Heartleaf Creek Ain't gonna play by the rules

AW or for @Nios - A cold snap seizes relic lore in its icy grip, and Morg is stuck 3/4 of the way across a frozen creek xD
<3

Standing in the shadow of love, waiting for someone

In an effort to avoid the cedarwood while still managing a small jaunt north, Morganna had crossed the marsh heading north and east until she reached the heartleaf creek. She chose to meander along the southern bank, testing here and there until she felt she had found a place where the ice was sufficiently thick enough that she could cross without it breaking open under her weight.

Her heat had been significantly shorter the previous year, proof of her own mothers efforts to suppress the hormones of the female under her control, and it was at the worst possible moment that her hormones decided to surge once again. Taken by surprise, she slipped on the ice, paws splaying in a most unladylike fashion as her tail tucked close to her stomach and lips pulled taught across her teeth.

With her ears folded against her skull and her slight frame shaking she looked every inch the terrified child but nothing could compare to the look on her face when the ice beneath her seemed to shift with a loud CRACK. Hairline fissures snaking out past her paws as she dropped to her stomach and started a frantic crawl towards the shore, now mere wolf lengths away. Snow diving was one thing but with snow clouds hanging low across the lore the last thing on her list of things to do was take a dunk out here all on her own, and who knew what monsters lurked beneath the ice?

On the verge of tears she whined aloud, convincing herself it was a sturgeon that had head-butted the ice beneath her paws to try and get at her. She had to get off the ice before it came back!

(This post was last modified: Mar 14, 2016, 10:36 PM by Morganna.)

It was breeding season, and so Nios made himself scarce. The last thing he needed to do was unintentionally incite the wrath of Miccah (the wolf he hadn’t even met) or worse, one of the females. With his relations that tied him to the Woodlands quickly disappearing and weakening, the swarthy wolf once more found himself with the desire to wander, and so he roamed over the borders and outside of the lands, deeming it a safe time to do so. He would be back – Mirren might come home yet.

Despite the tantalizing hint of spring, winter still held its grip upon the Lore, and the wolf traversed upon impressive ice. It glistened from the trees in a reminder that it was not quite ready to leave, but it did not sway the swarthy male’s mood – not until he seen a familiar ebony form upon the creek.

He recognized her instantly – the peach of her eyes and the slender, feminine form. One that he did not doubt held prowess of battle. He was about to quip a greeting to her when she slipped – and then he hesitated. Should he pretend he hadn’t seen that..?

Even at his distance, the crack of ice caused his ears to swivel, and he heard her whine – there was no more thought, and just as he had when Taima had been drowning in the water, the dark male quickened his pace, racing forward before sliding closer to her. “Morganna,” he rumbled, his eyes studying her and her predicament. “Don’t stand – try to scooch closer to the edge.” It would do her no good if he stepped on to the creek as well, and so the stocky male waited, ready to grip her and pull her to safety if she should listen. Thus far, he had not even registered the faint beginning of a new scent.

'cause its home, but it's gone

A familiar voice called out across the creek and frantic eyes sought out the owner. "Nios!" Her relief was evident. Ears strained to catch his words, but Morganna didn't have enough faith to nod in case the ice opened up beneath her. Limbs vibrated and claws curled forward instinctively but she knew they would neither find purchase, nor prevent her from falling in should the creek decide to swallow her whole. She could do this, she just had to slide a few more feet.

A steadying breath was drawn as she lifted her toes, pushing her right paw forward diagonally and gently pushing forward with her back. Dark belly slid across the ice inch by inch before she pushed her left forepaw forwards as well. She continued to wriggle forward, like some lowly grub that had emerged from the earth after fresh spring rains - a look of disgust flashing across her features as she considered her present company seeing her reenact such legless movements. She was a wolf, and a leader no less. She should be walking on all fours with her head held high. As if reading her thoughts, the ice below gave another groan of warning. Motivation enough to help her reach the distant shore. 

