Fireweed Rise A Million Shards of Glass

For @Enoki <3

- Early afternoon, Mist - 9 ° F, -13 ° C

Snow swirled lazily from the sky, tiny flakes drifting through the cold like strays, unable to find rest anywhere. The ground underfoot was frozen solid, mostly covered by week old powder that had been stamped into an icy floor. Even the air itself seemed iced over, pale bluish fog obscuring the landscape, fading everything into nothingness within a few steps distance. Under these conditions, crossing the mountains was not exactly easy, and lay far from the smartest of choices for an afternoon stroll. And yet, a dark figure wove its way down the hillside from the snowy cliffs, paws barely leaving a mark on the hard surface. In many places, the snow had melted an refrozen, leaving slippery patches that could prove fatal to reckless travelers. And indeed, the raven wolf's eyes were turned down, carefully studying the ground ahead. His tour over the mountain had been long and straining, taking much longer than the last time he crossed the pass. Initially, setting out from the Bend, he had simply wanted the time alone, a good stretch of his legs and fresh air in his lungs. Yet as soon as he crossed the borders of his pack, his paws had taken him towards higher grounds; It seemed every time he stood at a crossroads in his life, he longed for the mountains, as if the familiarity of the highland would help ease his mind. As soon as he began climbing the snowy ridge, he knew the trek would be both exhausting and risky. And yet, rather than turning around, he had continued upwards, enjoying the hardship as it forced him to focus completely, chasing all other thoughts from his mind. Though, once he reached the crest, all his contemplations returned, and he was back where he started; Running from my problems! And he was nowhere near ready to face them. Winter might just be peaking, but to the dark man it felt like spring was just around the corner, and with it came all manner of worries and dreads. But he'd set out on this trek to free of them, at least for a couple of days, and so he continued onwards, braving the western side of the mountain pass. Now, as the sun had just passed its highest somewhere above the fog and clouds, he was leaving behind the last fragments of rock, jutting out from the ice and snow, crossing onto the flatter lands that were normally known as Fireweed Rise. At the moment though, the slope was nothing more than a field of white.   Word count: 427 ”Speech” Thoughts

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The urge to seek time of reflection once more on this quiet afternoon sent prickles down the course of the slumbering woman's body, a sensation strong enough to awake the beast from her nap with little hesitation. Slowly dark amber hued irises were revealed behind half raised lids, the lull of the sand wolf's handiwork still visible by the bits of crust along the inner corner of Enoki's tear-ducts. A salmon tongue protruded past the barrier of closed lips, swiping across their dried surface to restore what little moisture she could before a yawn brought jaws agape. One glance toward the illuminated entrance of her secluded hobble alerted the piebald wolf the afternoon was still young leaving her to assume her short rest could not have surpassed fifteen minutes at most.

Unfolding curled limbs from beneath the weight of her frame, a small shove forward onto sleep riddled forelimbs resulted in a wobbly manor of standing to all fours. A swift shake of her pelt doing well at sending the last tendrils of sleep fleeing into the shadows of her den. Enoki popped her skull out into the open world, black abyss accustomed irises blinking rapidly to adjust to the new levels of light flooding her retinas. All seemed quiet surrounding the eldest willow tree who's roots contributed to the outer decor of the magpie colored woman's home, perfect for allowing a silent escape before her pack mates could warrant a moment of her time. Caches stocked and a quick border patrol had already been done in the early morning hours leaving the loyal subordinate free to do as she pleased the remainder of the day.

Given this notion a trip to Fireweed Rise seemed ideal, a personal favorite location to the Ashrelle. With her plans set, lithe limbs began to weave through the maze of smooth barked willows. Tendrils of warm breath billowed from parted jaws integrating with the blueish hued mist and light snowfall that mottled the darker patches of fur upon her back. Week old powder yet to be pressed firmly into its icy place flinging in the wake of her long strides. No hesitation was warranted as the border was crossed in a single bound, the ivory expanse of the frozen over Rise nearing on the distant horizon under the looming shadow of Mount Dire. One day she would scale those heights and gander at its mysteries on the other side, but for now its craggy base suited her mountain born blood just fine. To feel a smidgen of slate beneath dull nails sated any adventurous tendencies.

