Cygnus

Cygnus hummed and pulled away, head tilting slightly, ”I'm... not sure. Maybe we could travel through Ursa and across instead of into Polaris. I've never been that way, I wonder what's there.”

He stopped and looked into the water for a moment, staring at his reflection before looking up at Cerilaine, ”I have an idea right now, though...”

He grinned and jumped into the water, splashing it high, definitely splashing Cerilaine. He laughed and galloped down the stream, leaving a wake behind him. Initiating a game of tag, it seemed.

”It's been so long since we played!”, he said jovially, ”So let's play a game of tag!”

@Cerilaine

Cerilaine kept on, glancing up to Cygnus as he turned off somewhat. "I haven't been there yet. I've seen the tunnel though- always good to go into the unknown with a friend." She nodded to her words, ready to stick by them.

She paused a moment after he did, though, turning back and tilting her head. "Oh?" One corner of her lip pulled up into a curious smile, her body turning fully. And he was off- with a small yelp, Cerilaine jumped back after being in the splash zone, a bubbling laughter rising up through her.

Tag!

"Yeah! Better get going, 'cause I'm gonna get you this time!" She chided, letting the child in her spring forward. There was no way she'd catch up to him at full sprint, but it was a game! So what! She was having the time of her life, laughing out and running along the bank of the river as water spread over the banks. The wisp trailed about her- maybe it was excited with all this movement- its glow staining the air for a brief moment as it whipped around her tail.

If only she could just... Reach... A leap forward, and she strained to get just one paw somewhere on Cygnus's thigh!

@Cygnus (aa don't be afraid to pester me about posting.. i get tunnel visioned sometimes)

Cygnus

Cygnus giggled as he galloped through the water, his long legs and strength allowing him to run almost at full speed.

”You'll never catch me!”, he called out behind him, turning his head to see Cerilaine lunge for him and letting out a rather embarrassing squeal.

Paws grazed his fur as he tried to jump forward, ending that round of tag and making him 'it' now. Immediately he skid to a halt, kicking up rocks and pebbles as he scrabbled for purchase before turning around and galloping after Cerilaine.

”My turn!”, he said, his wisp darting all around to light his way.

He tossed his head and bucked to release some extra energy, unable to help but laugh. This was the most fun he'd had in ages!!

The moose darted forward, head down to try and touch the leopard, his hooves too sharp and unwieldy to risk using those.

@Cerilaine

Once Cerilaine connected, she skidded- tumbled, even- past Cygnus when he stopped, laughing in turn. She scrambled, looking for purchase on the wet grass, before making a beeline to the treeline.

Like a battle waging behind her, her own bluer wisp hovered about Cygnus's, as if playing with it, too, companions racing through the night. Cerilaine's eyes turned to glance at that, and her grin stretched wider, distracted briefly-

It wasn't hard for Cygnus to catch up to the distracted leopard in the middle of the field, and soon she could feel his nose against her, turning the tides once more. Except, perhaps-

Playfully, she launched herself to her back, rolling in the long grass with a flurry of laughs. One paw dramatically laid across her forehead and- while she was panting- she heaved out a sigh and stretched out. "ohh- I've been gotten! My end days are coming... Defeated, by my one, true nemesis... Cygnus..!" The speech was dripping with satire, and she closed her eyes and swung her head back like a victim of soap opera.

One eye pried open, and she laughed some more, the noise bubbling out of her chest and rising through the air.

@Cygnus

Cygnus bleated in surprise and lunged to the side to avoid stepping on his friend, giggling softly as he watched her ridiculous display. He walked towards her and lowered his head, nosing her shoulder playfully.

"Alas, you face defeat at my hooves!", he said, laughing and continuing with the silly play, "There is only one more thing to do now..."

The moose plopped onto his belly and put his massive head right on top of Cerilaine, laughing up a storm, "To snuggle, of course!"

His wisp chased Cerilaine's around, purple mixing with blue to create a soft indigo before the wisp darted away again, egging the other on. A childish game of tag while the two gembound snuggled on the ground.

’I am certain that Cerilaine is my best friend,’ the moose thought, blue eyes peering down at the snow leopard, his gaze soft, ’And there is one more thing I am certain of. I truly love my best friend.’

Cygnus couldn't help but smile, lashes brushing against his cheeks as he closed his eyes and huffed softly. He lifted his head to nuzzle Cerilaine, happy to spend time with her in the quiet of Pegasus, when only the crickets found themselves awake and chirping. Like nighttime birds, filling the air with song while the winged creatures slept.

@Cerilaine

"Alas!" she agreed, opening both eyes to watch Cygnus. Her grin was definitely smug, and she raised her paws up as he came forward, giving him a soft "oof!" when his head landed on her. Her own forelegs draped across Cygnus's snout once he'd gotten comfortable, and she hummed out a loud laugh still.

This was a pleasant life, she thought. Maybe she could just stay here forever, staying pleasant in Pegasus and simply thriving in its agreeable climate. Food was rich here, and there were so many plants...

Cerilaine curled up and nuzzled back, her eyes closing once more as she settled in. It was quiet, for her- while she may not hear the distant bird-songs, their chirps too quiet for her to hear, she could tell Cygnus was happy just as she was. Her tail flicked from side to side as she stretched upwards and got herself comfortable.

She could very well just fall asleep here, and she opened an eye to look at her friend. This, too would be pleasant, she decided- and she hummed as she shut her eye again, enveloping herself in Cygnus's fur.

(we can fade to snz time if you want :uwu:) @Cygnus

Cygnus sighed softly and tucked his legs in properly, unable to help but smile. His great chest rose and fell with each breath, brushing softly over Cerilaine's fur as he settled down to sleep.

"Good night Cerilaine," he said softly, "When we wake up, can we spend more time together?"

He looked up at her, eyes drooping slightly. He yawned widely and sighed softly, stretching out his legs as sleep drifted over him like a warm blanket. There was just no better pillow than a snow leopard blanket.

If Cerilaine replied, he'd smile gently, drifting off into dreamland as his wisp slowly faded away.

Heck yeah! Snz time! Exit Cygnus uwu
@Cerilaine

As the two got comfortable, Cerilaine rumbled happily, pressing her head into Cygnus's great neck. How wonderful this was right now, and she hummed out, letting herself go slack as she became the perfect pillow. "Of course," she chuffed out, sighing gently.

She pressed her nose further into Cygnus before she drifted asleep fully. "Good night." Her wisp would fade, too, as they fell asleep to the sounds of the river and night-time lessers. It was a pleasant night, for pleasant people, and Cerilaine was happy.

@Cygnus for visibility!
;exit Cerilaine