"Hey, Kate! I'll race you there!" Humphrey called out his challenge as he ran down the hill.

"You know you can't beat me. I'm the fastest alpha alive," Kate shot back playfully.

"Well, I'm the fastest omega alive!" The young grey wolf declared as he sailed across a log. As soon as he landed, he glanced back at his best friend as she gracefully leapt over the log too, hot on his tail. She looked amazing in action and he couldn't help but admire her for a moment.

"Humphrey, look out!"

The warning caused the young wolf to immediately look ahead once more and his eyes went wide in surprise. Paws skidded and slid upon the soft earth as he narrowly missed the tree in his way.

"I knew that was there," Humphrey scoffed.

Kate rolled her eyes as she easily pulled up alongside her companion, "whatever."

Humphrey put on a silly face then blew a raspberry at his competitor as she began to outpace him. Kate poked her tongue out at her best friend in reply. The fun-loving omega pulled an even crazier face in return, ecstatic at having captured his companions attention.

A solid thwack rang out and Kate saw stars. She realised her forelegs were stuck out in front of her in an awkward fashion, almost wrapped around the young tree she had impacted with. She scowled at the wolf who had come to a halt just in front of her, felled from laughing too hard.

"You should have seen your face!" Humphrey lay on the soft grass, his gaze locked with his angel who had collided with the tree.

Golden locks flew as their owner shook her head, "you distracted me!"

"Now why would I do that?" Humphrey feigned innocence.

With a brisk shake of her head, Kate dislodged herself from the tree. She stalked up to her companion. "I don't know... maybe because you wanted to see me crash?"

"Oh really?"

Instead of immediately replying, Kate pounced upon her best friend who cried out in surprise. She pinned him to the ground and smiled victoriously down at her catch. Suddenly she found herself thrown into the air as Humphrey pushed her off with his hind legs. The young alpha kept a hold on her companion with her forelegs and accidentally brought him into a sort of hug.

Humphrey found his momentum used against him when his body moved with Kate's. He landed on top of her once more only to realize they had hit a steep downhill section. The young omega's surprised cry turned to laughter as he hugged his best friend back and allowed himself to be carried down the hill in a tumbling ball of immature wolf.

Laughter rang out from both as the two youngsters continued to roll down the hill together. They flipped head over heels faster and faster, till they landed together in a bed of multicoloured flowers, Humphrey on top, Kate on the bottom. They basked in each other's smiles of delight. Neither noticed the compromising position they lay in.

Humphrey was on top of the world. Here he was with his best friend. Alone. Although his head spun a little from the roll, it failed to deter the feelings that welled up inside. He felt joy, happiness and outright delight alongside a more alien feeling in there too. It started as butterflies in his tummy and spread in light tingles to the rest of his young frame. It had recently become a regular sensation to feel around Kate and it felt nice. Strange, but defiantly nice. The stunning golden wolf under him took his breath away as she smiled slyly up at him. All the young omega managed to return was a goofy grin.

Something inside Kate called for action. She retained her sly smile as she leaned up toward the wolf on top. She felt him tense up, surprised as her muzzle brushed against his. Her wet nose dampened the edge of his fuzzy left ear. It gave a delightful twitch and caused a wash of strange nerves to invade her system. She unleashed a light giggle as she felt her special friend relax. Her nose trailed down the side of his face till it came to rest nose to nose.

The touch was only brief yet electric. Both young wolves felt the magic as they shared their first brief nose kiss. Humphrey's cute, surprised face quickly turned into a pleased grin. Kate relaxed against the soft bed of flowers and grass they lay upon. With an immature giggle, she gazed up into the clear blue eyes of her best friend. She defiantly felt happy with the action but there was something more to it as well. This something more felt ...nice. Kate supposed she would come to understand such feelings better one day.

Humphrey could not believe what was happening. He had just nose kissed his best friend. As he gazed into her stunning brown eyes he felt his heart skip a beat. After a small eternity of blissfully gazing into his friend's eyes, he slowly, regretfully sat up.

