Emberflame Ridge and they were roommates
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#1
All Welcome 

Having a companion to travel with takes some getting used to. Being along the last several weeks was often filled with loneliness and hunger, yearning for something else, but she hadn’t realized how much she needed it. They hunt together, sleep together—just about everything—and it’s… nice. It doesn’t matter where she is, @Varinril isn’t too far off (if they’ve separated), but most of the time they she’s within her eyesight. There’s no set pace for them and over the next few days they move from the cache to the ridge, climbing one side until they reach the heavily forested area. Singed trees and burnt ground offer an interesting story that she’ll never know and she finds one particular tree that has fallen over due to lightning.
 
She lifts her head and looks over her shoulder, searching for the pale girl. In that moment, she’s nowhere to be found but she isn’t deterred. Refocusing her attention on the fallen tree, a leathery nose sniffs out the immediate area before she approaches. The inside is hollowed out from fire eating its way through and she pokes through, noting the charred scent left behind. There is no life inside the tree, nor surrounding it, and she moves around the base to find a spot to investigate. Front paws come off the ground and she places them on the side of the tree, feeling for weakened spots to avoid before she hops up on top. A few holes offer here and there have burned through the trunk but the casing is relatively stable and she moves along it with a natural grace, claiming it as her own temporary throne.
 
If only you had a crown, my girl.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes
i'm a bloody fallen angel
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#2
yeah, no, i'm really not made for this. 

there was a notable ache somewhere in her mind or in the depths of her chest: a deep yearning for company, specifically of wolfish company (even better if it was a she-wolf, let's be honest) that had been present for generations, key in driving the evolution and survival of wolves but also because it was saarthal, and saarthal was never made to be a lone wolf. she was born to be with others, to charm and flirt and play. wandering was good and all, but it was slowly beginning to lost its spark. and the more time saarthal spent alone with her thoughts, the deeper into the darkness of her mind she went. 

which was why, when she first caught a whiff of a wolf scent, saarthal had scurried off in the direction until the figure was in sight. and because the roman really didn't think before she acted, she'd chuffed lightly at the stranger and bounded forward until she was but a feet away from the...fallen tree? copper orbs alighted on the piece of wood, then rose upwards to the girl standing above it. and god, was she tall. and dude her fur — what the hell, her colours are so pretty, her eyes are so pretty...she's...yeah..she's cute. whatdoidonow.

"ohmygod, you're super tall," saarthal blurted out, the words having been the first sentence to cross her mind.  wow, yes, awesome, just fucking awesome, saarthal, just say whatever the fuck you want because that's totally how you make friends; that's totally how you make cute girls swoon and fall of their tree trunks..wait no that sounded wrong, i don't want her to fall — oh for fuck's sake, i'm not going to argue with myself. 
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#3
Her nose is pressed into the charred wood, a hole a perfect fit for her snout to fit through and test the smells below. Wet, burnt, and stale. Life hasn’t grown around it yet, everything dead within several yards each direction but her interest begins to wane. A light chuffs breaks through the sound and she jerks, clinging to the trunk of the tree lest she fall and turn slightly to see the ash-colored wolf approach. Mallaidh watches her for a moment before she tries to turn, ears cupped forward for the strange greeting.
 
“Umm…” she starts, licks her lips, and shifts a little on the trunk before she makes an awkward attempt to turn. Unfortunately, he back foot slips out from beneath her—"oh!"—and she ungracefully lands on the opposite side of her companion. Mallaidh lands with a thud and a wheeze before trying to gather her balance and catch her breath.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes
i'm a bloody fallen angel
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#4
saarthal's eyes widened as the cute girl tried to turn but fell over instead. her first thought was: oh, my god?! she actually fell off the tree trunk?!! her second thought was: oh shit, i made her fall but not in the good way. "oh shit —" the roman blurted out, coming to her senses and rushing instantly over to the stranger's side. "— fuck, i'm so sorry, are you alright?" her brows creased in concern and subconsciously, her lips pursed; a look of anxious worry flitted over her countenance. she's still cute, like this, though?? how do girls do that? 
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She vaguely hears the distant oh shit but leaves rustle beneath her. By the time the stranger comes around the other side of the tree, she’s half up but still stunned. ”Yeah,” she wheezes, putting her feet beneath her and propping herself up. The wide trunk hadn’t been enough to give her enough room near the top and claw marks are left in the side to indicate her fall. A shake of her head and a few deep breaths and everything is relatively back to normal.

