Jasper Rocks housing all this doubt and insecurity

@Kjell Several weeks following their previous thread.

With Crystal (@Yvly) out scouting on her own and @Amaryllis busy with learning her trade alongside @Veho, Pip had an afternoon free to herself. Having been given the clear to return to normal activity levels, the yearling wasted no time in stretching out her legs. On her back left leg, the only hints that she'd had an injury before were the thin lines of missing fur where the skin had healed back hairlessly and an almost imperceptible shortening of her stride on that side. It only rarely bothered her, manifesting as an odd twinge that traveled along the back of her thigh and towards the base of her spine. Otherwise, she physically felt the same as before the attack.

Mentally, her confidence - as poor as it had been before - took a nosedive.  Pip hadn't visited Cut Rock River by herself since the attack, too nervous about another beaver or other creature angry about coming out of hibernation taking out their frustrations on her. Even when she was thirsty, the young wolf would wait until another was heading in that direction and tag along.

She opted instead to try her luck at fishing at a small pool to the east of the densite that she'd heard others mention whenever the idea of learning to fish came up. Since her arrival, it had become something of a hot topic. Pip knew Crystal was really hoping to learn soon, so she thought she ought to practice some before that happened.

Spotting the pool formed at the base of small waterfalls, the agouti female wagged her tail and waded right in. She'd heard the fish were a bit smaller here and suspected that meant smaller predators that may come after her as well. At best, there would be no challengers for her prey today. Pip situated herself in the shade - a trick she'd learned so her shadow wouldn't seem quite so conspicuous once her arrival had been accepted by the aqualife - and waited patiently for the silt her paws had stirred up to settle. Early on, she felt small minnows swimming past and through her legs and smiled. Satisfied that she was integrated, Pip waited patiently with the same single-minded focus that had allowed the beaver to get so close the last time. She had a habit of forgetting the world around her save for what the water told her while she was fishing.

Though she wasn't familiar with the species, a spotted sunfish swam close enough within striking range that she knew it was going to be her first catch. Pip allowed it more time to get more securely within range before her head dove beneath the water and she snatched it up tightly in her jaws. Pleased, the yearling pulled back, snorting water from her nose as she lifted it free.

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Spring was practically here, and Bishop still hadn’t come home. Yes, yes, intellectually the man knew she hadn’t provided a timeline, nor was she beholden to him, but he had so hoped that his friend would have been back by the beginning of March. That they might be more than friends. They weren’t, clearly, but that lingering hope in the back of his mind had driven him further north than he usually traveled, towards the cedar forests. She had mentioned a brother out here-- It was possible, he thought, that she’d found the sibling she was looking for.

Hours passed as he scented the air and the ground both, and found not even trace of the woman he was looking for.

It was time to head back to his lonely den, Kjell was beginning to think, and he’d turned about. The stream served as place to rest and refuel, and he might have continued on, had he not found another familiar smell. Not the one he was looking for, but curiosity was piqued, and the shadowy male surged forward, following the waterway down to the pool. He arrived just in time to watch Signy resurfaced with a fish of all things. Paws stomped the ground as he hopped in place. “Signy! You’re okay!” he crowed happily, tail wooshing behind him. “Look at your fish!”

There is a rabbit\'s nest nearby. +1 Health

Russett ears flew to her right, eyes and fish-filled mouth following shortly when she heard the familiar voice and given name that belonged to it. Immediately, her orange eyes brightened and tail wagged furiously behind her. Abandoning her fishing post, Pip bounded towards @Kjell through the shallow water, splashing loudly in her haste. So pleased to see him, the yearling forgot her usual anxiety and bumped her muzzle to his as if he were as close as any of her packmates.

The Mizuno girl set her meager catch down in front of him and eagerly nudged it closer to his paws. With her mouth now free, she licked happily at his chin, her rear wiggling with the force of her wagging black-tipped tail. Given a moment to think, she would likely have felt embarrassed to offer the small fish. Her usual catches were far larger and more worthy of an actual meal whereas the sunfish was definitely more fitting for a snack. Had there been other options, she wouldn't have even gone for the fish at all.

