“Your Cream Wolf seems… faster than usual.”

Crunchy Chip spoke, hopping off his own wolf as the two of you trained outside the Dark Cacao Kingdom–your usual spot. It was a familiar routine by now. You had spent many days like this together, pushing yourselves through the snow covered terrain, refining techniques and learning from each other.

Though the two of you were close and often trained side by side, Crunchy Chip had always been a few steps ahead. More skilled, more adapted. Maybe it was because he’d lived in the Dark Cacao Kingdom longer. He moved through the icy winds and heavy snow as if they were second nature, while you were still getting used to the constant chill.

“Have you been sneaking in extra training when I’m not around?” He asked with a playful grin, though there was a faint edge to his voice–a mixture of curiosity and quiet approval.

There was a gleam in his eyes, like he’d noticed something different about you. It wasn’t just your wolf-maybe it was your posture? Your control? The subtle improvements that only someone who truly knew you would pick up on–someone like him.