Lost Lake I won't let you Choke

She had laid atop her perch, a small precipice on the edge of a small cliff, watching the boy from a distance for what felt like an age, her tawny coat blending perfectly with the red and grey cliff face at her back. He truly moved more like a fox, than a wolf. Cautious, calculating, sneaky. Her resolve had been tested. The path had been set. She could make use of this one, despite his lack of bulk. Every court needed a jester. It was a reasonable climb down from her throne, first, she had to make her way upwards, scaling the cliff along similar, smaller ledges until it leveled out at the top, then she would work her way around, and down. It was a newly acquired skill. One she had been working on for weeks. She had seen many places in her travels. One she had deemed perfect. But there was still much legwork to be done. She was not hasty in her approach but purposeful. Making no move to lower her stance or carry herself as the lowly wolf the others thought her as. She was a queen, this was her kingdom, and for the way they had treated her she would tear their whole world down. It was only a matter of time. She approached the boy with a kindly smile. Whether he was hunting rodents or simply fascinated with the ground beneath his paws was of little consequence to her. She had an offer to make, and hoped he would take to it kindly.

The little wolf's dark tipped snout roved over the snow covered earth and his keen eyes flicked across every detail of the lake's surroundings. No nook nor cranny was left neglected in Rais' survey of his new "home". Whether or not this pack thing would be a long-term commitment, he wanted to get himself well acquainted with this place which had previously been somewhat off-limits. Of course a pack wolf would want to know their way around the territory, but even as a lone wolf knowing these things could come in handy. He didn't plan on leaving, not soon at the least. Not when there was food and shelter to hold him over the winter here, at just the price of a little freedom. Like a careful parasite, he'd leach all he could without his hosts taking notice.

The snow and shadows suited Rais' monochrome fur just fine, though he seemed to blend in anywhere, no matter the scenery. His creeping gait along the snow came to a halt when he heard skittering beneath the crystalline surface. The scratching of a rodent in it's burrow was like Pavlov's bell for the wolf, his jowls salivating with the promise of a meal. Bad timing though, as he could see a brownish figure approaching in his peripheral vision. One of the pack, he could only assume. Food was always at the forefront of his priorities, however, and the wolf would have to wait. Quickly he dashed his paws into the snowy ground, the paper-thin layer of ice cracking, giving way as he broke into the tiny tunnel below. His teeth swiftly followed, snatching up the chipmunk and chomping it down before anyone could say otherwise.

The snack taken care of, he turned to the wolf, almost not recognizing her on first glance. With a smile upon her face, it was almost as if she were a different wolf from the snarling wrath Rais had encountered earlier. He wondered what brought on the change of face, and wondered whether it was something to be wary of. It could be she was honestly pleased to see him; she was a packmate now, after all. No longer was he a loner before an unguarded pup. He'd still keep his guard up, though. "Hey," He greeted, licking the blood from his grinning mug. "Not gonna rip my throat out this time, are ya?"

(This post was last modified: Dec 27, 2012, 09:01 AM by Rais.)

Her tinkling laughter was relaxed in response to his questioning. "No, not this time." she teased lightly, for a moment allowing her old self back in. The carefree girl so intent on seeing the good in everyone. Convinced that everything would be just fine. But she knew better now. If you wanted something, you had to take it. The relaxed smile did not leave her face as she casually seated herself nearby, ears finely turned to the scurrying beneath the snow, almost as certainly as the wolf before her's would be. She would not stop him hunting his fill, and her presence, provided she remained still was unlikely to impact on his efficiency. But she couldn't help but wonder, if he wanted more. Something more substantial to fill his hollow sides. Something more than Poison Path could offer him in the way of a life past the winter. Everybody had a dream. Everyone had their price. "So, Rais..." her words were smooth, but any seasoned wolf would hear the proposition to come in her tone. "How about we pick on something closer to our own size?" She questioned, smug smile still in her eye, almost daring the boy to question if that had been her true purpose in coming down here. All in good time.

(This post was last modified: Dec 30, 2012, 05:53 AM by Naira.)

More of them. He could hear their frenzy under the snow, trying to escape the giant from above. Before, he would have caught them all and been satisfied for a good day's work, proud of the paltry catch that would let him scrape by for another day. His eyes constantly moved between her and the ground, not entirely sure which was more worth his attention at the moment. Reassured that she wasn't here for his blood this time he relaxed, just a little. "Good to hear," he chuckled.

The tone he heard in his spoken name caused his attention to shift towards her more fully. He looked as distracted as ever, but he was listening. He was curious if she had a reason for seeking him out, wondering if it were more than simple curiosity on her part. Something their own size, huh? A moment passed, his vision still settled on the sparkling snow. It seemed like an offer for a hunt, either wolf or beast though he couldn't be sure from how she had phrased it. The thought of something heartier to fill his belly was tempting. He had to wonder why she had sought him out so quickly. He really hoped that his reputation in the lowlands hadn't proceeded him up the mountain.

