The delay in returning to the quiet of the mountains had been with a consequence she had never expected. In truth, she believed the world to have been simple, and true it was, but with a complexity most unflattering. There were none to blame but herself for this realization, and knowing it made the sense of betrayal settle uncomfortably all the more. Had she not walked from the Vale on her journey, she might have been spared the striking light of the truth and remained forever shrouded in the deep clouds of ignorance. Yet fate had other plans for the wolf once baptized in blissful ignorance; an awakening most harsh that left her impressions scarred.

Yet, had the not left her home, the comfort of those she knew, she would have been driven again into the arms of depression that now rested upon her shoulders like a well-worn coat.

But she had to return eventually. It was not only her place but duty as its warden, warrior, guardian and keeper. Without the need of her brethren, her purpose was once again lost. And once more the foreign earth beneath her paws would become more familiar than the mountains she cherished. Such was a path she could not travel down again. Not when there was a sliver of hope… however it dwindled in the light of current events.

Withdrawing from herself, the woman set her bi-colored eyes forward to the gentler slopes of the mountains and forested paths. It differed greatly from the treacherous peaks of the Ridge adjoining the Sunspire, its height beckoning the cautious to stand upon its ledges and observe the flatlands from a higher point without fear. It was ‘kind’, this mountain road, offering a rest for the weathered without the sacrifice of its majesty. Dare she admit, it was a kinder route toward home than the way she had begun, and the wanderer’s sense of adventure dared to rear itself. But was not fully entertained. Her progress remained gradual seeking not to explore but the safer route by which she could return to the flatlands. Though for a moment, in reaching a steady edge upon the Keep, she afforded a moment of pause to look across the lands and spied but a ways the formidable walls of the mountain that cradled her home.

She was in no rush to turn away from the scenery, and in fact, let herself become momentarily immersed by it. Always was she fond of what could be formed by nature, even if the more sentient creations served to confuse, complicate and bother. However looking to the tangible and inanimate gave her a sense of peace that not all crafted by nature’s hand was there to cause disruption to an otherwise simple existence.

Though its living things were quite a different matter altogether.

Breathing deeply, she turned from the view of her home mountain, then paused to the scent of lupine musk upon her nose. Natural in essence, then fragranced by the wilds, yet it was not enough to mask the base by which the perfume was created. Her nose wrinkled disdainfully to complement the furrow of her brows. A single tooth caught the gleaming light of the afternoon as her lips quivered in anger for the transgressions of the scent’s barer. She would find her, on this mountain here? She half expected a shadow to suddenly spring to life, and from it emerge the enraged beast of the Vale to exact his revenge on the trifling female. But he was out of her reach for the moment. A truth she was gradually accepting in her days of solitude.

She shook her head, ridding such trivial thoughts from her mind as she was reminded of whom lurked on the mountain same as her. Turning on the tops of her paws, she bound from the ledge to the moss-covered stones to gain a higher ground before addressing the pale female. Her calm disposition turned ill by the very notion of the woman, but her tongue was far from crass as to spare the other an insult. Instead, she inquired as she would have with any other; “Are you lost?”

Perhaps she was a fool for attempting to speak cordially to the other, but it could not said that the Vale wolf was without courtesy. Her tolerance extended beyond the realm of most, but even she was not without her tipping point. Disrespect when the contrary had been earned served as an immediate spark to the lengthen fuse, but even then it was quite a while before the inevitable explosion. At least that was what she practiced time and time again.

Yet the tone of the female’s voice made the length of the fuse shorten considerably.

Again her lip trembled, yet she retained her practiced air of calm through a single deep breath. “The scent of the Creek is nearly gone from you,” quietly she shared her observation. “Only wanderers or lost wolves lose their scent of the pack after time.” Her tail lashed at her ankles as stout ears slanted forward. Though intrigue would not fully reach her eyes, it was apparent by her observation. Had the female been kicked from the pack, she wondered. Alone now with no backing… destitute and aimless? While the warden could very well sympathize-had this been the case, having once been a wandering vagabond herself, she did not share an ounce of it with the transgressor. Rather she was curious for reply more so for her mate’s sake. If she was to return to him with possible news of this female's discharge from the Creek, he might overlook her absence in place of yet another obsession to pursue.

