Her footsteps are slow and weary by the time she makes the climb downward into the grotto. She’d destroyed the path on the way down through several trips and stumbles, leaving her front legs nicked and marred. A quick inhale of breath, holding, and slow release gives her another burst of short energy that she uses to explore the expanse of the grotto. It is free of snow and ice as the last few territories and she dares to even admit it’s a little warmer. The sun beats on her back, causing a little warmth to spread throughout the rest of her body. A fallacy of comfort washes over her and she closes her eyes, enjoying the rays against her face.
One ear twitches and she shakes her head, bringing her mind back to reality. A thick patch of weeds and grasses several yards ahead move to and fro, causing her legs to kick into gear. Whatever it is, it is about to meet it’s maker. Based on the scurrying sounds beneath her feet and movements, Cascada launches forward to the projected spot in order to trap the creature beneath her. Even if it is a mouse, Cascada will take what she can get, but as she settles and opens up her paws to reveal…
… a whole lotta nothin’.
The girl sighs, whimpers once, and slowly lowers her head to her paws so she may take a moment to compose herself again.
Cascada feels the ache in her bones as exhaustion settles in its place. Losing the meal does little to help but she shifts, adjusting her posture from the former failure. She drops her heads and grooms the fronts of her legs, trying to soothe the tired bones beneath her skin. Perhaps it was a bad idea to leave Undersea, especially when she hadn’t been in great form. It is too late to go back at this point so for now she continues to push herself onward.
A flash of grey catches her eye and she peers between her legs, slowly uncurling herself and turning around to face the strange wolf inching closer. Something is held in their mouth but as much as she squints, she can’t determine what it is. Cascada chuffs and swishes her tail, letting the other know it is fine to continue.
When greeted, the other speaks up and Cascada absorbs the words before she realizes they are not in a tongue she recognizes. Her ears fall back and she tightens her jaw, uncertain what to make of what she’s just encountered. She opens her mouth to say something, to question her… or something, but the other clears her throat and apologizes, switching awkwardly to words she does finally recognizes. Cascada tightens her jaws and tries to relax, feeling suddenly out of place. “No, I’m okay,” she says, the lie easily slipping from her teeth as if she’s said it a thousand times. Her body has thinned more than ever before, each rib more prominent than the last and her struggle only continues. The girl offers a weak, hollowed smile before brushing it off. “I should go. Someone is waiting for me,” she informs and, carefully, begins to walk away from the woman.