Blackberry Fields over the hill and through the woods

For @Flair -- puppy play time!

Stay close to the pack, his father had told him. Watch out for the dangerous wolf, @Nineva had said. Well. The older girl had said a lot more than that, what this big, scary man looked like, but most of that was tucked away in one small corner of Felix’s brain. The morning had been damp, dark – and to his great delight, the drizzle had actually stopped as the afternoon rolled around. Allowed to venture out, the boy had done just that – and when he’d found a bug – he knew that word now – the little boy had toddled right after it. Through the woods, further north.

Through the woods, across Grizzly Hollow’s border. It wasn’t as if the area didn’t smell heavily of wolves, an almost ambrosial scent that meant nothing other than home – it was simply that the child was so focused on his new friend that he toddled right back.

Through the woods, out of the woods, into a field, into a thicket.

It was the thicket, really, that caught Felix’s attention. A bramble caught his fluffy, soft coat and the boy paused, giving a tug. The tug did not free him, and the boy tried again, squalling softly when he couldn’t wrench himself free.

“Help…” he keened unhappily, well aware the beetle would offer nothing. In fact, it simply seemed to turn and buzz its wings…and onwards it went, oblivious to his plight.

   

Unlike her fellow pup, Flair's decision to leave the pack land had been entirely deliberate. She was too bored, cooped up in the thicket all day long. Unbelievably, her siblings seemed perfectly happy with this existence, shuffling around in their parents' footsteps or playing with each other and the yearlings. Now that could be fun enough, the fiery pup never backed away from a brawl, and having a much larger opponent only made twice the fun. But they weren't always there, in fact, lately, the pups had been left more and more to themselves. And when such left to herself, Flair resolved to go find some fun, outside of the thicket if need be. So she snuck across the clearly marked line of scent, careful to make sure her father, or one of the other guards, weren't nearby. Her route, unspecific as it was, let her mostly south, then, as she came across a small trickle of water, she swerved to follow it in a more eastern direction. Of course she did not know these terms, all she knew was that the stream was different from the bramble – which she already knew too well – and so that was to be preferred. Indeed the forest seemed to thin a bit along her way, the water spreading out wider as they went, her and the little creek, out exploring the wilderness. But suddenly they were disturbed in their adventure, by a low whine cutting through the shrubbery. Russet ears perked, the girl's head jerking towards the sound. Though she hadn't been able to make out the words, there was no doubt that it had been another wolf calling out. Calling for her? She cringed slightly, afraid that she had been found out already, and her limbs froze in place, whole body as still as it could possibly be. She waited, but no one broke through the thicket to scold her and drag her back home, all she heard was distant puzzling. Curiosity stirred in her cream-streaked chest, head slowly cocking towards the noise. If they hadn't been calling for her, then who? And who had been calling? Unable to hold back, the pup started away from her stream and towards the unknown. It didn't take long before she came upon the stranger, a muddle of grey fur standing out clearly against the green and brown of the surrounding bramble. Which seemed to have taken a hold of him all the same, claiming the wolf as their own. Flair paused before the boy, watching with tilted head. "Who you?" She asked directly, quirking her brows. She'd never seen him before, he wasn't part of the Woodlands. Now, her parents had taught her that there were other wolves, outside the territory, but up until now, she hadn't really believed them. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on his scruff, tangled into the needled bramble; "You stuck?" Word count: 480 ”Speech”

Tambako the Jaguar @flickr

Felix keened again pitifully, pulling his lip into his mouth as he chewed. He watched the blue, shimmering wings disappear further into the thicket until he could make nothing of it at all, and gave a soft tug on the brambles. When it still failed to release him, the pup pushed in the opposite direction – only to find himself tangled further. Plan, failed. The silvery child was just beginning to think all hope was lost when a faint rustling caught his attention up ahead. Ears pricked forward as he leaned, hoping to catch some glimpse.

