a slow parade

<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'>The high noon sun had arched its way halfway over her by the time she had come to what she felt was a proper resting spot. As the even higher flying birds gave their distant <span class='word'>caterwaul</span>s, Finch considered it luck that she had managed to find a place at the Plateau. Though granted, she had to say that it seemed awfully vacated, and what she had explored so far was quiet. But it hadn't just been the population (or lack thereof) that had drawn her in, just the fact that somewhere was willing to take her sorry self under their wing.</font>

<font style='margin-left:20px;'>But there was also the fact that the mountains loomed nearby, the mountains that she had come over. Snow melt had occurred to her as a form of water. but it was just a matter of figuring out how to get to it. Or whether or not it was actually worth it. Finch hadn't entirely decided and in turn actually wished she had one of her brothers with her. Whichever one of them had the most brains and a fair bit of brawn to go and look at the place themselves -- she couldn't help but doubt her mountain climbing skills so well. It had always been easier to go down than up, anyway.</font>

<font style='margin-left:20px;'>Stretching her forelegs out in front of her, the grey-haired yearling rested her head on them. She didn't feel nearly as tired as she wished she was, because finding an old den to take for herself would have been something more to do. But instead she pondered the loss of their water, and wondered if the Plateau had been vacated mostly because of it.</font></blockquote>

(This post was last modified: Oct 30, 2010, 10:24 PM by Finch.)

Alexander was exhausted. It saddened him to no end to see Honijo disappear, and he'd spent most of his time in desperate search for the male. Up and down the mountain, around the Falls, and even to the eastern ends of Relic Lore. The brute was no where to be found, and Midnight Plateau had fallen silent. With no word to guide him, Alexander had taken over, almost reluctantly, as there seemed to be no one to follow him, but he felt he owed it to Honijo. The brute had been kind to him, and if he should return, he would be proud to see that the name still existed...Even if there seemed to be little left to the pack.

Weldering and Kardinal had disappeared as well, but Alexander hadn't known them well. Or well enough to hunt them down. He was certain that they could have been wonderful packmates, kind additions to what would be his family. But now he was alone. Well, that wasn't true. One lone female, a yearling, Finch, had shown up. Alexander took her in, happy to know that the pack could perhaps be called a pack.

He slept restfully in his den, hidden in a small cave (or a very large outcropping) very near to where Midnight Plateau called home. Never before had he slept so deeply, for when he awoke, it seemed that he'd slept for nearly a day. The sun was up when he'd retreated and it was up still when he awoke. Unless, of course, time had moved much slower than he thought, but certainly it had been a day. He snorted, exasperated, and slid from his den, finding his way easily to Midnight Plateau, picking his way among the rocks and ledges.

When he arrived, he found Finch, resting, it seemed, just as he had been. Or perhaps she wasn't sleeping. "Afternoon." Alexander smiled, walking up beside her, and dropping to his haunches.

<blockquote><font style='margin-left:20px;'>She hadn't heard Alexander approach, though that was partially due to the fact that she had been chomping away at the bit, trying to think of solutions to problems that would probably work themselves out in time. But at the sound of her leader's voice -- a voice she found lacked any trace of <span class='word'>chicanery</span> -- she was pulled immediately from them, discarding them as though they were yesterday's news set for the incinerator. Pulling her ears back respectfully, Finch was dwarfed easy by him as he sat beside her.</font>

<font style='margin-left:20px;'><b>"Hey to you too,"</b> she said, almost tacking on a <i>sir</i>. It was strange, not being the subordinate to her father now, but someone who was still a stranger. A kind stranger, at least until she had deemed otherwise. <b>"Not much going on around here today."</b> An easy comment, but it wasn't far from the truth. The Plateau was empty, dried up and devoid of life just like the water that had been there. Which reminded her... where had all of the fish gone that would have been there? She hadn't seen them around either, bones or heads. But maybe she hadn't looked hard enough either.</font></blockquote>

Alexander was certain that he'd get to know this wolf very well as the days went on. They were the only ones right now. They'd have to get along, or things would be bad. But Alexander knew himself as a kind soul, not to toot his own horn, and this wolf, though only a few words had been exchanged, seemed kind. There was a certain air of awkwardness, and he almost felt guilty that she was here. A part of a two-wolf pack, which could hardly be called such a thing.

"It's usually quite quiet. We're the only one's unfortunately." Alexander bowed his head, and glanced over at the girl, an apologetic look in his eyes. "It's Finch, right?" He went on, smiling now, trying not to look so guilty.