Swiftcurrent Creek I am not a legend, I'm a fraud

@Kaiaka <3

So they were gone. That much was clear, at least. Mae took to patrolling the borders by rote, marking them religiously with each dawn and dusk. In the time between, she tried to keep herself fed. Spring's bounty offered more than meat: berries and fresh green sprouts, sometimes eggs if she was lucky. Mostly she subsisted on rodents and rabbits, and what little she could scavenge or bully away from smaller predators.

It was enough. Just barely. Mae was dimly aware of the world brightening around her, the sun rising again; lucky that she could see light, at least, or she might never know night from day. She paused to mark next to a large stone, wondering how many sunrises she would see before her family returned to her.

The wind, for once, had led Kaiaka somewhere intriguing. She had wandered so far across the lands of Teekon that everything had begun to blur together, no place had stood out, and no soul had piqued her interest. Though she cherished solitude, a part of her longed for change.

As she drifted along the borders of Swiftcurrent, something caught her attention. It was quiet, too quiet. The scent markers were fresh, but they belonged to a lone wolf. Kaiaka usually avoided pack lands, yet something about this place drew her in.

It didn’t take long before she spotted the wolf who’d been marking the territory. She halted, eyes sharp with curiosity.

Hail, she called out, her voice steady, devoid of threat.

Soft steps and a warm voice; Mae stilled, ears upright and swiveling to catch every sound of the stranger's approach. Feminine, by the voice. Mae relaxed only a fraction.

Hey, she called back, and then after a moment: I'm blind, and I can't smell you. Come closer. Not quite a demand, but her terms were made clear by it: if they were going to talk, it would be on equal footing. Mae wasn't willing to engage with someone who evaded the only sense she had to examine them with.

Admitting something so vulnerable… Kaiaka wasn’t sure whether to be impressed by the she-wolf’s bravery or question her boldness. Still, she followed the instruction, stepping forward with deliberate caution, careful to keep a respectful distance.

Sorry t’bother, stranger. Curiosity got the better of me, she said, her tone light but laced with genuine intrigue.

Her gaze lingered on the scarred female, dark fur broken by a patchwork of old wounds. For a moment, Kaiaka felt a flicker of pity. But she brushed it aside. This was no helpless creature.

What’re ya doin’? she asked, voice even, eyes watchful.

No bother, Mae countered easily, relaxing somewhat now that she could smell the woman. I'm marking borders. Place ain't what it used to be, not yet, but I plan to build a pack here. The gleam in her eyes as she spoke was more than ambition; there was hope there, too, though she guarded it well.

And you? Don't think I've come across you before. I was raised in this valley, she lifted her nose slightly as she spoke, catching more of the scents on the woman's fur. Scents of the wilds, and nothing more. No others. A wanderer, maybe — or a fragment of a fallen pack from elsewhere.

I roam. Never saw the point in settlin'. The she-wolf spoke casually, stretching with a lazy ease.

There others? Kaiaka asked, assuming there must be, how else would a pack form?

She knew she ought to be more wary, yet a strange calm settled over her. Something about this she-wolf felt right. She couldn’t explain it, but instinct told her to trust it.

I'm Kaiaka. Who are ya? Her voice was direct, skipping pleasantries. She wasn’t one for small talk, she was here to uncover answers. Curiosity, after all, was a beast in its own right.

A wolf without a pack, then. Mae had been alone once, though not for long. The memory was not a pleasant one; it took a certain strength to face the world without a pack, a strength she had not cared to cultivate. Wolves were stronger when they stood together, anyway.

Just me, Mae shrugged, turning her head back toward her intended path. There was still territory to be marked. S'why I'm workin' double. You mind? She gestured onward as she asked it, an invitation for the woman to walk with her while she finished her patrol. With no way to see whether the stranger followed or not, Mae started forward nonetheless.

Name's Mae, she added. And this is Swiftcurrent Creek. Ancestral home of the Frostfur-Mayfairs. That'd be me. Just her, now. Family reunions would be fun.

Nice ta meet ya, Mae.

Deciding to humor her, Kaiaka fell in step behind, her sharp gaze scanning the land as they moved. 
Just ya? Sounds mighty lonely. What’re ya waitin’ for? 