Her pace would slow once reaching the snowy field, smoldering gaze scanning the iced over landscape for a chance at a quick meal to call lunch. The low gurgling of her depleted stomach reminded her how lacking her breakfast had been in keeping her satisfied. Marred snout pressed into the snow as she walked onward further into the abandoned rise; unaware of another's presence, a soft huff of air displacing the loose bits of ice in hopes of unearthing an unfortunate quarry succumbed to the harshness of winter while her tail swung care-freely at her hocks.

Despite the solid frozen cover, his muscles soon registered the leveling of the terrain, aching gratefully; It's been quite a few years since my mountain climbing days… The silver taint on his muzzle, belly and paws a witness of just how many. He shuddered, he still hadn't quite come to terms with his graying. The shiver made a flurry of snow loosen from his ruff, trickling down between the hairs on his back. Another quivering shook his body, shoulder raising defensively against the cold of the snow, and he shook out his fur vigorously, face twisting in dismay. The white flakes fluttered to the ground and he grunted; If only the rest of the white was so easy to get rid of! He sighed and continued onwards, a sudden rumbling in his stomach reminding him that he had just crossed a mountain, and it had been quite a while since his last meal. Ember eyes scoured the frozen wasteland, mouth curling into a sneer; He would be hard pressed to find anything eatable hereabouts. Though, surprisingly, his gaze did fall on something moving in the distance; Could I be so lucky? He speed up, eyes narrowed to slits against the bright snow, nostrils flaring as he sought to catch the scent of the shadowy figure. There was hardly any wind to carry it through the mist though, and he was close enough to recognize the contours of another wolf, when he finally smelled her too; Damn! He'd have far preferred something eatable, he wasn't exactly in a mood for socialization. Though, on the other hand, this stranger might be a good way of diverting his attention again, now that the mountain climbing was over; Run, run, run away… At least, just for a little while longer. "Hello there!" He called, crooked smile slipping, surprisingly easy, onto his face as he slowed, approaching the stranger at a leisurely walk, tail lowered amicably.   Word count: 321 ”Speech” Thoughts

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Hunting had proven itself uneventful thus far. No trinkets of interest were unearthed by a marred snout maneuvered much like a shovel to push aside drifts of fallen powder. More and more snow greeting her efforts and this was highly disheartening to a stomach so grumpy when empty. The minutes passed easily by the distracted woman, paws sinking below the ivory surface with each step. Absorbed in her task of searching out a quick meal the voice that called out nearly went unregistered by obsidian audits, an equally dark hued snout rising from its frolic in the snow as a mystified expression contorted once neutral facial features. Odd, I didn't notice anyone earlier.

Dark amber gaze squinted against the obscured curtain of soft falling snow flurries to grasp for a better view of whomever had beckoned for her attention, a dark silhouette approaching casually on the horizon piquing interest in the aging woman. Tail kept at a lax position behind her, ebony limbs strode easily toward this stranger. A friendly smile adorning swarthy lips. The foreign and masculine voice; noted easily by the deepness, seemed friendly enough in tone to investigate and a little social interaction outside the pack couldn't hurt right?

The distance separating the two wolves melted in no time before Enoki brought her form to a halt at a respectful measure of feet, smile widening ever so slightly. "Hello there. Who may you be?" A slight angle of her head emphasizing the genuine curiosity bubbling internally. Waiting for a response, smoldering amber irises took in the features of the male before her. The basics revealed a black hued pelt well kept meaning this brute couldn't be a loner; if the musk of others in abundance upon his white tipped fur mixed with a distinct oaken aroma didn't lend a cue, eyes as bright as fire itself and a body streamline and well muscled from a first glance. There was no denying he was pleasing to the eyes, a bonus to this unexpected encounter, but what had brought a wolf doused in the scent of trees located in no such place as this to her knowledge upon Willow Ridge hunting grounds? This surely would lead to an interesting conversation.

(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2016, 04:18 AM by Enoki.)

