Larkcall Lowlands winter's cold is too much to handle

For @Reyes<3
Cotton has probably been on his own for two weeks now, and isn't in the best shape.
Set somewhere in the far northwest of Larkcall Lowlands — Cloudy — -9 ° F, -23 ° C

If he closed his eyes and held his breath, he knew that the last time he saw another wolf was at least sixteen sleeps ago. But if he thought really hard about that time when he fell into that pit hidden under the snow, the pit that started the beginning of the end for him, that number went up to over twenty. Except everything that happened when he had fallen into the pit was blurry, because he had lost track of the days and nights while he was stuck down there. He knew he was stuck down there for more than one whole night, because he had slept so many different times and napped a lot. But the naps blurred into sleeps, and vice versa, and he didn't like thinking about the numbers.

The numbers made him dizzy. Really, really dizzy. And it didn't help that his lungs always burned when he finished trying to count and add up all the different dancing numbers swarming behind his eyes. So in the end he resorted to telling himself that all that really mattered was that he was alone for a long time, and to focus on the details that didn't involve basic math. Which was so much easier. And it didn't make him feel like passing out if he thought about it too long! That was the best part of just going over memories instead of counting for him.

Because the last wolf he had saw was Askan, when the sky had screamed and flashed like it was going to collapse onto them at any moment. The ground had also shook beneath his paws, but it wasn't like he was scared or anything. He was Cottongrass, the bravest wolf that was never once afraid in his whole entire life! Even if Askan seemed to think otherwise. If he thought more about the memory of Askan, he could remember that the older wolf had said something about their pack. And that they would stay only for a little while, and that Cottongrass couldn't follow them back home.

He hadn't followed Askan back home, even if he really wanted to because he couldn't shake the suspicion that the sky was going to try and kill him. It had tried to before, when he was younger and he had only just left home. The sky had growled, the air felt weird, and suddenly a tree not far from him had exploded. But he was getting sidetracked. Really, really sidetracked when he was trying to remember important things so he wouldn't do something drastic from the solitude he felt.

But he couldn't help how the seemingly endless hills and plains of white reminded of home, but instead of feeling frustrated and tired he just felt alone. And he couldn't decide which emotion felt worse inside of his chest. So he forced himself to waddle along faster, heading in the same random direction he had been following for the past few days.

After Askan and after the sky had threw its fit, he had tried to find Victoria and Avery. With the keyword being how he tried to. But when the rugged foothills had given way to what looked like endless tundra, everything had went so wrong. He had lost sight of the treeline which was the only marker he had, he had fallen into a pit hidden under the snow and hurt his paw. And when he had waited, waited, and waited for help - nobody ever came for him. In the end he had no choice but to climb his own way out of the hole in the ground.

His steps stumbled to a halt, because he was just so tired. His paw ached, he was cold, he was hungry, he was lost, and he was lonely. The only thing that accompanied him was the sound of his own breathing as he wallowed and pitied himself under the cloudy sky. Because it was official - Cottongrass was cursed with bad luck, and there was nothing he could do about it but accept it. There was no denying or joking about it anymore. His tail hung limp between his hind legs and he pinned his ears back against his skull, letting out one long-suffering whine as he accepted his bleak future.

(This post was last modified: Jan 10, 2017, 05:28 AM by Cottongrass.)

He hated the cold. Hated it. As soon as this blasted snow stopped falling from the sky, as soon as this bloody wind stopping whipping it around and lashing his face with the tiny ice crystals, he was out of here. Or something. Reyes wasn’t actually sure where he planned on going, or how, or for how long, but he knew like hell he’d get caught in another snow pocket like the one he’d been rescued from.

Like a goddamn damsel in distress. Hell, if anyone else had seen that—

Reyes shook his head, ears flat against his head. Of course, he’d had the poor idea to go out and find something to eat even though the sky was darkening. He knew better, he fucking knew better! But instead he listened to the growling of his belly instead of what experience told him, and this is what he got for it, trapped in the damn snow again. At least he hadn’t fallen, yet, but Reyes wasn’t about to hold his breath. Luck was not on his side.

Instead of falling in, he walked clear into someone else, white as the snow, silent and downwind. Reyes opened his mouth to cuss the other wolf out when he recognized the general shape, and, now that he was almost on top of him, faint smell the cold winds left behind. “Cottongrass? Dios mio, the hell are you doin’ in this awful place, kid? C’mon, let’s go!”