But the shy female was far too distracted by the pleasant, kind male for any of that. With her previous injury mostly healed, the girl bounced excitedly around him, almost unable to hold still for more than a heartbeat. Ever since Kjell had helped her to the Grizzly Hollow borders, she'd thought if she ever had the chance to meet him again, she would have to repay him for his kindness. The fish at his paws was a far cry from repayment - she wouldn't count it at all! - so she would have to just try harder. Maybe there would be larger fish higher upstream...

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Her excitement fed his own, and the steady swishing of his tail soon mirrored Pip’s entire body wag as she greeted him. His own pink tongue flashed out, licking her muzzle and nose like she was a long lost friend, instead of someone he hadn’t seen for a few weeks. Truth be told, he wasn’t certain how she’d recover from the beaver’s assault. He was no healer (quite the opposite), but the would had looked like no small matter. All he could assume was that she knew an adept healer – that, and she quite benefited from his assistance in returning her to the borders despite his own trepidations.

Ah, but he was quite a shining knight, wasn’t he?

Humming happily to himself, Kjell took a step back when the young wolf did, glancing down at the fish she’d brought ashore. While a talented hunter himself, life on a mountainside didn’t leave much room for fishing. There were rivers, of course, but they were raging monsters, and not something a wolf would willing wade through. “You caught this?” he asked, tail still wagging. “Never got taught to fish, myself. Seems useful, though.”

A pause as the excitement finally began to give way, and his nose wriggled in the air. Smelled like fish. Like Signy, that’s how they found her. But also something-- The hair on the back of his neck prickled. “…you smell awful nice today, gem.”

Her nose wrinkled in silent laughter. Of course she caught it! Hadn't he just watched it happen? Silly male... Amused, and all the more delighted with him for it, Pip bowed down as if to invite him into play when the warm chocolate coated wolf interrupted her with a compliment.

He called me gem again. While she couldn't say how much she loved that he would call her that, the yearling hoped he would simply continue to do so on his own accord without the need for any encouragement from her. Pip's heart surged with happiness and she rubbed her head against his chest, unaware of the male's plight as no one - not even her mother - had taken the time to explain what this time of year could mean.

Russett ears flickered back at the sound of splashing, drawing her orange gaze as quick as lightning. She turned back to beam at Kjell and spun to hop towards the shallow pool, turning back towards him in invitation for him to follow. Too young to realize her actions could be seen as anything other than what she intended, Pip continued on blissfully unaware of her own effect.

Sure, she could catch him more fish. But if she taught him to fish, he'd be able to catch his own whenever he liked. These smaller fish were perfect to start out with. They weren't as wily as the larger salmon, though they were more agile. Perfect for learning and gaining a high success rate! Pip chirped when he didn't immediately wade in after her, hoping to entice him into the water. It wasn't going to bite.

Unlike beavers. They bit hard...

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She didn’t answer – not that she could – but barely acknowledged the compliment at all. The male fell silent for a moment, blinking owlishly at her demeanor. Perhaps…he had imagined it? Or it was someone else? She was younger than he was, but Kjell hadn’t thought her to be any younger than Bishop, and Bishop would be going—

The wolf shook his head, not interested in venturing down a path of never ending ‘maybes’ and ‘what-ifs’. They all weren’t, and there was no use dwelling on it when Signy was right her before him, dashing away playfully. He needn’t a second thought before trotting after her, ears pricked forward in curiosity. It certainly didn’t seem like the spring fever so many other females in the area had come down with – but that wasn’t what he had come here for in the first place. Kjell scolded himself. He’d come to make sure his friend hadn’t been permanently damaged by the beaver’s bite, and it seemed she was going to make a full recovery.

