Lake Rodney You don't get old by being stupid

Birches are one of the prettier trees, the wolf considered as he trotted along the river. He'd been following the river's western course for quite some time now, if for no other reason than to guide him somewhere new. Water was the source of life, after all. If Teemu wanted to seek out a new home among a new pack, choosing water as a starting point was a good enough plan for him. Besides, the sound had always been comforting, whether it was fat drops plummeting towards earth, an angry, rushing river, or the babble of a creek.

Teemu's long legs swung fluidly and his paws barely touched the ground. More space began to spread between each tree and the patches of light grew wider the further west he traveled. In the sun's glow, wildflowers were starting to spring forth more regularly. The river was widening as well and Teemu slowed his pace. Coming over a hill, a magnificent lake came into view.

Wow, the sight brought him to a full stop. There were wildflowers everywhere, giving way to sandy shores, and in the center of it all was an island with a single tree. It was enormous - he could already tell from this distance - and had probably been there for more than a century. Teemu smiled to himself, It's almost as old as I am.

Granted, he wasn't ancient, but the wolf wasn't necessarily young either. His lips were beginning to grey - a fact he preferred to ignore whenever coming across his reflection. With that smile still settled on his snout, the male continued on. Colorful flowers brushed against his flank and his nose twitched at their varying scents. It wasn't until his toes were sinking into warm sand that he stopped again to take in the view.

She had been following the stream out of the haunted woods seemingly fleaing for no apparent reason. The setting changed drastically from a foggy eiriness to sunny with pleanty of wild flowers. She put that experience behind her for now, she couldn't dwell on it.

She walked along the bank heading in no clear direction with no clear goal. The pitch black wolf simply trotted flicking up sand behind her. The stream she was following began to widen until it meet with the great lake. She could see fish rushing and gliding through and jumping out of the water. Those look pretty good she thought thinking of an opportunity for her next meal. She walked into a shallow area of the lake and stood with her feet wide apart allowing the fish enough room to swim through. 

She waited, still, carful not to scare the fish and as one got close she shot her snout into the water trying to nab a fish. Darn she said shaking off the water on her nose after missing her first fish. She reajusted her stance ready for another attempt. After a short amount of time the water had settles and another fish swam up toward Rouge. Once again she plunged her snout into the water attempting to mab the fish and this time was successful. 

The decent sized fish flailed in her jaws as she walked into shore. She set it down and placed her paw on its side to get some grip as she bit into the side and tore up peiceing it apart and eating her catch. He fishing and splashing easily heard for any wolves in the near by area.

The peaceful buzz around the lake lured Teemu into a temporary sense of security. He'd sat back in the soft sand, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his fur and the stillness of the water. Bees floated from flower to flower behind him and he mindlessly swiveled an ear in their direction. If he never found another pack, he'd be just fine living out his life right here, next to this lake.

A sudden sound of splashing water jolted the wolf from his bliss, and his muscles tensed instinctively. Teemu slowly rose to his feet and listened. Another splash or two, and they hadn't come from far off. Keeping his head low, the wolf slipped away from the edge of the water and into the wildflowers, winding his way toward a nearby sycamore tree. Next to the tree's thick trunk, Teemu lifted his head and scanned the shoreline. There, he noticed the dark wolf, her legs in the water. He watched as she fished; only requiring two attempts to make a successful catch. Teemu smirked, Impressive.

He didn't know whether the wolf was alone or in a pack, but he didn't see or smell any others nearby, which allowed him to relax a bit. He considered the possibilities, including the scenario that she had simply stopped for a snack while scouting the area for her pack. Unfortunately his time to evaluate the situation was cut short. A soft breeze grew stronger and turned toward the wolf, most likely carrying his scent along with it. With a huff, Teemu began to move. Keeping his head low and ears back, but relaxed, he strolled over. It was a risk he'd taken many times in his life.

