Emma rolled her eyes and rose from the young wolf's stomach. The chubby he-wolf looked as if he had strangely enjoyed the playful beating she had given him. She stretched out her right hand to help him stand, but his heavy pull dragged her balance away and she tumbled back onto him again.
"Ouch!!" she cried.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly into her ear, his voice warm and strangely familiar as he held her head close to his face, almost like two young wolves who had known each other across many moons.
"Let go of me!" she shouted, striking his hand away. "You are so heavy! Please lose some weight!"
"I will… for you," he replied cheerfully as he climbed to his feet and brushed dry leaves from his loose trousers.
When he noticed a few specks of grass on her shorts, he tried to brush them away. Emma instantly shoved his hand aside.
"I was only trying to help you," he said with innocent sincerity.
