Otter Creek let go

The wind and cold had driven Eshe down from the mountains and onto flat land where she'd hoped to find some relief. While she had succeeded in that, a new problem had presented itself in that prey was far more scarce. At least, it felt that way to Eshe who did not have as much experience with the prey animals of the plains as she did with the mountains and the forests. She was on her third day without even the smallest scrap to warm her belly and it was quickly becoming all she could think about, and soon enough she found herself heading back, feeling foolish for leaving at all.

Not for the first time did she wish like hell she were back with her family. She wanted to snuggle against her mother where it was cozy and warm and listen to her father tell her and Aengus stories. She missed being well fed and safe. More than anything, she simply missed not being alone. Eshe had always been more independent than others, but even she preferred having a warm body to sleep against at night, someone to talk to when the mood struck her to be social.

She shivered as she lapped up a few mouthfuls of freezing water from the creek. It wasn't food, but it did help some with the ache in her belly. Her eyes went out of focus as she stared at the water for a while, but narrowed sharply when she glanced up and saw a figure further down the stream. Curious, and glad for a distraction from her melancholy, Eshe began to creep along the banks in the pale figure's direction. It didn't take long before she got close enough to recognize that it was a wolf, and that was when she hesitated nervously, uncertain if she ought to approach.