this canine seemed very motherly.

“Yes, I would like that very much. You are a gift. Thank you.” The Akita would nod, taking a few, though uneasy, steps towards her. “I am grateful to have stumbled upon a patient and kind canine. My name is Cirilla. It is very nice to meet you, miss.”
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#6
07-29-2021, 07:12 PM
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"You are a gift", Reiko snorted a little laugh at the unexpected - and strange - compliment. It sounded so youthful and strange to her ears that it tickled her pink. “Please go ahead, I will follow.” Pleased, she would escort the strange looking wolf as she explored - at least with Reiko at her side, there was no way they had to fear someone mistaking the striped woman as a trespasser. 
 
“It is a pleasure to meet you Cirilla.” With a light dip of her head, she approached the curly tailed woman. Softly and ever so careful to watch for body language to change. “I am Reiko Izuka, Empress of Shiroshika. You will be safe with me, as my guest.”

The smile remained painted on her gentle features, tail swaying as she waited for Cirilla to lead them wherever she might want to see next. See if she could recognize anything here. “Did you not even cross any scented borders upon arriving?” Curiously she asked as they walked, was Cirilla just noseblind to the borders or was she just dropped here out of nowhere?

If the later... it was concerning to think that anyone could just appear even within their borders.
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#7
07-31-2021, 03:41 AM
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Cirilla’s triangular ears flickered backward towards the snort, making a mental note not to compliment her or anyone else further. The snort had sounded like a bad sort of thing, and thus, would be the only time she would ever mutter again in her life. At least, until proven differently, but for now, Cirilla would lead the empress around her own territory.

Imagine that, out of everyone she’d found, it was the empress. She’d pause to nod her head respectfully, leading them further into the grove of cherry blossoms, as Cirilla truly had no idea where she was going, and it felt so weird to have an empress behind her instead of infront of her.

Thinking into it further, she supposed behind was safer for someone of leadership; not so safe for Cirilla, though, but the Akita had no ill intentions, though that didn’t stop Cirilla from feeling uneasy.

“I found Shiroshika… by mistake, your grace. I was being chased by a uh… very big… deer?” Cirilla blinked, for she was uncertain. She paused, blinking, as they came upon a little creek, and Cirilla turned to glance towards the empress with a soft wag of her tail, as she waited for permission to drink from the stream. ^^

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#8
07-31-2021, 05:26 PM
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Thinking little of their order as they walked, Reiko was simply glad to be escorting someone in the new lands they found themselves in. What if they had met anyone else before? Would they be this welcoming or would Cirilla have had to wander and figure herself out alone like most of the lost souls finding their way here to these new, strange, lands.
 
“There is no need for such formalities.” She smiled.“Reiko or Rei works just as well.” Reiko was a rather humble noble woman. Thinking little of her title as nothing more than just a role to be done as everyone else. Hers was to make sure decisions were made for the good of the pack - to make sure all were happy and well taken care of during her rule. And so, she would not ask for formal titles unless they insisted in the end.
 
“Very big deer?” Ones that were aggressive enough to chase a canine? “Were they caribou? Have you done anything to provoke them?” At the request for a drink from Cririlla, Reiko only smiled wider. Offering her own wag of her tail and a dip of her head to happily let the woman take a drink. Granted it was their resources to share and the request was kind - how could she be refused such a thing? “You seem unharmed and for that I am glad.”
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#9
08-10-2021, 12:11 AM
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Having been raised by a leader of sorts, Cirilla knew better than to drink from the river without permission. So when that permission was, of course, granted, Cirilla returned the empress’ smiles and gave a thankful wag of her curled tail.

She turned to lap up the water with a deep, though relaxed, inhale as she thought about the mutant deer that had chased her to these lands. “Not caribou. I know what that is, but this thing, Reiko, seemed bigger. Al-almost twice the size. Had horns that grouped together in a way that looked like it could lift an entire pack of wolves. And.. uh, I may have tried to… eat it?” Cirilla smirked nervously with another wag of her tail. ^^

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#10
08-10-2021, 12:40 AM
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There was possibly a difference in the way they were both raised, but Reiko didn't mind. It wasn't seen as strange as she would gladly share if asked to. “Twice the size?” She was almost in awe as her eyes glistened at the thought. What a frightful beast this would be and yet magnificent at the same time! 

Clearly she neither had seen a moose before. 

