Lost Lake where the fog meets the shadow

The sun hung low on the burning horizon as dusk approached and the ebony and silver male padded relentlessly eastward, far away from the dark thicket where he had spent most of his time lately. As he traveled, he thought of his encounter with the ghostly female. He was nothing like her, and was shamed by her carefree, elegant stature. It was her eyes that would haunt him long after her scent had dissipated, stolen from the vegetation by the northern winds that swept westward.

Although he didn't know what this new place had in store for him, he did know that he could not wait for fate to drop a game plan in his lap. He had been alone for so long that he seemed to have lost touch with himself along the way. He comes to a hault, aiming his muzzle high. Nostrils twitching, breathing the crisp air in deeply, he catches a scent of water in the distance. Good thing, too, because the small journey from the thicket of secrets had proved to be dehydrating, if nothing else. He took a moment to take in his surroundings; it was quiet here, in the east, but not in the lonely way that stuck in the air behind him. He turned his wide head to observe the path that he had forged, pleased that the tall grasses disguised his route. This was the last time he would look back - no more running.

His paws carried him stealthily into the twilight and closer to his destination, where the the land was cloaked in an eerie fog, just like he liked it. As he approached the fog, he saw that his path was to lead him straight down a steep slope and into what looked very dark. The sunlight was fading fast, and though the peripheral scenery was touched by light, this path was not. He thought twice before deciding to continue, remembering that he was closing in on a strange lake whose waters were sure to be quenching.

The descent down the slope was winding, and the shadows were tricky to navigate through. Eventually the ground underfoot leveled out, and it was noticeably damper than the earth at the top of the hill, which seemed to glow in contrast to the deep shadow that prevailed in his nook. He was surrounded by huge trees, whose trunks were as wide as he was long, and their canopies stretched out so far as to seem to grow into one another. To his right, the slope curved into a small rocky outcrop, whose stones were covered in a dark moss. Straight ahead, he could see the reflection of a young moon on the glassy surface of the lost lake. He moved closer, enchanted by the way the fog rolled across the water. There was small, rocky beach where the forest met the water. He glanced backward into the woods and the at foot of the mopssy slope, and then turned to take in the sight of the moonlit lake. It was perfect, and it would be his home from now on.

He drank from the lake before heading back to the outcrop at the foot of the hill. Considering the unique location and the fact that, aside from the canopy overhead, there was no real shelter, he chose to construct his den by simply carving it out of the slope. He couldn't dig through the rocks, so he began right next to them. The task was laborous, but the thought of curling up in a home of his own was motivation in itself...

It was well into the night when this project was completed. Strangely, the fog seemed to come and go in spurts, and Kade took note of this as he lay on the beach, enjoying the peaceful sound of the water lapping gently into the curves of the obscure cove. His eyes watered and his mouth strecthed to accomodate his yawning - sleep was calling. Tempted to remain on the beach, he knew it would be safer to return to the comfort of his new den, and so he drug his exhausted body back to the hole in the hill. It was small, and he had to crouch to move around inside, but the den was deep in the slope, where it was quite warm and just quiet enough. He turned a few circles, pawing at the dirt until it was just right, plopped down and sighed in relief, looking forward to a good night's rest.

Tonight, he would chase his dreams, tucked away in his hole where the fog meets the shadow. Tomorrow, he would venture out into the lakeland, and he couldn't wait to uncover it's secrets.

<blockquote>It wasn't that his feet were itching already. Indru had only invited him back to the pack yesterday; it would have been utterly premature to think that he was getting restless so soon. No, it wasn't quite that. It was comforting being in the grove, the security of other wolves a luxury that he hadn't known for several months, and though he was aware and glad of its temporary status, he felt he was allowed to enjoy it. Life didn't have to be a struggle <i>all</i> the time.

No, it wasn't that. It wasn't his innate curiosity, either, not quite. His shift in location meant that he now had a new central point from which to explore, even if being a ranked wolf instinctively inhibited his drive to roam. It was ingrained into him not to venture too far, from both the example of others and his own foolish foray into leaving. No, he was never going to repeat that again. That meant that this time was something else, something other than interest for places he had never been before.

It was, at least in part, likely to do with his lingering affection for Midnight Plateau, the pack whose leaders he had adored. The mountains had gone awfully quiet, though. Ever since his first visit, Kinis had only returned once.

How could things have changed so quickly? The boy had been able to find nobody, nobody at all, and the only indication that there had been a thriving pack at all were the lingering scents left behind, but even they were quickly fading. Soon, there would be nothing left. This news, coupled with his utter ignorance as to the reason, had depressed Kinis for several days; he had once dreamed of living there, with Alexander and Amélie, but now the decision had been made for him. His idols, gone, potentially dead. It had been a severe blow to his motivation and confidence, if only because he could not believe that anything bad could befall the white leaders he had loved so much. If they could fail... what chance did he have?

Kinis Tainn had grown up since that point. Rather than suffer, he had chosen to hold their memories in his heart, using them to fuel his determination to be a better, stronger wolf. He would make them proud, wherever they were, alive or dead.

