Sleepy Fox Hollow I am Groot

@Tonravik

After her foray to the east, Wildfire decided to head home sooner than previously planned, if only because she knew it would be a pleasant surprise for her family. She knew her parents weren't the biggest fans of her wandering ways and that Nightjar and Raven both felt on edge while they awaited her safe return. The idea of surprising them prompted her to try to take a shortcut up and over the mountains rather than back around them—that, and the explorer within that seemed to grow hungrier and more daring day by day, no matter how attached she felt to her home and family.

Wildfire found herself in a hollow between the crags, a summery little forest that smelled very interesting indeed. She didn't have time to track the peculiar (and strong) scent now, though. She weaved in between the trees, enjoying the safe, quiet feel of this place, before emerging on the little oasis's far side. She began to climb again, only for her klutziness to finally come bite her in the ass after days without incident: one of her hind feet slipped and she tumbled back to the forest floor, conscious but winded.

While she lay there, gathering her bearings and trying to catch her breath, something flitted past and Wildfire jerked instinctively, leaping clumsily to her feet. With a stitch still squeezing her chest, she found herself pouncing a smaller critter of some sort, one with reddish fur just like hers. When she somehow managed to pin it to the ground, it kicked and squirmed. Wildfire stared down at a face not unlike her mother's or her own, her smudged snout wrinkling slightly when she realized it was the source of the pungent odor in the air here.

Tonravik had returned home in no time at all. After checking on the Cubs and being certain they were all doing well under their fathers care–and feeding them–she informed her mate she would be back, wanting to peruse the borders. Each point was guarded by the snaggleteeth the mountains base presented... Tonravik was pleased by this. Even so, Tonravik would protect the outer reaches of their home (and have the others do so, too). The Hollow would be safe to those residing within the Spire. 

Tonravik watched, in the distance, a fox (she presumed) fall; she herself crouched and began to stalk toward it. No, not even the namesake of this place would be safe. She wanted none to come against her cubs and would dispose of threats too near. The whelping den was a good distance away, and well hidden too... But, why give the threat an opportunity? 

It was then the fox leapt upon another of its kin. Tonravik still did not pause... Until the wind brought the scent of wolf to the wind. Wolf and something pungent, surely fox but the aroma brought her fur to spike along her shoulders. Tonravik still wasted no time. If it was a wolf, all the more reason to herd them away. The alpha female moved confidently through the clearing, eyes not once leaving the pair.

Despite their similarities, the squirming triggered Wildfire's predatory response. With a flash of her teeth, she dispatched the fox with a bite to the throat. It continued to flail and thump beneath her, though gradually it grew limp in her jaws. Only then did the youngster release it. Simultaneously, the fur on the back of her neck raised like quills. She sensed someone watching her. Wildfire crouched over her kill, scanning her surroundings.

A black she-wolf appeared, easily as large as her father, moving with the confident gait of an Alpha. The juvenile instinctively maintained her lowered posture, though she didn't move. Wildfire waited to see what the stranger would do before she gave in to either her fight or flight impulses.

I'm not sure if Wifi smells of the Caldera or not so I was vague there for now >_>

The closer she drew, the more distinct the others smell became. It was familiar to her, vaguely so. Even if she could put her finger on it, it would change very little. The red-cub ended the life of the fox beneath it, and then it seemed to become aware of her. Her notched ear flicked as she regarded the others posture... had the other been closer to the Spire, not even that would have saved her. Her distance from the Spire and where she lay was what granted the other a small measure of mercy. 

She approached without slowing, now both ears leaning forward as she moved broadside to the other to sniff and gain more intel. Tonravik was still stiff and unfriendly in demeanor, but not yet aggressive. No other would gain that from her. The red one was the first, and the last, and would carry with her a message to stay away from this place. The other had a plethora of scents on her from her travels, but Tonravik sought an identifier.

She likely does, so I don't mind if Ton picks up on it. ^_^

The large stranger shuffled nearer, sniffing noisily, her posture decidedly unfriendly but not necessarily aggressive. Wildfire watched her, slightly fascinated by the intensive use of body language in lieu of words. Most times she ran into strangers, they exchanged generic (and often bland) introductions and conversed about one thing or another, relying very little on kinesics. With this she-wolf, she needn't even open her mouth. She could practically hear her speaking just by reading her posture alone.

Wildfire decided to try communicating in the same fashion. I'm no threat, she tried to convey, her amber eyes watchful without ever connecting directly with the other wolf's. Slowly, she pushed herself into an upright position, her haunches firmly planted on the ground. She kept her head even with the slope of her neck and her ears splayed to the side to continue indicating, I'm not a threat. Her black tail thumped against the ground once: I'm friendly, as a matter of fact.

Tonravik continued to sniff, swinging her hips away as the stranger rose. She was able to deduce the others age and then, next, her pack. The Caldera. Having never had any issues with them before, and even knowing their own leaders thoughts on the matter of wolves being too close, she seemed to further ease up in the slightest. The other was young, perhaps a cub of the same man, and likely did not know. That didn't matter much to the alpha female; she would expect Peregrine to teach her own cubs this lesson, and if not him, any other alphas lands they tread too close to. 

