Arrow Lake Freedom Comes With A Price

Backdated a few days Ensio

She wasn't much of a mountain climber, but the pale wolf had found herself heading north and so she had met with the rocks on a whim. North because that was where she was pretty sure she had last seen her family. They were vagabonds by nature, and unfortunately this ended up being her demise. Wandering too far from them was a mistake as the soft snowfall she thought would end soon ended up turning into one of the worst blizzards she had ever seen in her life.

No doubt they thought she was dead, her being unable to hear even the loudest of howls if it was straight into her ear. She had hunkered for days amongst a patch of fallen needles under a low hanging pine tree and they likely moved on. It was the way of the family, so she held no resentment toward them.

But how shocked they would be to see her again! She just needed to track them down. Their scent had lingered for a while, leading her north, but Vystra had since lost that scent. 

Below her precarious perch, she strained her eyes to see what glint had caught her attention. It was a lake, with lush surroundings at that. It was a possibility she could find her way down, to try to catch a bite, but the likelihood was low. Still...

Today, he did not stray far from his new home in Tikal. He made the short journey east, away from the canyon to where he knew a pristine lake awaited him. His goal was to collect a few fish, and if he were lucky, perhaps a beaver or a duck. The meat and bones would go a long way to adding some variety to the caches back home.

What he was not expecting to find, was another wolf. A pale one, who seemed to be looking for the best route down to the water. He did not recognize her by scent or sight. She must be knew. Unaware that she would not hear him, he called out in a low chuff.

It wasn't his call that alerted her, but the changing direction of the wind which brought his scent to her. The male's presence stole her attention rather abruptly, moving her away from the cliff, closing the distance between her and the newcomer. Or perhaps she was the newcomer?

Vystra didn't expect another mountain to pop up in front of her, but there he was in all of his chiseled granite glory. Luckily, his stance was more confident than aggressive. This was what her rosy gaze had deciphered anyways. As if they worked, her cream tinted ears cupped forward in a display of focus. She offered the male a soft croon in goodwill, an invitation to come closer.

Being likened to a living, breathing mountain was a fitting description for the Duskfire. His brawny build and towering stature mimicked the most formidable of rough peaks. Appropriately colored, with fur likened to stone itself, thick to shield away the cold. And icy eyes, comparable to an un-blemished, cloudless sky. 

The pale lady noticed him, backing up from the ledge on which she stood. Ensio still had not figured out that she had not in fact, heard his call. But she returned it, in an inviting sound of her own. That same breeze that had given him away combed through his fur as he accepted, bridging the distance that separated them.

His muzzle lowered to sniff at the ground near her paws, inching closer. Upwards. Curious but not pushy.

As he loomed closer, Vystra was able to appreciate just what a mountain this man was. She felt like a molehill in comparison. Well filled out and imposing, the female couldn't help but pass a long glance over him as his eyes were cast downwards towards her paws. Of course, she was quick to turn attentions away as if inspecting something in the distance, as he worked his way toward her face. Her rosy eyes did wander back, head still turned, to take his features in once more. This time, it was his icy eyes she found. Vys smiled quickly as her maw dare near him to inspect him herself. She said the only thing she knew to say in a situation such as this. "Vystra." She announced, pressing her paw against her chest.