Duck Lake don't tell me, just show me

The theta had been apart of Swiftcurrent for maybe a few weeks. But still Vystra felt she had no real friends to call upon for an adventure, or a wrestle, or whatever it was friends did. The idea of being a loner within a pack was depressing enough, so the blonde tried desperately to keep herself busy, lest she think about it too much. She lay this evening just outside of her den, paw pressing into the dirt floor, over and over again in the same spot until a strong outline of her pink pad remained. The success in this little art project did manage to bring a smile to Vystra's face, an amused thump of her tail to follow. 

With cat-like movements, the lithe figure slunk from her bramble covered abode, squinting as the dying sun reflected upon pink eyes through overhanging trees. She would find adventure herself then, and maybe even make a friend or two on the way!


This was the mindset that brought her to Duck Lake, of course she didn't know that's what it was called. Loping nearer the body of water, her fleshy pink nose tipped to the darkening sky to find a scent to follow.

baby sun gnawed at her darkling fur, her tender, rent skin and worn-out pads.

head toward lake, the water quivered but a breath from her whiskers.

ribbed trunk rose and fell.

her eyes were closed.

The creature slunk and snaked its way round the other side of the lake, which intrigued Vystra greatly. A sense of vigilance coupled with excitement had the young girl immediately making way to the shadow. The white figure loped to close the distance with an up beat chuff and flick of her tail. Was this wolf part of her adventure? Or perhaps it was the adventure itself. 

The scent of the broken raven was enough to choke her, slowing a once hurried gait to a stop. Vystra did her best to keep pleasantries up otherwise. "Hi." It was a good start to making conversation. Unfortunately, she knew how to say little else. Other than her name and what she could make out through lip reading, it was difficult to learn these things later in life.

eyes shot open.

straight as fired arrow she righted herself, neck stretched to limit, white rimming eyes rolled down to look at skapning.

in one moment such great disgust came over her empty liquid climbed her throat.

in the next, she grinned.

hi.

She said hi back! And she could understand it. The communication was great. Was this a new friend? Vys bounded at the stranger's wide smile, although deep down a part of her felt... weird. The red eyes were wide and looked as if they threatened to roll right out of the skeleton woman's head. She looked like death, but the white woven girl knew no different. Everyone looked different, right? She was sure this was normal in some sense.

A hesitant paw reached out to the sunbathing snake, as if to garner more attention from her. Want to explore? Her soft pink gaze rested easy on the wretched thing, a ragged doll found in a puddle that she would play with and drag alongside her. So she would not be alone. Pink nose gestured to a nearby lone standing tree, tall and foreboding. Maybe they could scratch at it together.

reed-light thin palepelt thing. wormcoat. kvit.

the grin squished bloodclot eyes. they rolled to follow where fleshy snout pointed. dead tree.

how children of the bone-thief loved all things ill.

even her, even her.

in an arch of ribbed back she stretched into a pup's bow, ragged tail brushing the air.

then she lunged, teeth shut inches from white whiskers.

then she retreated, stifled laugh chattering teeth.

she ran past the wormpelt, brushed her encrusted shoulder and side against stiff, blank hair. behind the girl, she turned, bowed again, barked.

race us.