After guiding the young Horizon wolf as long as she was able, the wandering female was left with a strange impression she had not expected. She was, in a sense, glad to have assisted the young female even if it was to point her in a direction to follow. And she was thankful for the time they had spent, the break in solitude if only a moment. To have a conversation that did not end in scolding, to speak freely without judgment from another... it was wonderful, and she felt her heart swell from it even though it had only lasted for as long as they traveled. Upon departure, the impression was gone, though a silhouette of its presence remained in her heart. She felt again as she had when speaking to the demon male, Raheerah. She felt... she felt happy. But with it came a sadness, knowing that the elation was fleeting in the frigid depths of winter. What was left now was the drive to survive.
Fortune favored her with a trail, however, leading her from the flatlands toward strangely warmer grounds. As if touched by spring in the winter, the ground was warm to the touch as deliciously inviting, especially with the alluring scent of fodder to follow. It led toward a badger's den which to her pleasure was not abandoned, though the inhabitant was reluctant to let himself be eaten. She had to dig for her meal, work for her morsel, until at last her claws reached the coarse pelt of her quarry and she was able to fit her muzzle into the den to draw him out to feast. A swift bite, and it was still. The body was not better off than her own; large in appearance but with little meat to spare. But it was food and that was all that mattered. She could be picky over her meals when she lived to witness the thaw of spring.
Taking her precious cargo from his kept, she wandered a little ways to find a better place to eat but more so out of interest to see just how far these warm lands extended. And what was more was the water misting into the air. A brave paw atop its surface came away wet and warm, wonderfully to incite a comfortable chill to roll down her spine.
What on earth was this heavenly place?
Having felt the warm water, her need to explore was forfeit for the need to feast in comfort. Lying by the warm rim of the natural spring she placed her meat before her and dug soundly in without hesitation. |