She hesitated, wondering if her questions cut too deep. Being on your own did things to a soul, it left a weight behind. Still, an ember of respect flickered in her chest for the dark she-wolf. Holding a territory alone? That took grit.

Swiftcurrent Creek, huh? Where’d the others go? Somethin' run ’em off?

Kaiaka hoped she didn’t sound too cold, too blunt, but she’d never been one to dance around her thoughts.

Mae shrugged. She didn't have good answers for any of these questions. Dunno. They just disappeared. Maybe they'll come back, or... she shrugged again, half to herself this time. This is home, anyway. Don't got another place to be.

It wasn't as if she could go traveling as Kaiaka was; for a moment Mae considered it, and quickly decided that she didn't want to anyway. No, she'd seen enough of the world. Enough to know that it sucked everywhere. This was home.

Used to be protectors of the valley. I wonder if some shit went down while I was gone... Mae was thinking aloud now, though it was nothing she hadn't already thought of. There should have been some kind of evidence of a conflict, though, and she'd found nothing connected to any of her family.

Protectors of the valley? And they just... left? Kaiaka’s ears flicked, a frown tugging at her lips. Hm. Somethin’ ain’t right there, but you already know that.
She glanced sideways at Mae.
You just gonna keep markin’, patrollin’? Ain’t that tirin’?

Something about a blind she-wolf tending to packlands alone didn’t sit right with Kaiaka. If this place really meant something to Mae, then she should have more support, deserved more support. Still, Kaiaka could respect her determination. It was a rare and admirable thing.

As they walked, Kaiaka began to worry her bottom lip, thoughts circling like restless birds. Guilt stirred in her chest at the idea of simply wandering off and leaving Mae to fend for herself. But she’d never been one for pack life, not really. Would Mae even want her to stay? What if she thought Kaiaka was only lingering out of pity?

The thought made her stomach twist. It left the earthen dame with a lot to consider.

A third shrug; what else could she do? Til they come back, Mae confirmed after a moment, almost an afterthought. Or til someone does. I'm gonna find out what happened to them.

Not much else for me to be tired over, anyway, she grinned slightly as she said it; life was nothing but a series of reasons to be tired, to varying satisfaction, by her estimate. This was as good a reason as any. Mae stopped to mark again, lifting her nose to test the wind first. If another predator moved in, they would learn quickly that she was not so formidable by herself — but so far they had stayed away out of habit, it seemed. She had that to her advantage for now.

Kaiaka herself was a source of interest too, but in this Mae was less obvious with her inspection. The woman wasn't nearly as dull as some of the other wolves Mae had met; perhaps the wilds had a way of weeding out the weak among lone wolves, more than for those in the safety of a pack. Mae had met enough stupid pack wolves to believe it, at least. She'd met fewer wanderers, though.

Ya not wrong. Life's one exhaustin’ trial. I hope ya get yer answers.

Kaiaka fell silent, eyes drifting across the terrain as they walked. She couldn’t imagine wandering in circles, patrolling and marking the same stretch of land alone. It was one thing to roam freely, to explore new horizons, but to pace the same borders over and over? The thought alone made her head ache.

After a beat, she spoke again.
While I’m here… ya need any help?

It was more than she typically offered a stranger. But something about Mae tugged at her—maybe it was the grit, the quiet sadness, or just the simple loneliness Kaiaka could see beneath the surface. Part of her genuinely wanted to ease Mae’s burden, even if only for a few days. She didn’t have anywhere urgent to be.

And besides, the mystery of the vanished pack had piqued her curiosity. Maybe sticking around a little longer wouldn’t be so bad.

Kaiaka echoed Mae's own sentiments, and the Frostfur-Mayfair nodded in grim approval. The offer of help was an unexpected addition, though. Mae paused, ready to bristle at the barest hint of pity in the woman's voice — but she found none. It would have been foolish to turn down good help for no real reason, so she nodded after a moment.

You up for a hunt? Mae turned to face Kaiaka, noting the earthen tone of her shape under brighter sunlight. It was as much an impression of the woman's appearance as she was likely to get. I do better with a partner. No need to mention that there was a bit of a learning curve to hunting with a blind partner; Kaiaka would find out soon enough, if she wasn't clever enough to guess it already.

Hunting with someone who couldn’t see? Kaiaka found herself oddly intrigued by the challenge. It didn’t take her long to decide.

