Porcupine Ridge The Highs and Lows

Illea padded near the northwest border of Porcupine Ridge, gazing into the highs and lows beyond the boundaries, she loved it here on the ridge.  Everything was just wonderful here in her opinion.  The views, the wolves.  It was all lovely.  Illea found herself grateful for the hundredth time to have such a great pack.

Illea scented the air, searching for prey scent finding none.  Illea pranced forward nose to the ground searching for prey scent.  Not paying attention to everything around her, she was so oblivious that she walked straight into the tree and fell down startled with wide eyes, then almost laughed at her mistake.  Illea found herself questioning the scenario through her mind.  Did I really just walk straight into a tree?  The pure white female thought to herself, then chuffed a laugh, still on the ground.

Hope you don't mind me!

The Gamma had been quite aloof lately, nursing his sore feelings over the loss of beta, and wondering what on earth he could do about it. Likely he'd end up doing nothing, since Farstep did seem to be the better fit for the role, but it still wounded his pride a bit to lose to another. Perhaps it was just the push he needed to quit the last vestiges of childhood and finally "grow up" as his father would say. You know, find a mate, start a family, become dependable and all that. It wasn't that he didn't want those things, truly; it was just he wasn't sure who he might want those things with. Capriccio might be the first and obvious choice to some, but she was the alpha female, and it seemed with each passing day they grew further apart.

That day he was taking a stroll through the ridge, mulling over his own thoughts and trying not to get too depressed, when he spotted a female laughing to herself on the ground. Ears perked, Terich went over and eyed her. "Are you alright?" he asked, not having seen her walk into the tree, but concerned just the same. Few sane wolves sat on the ground just laughing to themselves for no good reason at all.

Illea jumped to her paws startled by the noise and then embarrassed as she recognized the sound source had come from a pack member.  Illea winced at a sharp surprising pain that cut through her skull, but pushed it aside for now.  “Yeah... about that.  I kinda just walked straight into a tree.”  The snow white female murmured, looking sheepish.

Terich smiled indulgently as the other startled. He wasn't trying to scare her in any way, and although he was glad she was alright, something about walking into a tree unsettled him. "Do you do that often?" he asked softly, a joking smile on his lips. "I'm Terich, by the way," he added after a chuckle. He wasn't trying to be rude, only trying to lighten the mood a little. Walking into trees was embarrassing enough without having someone witness it - or having to tell them about it.

He hoped she wasn't offended; sometimes he could be so clueless when it came to things like that. Terich walked a little closer to her, just to make sure everything was alright, and to get to know her a little bit. Having another pack-mate as a friend wasn't a bad idea in his book. "Are you sure you're alright?" he was truly concerned about her safety, since it wasn't normal for wolves to walk into trees or other objects. Terich just wanted to make sure she really was alright.

Illea looked down, still very embarrassed about her mistake.  “No, not really.  I don’t run into trees often... just in deep thought.”  She told the male in response to his questions.  She found herself feeling a little awkward about the topic, so she quickly changed the subject.

“How long have you been on the Ridge?”  The silver and white female asked the male.  Completely changing the subject, trying to move on from the awkward subject of her walking straight into a tree obliviously.

Terich nodded, knowing exactly what she spoke about. He didn't often get lost deep in thought, but when it did happen, he knew how distracting it could be. "Glad you're alright, miss..?" He left the question hanging, wondering if she was still suffering from the bang on the head, or if she was so distracted that she forgot her manners. Or if she had any at all. Terich had introduced himself, after all, and he expected a wolf of his own pack to introduce herself in turn.

No matter. She gave her a nod of his head and answered her question. "I've been here since Taggarik founded the pack. I helped settle its borders and stake our claim." It was not hubris that lead him to say these things, merely fact. "All in all, I would say I've been here for two or three moon cycles."

Illea nodded taking the information in.  “So the pack is still on the younger side then I take?”  The pure white female asked rhetorically.  Then flicked her ears absently, wondering what it was like to start out in a pack in as one of the original members.

 “That’s cool that you started out in the original set of this pack.”  Illea then commented.  The female then lowered herself to her haunched, sitting down.  She curled her tail over her paws.  “Do you enjoy living in the Ridge?”  Illea asked, already guessing the she knew the answer, still she was curious to know what the male thought of the Ridge, no matter the facts.

Terich nodded. "Aye, its quite young." He watched her, could almost see the thoughts circling in her head, and sat down when she did. Terich enjoyed meeting others, though often he didn't call many wolves friends. Capriccio was his best friend, companion, confidante, and almost like a sister. They had grown up together under the watchful eye of their parents, learning things side by side, wrestling together with the other children, and getting into all sorts of trouble. While she seemed to have mellowed and matured, Terich wasn't so sure that path was for him. Living in this pack stifled him, but he didn't know what to do about it.