"You're quite the fisher," The male remarked quietly when he was within a yard of the wolf. He watched intently, keeping an ear out for any others that may be around. His voice was cautious, but friendly. Whether this would be a positive encounter or not, he'd have to wait and see.

She had been eating her fish piece by piece, tearing away at the slippery oily scaled of her catch. She had eated away almost half, with one side exposing the rib cage and other bones of the fish. As she took another bite the wind shifted and the scent of another wolf enteredthe area. She turned her head, ears purked and a bit of fish hanging in her jaws.

It was a male wolf with a mixed coat who appeared significantly older then Rouge. At the sight of this wolf she looked at him for awhile making sure he wasn't going to lunge at her instantly. Then seeing he didn't have excessive agressive tendencies she flicked her head up, tossing the fish a bit to get a better grip, then finished the morsal in her mouth.

What's he doing here she throught thinking that most older wolves stayed close to pack territory. He then complimented her fishing skills and she smirked. He came within steps of her, Rouge was cautious of his next moves but wasn't too tense about it. 

"Thanks dear" she said not in a flirtasious way, as he was much older then her, but in more of a playful way. Calling him a cutsey nickname was she did with everyone she meet. "What are you doing all the way out here; catching some din for the pack?" she asked again wondering what he must be ding all the way away from his pack.

Teemu eyed the dark female. He saw the caution in her blue gaze at his approach, but was relieved when she finished her mouthful of fish and subsequently smirked at his comment. His body relaxed further as she thanked him, tossing out a friendly pet name to top it off. Teemu dropped his posterior to the floor and kept his soft tail tight against his side. The sun's warmth melted over his body. At her question, he sighed happily, "Oh, I wish, but no. I've been traveling alone for a few weeks now. You're actually the first wolf I've seen in days, and the first I've spoken to in longer than that."

He nodded toward what remained of her meal, "What about you? Just stopping for a snack before heading back to your pack, or...?"

The scent of the fish had filled his nose. Glancing toward the peaceful lake, Teemu made a mental note to try his hand at fishing again soon. He'd had enough mice and the occasional hare over the weeks, and it would be good to revive that talent. The male turned back to his younger acquaintance suddenly, "Forgive my lack of manners. The name's Teemu, by the way."

The male sat onto the ground a tucked his tail to his side before responding to Rouge's question. He stated that we was not in a pack but that he wished he was. Causing Rouge to have a bit of a mental eye roll. He then spoke of how he had been traveling for sometime alone. He doesn't know what he has she thought thinking of how freeing it was to be a loner.

She sat down on the ground just as he did, and while he spoke she tore another small piece of her meal and began to eat it. He nodded toward her catch and asked a similar question to the one she had asked him. He paused a but before aplogizing and stated his name. She had a bit of a chuckle at his question and the thought of her being in a pack. Her laughter causeing her to ignore is pause the possibility of rudeness.

Still laughing a but she said "Haha. No... I hold no such obligation to any kind of pack. I'm a lone wolf my self, born and ... raised as it were." she finished herstatement taking another bite into her catch.

Teemu blinked in surprise at the response she gave. Silence extended between the pair for a moment as he digested the words she'd chosen. The male's narrow torso extended with a deep inhale, and he briefly reminisced about his own past and the wolves he slept, hunted, and fought alongside. What kind of life has this wolf had?

His large ears swung forward and Teemu tilted his head in curiosity, but when he spoke, his voice was soft and unsure. Whether he should even approach the subject, he didn't know, but the opening was already there, "Have you... Have you not been a pack in your life?"

The idea of not having a pack was unimaginable to Teemu, but who was he to judge someone he didn't know?

There was a bit of silence between the two after Rouges statement. She ignored the possibility of it being awkward as she took another bite of her fish. Plaveing her paw once again on the side of the fish and tearing upward with her muzzle. The older mail looked puzzled at her statement. He then asked if she had never been in a pack before. 

