Zephyr Rill painter in your pocket

backdated to 4/18 for @Cottongrass || Afternoon, Sunny, Zephyr Rill

After his encounter with the female from the west, he had stuck around home. He did his best to avoid his brother by busying himself with patrols, hunts, scouting and anything that would exhaust him to the point that he would simply fall asleep the moment he got to lay down. Things were strange with him and Lorcan practically dancing around each other but Laike would be damned if he was going to let his brother stop him from proving himself to Kisla and the rest of Hearthwood River.

He didn't travel very far from the borders today but this also wasn't a place he was familiar with. A mostly frozen stream that ran over cobble and tree roots. Laike figured that the way it ran through here it had to be younger than the forest around it. He wondered if anything worthwhile was hiding under the ice. Perhaps a frozen fish or a possible chew toy for future children and expectant mothers.

Large paws carefully pressed against the frozen water. One might have expected the sun to help thaw out the ice but between the still cool temperatures and shade, it didn't do much damage to the solid water. So Laike gently leaned forward prepared to catch himself if needed.

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Cottongrass decided that he liked this area. The wolves were all kinds of nice and already he had made two friends that went by the names of Aytigin and Otter. And there might have been a pack obnoxiously close by that smothered him at times, but he convinced himself it wasn't that bad. It just meant he had to tread the careful line between loitering and trespassing every time he stopped by this neck of the woods. He even had a plan in mind if some pack member demanded to know what he was doing. Cottongrass could just say he was waiting for a friend and it wouldn't be a complete lie.

Because Aytigin and Otter were his friends. And maybe he really wasn't waiting for them but more like hopefully counting down the days until fate would let him see them again, but Cottongrass tried to not think about it too closely. He didn't want to go and jinx himself or something now. These were only thoughts, after all. Mindless fantasies that formed behind his eyes as he took to wandering and weaving between the monstrous trunks of sequoia trees. Behind him his tail wagged along and his jaws were parted in an open-mouth pant, breath curling into smokey wisps in the cold air of the shade. He was as content as could be in that moment.

And unknowingly he followed the scent trail of someone. He barely realized he was doing it with his mind occupied with thoughts of different days. Like the earthy scent of the nearby pack intermixed with something else that was all too familiar pressing at the edges of his mind. Below him his paws picked up the pace and he couldn't help but think of all the wolves he knew. Because maybe the scent would lead him to one of them like Lorcan or Aytigin or Otter. But he could only hope as he decided to cut across a frozen stream, closer towards what he assumed was the source of the odor.

His paws crunched as he stepped onto frozen ice and already he found himself floundering when one his legs threatened to shoot out from under him. He had no choice but to slow his pace unless he wanted to fall into a frozen stream, again. One time had been more than enough and he really didn't need a repeat. He wasn't sure if there was anyone around to thaw him out if he fell through. So he took it slow. Focusing on placing one paw in front of the other as he shuffled forward, nose and ear twitching as he absentmindedly payed attention to something approaching.

He looked up just in time to catch sight of someone. But before he could figure out whether or not he knew them his mouth and voice were rushing ahead without him. "Monster deer!" He blurted out, yellow eyes excited as he stood tall with his feathery white tail wagging away behind him. Because that was them, wasn't it? Their stocky build and scarred features certainly seemed similar enough to the wolf he met in the mountains forever ago.

LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

It was easy to tell that the River wolf had not been expecting company. Especially company that would stir a memory he had managed to bury fairly well. He slipped on the frozen surface for a moment before regaining his composure with fiery eyes wide as ever. If one of those things was here than he was ready to run straight back to the safety of Heartwood River. Of course, instead of spotting a ravenous deer he spotted a faintly familiar wolf. Pale coat and yellow eyes. It was undeniably the wolf he had shared that shocking experiencing with.

"You 'bout scared me into a heart attack, boy." He admitted with a soft sigh. "Had me thinking one of those things was here." The hefty Artemieva shook his head and leaned against a tree to compose himself again. The last thing he wanted was for one of those monsters to be in his new home's area. Fiery gaze carefully looked over the younger male. Obviously, one of those deer hadn't found and chomped on his company. That was a relief as much as it could be.

He moved away from the sturdy tree to stand on his own again and take a few steps towards the ivory male. "Have you seen one of those things again?" Laike asked in a careful and hushed tone. If anyone else was around the last thing he wanted them thinking was that he was crazy.

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

The other wolf flinched and he didn't do so much as blink at the sudden reaction. Instead his tail kept wagging on away behind him and he gave his happiest smile. The one that had his jaws parting while his tongue lolled out from between pointed teeth. Because it was his friend! They had faced meat-eating deer together and it was good to see that they were still alive and whole. And maybe he could pretend that their last meeting was some really weird memory. That maybe they just had tepid conversation while winter winds whipped and swirled around them while the mountain took the brunt of the chill.

But the conversation was set in stone the moment he had blurted out his earlier greeting. The one of monster deer that left no room to argue or change the topic to something lighter.

He just let out a happy laugh at the male's suggestion. That he could ever be one of those horrible creatures they met what seemed like forever ago. Like he would ever bite into someone and start eating them! Except his upbeat mood was short lived when his friend approached. Scarred features were intense and unsettling in comparison to the atmosphere mere moments ago. And somewhere behind his rib cage his heart started beating at a quicker pace.

There was giddiness inside of him the moment the air had changed. When tension had crackled and his tail couldn't stop wagging. He leaned in with giddiness in his features. Because something secret was about to happen, right? Why else the sudden weirdness. But the energy disappeared as quickly as it had came.

