Would you stay with me?

A fortnight passed, their number grew like the face of the moon, and waned, and those that could keep up, did so. Naga found this life to be much easier than the last; he did not voice this to @Tupannguaq, or to any others, out of an almost superstitious fear. What if he doubted this new life? What if over the next hill, he would see his father again?

To think of Taorana now — the man was a figment. Naga could recall his voice sometimes in the booming of storm clouds coalescing above, or the creaking of ancient oaks as they collided with one another and scraped bark against bark; but here in this open expanse, where the horizon looked limitless, Naga felt he was truly free.

As he ran alongside the other men his reach was coltish, despite the fact adulthood spanned the length of his body. He moved as if he had no concept of himself — and why should he? These past weeks were his whole life.

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Tupa was not a fighter. In a sea of them, he existed as something else entirely. It had been his role in a previous life, he was sure of it. The only time he'd felt lifeblood staining his fur had been toward the end, and he preferred not to think of that now. Not when the wind combed through his fur and excitement bubbled in his chest like a babbling stream. Wind whispered in his ears, forming shapeless language that he nearly understood but could not quite grasp.

But the running could only expend so much of the energy coursing through his veins. Tupannguac spun on the nearest target and placed himself in his path, skidding to a halt and falling into a quick play bow, hoping to initiate a game of chase instead of aimless gallivanting.

He could feel the ease this life provided, and felt it should be enjoyed for the gift it was.

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Had he ever seen so much green before? It was almost blue the closer his eye trailed to the horizon, and there the land became the sky, and he could not tell it apart. There were fuzzy hills undulating in every direction; they'd climbed their way through something like foothills earlier in the week, and they had chased things that ran faster and more fleeting than anything Naga had memory of.

One of the men — no, the boy — dashed out of alignment and spun, nearly tripping Naga as they bowed low, as if trying to scoop his attention away from the wilderness. It worked, of course; Naga was too simple-minded in this moment of his life to stay focused on anything for long. The boy made an invitation with his body that drew Naga in to a game.

Jousting forward at the boy, Naga reaches for his scruff or his shoulder, forgetting all about the majesty of the plains around them.

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Naga was quick to draw out of line, his larger frame nearly toppling over Tupannguac's smaller one. His plan had worked - the other man's attention was on him now, and Tupa was turned into a sort of makeshift prey item to be chased across the plains.

The larger man dove for his scruff and Tupa was quick to move, though not without the light nip of teeth against his fur. It was a day for fun, he'd decided. A grin spread across his maw and he danced away, tail whipping around like a banner behind him.

He could not fight, but he was fast. His paws thumped on the packed ground, stealing glances over his shoulder as he went.

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