Bitterroot Valley lewisia

She did not trust the cougar to let her be. Though her routw to Stone Circle was clear cut, how could she risk leading the cat to her daughter and sons?

With this many packs around her, this many in the heat of spring, she found her paws tracing northward again. She would not be responsible for leading the cat to any of the families that built themselves a refuge here, so she surrendered herself to lonely spaces, setting herself at risk to protect the rest.

Taktuq came upon the river at midday, as the Bypass rose as an impressive peak upon the near horizon, but still out of reach. She plunged into the shallows without hesitation. Glacial water shook the breath from her lungs, and she gasped, but did not rise from the steam.

She had not seen the cat since leaving the Maplewood. Either the cougar truly had let her go, or she was giving her berth to follow her trail when her hunger roared again. If that were the case, Taktuq would lose her here.

The cold did not yet reach her bones, but her northern blood came wrapped in the furs of the south. She would feel the bite of winter soon - but until then, Taktuq swam.

There was something completely miserable about this area. A place where the sun would never fully shine.

She pushed forward through the cold, staring down into the ravine until she spotted something she thought strange - a wolf. Were they not freezing down in that water? Winter may be gone, but the melt off of the mountains surrounding had to leave it far from pleasant.

You, down there! She called out to the stranger, raising her voice to ensure they would hear. Are you not cold? Why do you choose to swim? Maybe they had slipped and were having trouble getting out, in which case Dione was unsure how much she could do to help - it had been sometime since she had taken a swim.

Thank you again for joining!! <3 your writing is so lovely ;_; <3

She pushed herself to keep going, though her body begged her to stop. Not yet. Not yet. She had been through worse. Her thoughts only needed to linger on Gunnar to convince the rest of her that the cold was trivial against these greater griefs.

Trivial, against the good that still awaited her among the stones that covered him.

A woman's descended. Taktuq kept swimming, but squinted up.

Pale as her father. Pale as her brother. Equal in stature to both.

These small familiarities turned her heart with longing to climb out of the river and seek fellowship with the woman - to share names and knowledge and stories, as she had with many strangers when she was younger and her mind less laden with what all her choices had surmounted to.

But she could not. 

I know not if I am followed, she called back. A cougar, in the Maplewood, and her teeth chattered. The river must steal my scent, or she will follow me and steal my daughter and sons.

Thank you!! I've been looking forward to threading together again <3

Maybe it was the mention of children that caused Dione to suddenly plunge into the water. She knew the second she hit the water - it would take a damn while to shake off this cold.

A cougar, you say? She mused at the words. But, she understood - a cougar was difficult on your own. How far do you have to go? I have nowhere to be, so I will accompany you.

She had grown bored of the Taiga already, so she saw no reason not to follow; not to mention that the poor woman looked about ready to either freeze or drown.

<333!

She expected the woman to take the news and run. Instead, she found her bounding down to join her in the water.

The frigid waves rippled around Taktuq's sodden shoulders, and her hazel eyes widened with alarm.

Accompany her? This woman should run from her! She had not seen the cat, how well it had fared through winter, how callously and fearlessly it had approached her. Two was stronger - but how could Taktuq believe they would be enough?

Go back. Go home. But the words fizzled out before they reached her tongue, and relief swallowed her fear.

I'm not sure, she admitted, They are at Stone Circle, but the way I would go is blocked by the cat and many scents. There is a way through the Bypass, she pointed her nose towards the looming mountain, then through the forest at its mouth. They are in the just-beyond.

Who was Taktuq but a stranger to this woman? And yet, she would risk her life for her? Are you sure? she asked through clattering teeth, gaze still tight with uncertainty, if there is no sign of the cougar by tomorrow this time, we will know it has not followed. But until then, there is always the chance.

She listened to the woman's words with her gaze fixed directly ahead of them. Dione was not familiar with the areas she spoke of, but so long as the other was then she could easily learn.

I'm sure. She responded, no hesitation in her words. Why waste time fearing a cougar? There's far worse things to be afraid of. Cougars were pretty wimpy if you weren't on your own anyways.

Bumping her shoulder into her companions own, she hoped to lighten the mood a bit. My name is Dione, by the way. She said, eyeing the other. Could I ask for yours?

Worse things than those cats? There was nothing worse - but Taktuq held her tongue. This stranger did not appear as one without experience, and the Apataa was tired of fighting her fears alone. If she could draw on a shred of this one's courage for even a day, she might find herself upon the borders of Stone Circle sooner than she had begun to believe she would.

Taktuq, she met the woman's friendly gesture with the slightest of smiles, thank you, Dione. She turned chattering teeth towards the bank. Perhaps with two of us, it is s-safe enough to t-t-travel dry ground.

She assumed her new acquaintance would agree, and slogged towards the riverside. Are you f-from here? Taktuq asked, The water makes your scent f-f-faint, but what I smell is of no pack I know. Do you know of Kvarsheim?