Riddle Heights there's hope out the window

@Kyna @Greer or any AH wolves (or anyone, really) | early morning, overcast

She was getting better at sneaking away, unnoticed.

Some days she envied her father’s ebony cloak, for it was much easier for him to slink away from the communal den and disappear into the night. Revon, on the other paw, stood out like a beacon. Which meant she had to be sneakier, using the large boulders and rock crevices to her advantage. Occasionally her steps would falter, as she was still growing into her large, over-sized paws and the mountain terrain was difficult to adapt to. She could not wait for the day that she was as nimble as her parents. Being clumsy was both frustrating and annoying.

As the first rays of light kissed the top of the mountain the little Archer crept away, using the warm tones to her advantage. The rocks reflected with gold, embracing the morning sun and masking her russet figure as it darted over the plateau. There was no doubt she would be found—father was exceptionally good at tracking her down, for it seemed he knew every corner of the Heights. She hoped to, as well, but it certainly was a lot to remember! Right now her little mind was focused solely on adventure—and adopting her shadow’s exceptional stalking (and lurking) abilities.

As she drew  closer to the edge of the heights her mouth fell open in a soft O shape, scarlet eyes widening as she watched the sun illuminate the forest below. Her paws began to itch as her heart thumped within her chest. With a lop-sided grin she cast a frantic look over her shoulder, her fiery gaze sweeping over the mountain to check if she had been followed.

Did she dare take the plunge below?

Revon might have been improved her sneaking skills, but she was still a little girl, and had not the silence of her father, nor the grace of her mother. Not yet, anyways. And Kyna was starting to dread the day that she did, given how adventurous Aurora Heights’ only pup already seemed to be. Some of it, she notioned, probably had to do with the fact that the girl was an only child, and there were no other pups for her to play with on the mountainside. Aponi might not have had any children, but there was Wren and Maeve living at Silent Moon Plateau, as well.

She wondered what became of the pair.

But the thoughts quickly drifted again, for she’d spotted the fire and shadow child glancing into horizon ahead and she broke into an easy lope, chuffing softly (lest she startle her right over into whatever she was staring at). “Revon,” she greeted her daughter, slowing to a halt at the youth’s haunches. “What are you doing out here? Did you find something?”

If she was going to scold the girl – and Kyna wasn’t certain she wanted to, not really – she at least wanted to know what Revon was up to, first. It didn’t seem particularly dangerous.

Resources by freepik.com, table by Kydnt

A wild dissertation appears!

She still had much learning to do. Just because she was better at sneaking off did not mean she was by any means good at it. Not like her mother or father, for the former moved with the grace of a mountain lion and her father was as silent as the night. Revon was clumsy and uncoordinated, but she was quick on her toes and moved with ease over the uneven terrain. She would get better. Eventually. But today, unfortunately, luck was not on her side.

The scarlet Archer heard her mother first, her dark-rimmed ears twitching at the careful steps of the russet alpha. Her tail fell slack between her legs, almost submissively, as she turned to the older woman, her lips falling into an apologetic smile. No—she hadn’t found anything. Her mother had interrupted her solo adventure before it could even begin. There would be no descending into the forest today. Not unless her mother wanted to, because it did not look like Revon was going to get time to herself now that Kyna had caught her sneaking around.

“No,” she mumbled as her mother came up beside her, her tangerine gaze falling to the forest below once more. “Jus’ lookin’,” she admitted with a gentle roll of her shoulders, her ears pinned against the back of her crown. “Gettin’ familiar with the mountain. Sorry ma,” she added, glancing at the older Archer out of the corner of her eye. She hoped the apology would help soften the scolding she was no doubt going to receive.

“What are you sorry for?”

It was not a rhetorical question, nor one of those posed with a strict answer in mind.  Kyna was still largely unconcerned – now that she’d actually found her daughter in one piece, at any rate – and took a seat beside the youngster, overlooking the sight the pup had found.  She still wondered if other puppies would make her child less adventurous…or perhaps spur her on more.  It still boggled the mind, how such a bubbly, out-going little fox came from two quiet, thoughtful shadows.

The alpha smiled, tipped her head as she studied her daughter.  Clearly, Revon knew she did wrong – or thought she did.  And it was something she wanted to…explore, perhaps.  Understand.  Was she sorry that she got caught, or sorry that she had tried to sneak off?

“You know you can ask me or your Da to go out and play, right?”

Resources by freepik.com, table by Kydnt

A wild dissertation appears!

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

“For sneakin’ away,” she answered with a soft frown, her chin pointed toward her mother as she took a seat beside her. Getting caught wouldn’t stop her from exploring outside pack territory—it just meant she would have to be quicker; sneakier. She would have to embody her father and move like a shadow. Need more practice, she thought hastily to herself as she returned her gaze to the view below. Beneath the abundance of trees below were more wolves, going about their business, completely oblivious to the fox on the mountain. How could they live beneath so much foliage? How did they see the stars at night? The swirl of colours with the arrival of the morning sun?

Her ears twitched as her mother spoke once more, tugging her away from her thoughts. The girl nodded softly, her expression soft as the corners of her eyes drooped. “I know,” she sighed in response, her lips curving upward, “sometimes I just like bein’ on my own. Mostly just look ’n sniff around.” She offered her mother a sheepish grin, her ears falling against the back of crown. “Still like playin’ with you ’n Da better, though,” she added as she poked her mother’s foreleg with her nose, her tail thumping against the stone ground.