Mount Hollow No Pity Here

After her short stay in the Wildwood, Tzila had decided it was time to move on. The only wolf she had encountered in her travels thus far, was the small dark male, @Ferreiran. And quite frankly, he had been anything worth her time. With all snarls and not so much as a word, there would have been little point in her hanging around the likes of him. She liked to think that in the end, she came out on top. The forest had after all, turned up a leftover meal for her. Enough for her to get by for a few more days.

The combination of restless legs, the yearning to explore and the offensive stench of coyotes pushed her on. She didn't want to linger in one place for too long. If this vast wilderness were to be her long term home, she would have to scout the land. Get to know the regions, find the best hiding spots and grounds for hunting. It's residents, she was less excited about. If they crossed her path, then so be it. But she would not force an interaction, nor would she go crawling to the borders of some pack, begging to be let in. She would take her time here, before deciding to settle, if at all.

The continuous heat was an annoyance. The haze, more so. The tinge of smoke stung her nostrils and irritated her eyes, souring her mood in turn. In the distance from the forest, she had spied the mountain range. Their craggy heights looked inviting. Surely there, it would be cooler, the air clearer. She had just made her way to the very base of the slopes by the time night had fallen. Good. Maybe the evening would bring some relief. But here, as the footing steadily became more unpredictable, it would be difficult for an inexperienced wolf to see. The gaping mouth of a giant cave, surely once home to another animal, greeted her. Weary from her trek but by no means exhausted, after a careful investigative sniff, she set herself down upon a stony ledge overlooking the forest below and admired the view in peace.

The sky had begun to change. The blue skies had been subdued by a strange, grey haze; a foreign sight to the mountain girl. It did not appear natural and it troubled the girl, but she quickly realized it was out of her control. There was nothing she or the wolves of Aurora could do to chase the smoke away.

She opted for a trek down the mountainside instead. The scarlet Archer had been a dutiful daughter and tended to the Borealis Boys whenever she was needed but she did not want to spend all of her time making sure they weren’t straying too far from the dens. There were other wolves to watch them when she wasn’t around. If they got into trouble they likely deserved it. The Argryis Archer clan were a smart bunch; they would learn quickly. And if they didn’t… were they really Argryis Archers?

It did not take her long to descend down the mountain, her long, nimble legs moving expertly along the rugged terrain. Fortunately the lower she went the easier it became to breath. She had grown found of the forests below during her time away from the Heights (her pup-napping) but she would always remain loyal to the mountain. But, it did not mean she couldn’t enjoy a rare visit to lower elevations.

An unknown scent, however, caused her steps to cease and her shoulders to stiffen. A stranger. It was often that lone wolves made their way onto the Heights, but it was more common in the warmer months. The mountain was mostly impassible in the winter. She let out a low woof to alert the other of her presence but did not deter from her path to find the loner. Not yet.

She rolled her shoulders back, stretching out the muscles lying just beneath her skin. Silver eyes fluttered closed while she drew in a long breath through her nose. The cool of the smooth stone against her skin felt refreshing, a welcome contrast to the burning heat of the sun. She decided she would stay up the remainder of the night and perhaps do a little exploring around the base of the mountain. Being such a long ways from home and with no intention of going back, it would do her well to familiarize herself with the area. Content to just listen peacefully to the sounds of the wild at night, Tzila was least of all expecting a visitor.

The other wolfs scent reached her nose long before she could spot them. Snapping her eyes open, she instinctively went on high alert, scanning the fore ground back and forth for any sign of them. As it turned out, she needn't search far. A low woof guided her. Her dark nostrils flared subtly again, taking in the scent of this wolf more deeply. Female. Young. And unlike her, part of an established pack. This alone, set Tzila slightly on edge. She didn't want a confrontation with a pack wolf if she was accidentally infringing on claimed territory. After a moments consideration, she stood and stepped out to the very mouth of the hollow, but no further. Her position revealed and posture neutral but curious, the ball was in Revon's court once again.