I’m Done Putting Out The Fires You Start

It was early, very early, the sun had not even begun to rise when the Maceio-Tainn teen was awoken with a start. It took her a moment to realize what it was that had woken her up so abruptly. Nearby there was the sound of sniffing, shuffling paws, and worst of all what was the unmistakable sound of a canine eating. Leaping to her paws Marrah rushed out of the tree that she had been using as a den for the last few months.

She was met with the unpleasant sight of a coyote eating the last of her already dwindling cache. Lurching forward she called out, ”Hey! That’s mine!” The pest took one look at the large yearling and didn’t like its odds, turning tail and taking off into the snowy landscape. Marrah chased it for a few yards before immediately giving up, there was no use. Even if she caught the coyote she couldn’t fight it, and even if she could it wouldn’t refill her stores.

Not much of a hunter, and all alone, it had taken Marrah weeks to prepare for winter the little she had been able to. Now there was snow coating the ground, prey was more scarce, and her cache was empty. What was she supposed to do now?

When The Cranberry Vodkas Hit A Little Too Hard

I’m Done Putting Out The Fires You Start

The yearling felt understandably overwhelmed with the situation that she currently found herself in. She watched the coyote scamper off across the meadow before disappearing into the seemingly endless burrows. Marrah was tempted to go after it and drag it out, but the reasonable part of her understood this would be an entire waste of energy. Instead she would need to find something else to eat, maybe if she were lucky she could scavenge something that would last a few days.

The sound of laughter reached the dark coloured ears, which swiveled towards it in surprise. Cheeks flushed with embarrassment that she was seemingly being mocked as Marrah turned to look at whoever it was that found this so amusing. Being met with the sight of a stranger she was not entirely sure what it was she was supposed to do. Not nearly as depressed and ambivalent as she had been before, but certainly not social, she opted to say nothing.

Looking away so as to not make direct eye contact she offer a tip of her chin in acknowledgement, hoping this would be enough and he would move on. She didn’t feel like talking.

When The Cranberry Vodkas Hit A Little Too Hard

I’m Done Putting Out The Fires You Start

The yearling watched as the stranger approached her, and chewed her cheek silently. The guy looked kind of beat up, and he talked funny, and she had never been the most social wolf. Still, She didn’t have anything better to do, and the man did not appear to mean any harm with his head hung low and all. Glancing back towards the direction that the coyote had taken off in, she sighed, ”Um, yeah thanks. No fear.” It wasn’t so much about being afraid, but she was not fast enough to catch up with them and she knew it. No use arguing over nothing.

Looking back towards the strange guy she half heartedly inquired, ”You wouldn’t happen to know a good hunting spot near here by any chance?” Maybe if he did that would save her the time and energy of tracking something down herself, she was starting her caches from scratch again now. Not only that, but it was practically winter now with the snow on the ground, and it was going to be twice as hard. She felt the hollowness of homesickness in her chest suddenly, the memory of slipping with Aunt Woya and Enera haunting her.

Blinking, she realized she had probably been appearing distracted, and looked back towards the stranger. Waiting for her answer.

When The Cranberry Vodkas Hit A Little Too Hard

I’m Back Between Villages

The Maceio-Tainn had seemingly gotten away with her thousand yard stare. This loner seemed to be even more socially inept than she was and for that Marrah was thankful. She didn’t like always being the biggest weirdo in a conversation. Ears dropped slightly in disappointment that the man didn’t actually know of any hunting grounds near here and that it wouldn’t be as easy as it could be.

Still, two sets of paws were better than one, and he was offering. Nodding she agreed, ”I don’t mind sharing anything we can catch. The meadows aren’t too bad and we could do something decent with both of us.” Or that was the hope. And then she would find a way to slink away. Nothing against the odd man, but she had no plans of sticking with anyone for the time being, she needed to be alone. This was her punishment.

Turning to begin walking back towards the more open part of the meadow she suddenly perked up a bit. Looking at the man she said half cheerily, ”I’m Marrah by the way. Marrah Maceio-Tainn.” Maybe she should start going by just Marrah? That was something to ponder on.

And Everything’s Still

I’m Back Between Villages

At the very least the Maceio-Tainn teen was happy that this interaction would most likely lead to her being full. Maybe even fuller than she would have been if her caches hadn’t been raided by that darn coyote. It was all a little weird, but she would survive to see another day and that was something. She nodded along to his thought that they could find more prey.

They continued on their way towards the meadow, and Marrah said politely, ”Nice to meet you Rayjiek.” It was an interesting name that felt foreign in her mouth, but then this whole interaction felt foreign. Everything had since she left the Chasm. Oddly enough though, it was actually the truth. It was nice to meet him, even if he was weird.

And Everything’s Still