Firestone Hot Springs Before we ever were afraid of the unknown

They'd decided to split up again to hunt and Fennec knew the chances of her returning successful were slim to none. @Bronco seemed perfectly okay being the one with all of the luck, but it was starting to wear thin that she couldn't seem to find a damn thing she could catch.

Today she was going to try a different strategy.

It was early when she scented the bitter tang of sulfur on the air and stepped from grass onto harder earth. Slowly she began to inspect the place and found what seemed to be strange pools of water. She'd never felt a pond give off heat like these.

Fennec gave them a fairly wide berth. She wasn't feeling like getting wet today and didn't exactly trust what was in them without a second opinion. Besides, she had other goals. Did this place see much traffic? She didn't really catch any recent scents, but a few faint traces made her think there might be a pack nearby. If that was the case then this was as good a place as any. And as a bonus - she could enjoy the warmer air in the meantime.

Settling into a seated position (unknowingly) near a billowing cloud of steam, Fennec waited. Eventually someone might come, and when they did, perhaps they'd be willing to strike a deal.

can't sleep soooooo...... popping this up! If anyone wants a fortune read :D

She'd trailed hugging the mountains for some time, unsure of what to do next. Mom and Dad were gone. Prevost and Peregrine, long gone. And now, Vesper, too, had vanished. She was alone, and so she stuck to the only solid figure upon the landscape—the range, the snow-capped crags that seemed the rocky end of the earth.

Exhausted after a few days travel, Blueberry had sought to turn back when she caught a whiff of a familiar scent nearby. Not Vesper, but. . . 

Her heart began to race as she pictured handsome Bronco in her mind's eye, and she hustled forward, chasing each molecule with alacrity. A scent joined by another—oh, the name was on the tip of her tongue—

F. . . Fennec? she guessed aloud, suddenly coming upon the tawny woman among the steam. She wasn't sure of the name, but— What're you— where's Bronco? Her mind was heavily upon the man, but she did spare a passing thought for this wolf as well, and she stared down Fennec with no little intensity.

There was something. . .different about her, but Blueberry could not grasp as to what.

Fennec recognized Blueberry's voice almost immediately, but she'd been hoping for a stranger. If she was looking to get something to eat out of this trade, she was better off selling a (harmless) lie to some unknowing old roamed than some moody kid. Even if she could, on a variety of levels, relate to some of what she'd heard (and inferred) of her reasoning.

The mention of Bronco was interesting, though. Had he made friends with her? That was adorable and also definitely in character... another check in the "what a fuckin softie" column she occasionally, affectionately, gave him shit about.

He's hunting, and I'm guessing it'll be a while. The day was young. What she was doing, now, was way more interesting. Seeing as there were no other takers around, and she had some time to kill, it couldn't hurt. Who's to say Blueberry couldn't offer her something at least?

I'm looking for a trade. I've got skills that sometimes can come in handy for other wolves. Healing is just one of them. If someone wants to give something in return, then I can give them their fortune. For Blueberry she left off the other aspects she usually tried to sell, curses and blessings. The latter really just seemed like selling bullshit and the former felt like tempting fate.

Without getting up, Fennec waited and listened, gauging her interest. As she did, she began to consider what she knew about Blueberry. It wasn't much... she might have to get creative with this one if the younger wolf took the deal.

Oh. She realized belatedly that her voice was quite flat, and that it could offend her actual company, but she made no attempt to modulate it. Instead, she moved closer, into the steam. It was like fog, but very warm, and despite the heat, a chill ran down Blueberry's spine as she became engulfed in the stuff.

It was even as if Fennec's voice were disembodied, coming from the ground rather than an actual wolf. But the tawny woman came back into view once more, and she canted her ears forward, listening somewhat intently.

I'd like to hear my fortune, Blueberry remarked, mouth quirking awkwardly. But I have nothing to give in return. I don't have any food, and I'm not really good at. . .anything, really.

She shuffled her forepaws, wanting to dart off into the heated mist before Fennec could reply. But she held her ground, casting aside the urge both to flee and to chew the inside of her cheek bloody in her indecision. How pathetic, she was!

Fennec wasn't bothered by the clear preference. She had reason to guess the real reason behind it, but it made sense even by itself. Even she knew that Bronco was better company than she was for most wolves, but most wolves had pretty shit and boring taste. No offense to Bronco, of course. She loved the shit out of his boring.