A deep gasp was taken as her feet finally found solid ground, a frantic scuttle with her tail tucked and limbs splayed bringing her well clear of the treacherous banks of the creek. She laughed nervously between heaving breaths. "Thanks..." she finally managed, gathering enough strength in her limbs to at least sit upright, a stupid adrenalin high grin plastered on her gold ticked face.

He was ready to reach out to her as she scooted closer - his jaws slightly agape, just waiting to grasp fur and flesh should the ice give way beneath her. Both parties were fortunate it had not come to that -- Morganna, likely for her pride, and Nios, for he was unsure if his balance would even maintain them both upon the shore should he have required to lean forward and grab her.

Even so, as her paws planted firmly t land, the dark wolf could not help but barely graze his snout over her, the briefest of touches to ensure her safety as she gave a shaky 'thanks,' despite him having nothing to do with her success.

"Was all you," he murmured quietly, his bright eyes scanning her now as his senses practically vibrated with her nearness -- her nearness and her scent. He cleared his throat then, his eyes pulling up to study her features before he took a shaky step back -- as if distance could somehow soothe the ache he not felt to touch her once more. Nature was a fickle beast, and while he held attraction to Morganna upon their previous meeting, it did little to remind him that not only was she not his pack, but he was in no position to try to woo her.

She most likely had a suitor.

Not that it stopped a shifting grin to smooth across his lips, and his muzzle to cant slightly. "You look well," he noted.

'cause its home, but it's gone

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

You look well. A laugh was quick to leave her chest as she shook out her coat and drew several deep breaths in to steady herself. "I feel like I've crawled outta the seventh circle o' hell." she admitted freely. Much had changed since their last encounter and she hadn't missed the way he scooted back, remembering just how badly she stunk perhaps a dip might have aided them both. "I-uh... Sorry about the..." she finished with a shrug, she couldn't really help that she smelled so terrible but she still felt awful that circumstances hadn't allowed him the opportunity to run in the opposite direction (he didn't seem like the type to turn his back on a lady in need).

@Bane had long since visited the Willows but that didn't mean @Nios had been informed of the  changes of a pack that wasn't his own. She lowered herself to a seated position, hoping that perhaps he wouldn't feel the need to run for the hills to get away from her, and also to try and dampen at least some of her heat smell by drowning it in snow (she hadn't yet figured out that wasn't how it worked). She did wish he might come a little closer, uncertain if the shivers that were overcoming her were bought about by an adrenalin crash, shock or a genuine drop in the temperature, she forced herself to push her own needs down and once again she found herself laughing. "I was hopin' ter see you again under less dramatic circumstances."

Nios offered a light snort at her words, his muzzle swinging in a good natured shake of mild disagreement to her mention of the seven circles of hell. “Trust me,” he murmured gently, his eyes tracing over her. “If you had fallen in to that water, it would have been far worse.” Perhaps not the fiery heat of hell – but most certainly the most frigid temperature she likely would have imagined.

 She then apologized for her scent – his ear gave a twitch as did his lip muscle – refraining from pushing himself closer. Nios would never press himself upon anyone who did not wish it – but given the way she swept to a gentle sit, as if ‘closing the door,’ he took it as such and gave a light clear of his throat. Not that it did anything to shift the longing smell. Swallowing roughly, he gave a light cant of his muzzle, insufficiently fishing for information. “Your mate will be very happy this season I imagine,” he rumbled quietly. Very smooth.

 At the mention of drama, he took her own stance and sat down, his mind attempting to focus upon conversation rather than the sleek lines of muscle beneath her jet black fur.. and perhaps the way she would fit beside him so perfectly. “If I’ve learned anything about these valleys, they are never shy from drama,” he determined, wondering what her own life was like in Willow Ridge. All he knew of the pack was that his father had the upmost respect for Elettra.. and they were allies with the Woodlands.

