Wapun Meadow anywhere else is hollow

tvar settled in the heart of the meadow, lowering himself onto his haunches. the snow was cold beneath him, but he welcomed the chill. it reminded him of home, of the mountains and their sharp, biting winds.

his sharp eyes scanned the landscape, watching the way the light shifted over the meadow, the way the grasses swayed gently despite the frost that clung to them. tvar huffed softly, his breath misting in the air. it was a moment of peace he hadn’t realized he needed.

It was her turn to explore, a prospect that sent a flutter of excitement and a twinge of anxiety through her. Winter’s Wake was tied up with prior commitments, leaving her to navigate the frozen expanse on her own. He had encouraged her to get a feel for the icy terrain, a place brimming with potential despite being blanketed in snow and frost. She welcomed the biting chill, watching as warm tendrils of breath curled from her maw, dissipating into the crisp air. What secrets might lie hidden beneath the snowbound landscape? The thought filled her with equal parts curiosity and anticipation.

his sharp gaze shifted, landing on a distant figure weaving through the frosted expanse. the light played tricks with the snow and shadows, but it didn’t take long for him to discern that it was someone unfamiliar.

the meadow was bearclaw's hunting lands, and any stranger wandering its expanse would need to be addressed.

rising smoothly to his paws, he shook the frost from his black coat. as he neared, tvar barked out: what brings you here?

Startled by the sudden interruption, Kirain froze, her silver eyes widening as they locked onto the strange dark male. For a moment, her heart skipped, but she quickly composed herself, her posture easing slightly.

Greetings! she said, her voice steady but warm. I’m exploring the area, familiarizing myself with it. My companion and I are considering laying claim nearby, and he suggested I take some time alone to reflect on the possibilities.

tvar’s ears flick forward at her greeting, his sharp stare lingering on her briefly before narrowing. the mention of her companion piqued his interest, but he shoved that curiosity aside. instead, he straightened, his posture firm but not openly hostile.

this is bearclaw valley’s hunting territory, he says with a gruff, stern tone of voice. then, adds on: we don’t take too kindly to strangers sniffing around.

he appraises her with narrowed hazel eyes.

Tilting her head to the side, she mulled over his words. That didn’t align with the story she had heard. Unease began to unfurl in her chest as she delved deeper into the implications.

My apologies, she said softly. It wasn’t my intention to be a nuisance or trespass into claimed territory.

Kirain’s silver eyes darted toward the direction where she had last glimpsed her companion, the confusion etched on her features growing more pronounced.

cameo! won't join unless tagged.

The air held something unspoken about how Cole changed. Since Winslet's attack— since the fluctuation of members that seemed to find themselves in a heap of trouble. No less would it account for those that tested them along the borders.
When Winlset was in the care of either the Creek healers or Rala, he'd take the time to reassess his duties. Lifting a leg to let a stream of yellow graze a tree, he heard voices from the grove.
And a scent, undoubtedly foreign.
Bullish, he'd trek through the dense wilds until he could see Tvar shadowing a girl. White as snow. Driven, but polite. He watched in earnest, knowing that his closest friend could handle it. But it wouldn't stop him from knowing. From watching.
Not another step closer, he wished to speak, but held his tongue as it grew thick in his mouth.
Winslet would yearn for him soon, and he didn't intend to keep her waiting.

tvar stiffened, his hackles rising when he caught the twitch of her eyes toward the distance. suspicion coiled tightly in his chest, and his tone took on a sharp edge as he spoke.

where are you looking? a sharp demand, followed by the snarl of his teeth.

he sniffed the air, the familiar scent of cole threading its way through the breeze. his presence was a quiet reassurance, tucked away in the brush, ready if things turned sour.

where is that companion of yours? he quickly adds. he shifted slightly, positioning himself to both keep the stranger in sight and block any potential movement from the direction her companion might come from.

he didn’t trust this situation—didn’t trust her. there had been too many incidents lately, too many strangers and threats encroaching on the valley.

Kirain stiffened, her eyes widening as she snapped her focus back to the strange male. This was escalating far faster than she'd intended. Taking a slow, deliberate breath to steady herself, she offered him a tentative smile.

My companion isn’t here, she began softly, her voice carefully measured. To be honest, I don’t even know where he is right now. He mentioned having meetings to attend and left the day before yesterday. All he told me was to explore, and that he’d return.

Her tone was gentle, an attempt to ease the tension crackling between them. She couldn’t quite understand his eagerness to leap to aggression, but she knew better than to test his patience. One wrong move, and this could spiral out of her control.

his heart tells him he shouldn't trust her, he shouldn't trust this, poisoning him with creeping suspicion and malice, and yet—his mind tells him reason. logic. tvar is hesitant to step down from the ledge he'd placed himself on, but he does all the same.

he wouldn't make it a habit of harassing women.

so, with a suspicious narrow of eyes that rake over her, he clicks his teeth in verbal warning. then leave. he orders, a sharp command followed by the angry jerk of his head behind her. tell your companion what you found. another command.

tvar has his suspicions, but he won't voice them. won't let them loiter in his mind. but he thinks faintly of the bastard who had tried to approach his mate during her heat, and that only further ignites anger in his chest. anger that he stamps down now.

another growl. go.

he wouldn't move yet, content to watch her leave; make sure she left for good. once she went, he'd scour the meadow for any signs of her companion on the chance she lied and he had to root out any loiterers.

The command in his voice left little room for argument, but Kirain couldn’t suppress the stubborn fire flaring in her chest. She hadn’t done anything to warrant such a strong reaction. And who was he to order her out of their hunting grounds? Not even their core territory, just the outskirts where they scavenged for food. Her tail flicked sharply behind her, a clear display of her displeasure with his harshness. So much for being neighborly.

Still, she hesitated, her mind battling itself. Did he truly have the right to dictate her actions? Her ear twitched as her silver gaze swept over his towering form, assessing him with a mix of defiance and caution. In a fight, she’d stand no chance, she was far smaller than most, tiny in comparison to him. Her strength never her greatest asset. But the thought of running again made her stomach churn. She was tired of turning tail and fleeing every time she felt threatened.

With a sharp inhale, she chose the next best option.

Good day, she said brightly, her tone deliberately cheerful. Without waiting for his reaction, she turned and continued trotting across the meadow, her stride steady and purposeful. She’d been sent to investigate, and investigate she would, whether he approved or not.