Because monster deer. His friend was asking about monster deer and he was already disappointed. "No." He answered at full volume, and without thinking twice he continued to blurt out — "Why?" Like the other wolf hadn't just been set the tone to be something quieter and more conspiratorial. There was a frown playing across his features and his brows were furrowing in thought. He even leaned back against his heels while watching with curious eyes.

Had there been another sighting?

It truly was by pure chance that Laike had bumped into this man, or rather vice versa. Not to mention the arrival had been less than formal. Granted their first meeting had been rather strange and awful. One that Laike had worked hard to forget about just to have this fella bringing it right back up again.

All those things aside he listened when the younger male answered. He pulled back to talk back in a more relaxed tone, not failing to notice the look of perhaps discomfort on his company's face. "Ah, was just curious. No need to worry then!" Laike said rather content. Maybe someone else out there had seen one but as long as it wasn't them he had no reason to really even think about it. Except that it would likely appear in his dreams tonight if he wasn't careful.

"I never did get your name last time, did I?" A brow raised above curious fiery eyes. If Laike remembered correctly they had been too busy worrying about a monster deer for either one of them to make introductions. Not to mention that the Artemieva had also gotten stuck with the role of chasing off the damned thing. Maybe now they could get off to a better start.

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There hadn't been another monster deer sighting in the span of time when they last saw each other in the mountains. His shoulders slumped with relief and his earlier disappointment was forgotten in that moment. Because a world where he could pretend monsters didn't exist was a good one. Even if he found it sort of boring in hindsight. Behind him his tail started to wag. He settled into the snow and lapsed into silence.

It didn't last very long.

Because there was a question hanging in the air that didn't really sound like a question but he assumed was one nonetheless. It was mostly the raised eyebrow and expectant stare that clued him in. His ears rolled forward and his head cocked to the side. "I'm Cottongrass." He chirped without hesitation. And because it was only polite — or as polite as he could ever manage when he was talking without planning his every word beforehand — "Who are you?"

Somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered what the man was doing in the northeast woods. Hadn't they originally met in the mountains? Maybe he was being sensible and hiding away from monster deer sightings. That seemed pretty smart. Maybe Cottongrass would have to take a page out of his book and follow suit.

LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

Cottongrass.

Funny little name but perhaps it fitted his monster-seeing friend. Those bright eyes could be akin to a plant for sure. But oh, where were his manners? The question had been turned back to him. "Laike Artemieva." His headed gave a short nod as if he was physically punctuating his name. His name felt a lot more formal compared to the pale boy before him. Was that something to be jealous or embarrassed by? Laike wasn't quite sure but he certainly felt something about the situation. It was silly really and so he'd do his best to try and brush the feeling off - even if it was pestering him more than necessary.

"Ya know," He started off looking to the icy river to the now named Cottongrass. "I'm pretty glad you were there that day." Laike awkwardly shifted his weight before plopping down onto his rear. "Who knows what would have happened if I had run into that thing alone." A small chuckle rolled forward from the stocky male. The pale wolf hadn't done much back on the mountain but perhaps he had been the motivation for Laike to do something. It was a scenario he was bad they both had to to go through but was also glad he hadn't had to go through it alone.

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When the stranger gave his name Cottongrass' head nodded along with them. It was a good name! Full of syllables and maybe too complicated in his mind but he didn't really know anything. He was named after a plant. There was no way he could say anything without getting his rear end handed to him. The man before him probably knew that. And there were worse names, too! Like Aytigin Delaney. So instead of commenting on the complexity of Laike's full name Cottongrass instead chirped —

"I like your name!" His tail gave a pleased wiggle. Because the name was fitting even if he couldn't state a single reason why. It just was. Someone that was named Laike Artemieva would absolutely be tall and scarred. He liked it. But when the man continued to speak it sort of went against the very image Cottongrass had been building inside of his head. Was he thanking him? About to start singing praise? It was something he would have accepted without a single word of disagreement but he couldn't remember doing much that day.

He decided to roll with it.

"Really?" He chirped. His yellow eyes shined bright and his white coat puffed up like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Well —" He started off. "I guess I did save the day, huh?" A grin stretched across his features and his rear end gave a pleased wiggle before he settled back against his haunches. His tail continued to drag across the ice and snow in pleased swipes.

Only the higher powers above would know if he was joking or not.

(This post was last modified: Oct 09, 2017, 06:50 PM by Cottongrass.)

LAIKE ARTEMIEVA

The younger male was pretty nice. Perhaps he was naturally like that or maybe it was because what they had shared. Granted the boy did seem pretty nice in general. While parents couldn't ever guarantee what their kids would grow up to be, naming this fella after a plant seemed smart. Those yellow eyes could certainly belong to a flower.

"Thanks." His ebony lips pulled up into a small smile. Laike could play nice even if it wasn't his forte. It's what he normally did with others. Sometimes it was easier to go with the flow than it was to fight it.

A brow raised as his tail gave a few wags. His little compliment had been taken rather well it seemed. The boy seemed to light up like a night sky. "You did." Laike praised in a rather genuine tone. Nothing wrong with letting the kid believe he did all the work. After all, he had done what the large Artemieva asked him to do which helped in the long run. But that was enough talk about the monster deer. It was in the past and they had 'fought' it off in a noble way.

"So what brings you to the forest, Cottongrass?" Perhaps he could lend a paw again in whatever the pale male was getting himself into. As long as it had nothing to do with monsters.

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