Yeah, alright. Where’s the best huntin’ in these parts? Since it’s yer home and all.

She studied Mae for a beat, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she tried to gauge the girl’s limits. There was only one real way to find out. Kaiaka didn’t mind stumbling through the unknown, it might even be fun. And if her guess about Mae’s skills was right, this could turn into something far more interesting than she’d expected.

There's a meadow across the creek, Mae supplied, turning with a gesture for Kaiaka to follow her. The old trails Akavir had laid for her hadn't yet faded so much by the time she'd arrived, so it'd only taken a little refresher to get them back up to standard. Now she moved through the territory easily, frequenting the paths often enough to remember every step.

Even when the trail brought them to the massive fallen log which served as a bridge across this fast-moving part of the river, Mae did not falter. She still remembered the look of it. Barely. More than that, Mae operated on muscle memory to keep her footing across the log. It was slick with moss and lingering moisture from the constant spray of water, but her step remained sure.

See anything? she breathed, falling back slightly to ensure Kaiaka would catch the words. The creek swept away most of the scents, this close; Mae could tell nothing of what lay ahead.

Admiring the certainty in Mae’s step, Kaiaka followed as best she could. The log proved tricky, her back paw slipped, sending a jolt through her balance. For a moment, both paws threatened to slide off, but she caught herself just in time, avoiding a soak. She let out a sharp snort of annoyance.

Now that they were across, she gave the surroundings a quick scan.
Ye want big or small? We’ve got options. There’re some beaver tracks headin’ further downriver, or a herd of deer deeper in the meadow. Yer choice.

She didn’t mind either way, she was up for the challenge and more than a little curious to see her new companion in action.

Mae hesitated a moment at the sound of paws slipping and scratching for purchase at her back. She'd just barely been able to yank Hirundo out of the water, and she doubted she could pull it off in this fast-moving stretch — so it was a relief when she heard Kaiaka righting herself rather than falling off into the water. Soon enough they were across the creek, safe again.

Let's go big, she answered a little distantly, trying to hide her sudden burst of nerves. That moment had reminded her starkly of her limitations; she could take care of herself well enough, but looking out for a companion was another thing entirely. With any luck we'll find a wounded deer. Or maybe some of 'em have given birth by now.

Big it is, Kaiaka muttered as she began making her way through the meadow, eyes scanning the herd as they drew closer. She dropped into a crouch, staying just out of sight as she observed them closely.

At first glance, they looked like a healthy lot, not exactly promising for the pair. But as the deer wandered and spread out, one with a limp became more noticeable.

We got an injury, I think, she murmured to Mae. How do ya want to do this? I can try to separate it from the herd, maybe push it toward ya on the right. What d’ya think?

Mae followed Kaiaka's lead, attuned entirely for the moment to the woman and her movements. She fell to a crouch only moments after her hunting partner. Now that they were closer, she could just barely see the moving shapes that made up the herd. Just a blurred, milling mass to her ruined eyes — but she trusted Kaiaka to be her eyes for now.

An injury. Mae grinned. Alright, she murmured, already forming a plan. Yeah. You chase it this way, and I'll jump out and grab one of the front legs. You grab it from the back, and maybe it'll be too busy shitting itself to kick our teeth in. If we can just get it on the ground...

She trailed off, figuring she didn't need to finish the thought. Without the danger of being kicked, they could make quick work of the deer.

With a grunt of confirmation, Kaiaka set off at a careful pace. She didn’t want to spook the herd before she could get into position to drive them toward Mae.

Moving as quietly as she could, she weaved through the meadow, until one of the deer suddenly raised its head, eyes scanning the surroundings.

Kaiaka cursed under her breath and dropped flat to her stomach, heart pounding. She lay still for several painfully long moments, willing the animal to relax. When she finally dared to peek over the tall grass, she saw it: the herd was on alert now.

She’d have to be extra careful.

Rising slowly back into a crouch, Kaiaka inched her way toward the injured deer. Every step mattered, one wrong move, and Mae might be staring down a stampede.

At last, she reached a good position to break the limping one from the herd. Drawing a steadying breath, she lunged.