Rouge had nver been in apack other then her birth pack who she had only been with till she was 3 months old. By then they had abandon her. She looked at Teemu with a stright face and serious voice. "No. Never in my life have I been part of a pack." she stated to him. She looked at this male deeply waiting for his responce.

"I see," Teemu replied quietly. He sat, contemplating what a life without a pack would be like. For him, it was unimaginable. The heat, which was, at one point, comfortable beating down on him, was growing too hot. His lips parted and he panted slightly to alleviate the summer torridity, but the blue water nearby was calling to him. The tall male rose to his feet, stretched, gave his coat a quick shake, and wandered to the lake's edge, where he gradually stepped in until the water barely reached his belly. It was cool and refreshing. He eyed the fish swimming quickly around his thin legs, similar to the one his acquaintance had been eating. He wasn't hungry yet and merely watched their bodies slither and whip past him. Lifting his narrow head, Teemu looked back to the black female, whose name his still didn't know, and smiled pleasantly, "What about friends? Do you ever find yourself lonely?"

Maybe he was asking too many questions. Maybe he was prying. Teemu wasn't sure how much information she would divulge about herself or this land he'd wandered into, but he figured she'd let him know if he crossed any lines. After so much time on his own, it was a pleasure to be having a conversation with someone other than his own thoughts. Although waiting for any response she might give, Teemu followed his questions with a nod toward the water, inviting her for a swim if she was interested.

Teh older male commented then walked to the lake seeming to cool himself. Rouges coat was still a bit damp keeping her cool enought hat she didn't feel the need to hop back into the water just yet. She went back to eating her fish and with this last bite finished it. She then layed down having in inbetween her paws as she nibbled on the bones. She then looked toward the water Maybe I should catch another. She wasn't starving and she rarley was wityh no other obligation she was able to eat when every she pleased. Rarely any big game but small prey was fine as long as she got enough of it. He gaze at the water was interupted when Teemu asked if she had any friends and if she ever got lonely. she replied quickly "I have friends, there are plently of wolves who wonder out of pack territories." she replied. She wasn't lying completely she had a few friends. Though she had never really had one, Rouge was commenting on the two wolves she had meet and hadn't faught with. And even though she did often feel lonely she wan't going to tell a stranger about that.

He supposed that may well be true, referring to what the wolf had said. Maybe there were many more wolves that wanted to remain solitary than he'd previously been aware of. Where he'd come from, there had been many packs and only a few occasional lone passers-by. Is this land full of lone wolves, rather than packs? Teemu wondered. He certainly hadn't come upon any distinct pack boundaries yet.

Teemu dipped his nose in acknowledgement of her statement and turned to admire the island in the middle of the lake. There were other questions he wanted to ask, of course, simply for his own self-indulgent curiosity, but he felt that he'd probably pestered her enough. Teemu dragged himself from the water, sand clinging to his paws. He held off on shaking out his coat, not wanting to rudely spray the young female.

"Well, dear," His gray mouth curled into another smile as he returned the friendly nickname she'd addressed him with at their meeting, "If there's anything I've learned in my life, it's that we must each find our own way to happiness, and it sounds as if you know what makes you happy."

The male lifted his head and looked toward the west. Unsure of what lay beyond this lake or if what he searched for was even out there, Teemu sighed. Turning back to the female once more, he said, "I'll tell you what, though... We may be nothing more than acquaintances, but, if you ever want or need another friend - even an old man who does enjoy being in a pack," Here, Teemu winked playfully, "feel free to count me in."

Rouge waited anxiouly for Teemu's reply. His quection had startled her and in fear of appearing lonely in the life style she had lived her whole life she had answered quickly. Almost a reaction to a quick fight or flight situation. He didn't say anything right off the bat which gave time for Rouge's adrenaline rush to settle down. He seemed to be looking out to the small island further out. Rouge acnowledged this but didn't admire it as he did. She more just made note of it if she ever came back to this place. 

