Chapter 12: The Mud Slide Competition
Heavy rain poured down over the mountains, drenching everything in sight. Trees dripped with rainwater, the forest floor turned into a slick mess of mud, and tiny rivers formed along the trails. Most would seek shelter in this weather, but not Nancy and her clan.
The wolves reveled in it, energized by the damp, earthy scent and invigorated by the cool rainfall on their fur. Nancy stood on a small hill, her dark fur soaked but her spirit high, watching her packmates slide down a muddy slope. Her siblings were already challenging each other, laughing and growling playfully as they tried to outdo one another.
Rodney and his friends were huddled under a tree, trying their best to keep dry, though they’d already lost that battle. They looked on as the wolves flung themselves down the mudslide, stunned and amused.
“What… what are they doing?” Rodney asked, squinting through the rain at Nancy.
Nancy, shaking off the rain, trotted over to Rodney, her grin evident even in wolf form.
“It’s a mudslide competition,” she said, her voice carrying a playful tone.
“It’s a rainy-day tradition for the clan. Are you and your friends brave enough to join?”
Rodney blinked, caught off guard.
“Mud… sliding?” He looked back at his friends, who exchanged uncertain glances.
“Come on, Rodney,” Nancy teased, nudging his arm with her wet muzzle.
“Or are you afraid of a little mud?”
His friends burst into laughter.
“Yeah, Rodney,” teased Jake, one of his closest friends, “don’t tell me the great adventurer is scared of a little dirt!”
Rodney laughed, feeling a thrill of excitement rise in his chest. He looked back at Nancy, who tilted her head with a challenge glinting in her eyes.
“Alright, I’m in,” Rodney said, rolling up his sleeves.
“But just know that I’ve got speed on my side.”
Nancy laughed, and soon everyone else joined in, taking their places at the top of the slippery hill. Rodney looked down, realizing just how steep it was. He gulped but tried to ignore the sudden drop in his stomach.
One of Nancy’s wolf siblings, a large silver wolf named Kael, stepped forward, barking directions. “The goal is to get to the bottom of the hill in one piece. Fastest one down wins,” he said, pacing proudly in front of the group. “But watch out! Some parts are trickier than others.”
Rodney glanced nervously at the muddy slope. “What does ‘trickier’ mean, exactly?” he asked.
Kael smirked, showing his sharp teeth. “You’ll find out soon enough, human. Good luck.”
Nancy laughed, giving Rodney an encouraging nod. “Don’t worry. It’s more fun than it looks. Just lean back and keep your feet up!”
Rodney took a deep breath. “Got it. Feet up, lean back, don’t die.”
With a howl, Kael signaled the start, and suddenly wolves and humans alike launched themselves down the muddy slope, whooping and howling as they slid. Rodney was swept up in the excitement, leaning back just as Nancy had instructed, and felt the slick mud carry him down with surprising speed.
For a moment, he felt like he was flying, the mud and rain splashing against him, the thrill of the ride sending a burst of adrenaline through his veins. But then he realized he was gaining speed—too much speed.
“Whoa! Whoooaaa!” he yelled as he started to wobble, the mud slicker than he’d expected. His arms flailed as he struggled to keep balance, but it was no use. The slope grew steeper, and suddenly Rodney was tumbling, head over heels, splashing and spinning in a whirlwind of mud and water.
“Rodney!” Nancy called, trying to keep an eye on him through her laughter.
He finally came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, face-first in a giant mud puddle. Dazed and covered in mud from head to toe, Rodney could hear his friends laughing as they reached the bottom, one by one.
Jake was doubled over, clutching his stomach. “Rodney, you looked like a spinning top!”
Nancy padded over, her sides heaving with laughter. She gave Rodney a soft nudge with her nose, her eyes dancing with amusement. “You… you’re supposed to stay on your back, you know.”
Rodney pushed himself up, trying to shake off some of the mud. “Oh, really?” he said with a chuckle, wiping his face. “Next time, maybe give clearer instructions.”
Nancy tilted her head, a playful smirk in her wolfish grin. “Are you blaming your epic wipeout on me?”
Rodney raised his hands, laughing. “Maybe just a little!”
Just then, Kael trotted over, looking very smug. “Gotta admit, human, that was quite the show. I haven’t seen anyone wipe out that spectacularly in a long time.”
“Oh, so now I’m just entertainment, huh?” Rodney replied, grinning as he wrung the water out of his shirt.
Jake slapped him on the back, still laughing. “You’ll be the talk of the mountain, Rodney. The humans who slide faster than the wolves!”
Nancy snickered, settling down next to him. “Hey, you made it down in record time… just not exactly the way you’d planned.”
Rodney rolled his eyes, chuckling as he leaned back against a tree, grateful for a moment to catch his breath. “Alright, alright, I get it. I’m not exactly built for wolf traditions. But I didn’t hear any of you howling like I did!”
Nancy, still laughing, nudged him with her head. “Maybe you’re more of a wolf than you think. That howl wasn’t bad, actually.”
Rodney shook his head with a smile. “Thanks, Nancy, but I think I’ll stick to human things… like, I don’t know, staying upright.”
Nancy’s laugh was warm and genuine, and she nudged him again, this time gently pressing her wet, muddy nose against his cheek, catching him by surprise.
“Oh, great, now I’ve got mud all over my face again!” Rodney groaned, wiping his cheek as Nancy gave him a look of pure mischief.
“It’s just a little extra mud, Rodney,” she teased. “Consider it a badge of honor.”
They all laughed together, wolves and humans alike, reveling in the carefree moment. Even Kael, who usually maintained a tough exterior, seemed more relaxed, letting himself be part of the laughter. For a while, it was just them, their laughter mixing with the rain as they slipped, slid, and playfully pushed each other around in the mud, forgetting, if only for a moment, the dangers that loomed around them.
As the rain began to lighten and their mudslide antics came to a close, Rodney stood up, brushing himself off as best he could. He looked around at the wolves and his friends, realizing that despite the unusual situation he was in, he’d never felt more connected.
Nancy, still chuckling softly, looked at him with a warmth that reminded him of why he’d been drawn to her in the first place. Her eyes, always so bright and filled with a hidden depth, seemed to soften as she met his gaze.
“Well, that was… one for the books,” Rodney said, grinning as he wiped the mud off his face. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun doing something so ridiculous.”
Nancy tilted her head, her expression turning thoughtful. “Sometimes the best moments are the ones we don’t plan. Life’s strange like that.”
Rodney chuckled. “Yeah, I’m starting to get that.”
They stood there, a little closer than before, their laughter lingering in the air, mingling with the scent of wet earth and pine. And as the rain began to clear, the two of them shared a quiet, unspoken connection—a bond that went deeper than the mud and laughter, hinting at something that had been between them all along, just waiting to be uncovered.