Hush Meadow we will sing the way things used to be

Snowfall had blanketed the break between the trees and the meadow in near silence, casting it in pristine and almost frail light. Liran liked winter, at least when it was cooperative. When the winds were howling and the falling snow more like tiny daggers in her face, not so much. But this… she could deal with this. Keeping a steady pace along the fringes of ever-thinning timberline, she debated crossing that pristine territory and making her mark that would eventually be whisked away by the night's wind. But yet she lingered, standing out against dark wood like a chiseled block of summer straw build from the earth up. Watching. Almost waiting for something.

But in all reality, there wasn't too much to see as far as landmarks went. Periodically, sunlight tried to break through the thick border of clouds, but it never made it that far or lasted that long. A beneficial point for her, as there wouldn't be any blindness coming up from the snow; it was one particular thing she hated about winter. She stepped onward, flanking the majority of the grounds that she could from the timberline before taking those first few tentative steps towards the bulk of the meadow. Nothing stirred, so she felt confident in making a move outward. If nothing else, perhaps she would find something to drink from the snowy blanket of land.

The meadow was not a place he visited often. In truth, it was rare that he left the lands of Willow Ridge, if only because he had never felt the true need to. Koda and Elettra had not sent him to scout anything, and so his time was spent protecting the length of the borders and hunting with his pack mates. There was nothing to set the day apart from any other, and yet upon waking in the early break of morning, the ivory male had given his pelt a quick shake before trailing away from the pack lands and to the more open terrain of the meadow.

The snow fell – blanketing the earth with a glimmer of white. The frost lit at different angles, and while he could appreciate the beauty of his surrounding from time to time, he did not himself enamored with the serenity that presented itself before him. He stayed within the wooded area, his nose coming to a small hole within the ground. He paused for a moment, debating whether to scent if it belonged to a creature he could claim as a meal or not, and yet the harsh lessons brought on as an inquisitive cub reminded him that sticking ones nose in an unknown hole was unwise – a badger just might be waiting for you.

Trailing to the edge of the meadow, his eyes fell upon a hesitant form that had just pressed across the barrier that separated the shadows from the unprotected openness of the meadows. His muzzle lifted to the air, though he could not scent her. The wind carried her from him, and with that knowledge, Phineas knew his own scent was likely drifting toward her now.

Those first few steps out into the barren stretch of wintry land were tentative at best, but she soon descended into a playful prance. Kicking up clots of snow and casting glittering flurries, Liran was oblivious to anything that could have possibly be watching. But she didn't get that vibe where something was watching her sinisterly. There hadn't been anything to give her that sensation in her travels. She had been fortunate, much in the same way as her father to avoid true evil that afflicted others.

Slowly and surely though, something hit her nose that wasn't apart of the original picture. Distinctly canine and nearby, it drew the yearling to stop her jovial play and take stock of her surroundings. Testing the air resolutely, Liran turned a slow circle until she was met with the crisp wind. She allowed her eyes to focus on the forests in which she herself had come from and in due time, found an ivory figure etched up from the frozen ground with eyes almost seemingly aglow. She hesitated for a moment, but then called out to him with a steady bark.

Time to find out it whether he was friend or foe.

She found him – the moment she began to scent him he knew it was a matter of time, and rather than melt back to the shadows of quietude, the Ridge male welcomed the idea of meeting another, if even a brief interlude. She was young, not even a full adult at best, and Phineas felt his lips set in a firm line. He could only hope none would take advantage of such youthful innocence.

Her sharp bark perked his ears forward, his fiery eyes regarding her quietly before he slunk forward slightly. He held himself neutrally, yet cautiously, the rise of his muzzle only to scent the she-wolf before him curiously. She reminded him of the forest, and while the distance between them too far, and not trusting his own senses, he wondered if she was an inhabitant to Relic Lore.

He moved closer now, his shoulders sent back in a relaxed state as he uttered a ‘wuff’ of return. Lowering his muzzle in a friendly manner, the pale wolf watched her quietly. “Hello,” he finally greeted, if only for lack of a better greeting.

While merely a newer inhabitant to Relic Lore, as far as Liran could tell he might have belonged somewhere. There was a conglomeration of smells to the wind that came with him, but they could have been untrue. Still, if she had to go on first assumptions, that was the one she was willing to make. As he approached, Liran gathered other things that seemed to back that growing assumption up; he seemed healthy, well-groomed and for the most part, well-fed as well. While she had done well to keep up her own appearance, even she knew she bore the telltale signs of one who had been travelling at length.

“Hi there,” came her soft response, completed by a slight grin. He had caught her playing and that energy had yet to leave her entirely. “I hope I wasn't traipsing rudely all over your view. Couldn't help myself.” If he had been searching for solitude, she was certainly there to ruin it for the time being. “This place seems like a good spot to run about and see what gets scared up.” It was easy to talk to strangers, especially when she had a particular feeling that most she would meet around there weren't exactly the wayfaring type. She had smelled the packs, but had yet to come close to the core of their fruit. Curiosity did not burn candles at both ends, not yet.

A crooked grin threatened to pull at the inked lips of the male, and his eyes regarded her quietly as she spoke. He lifted his shoulders to a shrug of agreement, his gaze drifitng from her to take in the meadow. He rarely found himself within the meadow’s vicinity, but it seemed a perfect place to hunt. It was odd that Elettra had not called the pack here more often – especially with the coming of breeding season and the desires to keep the caches at a decent balance.

“Not at all,” he mused softly, shifting his weight now as he allowed his eyes to drift back to the tawny female. “I’ve never been one to admire the scenery of nature.” Rolling his shoulders back now in a mild stretch, the ivory male gave another small dip of his muzzle. “I’m Phineas, of the Willow Ridge pack,” he offered, nodding his muzzle in the direction of his home. She was a pretty creature, though it was painfully obvious that she was a rogue, if only the assumption being made by her weight. It was a harsh season for such travels, and his gaze softened slightly. It certainly did not seem to damper her spirits.

Their conversation was brief. As the moment's passed, the discussion faded to silence. With pleasantries passed, the ivory male gave a brief dip of his muzzle, giving a gentle murmured farewell before he began to traipse from where he had come. Sometimes, life only offered mere glimpses in to another's life, and the ivory wolf had a feeling he would not see the naive girl again.

(This post was last modified: Mar 13, 2013, 03:31 PM by Phineas.)