He then stepped out of the water and adressed her about how in his life he found that different wolves find happiness in different ways. He said that she must have found happiness but in realisty Rouge didn't feel that way, at least not fully. 

Teemu looked back at her and said that if she needed a friend that she could always call on him. She smiled at at the old wolf thinking of how she had made a new friend or allie. As a loner it was easier to have allies rather then enemies. "Thanks... I'll keep that in mind." she said it humbly. She wasn't excited about haveing a new "friend" but she did think it nice of Teemu who had been a complete stranger to feel willing to help Rouge out in the future.

With his kindness she wanted to replay it a bit so she said "You know... There are alot of lone wolves here... but there are plently more who are in packs. You shouldn't have any trouble finding one to join."

His large ears perked up at the latest comment and he idly wondered how acquainted this lone wolf was with the surrounding areas and packs. The news gave him hope that there might be a place where he'd find himself welcomed, preferably sooner rather than later. He felt his heart race slightly at the mere thought of feeling settled - of feeling home - once more. Teemu gave a quick wag of his tail out of gratitude for the friendly, and invaluable, piece of knowledge she'd offered, "Thank you. Truly."

The wolf hesitated momentarily before opening his mouth once again, simultaneously asking himself if he should, "I hate to be a bother asking so many questions, but... How well do you know these lands? You must learn quite a bit from your travels. Unless, of course, you prefer to stick fairly close to one place or another."

Do permanent lone wolves have a particular den that they stick to? Do they wander many miles in order to stay safe? Too many questions. Questions always filled Teemu's mind, and he mentally tossed them to the side, picking and choosing only what was the most important to ask in the present moment. Who knew how much longer she would hang around, tolerating him? She'd finished her meal, after all. She'd been kind enough already to have engaged him for this long.

Rouge had a bit of a laugh looking at this old wolf getting as giddy as a puppy after hearing about the nearby packs. She though him cute in an old wolf kind of way. Even though he was a pack seeking wolf Rouge didn't feel like he was trying to push it down her throat. He did ask quite a few questions but his last few statements weren't directly about them. 

She had eaten all the remaining little bits that had clung to the skeleton of the fish she had caught and so no she pushed it away and rested her head on her paws thinking this wolf may want to ask a few more questions. She probably wouldn't just up right leave unless the conversation was directed at packs again. Then again she was beginning to sort of like this Teemu.

As she had prodicted he ask another question this time about how well she knew the wilds. "I move around... slowly. I tend to hang in a general area then branch out. So for at least the surrounding area I know it pretty well, but for the whole of these wilds..." she shook her head no.

The wolf opened his mouth to reply, but no words emerged as a particular scent stole his attention, pulling his scarred snout toward the east. Teemu's ears and tail rose, and his beige eyes searched the surrounding area.

"Do you smell that?" His voice was lower than it had been, but for good reason, and his nose was twitching urgently. His focus on the conversation at hand had delayed his recognition of the approaching creature. It wasn't long before the large, lumbering figure of a male grizzly came into view. A heavy head swung back and forth lazily and a deep groan emanated from its throat. It was strolling through the few trees and heading toward the lake - toward the wolves. As they had no food or pups to defend, Teemu relaxed, but only partially, and his tail lowered halfway. Surely it would see them and move to another part of the lake. The body of water was large enough, or so you'd think.

Teemu's brows rose questioningly at the female as the bear continued to approach.

Possibly roll for whether there's a conflict between the bear and wolves? Or we can just go with the flow :)

Teemu raised his head before asking Rouge if she was smelling what he smelt. She took a deep unhail trying get a wiff of what the old wolf was implying. Then there is ws the scent of a male grizzly. She shoot up to her feet with her tail extended outward and her ears pricked in the direction of the bear. 

The bear was probably seeking a meal from the river which held so many fish. She had finished her own and wasn't all that hungry anymore. She had encountered bears in the past but never got into a fight with one. They were much bigger then wolves and one her own would have no chance of fighting one off. She was with Teemu now, but still two wolves, one being old, against a male grizzly. She didn't like those odds.

