Blackened Down Reach for the sky

Aquaria didn't know what it was about these old charred stumps, but something about them always lured the growing pup to the uneven field. Sure there were some just like these at home she could gawk at, but that was no fun. Little animals didn't scurry through the grass back home that she could chase and build up her skills. Too many wolves; despite how small the pack had shrunk, trampling around. Now that the coyotes had made themselves scarce and allowed the dark coated girl to venture outside again, life was returning to this neck of the woods. Her home away from home. The hidden tree was overrated in her mind.

Nose to the ground she shuffled through the dying grass that was losing its vibrant green hue for a more grey tone that made the area look like a still from a black and white movie had she been human. With the cooler weather today a light fog strolled across the area and only aided in painting the monochrome picture. Not a creature was stirring in the short blades of grass and this warranted a frown to marr the Leigh-Tainn's face. Hmph.

Onto the next idea then. Flop. The child unceremoniously collapsed into the mixture of dirt and ash to roll onto her back, the blue hue of her gaze blinking up at the equally blue sky dotted with an array of broken clouds. She couldn't find creatures on the ground so maybe she'd find them in the clouds.

The charred forest was safe for now. There was a pack nearby which meant that there were wolves, too. There was safety in numbers and as long as he remained closeish to their borders he would be safe from unwanted loners. Just as long as he did not upset or anger the pack wolves—the last thing he needed was to face the wrath of a pack. He made sure to keep moving, as it kept him from getting too comfortable or falling asleep wherever he was slumped over. Being on his own was not going well but somehow he was surviving. For now. He was not sure if he wanted to seek refuge in the pack just yet—if they would even allow him to join. He was just a cub; what did he have to offer them aside from being another mouth to feed? Surely they had their own youth to tend to. They did not need a weak little leech sucking at their resources.

Maybe that was why his mother had not found him yet. Maybe he did not have anything to offer. Maybe he was nothing but a nuisance.

A sound caused his head to spin around and his tail to tuck instinctively between his legs. He was not alone—but was that a good thing or a bad thing? His ears twitched with uncertainty. He was not against the company but he did not know if they would be welcome to his presence.

He was not going to give them a choice.

He stepped forward with wobbly uncertainty, his tail now flicking idly behind him as he offered a soft woof into the clearing.

Hope it's okay for me to pop in!

Ferreiran's small paws broke through the snowy crust with every step. He cringed at the noise it made. Today was an alone day. His face was twisted into a silent grimace as he walked, striving to be quiet. He was acutely aware of every sound his feet made. He stopped, breathing heavily. The sound of a soft woof echoed through the snow. A pup, its black coat sticking out like a sore paw in the winter snow. Ferr felt empathy for the pup run through him. He had a similar dark pelt and rolled in the snow to disguise it every chance he got. But unlike the young Morse, the pup wasn't trying to stay hidden. Time to play the watching game.

Have you read my player preferences?