I figure slowly materialized out of the snowy mist as he stepped closer, her scent revealing an abundance about her, even before she came clearly into view. On the light wind, he could smell the characteristics of pack wolf: The mixed musk of many others; The fresh odor of someone clean and healthy, who'd eaten recently; As well as a strange, damp perfume that he hadn't encountered before – probably indigenous of her homeland territory. There were plenty of surprises left for when he finally laid eyes on her though, and the ebony man could not prevent his dusted brows from rising at the sight. He'd never come across a wolf quite like her before. His first thought was Oliver! But beyond the general color scheme, there was no resemblance at all, and he pushed the painful memory from his mind. This lady was a vision indeed, her exotically patterned fur sleekly covering a well proportioned body of muscles firmed by good use. She was slightly smaller than him, but not by much, and her eyes, now locking with his, but a few shades lighter. And her face… Now that his eyes had reached it he could not tear them away. Across her muzzle, pale against the raven fur, were three thick gashes, long healed into grayish scars. Scars that seemed eerily familiar. He stood frozen for a moment, heavy breaths rattling his body as he stared at those scars. If he focused only on them, he could pretend, just for a moment… With great force, he tore his eyes away, feeling a deep sting in his heart that he otherwise hadn't in a long time. He met the strangers gaze instead, concentrating on the differences rather than the similarities; Lots of wolves have scars..! That was true, in fact, he had quite a few himself, if none as prominent as this woman's. The sound of her voice rang out in his head, and it helped him gain some distance on the pain, her words making his ears twitch. She spoke cheerfully, in a clear, light vocal, and he managed to smile back at her, regaining himself fully; As if emerging from deep under water. The stranger's smile was kind and pretty, and it was not hard to repay it with a trademark, crooked grin. Drestig bowed his head lightly, no trace of his momentary stumble remaining as he answered: "Name's Drestig Avalon. Pleasure to meet you, miss?" The question was only faintly implied, as he lingered on the title, looking back up into her twinkling marigolds. Now that his strange moment of relapse was over, he was fully able to look at her face, even appreciate it; Certainly not the WORST stranger I could have come across.   Word count: 457 ”Speech” Thoughts

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For a sparse moment obsidian audits pushed themselves back to play flat upon her skull as the stranger before her exhibited a change in behavior once brilliant orange irises settled their gaze upon her marred muzzle, yet, the smile upon her lips would not falter. Thick cloud after thick cloud of heated breath escaped the swarthy man with each heavy breath released that other went unnoticed, a result of the ever chilling weather plaguing Relic Lore for who knew how much longer. Enoki was a fraction of a second away from uttering a question if he was alright when those fiery orbs finally tore away to hold her own lighter pair captive. Whatever oddity possessed the man prior was gone now, no traces left upon a white furred muzzle that returned her smile with a crooked grin.

Ebony audits once more pivoted forward to listen intently as the words dripped off a coral tongue held no signs of the previous hiccup, announcing this stranger to be Drestig Avalon. A name that rung no bells of familiarity inside her mental file cabinet of names acquired. Albeit, now it would secure its own place inside that very same cabinet accompanied by a mental photograph for later use should their paths cross again. "Enoki Ashrelle, it's a pleasure to meet you as well Drestig." The insouciant greeting and dropping of his name to test it upon her tongue fell easily off her salmon tongue, the smile upon her marred maw growing slightly in size. "I don't recall having seen nor heard of you before in these parts. Are you new to these lands?" The equally insouciant question was not meant to maim one's pride; as some wolves had come to be offended by their names being unknown, but merely a curious conversation starter disguising the piebald woman's attempt at discovering more of what she could about this Drestig fellow.

(This post was last modified: Jan 29, 2016, 01:53 AM by Enoki.)