That's a lie. Fennec stated back. Her own tone was indifferent. She wasn't going to try that hard to give Blueberry an ego boost, but she was definitely selling herself short. If you've made it this far by yourself, you're good at something. She would know. It wasn't like she'd ever been 'great' at the typical things needed to survive, but she was great at finding ways to get around them.

I normally take payment up front, but if you promise you'll try to find something for Bronco, I'll make an exception. Just this once. Now she had a seed of something more to go off of. Rocky home life, low self esteem, and some major angst. The list wasn't exactly flattering but would make for a pretty killer fortune if she caught the right signs.

That's a lie. She was taken aback, affronted in the second before she realized Fennec was meaning it as a compliment. She mulled the next words, but couldn't find any truth to them. Because—well, she had just gotten lucky. Her survival had come at no skill of her own.

The mention of Bronco piqued her interest, and she took a step forward, eyes shining. Sure, Blueberry replied fervently. Anything. What does he—do you—need?

Even without the fortune, she'd do it. Even if just to stave off boredom, or hunger, or dying alone.

She didn't need anything in return.

It was good enough for Fennec. It had been too long since she'd practiced, and the more she focused in on what little she knew of Blueberry, the more she just wanted to do this. She wasn't soft or anything, fuck that, but it didn't feel like she wouldn't be helping by maybe giving her a little something by way of direction. Even if it was bullshit.

He and I could use some food. And I bet you could too. She couldn't see if the girl was doing well for herself, and she didn't smell unhealthy. But one hunter alone would never be as good as two - that much she knew just from listening to how the pack operated. So you can help me bring him something. She'd rather the girl just bring something herself but if she was that down on her abilities, fine. Let the blind witch do the work.. Fennec smirked, then sat down and stared sightlessly into the distance.

Letting out a breath, she ran through it. Low self esteem. No real direction, seems like. She's alone, which means she's probably on the outs with her family. Not too surprising, from what her parents seemed.. Fennec didn't know about Vesper's real parentage, but she'd sensed the tension in the family either way. She's probably got some real trust issues. And if she's anything like me, she felt like a complete outsider at the Caldera. Fennec hadn't felt like a complete outsider, of course, but she knew what avoiding a pack was like. She'd done it for weeks when Bronco disappeared.

You have a lot of trouble. So much of it that you wonder if your life is going to just be that. You've always kept it all in, pushing through and assuming no one else gets it. You can't trust anyone else to get it. Only you know who you are. Except maybe you don't. Wow, that was franker than she'd probably meant it. But it felt honest, even if she was maybe projecting a tidge.

You can try to do it alone, but you'll be miserable. You're life won't be over, and you might be okay in the end, but you won't be happy. She could almost sense a kind of loneliness as a slice of wind cut through the warm steam. She'd learned that the hard way, and maybe Blueberry would have to as well. I sense that you want to know what's real and what isn't. Who's real and who's fake. Be careful with it, though, because that starts with knowing what is real in you. Otherwise you'll lose yourself in others. What the fuck brought that on?

Alright, this one was getting away from her. She listened, automatically closing her eyes. It was weird - for a moment, she didn't hear anything. You are waiting for something. You want something but are waiting for someone else to give you the answer. Don't. Trust your own judgement, and... alright, she needed a real sign.

There. A warmth, spreading across her back, as the sun lit through the clouds. Fuck that was good. It'll turn out good. You'll find what you are looking for if you just go for it. Completion, happiness, whatever. She always took the sun as a good sign, something that said all the worries would be done and healing would happen - or whatever bullshit needed to overcome any clouds fucking with someone's life. It was an aggressively optimistic end but she couldn't really argue with it. How else was she supposed to read that?

The forces I read don't fuck around. Take it or leave it. She added, breaking the spell and opening her eyes again without turning towards Blueberry. She'd done her part, but waited, wondering if the girl would take issue with any of it. Few had in the past, but she'd rarely been so.... bitchy? Nah. Overbearing? Maybe. Maybe she's got a fucking nosy aunt on the other side channeling me. Who's to say.

