@Adelayde



The mist from the morning still had not ceased when she returned to the tundra. She could not see more than several feet in front of her, and the mountains which she knew loomed in the distance were invisible. Her hunger was not as furious as it had been the day before, when Askan had helped her find a meal, but she was still hungry, and the Lowlands seemed like the best place, that she was aware of, to hunt. She moved quickly, her nose hovering above the snow. After about an hour of searching she grew discouraged and sought water instead.


A small stream ribboned through the tundra. It seemed odd that she had found it, visibility being so limited and Larkcall being as massive as it was. But there it was, the trickle of thawing ice growing louder as she approached. Lyris stepped in the slush, careful to keep her balance upon the slick rocks lining the tiny bank. She leaned forward, ears lowering, and lapped at the freezing water until her thirst was quenched. She licked her muzzle and the the droplets of water ceased to fall from her lips. With a sigh, the dark girl turned and headed a small distance back up the bank. There, she pawed at the snow, digging a small space where she could lie down and rest a while. One meal was not enough to bring strength back into her body, and she remained unusually fatigued.


With a soft sigh, the she-wolf lowered herself to her belly and rested her snout upon the ground.

Her lemon eyes fluttered shut. Sleep was hard for her to come by these days. She was fatigued, but she was also riddled with anxiety, gnawing at her like fleas. Lyris spent a decent amount of time lying down and resting, but actual sleep evaded her. Now, as she lay beside the brook, the soft bubbling noise lulled her like a lullaby, and she reached that beautiful realm between waking and sleeping where all her nerves were soothed. Nearing sleep, she gave one soft sigh.



Then, the interruption came.



A soft, heavy thing toppled over her and she returned to reality. With an involuntary snarl, she rolled over on her side, pushed by the unknown force. Then, she stumbled to her feet, eyes darting around for the source of the disturbance. Her yellow gaze landed upon a silver she-wolf, with perhaps the most beautiful eyes Lyris had ever seen. She stared at her, still reeling from being abruptly wrenched from sleep. Blinking, Lyris shook her coat and hastened to address the other woman.



Oh, I'm so sorry, she spoke softly. I didn't mean to growl at you. I was nearly asleep, and I did not expect... that. Lyris did not wish for the wolfess to think she had been angered. She wanted her to know that it was surprise that had caused the aggressive behavior. Are you okay, miss?