Bramble Falls Feast for the Vain

Daybreak.

What a glorious time of the morn.

Too bad that the aforementioned hours of peace were long ago, and the sun bubbled high in the sky now, beating on the earth like some toddler who didn't get his way. Unfortunately, the clouds played parental roles and so did the mountain; they shielded this side of the break, and so there were no predictions of the land growing any warmer. A certain wolf in particular trotted through lackadaisically. His big paws smacked at the earth in a way nearly puppy-like, and his ineffably juvenile, energetic pair of eyes scanned the area.

A tongue lolled out of his maw lazily. The area was comfortable for him, given that his overflowing pelt moved with him when he walked, scruffy and unkempt. If Neades was starving, it would be a factor quite impossible to determine unless he was shaved. No hunger gnawed at this pit of his stomach, anyhow. The only actual discomfort he could mention was how, on occasion, he would lick his chops and recognize his flourishing thirst.

All his mind could process was how much of a savior he had been to little miss Aphrodite. How he was like her guardian angel, right? His mind buzzed with remarks of her good fortune to have met him, but only for a short while because something relieving tumbled in the distance. The noise progressively became further defined as he neared it.

Water. Dear, sweet gift of the deities. He salivated in anticipation of rounding up Aphrodite and taking her to this divine discovery. She might've already known about this landmark down the road before he absconded to secure the vicinity. After all, she did live in this odd land beforehand, supposedly someplace south of here. All too engrossed in getting first share of the waters instead of being wary, he turned tail to head uphill and towards the stream feeding the rushing, rocky falls.

Neades the fool expected this little trek to be easy.

@Neades

The Young Slayer Girl had decided to go hunting away from Cut Rock River’s territory, a chance to see if she could find some prey in another place, but she also didn’t tell anyone that she was leaving for a day or so. Her independence said otherwise to telling another of her plans, and so she didn’t. She didn’t care if they were angry at her afterwards, as she hadn’t done anything wrong. A wolf was free to wander off for a couple of days, as long as they came back. It wasn’t like she was stealing anything and running off with it, or actually leaving the pack without telling anyone. She was a free wolf, and she would stay that way. No one could change that.

She had heard the sound of water cascading down in a waterfall long before she saw it, and when she did she paused, lifting her muzzle into the air and glancing around in a one hundred and eighty degree angle to see if there was anyone close by. The Young Slayer Girl couldn’t scent anyone close by, but then again, the wind could be blowing her own scent in the direction of another. She was also very sure that no wolf had been behind her as she was walking so she didn’t bother to look.

Padding to the bank of the stream that fed the waterfall, Adsila lowered her muzzle and drank deeply from the cool, clear water, and when she had had her full, she lifted up her muzzle inches above the water, staring at her reflection. As she smiled, her reflection smiled, when she frowned, her reflection frowned. Giggling, the Young Slayer dipped her muzzle back into the water and blew bubbles, feeling the water froth and splash up into her face. Throwing her head back, water sprayed up in an arc like a rainbow, and she giggled yet again as it fell to the ground with soft thumps.

She was acting like a child again, but since there was no one around to see, Adsila didn’t correct her behavior. Her life was hers to live, after all, and she chose to live it her way, and if that was playing around with the water, so be it.

378 Words