“If the beast is as big as you say, your stomach must be bigger than your eyes!” Crilla was no bigger than Reiko herself, there was no way neither of them could ear a deer or carribou on their own let alone one twice the size and demonic too! “Perhaps I should warn the others of such a beast being spotted near by.” Reiko too returned the smile and a wag, although hers was maybe a little less cute as her tail didn't look like a delicious Cinnabon.
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#11
08-11-2021, 12:32 AM
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Mutant deer, moose.. Cirilla would tell you that it was the same thing, and despite her age, she’d never been hunting to know what one looked like. ‘Course, all the food was already maimed by the time she ate, so it all looked the same.

Cirilla could not help but to grin at Reiko with another wag of her tail, glad the other woman hadn’t laughed or said anything hurtful. “I was, er, am quite hungry, yes. Perhaps one day, we could hunt the beast down together? Is your kingdom big enough to take it?”
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#12
08-11-2021, 01:22 AM
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“You must still be — hungry I mean.” And maybe after a satisfying drink, Reiko should show her to some of the caches and share some of their morsels they could offer to give. Maybe one Rei hunted for herself, one of the many rabbits she brought back on her random excursions.
 
“Together would be nice~” It gave her a warm fuzzy feeling to be already included in such a daunting task - one that could be told throughout their history and passed down to her grandchildren and their children's children beyond her years here. “Hmmmm I believe it is. Do you have a home we could call for you when it is time?” Because there was no assuming that she had just arrived here moments ago and not actually from these lands.
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#13
08-11-2021, 01:34 AM
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It would have been nice, yes, to be a part of something such as a legardy hunt that would be told to their children and grandchildren, but Cirilla didn’t think that far ahead. Right now, her mind was on food and Reiko.

Nevermind that she didn’t have a place to rest her head tonight, and nevermind that nothing about these lands seemed, looked, or even smelled like home. Right now, it was food. Food, and Cirilla didn’t even know how to hunt.

She’d give a quick nod of her head, then slowly, she shook her head. “Yes, Ma’- Reiko, I am, but you don’t have to… put up with that? I can, um, find something… I’m sure. I don’t want to impose or take advantage of the kindness that you have shown me. But I would love the company if you would like to join me on the quest for food?” Cirilla gave a wag of her tail at the thought, though blinking and tilting her head in the way that dogs do, towards the question of home.

Her eyes, her ears, and her tail lowered. She realized that she had no home. No friends, save for Reiko, and nowhere to go. “Oh, um.. No, actually. I.. uh.. I’m sure I’ll um.. ” Cirilla frowned, looking at the ground.

What was she going to do?
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#14
08-11-2021, 02:06 AM
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“Nonsense.” A quick brush off of Cirilla being too shy to accept anything more being offered. “We have plenty and I will gladly share before you leave.” She would have chosen her words more carefully had she known what the girl was thinking. She thought she was being kind, generous even and yet she may as well have tossed a grenade at the girl instead. 

At the mention of a home Cirilla took a different turn. She nearly flattened if it wasn't for her still standing. A look of sadness took Reiko's face as well, brows arched as she gently approached. “Would you like to stay?” Uncertain if it was the right move here, her voice was soft and apprehensive; like freshly fallen snow.
 
“We have plenty of room, resources, and I do not ask for a lifetime of loyalty.”
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#15
08-14-2021, 01:25 AM
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Cirilla was a prideful canine that didn’t quite like accepting help from… well, from anyone. More often than not, she took it as an act of pity, and if there was anything in the world that she hated the most, aside from liars and cheaters, was being pitied. She didn’t need it; she could do it on her own.

Cirilla would have liked to have gone hunting with the empress; imagine that, huh? Cirilla making friends with someone as lovely as the empress! Instead, however, what she got was an… invitation to stay? She had expected to be given some sort of excuse as to why Reiko couldn’t join a hunt with some stranger who had just shown up in her front yard.

“W-what?” Cirilla whispered the words, slowly turning her entire body to face the empress with wide, curious eyes. Her voice was soft, gentle, and seemingly genuine. “I would like that, yes… but is it okay, if I learn more about you and Shiroshika before fully becoming a member?”

If not a lifetime of loyalty, then what was it that the empress required? A blood sacrifice?
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#16
08-14-2021, 03:42 AM
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Is that what Reiko felt to Cirilla? Was it pity? No, it couldn't be. She didn't quite pity the woman, that wasn't quite the word she would use. It was more of altruistic than that. Other than the desire for peace to be returned for the act of kindness Reiko would hand out to nearly all who seemed needing of it to a certain point - she did not ask for anything else to repay other than watching with satisfaction as their lives got that much better even if it was only by a small margin.

