When it gets cold outside

What tedious work it was trying to break trail again. The scent of Triell guided her, but he had not used this way very recently. Oh hell what else was she going to do? Patrolling borders weren't quite her thing, but keeping paths to them didn't seem like a bad way to pass the time. Lately, it seemed with the temperature dropping soon she wouldn't have to because there would be no new snow to remove. It was with an abrupt sigh she kept thrashing against the white. She had hoped to spy rabbit tracks, or even a mound where little mice had decided to hole up. There were only faint outlines of tiny bird feet, the ones crazy enough to remain. Arlette could not quite bring herself to attempt to hunt them.


The sun upward with its rays heating her back she continued her work, eventually reaching the boundaries of home. Waving her tail proudly, she admired her work. Now she would easily get back home, if only to find something to bring with her. Setting white jaw in a hard line she began searching for a hint of prey, with both nose, eyes, and at times pausing to use her ears. Her search took her to a nearby stream, long frozen from this winter. What she didn't expect was the light brown and gray wolf sitting beside it, down further from her path. Who was this? Pale yellow eyes narrowed. After telling Fenru to scram she didn't want to make another mistake so she wanted to be sure she really didn't know this fellow. Clearly, he was no Sceral or Serach. Neither Jessie, Cori, or Kisla. It was with a stiff tail cast down, she stalked forward never taking her eyes off him. The closer she became it was evident it had been awhile since he had had a good meal. "You...okay?" She called out, as she had stopped a good distance should he prove he was not friendly. She did not quite want to come tooth to tooth with anyone ever again.

When it gets cold outside

The pale lady had never had anyone to bow their head to her, the action froze the movement of her body, and head turned this way and that if someone else was nearby. Facing him, a suitable grin was upon his cream muzzle, and perhaps it really did mean he was of the nice sort. Lettie could easily be doubtful, but knowing someone should find out she continued walking to shorten the gap between them.

The young man spoke, the female's shoulders loosened, and the tip of her tail gave a half beat wag.
Maybe, they could be friends. Once upon a time she had thought the same as another young man who had greeted her much the same way. If to secure the past was not always repeated, she nodded her head in quiet reply, stopping in front of where he sat. He was covered in white, how long had he waited? She was listening to his answer. Whether it was his friendly face, the manner in which he spoke, or how he could laugh at himself he coaxed out a smile. Lettie knew all to well what it was like missing meals, and knew he had to be joking."This winter does seem worse than the one I have lived through here." Maybe, he was use to all miserable sorts. Closer, he did not seem as skinny as she had thought so maybe he hadn't been without a pack long.

Recalling she should do the polite thing, she reclined to her haunches, and simply answered with her first name. "Arlette." It seemed she should say something else, but didn't know what. She had a feeling maybe he was far better at carrying on conversations than she. Instead of hoping she did wonder why he was here. "You looking for someone, something?" She queried with a tilt to her white crown.

When it gets cold outside

This being their first time meeting she did not think much of him taking her in, she had already glimpsed him from head to paw why wouldn't he do so in turn? Next to scent, sight was the next identifiable thing. No one could ever be sure how these meetings went. If it was important to hold onto names and faces. There were many she had likely let leave her memory never seeing the same one again. This man somehow felt it was important. It could have been his age that pushed away pieces of tension, Lettie always found it easier being around those the same year or younger. He was quiet, and she couldn't help but feel a single ear turn back. Had she said something wrong? Resolute in changing her ways of regret, and worry she kept her muzzle clamped. Miro ventured close she could feel her teeth grind, wondering if her judgement had been wrong all along.

The smile came back to the loner, and her tight muscles forced a weak tail wag. He wanted to join Oak Tree Bend he told her. It made sense why he should want to, at least in survival sense. Other than that, she didn't know if his request would become reality. The resent faces of the Bend apparently were already family, so how would they feel about another stranger. Mulling over these things, his sorry brought a faint smile to her own face as she came back to reality. "It's okay, I know the feeling." Sorta. Usually, she wanted to run away, but was slowly coming to turns that wasn't the way to deal with things. Shaking the snow from her head, she met gentle amber eyes thinking she would easily let him stay, but it was not her choice. "As for joining I can call for my leader to come meet you." The smile faded to nothing, and her voice in quiet added, "I don't......know how long it will take." Arlette suddenly changed the course of her sentence deciding she didn't want to kill his hope. Raising her head, in the first time in a long time a song of beckoning rang from her lips, hoping Triell or Corinna would hear it.