'cause its home, but it's gone

@Nios' calm tone worked wonders to help her feel at ease. But a mate? Her muzzle wrinkled with a wry smile as she shook her head and chuckled. "No mate." she reassured, her tail sweeping the snow behind her as she lowered herself down onto her elbows, a poorly veiled attempt to inch closer to where he sat. "I lead now so I don' get out nearly as much as I wan' ter anymore." She very much doubted he wanted to listen to her unload but surely he was wondering why she was out here, alone in such a state. "My brother claimed lead fer a short time, then my uncle stepped up, between so much family an' all th' tension flyin' around at the moment..." she shrugged. Surely it went without saying.

Forepaws stretched out as the itching along her spine got to be too much, she found herself rolling to her right looking to drag her shoulder blade over whatever might be abrasive might be concealed beneath the snow, it dawned on her that she wasn't acting particularly leader-y. Her tongue fell from the side of her mouth for a moment, gleeful smile impossible to contain after being so highly strung for so long. "So how about you? Yer got yer eye on someone?" her raised brow probably looked comical with her head almost upside down but this was a light hearted conversation after all.

He was not oblivious to their proximity.. nor was he oblivious to the way she inched closer.  No mate, she said, and yet the casualness of their conversation was almost a product of nature and what was happening to her body currently.

He wondered if Secret Woodlands would skin him alive if he even moved closer. Or.. worse. Her own pack.
,br>Yet she was a Leader now. Her statement drew a light furrow of concern to his brows, if only because there did seem to be a lot of pressure upon her.

And no lead male that could be her mate.

"That is quite the scenario," he noted, his own form leaning forward to her as she rolled I'm the snow. She didn't understand how heavenly she smelled, nor the allure she had over him. Whether it was purely her heat or not, Nios did not know. "Protect what is yours," he determined quietly then, even not having met the brother or the uncle.. her position now was important. And what she did now determined everything.

"Unless it's not what you want in life?" It wasn't judgemental. Not everyone strives for leadership.. and it seemed like she had been placed within it.

At her question, he gave an amused chuckle. "No," he answered honestly, though his mind did drift to Bella. He didn't know her well, and Mirren was seemingly on the forefront of her mind. "I joined the Woodlands because my brother was there.. but he went looking for his mate who left awhile ago. She left him with a pup to raise on his own." He couldn't keep the lull of disagreement from his tone before giving a quick shake of his muzzle. His eyes drifted back to Morganna.. the shift of her body, the ease of her presence. He gave a crooked smile, his muzzle reaching out gently now to a nudge to the crown of her head, should she allow it -- a testing gesture of his presence to her.

(This post was last modified: Mar 28, 2016, 03:19 PM by Nios.)

'cause its home, but it's gone

Morganna was surprised with the easy way the conversation flowed, rolling back to rest on her stomach, she let her eyes close and pressed her head into his touch. "I do want it," her face was suddenly serious, but there was a lot of work to be done yet. Her heavy sigh betrayed that the situation was less than ideal but she was a young wolf yet and not above restructuring things to suit her own vision in the end. The days of loyal advisors and strong guardians had fallen by the wayside. It was well past time those days came back.

Knowing that he had no special lady made it easier for her to get up and shift to sit closer to his side, if he didn't move away she would lean into his flank, her own displeasure at his tale being aired with a low growl. "My brothers mate did the same," but that was hardly a mood setting conversation. What would she say? She begged me to kill her so I ripped off her ear? So romantic...

Smirk plastered on her ginger flecked face from her own private joke, she suddenly stood, swinging her muzzle beneath @Nios' silver flecked chin with a bump before she darted two steps away, tail waving like a banner in the breeze as she bowed down. Their siblings problems were not their own and they shouldn't bring themselves down. "We're far too young to act so old." she teased, teeth clicking with a mock challenge. Hell she could have drowned or frozen to death, they should be celebrating, not sitting around lamenting the mistakes of others.

(This post was last modified: Mar 28, 2016, 03:08 PM by Morganna.)