”I’m used to falling,” she says with a chuckle. It’s not the first. It won’t be the last. But it definitely has the best result. Mallaidh smiles when her pale eyes finally focus on her newest companion and thumps her tail against the fallen tree.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
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i'm a bloody fallen angel
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#6
for a moment, saarthal remained frozen in worry, filled with the irrational fear that she'd somehow managed to kill this pretty stranger. but it appeared that the cutie was fine, if perhaps a bit disorientated, and a large smile of relief adorned the roman's face. she let a long breath hiss out from between her teeth and visibly relaxed.

"i'll catch you next time," there was a teasing note in her voice and the corner of her lip quirked upwards into a roguish grin, "when you fall for me again." inside, however, saarthal was screaming: oh, my god, i can't believe you just said that. it cannot get any cringier than this. how, how did you even manage to form those words?? 
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Her brows knit together for a moment. I’ll catch you next time. Mallaidh snorts playfully, not quite catching the intent behind the words. She’s only joking. Right. “Maybe don’t let me fall instead,” she prods, picking herself up and shaking out her fur. Dead leaves and dirt fling in all directions and her thicc thick, mismatched fur sways to and fro even after she’s come to a stop. “I fall a lot,” she says, stating the obvious, but she wrinkles her nose with a little embarrassment. “I’m Mallaidh, um,” she awkwardly introduces.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
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saarthal felt slightly disappointed that the girl didn't seem to understand the underlying meaning behind her words, but decided not to think too much into it. in any case, it was probably better she didn't understand given the inherent cringiness of it all. and it was even worse to think about the possibility that she did understand, but had pretended not to so as to not hurt saarthal's feelings by rejecting her, or something. no, no — nahh, she just didn't get it. don't. think. so. much. idiot. overthinking will kill you, one day.

"okay," saarthal replied breezily instead, the same lopsided smile still tugging at the edge of her lips. "i'll protect you from falling," she scrunched up her nose, brows creasing into a frown. "fuck, that didn't make sense. i mean, i'll — you know...yeah." saarthal gestured in an attempt to get her meaning across, then gave up entirely and just offered mallaidh a helpless shrug and a soft smile. "in any case, i think it's cute. and i'm really clumsy as well so... we can fall together!" the frostfur-diangeli perked up (as if someone had just told her that there was a mountain of free food just behind that tree), copper eyes brimming with good-natured mirth.

"pretty," the roman's eyes crinkled. she purposely hadn't elaborated on whether she'd been talking about the name or mallaidh herself because she had meant both. whether the meaning would make it through into the other girl's skull, however, was another matter entirely. also, dude, what the hell, that girl was still cute even when she was shaking her pelt out like a wet rat. jeez, how do they do that?? "i'm saarthal," the yearling introduced with a flick of her ear and an amiable wave of her tail.
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#9
Something keeps her on the edge of her seat as her new friend continues to talk, a smile curling on her features. Reveling in a little familiarity is comforting. She talks a lot (like Blixen) and fumbles over her words (like Blixen) and well, this is the last place she wants to think about her ex-girlfriend. The fiery girl hasn’t been on her mind much since she’d shed Furi some days ago. It was easier to ignore but pushing away the abrasive girl was never an easy task, even the memory that lives in her mind. She can hope eventually, she can meet another cute girl without being haunted with guilt.

Maybe.

At least she has Varinril to keep company, and distracted, and by the sounds of it she’s collected another new friend—Saarthal—and between the two of them, she’ll never fall.

A sly smile splits her features as she moves, stretching her legs and making sure nothing is particularly sore from the fall. It hadn’t been a hard drop like on the rise, or the fall she can’t seem to remember. “It is nice to meet you,” she adds, looking around for her other companion. “What’re you doing out here anyway, other than making girls fall off tree trunks?” she quips, toothy grin getting toothier.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes
i'm a bloody fallen angel
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#10
"oh, yeah, what am i doing here...?" saarthal glanced around, belatedly realising that the area surrounding the two of them appeared to have gone through some serious shit. like, some fiery, burn everything down into the ground kind of shit. she'd only encountered fire once in her life and it wasn't something she'd particularly like to go through again. she wrinkled her nose, face screwing up briefly into a grimace.

