Whisper Caverns maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place

March 6th, -32C Mostly Sunny
for @Revon
Note: This is a private thread

It was cold as hell. Sunny, but damn cold and that meant most of the prey was in hiding somewhere and evading the yearling. He had more practice hunting wolves than small meals anyways which didn’t help him right now but it was what it was. He had promised Revon that he would take her back to the pack but it took was going to take about three days for them to get there and he had to feed her at some point.

So while she still slept in the caverns they had taken to for shelter from the bitter cold he had gotten up early to try to find something. So far he had come up empty pawed and the combination of his hunger and chilly paws were quickly making his mood turn sour. This whole thing was his damn sister’s fault. Part of him was beginning to wonder if ti was even worth going back, without Rhamnus he couldn’t do the sacrifice and without completing his task he would probably be maimed anyways.

What did one do when you couldn’t go back to where you came but you couldn’t stay where you were either?

So far the dark yearling had kept his word. He had been borderline pleasant to be around as they returned to the mountain, which led the scarlet Archer to believe that the whole kidnapping business hadn’t been his idea. She still didn’t trust him, or like him, but she appreciated the fact that he was attempting to rectify his mistakes. She just knew that he would be greeted warmly once they returned to the mountain—not by either of her parents. Which made her worry. Made her not want to bring him back to the heights.

Made her want to run off while he was out foraging, or whatever.

She slunk out of the caverns, her scarlet maw sweeping from side to side as she scanned her surroundings. The yearling was nowhere to be found; she could make a run for it. Revon was not worried about finding the way back—she just had to run straight toward the mountains in the distance. Once she arrived at the base of the mountain she could easily navigate her way up… she just had to get there first. She shuffled forward, the warm winter sun nipping at her back. But, where had the yearling gone? Was he out retrieving his sister? Looking for her? Revon swallowed, uncertainty swelling within her chest as she took another step forward… and another…

Wendigo gave a few half hearted more sniffs as if he would catch a scent that he hadn’t already found then he gave up. With a sigh he ignored how ravenous he had become and he turned back towards the caverns. His muscular legs carried him at an easy lope over the snow, despite the way it crunches under his paws. The recently fluctuating weather had left a thin layer of ice over the power, just enough to crystallize the snow a little bit far from turning the meadows into a skating rink.

Much to his surprise the demon had made it almost all of the way back when his eyes spied the firefox’s pelt stark against the snowy backdrop. The yearling ceased his own march to watch in curiosity as te pup tried to slink away. She was maybe five meters away from the caverns and heading in the opposite direction of the male, seeming unsure of herself. It brought a smile to his face, ”You’re still very bad at sneaking you know, you’ve left your back exposed this time.” his voice was loud in the quiet but clearly playful. He wasn’t going to attack her and sweep her away.

I have adoptables! pm Ghost for details.

A hiss escaped her as she spun around to see the gangly yearling watching her, a smug expression pulling at his dark features. Shit! Perhaps she wasn’t as good at sneaking around as she thought… or maybe it was because she was in unfamiliar terrain. It was much easier to sneak around atop the mountain, where boulders were available to conceal her russet fur. Whatever, she snapped back, her favourite word tumbling off her tongue with ease as it stained the cold air between them. Wasn’t even tryin’ that hard. That was a blatant lie and she was positive the dark skeleton could see right through her, but she didn’t care. She was almost home and that was all that mattered. Then she wouldn’t have to see the snarky teen anymore. No food, huh? Her tongue clucked against the roof of her mouth. Not surprised. You’re not very good at it. Actually he wasn’t half bad at finding food, but Revon wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. Not after he had teased her.

Wendigo grinned as Revon used her favourite word again, whatever. Maybe he would start using it more, it seemed to bring the pup great satisfaction, maybe it would do the same for him. His smile grew once more a she clearly lied to him, ”Sure you weren’t. The key to sneaking is to always assume people are sneaking up on you then you won’t be surprised if they are.” And if they weren’t there was no harm in being extra careful. Better safe than sorry, not that he was ever sorry.

As always the child was quite the spit fire and it brought a whole hearted laugh from the dark teen as he strode forward. Grinning he winked, ”Whatever, neither of us have starved yet have we?” What would she make of that then? It was an undeniable fact, but he was sure that she would have some kind of retort anyways.

I have adoptables! pm Ghost for details.