What a pull, wowza

Heart of matter - daughter of swords
Opposing factors - 3 of pentacles
Root cause - father of swords
Past - 4 of swords
Goal - 7 of cups
Future - 4 of pentacles
You - 10 of swords
Hopes and fears - 8 of swords
External influences - Judgement
Outcome - 10 of pentacles

Food. Yeah, that. She was a bit hungry. Blueberry nodded, but then she was captivated as Fennec began to speak at length.

There were a lot of emotions she ran through. Intrigue, at first. Acknowledgement. . .then offense. Her jaw set, trying to keep her mouth shut and unable to retort. But then more intrigue. And then—pleasure. Fennec was saying exactly what she wanted to hear.

And as the woman reached her conclusion, her crescendo, Blueberry had reached one of her own.

Go for it.

YES!

I will, Blueberry said firmly, keeping within her heart the thing she so desperately sought. I will.

Now. . . Thanks. Uh—food? I'll help.

Her stomach's gurgling was more prominent than ever, and it was only the magic of the divination that kept her from running off right away.

It didn't occur to Fennec until after that she totally could have directed Blueberry to join she and Bronco. That would have absolutely sounded like bullshit (and it would have been, straight up) but it also would have helped them to get one step closer to forming their own little pack.

But Blueberry could easily just be dead weight if she didn't like the setup. And somehow she'd actually liked the fortune Fennec had laid out, which was... good? There was no way of telling for sure, but it sounded from her voice like Fennec had somehow struck something in her. Her own goals aside, that was what was actually important. She didn't necessarily believe in the magic she peddled but she took a weird kind of pride in it. Hearing that felt good.

Alright. Lead the way. She smirked, waiting. Should be pretty obvious why Blueberry would have to take point, and she would follow her lead to a certain extent. Then they could group up with Bronco after.

A small part of her wanted to ask what Blueberry would do, but that felt a bit like it would break the spell. Better to let them think she already knew.

Oh. Lead the way. Shit.

She wasn't much of a hunter; she felt as if she'd captured most of her prey by luck. Still, she nodded and put on a brave face, striding ahead, sniffing like a hound in search of some game trail or another. But the sulfur of the hot springs overpowered everything, and she soon found herself meandering, and embarrassment set in.

Um. Did you have a kind of prey in mind? Blueberry asked, craning her neck to look behind her.

What she really wanted to do was dash off, but that instinct warred with the urge to impress Bronco, and the latter was, unfortunately for her self-esteem, winning out.

She shifted her paws, grimacing.

Blueberry seemed extremely reluctant to take the lead or to make any of the hunting decisions. Good thing I made this one pro-bono, Fennec though, only slightly annoyed.

She snorted a little skeptically when the other girl asked if she had any prey in mind. The kind we can catch, she replied, but then she began to scent around a bit too. Twisting her ears, she listened for any signs of any creatures. The sulfur smell was intense, and she couldn't hear much aside from a few birds way overhead.

We may want to try someplace better. Doesn't feel like this place has much cover for anything to be hiding in. The wind didn't have much to block it and the ground was pretty bare under her paws. She waited for Blueberry to agree and, if the girl seemed to still hesitate on picking the heading, she'd silently start walking back the way she'd come. There were trees there and they'd be closer to meeting up with Bronco after.

Blueberry kind of sucked as a wolf. Not too far off from her mother, really. But she took Fennec's words to heart, and added, Maybe the plateau? There were more trees up there.

She headed that way, and began to ascend the slope, teeth gritted in determination.

There were scents here; it was just a matter of chasing them. She caught the odor of a hare and started upon that trail, glancing back to Fennec to see if she followed. 

Major imposter syndrome, y'all.

Maybe there's a home for them nearby, she whispered, craning her head to the rear. With the rabbit and her babies.

Fuck—she was clueless.

Thank fuck she at least took the lead. Fennec followed fairly closely, taking care on the rise not to trip on anything, but when she reached the top she caught Blueberry's hesitation again. She blew out a breath and snorted a quick laugh.

Fuck, they haven't taught you shit, have they? Come on. Fennec took a few steps out and began to sniff, tasting the scents that crossed the hardened earth. If you can pick out a trail, you can see where things move and how things typically pass through. If there's rabbits around, they don't usually roam far. She couldn't show Blueberry how to pick up visual cues, but even limited by scent, trails were a better lead than running off at random and hoping to find something. Maybe that worked with birds, but by the time you scared up a rabbit, it likely would already be gone.