“Hello?” he called hopefully. Perhaps it was Papa! Admittedly, he would accept help from Mum or Father as well (but it was far more likely Papa would be the kindest about it). After all, it was Father who’d warned him about the strange wolf in the woods, and--

Terror struck the young boy. What if that noise was the strange wolf Nineva had seen? What if it was coming to get him? Would anyone ever be able to find him? Shrinking down, the boy glanced around for anything, anything at all to hide his little pudgy body when the stranger burst forth and she was – surprisingly small. Like him. Also red, and also a her, and probably not the stranger, and poor Felix could exhale a sigh of relief. Thank the Ancestors. That’s what Father always said.

“Hi,” he mumbled sheepishly, mismatched eyes dropping to his own toes. “Stuck? Yeah.” He glanced over to his side. “Sticky bushes…”

I am best spree'er >.>

   

Hi, the boy said, and she wrinkled her brow. Hi was not a name. This was the first stranger she'd ever met and all he had to say was hi? At least he answered her other question more satisfactorily, looking at the thorny bramble in a resigned way. Again Flair was confused, even shaking her head slightly; yeah the thorns were prickly, that was why you had to avoid them. But this boy hadn't, and now he was just standing there. It was one of the first things she'd learned after moving to the big den and starting to walk outside; don't touch the bramble! With a small rumble, the fiery girl took a few steps forwards, narrowing her eyes a bit at the strange lad. "Why?" She demanded, glancing over at his tangled hairs; "Dun' just…" She clicked her teeth in frustration, gesturing at his sacking shoulders; "Pull!" Then, in a decided leap, she closed in on the branch, standing to put her paws against it, careful not to touch the thorns. Tilting her head, first left, then right, she looked at the mess of hair and bramble, then grunted again and closed her teeth around it, tugging firmly; "Pull!" Word count: 201 ”Speech”

Tambako the Jaguar @flickr

Why?

Felix’s shoulders sagged – did the girl think he’d done this on purpose? Why on earth would he want these terrible plants to tangle him up and pull all his fur out? It hurt! As she drew closer, he watched her with some interest – and some manner of concern. Stranger! But really, what else could he do but stand here? He was stuck!

To his great fortune, it seemed the other puppy was determined to help him. He rolled her suggestion around in his mind – he’d been pulling before, though to no avail. Perhaps he simply wasn’t trying hard enough? Settling on this particular whimaleerie, the boy bobbed his head and furrowed his brow as he followed his new companion’s instructions. With a soft grunt, he bore his weight against the brambles and their thorns. The girl came closer and began to assist – inspired, Felix pushed against the spikes again, and this time, he came tumbling free.

Rolling across the dirt, it took a moment for the child to get his feet beneath him. He did, slowly, and his eyes were bright as he bounced over to the redhead. “Thank you!” he crowed, remembering well the manners his daddy had taught him. “Thank you. I’m Felix. You is who?”

@Flair -- we'll get there eventually. ;D

Sometime next year x\

   

Small but sharp baby teeth dug into the vine, stubby claws curling around it while her hind paws dug into the forest floor. She tugged and shook at the tangled fur, snarling lowly as she worked. Meanwhile, the strange boy seemed to be doing his part, pulling so hard it made the bramble bend. For a moment they went on like that, Flair wagging her tail wildly and growling at the branch in her excitement. Finally she felt the hairs give, parting her jaws as the branch snapped and thudding back down to the ground as the other pup stumbled forwards. She spat a few times to clear her mouth of fur and sap, eyes following the grey form as he rolled along, a giggle bubbling from her lips. He finally managed to regain his footing and she grinned brightly as he returned to her with a bark of gratitude. She couldn't deny that it felt nice to be thanked for something for once. His introduction reminded her of her own manners, or the once her mom had desperately tried to teach her, and she cleared her throat answering in attempted politeness: "Hi F'lix, I Flair." Then she giggled again, unexpectedly, Flair and 'Flix'. Her ears waved, nose quivering curiously – scent was still mostly a mystery to her, but she could tell that this boy smelled differently than anyone else she knew – and she tilted her head, looking him over with open interest. "Where Flix from?" She asked chirpily, continuing to study him intensely, after all this was the first time she's met another pup, the first time she'd met anyone outside of her pack in fact. Word count: 277 ”Speech”

Tambako the Jaguar @flickr

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

I bet we could finish this before next year!! WE CAN DO IT. UP TO THE CHALLENGE!!

