Since the elk hunt, Evann had fallen back into her usual role of keeping her profile low, doing her best to serve Hollowheart Keep while she waited, longingly, for another chance to prove herself to the wolves she answered to. So far, nothing had come along, and she had spend her days patrolling the borders - or taking small scouting trips out further into the land - trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her broken tail, and the ever increasing gnawing in her stomach. Small fits of luck was all that had brought her through this winter of death, half-eaten carcasses left behind by more fortuned predators, or by the freezing wind itself; A scrawny scavenger, that's what I've sunken to... A COYOTE! She made a grimace, flicking her tail in agitation - and wincing at the wave of pain it caused.






She had stopped up in her contemplations, so caught up in her self-pity that she hadn't noticed where she stood, but now, a burning pain made her acutely aware. Looking down, she barked an oath and quickly jumped back out of the freezing water. Of all things to worry about and look out for! WATER! Shaking her paws, she glared at the small trickle that had managed to break through the ice, resulting in her now soaked paws. It was simply unbelievable, as if things couldn't get any worse, now her paws felt like they were frozen to ice.






Word count: 316




”Speech” Thoughts

She was licking her paws, trying to bring some warmth back to them before they turned to ice cubes, when a faint breeze brought a new scent into her nostrils. Pausing her endeavor, the brown lass lifted her head high, sniffing at the wind; A stranger! And he was getting dangerously close to Hollowheart Keep; the wiry wolfess would not let him get within smelling distance of the border, not if she could help it.






Ignoring her still stinging paws, Evann swiftly followed the scent, weaving in and out between the trees. She couldn't tell whether this foreigner was of another pack, or simply one of the strays that would show up once and again, regardless, unless he intended to join The Keep, he would go no further. After a short trot, her chocolate gaze caught sight of something moving amongst the trees up ahead. Slowing down, the sable girl narrowed her eyes to make out the wolf in the shadows, steps seizing when she found him; A... Child? Her first thought was one of joy; The lost pups! But the she shook her head, a frown twisting her face; No... Idiot! The smell was unfamiliar to her, whoever this kid was, it was neither Mercy, nor Aponi. Their disappearance weighed heavily on the pack, even though they tried to go about business as usual; No one will be happy before they are known to be safe!






Pushing the unhappy thoughts aside, Evann stepped towards the boy, out of the last shadows concealing her; "Child!" She demanded, voice filled with authority, and tail raising high over her back; "W... What b-brings you here?!" She stared him down, posture, while not openly aggressive, clearly displaying her dominance. Now that she saw him more closely, it was easy to tell him apart from both of the missings; his fur was dark, and his eyes a bright, green shade.






The mottled lady stood on stiff legs, ready to act in an instance, while she waited for his response. He was just a pup, nearly a yearling though, but she wouldn't take any chances. She would largely prefer o turn him around without violence, sending him on his merry way without any inkling of the pack hidden deeper into the forest, but if it came t it, she was ready to use force; Look at you, threatening a child, is that what you came here for? Trying to ignore the thought, she did lower herself a bit, but she kept her eyes locked on his, just to be safe.






Word count: 425




”Speech” Thoughts