“What are y’doing, princess?” he asked, lurking at the water’s edge. It could get mighty cold this time of year, even if the dead of winter had come and gone. He eyeballed the surface warily before taking one ginger step after another. “What? What’re we doing?”

Again, with the pet names. Pip couldn't help but beam at him, tail wagging wildly. This was not quite the attention she was used to garnering, and she found she quite liked it. At least from him. Kjell had a gentle manner about him that the yearling could easily appreciate. Her orange eyes laughed at him when he didn't plunge in behind her, but they brightened significantly when he followed warily.

With tail still wagging behind her, Pip gingerly stepped backwards in the pool to help him come closer to where she wanted him. But uncharacteristically impatient, she ended up circling around him in the pool and even placed a front paw against one of his shoulders to guide him just a little more into the pool where the shade was heaviest. Satisfied with the placement, Pip circled around again to take her own place beside him.

Her eyes darted between him and the water as she lowered her head. When he didn't follow suit, Pip frowned, lifting her head before lowering it close to the rippling surface once more. Perhaps repetition would be her friend in showing him how it was done. The yearling then turned her eyes fully onto the water, holding perfectly still as she watched the dark shapes swimming circles in the pool before their paws. A hint of her hackles lifting was the only sign before her sudden strike. Plunging her head into the pool, she snagged hold of another fish. Lifting it free, she beamed at him with her catch still held in her jaws and trotted out of the pool.

Pip lay down just at the water's edge and began tearing into her catch with a wagging tail, eyes watching him, clearly expecting him to catch his own.

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The water was so cold.

Kjell had to fight the urge to scowl as he shifted his weight from one side to the other, clearly not enjoying the icy nibble at his paw pads. Even thick fur could not do much to protect a wolf, not when he was soaked down to the bone. He kept his grumbles to himself, furrowing his brow only when he realized the younger wolf was actually attempt to mime something in place of explaining it with words.

After a moment, he wandered a bit closer, pausing once he was a few lengths away from Signy. There, he finally mimicked her, lowering his head near the calm surface. Below the smallest fish swam by, clearly unperturbed. Orange eyes widened a bit as he realized what the other wolf was trying to explain and he glanced over just in time to catch a flurry of motion. It only took a second for the girl to shove her snout into the water like some sort of graceful eagle, and a second more to snatch the fish out, still wriggling in her jaws as she carried it proudly to the shoreline.

Kjell couldn’t help his grin. Challenge accepted, he thought eagerly, turning his attention back to the water. He had to wait a few moments for a larger sucker to happen by, and then he took his chances, plunging forward into the water with a gaping jaw. In return, he got a mouthful of pond, and nothing else as he resurfaced, soaking and sputtering, sneezing the water from his dark nose.

While nibbling on her fish, Pip kept a watchful eye on @Kjell. Her pink tongue snaked over the scales, paws moving to pin the fish's head down to the ground to prevent the dead animal from simply sliding back into the pond. Pride blossomed in her chest when he caught on and lowered his head towards the water's surface. Even from shore, she could see his breath rippling the surface of the water. Inwardly, she tsked, but there was no helping it. She'd done it herself when she was learning. Without the ability to explain and point it out, he'd have to learn to correct that himself over time.

She knew he would miss as soon as he started lunging for the fish he had in his sights. Even from shore, she could tell it was just out of his reach. Water played tricks, offering reflections that made things appear closer than they truly were. Trial and error had helped her learn that as a pup. Patience was required when fishing; they had to be practically bugging out of the water for the strike to have any chance at success.

When he came up sputtering, Pip only smiled and swept her tail over the ground behind her. The fish under her paws was not for sharing. He'd have to catch his own! Of course, he could always give up and go for the one she'd caught for him previously, but Pip hoped he would keep trying. Hoping to encourage him, Pip offered a lively chirp. Her eyes remained on him, holding contact for far longer than she was used to, while she ate.

Keep trying!

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