THE SPRING
Written by Crescent1325.

Krim rolled over in her furs. Feeling for her leathers she tried to put them on. “Dung,” she said. “What is with this weather?” she cursed at Skot who was rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Skot yawned. “Whasa matter?” he questioned. “are you still such a fawn that you cant handle the heat?” he asked teasingly.

Krim threw her leathers at him. “Fine, you wear them. Still lined with fur while the sun is beating down. How is it possible to live in this cursed heat,” she fumed as she grabbed at him, pinning him down. “and if I remember correctly, you were just complaining last morning about the heat too,” she said reaching for her leathers and pulling them on. Quickly she crawled out of their new den and the scent of the forest filled her. It was a new experience for her. Growing up in the frozen mountains, all year long was White Cold. To experience another season, boggled her. Not to mention the ways of the Wolfriders, who seem to thrive in this heat.

Seating herself on a log, she waited for Skot to appear by sharpening her life. “’lo, Pike, how are you this evening?” she asked when the elf approached.

Pike sat himself next to her and smiled. “Fine,” he exclaimed. “After seven years in the desert, I’ve been loving it here..”

“Seven, in a desert, and that would be..?”
Pike giggled. “Well, its like the land of white cold. Except, no water, no trees, no nothing, and instead of cold, HEAT. The sun shone all the time, and nearly melted us,” he explained.

“Heat, huh? You mean like this?” she asked as sweat beaded on her forehead.
Pike’s mouth dropped open. “you call this heat? this is nothing. Ive felt worse in Goodtree's rest. Don’t you Gobacks, know what this season is for?”

Krim rolled her eyes. “Well, it's always been war and hunts, when did we have time to play,” she asked, getting defensive.

Pike held his hands up in submission. “No, I meant nothing about it, but let me show you what I like to do on days that are the hottest,” he said grabbing Krim by her hand. Calling for his wolffriend he dragged her on to him. “Come on Tiptail,” he said. “Go,” then the Wolf ran.

Krim let out a gasp at how quickly the wolf carried them both. But what made her feel better was the wind that the run created. Cooling off her overheated body, the ride was over too quick for her. Looking around, she noticed a field of berries. “And this would be..?” the Goback asked the Wolfrider.

“C’mon Krim, you’ve been denning with us for how long and you’ve never stumbled upon the dreamberry patch?” he questioned. Which earned him an icy stare. “Well, this is where I get my berries for the howls. Oooooooor,” he said, reaching into his pouch. “Whatever occasion,” popping a berry into his mouth. He flew into the patch head first, reaching for any ripe berry he could find. “Come Krim,” he said.

“I’ll think I’ll pass Wolfrider, it's too hot for me to go moving around in a patch.”

Pike peeked his head through the shrubs and frowned. “Are you sure? They are all so yummy,” he asked, but upon looking at her, he knew the answer would be no. “Well, fine, I know what we can do,” he said snapping his fingers. Pulling Krim on the wolf once more, they were off. Pike pushed the wolf fast. And within no time, they were at a mountain spring.

Krim gasped in wonder. “What is this place?” she asked as she dismounted the wolf.

Pike smiled happily as he pleased the Goback. “It's my waterspring, none of the other wolfriders know of it,” he said. “Feel the water,” he commanded as he placed his own hand in the water.

Krim shrugged and did as she was told, letting out a yelp in surprise. “It's cold! Oh it reminds me of the rivers back in the Frozen Mountains! I wish I could go dipping in it.”

Pike Grinned from ear to ear. “Well, we could,” he said as Krim looked at him, not believeing. “I'm serious, the spring is small here, but it gathers and makes a pool just a few paces from here.” He took off running.

Krim, with no other choice, took off after him and was rewarded with a splash of water directly at her. “Thank the High Ones,” she cried as she peeled her leathers off and jumped in. Within heartbeats she was cooled off and half laying on a rock, sunning herself. She turned to Pike who was laying next to her. “Why?” she questioned.

Pike sat up, confused. “Why what?”

“Why share this with me?”

Instantly the Wolfrider blushed. “Well, I, you see, um, I, well,” he stammered.

Krim understood all to well. “Ah, my rosy-cheeked one, I think I understand,” she said as she grabbed at him and nuzzled his neck. Instantly she felt Pike melt into her as she melted in to him.

Some time later, she found herself on the way back to the holt, with Pike. As he stopped at her den, she felt, beads of sweat, develop again. “Pike, shall we show Skot your spring?” she asked.

Instantly, the Wolfrider blushed again.