Big Salmon Lake it's time we tried to find the sunrise

54F/12C. Morning.

Morning light crept upon the land, banishing the shadows of the night, and bringing with it a touch of welcome warmth.  Tehama's flagging spirits were buoyed by the fairer weather.  The lady was by nature an early riser, but the unceasing rain and ever-colder nights had made a late sleeper of her in recent weeks.  Now on a mid-September morning bathed in a cascade of mellow golden light, the tawny female was renewed, rejuvinated, and rose from sleep with a spring in her step.

As Te had meandered north and west in the past fortnight, the rains had slowly come to an end.  Hunting had been abysmal in the interval, with the rain driving all creatures great and small to seek shelter, and washing away their lingering scents.  Emerging from the bramble-filled wood in which she had slumbered the previous few nights, Tehama performed her morning ablutions at the lakeside.  Submerging her face in the cool, clear water, then giving herself a drying shake, the female caught a glimpse of her reflection and frowned.  The lines of her face were more gaunt, her tawny fur dull; had she been able to see the remainder of her already-petite form gone wraithlike, she would have been even more displeased.  Weeks of wandering and lackluster meals had done a number on the typically well-nourished if small-framed woman, and while the rains may have passed, the chill that fell over the lands in the nighttime were a reminder of the frigid season to come.

Should have stayed where I heard the wolves, she thought to herself, a bit glumly.  Nearer to the south and west, she'd heard a number of howls, but had given the area a wide berth, not seeking to trespass or offend.  That had been several moons ago and her stomach hadn't growled so insistently then; in hindsight it seemed a mistake not to have sought them out.  But wooded glades and forested foothills hadn't drawn her attention like the vast mountain peaks she had come to now.  If she'd wanted easy living in a lush green lowland crossed with waterways, she'd have stayed with her mother at Thousand Rivers.  

No, it was the memory of secluded alpine meadows and breathtaking views from mountainside trails that drew her now, fleeting dreams of recapturing something of her lost identity on Mount Mirror.  The woman's silver gaze was fixed on the highest of these sunlit peaks as she padded along the western edge of the broad blue lake, wondering if the spire was already trodden with wolven pawprints, or if exploration of its heights might be granted first to her.

The last few days had been short of eventful. There had been ocean views, rolling grassy hills, and now, a lakeside seclusion. He enjoyed the endless summer nights while he could, but Tahoe knew the earth would grow barren and cold once again. Filling his belly would be a challenge on his own in the winter—he was just buying time at this point.

His luck wasn’t totally down on him though. Tahoe arrived at the lake an hour after sunset. Any traces of the sun had been stolen from the horizon, leaving the sky was cloaked in a dreary veil of blackness. McBride had been drawn to the lake by a certain smell. Though faint and mingled with the elements, he knew the scent of a carcass better than anything else. The wolf slunk through surrounding woodland, keeping his footsteps near inaudible. There was a chance some creature had already found and claimed the food for themself—In that case, he was prepared initiate an ambush. Thankfully, he found that his worries were unsubstantiated. Tahoe strode out from the treeline, wandering onto the shore. The oncoming breeze carried a surplus of smells to him. Wherever the carcass was, it was close. It took him a moment to realize actually how close-by it was. The pale moonlight subtly illuminated the water’s surface, revealing his long sought-after prize—a dead goose. The corpse was bobbing gently with the waves, floating roughly a few yards away from dry land. It barely looked like a goose at this hour, he only had noticed the distinct silhouette of an oddly jutting out wing from the mangled body. Based on how decomposed it was, it had to have been dead for awhile now. Without hesitation, the man waded in to retrieve it. The cold, dark waters sent chills down his spine as his body tried to acclimate to the sudden drop in temperature. Nonetheless, he endured the discomfort and paddled onward. Hastily, McBride snatched the soggy hunk of feathers in his jaws and swam back to land. Water streamed from his fur as he clambered onto the bank. He left a trail of muddy footprints as he shuffled back into the thickets, a wet thud at his feet as the goose fell from his jaws. Tahoe shook out his fur, then lazily slumped to the ground and began to consume his rotten meal in darkness.

