The body of a mountain wolf was built to sustain a great deal. It was made to endure the stressing of steep climb, the brunt of battle, and endure the long travel. However, as the beige wolf was beginning to find, it was not easily adjustable to the weight of fatigue. Perhaps it had been will of the mind that kept the thick body atop equally heavy legs. Or little thought at all, as in the instance of breathing. Regardless of what it was, it was certainly not with the female now as he felt her body literal exert itself to keep her upright and moving, near surrendering to the pull of nature’s gravity as all it wanted to do was rest.
Her mind was not tired, but the body certainly was. No leg moved without strain, neither did her tail sway without ache. It was not as though her body had been taxed, yet it felt as though it had from every fiber to her core. And what was more as the sickness, the constant wrench of food she had painstaking fought to keep down. What she would have given for something heavy, something hardly to throw back. But all that any of the Vale could muster was the lean meat of a rabbit or perhaps a vole. She was reminded that a hunt was in order, but for the time being let her mind focus on something other than her discomfort.
Persistently, she scaled the walls of her mountain home til her heavy paws walked the familiar path toward the rushing creek. Rather than walk alongside it as she had in times before for her pleasure, she took a slight detour toward softer grasses and a lake; a destination she had not yet spent time within but knew of just the same. Even before the glittering surface of the waters caught her eye, she was met with the loud honks of water birds returning to their nests. With curious muzzle upturned, she watched as the billed creatures drifted by, their colorful wings flapping in frantic rhythm as they raced to touch on the surface of their lake. It was interesting, she had to admit, as she had not often seen birds of their like within the Vale. To watch their congregation now was a treat, and as she folded down to sit at the rim of their haven, Xi’nuata watched their antics… forgetting rather easily the ache that burdened her. |