Riddle Heights our hollowed hearts

<blockquote>He could do worse.

His eyes slide up the side of the trunk; once a vertical shaft, it’s enormous form had buckled and given way to the pull of gravity. It’s structure lay solidly planted in the side of the rising hills. The cause of the cedar’s fall was not, at first, evident. It’s size alone would make anyone question what it was that could bring such an old giant to it’s knees. Crooked in a steep path between to elevated sides of stone, it forced anyone attempting to move beyond it’s form to either climb it or to back track and move up a path that presented itself on the other side of the first stone wall.

Up for a challenge, Teo had found purchase at the base of the now diagonally fallen tree, where it’s roots had been ripped from the earth facing north west, while the deadened branches lay southeast, crippled and hidden between a slit in the rock formation. The bloody scene of cracked and torn timber now lay beneath him, hidden by the rocks of the slide that had caused it and a solid five years of settling.

By the time he had found enough of a path to lead him halfway up the trunk, he was already forming ideas. He’d had no den here, not since his first attempt had been smothered by a slide that had killed it in a very similar matter. His ears flicked backwards at the thought, irriation grazing him at the thought of the wold he had met that day. No doubt such events were common place in this particular area, but with the way the trunk was nudged between the two formations, he would have little bother should another slide come over the trunk.

It would merely cover and fall over the top of it, creating, in a sense, a <span class='word'>palladium</span> of wood re-enforced by a layer of stone. Moving back towards the base of the tree, roots twinning and shooting into the air, he moved carefully down their air hardened forms until he came to the underside of the beast. Earth long dry clung feebly to the root system, though he saw that he was not the first with the idea to harbor shelter in their midst. Smaller creatures had already gnawled holes into the softer wood of the center, creating a minor starting point.

Larger predators had come and gone. An earthy mixture of retained scents where their fur had scrapped against moisture ladden roots saw that their story was told, whether it be a night of partial shelter beneath the root system or merely a meal eaten in a quite place.

The roots created a partially shielding latice work from the weather, though one would still undoubtedly get wet. It was the concave nature at the center of the tree that saw to more ample shelter. It was here that the more complex roots had already been torn from the tree and the beginnings of nesting had occured. He moved to this section now, testing the bark with his claws and seeing that while it was firm, it also gave way with a bit more force.

It was going to be hard, dirty work. But Teo was sure he had finally found a home.</blockquote>

-I think I'll set this whole world on fire, where's my match and gasoline?-

One step, two step, three step, and four.....how much more...

The small lyrical was begining to frequently repeat in her head in the sway of her steps, and the rhythem of her ragged breaths. At first she hadn't really been concious of it, until now with each burning reach of her white paws which informed her all the miles she had put upon them. The young lady was not content to stop. This mountain range, and rocky outcrops were too much like home her she kept telling herself just a little further. She did not want a soul hunting her down again, this time she was determined to be free and set everyone's guilt away from her. She did not need any more pity, advice, or directions on how she was living life all wrong. Screw that! Out here she was anyone she wanted to be, and no one else to tell her otherwise.

The ridge of her shoulders burning, and the sun more so hot she stubornly drug herself high against the rocks, and dirt. Physical pain meant she was alive, and was nothing to cry over. She'd lick her wounds by the end of the day, and sleep in the bed she'd made. There was something fullfilling about working hard, and conquering another day. And they had said she was a wimp, uncapable of taking care of herself. Screw them. They could eat their words, or better choke on them over, and over again. She would likely not know. After all she had promised herself she would never go back, but thinking they might be miserable, blaming themselves for driving her away gave her great satisfaction. They should hate themselves, they should blame it on their stupid words, and ploys.

Soon it would be with a very satisfied smile she would reach the top of Riddle Heigths viewing all the glory beneath her like a queen on her throne. Where was she to begin in all this acres of land that stretched for miles and miles each place a grand new secret to discover? She had no idea. It was like she'd being offered a the finest of dishes and no idea where to start because it was all so wonderful and overwhelmly new. What was time to the young rogue? It was merely just a keeper of her stories really if she had to describe it. It was there she took in a deep breath of the crisp air letting it sink deep within her lungs and flow within her veins. If freedom had a taste...a feel this would be it.

In her moment of glory there was the usual grumble of her tummy reminding her it would need to be filled. Hunger was merely her only companion, and she was not to worried about supressing it a little longer. She did need a little rest before finding a measly scrap to eat, and as if to force herself to remember she flexed her white toes. They were happy to only be holding her up, and she decided with the cool breeze nipping at her blond hair she could sit here...let her body refuel.

For some time that's what she did; she reclined to her haunches watching the sky, and the world below, at peace she did not have to look over her shoulder. With those trickling minutes of time the hurt of her belly became bearable, and her tired limbs did not feel so heavy. Soon enough she was ready to be on the move, actually wanting to find water. Testing the stoney ground, her brown nostrils flared, and she leaned this way, then that. Without any more caution she threw herself down the horizontal plan of the ridge, zooming downward with the help of the incline. When it looked like she might trip she merely jumped to the side of the hill her creamy pillars a tumble agaisnt the gray much like a deer on the run. It did not take long for her childish laughter of fear and fun to ring among the hillside.

She made it down, and down in this matter until she became a little weary again. The fact she could no longer laugh, and her tongue was burning for a drink her mood became a bit more serious. She needed water, and wanted to get to the stream she'd noticed. It was a on a path somewhere she'd noted, and she was trying to figure out which. Her golden eyes bright, and sharply wandering over a possible route it was her nose that picked up the scent of a wolf. Where there was a wolf there might just be water, or someone who could clue her in. She might as well meet some inhabitant here, making "friends" was the best way to survive. The young lass followed her nose, but found herself staring at a large man staring at a large log. What the? Her dark brown brows press together, and the edge of her snout wrinkles. Staring at a tree was just weird, even Remus knew this.

"Damn, that's a big tree! Maybe you should ask it to move, eh?" She said, raising her chin, and striding his way with a flick of her white tipped, bushy tail. Her eyes were not on him though, but on the ancient tree actually feeling a little sad the gentle giant had fallen. There were no real signs what had happened, and she assumed it must have just been it's time. Everyone ran out of time when the world decided to strike something down dead. Time could not quite ever be her friend.

(This post was last modified: Apr 18, 2012, 05:08 AM by Remus.)