Whitefish River never forget you

All welcome! :)

As much as he didn't want to, Terich and @Vuk had begun their journey north. Her belly swung as she walked, and they had to stop often for her to rest. He didn't mind that part much; it meant he could rest, too, and get to know her a little more. Their conversations were few and far between, focused as they were on their destination, which was anywhere far from of the ridge. Their journey would take them near the mountain chain in which the ridge stood, but at least they could skirt it and hopefully avoid any confrontation.

So far they hadn't met any other wolves, and he was okay with that. It meant they didn't have to pretend to be mates. Terich knew the idea made Vuk uncomfortable, so he hadn't tried to breach the subject again, though he wondered what she truly thought of it. Presently, they stopped near a river to rest. Terich flopped on the cool ground near the river, feeling the day's heat soak into him. Lifting his head, he squinted toward Vuk and asked, Are you hungry? I could catch some fish for us.

Is Vuk with Terich? I don't want to powerplay so PM me if I'm wrong.

Pallas had continued her ascent north, though not out of want. The prey was scarce in the south, or at least in the areas she had tested. She had been resting on the riverwashed banks of some unknown river when opposite her, a pair of wolves emerged. She watched them quietly, noticing the athletic build of the monotone-washed male and the gentle sway of the pied female's body. She was unwilling to interrupt the two, though she shifted her supine form to face them with her paws draped over the bank and into the swirling river.

she is :D

they had moved slowly, and in a direction that vuk knew terich did not want to go. and yet she felt she must, for her time to deliver was drawing near. the ridge was the only home that the pale girl remembered, and she was driven to birth the nameless wolf's cubs nearby. she would not allow them to be killed, but felt that they needed to breathe the air that the ridge rose from -- she herself had little identity. she would not let that be said of her children.

she lay down some feet from terich, panting, miserable with the heat and the weight dragging at her slight frame. he only rested a moment before he offered her the promise of fish, and vuk' hunger intensified. she wanted to tell him no, to rest, but she nodded helplessly, eyes prickling with sudden tears of uselessness and frustration.

averting her head so that terich would not see her cry, vuk caught sight of a pale wolf downriver, watching them, and though the stranger had made no move to come near, the patchwork wolfess kept her eyes trained upon the other, stiffening mistrustfully.

Terich watched her as she turned away, and wondered at it. Was she ashamed of herself? Of him? Then her entire body stiffened, and he followed her gaze with his own to find another wolf across the stream. Terich stood from his prone position and stopped slightly in front of Vuk, protective of her even after their short time together. Hello, he said, his voice soft and not unkind. He was, however, mistrustful of the other, especially considering Vuk's current state. While he couldn't protect her from everything, Terich knew he could protect her from other wolves as long as he was around.

Pallas, even from her distance across the bank, could see the change in posture in both wolves. The pale wolf was the first to spot her, and she seemed to subconsciously stiffen. Her male comrade was much more assertive, having placed himself protectively over the female's prone form as if Pallas were to fly across the riverbank and unleash bane and pestilence among them.

A wicked laugh sounded from the scarred female's muzzle, though it was not directly sinister. It was a laugh of amusement, at Terich-Mir and Vuk's expense -- the discordant noise shuffled through the reeds and ended as abruptly as it had sounded. "Running from the Boogeyman?" Pallas inquired with a cant of one torn ear, trailing her paw in the cool and lapping water as she awaited answer.

terich rose protectively over her, and the pallid animal downstream laughed at the pair. vuk bristled indignantly, but said nothing, looking to her mate briefly before turning her eyes back on the woman. she was uncomfortable with the stranger, no matter how unthreatening the other intended to be, and so rose, staggering somewhat, and moved warily down the bank some feet before collapsing once more.

I hope it is okay to post out of turn - PM if it's not okay <3 this is Pallas' exit

It wouldn't have taken a social maven to note Pallas' insouciant comment was left unappreciated. She flicked an ear lazily, watching in silence as the burdened female rose and deliberately placed distance between them. Pallas, who was unpleasant company at best, was not left obfuscated by this action. With a roll and a shrug of her shoulders she slid down the reedy bank and into the water, making her silent and unannounced exit not unlike a water-snake.

Terich remained still while the white creature left, slipping into the stream and swimming away. Terich blinked, wondering at that strangeness, before he moved toward Vuk and nuzzled her gently. After a quiet moment to make sure the other had truly left, he stepped back and looked at Vuk with a soft smile. Do you still want me to fish for you?

last for me!

she nodded, watching the pale wolfess retreat in silence. her attention was granted to terich; she smiled, despite her discomfort and pain, and leant forward to kiss his paw. gratitude glimmered in her eyes.