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

It all happened in the blink of an eye. One moment he was alone and quivering in the cold, the next something big and darkly-furred was walking right into his side. There was a moment of panic and borderline desperation where he thought of Sahalie, or maybe even Askan, but then he heard the voice. It jolted him to his core, because hey hey hey, he knew that voice! He was never before happier to hear such a deep, annoyed voice in his life.

"Reyes!" He chirped, his voice hoarse and jagged from the cold but all he could think of was Reyes. The older wolf had saved him, saved him from dying all alone and sad in the middle of nowhere, and his thoughts were a mess because of it. He didn't know whether he should have felt relieved or excited or thankful, and so he settled for a mixture of all three emotions. His tail started to lash behind him, body shaking and wiggling not only because of the movement but also because he was freezing. Freezing, freezing, freezing - but not for long! His paws stamped in the snow as he skittered forward, pressing closer to the older male.

"Reyes, Reyes, Reyes." He chirped, over and over again because he couldn't help it. The snow must have frozen his brain or something because the words were falling from his mouth left and right and he couldn't stop them. "I got lost - I got lost in the snow, and then the snow tried to - it tried to swallow me up! - and I've just - and I've just - I really missed you." He sighed, the words leaving him in one big rush of air. And as obedient as could be - attached himself to the older wolf's side. But not before he gave @Reyes a fond headbutt and not before he smiled all of his thanks up at them. He was just so happy that his future wasn't him dying alone and in the cold anymore.

Dios mio! his inner voice yelled again, flailing wildly at the sheer affection to be found in Cottongrass’ voice. Hell, he’d almost flattened the damn kid just a hot second ago, and here he was, gushing over the dark wolf like… Like… Like he’d given the boy brain damage, or something. Reyes took a careful step back, squinting his silver eyes as he tried to look over the loner once more. He couldn’t smell anything on him, no blood or that strange, sweet, sickly smell that came with an infection, and he couldn’t see anything, either. So what the hell was wrong with him?

The swarthy male’s shoulders fell a fraction as he sighed, settling only for a small shake of his head before pressing back into the weight he suddenly found at his side. Weird as the kid might be, there was no denying that any sort of warmth was acceptable at this moment. “Alright, kid. Time to find somewhere to bed down,” he gruffed out, having no desire to sound quite as giddy as Cotton had moments before. Given, that particular task was easier said than done. “I ain’t been up in this part long. You know of anything we could look for?”

He settled against Reyes' side, shaking like a leaf but thinking more clear now that everything in his head was processed. Because hey hey hey, he wasn't going to die alone! And well, he might die with someone else if they didn't find shelter, but that was a problem for future Cotton. Future Cotton had a lot of problems... He focused on making sense of the older wolf's words, which were to find someone to bed down. He could do that, and his tail wagged behind him. Even when his confidence wavered when he actually looked around them.

"We could uh, we could, uh, look for one of those rocky outcrop things." They usually bulged out of the side of hills, which there were plenty of around them. "Could dig out an old den, there's usually lots of them around those." He could remember how once, he found an entire den of little foxes on accident near one. And what happened after wasn't so fun, but he knew that animals usually made their dens around those after that. Except Reyes didn't need to know about that. He also didn't think it would ever come so in handy. With a shake to get the snow off, he drew himself closer towards the dark fur of the older wolf. Ready to follow them wherever they set off to, because like hell was he taking the first step.

(This post was last modified: Jan 26, 2017, 09:50 PM by Cottongrass.)

“Alright, alright, Cotton. Settle down.”

Dios mio… It was like dealing with his sisters when they were little pups, easily excited whenever he brought something as simple as a ground squirrel home, anything to fill empty bellies. And maybe it wasn’t that different, after all. Mariposa and Marisol never worried about death – if only because Reyes and his mother made sure of that fact – but it was a basic need that was not always fulfilled due to one circumstance or another. Cottongrass, for his part, was liable to freeze to death just standing out here, and Reyes wasn’t in a much better situation himself. His expression softened slightly, but he said nothing else.

He was, however, perfectly content to take the lead, the dark wolf ducked his head down to plow through the snow, ears flat against his skull as the snow continued to fly. His tail twitched, and eventually, he did find one of the small, rocky outcroppings Cotton had mentioned and drew to a halt, poking his nose inside to investigate. No smell, seemed dry enough, if not a little small, but the rocky shelter would defend them against the wind. He glanced over his shoulder, motioning to the younger wolf.

