Don't look down. (Tormand, anyone)

[Firedance]

Small waves lapped around Charlie's paws as he sat on the wet sand of the beach. He appeared to be an oasis of calm, air entering and exiting his lungs as regularly as the ocean waters rose back and forth in front of him. Yet despite his exterior appearance, all was not well inside his head. Loneliness was abound in his mind and the greying wolf had a distinct yearning for some contact from another creature, canine or otherwise; an unusual phenomenon for him, as he had always much preferred to stay solitary.

Yet the days without company had turned into weeks, and Charlie sighed as he realised that the animals that he currently shared the beach with were the crabs washed up on the shore.

[tormand24532]

A white and black wolf walk on the warm sand. The sun warmed his fur. He panted happily. He jumped in the water in excitement. It shlasp water everywhere. He came to where the dog was standing. "Who are you?" He panted happily.

[Firedance]

Suddenly Charlie became aware that he was not alone on the beach after all, as he picked up traces of the musky scent of another canine not far away. Not long after he heard pawsteps padding towards him, and stood up in anticipation of the fellow creature. But then something unexpected occurred- the creature made an enormous splash, as if it had jumped into the sea. Fat drops of saltwater landed on Charlie's nose and he shook his head in surprise.

'Who are you?' the creature asked. By now it was standing a couple of feet away from Charlie, who could instantly recognise from its smell and the way it was panting, that this animal was a male wolf, just like himself.

'Who am I?' Charlie widened his milky eyes in a questioning expression, as if seeking affirmation that it was indeed him that the wolf was referring to. When he got no answer, he carried on:

'Most people call me Charlie. And, erm.. your name would be?'

[tormand24532]

"My names Tormand but most people call me Tor." he walked close then sat. He tail wagged happily.

[Firedance]

Charlie may have been lonely, but he had not forgotten his basic instincts. Still not overly keen on being in close proximity with strangers, he took a couple of steps away from Tor and sunk his back end down onto the sand once more. In his past, he had found it exceedingly hard to trust strangers and although this wolf seemed benign enough, Charlie felt most comfortable whilst keeping his distance.

He closed his eyes and nodded towards the wolf. 'Nice to meet you, Tor', he replied in his smooth, low tone. A short silence followed in which the wolves sat on the sand, their hair being tousled by the sharp breeze which ran along the beach. 'So what brings you here?' Charlie carried on.

[tormand24532]

"Nothing I just like to meet new people." He looked at the dog. Then contined panting. "And just to tell you am not all a wolf."

[Firedance]

'You're not?' Charlie inquired. 'Forgive me.' Sometimes he missed his ability to see, and a short pang of wistfulness ached at his heart as he blinked his eyes which saw no light. No time for nostalgia, old man, he thought to himself. His need to see Tor stretched no further than curiosity, and, reminding himself that he was just lucky that the stranger had not been unfriendly, Charlie shook his mane in a soft, slow movement and sniffed the sea air whistling round the canines.

Without giving a warning to Tor, the ageing wolf lifted himself up onto his lean, long legs. His hock joint gave a small cracking sound and Charlie growled. 'Not getting any younger,' he muttered to himself. From his smell and the sound of his voice, he guessed that Tor was quite a few years his junior.

'I've heard many wolf packs roam around these parts', Charlie continued, remembering an unfortunate encounter he had had with a Sallin wolf a few months ago. You're not one of their members, are you?'

[tormand24532]

"No, and I'll never be my pack was killed a long time ago....." He sigh and stood up.

[Firedance]

Charlie lowered his head and listened intently to the stranger, not just to what he was saying, but to his breathing, the sound of his paws on the sand, the whistling of the wind round his body. 34,35,36.. It came to his realisation that he had started subconciously counting the number of times the waves of seawater had rolled into the beach. His obsession with counting things had spawned from a time when his head was in a much less healthy state and, much as he despised it, he now found it impossible to cast off.

'No, and I'll never be. My pack was killed a long time ago.' Tor's story seemed unfortunate to Charlie, and not unlike his own. Flicking his soft ears back, he searched his brain for a reply. When he found none, the wolf picked up his paws and began walking along the shoreline in a low, flowing gait, his tail meandering from side to side behind him. Slowing down, he listened for Tor's footsteps behind him.

'I'm going to get some air. Care to come?' Charlie asked, turning back to face Tor.

[tormand24532]

"Sure." Tor followed and looked at charlie. He felt a lot like charlie. He panted again.

[Firedance]

[OOC: Thumbs up for the improvement!]

Charlie allowed himself a small grin as he noticed how much Tor seemed to be panting. This old wolf would never succomb to panting like a dog, but then again it was a warm day.

A strong gust of wind flew in from the open water and rippled the animals' whiskers. Charlie turned to face into the wind, catching the scents it carried. A little spontaneously for him, he asked Tor, 'Ever been swimming?'

Charlie had always retained a fear of large expanses of water, having had never actually 'seen' a large expanse of water; his sight had been stolen from him before he had had the chance. Still, he was in a different mood today, a sort of mood where he felt like facing his demons and trying new things. He padded down to the wet sand where the waves lapped around his paws, wondering whether or not it was a wise idea to quite literally take the plunge.