Runt In The Wild

Chapter Thirty Two

"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed as Leo leaped into the hot spring, causing water to wash over me. "What are you trying to do? Drown me?" I yelled at me as he came back to the surface. He evilly smiled at me. I gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"

Leo burst out laughing as he swam to me and licked my face. "You know I would never want to hurt you, Kate. I love you," he said. I smiled sweetly at him and turned my head toward the shore at the sound of a little yip.

Katy sat on the edge of the hot spring with her little tail wagging furiously behind her. She looked at me and Leo intently. I sighed before I clambered out. Leo followed behind me as we shook our pelts to dry.

"Okay," I started as I turned to look at Katy, "what do you want to do?" Katy looked thoughtful for a moment.

Suddenly, her eyes brightened as a light bulb flashed over her head. Katy ran to one of the bushes on the side of the clearing and pulled herself underneath. Her little body disappeared beneath the leaves, and she just stayed there.

I smiled as I realized what she wanted. "Hide-n-seek it is then," I said as I laid down. I covered my eyes with my paws and started to count to twenty.

I heard Leo's thundering paws and the little patter of Katy's paws on the ground as the two tried to hide. "...nineteen...twenty...Ready or not here I come!" I yelled as I put my nose to the ground.

Katy's scent drifted to me, and I followed it to a space next to the waterfall. It was a tiny crack between the rocks, just big enough for a pup. "Found you, Katy!" I said through the opening as my voice echoed inside the little space.

Katy came yipping happily out and tried to tackle me. I laughed at her and looked around. "Okay, stay in the center of the clearing while I find Leo, okay?" Katy nodded her little head before she went to sit in the center of the clearing.

I put my nose to the ground again as I breathed in Leo's sweet scent. I followed it between the trees and to a group of berry bushes behind the cliff. I smirked as I bunched up my legs before I leaped over the bushes and landed in the center on top of Leo.

Leo rolled over from under me so that I was laying on his chest and stomach. Our noses were touching as our eyes locked. We smiled at each other as I stated into the depths of Leo's deep blue eyes.

Leo licked my nose before we both started laughing. I got off of Leo and backed out of the bush. Leo followed behind me as we made our way back to Katy who was crouched on the ground in the center of the clearing, pawing a beetle with her tail waving in the air above her.

I snuck forward stealthily towards Katy. When I was close enough, I leaped at Katy and knocked her off of her feet gently.

Katy screamed and laughed as I tackled her to the ground and tickled her. Katy continued to scream and laugh as I tickled her with my tongue and paws.

Finally, I stopped, and Katy slowly calmed down. I chuckled softly before I felt Leo's smooth tongue lick the side of my face.

I turned to look at him lovingly with a smile. Leo returned the gesture, and we stared at each other for several moments before a little impatient yip sounded from below us.

I looked down at Katy and chuckled at her little tongue hanging out of her mouth as her tail thumped on the ground behind her.

I made a move to stand up when Leo cleared his throat. "Um, Kate," Leo started nervously as he shifted from one paw to the other, "I was wondering if you'd like to go out tonight?" He glanced up at me with an anxious look.