The others display called to her attention. Tonravik assessed the other was harmless in intent and drive both. Still, the alpha female was not welcoming, and her own rigid exterior exuded the fact that she was not friendly, unlike the other. She directed her muzzle the way that Wildfire had come and fallen from, and then took a step in that direction. Tonravik would escort her from this place, and pointedly looked back to the young one to gesture toward her own side. No shortcuts through the Hollow. At the very least, she had become inviting... relatively speaking.

Despite her amiable overture, the black she-wolf remained cool and inhospitable. Wildfire took a breath, pondering what to say or do next. Then the stranger gestured at the wall where she had attempted to climb. This was followed by a pointed sweep of her black muzzle in the opposite direction and Wildfire did her best to decipher the unspoken message. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated while simultaneously rising onto all fours. If one thing was clear, it was that she was not welcome here in this neck of the woods.

Wildfire gently plucked up the fox's carcass, then took a step toward the she-wolf. Show me where to go, her demeanor said. While she waited to be escorted from this place, she glanced around herself, her amber eyes shifting up to the towering peak to the left. Is that where you live? her gaze seemed to ask once it tumbled earthward again. It looked the very definition of a spire, so she wondered if this wolf belonged to the same pack as Kroc.

It all made sense, anyway. This was not technically the woman's territory, yet it was close enough to explain her unwelcoming behavior. Wildfire had no qualms with being asked to leave and shuffled behind the behemoth of a she-wolf. Perhaps she would even leave the fox to her, as a sort of toll for being allowed passage through here without harm.

Fortunately, the other put up no fuss. Tonravik would have dealt with that accordingly, but this made things easier and less tense for the both of them. It was only when the other made to pick up the fox that Tonravik eyed the other sharply, feeling this territory to be as good as her own for all intents and purposes. That kill would have been her own had Wildfire not been present; she did not see it as the other doing her any favors. Still. Leaving it here for other predators would do her little good... and it was best she kept her teeth prepared. 

The look to the Spire was not missed. Tonravik's own head lifted to its summit, muzzle draping over her throat looking very much the part of a proud, regal leader and guardian both. The other evidently already knew the answer, even in asking the question. As the red cub stepped and made to follow, Tonravik headed toward the Arrow range, northeast bound. As the earth shifted to rock, Tonravik recalled the other stumbling. Tonravik paused, now gesturing ahead of her. The leader would direct her as necessary; Wildfire already knew to avoid the path she had first taken, given the loose rocks that would lead to one slipping and losing their footing.

The youngster frowned thoughtfully when the she-wolf began leading her northeast. Home lay in the exact opposite direction. She could say something, though it felt unnatural to break the silence at this point. Besides, she had a fox in her mouth. And she would be able to find her way back to the caldera, even if it meant taking a more scenic, roundabout way than originally intended. So much for a shortcut through the mountains!

As they moved along in silence, Wildfire eventually closed the gap so that only three feet spanned between them. She then issued a brief noise somewhere between a whine and a bark. Once she felt she had the other wolf's attention, she wiggled the tip of her black tail and stretched her neck out, hoping to offer her the fox now as a token of good faith. Also, she knew that if she tried to climb much further in this unfamiliar and treacherous terrain while holding onto a carcass, she would probably take an even worse tumble than before.

Tonravik knew the Caldera was in the opposite direction; she intentionally went the opposite way. It would be a longer journey for Wildfire, she knew, but even now Tonravik prohibited the use of the shortcuts. Not even once would it be acceptable to take that alternate route; the alpha wanted the other to know this now. The sound emitted from the wolf did draw her attention, and she looked as the other offered the fox to her. Hm. Well, she would not say no. Tonravik took it when offered, not one to refuse a meal. 

Again, she gestured ahead of her, rumbling this time with the fox between her jowls. Her own dark eyes looked to a path she knew was easy by look alone... and although all mountains had their challenges, Tonravik—an expert in the matter of mountains—would lead the other in the right direction. At the very least, she herself could take a shortcut home. Until Wildfire went ahead, Tonravik would remain still and watchful.

The bear of a wolf accepted her tribute wordlessly, then gestured at a rocky path that wound away into the crags ahead. Wildfire licked a bit of blood and fur from her lips as she eyeballed the natural thoroughfare through the mountains. She was an alpine wolf too, technically speaking, though no amount of experience would save her from her own klutziness. Aware that cuts, scrapes and bruises were likely in her future, she grimaced lightly.

Her eyes then wandered back to the she-wolf's face, still careful not to challenge her. She gave a brief huff. Thanks. Wildfire then dipped her head and, assuming this was where they would part ways, she began to pick her way further northeast, putting as much distance between herself and the spire as possible. Eventually, she wound scout west, then south, hooking a left at Greatwater Lake and finishing the trek home to the caldera.

As the other began to pick her way upward, Tonravik followed for a short while. When she became aware that Wildfire was more adept than her stumble made her out to be, she stopped long enough to see the other fade into a minuscule blip on the horizon. Tonravik licked her chops and dropped the fox to the earth, placing her paw upon it to keep it in place and quickly scarfing it down. She had a brood to return to, and so she spun on her heel and descended the mountain. Tonravik marked the Hollow sporadically. Fair warning. 

The Spire had survived and would now thrive. After paying her due diligence to the Hollow, something she considered the Spires own, she was homeward bound again.