"It's not my favorite," he said softly, turning his blue eyes to her. Taggarik knew this, so it wasn't as if it was a secret. "I'm not overly fond of heights, but I bound myself to Taggarik and my companion Capriccio." He smiled softly, and shrugged one shoulder to show the meaninglessness of her knowing his fear. "I'm working on the height issue. Besides that, the wolves are great. Capri and I have been friends, nearly siblings, for as long as I can remember. So I feel at home here with her." He paused for a breath, wondering if Capri felt the same. "How do you like it so far?"

Illea was surprised to know that the gray male was scared of heights, but she was proud to know someone who had body faced his fear.  That was a pretty good trait to have in her opinion.  Everyone had to face their fears at sometimes, to extinguish the fright.  It was good to hear that he had supporters in this Pack, Taggarik and Capriccio.

Illea almost instantly knew the answer to the male’s question on how she was liking it here.  “I love it here, I don’t think I could dream of anything better.”  Illea truthfully admitted.  “It’s to bad to hear that you’re afraid of heights.  Although I must admit I’m proud to know someone who faces their fear... unlike others.”  She paused before continuing.  “But yeah... I love it here, nice wolves, nice territory, nice views."

Want to wrap up?

Terich appreciated her kind words. It was true that facing ones fears wasn't easy, it was also something he was still working toward. He hadn't wrestled his fears away completely, at least not yet. Perhaps a few more months on the mountain and he would feel more comfortable among its heights. In reality, Terich didn't believe he would ever be comfortable with heights, but he hoped at least to be able to tolerate them without losing his vision or fainting. At least that hadn't happened...yet. It is pretty nice here, I do have to admit. He smiled softly, finally asking question he'd been trying to skirt around. What's your name, by the way? I don't think I heard.. At least then he wasn't being rude.

Okay

“My name is Illea.”  The white furred female responded to the male’s question.  “What is yours?”  Illea then asked, returning the question to the grey/silvery male.  Illea's gaze flicked to the horizon and settled there for the moment.  She noticed that the sun was starting to descend into the skyline.  She felt her eyes begin to droop, but did her best to keep them open.  She’d probably head off back to her den soon.  Get some sleep.

Terich blinked, but managed to keep the surprise off his face. She hadn't heard him the first time? Perhaps she'd been too distracted by walking into a tree to hear him. I'm Terich. He smiled softly, wondering if she was dim or if he was being too demanding. Maybe it was a bit of both. Either way, Terich nodded his head in greeting. It's a pleasure to meet you, Illea. He noticed her eyes drooping, and stepped forward to nudge her gently. No sleeping quite yet, Illea. You might have a concussion, and you don't do yourself any favors if you fall asleep right now. Let's take a walk for a bit, okay?

Illea nodded.  “Thatsoundsgood.”  She responded, then her thoughts swarmed in confusion at her slurred speech.  What was wrong with her?  Probably nothing though.  “Sorry I don’t know what happened there.”  She apologized quickly, confusion sweeping through her.  What was going on?  Was Terich right?  Did she happen to have a concussion?  A stabbing pain ran through her head and she dropped to the ground suddenly with a startled and pained yelp.

For a few agonizing seconds she lay there, seemingly paralyzed on the ground, her eyes rolled to the back of her head, a groan of pain escaped her maw and she curled up tight against herself, as if she thought that would help quench the pain.  It felt like a knife had stabbed through her brain, then the migraine like thing was gone.  Almost as quickly as it came, but Illea stayed where she was panting up a storm as shock and surprised rolled through her body like a rapid, rolling wave.

Terich watched her fold in upon herself, and while he wanted to help her, there was almost nothing he could do while the pain gripped her. After it seemed to pass and she lay panting, he finally suggested something. Let's get you into the shade. There's a creek nearby and you could probably use a drink. He knew a little of the healing arts from his grandmother, but he was far from an expert. When you're feeling well enough, we'll go. It's not far.

Illea slowly pulled herself to her feet.  “Okay.  Watersoundsgood.”  She replied, then cursed silently to herself.  She had slurred again!  She had been fine this morning!  She couldn’t really have a concussion could she?  She supposed she had too... or something like a concussion.  There was really no other explanation anyways... or was there?  

Ignoring a strong wave of nervousness best she could.  Illea slowly pushed herself to her paws, trembling with the last remnants of shock.  Then she began to pad to Terich’s side looking rather submissive, nervous and frightened.  She didn’t like this feeling.  Not at all.  Yet again, who would?

Last post from me!

Terich helped her from the area toward the shady tree he mentioned, and settled down nearby to watch over her. He splashed some water on her and told her to drink, fearing she might be overheating. Then they spoke at length about their pack, what they hoped to learn while here, and finally settled into a quiet stillness while Illea's illness abated.