Redtail Rise He was never demanding, just understanding.

Etienne had needed to take a few days to recuperate. And he wouldn't say no to seeing Sobeille, but today he found himself wandering close to his coastal home, but somewhere he had frequented. The rise stood tall and mean and he stared at it with the same awe he always had. His brother had disappeared here. The man he figured was probably his father had lived here. Now it was empty.

He sighed and settled to his haunches, bending to sniff at the poultice he had placed on his shoulder. It hadn't been easy and he had enlisted the help of the girl @Treepie and her companion Alaric.

Speckletooth was no traveller, no sir, but here he was! Walking about unknown lands like any ol' sojourner. Maybe he had been cast out from the bog, but that didn't mean he couldn't find a new one.

Taking his jaunty steps around a rise he wondered just who would think to live here. It was so tall, and not enough water to keep the ground moist, but worst of all no sinking pit for mun'mun! Through his wonderings he spotted a stranger, and if wolves were here then surely they had the necessities.

Stopping in his tracks, he called, or more just yelled out, 'Ey! You got a pit 'round 'ere? Of course they did! Where else do you put the goats?

Etienne didnt know what awaited him in the future. But he did know life was coming for him.


Etienne drew into himself. Lifted masked head. Peered at the man with expressive golden eyes.

Dey pit? Wut be pit? You mean big 'ole?

The first thing he thought when the other responded; 'what a funny sounding wolf!' Speckletooth had never known anyone to speak so strangely.

No, holes 'er empty! I'm talkin' 'bout a pit, eh? How could he not know what a pit was? Y'know, with the sinkin' mud? The not-so well travelled Speckletooth didn't quite understand that what he was talking about wasn't necessarily common outside of the muddy swamps he knew.

Etienne didn't know how he felt about this one yet. He was a bit loud. And very strange. But Eti had met all kinds.

Etienne frowned You be meanin' a swamp

Etienne looked around and motioned woth his nose. Swamp lands be'ind dat way. Oh 4 or 5 day walkin'

But he did mean a pit! Nontheless, a swamp should have one, and that was almost satisfying for Speckletooth.

If the swamp is o'er that way, why're you 'ere? In his mind, a fair question. An idea crossing his mind, Speckletooth perked up like a jolt of lightning struck him right in the legs. Did they kick you's out too? The only explanation, surely!

Etienne did not know what a put was? Was it a hole? A cave? The swamp itself?

Because. W'y would I be wantin' in a swamp? Suckin', pullin' mud and stale air. Non i prefer open skies, salt and sand amd sea.

Etienne's fur ruffled. I never be kicked out of not'ing.

This stranger didn't seem to ask anything but silly questions. That's where wolves are from. He responded with all the confidence of an optimistic idiot. Where else do you put your goats?

The stranger was quick to spit that they had never been kicked out of something, forcing Speckletooth's smile to falter for just a moment. Well sorry, I didn' know that was such a bad thing. It was hard not to feel a bit stung, but there was no need to linger on the negatives. He had his directions! Thanks for the directions.

Remaining still just a moment longer, he then took his exit swamp-ward.

Etienne sighed as the boy left and he felt guilty. He had not meant to be rude. But pride was deep in the souls of the pups from the sea. And sometimes his pride got in the way. He hadn't meant to upset him.

he called after him. I 'ope you find wut you be lookin' for. And I meant no offense. I tend to get a little cranky sometimes. Best luck to you.