The Jadenshine sun hung bright in the sky today, no clouds to obscure its beams of light. With fall approaching fast, the leaves changing from verdant greens to golden yellows, fiery reds, and vibrant oranges, the temperature was perfect.
Ryuu ran across the crisp grass littered with fallen leaves, eyes focused on the target ahead—a little black blur that zigzagged here and there in quick, jerky motions.
*Can't catch me! Can't catch me! Four legs beat two!* an over-excited voice called through his mind, making him laugh.
The trees of Jadenshine Park whizzed past him, blurs in the corner of his vision. His breathing grew heavy and he tried to keep up, but the silly pug was right: he wasn't fast enough. That didn't mean he was about to give up, though!
Putting on a burst of speed, he tried to maneuver his way in front of the animal, knowing when a sudden turn was going to be made because the pug was not good at concealing his thoughts. "I've got you now, Rus!" he said triumphantly, legs poised to spring on the dog.
Rusger's eyes bulged. He made a mad dash to the left, but he was too slow, his labored breathing holding him back from running much further. Ryuu dived to grab him, hands at the ready, just as his foot caught on a hidden tree root and he pitched forward into the grass and leaves.
He only had time to roll onto his back, dazed, before the black furball climbed onto his chest in a frenzy of wheezes, wet tongue trying to get at every part of Ryuu's face that it could. *Hurt! Hurt! Are you hurt? Are you okay? Do I win? That was fun!*
Unable to open his mouth for fear he'd find the tongue poking its way into his mouth as well, Ryuu moved his head from side to side, half-heartedly trying to dislodge his friend while mind-speaking, *I'm fine, Rusger. And yes, you win. Could you get off me now?*
He sat up, Rusger tumbling to the ground in a mess of gasping, snorting breaths, tongue lolling and eyes popping. There was a tear in Ryuu's sleeve where he'd fallen on it, and he stared at it a moment. This was his second shirt ripped in the last week. He'd have to throw it out—no patches. Patches looked uncomely. "Look what we've done again," he said, holding out his arm for Rusger to see the damage, who sniffed it and sneezed, making him laugh again. "We'd better take a rest before you fall over dead," he teased. The poor dog always sounded like he was dying when he ran around for too long. Even he was rather out of breath.
Sighing, Ryuu used the torn sleeve to wipe what slobber he could off of his face, then lay back on the grass, taking in deep breaths of air and feeling his heart rate slow. Rusger made another attempt to get at his face, but he shielded it with his arms and pushed the pug away with a smile.
*I don't want to rest. I want to play. We're not done playing!* the pug wheezed. Rusger pawed at his arms, the movement so fast it looked more like he was digging.
"Nooo," Ryuu said. He rolled to his side and grabbed the pug in a quick motion, lifting his tiny body up off the ground. He then rolled back onto his back and held the animal over him. "We're going to rest."
When he put Rusger down, the pug gave a sharp yip of resistance, then climbed back up onto Ryuu's stomach and sat there, staring at him, tail wagging. *Fine. Rest. But only for a little bit, okay?*
"Okay." He closed his eyes, still smiling, and rested one arm up on his forehead to block out the sun. "A little bit."
Rusger sat there a bit longer, panting heavily, and after his breathing calmed a little, Ryuu felt him lie down. He smiled under his sleeve.