Kate rose slowly, still a little stunned by her own actions. "I think we are close. Let's go."

"Sur- sure thing." Humphrey's body jerked into action as his brain remembered to do something other than dumbly staring after the cute angel before him.

The pair of pups wandered in silence for a few moments, content to simply enjoy each others company. Neither had any idea how to approach the subject of what whatever it was that just happened.

Kate stole a glance at her companion and was glad to see that he had seemed to forget about their little moment back there. That was good. It would be awkward right now if things were suddenly different between them because of it. It was then she paused and gave the air a tentative sniff. Was that her sister she smelled? Nahh It couldn't be, could it? There was no way Lilly would be brave enough to come this close to the border of their land.

"Kate, what is it?" Humphrey asked curiously.

"I thought I smelt something. It's probably nothing." A final sniff confirmed her words. Funny, she was sure she had smelt her sister for a moment.

"Good thing its nothing, because guess what? We're here."

The young alpha silently paced up to her friend's side and gazed out across the small lake with a smile "still as beautiful as the day we found it." she stated.

"Yeah, beautiful," Humphrey said dreamily as his gaze wandered, it landed on Kate. A goofy grin formed on his muzzle.

Kate once again caught her friend staring and decided to call him out on it for fun "ok, why do you keep on staring at me?"

"Uh… me?" A bashful smile broke out across his muzzle and he forced himself to look away. "You- you must be dreaming, I was just admiring all of ...this!" The young wolf gestured to their peaceful surrounds.

"Yea right, silly."

"Fine. Come on then, cute stuff!" Humphrey rushed toward the water, eager to douse his companion.

Kate followed, wary of any incoming tricks. As soon as she reached the shoreline she sat, her attention upon her companion. The young omega took his place at her side and gazed out across the lake.

"You know... this place really could use..." Humphrey trailed off as he wrapped a foreleg around his best friend. "Some excitement!" The young omega shoved with a sudden burst of speed and strength only to find himself face planted in the cold water.

Kate laughed as she pushed Humphrey further in, "I knew you were going to try something."

"You know me too well," with a grin, Humphrey submerged himself to a level where Kate wouldn't be able to see him from above the water and started to swim to the edge of the lake where he carefully held himself in waiting.

After several moments passed and no further sign of her companion was seen, Kate, on the other hand, was starting to get worried. "Humphrey? If this is a joke, it is NOT funny!"

Despite the burn that grew within, the submerged omega held on. He could faintly see her form as she gazed frantically across the deep lake's surface and decided now was the perfect opportunity. He pushed up from the lakebed, with a mighty heave and erupted from the water, "surprise!"

Humphrey wrapped his forelegs around his target and pulled his shocked companion in with him. Water exploded everywhere as the two pups briefly thrashed . With ragged breaths, he reclined on his back, Kate on top.

The young alpha splashed water at her best friend, "don't do that, you scared me to death!" she shoved her companion lightly and lost her balance. With a surprised yelp, she found herself completely submerged next to him.

"Awww, someone cares about me, do they?" Humphrey grinned as she resurfaced next to him.

"Maybe," Kate paddled alongside him, a shy grin upon her muzzle. "But that doesn't mean I won't do this!"

In a sudden move, Kate erupted out of the water and pushed Humphrey back under.

The pair quickly resurfaced and Kate took the opportunity to immediately splash her companion.

"Hey!" Humphrey shook the water out of his face only to receive another mouthful of unwanted water. "Alright, you asked for it!"

Humphrey used his forepaws to splash his companion and within moments the small lake had erupted into a water fight between the two young wolves.

"Alright!" Out of breath, the omega finally ceased his assault. "You- win."

"What" Kate coyly asked as she splashed her companion one last time. Did I just hear the mighty Humphrey admit defeat?"

"To you? Just this once."

A pleased grin plastered itself across Kate's face as she lead the paddle toward shore.

As soon as the duo reached the shore, Kate pulled them both out and plonked her troublesome companion upon the shore. Humphrey lay on his back and gave his alpha a cute, pouty face, head tilted slightly in a way he knew Kate could not resist. A half amused smile broke out in return.