The Empress simply stood with a smile as Cirilla was taken by surprise by the offer. A gentle sway in her tail as if it was caught by an invisible breeze. “Absolutely.” She would chime in as wisely Cirilla asked for more information on the pack before joining them blindly.
 
“Some may call it a foolish wish, but I hope to build a home for those in need. Whether temporary or permanently whatever fits their needs; safety, food, camaraderie, or whatever else. All I ask in return is peace.” A pause as she let her words sink in. No, she didn't potty Cirilla - there were plenty of packs out there who would love to take her in Reiko was certain. She was not alone as she might have felt in the moment, just lost.

“Your past is left here and there will be no judgement as we all wish to move on from what was, and into what will be - assisted by those with the same mindset.”
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#17
08-14-2021, 04:18 AM
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Cirilla had expected Reiko to take her answer and drop things, vowing for her to get to know the pack as a whole in due time. She had not expected Reiko to tell her about the pack and their mission statement right then and there. 


It wasn’t a bad thing, but everything about Reiko just swept her by surprise. One of her triangular ears flickered and Cirilla giggled softly. “I should have expected as much, huh?” 


Of course it was Reiko, the angelic empress, who would have a peaceful sanctuary of a home, in a gorgeous winter wonderland of cherry blossom trees and whatever else there was to explore. All she asked in return was this amazing thing called peace. 


There was peace and harmony here, with their angel of a leader. It sounded too perfect to be true. And then, came the best part. Her past was left at the door, with no judgement. “Then I would absolutely love to stay, Reiko. Thank you.” 


Don’t get attached, Cirilla; it’s too soon. Yet, she felt it happening anyway.
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#18
08-14-2021, 04:44 AM
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There were no secrets to be kept here. Cirilla had asked to know more about the pack and Reiko was simply glad to share. Naturally there was more to it but those were little details that she could learn on her own as she got to know the other members should she decide to join after today.

Not certain what Cirilla meant by she should have expected as much, Reiko simply kept smiling and let the comment go by with only a more vigorous wag of her tail. One of those "I dunno what you mean but I'll smile and nod" kind of deal so they didn't feel bad.

As Cirilla accepted the invitation the Empress was practically glowing. Jumping up and coming around to invade Cirilla's personal space as they were family now - weren't they? Leaning on the strange-wolf-like woman Reiko nearly teasingly added. “That means you are now entitled to our caches does it not?” She wiggled her brows to try and nail what she mean by it home. If Cirilla was apprehensive before, she could not be now as they were rightfully hers as a part of the pack now.
 
“Come, we can keep exploring if you would like - I can also show you other important pack matters along the way~”
^^
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
#19
08-14-2021, 04:58 AM
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The secret was that if Cirilla cut Reiko open, it wasn’t blood that would pour out - it would be sugar. Or maybe Reiko would melt into a cute little sugar cube. Cirilla had accepted the invitation and booooy, Reiko really, really, really, REALLY liked that.

Up and down, she went, like an overexcited child, all up in Cirilla’s personal space and then, when she spoke next, Cirilla’s expression went blank, almost as if she had told the world’s worst pun. Her ears flattened almost completely as the Akita Inu grinned at Reiko. “Clever, clever. I see what you did there.”

Now she couldn’t not accept it. Well, she could totally be stubborn and not accept it, but now it was rightfully hers! Why not tape into the resources that she already had? Her eyes narrowed almost playfully at Reiko with the nod of her head as she followed Reiko’s lead.
^^
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#20
08-15-2021, 07:50 PM
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Her little ruse was discovered - it wasn't as if she was trying to be sneaky about it anyway - and the woman simply grinned in response to Cirilla calling her out on it. Tossing a glance over her shoulder with a delighted wag of her tail to see that Cirilla was following, once she was fed and rested, maybe a quick introduction to some of the more common faces she would find in the pack (such as Tiberius, Hotaru and Izumi) would be an order. The rest would come in time of course as there was no need to overburden the woman with new information left right and centre.

One step at a time. Even if the Empress might be a little overly excited at times.
^^End!
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[Image: df686pz-0c7a3fc2-8eca-4da1-8429-49fa07fd3bab.png]
translator, I'm sorry if it is horrible for anyone fluent in Japanese!
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