Bearclaw Valley Into the woods

@Arlette

Spring was nice in Bearclaw valley - maybe because it reminded Nunataq of happier and more carefree times, when she had been a little pup. When life had been simpler and she had firmly believed that things would stay the same forever. Maybe, because the season, when nature burst into life after the long winter slumber, was beautiful and enjoyable everywhere.

It had been a few days now, since she had brought the last treasured items from the hollow back here and made a permanent residence in an abandoned badger den. She hunted and explored for the better part of early mornings and evenings, and slumbered during mid-days and afternoons. Nice and peaceful routine away from the pack and everything that had caused troubles to her.

Now and then she did feel a little lonely and recalled Cubanelle and Pepperoncini, who she would not have been able to stuff in her pocket and bring here. But this longing could be remedied easily with chewing her still favourite, albeit very damaged, toy - the plastic bottle. The crinkling and crackling sound of it helped to distract her mind.

And this she was doing one afternoon as well, filling the forest around her with the odd music that a PET bottle and set of sharp canine teeth and jaws could produce.

The sounds of this odd music bounced off the steep walls of the valley. It echoed further and were caught by a pale female's ears. It was a mere echo. The curious young female was instantly triggered to find out what made such a sound. She never heard about it. The female followed the sound that turned her to the valley her mother was born.

She went to the only entrance to reposition herself to the sound once more. She was getting closer! She was certain of it. That was what she caught the scent of her best friend. Nuna? What was she doing here? She went to track the scent and noticed the sounds were getting louder. Then she spotted the female. "Nuna!! she grinned. It had been a while since she had seen her. She was bigger and less as a child. "I'm happy to see you," she smiled and greeted her. Arlette hadn't realized that she had grown bigger as well, and was less like a child too.

When it came to remembering people's faces Nunataq was not particularly good. It had nothing to do with her memory skills, just the selection process of, what she deemed valuable to remember. By now she had erased all files, regarding people that had once played a role in her life and were not featured in it anymore. With few exceptions, of course. In a special folder there was a small collection of important people. And Arlette was among them.

The time it took for Nunataq to recognize her albino friend in the tall and handsome almost grown-up wolf that was coming her way was brief. Glad to see a familiar and - what's more important - happy face, she let her musical instrument fall to the ground and she bounded towards the Easthollow girl. An excited and cheerful greeting ritual took place, during which Nunataq still held herself a little more proudly and self-assuredly than her friend. The latter might have reached her size, but there was this age difference that in Nuna's mind made her a tad bit superior.

"WUFF!" she barked and invited Arlette to inspect Nunataq's most prized possession. You would not tell that it was dearly beloved by the rag-tag look about it, but the mute girl's affectionate gaze said it all. She was in love with the object.

Arlette had never been the dominant type. Not towards her mother, or siblings. Especially not wolves that where older than her. In their greeting, the albino girl clearly took on the excited-submissive role on her. Her tail brushed over the ground and she automatically lowered herself a bit. It was not a crouch but not a complete stance either. Her ears flopped back in submission as she was eagerly licking her best friend. She couldn't help but nuzzle her very briefly under muzzle before jumping back. Her tail wagging excitedly.

She was glad to see that Nuna was just as excited. The girl then looked down at the strange object that Nuna wanted her to see. Arlette curiously nosed it. She could smell Nuna's saliva on it, but other than that it didn't seem to have a specific odor. She curiously bit in it but dropped it in shock when it crinkled. She jumped a bit, but then recognized the sound she heard before. Besides, it didn't hurt her so the red-eyed female jumped on it and bit into it a bit harder. It crunched and crinkled under the pressure. "Wow!! It is so strange!!," she exclaimed. "You always find such cool things!"

Arlette noticed that Nuna didn't smell like she usually scented. Her red eyes glanced over her curiously. "Aren't you with your pack anymore?," she asked curiously. Arlette's eyes looked a bit worried, as she cared for her friend. Perhaps she cared for her more than a normal friend. Arlette just figured that it was because Nuna was her best friend. Nunataq always stood on a pedestal in Arlette's eyes.

