There really was nothing better to do than take a good run, and the reserve had some of the best trails to take. That was the whole reason she was currently out here now, her big red ball of floof keeping trek beside her. It was a good thing he was trained so well or she'd never really be able to bring him on these runs with her. Plus, she kept away from the main animal herds. Just because Atlas wouldn't attack them didn't mean they wouldn't try to attack Atlas. Ash worked very hard to keep that from happening when she was on her runs.
Besides, if a fight did break out between the animals, then chances were she'd have to use magic to get them apart... considering how Atlas came to her chest.
They always ran the same trail though. Today was no different. In fact, there was nothing different about today. The same run, same trail, same dog. The only thing different was that Malik was at home instead of at school in Washington. Which was nice, because it meant she didn't have to pay for school anymore. And even better, it meant her brother was home with her. If there was nothing else that set her mind at ease, it was that fact alone.
Of course, apparently, there was something else that was going to be proven different today. Halfway into her jog, she noted that Atlas stopped and began to growl. That in itself was odd, but she gave him a sharp command and he immediately ceased. It was only when she took a good look around that she noticed someone else jogging in their direction.
The new guy. He seemed familiar when she'd seen him before, but she hadn't had time to actually stop to talk to him. Why was he familiar? And why had Atlas started growling??