saarthal returned her attention to mallaidh and shrugged in an 'i don't know what the fuck i'm doing' kind of way. "i have no idea, actually. i was just wandering around, then i saw you, and i was bored so i came over but i didn't expect you to be, y'know, so tall and leggy and cute so i was distracted. and then you fell, so i was even more distracted because i thought i'd killed you," saarthal bit her lip, shifting her weight between her paws. "but you didn't die! thank god, i really didn't need that on my conscience. so....i mean, it appears i'm here to meet cute girls?" the yearling grinned and made her way over to the nearest standing tree. she brushed a paw over the bark, tilted her head as if she was in deep thought, then turned back to mallaidh. "i mean, this is a very interesting date spot. i like it. it's got everything a date spot needs. it's unique and —" saarthal prodded the tree, "— um, solid."
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The only proper guidance Mallaidh had growing up is the teaching of Eske and the art of battle. She learned from the best and fought with the best. When it came to girls? Ha. When it came to girls flirting with her? Double ha. Ha ha. When it becomes mostly obvious to very obvious, her ears twitch upon her head a little before  angling ahead and finding herself speechless in the wake of… that. Feelings were never that easy to understand and she’s never been the flirty type. All the cute girls she’s approach is met with awkwardness and as of late, treating them poorly for her selfish need to run away.
 
“Me?” she asks, stunned, before she turns away and admits how good of a date spot this was. Was it? Flittering eyes dart around and she doesn’t know what to make of it. “Don’t you have to… like, ask someone out on a date beforehand?” Isn’t that how it worked? She and Blixen never really had that and how is she supposed to ask someone out? Besides, “I’m pretty sure I could find a better spot. I’ve got haunting memories of falling in this place, I don’t know why,” she muses, turning away and awkwardly looking anywhere but at Saarthal.
 
That’s… totally how you flirt.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes
i'm a bloody fallen angel
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#12
a soft laugh slipped unbidden from between saarthal's lips at mallaidh's words because while she'd had a lot of different reactions before when she'd flirted with other girls, this was definitely her favourite — in the sense that it was utterly adorable, and saarthal didn't know what to do with it. "no, i was talking to the tree," saarthal teased, a mischievous smirk tugging lightly at the corner of her lips before she realised that this probably wasn't the best approach when dealing with oblivious girls like mallaidh. 

"really? i don't know, i've never dated anyone before," saarthal smiled lightly, "should i ask you out, then? if i want to get to know you better."
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Mallaidh resists the urge to say oh because on some level, Saarthal really wasn’t talking to the tree but she’s never good with those sorts of things. Instead, she looks back at the tree with weird jealousy before she’s shaken free of the thought all together. It’s stupid to be jealous. It’s just… a tree. She squints briefly, then turns back to her new companion.
 
“I’ve only dated one person… I think,” she says, pausing; should she consider Aviana? Or Artaax? The thought gives her a slight shiver. She shakes her head and vanquishes them from thought. “But neither of us… asked? We just…” she adds, shrugging one shoulder before she’s blindsided by the question. “Um… and, yeah, I guess? But I’m on the move so it’s gotta be fast.” Mallaidh licks her lips nervously, wondering what Varinril would think of her new friend. One ear twitches, clearing her throat, and hesitantly offering a follow-up: “unless you… want to come with me?”
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#14
Varinril was coming to realize she did not like climbing very much. It required more energy than she was willing to spend. There was not much to look at, either. She's seen one tree since she begun and that had been nothing more than a razed husk, torched by some foreign element. If there was any other vegetation to be found, she did not see it. No plants meant no prey. No predators either. Seeing as they were hiking across this range and not inhabiting it, that was fine by Varinril. Now, if only gravity would stop chipping away at her energy reserves...

She climbed up and up, the travel very monotonous. This brought her to think about her recent companion, Mallaidh. The girl seemed a bit all over the place and who could blame her? Who had their lives - let alone themselves - figured out at the tender age of one year? Varinril could not recall what she was like back then, forcing her childhood into some dark corner. She could not recollect anything nice about her infancy nor her adolescence...Best leave those memories alone.

