Everest’s attention follows Isla as she steps out onto the balcony, his body remaining anchored beside Fern but his head turning just enough to track the movement, ears still alert as the shifting air carries the scent of the shredded chicken back into the room. His nose lifts slightly, drawing it in, and he licks his lips once without thinking, though he makes no move toward it, holding his position with quiet discipline even as the smell lingers temptingly at the edge of his awareness.
Fern’s question about distance registers, though he does not interrupt, watching instead as she lowers herself and experiments with the motion, the ball barely rolling forward before losing momentum. He remains exactly where he is, resisting the instinct to close the gap prematurely, because the instruction has not yet been given and the parameters of the activity, however loosely defined, are still being established.
As she tells him to fetch, his tail lifts and begins to wag with immediate enthusiasm, the command acting as a clear signal that overrides the earlier restraint, and he springs forward in a controlled but eager motion, pouncing on the ball with precise timing. He scoops it up cleanly before lowering his head to place it directly at her feet, not dropping it haphazardly but setting it down with the same careful exactness as before, his gaze lifting to her again as his tail continues its steady, hopeful rhythm, ready for the next instruction.
Fern’s question about distance registers, though he does not interrupt, watching instead as she lowers herself and experiments with the motion, the ball barely rolling forward before losing momentum. He remains exactly where he is, resisting the instinct to close the gap prematurely, because the instruction has not yet been given and the parameters of the activity, however loosely defined, are still being established.
As she tells him to fetch, his tail lifts and begins to wag with immediate enthusiasm, the command acting as a clear signal that overrides the earlier restraint, and he springs forward in a controlled but eager motion, pouncing on the ball with precise timing. He scoops it up cleanly before lowering his head to place it directly at her feet, not dropping it haphazardly but setting it down with the same careful exactness as before, his gaze lifting to her again as his tail continues its steady, hopeful rhythm, ready for the next instruction.
Your eyes they take no prisoners
But I'd love to be your visitor
But I'd love to be your visitor