Golden fur stood on end as Kate suddenly shook herself dry. A grumpy mumble reached her ears as flecks of water deposited themselves on the already wet omega.

"Now, get up," Kate prompted, she nudged her friend's damp shoulder in an effort to encourage him to stand.

"Do I have to?" He asked sending another one of his cheeky grins her way.

"Yes you do, or I'll throw you back in there," Kate smirked back.

"You wouldn't do that."

"Oh yes, I would."

"Oh no, you wouldn't!"

Kate gave her best friend a pointed smirk, then to prove herself right she knelt down and grasped a certain soggy grey tail in her powerful jaws.

"ohhh, Not the tail!"

"Ge' up den," Kate replied, her voice muffled by the damp fluff she held.

"oww, ok, ok I'll get up just let go of my tail, I like it and want to keep it."

Without any further fight, Kate dropped her companions tail. "I guess my future mate should keep his lovely tail," she conceded.

Two grey and black ears perked up as their owner realized what his companion had just said.

Kate froze too as the implications of her words dawned on her.

"You... you really mean...?" Humphrey felt as if his brain were malfunctioning. Mates? Not just best friends, but real married mates? That would be so cool. They could spend forever together, having fun and running the pack and doing... well hopefully not boring adult things.

"No. ...of course not. I mean, yes. No. ...Just forget I ever said that. Okay?" Kate took a deep breath to calm her suddenly racing mind. "What I meant to say was my future leader of the pack's omegas. Otherwise known as my best mate, you know... my best friend." Okay, maybe that sounded a whole lot better and less weird in her head the second before she said it.

The hopeful omega's ears flattened.

Still frazzled, Kate took a tentative step toward the drenched omega, Kate took her time to figure out how her mouth had let such a sentence slip out. He definitely was her best friend. He had been special ever since the day she had met him. But mates? Sure she wanted Humphrey by her side forever, and he was a lot of fun to be around. Another less welcome thought stuck the young alpha. He was an omega. There was no way the two of them would be allowed to marry. Besides, they were still pups and marriage was the domain of wolves far older than themselves. Her gaze wandered in tune with her mind till she found herself gazing into the hopeful deep blue eyes of the wolf in front of her. The cute tepid look upon his muzzle as he waited for an answer to his unfinished question.

But what did it matter, they were young, they had at least a year to figure it out before her father would mention marriage. That should give them both plenty of time to figure something out.

A sense of tranquillity washed over her along with the realization that the two of them just might be able to become mates after all. Maybe she could talk to father and get him to change the law. Kate paced forward and slowly moved her muzzle towards his and gave him a quick kiss on his muzzle. The contact was short but it was a feeling she would remember forever

For a moment it appeared as if she had shorted out his brain with her gesture.

The lovestruck omega leaned toward his alpha and touched noses and together they held onto a sweet nose kiss.

All too soon the moment ended and the pair of youngsters pulled away, silly grins plastered upon their muzzles.

A cheeky grin sprouted across the muzzle of Humphrey and Kate wondered with trepidation what he was up to. A mighty barrage of water hit the mostly dry alpha as Humphrey shook himself.

"Look at your face! You look so funny" Humphrey laughed, not even paying attention to his now poofed out fur

"What about you?" Kate shot back. "You look so silly with your coat like that," the young alpha proceeded to break into a fit of giggles.

The two youngsters continued to laugh together for a few moments before Humphrey regained his composure, at least somewhat.

"Well, then we both look silly," the cheeky omega poked his tongue out at his companion.

Kate gave her coat a brisk shake to dislodge the unwelcome water her best friend had donated her. As she finished, the golden wolf caught her grey companion staring at her puffed up fur.

"Come on Humphrey, I know you like me but I'm still a wolf, not a piece of eye candy, although…" she said giving her companion a sly smile "since it's you, I guess you can stare all you want."

Humphrey blushed deeply before explaining his actions. "Sorry, but the way your fur is all poofy and stuff," Humphrey reached out and lamely patted her ruffled mane.