“C’mon, lobito. You’re smaller. You in first. I’ll follow.”

He hobbled right after the older wolf, practically stumbling with every other step but still trekking along. And slowly but surely, they found their way to shelter. Or what would be shelter, once Reyes took the liberty of nosing and digging it out. Awkwardly Cottongrass stood there, watching the snow fly while also glancing over his shoulder. Just in case, his brain hummed while he shivered away.

The excitement was dying down, whatever early adrenaline and heavy-headed rush fading. Reyes was real, they were finding shelter, and it felt like the world had been lifted from off his shoulders. He didn't have to by hyper-aware of everything, and well, he was like that alone or with others but the sentiment still stood. That he wasn't all by himself and he had very effectively beaten death for at least one night. Aha! He mentally barked, tail giving a distracted wag before he realized he was hearing Reyes talking.

His head snapped forward, catching the tail end of lobito. With yellow eyes roving, he found the little nook that was freshly dug out. He waddled forward, brushing by the older wolf while stooping low. It was dark in there, the air cold and stuffy but it was better than freezing outside for a night. And without much more to do, he squeezed his way in.

It was an awkward fit, crouching down so he didn't go banging his head against the ceiling while also trying to keep weight off of his injured paw. And well, if he thought about it, said paw was numb but it still felt weird to put weight on it. He settled down against the furthest wall, bundling up tight and licking his own nose. The world outside of the mouth of the den was blinding, a stark white, and he blinked when the shadow of Reyes' replaced it. His tail swished against dirt and he perked up some.

"That was a close one." He chirped, close one meaning whatever might have happened if Reyes didn't find him or if they didn't manage to find a little den to hole up in. Personally, his mind was a nice downy mess of happy thoughts and pleased noises. Sleepiness was settling in quick when he was finally off his feet and allowed the chance to try and melt into the ground.

(This post was last modified: Feb 01, 2017, 06:11 AM by Cottongrass.)

“That was a close one.”

A close what, Reyes wanted to reply – but then, he wasn’t certain he wanted the long winded answer that was sure to follow, either. So he only pressed his teeth together, allowing the yearling to get good and comfortable before assessing the situation for a second time. Yeah, it’d definitely be a tight fit… But they were both slim from the winter months, and Cotton looked smaller than he was. Besides, some of this bulk was just fluff (or at the very least, Reyes was willing to believe that as he ducked down his skull and began to shuffle inside).

It took a few attempts to find the perfect position, wiggling limbs and tail until he was curled up, pressed soundly against the white wolf’s side as he gave a heavy exhale. It…wasn’t ideal (for lack of a better word), but at least the other male was warm, and Reyes’ bulk blocked the majority of wind and snow trying to find its way inside. Only once he was comfortable did he finally speak back up. He nosed Cotton’s fluff, making sure the kid was still paying attention. “So, kid, what’s the plan once this storm is clear, huh? You gonna go wanderin’ off alone again?”

@Reyes

If Reyes was uncomfortable with the tight fit of the den, Cottongrass paid the older wolf no mind and just kept on hunkering down. He couldn't help but want to doze off right then and there. Reyes was warm, he was blocking the wind, and it felt like forever since Cottongrass had last been so cozy in a den. It was tempting to close his eyes and rest, just for a little. But the darker wolf kept on nosing at his fur and he couldn't just ignore them.

Reluctantly he forced his drifting eyes open and he gave a slow yawn. The good kind that had his jaws parting full because he wanted to be lazy a little bit more. He dragged his face against his fore-paws for good measure, tail giving a slow thump against the wall as the question registered "I've been looking for m'friend, Victoria." Trying to find one wolf was hard though, harder than he thought, especially when it was cold and everything looked the same. And—wait. His head tilted until he could see all of Reyes' face, a careful frown making its way across his features when he realized the other thing they asked. He thought...

"You're not gonna come with me?" He mumbled, his voice quieter than it was moments before. Because while he knew he didn't ask, he still sort of just assumed that Reyes would want to help him. Why wouldn't they? If the older wolf really wanted to, they could have just left him in the snow to suffer and waste away. But they didn't, and Cotton thought it meant something. Maybe it didn't, though. He gave the older wolf a soft stare, expression confused and faintly hurt. Were they going to leave him too?

(This post was last modified: Feb 08, 2017, 01:30 AM by Cottongrass.)