Her nose twitched at his advice, her fiery pools narrowed darkly. It made sense, and was certainly something she would keep in mind for the future, but she wasn’t about to tell him that he was right. Heck no! Like any Archer, she was far too proud to admit she was wrong. Mhm, she mumbled idly as she kicked at the snow covered ground, her tangerine pools falling away from his dark frame. His laugh, however, caused her head to spin around once more. A cheeky grin spread across her russet maw at his response before a snort of amusement exhaled from his nose. Yeah, yeah, she added with a quick roll of her eyes. She had lost some weight, but not much, and she did have Wendigo to thank for that.

I can find my way back from here, she added, a single brow raised as she studied her dark companion. If y’got somewhere else t’be. Don’t think they’re gonna be happy t’see you. She shrugged.

Wendigo snorted at her generalized mhm, her narrowed eye were enough for him to know that she had at listened. Revon reminded her a lot of Rhamnus sometimes, in the way that she was never wrong even if she was. It was a silent way of being wrong that still made them right, it was amusing to the yearling who had been told his whole life that he wrong. Not his opinions or actions, just his mere existence was wrong, it shouldn’t have happened. So being so confident about being right was a foreign concept to him, it was intriguing and a bit confusing.

His dark head swung back and forth as he grinned at her eye rolls. But the smile fell from his face as she suggested that she just left her now, that she would find her own way back. He stepped forward so Wendigo could look her in the eyes, ”I told you that I would take you back and I’m going to.” He thought about stopping there, but felt it was important to add, ”I haven’t been able to do much good in my life but I’m going to do this.”

I have adoptables! pm Ghost for details.

She held his gaze as he spoke, declaring that he was going to make the entire journey back to the mountain as promised. A defeated sigh escaped her as her scarlet ears collapsed atop her skull. She knew it was risky allowing him to step foot on the mountain. Her parents would be quick to point paws at the dark yearling. He did have something to do with her disappearance, but her parents didn’t need to know that. Not when he was attempting to redeem himself and rectify the wrongs he had done. Fine, she exhaled after a lengthy pause, her russet brows still pinched tight as she sidestepped away from him and began marching toward the looming mountain in the distance. But jus’ drop me off ’n leave, okay? No lingerin’. Maybe they could pass him off as a Pookastone scout or something. Despite their peculiar situation she didn’t hate the yearling as much as she should. He was beginning to grow on her.

She looked over her shoulder, her fiery gaze seeking his dark figure out once more. What was the point? She asked in regards to her kidnapping, her expression bleak. Revon at least wanted some answers before parting ways for good.

Wendigo had fully expected her to tell him whatever again and roll her eyes before letting him escort her back to the mountain. He was ready for it even, preparing his ever cheeky grin and he might have even smacked her with his tail on the way by. Instead he was thrown off by the look of concern on her muzzle as she warned him that he shouldn’t be lingering on the mountain. Not that he had planned on hanging around after he got the child back but he had made a promise.

She stepped away from them and started heading in the direction he assumed would be the fastest way to her home. He could obviously see the mountain but he had no idea how to get back up except for the path near the Ridge and even he knew that was a bad idea. Her question caught him off guard, his first reaction was to lie and pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about but he resisted. ”Rhamnus was trying to bring justice for what she thinks they did wrong against her.” Maybe that wasn’t a good enough answer, he didn’t really know. His stomach twisted nervously so he added, ”We grew up somewhere very different than here.”

I have adoptables! pm Ghost for details.

His response was cryptic and didn’t really make much sense, but Revon didn’t really want to question him further. She was surprised that he had given her something, as he had expected nothing from the yearling. We grew up somewhere very different than here. She blinked, her chin turning toward him as she tried to read his expression. But he’d never been easy to read. He usually wore that stupid cheeky grin and masked any actual emotions with an endless stream of sarcasm.

Wait—didn’t she know another wolf like that?

What’re you gonna do after? She asked as she returned her attention to the mountain in the distance, her pace slow as she attempted prolonging their time together. Maybe she’d be able to convince her parents that he wasn’t all bad and maybe, if he was lucky, he could stay with the mountain pack. Or she could visit him. Or something. She didn’t want him completely out of her life, even if the circumstances of their meeting was strange and undesirable. The scarlet Archer didn’t know the whole circumstances of where he and his sister had come from. What justice Rhamnus was trying to serve. She didn’t care to know either. All she cared about was the future.