Arlette had no reservations about expressing her awe for, how cool Nunataq was, and the latter not only felt this, but basked in this like a cat in sunlight. She had never lacked self-confidence, had never doubted her worth as a person, but it is always nice to be acknowledged by other people. Even moreso from those that mattered. Since she had recently lost Merrick (or rather out self-preservation instinct excluded him from her tiny geometrical figure of friends) and was on her own for the most time, praise was even more important.

She gracefully let Arlette play with her bottle a little, though the expression in her eyes told that this did not come entirely willingly and that she would much rather have the toy all to herself again. Prehaps, the albino girl had sensed it or she simply did not find the plastic wonder as amazing as Nuna did, but she did not keep it with her for long. The moment she released it, the mute girl put a protective paw on it, while keeping a straight face and listening with a smart face, as if she understood every single word of, what Arlette was saying to her.

This was as far as Nuna could go in deceit, she kept silence for a while longer to appear that she was contemplating an answer to the question. Then she shrugged, picked up the bottle and with an inviting glance over her shoulder and wagging tail invited her friend to go on a little adventure.

Arlette's red eyes traveled down Nuna's leg when she placed a paw on the bottle. The female automatically took one step back with respect for the other's toy. She was always more submissive compared to the other. But perhaps that was why they were such great friends. Arlette's red eyes stayed on the other female to see what her answer was regarding her not being in a pack anymore. It seemed she was thinking about it, however, Arlette found that it was not that difficult of a question.

"Let me know when you found an answer," she chuckled and then eagerly took in the invitation for a little adventure. Arlette had explored this Valley a bit but not thoroughly. It was the valley her mother was born after all so it made it all super interesting. "My mother was born here," she spoke. "Oh but, right! That means your father too. I keep forgetting we are family." She saw Nuna as her best friend not really in a sibling matter. Arlette smiled at the sight before her. "You are lucky that you don't talk because now you can just keep that toy in your mouth," she laughed, letting Nuna decide the direction as usual.

Most of the time Nunataq was annoyed by people, who spoke excessively, but Arlette was a pleasant exception from the rule. She had a manner of talking that made Nuna feel as if she was in the spotlight. The meaning of the words themselves might have escaped her understanding, but the tone and emotion had not.

Therefore she listened to her albino friend's easy-going banter with an interested gaze and proud grin. At the same time leading her little army confidently through the forest and keeping hold of the bottle, as if it was a rifle ready to shoot. Luckily it did not come to that.

They arrived in a less-explored area of the valley, where blocks of stones in various sizes were littered around, as if by some giant's whim. Nuna found the biggest of them all and with a swift jump was up. There, perched up as regally as queen herself, she looked down at Arlette, inviting her to join.

Arlette easily followed the female. Arlette always felt very at home with Nuna. It was simple to let the other woman lead and for her to follow. They got to the part of the valley where boulders were scattered. She watched how Nuna elegantly jumped on top of the biggest one. Arlette watched as the light caught the female leaving her breathless for a moment. She didn't feel as she was on the same level as this female. Nuna looked so regal and then there was... her.

The female caught the invitation. She didn't hesitate and jumped up. She jumped up and barely made it to the top. Her paws scrambled but she managed to pull her body on top of the rock. She flushed a bit so she quickly settled next to Nunataq. Arlette's eyes traveled over the view. This valley was beautiful. The white colored female scooted a bit closer. She glanced to the side, she wondered what Nuna's voice sounded like and she realized that she would never hear it. She never really asked about it, but she was curious. "Apparently there are secret exits outside of this valley," she chatted.

There were few people in Nunataq's circle of acquaintances that were allowed to be in a close physical proximity to her. Indra being one and up until recently - Merrick being the other. The rest were barely tolerated and only so much as it was necessary for greeting rituals and showing submission to superiors, when it was necessary.

