Sawtooth Spire oh, such torturous things

For @Savik. :)

She found the higher climes suitable on that day, even in spite of the lower humidity further down the mountain. It was warmer the lower she had gone, and so Echelon had climbed and climbed. Never too high though, she didn't dare worry over the risks that lied higher up. Besides, she had been to mountain peaks before and had been unimpressed, thus there was little desire to see yet another unimpressive point of view.

Even so, where she was may as well have been as close to the clouds as wolves dared to go. They weren't exactly built for flying and at times, certainly weren't master climbers like others. From her perch, she surveyed the breadth of their claim eagerly, like a child unraveling maps across a floor to find what secrets it held. Only she did not seek those secrets, she had little interest in the present to suss them out. No, she had reason to believe that Tonravik was soon to leave her pups behind and stretch her legs — spying her out was priority number one. She had been cooped up far too long.

So from up there, even as the faint winds of season's change teased over the wounds on her face slow to heal, she began picking over landmarks.

panic! at the disco — from a mountain in the middle of the cabins

I am so sorry for not replying, this deleted on me THREE TIMES

He ducked down, the feathered creature unaware of his presence. It wasn't incredibly easy to catch a bird, it took patience and time. The slightest movement could alert them of their doom and sent them darting away above the tree's. Currently, his massive built was hidden behind a thick tree line, hidden away from the accurate gaze of the bird perched on a low branch. All it would take was one perfectly timed leap to snatch it into his massive jaws. He felt his lower body tighten, ready to spring out and claim his kill. He kept his gaze locked on the bird whose head was now docked to the side, as if staking out his position. His ears flattened against his head as he leaped out from behind the bushes, catching the bird's feathered tail between his teeth. It had attempted to fly away, now reduced to an unsuccessful attempt and the loss of multiple feathers. If it did manage to get free, it would not fly again .It flailed, thrashing about between his ivory teeth as he clamped down harder .Finally, it gave up it's attempts and laboured it's breathing, submitting to it's impending doom. Quickly, he sunk his teeth into his neck, the laboured breath's diminished to nothing.

Satisfied, he loped away, the bird's neck securely carried between his jaws. He surveyed the area, standing upright in search of any other wolves. The birds feathers had mostly fallen off in the struggle, only a few left lingering. But her was hungry, a few little feather she could dodge. He was about to sink his teeth into the soft flesh of the bird before his nose twitched, a different scent filling it. Another Sawtooth wolf, he smiled. He had only met the male, Kapvik, so introductions were still in order. Picking himself off the ground, he ran to meet the scent, the bird still securely gripped in his mouth. Ahead, he could see the profile of a female, as he neared her destination. Her let out a greeting chuff as he lowered the bird. He wasn't against sharing, so she was welcome to take a piece. Afterall, if he wanted to be a Gamekeeper, that was what his job would be.

It's fine! I think I recall you being on absence anyway. :D

For uncounted minutes into the future, Echelon studied the terrain that encompassed their claim. It was quiet but far from still, and none of the wolves that she spied out where Tonravik. If anything, she felt like she had spotted Nanuk three times, each time thinking it was just another white-coated canine. But it was hard to miss her gait, even with the bundles of forestry cutting into her view.

Her eyes roamed back over the general area she believed Tonravik to be denning in, and found nothing there again. No emerging figure, no children making an escape. The stillness bothered her though she did not outward display it. And as it were, her thought of letting her gaze roam back over this particular expanse of territory was interrupted — a chuff grabbed for her attention and left disdain in its wake. The wolf that had come up behind her was perhaps no different than the rest of them, though for the life of her she could not place him. He had to be among some of the newer faces, though since their coming to the Spire she had turn more solitary and absent in their presence.

Curiously, she eyed the bird that he had laid at his feet.

Did he want something? Was this an offering?

Her tail lashed indecisively, the cant of her head to follow.

Short reply, didn't want to keep you waiting!

Savik studied the confusion on the female's face. If she didn't want any, it was fine by him, but perhaps she was not accustomed to the theory of sharing. Voicing his thoughts, he gallantly answered, "You can have some, if you want". It was quite a big bird, some sort of variation of hawk, one that would surely feed two. 

"My name is Savik, you are?" He asked, with all the politeness he could muster. He was not stranger to civility, but he did not know of this female. Looks could never tell what lay beneath, he had learned. He was an example himself, his serious exterior only masked the truth of his true nature. Wolves in the Teekon were much different to what he was used to.

you're fine dear! i am patient! <3

that said, i also hope you're okay with her snatching his bird... echelon is decidedly the asshole of my three characters. :X

Oh, yep, it was an offering. Well, all right it was more like a partial offering, as in, here would you like to try a sample of our new mountainous avian dish? Only Echelon had to admit that she wasn't interested in just the sample. Fuck that nonsense. Yet she couldn't help but keep up that curiously confused gaze for a bit as she left her own spot on the rocky terrain, creeping closer as though she were truly a feral being unconvinced of the validity in his offer.

But he introduced himself; she pretended not to hear it. He was too polite and she was an asshole. There was nothing more than a thoughtful pause as she considered his question, but it dissolved away for her to make a grab for the bird. Her svelte size and jerkish nature let her seize it and away she bolted with a muffled laugh.

If Savik didn't know now, he would then — nice guys finish last.

No worries! Eck, so late for this reply, i'm sincerely sorry!

Savik stood baffled as the female grabbed the bird in her jaws and ran off, leaving him, well, birdless. It only took him a moment to shut his hanging jaw and run after her, for his stomach was still awaiting it's fill. What kind of wolves are these? He questioned, the answer elusive to the many personalities that inhabited the Spire. He had no desire for violence, but this thoughts immediately set on getting back his catch at any cost, as his thundering frame stormed after her. 

A growl played on his lips as he called out, willing for the woman to stop... or at least slow down, to make things fair. While she seemed to have a more slender frame, he was much bigger in comparison yet  in endurance he lacked. Running was not his forte, to his current demise. 
"Hey! Wait a second!" He growled, losing his previous sense of calmness. Yet, something about the whole situation amused him, in a way that wasn't expected. In the end, she could have the dratted bird, but he wouldn't give up the chase.

again, you're fine! i am a patient sort.

Gravel skittered and flew loose in her wake as she tore down the incline. Echelon moved as breakneck as she dared, rounding those familiar pathways with the bird still clutched tightly in her grasp. At times a wing dared to drag the ground before her until she hoisted it higher.

Behind her, his voice raised up sharply in exclamation and she knew, she just knew he would be after her. It sent a violent twist of glee through her to know that she had struck a nerve in his oh so pleasant facade, and left her to change up tactics as she ventured onward.

Where the slope bent dangerously, she vaulted down to the rocky slips of sheer granite; her elbows scraping against the stone as she landed roughly. But momentum was on her side as she kept going — Echelon was moving far too fast to try and stop on the incline. To do so would have sent her flying with the birds literally, and frankly the dead thing in her jaws wasn't about to be strong enough to flap for them both.

Hopefully her recklessness wouldn't be the end of her too.