Big Salmon Lake If you ask me to

You can wrap up with your next post! Thanks for the thread. :)

Gradually, Elwood's heart rate decreased and his breathing became more normal. His lungs hurt from sucking in so much cold air so quickly, but that would ease soon enough. The she-wolf apologized for their joint failure and he shrugged his shoulders. He had learned that he couldn't always be successful; at the very least, it had been fun and a good experience.

"That's okay," he panted. She suggested that they return to their respective homes, and he cast a glance around him. Night had nearly enveloped them. He considered staying the night near the lake, but then decided that he would rather walk back to the caldera, despite his fatigue. If he ended up too tired to carry on, he could always find a place to crash for the night -- hopefully somewhere with a little more coverage than this open plain provided.

With a nod, he agreed, "Yeah, I've got a ways to go. Thanks for your help, though." She was young, but he liked her spunk. As he turned to leave, he paused. "I'm Elwood, by the way," he added, an afterthought that probably wasn't really necessary but that he tacked on anyway.