"- to come with me?" The sound of Mallaidh's voice comes flowing into her ears, urging her onward. Who was she talking to? In her haste, she kicks a few loose rocks out of her path. The pebbles roll away and off a sizeable dropoff, no doubt declaring her presence. Varinril slows her ascension when she spots Mallaidh's unique salt and pepper coat. She seemed to be chatting up another girl. It all clicked into place then. Drawing close to Mallaidh, she offers a cordial smile to the slate-furred wolf, the mirth reaching her eyes.

"Hello." Her voice was as warm as her mannerisms. She looked between the two of them, smile still present. "Another friend for our journey?"
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oh, she's dated someone before. saarthal didn't know why that thought drew a sense of dread from her. maybe, it was because she hadn't dated anyone before, hadn't really had a proper crush on anyone and mallaidh had, which meant that she'd been flirted with and wooed and courted before — what if i'm not doing as well as her ex? what if she, like ??? well, it's not like every wolf you've flirted with hasn't dated before...lanawyn's definitely flirted with dozens of others so why the hell am i freaking out? jeez, pull yourself together. 

"do you want me to come with you?" saarthal canted her head, a mischievous gleam flickering across the fiery pits of her eyes before her attention diverted over to a newcomer. she was pretty too, the roman noted, but in a different way to mallaidh. "hii — ooh, you have pretty eyes," the corner of her lip quirked upwards into a half smile, "are you two friends?" she returned her attention over to mallaidh and licked her lips, her features softening quietly, "i'll come if mallaidh wants me to?"
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Mallaidh’s mouth opens to answer but she’s caught off guard but Varinril’s approach. Mouth agape turns into a smile and her tail wags eagerly behind her, taking a step toward her friend. She only takes pause when Saarthal comments on her eyes and she turns back to find the deep color illuminated by the high noon sun.
 
“Yeah, we’re friends,” she says, slowly turning away from pale to ash, her smile lingering still. She licks her lips and clears her throat. She’d nearly forgotten she had another person to consider before inviting someone else along and her ears twitch a little as she’s caught. Arrille and Rose had gotten her in trouble more than once for offering what wasn’t hers to offer but with Varinril, it’s Mallaidh’s just as much as it is hers. They hadn’t talked about adding to their group and luckily she doesn’t seem particular perturbed by the offering in the same way Blixen had.
 
After a moment, she nods her head and eagerly chirps, “I’d like that.”
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Varinril offers three steady beats of her tail in reply to Mallaidh's, eyes trailing back and forth between her and the stranger. She wonders who this is but is promptly caught off guard by said stranger's compliments. Oh my. It was so sudden, bashfulness stealing across her face uninhibited. Varinril was not well-versed in this area - hence the blush dotting her cheeks - but she is brazen in reciprocation. It was with hooded eyes that she assessed Saarthal, her mouth forming a demure smile.

"Thank you." She would have said something about the lady's appearance - how the fur about her neck looked faintly of feathers, how her eyes gleamed a lively copper, bespeckled by bronze - but decided now really was not the time. She should save her romantic stanzas for later. Besides, the conversation was moving along swimmingly without any of her smolder.

"We'd love to have you with us," Varinril adds. She saw no reason to turn others away as she and Mallaidh were not a part of some exclusive club. You know, like packs.

"My name is Varinril. And you are...?"
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it was hard to suppress the huge grin that threatened to overwhelm saarthal's features so she didn't; she allowed it to tug at the edges of her lips and crease the edges of her eyes as she positively beamed at mallaidh. saarthal didn't quite know why she was so..particularly happy about this invitation but maybe it was because she'd never really been part of something in her life other than that of her natal pack, and maybe it was because mallaidh was so strikingly beautiful and saarthal really, really wanted to know her better, and maybe it was also because the other girl has eyes like the depths of the sea at night, and was curiously pretty in a lowkey, softly-tugging-at-your-heartstrings kind of way that made the roman want to know more. 

"great!" saarthal allowed her signature lopsided smile to take over her lips. "i'm saarthal. pleasure to meet you, varinril-with-the-pretty-eyes and —" she turned to mallaidh, copper eyes bright with some mischievous mirth and bit her lip, "— adorable, leggy cutie who thought i was flirting with a tree."
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The exchange goes as expected. Varinril has a charming composure she’s drawn to that she assumes comes with age (not that she’s terribly older than her, but she’s noticed the difference) and Saarthal’s quirkiness shines through. The introduces come and go and Mallaidh’s brows knit together, turning to Saarthal with confusion writ across her face. “Mallaidh,” she offers, certain she’d already introduced her name. She even used it. But, by the time she realizes the mistake, her cheeks burn and there’s not a thing she can do about it.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
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#20
This Saarthal - interesting name - had a very chipper disposition. She was all flowers and sunshine though Varinril-With-the-Pretty-Eyes could guess why. It was nice to be included. Even with their differing personalities, Varinril felt a casual sort of magnetism between herself and them.

