Whitefish River the inner claims i hadn't breadth to shake

@Lavender - close to borders of Morningside. Set for late evening.

 

The sun did not seem to grace the lands for very long during the winter season. It seemed as though it would shine brightly down throughout the day, making the chill of the snow more bearable. Once the flare fell beyond the mountain, it cast the earth in a frigid tomb. The Tervuren had been trekking along the river since early in the morning and had found himself very near to the pack where Catori lived. He thought of waiting to see if she should happen across him again, but decided that she had better things to do than to visit her mute cousin. Amoxtli was still searching for the dark coat of his sister and he had started to grow worried that he might not yet find her.

Wading into the water until the chill ran up his limbs and danced along his belly, the wolfdog searched for fish beneath the surface. He was not sure how much longer he would be able to stand out in the cold before he would need to seek a den for the night. The breeze that drifted lazily across the terrain swept up beside him. Oxtli shuddered stiffly before scrambling out of the water and shaking his pelt on the bank. A soft sigh passed through his lips and he waited to see what would come his way.

Since Lavender's run-in with Forrest, she had been feeling more confident in her ability to interact with strangers. With this confidence came an unexpected feeling of wanderlust, and Lavender followed it to the only place she was acquainted with outside of the Plateau. 

The night was young as Lavender breached the border. Dim, twinkling lights danced overhead, and the day was slowly dying. It was the most beautiful time of the, in Lavender's opinion, and she couldn't help but steal the occasional glance of the spectacle overhead. 

The calming babble of the river was interrupted by a splash, and Lavender's attention was caught. Looking towards the source of the disruption, she spotted Amoxtli exiting the stream. Her head tilted, and intrigue encaptured her as she watched. Lavender felt cold for him; shivers snaked along the length of her spine, and she shivered at the thought of submerging herself into the stream.

Even from a distance, she could tell that he was unlike most wolves, and more like her. Something was comforting about their likeness in heritage, and it made Lavender feel as though they were already acquainted. 

"Hey!" she called from a distance, still lingering in the spot that she had first spotted him. "Why'd you get in the water?" 

A voice sounded over the winding of the river and the wolfdog turned his head sharply to catch sight of a striking little girl, colored in dappling browns and cinnamon against striking white. Instantly, his tail began to flag and he lowered his torso to the ground playfully. A whispered yip escaped from his mouth, barely sounding over the noise of the water. She had remained solidly rooted to her place, and he was certain it would be because he was an unfamiliar figure. The Tervuren did not want her to feel as though she would be harmed; Amoxtli was as gentle as the drifting breeze. Holding his position, rear in the air, and his tail wagging wildly. He looked like a playful puppy, eager to encounter a new friend on a cold day.

Realizing suddenly that she had asked him a question, the dark-faced boy canted his head to the left only slightly before turning his gaze back to the water. It was often difficult to communicate without words, but he had managed for a vast majority of his life and knew that at a young age, she would be likely to understand if he should react to the inquiry with action. Many others had enjoyed his quiet companionship. Oxtli did not want the young girl to disappear, so he lifted himself upward abruptly and spun around in an excited circle.

Without warning, the Tervuren darted toward the water and sprung upward, arcing himself like a fox before plummeting into the frigid waters and feeling his feet strike the bottom. The river water splashed upward and speckled the shores in tiny droplets. Amoxtli's face was now soaked and his thick coat clung to his body drably. With a wide-mouthed grin – tongue lolling from the side – the hybrid turned to face his company and threw back his head in nothing more than a strangled whisper of joy.

Lavender watched with intrigue as the stranger slipped into a more friendly position; his posture resembled that of an imploring child who wished the play, and Lavender couldn't perceive the gesture as anything but inviting and genuine. 

At the seadog considered what she had asked, Lavender observed curiously from a distance. It was odd that he did not speak— such a factor was something she realized almost immediatley[/mdash], and although it was offputting, she gave him a chance. 

What actions followed confused Lavender further, and her emotions were evident in her expression. As he swan-dove into the frigid water, she lurched forward a step with panic in her eyes. "S-Stop!" she screeched, already feeling for the man she hardly knew. "You'll get sick if you do that! My Mom told me so!" It was a lesson that Pema had taught her recently, and she couldn't stand by and watch while Amoxtli acted so irresponsibly.

The length of his ears was stretched high as the young female called out to him, imploring that he cease his play in the water. Truthfully, the river was cold enough to cause him to feel numb to the lapping at his legs. It was not a healthy decision, but Amoxtli had wanted her to know that he was safe and he would do her no harm. Standing elbow-deep in the river, he turned his skull and peered at her with a pair of curious orange eyes before he pulled himself from the waters and shook his pelt free of droplets. The breeze that was carried across the land was enough to cause the wolfdog to shiver violently, so he wiggled forward and lowered his skull to the young girl – appearing as though he was submitting to the youth.

Softly, his tail wagged from behind him. The Tervuren drew his tongue across his muzzle and tilted his head to the side, wondering to himself if that young girl should have been so far from her home. He felt a chill and shook his pelt once more, shuddering beneath the frigid grip of the breeze. As if to agree with her sentiment about getting sick, Amoxtli released a strangled sort of sneeze and blinked his eyes rapidly. A small smile curled his lips upward as he looked back to the girl and nodded his head. You were right, he thought. What a sweet young thing.