It came as a surprise to her that she did not mind her albino friend sitting right next to her, the stone throne being too small for them to sit far apart, their furs touching. She gave Arlette a quizzical glance, wondering, what made her the exception of the rule, but then in a manner of a person, who accepts things as they are, without delving too much in details, rested the question there.

She turned an ear, when her friend said something, but did not reply, observing the scenery around them instead. It was beautiful and in part because they could regard it from an elevation. Imagine that they owned this place just because they were able to look at it from above. In a spur of a moment, Nunataq tipped her head back and let out a long, melodic howl. Arlette may never hear Nuna speak, but singing was a whole different matter.

Arlette had not expected an answer, often she talked in moments she was not sure of herself. She would just fill the void with endless chatter. However, the female got a far greater gift from her friend. As she watched Nuna, who was studying the scenery, the female tipped her head back and howled. Arlette watched with amazement, her ears picking up. The female instantly had to tip her head back as well and howl along with Nuna. It was like they were on top of the world and this was their secret space. Perhaps it was a bit.

Arlette grinned, after taking a breath between howls. Nuna's singing voice was beautiful and she didn't mind listening to it at all. The female leaned against Nunataq. It was a perfect day. She wished she could spend more days like this with Nuna. She wouldn't mind having her in the Easthollow pack, but Arlette was not sure if Nuna was ever going to do that.

Nunataq tensed a little, when Arlette broke that small distance, between their already overlapping spheres of personal space. For a moment she had an expression of confusion and slight insecurity, because she did not know, how to handle the situation. The part of her that disliked being touched by other people fought against the small, guilty feeling that was budding inside her heart, telling her that she did not mind her albino friend doing it.

Quite the contrary - it was unusually pleasant to have her this close, have their scents blend, feel her warmth and sensing the heartbeats of the other person so close to her own. Gradually she let the awkwardness melt away and with a soft-spoken look in her eyes - one did not see often there - she rested her cheek against Arlette's, closed her eyes and sighed, immersing herself in the moment and not realizing yet that she had begun yet another chapter in her life.

Listening to "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap, while writing this. I think that these two would make a cute pair. :)

Ahh this is so cute!! That song fits so perfect. I don't want to break this moment haha.

Arlette couldn't help but smile when Nuna leaned back to her. It was not something they had done before with Nuna but it felt right. She could feel the warmth coming off the other and it made her own heart beat faster. She had always seen Nunataq as a good wolf, her friend, someone that was there for her. If she needed a distraction Nuna was there. However, this felt more than just friendship.

Arlette had not felt that awkwardness at all, she was used to tight embraces. She could tell that this one was different than she had with her mother or with other pack members. She closed her eyes as well, decided that she wanted to stay in this moment with Nuna for as long as she could. Arlette knew that she had to return to Easthollow eventually. She didn't like the idea of Nuna all by herself but she had to remind herself that Nuna was not like her. They were very different. "I wish you were in Easthollow with me," she admitted very softly.

But a moment as beautiful as it was could last so long, until Nunataq reminded herself that she was the tomboyish independent boss-she-wolf here. Right after Arlette had expressed her wish for her friend to join Easthollow, she snorted, got to her feet and shook her coat heartily, as if the earlier experience had been thoroughly stressful to her.

Then she jumped off the rock, turned around and looked up at Arlette, tail wagging, eyes twinkling in mischief, lips smiling. She stretched and after another hearty shake was ready for some action. Again. Come along! She beckoned and took off in the forest.

I will wrap it up here and we can go on in a new one?

Yes!! I'd like to have a new one with them! I will archive this one

Arlette knew she kind of broke the embrace by talking. She held in a whine when the other female jumped off the rock. She kind of wanted to sit there longer. It was clear that Nuna was not going to join Easthollow. It made her a bit sad but she understood that such a life was not really Nuna's thing.

With the female beckoning her to come along, Arlette instantly followed her. Her tail was low and wagging. At least she got to spend more time with Nuna. It was clear that the dark masked female could not sit still for too long. She kind of liked that about Nunataq. She was eager to see where she was leading her.