Sleepy Fox Hollow cowboy

Leaving Prowler to her own devices, Fiona set off from her daytime resting spot for a hunt. She came up with a fat rabbit, but it was not for her own belly. Instead, she approached the spot she had last seen the intriguing—if not a little bit haughty—male she had encountered some months ago. She could not say why she returned, only that she felt she owed herself the soothing of her own curiosity.

She set the rabbit down, took several steps backward, then called for the nameless stranger (or whoever might be nearby and could point her in the right direction). If he wanted to chase her off, she would be ready for that scenario, but winter drew its cold fingers around her, and she sought the company of others to help her through the worst of it. Even with her fur grown out thick, it was clear she had shed a few pounds.

Etienne had watched like a theif when @Anselm had chased that girl. He had done nothing to keep her safe. His mother would have been disappointed. But perhaps not. After all technically though they had no name. They had a home and by rights did that mean they could protect it? Yes.

He heard the howl and headed towards it. Golden eyes warm and open as he met these one.

'ello. I be Etienne. You be lookin' for someone?

It was not the intriguing and angry man, but another who approached. He was friendly and forward in a way she had not expected of somebody who lived here. Perhaps this one had chased off the angry man, although his scent did still linger here. Fiona wondered if the angry stranger had told his comrade about her. It was safer to assume so. This was their turf, as he had made perfectly clear.

A gift for my transgression, she said, eyes downcast to the rabbit. Will you see that it gets to the man who chased me out? She asked for nothing in return, though she shivered when the wind picked up.

Etienne tried to make up for the dark cloud that hung across the mountain boys shoulders. He tried to bring warmth where Anselm sometimes gave cold. But sometimes he fell flat and he knew that many saw Anselm in admiration for his cruelty. Didn't he even, who had no right to scorn another for thinking of Anselm in different colors.

Etienne looked down and nodded. I will see t
Dat 'e gets it.

He saw the shiver and felt bad. Did she have no home like Raindrop? Was she thrown to the winds as well.

Are you okay? I may 'ave a fur for you to be wearin'.

He couldn't invite her in without permission and he didn't know if Anselm would accept one he already had chased out.

The days grew shorter, and night grew colder.

Anselm had let the frost enter his heart.

He'd heard the howl and paused in his inspection of the northern fringes of the river. Setting aside his task, he made for the border's direction; a spiteful leisureliness in his pace. Let her wait. He owed her nothing.

When he got closer, he scented Etienne on the wind. This made his steps falter and now, he no longer wished to sink his teeth in the stranger, but to watch. There was something about Etienne that was Anselm's yin; where Anselm was icy, Etienne was warm. 

Where Anselm was ice, Etienne was fire. 

He approached slowly, gaze hard. He ignored the gift at the stranger's feet, his gaze drawing instead to her condition. She looked cold and pitiful -- neither of these things elicited much compassion in the boy. Vhat do you vant?

He still made no move to chase her away, and Fiona was glad that he seemed to know who she spoke of. Perhaps they did know one another after all. She was surprised to hear that he would offer her something in return, but she shook her head.

I'm fine, she insisted. Fiona was about to turn to leave, but the angry man appeared. He did not show teeth, but his cold gaze was clear enough.
Only to apologize and bring a peace offering, she said. I will be on my way.

Etienne looked at the girl and then Anselm. He knew this would possibly bite him in the end, but his healer heart.

Anselm. He whispered eyes pleading. She be cold an alone.

He didn't want to come tight out and say it. But they did need bodies and she seemed cold and alonem it only seemed like the right thing to do to ask her to stay.

Angry man was right. Anselm's hard stare measured her bedraggled coat.

So this was a peace offering. A barb sat at the tip of his tongue, poised to strike until Etienne spoke.

Anselm turned from Fiona to address his comrade, that spate of invective held somewhere in the roof of his mouth ready to be aimed Etienne's way instead -- but it was then he saw the somberness of Etienne's round eyes, that hidden pleading gaze that brought to mind a thousand memories too gentle to speak;

soft,

milk teeth,

clover --

His fur bristled. What was it about Etienne that moved him so? For any other wolf Anselm would have spat upon the offering and then threw it in their face.

For Etienne, things were different. Fine! His tone and accent peaked in exasperation. But I am not fuckin' showing her the cache like the last one. She is not a baby. Now Anselm's gaze dragged across Fiona, hard and resentful for the tenderness she'd awoken in Etienne that he wanted only for himself. Do not make me regret it.

Anselm was not a man of last words. He turned in a flare of anger, leaving the offering in the dirt.

There was a short exchange in hushed tones, and Fiona was ready to be chased away again. Instead, it appeared they were allowing her to stay. Not exactly the best welcoming party, but she enjoyed a challenge, and the angry man was certainly that. He refused the gift she had brought, but Fiona would be sure to bury it and mark it for the future. It may indeed come in handy later on down the road.

She nodded at his final word, then mouthed a silent "thank you" to Etienne once the angry man had left them. Fiona knew there would be no bringing Prowler here, at least not for now. She would need to find some way to soften the angry man before she would feel safe with her familiar at her side. But that would be fine, Prowler was smart and would do quite well on her own for the time being.

Is there anything I should know? she asked Etienne once the angry man was well out of sight. She fully planned to explore the territory on her own, but she would be careful to avoid direct contact with the angry man.

A soft smile for Anselm woth gwntle eyes. He knew there was good in there sometimes.

Thrn he turned his golden gaze to the she wolf. You pull your weig't. Anselm will not 'andle it well, if you don't. I will s'ow you w'ere de caches be and a place to rest.

He lifted the gift for the female and apoke through mouthful. Come wit me.

skipping anselm with permission. <3

Etienne offered to show her around, which she would take him up on. Prowler would have to wait just a little while longer before Fiona could let her know the situation. And the angry man had a name: Anselm. Fiona couldn't help but see him as a project. Something to fix, something to dig her metaphorical teeth into and find out what had caused him to be this way. She did not know if there was a road that did not lead her to dark places, but she found herself intrigued. The witch kept this to herself, offering her new companion a nod as she followed him deeper into his home, the rabbit in her jaws.

Had Etienne knew what the she wolf had been thinking. A dark ugly would have come upon him. Abselm was his to fix even if it broke him in the process.

But he did not and would not and it was with his innocent naivety he walked with her.

A kind smile to her. I am glad you 'ave stayed. Winter is not kind. I am a 'ealer. If you be gettin' sick i 'ave somw 'erbs you be needin' dem.

He led her towards a den that neither he nor Anselm went near. That would afford her provacy.

Fiona nodded, glad for the offer, though she would likely never trust anybody but herself for healing. There was little in the way of injury that she could not take care of herself, and Prowler could assist her in things that she could not reach. She spoke none of this.

Thank you, she said. There was more she wanted to ask. Questions about Anselm, about how he had come to be here, about how Etienne had come to be here. What was their relationship like? Were they related by blood, or merely stuck together out of some sense of loyalty to one another? She would save those for another time. Right now, all she wanted was rest.

last from me. I am curious to see these wolves story heh

Etienne led her and then dipped his head.

Welcome to de 'ollow Fiona.

He would then leave her to her own devices. A hunt and a herb gathering would probably help ease somw of the skittishness he felt in his soul for some reason.