Sacred Grove Oh great it's you...

With his form shrouded with the days mist Jester looked like a living shadow as he threaded through the trees. After having experienced Ghastly Woods this place was a welcome change. Even in the silence he could feel the life in the trees. It was comfortable like being with a good friend as you enjoy each others company. This placed lived and breathed with every second that passed. He had seen some wildlife to, much to his surprise. A long legged doe had bounded in front of him and before he could even think about giving chase it had sprang away and into the forest around him.

The snow beneath his paws was cold just as the midday sun above him was warm. It wasn't quite warm enough to melt the sun and it would slowly lose the battle against winter's cold grasp. The sudden sound of a branch snapping made him freeze. Orange eyes scanned the area until coming to focus on an orange form. He sighed in absolute annoyance "Oh great it's you again."

The fox stared at him before giving a sharp bark. Jester growled back lips curling as he showed sharp canines. Unfazed the fox yawned, tongue curling. "Bold aren't you." Jester rumbled deep in his throat before taking a menacing step forward. The fox continued to look almost bored though it did keep an eye on him.

With a sudden burst of speed Jester rushed forward. Yelping in surprise the fox scrambled as it took off with the dark wolf chasing it.

-With eyes as orange as pumpkin on halloween night-

-I bring to you laughter and light-

Opella could hardly believe it. Snow. She had wandered far from her den in Whisper Marsh, enjoying the white wonder for the first time since she had left her true homeland. Although she was two years old, she felt like a pup again as she trotted and played about, not caring what game she scared off in the meantime. She had felt the weather grow colder for some time, but never had she dreamed this new land would take on the appearance of the old.

The midday sun brought warmth to her body despite a few rolls she had taken on the ground. Snow lined her back, tail, and muzzle, and she sent it flying with a few determined shakes. It wasn’t long, however, before several sounds caught her attention. Opella turned in the direction from which they came, and realized she was listening to some sort of chase. Hunkering down, she trotted along the line of some bushes, curious to see exactly what was happening.

Jester was losing the chase as the lighter creature seemed to skim above the snow while he sank in it. But even in a flat out chase the fox would likely win as he was built more for strength than speed. Slowing to a lope and then a stop he watched the orange form race away. Panting he called after it "I'll get you next time." That is if he hadn't given the smaller canine a heart attack. He snickered under his breath as he remember their first introduction that involved the little critter mocking him and then taking a dip into an ice cold river.

The wind shifted as he was getting ready to resume his way south but stopped. Dark nostrils expanded as he inhaled deeply chest expanding to full capacity. Some one was watching him. Twisting his head into the wind he looked along a line of bushes. His orange eyes scanned there twining limbs. Whoever they were they were hidden from his sight but he was standing in a small clearing. With his dark fur contrasting against the pale snow he knew that whoever was there had likely already seen him and would either come out to say hello or continue on their merry way.

Once again the wind shifted this time blowing his scent towards them. Now he couldn't tell if they still watched him or if they had passed by. Head lowered, ears pricked, and tail swinging loosely behind him he padded forward to see if whoever had been behind the bushes was still there or if they had drifted away.

Opella caught sight of another wolf chasing a fox before the creature got away. She stayed low behind a line of bushes, and watched the unknown male as he seemed to be analyzing another scent with his nose. The wind had shifted, and she knew he had already detected her, despite the fact that she remained out of sight. When the black wolf started her way, she decided he would just as well see her if she tried to slink away, so she raised her head above the thick bush that hid her.

Opella stood firm, her muscles tensing in case he was the type of wolf she did not want to meet. When their eyes met, she said, “I’m not looking for trouble. I heard the disturbance you were making, and thought I might see what was going on.” She wondered how she might appear to him, her coat blending her perfectly with the snow around them. The unknown male, however, with his black coat, was a stark contrast.

He stopped in surprise at the appearance of the stranger's head popping up to peer at him over the bush that hid the rest of her. It appeared that the snow had turned into a wolf with gold eyes he thought to himself as she proceeded to tell him that she didn't want any trouble. "That's fine I likely would have done the same thing. I just didn't know if you were trouble when I smelled your scent." He told her voice as light as the snow around them. Dipping his head slightly he said in way of greeting "My name is Jester."

His greeting done he cocked his head to the side as he looked back up "Are you from around this area?" He asked curiously. He hadn't seen a pure white wolf and she was the first unless the bush hide other marking from his pumpkin gaze. His own family mostly consisted of dark browns, grays, and lots of blacks. Almost every litter that was born had at least one if not more black puppies.

Lowering his haunches to the ground he sat with his tail curling around his side. He didn't approach any closer not knowing if this she-wolf wanted to chat or just exchange some brief news and then be on her way. It was also a way to keep the bushes between them. He was aware that his size could be intimidating and didn't want her to feel unsafe if he had walked through the bushes, getting closer to her.

Opella lowered her guard once she saw the other wolf was cordial. Slowly she stepped out from behind the bush, but remained several feet away. “My name is Opella,” she said in return to his introduction, but then to his question, “I am not—just exploring. My den is in the marshes, but I have come to live in this land recently, and have made it here in my travels.” After analyzing his scent which reached her through the gentle breeze, the she-wolf could tell he was not a pack wolf, but a loner, like she.

Curiosity struck her, and because she did not speak to others of her kind that often, she asked, “Why were you chasing that fox? There is far easier game to be eaten for far less energy.” Only in the most desperate of times would she consider hunting such a clever creature, though perhaps his answer would reveal a bit of his story.

So she was completely white as the snow that covered the ground around him. He took just looked on in surprise before turning his attention back to her words. "Makes sense I was just passing through the area as well." He said nodding his large head in agreement. She lived in the marshes? How did she keep her coat so clean? He didn't ask the questions but he knew his curiosity would likely show. At her next question though he laughed with pure amusement."Eat the little guy?" He chuckled with a smile. If he were going to try and eat the fox he wouldn't just go charging after it with the fox's speed he would need to stalk the little guy and he would need a lot of luck on his side. "He has been following me around for awhile and we both like to irritate each other. Today just happened to be my day."

If the fox actually came back around to see what the dark wold was doing he didn't want Opella to try and hurt it. The first time someone else had met the fox they tried to kill it and he did not want a repeat performance. Orange eyes scanned the area searching for a flicker of orange fur among the trees and saw nothing. Inwardly he let out a sigh of relief. He wouldn't have to worry for now but he would still keep an eye out in case he did decide to show up.