Duskfire Glacier the phantom pain

Although it was otherwise a mild day, at this altitude the wind gusted relentlessly across the surface of the glacier. Veteran thought he had forgotten the feeling of the wind in his fur, the smells and sights of his childhood.. but he couldn't deny the familiarity of it all. 

He squinted, almost expecting to see his father coming towards him across the glacier, arriving to question the stranger's presence in his home. Of course, there was nothing actually out there.. nothing but memories and wet ice. This was no longer anyone's home. From the smell of it, it had been deserted for a long time. 

Maybe he would stay a few weeks and relive the ol' glory days. Maybe he would turn around and leave once the sun started to set. Veteran's course of action was undecided. For now, he was content to look out over his namesake glacier and reminisce.

Backdating this a few weeks.

Dione hadn't visited the glacier often after Darukaal disappeared, not too interested now that familiar faces had cleared out. The entire Taiga had seemed to go quiet for a time, good for hunting but not so good for her social life.

It was the assumption that she was utterly alone that left her nearly shocked when the scent of a stranger met her on the trek into old packlands.

Pushing away her disbelief, she stalked through trees and dewey grass until she spotted him; dark-coated, blue-eyed, scarred, and just smaller than herself. She pushed out a huff. Well, you aren't quite familiar.

There was no hesitation in her tone, only curiosity.

A stranger appeared from the scattered foliage on the outskirts of the glacier, stalking forward with the confidence of a pack wolf on home turf. Perhaps Veteran had been wrong about the territory being deserted. He adjusted his posture accordingly, and as the stranger continued to approach, he tried in vain to pull a pack scent from the gusting air. 

The closer the stranger came, the larger they loomed. Veteran was not used to being dwarfed, and certainly not by one who spoke with a feminine voice. 

"No," he agreed after a moment, "I haven't been here in a long time. Is this your home? I didn't mean to intrude." He attempted to keep his gaze shifted away-- as was polite-- though the urge to stare was fierce.

His reaction brought some ego to the surface, Dione unable to hide her smile.

Not anymore, I'm only visting. Same as you, I'm guessing? He was cute! And looked like he'd had just the right amount of inches shaved off. Dione took a brisk trot forwards to meet him, tail swaying with the rythym of a content woman.

He had that familiar lonely smell to him, someone who had been alone for some time. You can call me Dione.

"Yes, that's right," he confirmed her guess. 

Smiling and tail waving, she seemed to welcome his company. 

"I'm Veteran," he replied to her introduction with a nod. Mostly in an attempt to avoid staring at her, he shifted his icy gaze back to the windswept landscape. 

"Veteran Duskfire," he added, in case the surname sparked recognition. They were standing on Duskfire Glacier, after all. 

"When did you live here, if I may ask?"