Redsand Canyon Wrote my number on the bathroom wall

She didn’t know exactly what she was doing here, but somehow Tierra wound up back at the canyon. Maybe she hoped to find some sign of gramps. Since losing his trail she’d forgotten where he said he was going; somewhere to hook up with some lover. It wasn’t a mental image she loved, but hey, anyone who hung out with gramps was bound to be alright. It was too bad she’d spaced on what he said.

Paleo was gone, which was… fine. Sucked that Paeon had disappeared with it, but they were still friends in Tierra’s mind. Just like Minne and Sybol and what felt like a dozen others who she’d lost track of.

Traveling alone was just so boring. She was totally awesome company, obvi, but that didn’t really count when she was just company with herself. Tierra skirted the canyon, peering into it without bothering to head towards one of the familiar routes down. Wasn’t much of a point since it was empty and all. Godddddd, she needed to find someplace worth exploring.

He lingered in the lowlands for a week, observing the residents from a distance. It was tempting to find his place here, among his kind. But still Talisman heard a whisper in the back of his mind, calling him back to Hoshor Plains. Eventually, he heeded it.

Hunger drove him off course, the trail of a young mountain goat leading him into the mountains. The coyote managed to track down his prey only to turn away, aware he could never best such a beast alone, particularly not in these treacherous conditions.

Talis intended to descend in a westward direction, though he got turned around and couldn’t check his position due to the rock walls rising every which way. He knew he wanted to go down but he was forced to climb up just to get a glimpse of the sun.

From atop a soaring rock shelf that led ever upward to Arrow Lake, he sorted out his cardinal directions and prepared to descend again. There was a deep canyon ahead. He would have to turn north or south to go around it. Talis decided on the former, scurrying along until he very abruptly found himself crossing paths with a she-wolf.

Look, Tierra wasn’t, like, always a bitch. She was actually usually totally cool. She could hang with the best of them and was an ambassador even! You couldn’t be a bitch and an ambassador, it didn’t work.

But she had a history with coyotes and it wasn’t exactly positive. Especially with coyotes around this canyon. She pulled up and eyed the guy as he approached, giving him a look that was part surprise and mostly annoyed. What, was it one of those ones who’d jumped her before, looking to finish things alone? Totally a stupid move, since she was wayyyyy better at kicking total butt now.

Don’t even try and start anything. I could totally just, like, pick you up and toss you in there. Easy. Her fur pricked up, but she didn’t make any moves closer as she stared at him. He couldn’t be that dumb, right? God, she totally didn’t want to fight right now. Her fur looked so good today.

Both of them halted, eyeing each other. She broke the silence first, warning him at first, then threatening him before Talisman could get a word in edgewise. He blinked, then frowned.

I was minding my own business, the alabaster coyote rejoined, just trying to get down out of the mountains. I didn’t even see you there.

He licked his lips and fidgeted. He wasn’t a threat but she already knew that. Talis wondered why almost everybody around here reacted so negatively to him. His father had always told him he had superior genetics, hence his unique looks, but he was beginning to wonder if they weren’t working against him even more than his species.

Tierra scoffed disbelievingly, though her fur did flatten a bit.  Nice try.  Last time a bunch of your buddies jumped me, but they only managed it because there were a bunch of them.  You wouldn’t do so well solo.  She eyed him one more time, then shrugged.

Besides, it isn’t like I live here anymore.  So I guess it’s whatever.  Last time she’d been defending the borders, but if he actually didn’t want to start anything, neither did she.  If you want out of the mountains, you’re going the wrong way.  The canyon wasn’t going to take him out, and continuing along it was just going to keep him on the peaks.  She didn’t really have to help him, but Tierra could never resist flexing her skills in front of a stranger.

I don’t know who you’re talking about, Talis refuted, not that he thought she would listen. I don’t have any buddies.

Everyone was so determined to dislike him, it seemed. He bit back a sigh. He knew his kind often got a bad rap, so it wasn’t really surprising. Still, it frustrated him. It didn’t help that even his fellow coyotes weren’t necessarily friendly to him either.

She insisted he was going the wrong way. Talis was fairly certain of his position now. He’d actually seen his destination from his previous vantage point. His pale eyes squinted.

I know where I’m going, he said slowly.

fine with this being a short thread! XD thanks for joining, sorry she’s a butthead!

Sure he did. Tierra fought the urge to roll her eyes and kept walking instead, deciding abruptly that this was a waste of time anyway. She didn’t need to practice ambassadoring around here and he clearly didn’t want her totally useful and amazingly good navigational advice. His loss!

Suit yourself. With that serving as a casual (if rude) goodbye, she continued to walk past him and intended to keep making her way through the mountains. She didn’t really know where she wanted to end up but, wherever it was, it was bound to be more interesting than this place.

She dismissed him and headed on her way. Talis’s icy eyes followed her for a moment before he faced forward and scurried along his own path. He still wanted to get to the plains, though more and more, he wondered if he should leave this general area. Perhaps he would find more friendly faces elsewhere.

No worries, I love her! :)