The deer scattered in a flurry of hooves and panic, but Kaiaka had eyes only for her target. Slower than the others, the injured one faltered just enough for her to close in. A few precise nips at its flanks sent it stumbling in the right direction.

Now it was Mae’s shot. Time to see the blind she-wolf in action.

Mae held her breath as Kaiaka started off, listening carefully for her fading footsteps. These next few moments would determine the hunt. She waited, heartbeat in her ears while the herd scattered and the air burst with the sound of their hooves on the ground. One of the deer shot past her, a lone form, and for a chilling heartbeat she could only hope that Kaiaka's absence only meant that this was not their quarry.

In the next instant she had it confirmed: a large silhouette trailed by a smaller figure. Mae let out a breath, tense and ready but still waiting for the right moment.

Closer now — and she darted out to lunge for those thundering forelegs. Her teeth glanced off bone at the first snap, but the deer stumbled, and a quick second lunge struck true. She latched on and bit down hard, throwing her weight back when she was sure her grip wouldn't falter. The deer shrieked and slammed an open maw against her crown, opening a gash with blunt force, but Mae held on even as blood began to pour down her forehead.

Mae struck true, and a grin spread across Kaiaka’s face. Her first impression of the scarred she-wolf had been right. But there was no time to dwell on it, she needed to focus. With a lunge, she aimed for the deer's hind leg, hoping to help drag it down.

But this one was a fighter, even with its injury. Its good back leg lashed out, landing a glancing blow to Kaiaka’s chest. The air rushed from her lungs, and she stumbled, barely keeping her footing. Pain bloomed with every breath as her pace faltered.

But Mae, Mae needed her.

Gritting her teeth against her body’s protests, Kaiaka forced herself forward, breaking into a run. She caught up to the struggling pair, and this time, when she lunged, her aim was true.

Together, the two she-wolves heaved, muscles straining, and brought the beast crashing to the ground. Kaiaka held on tight, refusing to let the deer rise again, holding it down as she waited for Mae to deliver the final blow.

Mae felt events unfolding more than anything: the deer rearing back to kick, nearly dragging her along with it, and just as abruptly pitching forward. She worried for Kaiaka, but in the heat of the moment she could only hold on and hope. If she released the deer now it would surely trample her.

Snarling, she threw her weight back again. It was a struggle not to trip over her own feet when the shrieking beast's resistance gave way. Mae realized belatedly that Kaiaka had caught up, just as the deer slammed into the ground.

Dropping the bloodied foreleg she'd been gripping, Mae snapped for the neck. Her execution was messy, but it was hardly necessary anyway; their prey was already ceasing its struggles, and now shuddered to stillness.

Nice job, Mae breathed, teeth seeking the soft flesh beneath the elbow to rip a hole into the still-warm carcass. Licking her lips, she added, I don't mind if you wanna stick around. This'll last about a week. Not like I can eat it all myself. She grinned with the last words.

As the beast gave its final shuddering breath, Kaiaka let go of its hind leg and slumped onto her haunches. She tried to draw in a deep breath, but pain flared through her chest with every movement. A scowl twisted her features, she should’ve been more careful. Still, relief eased the tension in her shoulders as she glanced over at Mae, who had come out of the fight mostly unscathed.

Kaiaka’s gaze lingered on the scarred dame, noting the fresh trail of blood down her face. Ya alright? Looks like that beasty got a piece of ya, she muttered, her voice low but laced with concern.

Mae didn’t seem fazed, at least.

Kaiaka gave a weak chuckle, though it quickly turned into a wince. Might just take ya up on that. Don’t think I’ll be wanderin’ much anytime soon.

Normally, she’d be the first to dig in after a hunt, sharing the spoils with her companions. But right now, the effort of even moving felt like too much. So she sat still, focusing on keeping her breathing slow and steady, doing her best to push the pain aside.

Mae frowned, realizing she was hurt at the same time she realized Kaiaka was hurt. Capable as the woman had proven herself, Mae hadn't imagined that she might have been hurt in the process. S'nothing, she brushed off Kaiaka's concern in favor of her own, abandoning the fallen deer to sniff over her companion.

No scent of the other woman's blood, but... Are you okay? You don't sound too hot, Mae's ears were pinned as she spoke, still nosing around Kaiaka as close as she dared. Her own wound bled anew with each movement, but she hardly noticed.