She looked over to Teemu "I don't know about you but I'm thinking of giving him his space." 

Teemu's gray lips formed a smirk at his companion's words and he nodded in agreement, "That's probably the smart decision."

He turned and began to carefully trot further down the shoreline, his long legs stretching out in a flowing gait. The sand was warm and soft, kicking up behind his paws with each step. Teemu kept his head low, but continued to eye the bear, as he didn't enjoy completely turning his back on the beast. It paused to sniff the base of a nearby tree and, whether it was their scent or the movement along the edge of the lake, Teemu wasn't sure, but the bear's enormous head lifted and it locked eyes with the old male. The two watched each other as Teemu continued to move away, and eventually, it started toward the water once more - its eyes still focused on the wolves.

"You know," He spoke offhandedly, clearly distracted by the other predator, "I never did get your name."

Sorry with school starting I haven't been the best at replying. All sorted out now !

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Her eldery companion agreed with her and so they began to walk down the shoreline, and away from the male grizzly. The grains of sand smushed and formed to her paw print as she stepped. She watched the bear as she looked over he shoulder until they were far enough away. She still kept the bear in the corner of her eye or at least in the general direction as if the bear did come toward them she would see him.

Her companion also had his eyes on the bear. Both aware of the bear as a possible threat. He them mentioned, still with half his attention on the bear, that he hadn't heard her name. She was still warly about giving her name out to wolf who were technically still strangers. But she had talked to this wolf for sometime and he seemed nice and friendly to her. But she wanted to make sure he would be able to keep her name hidden if ever asked. "To tell you the trust, I only give my name to those who I trust and know can keep it secret." she said in a hinting voice almost asking if he would be able to keep the secret.

Haha, seems both of us are busy with life these days! No worries :)

As the pair walked, continuing to distance themselves from the grizzly, Teemu felt the tension in his shoulders melt away. He hadn't realized how defensive he'd grown over his time living alone, drifting further into unknown lands. This quiet recognition, he supposed, was the reason why the female's next words didn't surprise him. I don't know how she does it, Teemu thought, referring to her choice to live alone, But, then again, she only has one mouth to feed and one life to protect, and that is her own. Her choices are hers and hers alone.

Teemu watched the dark wolf's face out of the corner of his eye. Her words had relayed the message perfectly - even sharing her identity with others was a matter of safety for the lone female. While he knew from personal experience that there were wolves in the world that would happily lie through their teeth for their own personal gain, Teemu was rigid in his ways, particularly when it came to matters of trust and loyalty. Although the pair were nothing more than acquaintances, and their exchange rather brief, she had given Teemu no reason to distrust her. She'd even divulged a few helpful tidbits of information regarding the surrounding area. With a simple nod of understanding, Teemu's voice was soft, yet serious, in tone, "I understand. I am nothing but a stranger to you. Your judgement on the matter is yours to make. Until then, maybe I shall simply call you 'dear', my dear."

He ended with another smile, as it seemed he couldn't keep one from his face for too long. Her company had brightened his day considerably, and the old man was grateful for the friendly conversation.

The old wolfs "dear, my dear" brought a smile to her face. She often gave others nicknames though not many wolves stayed around long enough for her to get one. She followed along the lake shore, following the old wolf but at the same time seeming as though they were following eachother with no real destination. 

She had chosen to continue the life of a loner, that was true. But not because she liked being alone. She liked the absence of the "pack", and often times dreaded the absence of others. She looked over to the old wolf while she thought. This was nice. They were both loners at the time and had no obligations except to themselves. If this were a more common thing for Rouge. 

He was a very friendly wolf and so she felt comfortable sharing abit about how she was feeling. "To tell you the truth. I like be a lone wolf, but that doesn't mean I like being alone." she watched and waited for his responce looking, notsure what to expect.