The beauty of the glacier was lost on Niita as she searched desperately for the pups. She hadn't thought it the best idea that Steady tell them to cannibalize their mother but who was she to argue? Steady was their uncle and he knew best for them, Niita had just done what she was told.
Now though, Niita acted alone. She climbed across the slippery slopes of the ice in hopes of finding a trail from one of the children. So far, she wasn't having any luck. Niita's luck was about to get even worse.
One misplaced paw led to a sudden slip that sent her tumbling down the side of the glacier, banging herself in several different spots on the way down. Finally, she landed in a heap at the bottom, the alarming pain in her back paw making her yelp.
Niita managed to get to her feet, holding one of her paws up close to her body in an awkward three legged gait. "This is perfect, just perfect. Not even the slightest scent of the pups and now this.." Niita grumbled aloud, beginning to limp slowly back to Silvertip Mountain in defeat.
Dash had left the pack lands to pursue meals elsewhere, and though the pack came across the dueling rams several days ago, he hadn't seen much in the form of food. It had given him hope, however, that prey was returning. The foliage of the forests and valleys were returning, and though it would take a little more time for everything to fully grow in, it was obvious that the land was making a comeback.
His nose had take him to the edge of the cold mountain. This glacier had fascinated him in the winter, and now he hoped it could cool him in the summer. Standing at the base, he flicked his tongue out, testing the temperature. Yup, still cold. Suddenly, noise above him caught his attention, and he darted to the side just before the wolf could use him as a landing pad. Although, maybe he should have caught her. That probably would have been better for her.
Standing behind her, she seemed unaware of his presence. He chuffed to let her know he was here. Are you alright? he asked, concerned that she seemed to have hurt her paw.
Niita whipped around, best as you can with only three paws, after hearing the chuff. The male behind was black furred and smelt of another pack. Unsure how she was supposed to treat other packs, or if Silvertip had any rivals, Niita settled for an awkward nod.
"Oh, uh hi. Yeah, I'm okay." Niita assured him, wondering why she hadn't smelt or seen him beforehand. She just wrote it off as being too busy falling down a glacier. "I'm Niita."
The white female whipped around and Dash took a few more steps back, just in case she was hostile. It seemed, though, that even with her injury, she was nice. His tail wagged and he smiled when she introduced herself. I'm Dash, from Moonspear, he said, his voice friendly. I didn't mean to scare you, he added. It just so happened that he had ended up behind her when she fell.
He sat back on his haunches, hoping to make her feel a little more comfortable. While Dash was fully able to defend himself, he didn't start fights unless he absolutely had to. But, he had a feeling this wouldn't be one of those times.
It seems she had scared this male, Dash, when she had turned. It seemed only fair given he had startled her after falling. "That's okay, I think I got you back anyways." Niita chuckled lightly, not quite so awkward given that Dash seemed pretty nice.
"I'm from Silvertip Mountain." Niita added, seeing as he had given his pack's name though she didn't know what Moonspear was or where it was located. "Why are you out here, is Moonspear close by?" Niita asked in that usually blunt way that she had though she meant no harm.
He chuckled, not being able to argue with her logic. Yes, you did, he replied. You're reaction time is pretty quick, he commented. He wondered if she was a good fighter. She moved quicked enough to get out of a tumble, he was sure.
The name of her pack sounded familiar. It took him a moment to remember where he had heard it. Oh, you're in Phocion's pack? he questioned. It had been a little while since he had run into the male on neutral territory, but Dash remembered him being nice.
He nodded to her next question, his muzzle motioning to the mountain he lived on. Yeah, it's that mountain right here, he said. I was just out looking for food. He suspected most of the wolves in the Wilds were these days. It was hard to come by because of the famine, but the growing greenery gave him hope that everything would be back to normal soon. What about you? What are you out and about for? he asked, keeping his voice friendly with ease.
Niita chuckled with him, unaware of his thoughts. As it was turning out, she was a horrible fighter. Niita had wanted to become a Mercenary but seeing as she was afraid of being grabbed on the scruff or having a male over her body, it wasn't working out so well. Perhaps she would just stick with Hunter or Scout.
"Yeah but I haven't seen him in awhile." Niita frowned, wondering where her friend and pack mate had disappeared to. "I'm actually looking for two pups, they go by Odette and Stoic. Kinda fluffy, brownish grey in color. Have you seen them?" She asked, glancing at him hopefully.
The pale female confessed she hadn't seen him in a while. Did he go back to the quarry? Dash hoped not. The perilous ledges could severly injure a wolf with just a tiny slip. Dash made a note to go and check once he was finished here.
Niita said she was looking for a couple of pups. He shook his head side to side. No, I'm sorry, I haven't seen any. But, I'll keep a look out, he promised. He wondered what two young pups would be doing outside their homelands, but he refrained from asking, as he figured it wouldn't be any of his business anyways. Do you need help looking, or maybe help going home? he asked. He figured with her injury, she might not want to keep looking, but if she did, he could tag along. Right now, she could be easy prey for a starving wolf.
Niita sighed softly in disappointment but perhaps it was for the best. Even if Dash had seen them, Niita wouldn't be able to pursue. By the time she got back to Silvertip the lead might be stale.
"No, I haven't found any sign of them and it's probably best that I get home." Niita gestured to the leg she held up from the ground.
"Thank you though, that's kind of you." Niita smiled at him friendly, beginning to move away.
"Have a nice day!" The pale waif called over her shoulder, beginning to hobble back to Silvertip.
fade after your post? Btw it's so weird rping with Dash rather than Steady :P
Yeah, it is! ^_^ I'll archive here
She seemed disappointed, and Dash was regretful that he wasn't able to help her further, but he couldn't give her information he didn't have. Wisely, she decided to head home instead of pursuing the pups further. He nodded, giving her a tight smile, knowing she was leaving with less than she wanted to. Bye, he called out simply to her retreating form.
He watched her for a while until she was mostly out of view, and then he turned and headed for the quarry, figuring he would take a look before heading home.