Flirting with a tree? Hm. Yeah, that does kind of remind her of Mallaidh. She looks upon the girl now, stopping the humorous sputter before it turns into a full-blown guffaw. Mallaidh introduced herself even though there was no need. Shit, that was hilarious, but...she senses the youngling's embarrassment and doesn't want to rub it in too much. Though they've been traveling together for a short while now, she gets the sense that Mallaidh is a bit high-strung emotionally. Varinril is hugely empathetic so her laughter subsides immediately. On the other paw, she could be blowing this scenario way out of proportion...Oh well. Better safe than sorry.

"S-So," she interjects with a lick of her lips. "We were going to hike up those mountains and see what's on the other side." She pointed with her muzzle towards Lone Star Mountain and the neighboring peaks but spoke no more than that. Best to inform their newest friend of their designs now that she was a part of their budding group.
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#21
yeah. if saarthal wasn't smitten before, she definitely was now. and don't forget, extremely amused. or well, perhaps not smitten...entranced? endeared? something like that. mallaidh was even blushing. god, she's adorable. "god, you're adorable," she muttered to herself almost inaudibly. okay, so, she hadn't meant to let that slip (well, they probably didn't hear her, anyway); that was only meant to be said in her head, but well...now that it was out there... saarthal smiled softly, a roguish gleam in her eye, "you're really cute, you know that?"

but, not wanting to embarrass mallaidh, saarthal decided not to press the issue any longer though she'd be lying if the lingering half-smile wasn't because of the hilarity that had just occured. "sounds like a plan," saarthal squinted at the mountains. hmm. she wasn't really in the mood for a hike...but well, it could be fun! it'd definitely be fun! "great! maybe i can find more trees to flirt with on the other side."
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The part of her that wishes it would all blow over is left with hope despite the awkward smile of her pale friend. She doesn’t mention but she can see the recognition so she glances away quickly. First to Saarthal but it doesn’t stay there long because by the time Varinril explains where they’re going, she hears the faint sounds of words. She doesn’t catch them but she is led to surprise when the ashy girl calls her cute. Sure, she’d been flirting with her but she’s never been called cute. And not be another girl that’s also cute. Nervously, she licks her lips, and glances down at her feet while she sorts out the flutter of emotion stopping her heart. And, of course, she still won’t leave the tree thin alone and awkwardly, the girl laughs, but glances to Varinril to wheel them out of this topic and on to where they’re headed.
i'd give anything to hear you say it one more time
that the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes
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#23
You two wanna wrap this up?
Saarthal was really laying it on thick, huh? By the look of Mallaidh, she did not know how to process this all just yet. Varinril felt like she was intruding, a stranger in their midst. Awkwardness abounds! Maybe she shouldn't have come waltzing in on their conversation like she did...She takes the cue when Mallaidh glanced at her. Right.

"Shall we get going, then?" Surely there would be trees on the other side! But if Saarthal was ever found wanting, Varinril would be more than happy to assist. (Or Mallaidh, for that matter. She was young, but she could learn so long as there were no trees around.) Turning her back to the two girls, she begins her trek ever onward, beckoning them with a flick of her tail.
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#24
last post, thanks for the thread <3

yeah. saarthal felt her heart soften just a little bit at mallaidh's embarrassed laugh. fuck, she's really cute. no, saarthal, you can't, you know you can't. you can't, you can't. it probably isn't even...you've never had a crush before anyway. why now? because she's gorgeous and adorable??? she's not. she is. she's no — just stop HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA, yep, stopped thinking about her. 

"yes, let's go, please," saarthal blurted out, probably a tad bit too eagerly in reply to varinril. blushing, she sneaked a quick glance at her two new companions, then bounded away in the general direction of the mountains though not without a last quick roguish smirk at mallaidh which she'd nicknamed in her head to be 'cute tree girl'.