"Okay..." He turned to her, his bright eyes glinting as he looked into hers, trying to read what he saw there. She was holding onto something, but he'd let her reveal it at her own pace. "Well, what 'something's did you have in mind then?"

(This post was last modified: Dec 27, 2012, 09:01 AM by Rais.)

He took the bait. Her mother had always told her the way to any males heart was through his stomach. And to think she had scoffed at the idea as a younger wolf. Her time was running short on the mountain, although she was yet to realise it. The itch for a challenge was burning in her blood. It would only be a matter of time. Days even. What did she have in mind? Kamota's was the first face to flash past her mind but her stomach steered her more towards the odd deer that called the mountain home. As plentiful as goats seemed to be, there was only so much of the wiry meat she could manage before she got a hunkering for real food. "There is an odd deer that calls the mountain home. They have rather large ears, like a rabbit or hare... They are darker than the deer of the forest as well." she explained patiently. She was of course describing a mule deer, but the name mattered not to her. It was food plain and simple. "I came across some tracks this morning. I worry they may be migrating off the mountain for the colder months, but we should still manage to find them nearer the heights...?" It was as much a suggestion as it was a direction. Of course if the boy would rather chase goats up the mountain with snow and ice about, to risk slipping and breaking a leg (or his back) then she would know he was perhaps not the wolf she needed. It was with a questioning smile that she turned and headed back towards the tracks she had stumbled by earlier and listened for his following paw steps behind her.

(This post was last modified: Dec 30, 2012, 05:50 AM by Naira.)

He nodded as she explained what their quarry was to be. Honestly, though, there wasn't much the kid wouldn't eat, so long as it was easy to get a hold of. Rais knew the when's, where's and how's of all the prey at lower altitudes, whether or not he had the physical capabilities of catching them on his own, but he was woefully ignorant as to what crept around these heights. She was likely to know the mountains better than he had, and would take her word on what was the best game to catch up here at this time of year. "I'll take 'odd deer' over chipmunks any day," he smirked.

He was relieved to see that she had taken the lead, as he was not entirely comfortable with the thought of a stranger at his back. He kept his eyes on the trail, though his mind somewhat drifted as he walked. Something tickled at his memory, a warning of sorts. He was reminded of the time that River wolf, Triell, had helped Rais out with his porcupine problem in exchange for some unknown future favor. If this lady planned on pulling any of that mess, she'd be sorely disappointed if she expected Rais to be held to his word. As far as he was concerned, this was free lunch... But wasn't there no such thing as a free lunch? He narrowed his eyes, thinking that there must be some ulterior motive. Now, like an itch that begged to be scratched, the curious boy just wanted to know what it was she wanted from him. He could always ask, but it was unlikely anyone plotting evil would reveal the plan to their victim. And maybe there was no hidden agenda, and he was just worried about nothing.

He hadn't yet smelled whatever sort of deer they were looking for, and figured it wasn't a bad time for some seemingly idle chatter. "So, you just like taking scrawny kids on hunting trips? Or did your hunting partner take the day off?" He didn't think it was either of these things, but maybe he'd be able to tease out something closer to the real answer.

(This post was last modified: Dec 27, 2012, 09:01 AM by Rais.)

As they walked, the tawny woman thought back over what she had observed of the boy. He had energy to burn it would seem, with his constant twitching and rocking. But for all his distracted appearance he was still able to focus on what was meaningful. He wasn't terrible to look at and while some may call him cocky or distracted, too flighty to be of use, Naira saw more. She saw eyes, and ears that would be looked over for his constant spasms and pleasing simple smile. When he was older, he could be a charmer, a cassanova up there with the best of them... maybe even a recruiter? A scouts job was far too bland for this boy. He didn't seem the sort to stay much past the winter, his rocking back and forth mirroring a wolf on the move. It seemed as though staying in one place too long would be deemed unnatural to this one... He fit with her plans perfectly in her mind, it was just a matter of seeing if he would perceive it the same way. She looked at the sooty wolf sidelong, a half smile tugging at her lips with his question. "I don't have a hunting partner Rais. Usually, I am far too much my own wolf for that." She admitted freely. "But you need some meat on your bones, and I am sick of goats and hares. It seemed mutually beneficial... Don't you agree?" A brow raised with her question, the look in her eye daring the boy to ask more. However, conversation was interrupted as the heavy prints in the deepening snow came into sight. First, she sniffed to the West, back into Relic Lore, where the scent was growing stale - before doubling back to the East. She raised her head, ears forward and tail rigid as she looked in the direction the tracks disappeared. It wasn't fear that rooted her in place but knowledge of what lay beyond the protection of the Heights. Bringing herself back to the here and now, she realised the scents were still relatively fresh, and they wouldn't need to go far. She wouldn't be trapped again... and even if she was, this time, she had company that was capable of fending for itself.