The piebald woman ignored his brief breakdown, and for that Drestig was grateful. She moved instead to answer his query, returning his pleasantries as well. The man nodded, still smiling easily, his tail wagging lazily at his hocks. At her question he cocked a brow, a mischievous glint in his eye when he returned: "I could say the same of you, Enoki." The name rolled slowly off his tongue as he relished it, enjoying the way it felt. He allowed a short, teasing pause, then he indulged: "But I suppose you could make a case for that, I'm not a frequent visitor on this side of the mountain." He cast an indolent glance around them, as if studying the scenery – which was none existent, the fireweeds wilted and covered by the snow – then he wrinkled his nose, though there was still a smile in his eyes as they returned to the monochromatic woman. He looked to meet her eyes, and couldn't keep the grimace on his face, cracking into a breathy laugh. Even though it was low and short-lived, it felt rejuvenating, lifting some of the crushing weight off his tired shoulders; When was the last time I laughed..? Whenever it was, it had been too long. Still with a big grin on his face, he explained further: "My pack lives just on the other side of the pass, Oak Tree Bend." He paused briefly, feeling a bit off, at the phrase, but quickly pushed it aside to instead ask: "Is yours close by?"   Word count: 254 ”Speech” Thoughts

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Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

There was no suppressing the easy laugh that passed over loosely pressed brims, a reflection of humbleness mirroring the glint of mischievousness within Drestig's fiery gaze. "I don't find it surprising my name is unknown to many. I'm but a humble subordinate within my home here." Although that didn't mean she never had thoughts of surpassing her current state. Wasn't it natural for a wolf to seek more in life? A swarthy audit pricked forward instantaneously upon the mentioning of the mountain, a flash of memory to a specific earthy toned man taking resident upon the forefront of her mind. Heigen. Had Enoki not been in the company of another the pearly tips of sheathed teeth would have protruded from beneath their ebony curtain in the form of a small, silent snarl at the memory of the one who abandoned her. The patchwork woman was grateful for the momentary departure of Drestig's gaze from her face.

Whatever minor twitching of her lips was present, they soon smoothed back into a broadened grin with ease hearing the breathy laughter. What a contagious and delectable sound it was. Albeit short and low, the Timber wolf couldn't recall the last time she heard such a foreign noise within the barren willow painted backdrop. Things were too tense in Willow Ridge it felt like for such carefree sounds. This encounter was a welcomed relief. For a moment leathery brims pursed into a look of thought trying to decipher any information she knew about this Oak Tree Bend. Obviously this was not the same pack Heigen had sworn loyalty to and without realizing she had harbored tension within the muscles of her shoulders, they slunk back down into a relaxed posture.

"I'll have to keep that name handy should I ever venture into your neck of the woods sometime." A lax wag of her tail brushed aside loose bits of powder beneath her rump, a single ear rotating sideways nonchalantly toward her home. "Just over these knolls is Willow Ridge where I live." Tossing her skull over an ivory clad shoulder she revealed the general location one would have to travel to attempt seeking the borders. One would not have to travel too far before their nose would do the work. A border as well marked as theirs was impossible to miss.

There was something utterly freeing about this, having a casual conversation with an agreeable stranger, allowing the troubles that weighed him down to briefly fade away. She had a ringing, infectious laughter, her seemingly humble words hiding an intriguing hint of something cheeky. He nodded understandingly at her comment, easily slipping on a sympathetic expression. He didn't notice her tension as he spoke of her home, only smiling as she opened her mouth again. The grin only grew wider in response to her words, his own tail flicking approvingly. "You will be most welcome." He interjected smoothly, not even thinking of the likelihood that he at least would no longer be there once she came to visit. Instead he followed her gaze, towards the willows, a small light flicking in the back of his mind at the mention of the name; Wasn't that one of the packs Jessie had visited during their mission, what seemed like eons ago? Ember eyes returned to briefly meet with equally bright deep ambers, a crooked grin now on his silver-tipped muzzle; "I see. And do you enjoy it? Being but a humble subordinate of Willow Ridge." He quirked a brow, full of glee at his teasing echo of her former words. It really was as if all his problems had melted, his mannerisms back to the usual, easy mischief that had once been the essence of his being. After two years in Oak Tree Bend, he had seemingly grown out of those habits, but it was a joy to slip back in, even if it was just for a few moments. Tilting his head, his slick voice took on a drawl, eyes, seemingly incidentally, sliding away from her appealing, piebald form; "I'd imagine there are plenty of more… Advantageous positions out there, for a lady such as yourself?" Oh he was laying it on thick, but he couldn't help it, it was truly the most fun he had had in months. And if he was gonna turn back into a pumpkin at midnight, he was damn well gonna get the most he could out of this ball. Word count: 353 ”Speech” Thoughts

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