"Pearl, you've reorganized the kitchen four times, I think you need to find something else to do." Cleo grabs Pearl's arm, stopping her from entering the kitchen once again. Pearl whines, not pulling away but shifting uncomfortably.
"I need to do somethiiiing. Not moving hurts right now." Pearl complains. She squeezes her hands into fists, once, twice, three times, trying to shake out some of the energy.
"Why don't you go for a run then? I mean, there's an entire forest outside our door."
"You're just trying to get rid of me," She pouts. Cleo laughs, gently brushing some hair away from Pearl's face.
"I'm trying to stop you from wearing a hole in our floor. Or from tearing down a wing of the castle and rebuilding it." Cleo teases. Pearl huffs in response.
Pearl growls, frustration rising. Cleo backs up, not expecting the response, which makes Pearl soften.
"Sorry, sorry, I just- This close to a full moon it's like I feel the wolf squirming around in my muscles. When I'm not doing something it starts tearing me apart." Pearl sighs and looks at the castle door. A run might actually help. "Okay, I'll be back."
As soon as she crosses the threshold diving the bridge from the forest, Pearl breaks into a sprint. It's rare for her to use her top speed, but she has to right now. Nothing else will calm the wolf down. She has to feel a burn in her muscles, feel the useless breath in her chest, feel her slow beating heart speed up to something closer to normal. Pearl runs through the trees, breaking branches and barely feeling them whip across her skin, occasionally stumbling over a root that barely breaks her stride. She runs at that pace for a full half an hour before she slows, gasping and clutching her torso as she gets a stitch in her side and pain lances up her ribs. Pearl isn't entirely sure where in the forest she's ended up, somewhere near one of the old crypts that her and Cleo have already cleared out.
At a much more reasonable pace, though still running, Pearl returns to the castle. Cleo waits in the sitting room, peacefully humming as they work on some embroidery and try to avoid poking the sleeping Oscar in their lap. They look up with soft affection as Pearl enters, taking in her sweat soaked hair and the way she's struggling to catch her breath.
"Feel better?" They ask. Pearl grins tiredly. She's finally worn out.
"Yeah, much. Thank you for the suggestion." She says, feeling embarrassed about her earlier behavior.
"Good. Now go wash up. I'm going to try and figure out where you've put the pans so I can make dinner."
