Kingsfall Spiral out, keep going

It was late afternoon and the sun had set, casting the forest in darkness. Moonlight fell through breaks in the  evergreen canopy, casting rays of silver light upon the snow. It was early to retire for the day, but Grimcutty had covered a large amount of ground and he was exhausted. The only thing he had managed to kill and eat was an underweight rabbit. He could feel the weakness of a loner’s hunger radiating from the pit of his stomach to his limbs and his head.

He trotted several yards more before a wave of dizziness came over him and forced his decision to stop for the night. The silvery world was distorted and misshapen for several moments as he picked a large tree and collapsed beside its trunk.  His body agreed with the position of rest and eventually the dizziness subsided.

Grimcutty curled up and rested his tail over his nose to protect it from winter’s bite. He closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come, even after more than an hour had passed. During that time, a light snowfall began to drift down to the forest floor from the sky.

Opening his eyes again, the white wolf opted to watch the snow.

(This post was last modified: Dec 12, 2023, 02:10 AM by Grimcutty.)

She had been hunting, on her way back to the pack with a pair of lemmings clutched betwixt her jaws. When she caught wind of the stranger, the first thing she noticed was how young they scented. Like @Siv. Siblings, by any chance? She and Auburn had been that age together once, separated while on their way to the same goal. The young woman hadn't mentioned missing anyone, but, well... Aub hadn't mentioned her much either, had he?

She detoured, but not for that reason alone. Youthful or not, she had to know that whoever was lurking in their woods was not a malignant presence.

Mar found his paw prints and they did not look steady. They led to a tree, and for a moment, she mistook the other wolf for the snow itself. Blinking, she regarded him. Thinned, worn. It was what being alone did to living things. She dropped her kills, picking up just one long enough to toss it toward him without a word.

In the hour during which his eyes had been closed his paw prints were softened and blurred by the layer of snow that had fallen. He was reminded of his departure from Silent Grove, his pack of origin. He had chosen to escape in the midst of a raging snowstorm, which had been a dangerous decision but a necessary one. It was the best way to leave undetected, because both his tracks and his scent were quickly masked by fresh snow. Moreover, his family members were less likely to try to follow him into the throes of a wild tempest.

They probably assumed he was dead.

he almost was.

The soft thud of a small object striking the ground near his face pulled him out of his thoughts. His eyes were glazed over from staring ahead , utterly zoned out. He blinked a few times and spotted the wolf who had approached him. Feeling disappointed for allowing himself to be approached this closely, he sighed and brought himself to his feet. His snout lowered to the gifted lemming and he sniffed it several times before attempting to meet the gaze of the woman who stood before him. His pale eyes were wary and skeptical of this gesture of good will which she had extended to a complete stranger.

you want to give this to me? he wondered, canting a brow. Perhaps hearing her speak would give him a better read of the situation. She might be trying to trick him somehow, or to test him. Why she would want to do that, he couldn’t guess; but he couldn’t either trust immediately that she just wished to show him kindness.

(This post was last modified: Dec 14, 2023, 05:14 PM by Grimcutty.)

The stranger pushed himself up onto his paws, features and expressions reading as incredibly wearied to Marigold. She did not feel pity deeply, but she knew right from wrong. Here she had surplus, while the younger wolf clearly had nothing. Still he was hesitant, and even asked for confirmation. Part of her wanted to scoff, for why else would she relinquish it? But Mar understood, or at least thought she did.

"Are you not hungry?" she asked in return. If he didn't want her help and was going to refuse it, she would have few qualms about retrieving the carcass and continuing as she had before coming across his scent. She could alert @Jethro and @Flair of his presence, let them decide if they wanted to try harder than she had.

She did not answer his question, instead responding with a question of her own. There was neither an outpouring of pity nor hostility. It was a simple offer from one wolf to another, and Grimcutty appreciated that. Still, he was not completely at ease about taking the gift. His brain tried frantically to piece together a puzzle that might reveal an ulterior motive, but it was in vain.

If she were some sort of temptress, his mind was too foggy from hunger to figure it out.

A few heavy seconds passed while he stared at her. Thank you, he said finally, blinking and starting on the lemming. He ate quickly but with manners, though it was difficult not to devour the small animal in one bite. He did not think he had ever tasted anything so delicious.

I'm Grimcutty. he stated, swiping his muzzle with his tongue. The white fur now had a pink cast from the blood of the rodent. What's your name?

Marigold continued to stand as she watched, ever prepared to respond as necessary. Still, she was patient, allowing him to allay the pangs of hunger in relative silence. It wasn't until he'd finished and introduced himself that she seemed more than just a statue.

"Marigold," she returned, while wondering internally what kind of nicknames others had given the wolf during his life. They certainly hadn't all just called him Grim, right?

"What brings you to our forest?"

Direct, but she'd earned that, hadn't she? Silver eyes watched and expected the other to continue being well-mannered.

(This post was last modified: Jan 09, 2024, 05:30 AM by Marigold.)

The female was quiet while he ate. He tried not to think about her watching him… to eat so hungrily in front of a stranger was embarrassing. The feeling passed, though, when she spoke again, giving her name. Marigold.

It suited her, he thought . Marigolds were sunny flowers, and her coat was a pale yellow like the color of sunshine. They were different colors, marigolds bearing bright shades of orange and yellow, while the woman’s fur was a softer blonde. Still, Grimcutty saw a connection.

Her next question caught him off guard. His jaw fell slightly agape. Does this forest belong to you? To your pack? he wondered with a hint of gruffness. Suddenly he felt even more vulnerable, more afraid. Had he been so delirious that he had neglected to check whether or not he had crossed into claimed territory?

I have been wandering for some time… months, maybe… I stopped here to sleep for the night. He lowered his muzzle, thinking of the worst possible scenarios. If he had trespassed, even unknowingly, she was still within her rights to kill him.

(This post was last modified: Dec 28, 2023, 12:16 PM by Grimcutty.)

He seemed a bit taken aback at her words, but Marigold did not necessarily feel bad. As far as she was concerned, she wasn't wrong to call Kingsfall as much. Of course, she wouldn't attempt to ousting anyone nonthreatening unless they crossed into the pack's actual territory.

Wandering, he informed her. Plenty explanation for his weary appearance. She motioned with her muzzle further into the forest, toward where one could find Paradise Falls.

"We live deeper within, but hunt these grounds. Why wander? There's nothing you're looking for?"

Seemed a bit pointless, but of course it likely wasn't really so simple. She'd hope not, at least. Of course, maybe he didn't believe there was anything for him in this world. Maybe he'd done things deserving of such a fate.