“Flair! Pretty.”

A very pretty name indeed – it tasted sharp, nothing like the elegant Ophelia (something he often struggled to say), or powerful like Joan. Pretty, and exciting. It seemed to match the bright red girl standing before him (even if he had no idea that ‘flair’ actually meant something, as did his own name, too). His tail began to wiggle back and forth – curiosity quickly began to overtake any shyness or embarrassment, the incident with the brambles quickly put behind him.

“Hmm. Grrrrrrizzly ‘lo!” he barked proudly, his puppy blue eyes sparkling with delight. How proud his parents would be of the way he remembered that. It did dawn on Felix that might be very far away, and after a moment, he bumped into the girl’s shoulder playfully, redirecting her to point in the general direction of south. “That way. Trees. Lots of trees! Mmm…leaves. Water, too. Fast.”

A river, he meant, though the word escaped him at the moment. Felix turned again, bumping his nose playfully into the other puppy’s neck as his ears rolled forward. Now that he wasn’t stuck, this was turning out to be a lot of fun! Why had his parents warned him against such things? “And Flair? Where Flair from? Here?”

She did, after all, seem to know a great deal about the bramble bushes.

Yessir!

Pretty was not a word anyone had ever used about the fiery girl before, even her parents usually preferred more choice monikers. She wasn't sure whether this was better or worse. She took pride in her name though, straightening up a little and puffing out her chest. "Is my Nana's name," She announced solemnly, head held high. Not that it lasted long, her eyes shifting first to Felix, then the thicket around him, voice more uncertain as she added: "Well, my other Nana…" Nia was the one named after grandma-Nina, all Flair knew of her own namesake was the stories Aideen told her. "My real Nana," The girl mumbled grudgingly, flicking her ears back briefly, then ahead again as the boy continued. The name might have rung a bell to Cináed, who spend so much time listening quietly while the adults talked. But Flair was not like her brother at all in that respect and her head only tilted, ear twitching at the word. It was a strange name for a home, she thought; He doesn’t look grisly..! But her entire body remained poised in curiosity, tail waving excitedly over her back at this prospect of some place so entirely new. When Felix nudged her she reacted like she would have with her siblings, pushing back energetically before turning her head to follow his directions. The explanation meant little to her though, brows furrowing as she listened. All she knew was trees; Aren't they everywhere? Fast water however, piqued her interest, nose twitching upwards as if she could smell this new concept. Again she reacted to the boys touch per habit, snapping out at his snout. Her mind was still preoccupied with all this exciting newness though, so she wasn't too set on making contact, and at Felix's question, she completely ended her assault, instead wrinkling her nose and smiling lightly. "Woodlands," She said, nodding conformingly, eyes sweeping the bramble for a second before returning to the grey pup. Then her voice lowered a little, gaze meeting his as she added: "See-cret." Word count: 342 Thoughts ”Speech”

Dawnthieves.de

@Flair -- Maybe we wrap it up?

What’s a Nana? he was tempted to ask. Whatever – or whoever they were – they had a name. Clearly, they must be important if Flair’s parents were willing to name one of their children after her. Not willing to sound too stupid, the boy resolved to ask his parents when he returned to the Hollow…which reminded him, he should probably get back home soon. My, my, time flies. Felix gave a small frown. He’d have to remember how to get there. And how to get back here! Flair was nice – he certainly wouldn’t mind seeing her again. “Okay,” he agreed, dragging himself out of his own little world. “Secret.” He knew this word. It was probably one of Ophelia’s favorites. Rarely did she do anything out of tzedakah. Everything came with a price, and many times, that price was his silence. Felix didn’t mind, though. He was very good at holding his tongue (much better than either of his sisters). As it to seal this deal, he leaned forward to bump his nose to Flair’s cheek. She could trust him. It was a promise. With that, he took a few steps back, and glanced over his shoulder in the very general direction from which he’d come. Oh, he was going to be in so much trouble – he was such a naughty pup, wandering this far! “Better go,” he sighed softly, ears starting to flatten against his skull. “Home. See you?”

XopekFerret @DA & Dawnthieves.de