(This post was last modified: Dec 30, 2012, 05:50 AM by Naira.)

With a twitch of his sooty black ears he listened carefully to her words. He nodded along with her, understanding, sympathizing with the sentiment. Rais didn't mind company, but he really only liked working together if it had some sort of greater payoff than he would get otherwise. In this case, a good meal would be his reward for cooperating with another, but he wondered if her reward was greater than what she had told him...

He licked his jowls, suddenly dreaming of deer when the fresh trail met his nostrils, orange eyes hungrily seeking out the cloven hoofprints pressed into the snow. Whatever they had been talking about hadn't necessarily been forgotten, just set on the backburner of his mind for more important matters... Food. It had been so long since he had sunk his teeth into the warm flesh of anything bigger than a muskrat. Beyond that, he had missed the challenge of tracking and taking the bigger prey. With more intelligence and ability to fight, it was much trickier to catch an ungulate than a rodent. His wriggly demeanor quickly disappeared, his twitching energy suddenly transformed to an almost startling focus. His tail stuck level out behind him and his his jaws clenched in anticipation, awaiting the moment when he would find something to grasp between them. He placed his wet leathery nose to the snow, moving alongside Naira as they checked westward, only finding the scent stale in that direction, then eastward towards fresher tracks.

She had held still for a moment, and Rais gave her a sideways glance. He wondered whether it was something about the hunt, or if her mind was just wandering. Rais internally shrugged, if it were something he needed to know she would say so. Excited to find something, he started to follow the tracks, assuming she would be at his side.

They continued on the trail, each keeping to their own thoughts before a rancid stench was blown their way. Accusing eyes turned on the sooty wolf before her then it dawned, that this was no smell from a living creature. She took in their changing surroundings, tufts of grass were sprouting here and there, and puzzlement was clear on her face. It was the heart of winter, there should be no bare earth here, on the mountain... The distracted grunts of deer grazing and mulling about distracted her as her stomach clenched. As they rounded the snow capped boulder she froze for a moment as her eyes fell on the herd, grazing about the pool that had steam rising off its surface. Grass grew about it’s edges in tufts here and there, and the deer ate hungrily. She longed to get closer to the pool, to investigate it more thoroughly, but her stomach had other ideas. Looking to the younger wolf she spotted a place she could spring from, if only he were able to herd them there. Making herself small and taking advantage of the sulfurous fumes from the steaming pond, she worked her way into position and waited with hungry eyes to see if they would manage to pull this off. If not, well they still had the pool to investigate. But it would be far more satisfying to do so with a full stomach, she was sure.

Rais had expected the delicious scent of deer to grow stronger as they tracked their prey, his black snout sniffing hungrily ahead like a bloodhound's. Instead, he was rather dismayed by a festering stench that billowed over the snowy ridges and enveloped the pair in an odoriferous cloud. He was pretty sure deer weren't supposed to smell like that, and he glanced sideways at Naira, wondering what she was looking at him like that for. This was her idea, wasn't it? It wasn't his fault this place was stinky.

The sulfurous odor jammed itself into his sensitive nasal passages, nearly tickling out a sneeze. He held back, not wanting to scare away any prey, and it was a good thing he had. The sounds of deer, the clopping of their hooves on dirt, not snow, met his ears. Rais brows raised, his curiosity piqued. Just as the hunters rounded about a large boulder, a peculiar sight met his young eyes. He'd never seen something like this before, a thawed oasis nestled on-top of a mountain. But his awe was short lived, the grazing deer reminded him that there was business at hand and hopefully food to be had. He could gawk after there was food in his belly.

Small and scrappy, Rais didn't look like much and the deer snorted at him as he skulked around the edges, trying to get a good angle to direct them towards Naira. The deer looked unimpressed by the seemingly lone yearling, but that was fine. He didn't need them running away from him just yet. First, he'd need to find an easy target, seeing as the just the two of them taking down one of these well-fed beasts would be quite a feat. The herd was quite healthy given the season, saved by the little mountain sanctuary, and the sulfur made it hard for Rais' dependable nose to pick out if there even was a sick one among them.

His patience would pay off, and after eyeing the herd for a while, his gaze finally settled upon one who was not benefiting from the midwinter bounty. The doe milled among the rest, her jutting ribs at odds with the full sides of her companions. On closer inspection, Rais noticed her left cheek was puffed out in an almost squirrel like fashion, some sort of infection must have bloomed there and her days were numbered. With orange eyes narrowed, Rais dashed towards the herd with his jaws snapping.

They began to fan outwards, the doe stood frozen for a second as if she couldn't believe what was happening before her knobbly knees jerked into action. Rais dodged the aimed kicks of the bold and ignored the healthy, his gaze locked on the sickly deer. His teeth clacked behind the ankles of the doe as he moved from one side to the other, to keep her on course. Rais, a half dozen other deer who had not yet split off, and the ill doe were all headed right for Naira's hiding place.