The young omega leaned forwards and touched his nose to his companion's golden ear. "You look extra cute like that."

"So do you," Kate couldn't help but return the compliment. She chose that moment to walk off toward the shade of trees at the edge of the forest.

Humphrey hurried to keep up with his companion. "Want to join me for a quick nap?" he asked as he searched for the most comfortable looking place to take a quick kip.

"You mean you, Humphrey, king of the omegas, doesn't want to play another game?" teased Kate as she observed her companion.

"We omegas like our nap times too ya know," the youngster defended his decision.

"So that's why you guys never get anything useful done," smirked Kate.

"Hey! we get stuff done like… uh… log sledging, having fun, and uh... stuff. Besides, we do what we do well." He stated proudly

"Play games and sleep?" offered the golden wolf.

Humphrey sighed in defeat "yeah I guess you're right."

"Well do you want to sleep with me then?" Humphrey asked hopefully.

Kate felt her muzzle heat as she realised there was probably a second meaning to it. The kind of meaning her mother would imply to her father. That had been too much information for a growing pup to overhear.

"What? did I do something?" Humphrey innocently asked as he noticed his companion's blush, still hopeful that he would receive a positive reply.

Kate realised it was just Humphrey, there was no way it could possibly hold a hidden meaning to him. The young alpha nodded, "I think it would be lovely to sleep with my cute omega."

The golden wolf giggled as her companion perked up at her reply. She stalked slowly up to him then lay down on the soft grass at the base of a mighty tree.

"Okay, there's good," Humphrey found himself in agreement with his best friend.

He settled down beside the resting angel, unsure how close he was allowed to lie.

His answer, however, came in the form of Kate as she pulled him closer and tucked her head into his chest fur. His mind buzzed with all sorts of excitement as he enjoyed the brush of her fur against his own.

Kate simply relaxed into his hold, her forelegs wrapped further around the sleek form of her very own omega.

A young albino wolf peeked out from the cover of the forest. There they were! Her sister and Humphrey, they were- sleeping together? She paused, unable to believe her eyes. Yet even her nose was sure that the two young wolves before her were her sister and her sister's best friend.

With great care, the white wolf approached the pair. After all the effort of tracking the duo, she had at least hoped to find them active. She allowed her gaze to sweep the lakeside and the raw natural beauty took the nature lover's breath away. Her jaw loose in wonder she drew toward the sparkling lake. It called to her, so refreshing and cool after her long walk. She approached and took a brief drink from the life-giving liquid. Lilly felt a refreshing wave wash over her as she drank. The feeling persisted even after she had taken her fill.

She turned deep purple eyes to gaze once more at the couple behind her. Or at least, that is what they looked like, a cute young couple. Despite the fact that they were alpha and omega they sure looked happy, all cuddled up together in a two pup ball of fluff. Lilly gazed cautiously around, checking that no other creatures were in the vicinity. Sitting on the border, meant another pack was probably nearby. If they were seen by another pack at a possible drinking hole that would be bad. It might even start trouble between the two packs. Her parents would not like that at all.

A sigh of relief escaped the young omega wolf. Now her mother would really kill Humphrey if she were to discover the two together like this. With that thought in mind, Lilly slowly paced toward the couple and positioned herself watchfully over them. It might not be the best job, but the least she could do was watch over her sister and her ...special friend.

'Should I wake them?' Lilly wondered to herself. 'I know Humphrey would not like it.' She raised her right forepaw to prod the pair into the waking world and paused. 'Maybe just a few more moments... they do look happy together. I wonder what it would be like, to have someone special to share moments like this with?' A light smile broke out on her muzzle as she refocused on the pair. At least the two were cute together and her sister sure did seem happy.

After a few more moments, the omega found herself becoming restless and her mind and vision wandered off.

Her eyes sparkled with delight as she beheld the flowers that dotted the treeline nearby. There was almost every colour of the rainbow, however, something else caught her eye about the treeline, there was movement. Someone was coming.