The valley echoed with the thunder of boots, claws, and metal feet as the team bolted through the canyon at full speed.

Pip sprinted ahead with Penelo slumped across his back, eyes rolled back and lips mumbling softly, her trance holding firm as her mind soared high above the rocky cliffs, merged with some kind of great-winged avian beast.

"Left!" she mumbled. "Sharp turn! Veer right, then down the ravine!"

Sera skidded past a ridge, Lula fluttered ahead with her barnoss wings slicing the air beside Zora, and Vuvi led the pack, grumbling about how this trip was supposed to be relaxing.

"She better be right about this," Vuvi huffed. "If I stub my toe one more time—"

Suddenly, Penelo's body tensed. Her arms flailed slightly, then slumped limp. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked groggily at Pip's metallic shoulders. "No... no, no, no… my link! It's fading!"

Before anyone could stop her, she leapt from Pip's back with surprising grace, landing on her knees, her face to his pelvis, like a knight pledging allegiance to a holy cause.

"I need more nectar," she begged, clutching Pip's thighs. "Quickly, before the vision's gone!"

Pip gave a loud, flustered BEE-BOOP, glancing nervously at Vuvi.

"Oh, hell no." Vuvi stomped up and yanked Penelo upright by the collar. "You're not getting mouthful directly from the tap, you little juice junkie."

"But it's an emergency!" Penelo wailed, flailing.

"Good thing I came prepared." Vuvi reached into her tool pouch and fished out a sleek glass vial filled with glowing, iridescent fluid.

Pip's divine extract shimmered.

She tossed it to Penelo, who caught it mid-air and chugged it like a champion. The moment the nectar touched her tongue, she collapsed to the ground again with a satisfied moan, glowing faintly as her eyes glazed over in a blissful trance.

Pip gently scooped her back up.

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Should we be worried about how... effective that stuff is?"

Lula just sighed. "I mean... I kinda get it."

"Focus!" Vuvi barked.

The group took off again, darting between jagged rocks and snow-crusted ledges, led once more by Penelo's soft, trance-whispered directions. "There... up ahead... the cliff bends into the wind... bottom corner... danger..."

They crested a slope and peered down into the canyon's crook.

There, tucked into a dusty hollow beneath a rocky ridge was a scene of chaos.

A young girl with white hair, striking blue eyes, and furry wolf ears sat atop a massive frostmane hound. Her mount snarled at a full pack of six more, who circled menacingly, snapping and growling with bristled manes and frost-licked fangs.

The girl brandished a sharpened spear in one hand, her expression pure rage and defiance. "You furry bastards want another taste?! COME GET IT!"

"She's got guts," Sera muttered, hand on her sword.

Penelo stirred, whispering, "They're not attacking... they've been... circling, taunting... but not striking. It's weird."

"I've had enough weird for today," Vuvi muttered, slapping the side of her Boombuster as she took aim.

"On my mark," Veena said coolly, her horns glowing violet.

Lula's magic surged, flames flickering across her hands.

Just as Vuvi opened her mouth to give the order…

"BEEP!" Pip raised both arms like a ref calling time-out.

Vuvi froze. "What now?!"

He pointed at himself, then the frostmane pack, then made a little calming motion with both hands.

"You can't be serious," Vuvi said, squinting.

Pip gave her a cooing chirp, then flashed two fingers.

Watch this.

"...Fine. Impress me." Vuvi scoffed.

Pip stepped forward, metallic feet clinking softly against the frost-covered stone. He let out a strange, melodic whistle-buzz-hum sound, raising his hands in a slow, elegant gesture.

The frostmanes paused. Their ears twitched.

Then, one by one, their rears lowered, their jaws slackened, and their piercing blue eyes turned soft and curious.

And then... they all wagged their tails.

Like puppies.

Lula's jaw dropped.

"They're... they're wagging," Sera said in disbelief.

"I think they like him," Veena whispered.

"Pip!" Vuvi groaned. "You've been hiding new skills again!"

Penelo, now half-tranced, half-awake, slid off Pip's back and stood beside him, blinking at the frostmane pack. "Wait... are you... are you controlling them?"

Pip gave a humble little nod.

The hounds nodded too.

"Beast taming?" Veena asked, scratching her head.

"Most likely," Zora added. "Perhaps a gift from the Seedmo—"

"What the hell?" came a voice.

The girl on the frostmane hound had hopped down and was now stomping across the canyon toward them, spear dragging behind her. Her white hair was a tangled mess, and her long wolf ears twitched with irritation.

"What the hell are you and what the hell did you do?" she barked at Pip. "Those mutts have been chasing us for a week! We've been dodging, hiding, freezing our asses off, and now suddenly they're wagging like damn show dogs?"

"That's the Prince of Pleasure," Vuvi said dryly. "He did just save your butt."

The girl gave her a death glare. "Yeah, thanks, I guess."

"Charming," Veena murmured.

"I'm Penelo!" Penelo chirped, trying to break the tension. "You're from the Feral Tribelands, right? I'm from there too, but I've never seen a wolfkin quite like you. White hair and blue eyes is very—"

The girl's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Penelo whimpered and scooted behind Pip again. "N-nothing! I meant like, in a good way! You're really pretty! Like unique! Special! "

"Damn right I'm unique," the girl growled. "Name's Raikya. This big beauty is Frostlick." She patted her hound, who slumped beside her and promptly began licking it's crotch with contented enthusiasm.

Raikya scowled at the other hounds still lounging around Pip. "You ass-brats better not think this means we're friends now," she snapped. "I haven't forgotten how you made my week hell."

Penelo peeked out. "I know Green Tongue. Want me to ask them why they were chasing you?"

"Sure, go for it, bunny." Kaela said with exaggerated sarcasm. "Maybe they were trying to invite us for tea."

Penelo focused, pushing out a ripple of thoughtwaves. The pack yapped and yipped back, responding eagerly.

She tilted her head, puzzled... then burst out laughing.

Kaela's ears flattened. "What's so funny?!"

Penelo gasped between giggles. "They weren't trying to invite you for tea…"

"What?"

"They're trying to mate with Frostlick."

The canyon echoed with stunned silence... then Frostlick gave a deep pant and thumped her tail proudly.

Kaela stared at her. "...You traitorous shag rug."

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