Wolf RPG

Ever since Teya had introduced Lele to fishing, she could often be found by the half-frozen creeks, observing the flow of water underneath and occasionally catching glimpse of shadowy figures that she hoped were fish and not something worse. Time from time she used the same technique of ice-breaking that she had been taught, but all her attempts had ended with wet feet and scraped skin. 

Unlike other arts that she had tried in her life and given up, she was drawn to this one still and none of the failures discouraged her from trying again. Today too she had scared away more fish than she had caught (the score was plenty to none) and she was now sitting on the riverbank, drying her paws and rear end. The ice she had walked on, had been too thin and she had enjoyed a moment of refreshing swim, before scrambling back ashore. 

@Hymnal

Hymnal loved the river and spent a lot of time there. Lately the water had started to get too chilly to swim for very long, but she liked to play a game with herself where she jumped in and tried to see how long she could stay in. Every time, she would try to beat her time from before. So far, she had managed one whole minute, which she thought was pretty impressive. 

Today as she bounded down the riverbank, she saw that someone else was there too. One of her packmates. Hymanl trotted over to her with a wide smile on her face. Hi, she said happily. Were you just swimming? she asked. The woman's fur was wet, so it seemed likely that she was.

"No, not exactly," Lele turned to face the youth, who had approached her. It was one of Maia's daughters - either Hymnal or Sylvie - she did not know which. "Teya gave me a fishing lesson and now I am honing my skills," she elaborated, looking down at the area of broken ice. "So far - I have scared quite a lot and caught exactly one," and even that may have simply been a beginner's luck and a fish that already had owed Darwin its existence. 

"I am Lele," she introduced herself, in case the youth was just as clueless about her identity as she was about hers.

I'm Hymnal, she returned excitedly. The girl looked down at the hole in the ice with obvious interest. She knew very little about fishing, aside from the end result of which was usually brought to her by her mom or dad. She had never actually tried on her own.

Could you teach me what you know? she asked, moving back and forth on eager paws. Learning new things was probably one of her favorite ways to pass time.

"Nice to meet you, Hymnal!" Lele dipped her muzzle politely in response. When asked about teaching, what she had already learned, she did not feel very confident about it. That hole in the ice was already a proof that she should not be teaching anyone. "I think, that if you are interested in the craft, you should ask Teya. She's an expert and has caught more," she told her, though in reality she did not know, how proficient the little Raven truly was. She had seen her hunt down one. 

"I am more an expert in travelling," she offered. "I have spent all my life on the road. Have you been outside fen much?"

The answer she received was highly disappointing; until now, no one had told her no when she asked to learn something, at least not that she could remember. Her reason was sound, though, and when she suggested she ask Teya, Hymnal smiled. She liked Teya and so she would be sure to seek out a fishing lesson from her. 

Excitement lit up her face as Lele told her that her real talent was in exploration. What a fun life she must have had! The blackthorn girl's tail wagged behind her. Wooow, she said first. I have only left once, with Teya, she explained. It was a very fond memory of hers. 

Where is the most exciting place you've been? she asked, barely containing her eagerness over the subject.

Lele did not know Hymnal's exact age, she assumed her to be older than her actual years (months), therefore felt surprised that the girl had seen so very little of the world. Since she could remember herself, she had always been on the move. Perhaps, only in the early weeks, where she was not fit to travel long distances, had she stayed in one place. But the name of it she did not remember. 

"There's quite a few," she told her. "But my words won't do them justice. The trick is to go out in the world and see them for yourself," she explained, knowing well that this answer, which was so obvious to her, hardly ever satisfied curiousity of people, who asked.

Oh! That would be so much fun, she excitedly answered, her tail wagging fast behind her. Then her face fell just a little. I don't think Papa would let me leave by myself, she said. She had done that only once and still felt a little guilty about it. 

Her silver gaze brightened a second later. Maybe you could take me somewhere? she suggested. You could show me something cool. She thought it to be a great idea; she just hoped Lele thought the same.

"Oh," Lele realized that she had not taken Hymnal's parents into equation, when she had suggested that the girl should be going out in the world. She had spent nearly all her life on the road, the concept of not being allowed to leave someplace was foreign to her. Her earliest memories were about following someone, walking long and not being allowed to complain about hardships. Being on the move was the life to her and... she looked around, not for the first time she wondered, whether this feeling of being trapped, was because the life she had chosen did not suit her. 

"You would have to talk with your parents first," she replied as any sensible and boring adult would. "In the meanwhile - you can show me your home. What do you think is the coolest place here?" 

Hymnal's eyes widened and she grinned at the woman. Okay miss Lele, I will ask them! She didn't think it would be an issue. Well, more she hoped it wouldn't. Papa never seemed very excited when she asked to leave the territory. 

When asked about her favorite place, Hymnal wagged her tail. I like the place Mama took me to hunt rabbits, she answered excitedly. Have you been there before?

Lele bit back the "a good hunter never reveals another hunter their hunting grounds" piece of wisdom, because she did not want to preach and it was not her place to educate this kid in truths of life. One's experience could never apply to someone else. No matter, how well meant. There were things you had to live through to understand. 

Besides - they were packmates -  and it was likely she had stumbled upon that rabbit place already. "I am not sure," she said, appeasing to Hymnal. "Lead the way!"

Hymanl immediately got excited. Her tail wagged furiously behind her and a grin spread across her face. Okay! she exclaimed. Hopefully I can find it again.

Hymnal turned and sprinted off, assuming Lele would follow her. She trotted through the fen, attempting to find something that told her she was going the right way. 

After some time, she finally stopped. Um, I'm not sure I can take us there without Mama, she told the nice woman. I don't really remember where it is. Her eyes widened suddenly. Unless you think you can help me find it?

The girl happily led the way and Lele followed few steps behind, allowing the girl to take charge of this particular quest. Lele caught herself thinking that Hymnal had not learned anything from her grain of wisdom on hunter's code of ethics, only to remember that thinking was not equivalent to saying it out loud. 

However, when the girl stopped, turned and appeared genuinely confused on, where the exact location of rabbit paradise stood, did Lele wonder, whether she had underestimated her. The kid did not seem to be of the stealthy kind, that could lie convincingly without batting an ear. On the other hand - she knew very little about the critter - a room of doubt should always be reserved for situations like these. 

"I can give you clues on, what to look for," she suggested. "And you can find them yourself."

Hymnal's face brightened and she grinned up at the woman. Yes, please, she answered, her tail waving in circles behind her. It can be like a game. Lele could tell her what to look for, and the blackthorn girl could search them out and hopefully find the hollow. 

What's the first thing to look for? she asked, her tone as eager as her posture. She thought this would make a very fun adventure.

Lele was about to go into a lengthy lecture on tracking rabbits, when she suddenly spotted one. She alerted Hymnal with a gaze and a quiet word, beckoned her to follow and then charged after the little lagomorph. Even if their shared hunt was not lucky, they would come up to the rabbit place eventually.