After it faded she collected a long breath of cold air, and turned to the brown and gray toned man. "So um..did you live in another pack before...or.." The question faded as she was more certain it might be more of a question from a leader than herself.

The past may shape us, but we define who we are

The snow collected a top his heavy frame, and he thought to himself he must look a bit like a skunk with his black coat. He didn't seem to mind. It meant it was warm enough to even snow, and the wet, heavy stuff could be packed down. That was better than wading through the sugary powder of ice crystals any day. With his large paws he was doing just that; pounding down another trail along the borders of home. The coldness brought on another sort of trouble. It could freeze their water supply. Lately the snow was keeping the creek insulated, he had a feeling he should wander over that way just to be certain.

A quiet rhythm, quiet thoughts he was not far from his course when a lady's howl called for him. He had not heard it before, but there was something to the tune. Dark ears leaning forward it must be Arlette. It wasn't quite clear what she needed, but with no direct urgency he decided maybe she had simply found something she wished to share. Picking up his pace to a bit of a lope, he swiftly sought out the pale wolf, a little curious what he would find. She rarely said a lot, least to him.

Winding through the trees, when his nose picked up her scent it was much easier to decide what path she had taken. Then on the wind he noticed that of a male wolf. So this was why he was needed. Collecting himself, he raised his tail, and tip of his nose before stiffly walking out into open ground. There was nothing burning in his orange-yellow gaze, but it was a steady stare when he looked to the young fellow, and back to Arlette. He had not known what they were talking about, but he waited for an explanation before adding any of his own words.

When it gets cold outside

The white lady noticed how he had decidedly to scoot back, because Lettie always paid attention to the little things. Why, there may have been a raise to her brow, what he was worried about, she hated to try to pick apart his cover. There was no way she could know why he did what he had, or who he really was. What thoughts ran through his head be it doubts, fears, a sort of double guessing she did herself. If she did assume for any reason why he had moved, she would have guessed he was trying to polite again and leave it at that. Despite how he might have suddenly felt little hope, she did not see it nor sense it. Miro's smile never was gone too long. In hushed words maybe then she could have seen the doubt, fear, but she shrugged. "It may take them awhile, I'm not sure where they would be." It wasn't like he nor she was demanding them to come here this very second. Whether he joined or not, his presence needed to be addressed sooner or later. Lettie was far comfortable sitting here waiting. She knew dragging someone into pack territory simply wasn't the way to do things even here in Oak Tree Bend.

So far he didn't seem to care she had asked that specific question. The lines of her smile smoothed, triangle ears drawn to his voice. It seemed he was about to share a story the way he began. It wasn't much of a history, she felt there must be remembrance in those words. She was a little surprise he should admit to be the baby of the family. Again, what did she know about him? It was evident something must have happened why he wasn't with his family, maybe he was tired of being the protected baby. Carefully, shifting her weight, she took a few seconds to swift through her words. It was hard not to think of her own family, and the new one she was becoming part of. "Is the winter keeping you from them too?" The question slowly slipped in almost the same quiet voice he had used. There was something vulnerable to her tone.

Noise coming behind her, Lettie rose, and could see the dark shadow coming their way. By the white patch she knew it was Triell, and seemed to instantly hunch downward. He didn't scare her per say, but she was afraid of doing something wrong she was overreacting at the sight of him. When he stopped she made a point to try to stand a little more casually while keeping a respectful frame. He didn't say anything at first, and she found this a bit odd. Bright eyes fell to her, pale eyes darted to the loner. "This is Miro, he's hoping to join." Then she left it up to Miro himself to add anything, as she didn't want to affect his chances.