“I have not forgotten,” a single browraised in response to the far from amiable retort. Having spoken with the Creek regarding her intentions for a genial hunting agreement, the reasons spun by the woman plucked less of a truthful chord and more one in an attempt to either deviate or infuriate. In either instance, the beige female’s expression did not change. The scowl upon her brows remained intact as did the subtle quirk of her lip over sheathed fang.

“Yet word from your leader implied no such tracking would be necessary; you would keep to your own borders to hunt-,” she countered plainly as her tail lashed behind her. “-to limit the risk of crossing paths with the Northstar Vale.” Her ears drew back to rest more comfortably nearer her skull but not to bend. She was far from uncomfortable in the presence of the other, and had no intention of imply otherwise in her pursuit for a more relaxed posture. “Either word has not reached you because of your diligence in serving your lead… or your ears were deaf to it.” Either scenario would have been fine with her. In the end, it meant better news to return with.

As Jinx turned to face her fully now, she knew she had the other’s attention be it by the recitation of her interpretation from her lead, or the very words themselves that turned their eyes to meet. There coarser hairs along her nape bristled at the sudden change yet the whole of her stature remained as relaxed as intended. Even her quivering lip ceased as her tone lessened from intrigue to a deadpanned expression in the midst of debate.

“ ‘…with more plentiful prey, we will stick to our lands more and the neutral less…’”, she recalled with ease as if only having heard it the day before. Not enough time had passed for her to forget that encounter, nor the bitterness it left for the stubbornness of the Creek Alpha. It was the first time, as she could recall, having to take back an offering so carefully caught and placed with good intention. “I do not believe that I misunderstood,” she replied shortly. “And surely a scout under their leader’s orders would know that prey may change their herding grounds. There is more than one side of the mountain. Wild and unclaimed. And we have not limited ourselves to keep more within our own lands while there are mouths to feed. We have every right to hunt as we please,” she stated. “As long as our paws do not touch the Creek ground…”

The Vale wolf’s brows furrowed somewhat, having heard, albeit distantly, the relationship of the white wolf with the Creek dwellers. Such passion, she assumed, could only have been incited by one that still held respect for their home. Which raised the notion that perhaps she was still among their ranks. This was of less impress than if the woman was without their protection. She was doubtful such news would distract her mate at all.

“…personally?”

True interest touched the brows the female for the first time, altering her position almost instantaneous from its relaxed slouch. In the midst of blathering rage she held fast to the words that brought her the most pleasure to hear. Her confidence in the strength of the Vale was unwavering, regardless of the numbers or changes that had occurred within. If not only her strength, but the warriors as well. Numbers counted for nothing when it was fortitude and will that mattered the most. To hear the woman’s threat almost roused a smile…

She hadn’t an exact idea what the latter portion of her threat meant, but she could certainly guess considering the level of anger brimming to the surface. “Should prey take us in the direction of the Creek,” she continued softly, “ I assure you, we will do as we please for the survival of our own. You and your brethren seemed to have come out of doing so relatively unscathed while in our territory-“ if only by her show of mercy “-and if it is only you we should have to look forward to, I can see the same becoming of us. If not better…”

“Twenty capable… I do not believe so,” she countered pointedly, and took a step toward the female in turn. “As there is only one that I have seen of your many that warrant my caution.” Her tail swept confidently at her heels undoubtedly fanning the flames of aggression of the other female. “But I do thank you for your warning,” keeping her eyes upon the other, she dipped her head slightly in a mock gesture of appreciation. “It has given me… very little to consider, but increased my need to return.” She raised her head to fit comfortably atop her shoulders. “I think a hunt to the north is long overdue.”

She did not turn completely, as only a fool would brandish their side to an agitated foe. Rather, she retracted her steps, backpedalling a short ways til a weathered paw graced the edges of jagged stone. Only then did she slip down to the soft dip in the earth below and walked at her leisure along the descending path of the mountain.

[Exit?]