Living by the river, the mountains were a constant presence in the pack's day-to-day life, and not something that Kinis could ignore. The pain was dulled with time, if not because he had yet to learn their fate, and so for the most part he could live with it.

{indent}So, ultimately, what was it? At a basic level, he missed the mountains for its landscape as well as its inhabitants. That's why, the night following his return, he was itchy for some difficult terrain. The range began very close to the River's eastern border, and it took minimal travel to reach. He consoled himself with the knowledge that he would not be long. It was a welcome distraction, venturing into the Serpent's Pass once again. The view quickly became more and more spectacular, even though it was long past dusk, but then he found himself heading downwards. The thrill of discovery high in his throat, he pressed on, and the moon was low in the sky when the forest suddenly ended, giving way to a glorious, wide lake, tucked away and hidden. Kinis felt inexplicably privileged to even witness it.

Slowly, cautiously, he made his way to the water's edge, quenching his mild thirst as reward for his efforts. The air was still, the lake of perfect calm, and the serenity that it brought him almost felt unnatural. It was a beautiful place. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Kinis made a note of it, something to suggest to Ruiko as a potential home. It had everything that they would need, after all.

After a few minutes, as he casually wound his way along the lake, hugging its edge, the scent of an unknown male came into his head. It wasn't fresh; in fact, it was more than a few hours old. Assuming that the stranger had moved on, Kinis went to follow it out of nothing more than idle curiosity, doubting that he would locate the source. The scent was isolated and clearly the owner did not live here. Still, when it led to a pitch black hole in the side of the curve leading up and away from the lake, Kinis had to wonder if he had been wrong.

Either way, he did not want to disturb a sleeping wolf. Making a casual note of its location, he retreated, finding himself a more temporary place of rest underneath a low-hanging tree. Swift River would not miss him tonight, and he would be sure to return tomorrow. Besides, it was early morning by now; it was really time to get some sleep before making the journey back.</blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>

The first night in the novel den had been good to him - quiet, restful. Though it was difficult to leave his dreams, it was nice to wake to such a peaceful environment. His mouth opened wide, lazily, as a quick yawn escaped from the depths of his worn body. As he lay, gazing through the small hole that was the mouth of the den, a sense of dischord overcame him. He came to his feet quickly when he realized that he had been sleeping in the presence of a trespasser's scent. A ridge of hairs, arrected from the base of his skull to the tip of his tail, was the response of a killer caught off guard. His location was hand-picked for its seclusion at the base of the hill, a quick tread from the lapping shore of the lake, surely it was no coincidence that a passerby had been so close as he slept soundly.

Despite the instinctual territorial fire that had been set ablaze inside his mind and body, his eyes were colder than ever - frostbitten - as they scanned every dimension of horizon for the intruder. The scent was fresh, and young, leading away the den. He did not hesitate in pursuing the ghost who had came and went so casually, stepping with featherlight precision over the damp vegetation that was cloaked in early morning dew. The fog was thick and heavy, impeding his vision but not his speed, which was governed by a combination of vestibular and olfactory knowledge. The aggression that had defined his past gripped him with unparalleled force, driving him forward, closer to the source of the scent that taunted him.

He made his way diligently across the forst floor, which was riddled by the large roots of the mature trees that made the foggy forest so comfortable. Ferns grew wildly on the banks of small inclusions of water that had carved their way inland from the lake. Overhead, rays of morning sunlight peeked through the tree tops, occasionally dancing across his back, pleasantly warm. The fog broke, and the clear view of the forest was notabe. He was not far from the cove before he slowed his pace, haulting frequently to mark the vegetation and survey the air. He would not go further than this, unless need be, for now. In his intellectual hindsight, he knew that the stranger who had stumbled upon him was not a threat, as the male scent was isolated and led away from the den, which was now significantly less secluded than he preferred. The woods were peaceful, respectively empty, and time passed fluidly as he waited for a sign of anyone nearby.

<blockquote>For a night out in the wild, Kinis had slept very soundly - or perhaps that was why he had slept so well, considering that he was most used to it. Having the comforts of a permanent den was almost too luxurious to be appealing. It seemed too easy. So relaxed was he that thoughts of the previous night's stranger were almost non-existent upon awakening, for Kinis did not really expect to run into the mysterious wolf. Had he been more aware of the idea that his own scent had been spotted, something which should have occurred to him, Kinis may not have chosen to head back to the lake for quick refreshment before returning to the packlands.

Though he was on half-alert, as one must do when alone in unknown territory, Kinis' surveillance was lazy, and he passed through the forest utterly oblivious of the wolf hidden within. Thirst was his primary motive, and the young Tainn plodded carelessly through the trees, eventually alighting upon the sight of the water's edge with a smile. Content in his belief that he was alone, he headed down to the lake, contemplating whether or not he had time for a swim as well as a drink.</blockquote>

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<i>at least... that's where I'm supposed to be...</i></center>