Morning came earlier than expected. Tahoe awoke, finding himself surrounded by a disarray of soggy feathers and scraps. He had devoured the carrion the night prior, yet he hadn't realized how messy he had been under the cover of night. Blood was smeared on his maw, it was dried, and rather brownish in hue compared to a bright crimson one might typically imagine when thinking of a bloodstain. Yawning, the male blinked the drowsiness from his yellow eyes and rose. Instinctively his paws began to carry him to the water's edge. Suddenly, the sound of soft footfalls made him come to a stop. He stood there for a moment, listening to the creature amble along before poking his head around the trunk of a tree, curious to the appearance of whoever had decided to join him at the lake. As he assumed, the creature was indeed a wolf. The stranger strode gracefully away from him and down the shoreline, seemingly indulging in a morning walk. They were coated in a variety of light cinnamons and silvers, their spine peppered in streaks of ebony. Tahoe observed them stroll blissfully along, noting how the wolf's attention seemed to be focused elsewhere. With a shrug, the man padded straight to the water, thirstily lapping at the liquid. He was aware that this action would probably make the stranger turn and notice his presence, maybe even strategically so. If the wolf happened to acknowledge him, he wouldn't turn down a conversation today.

Tehama was not quite so lost in her dreaming of mountain meadows and alpine forests that she did not hear the sounds of another behind her.  Her ears swiveled back.  The muffled sound of grass underfoot, followed by the distinct lapping of water, told her another creature had come to the lake to drink; the weight and character of the footfalls told her it was moderate in size, and not hooved.  Not breakfast, then, the female deduced, and she half-turned.  A few wolf-lengths behind her was another lupine creature, larger than she and with a similar tawny coloring but cast in red tones where Tehama herself skewed more toward greyscale.  Admidst the red of fur was the rust brown of blood, a macabre anachronism for such a pleasant and sunlit morning.

Tehama tilted her head curiously, but moved neither closer nor further away.  Her nostrils flared, catching maleness and the expected dried blood of some unfortunate beast or other, and she noted the wolf's lack of comingling with the scent markers of others.  Another lone wolf, perhaps.  Tehama considered herself a pack wolf at heart, though bereft at the moment of said pack.  But some, she knew, were dedicated to a life of wandering and solitude.  Te noted the smattering of scars and some deformity or other of ears, and wondered if this was onesuch traveling loner.  Surely he had known of her presence before approaching behind her, so Tehama supposed he wasn't opposed to being noticed and engaged.

"Do you know the name of this mountain?" Te asked, nudging her muzzle with curiosity towards the highest peak to their northwest.  "Or this lake?"  The silver-eyed woman turned more towards the russet-streaked male, tail held neutral behind her.  She had lifted her voice to carry the distance between them, but her tone was pleasant, inquiring.  If he were a local, surely he could inform her.  If he, too, were but a vagabond, perhaps the question would break the ice, and in a less mundane way than typical conversational platitudes.

After a moment, a feminine voice found its way to his ears. He gave no indication he had noticed, already aware of her location. In his youth, Tahoe had been quite the talker. He’d strike up a conversation with anyone that piqued his interest. As the years crawled by, he found most folks to be almost all the same. He lost the desire to search for entertainment. After all, his packmates had always graced his days with their escapades. Their absence made his existence feel out of balance. He’d been alone for the whole year now, time wasn’t something in short supply. Perhaps he’d make the effort to make a few connections. The male finished his drink without haste, his tongue swiping over his chops. Finally, he lifted his head and peered her way.

I’ve never asked for the names, was never told. Now, what significance does a name hold to ya? He responded in a rumble.

Tehama was a practical wolf, pragmatic, sensible.  And yet there was a part of her that was a dreamer, wistful and optimistic, a part that appreciated the natural rightness and beauty of a thing.  Some who are too down to earth forget the gift that is imagination and creativity, but Te was not, at heart, one of these types.  The name of a place was important, significant.  Whether the mountain or the lake even had a name at all was informative, for only a place known, valued, explored would have a name bequeathed upon it.  At the large male's response, dismissing the question, Te frowned faintly and her ears flicked backward.

"Oh, everything should have a name," the woman opined.  Her silver eyes flashed reflected sunlight as she spoke passionately.  "Or if nobody's cared enough about the place to name it, somebody ought to come along and take the time to get to know it, know what it should be called."  Paradise Meadow, dancing with wildflowers in late summer evening light came unbidden into her mind.  The still waters of Mirror Lake, reflecting its namesake peak, came next.  Even Thousand Rivers had a lovely ring to it, even if it overstated the grandeur of its areas numerous waterways.  "A name... a good one has the essence of a place in it."

By now feeling a bit sheepish, Te wondered if she ought to continue about her day and leave the older male to his own morning routine.  Perhaps he was simply one of those rather incurious types of wolf who didn't ask many questions and accepted things just as they were in life.  Though the woman had inherited her mother's matter-of-fact manner in many respects, she cherished, too, the aspects imparted to her by her idealist, romantic father.  Slipping briefly into her own daydream, she wondered if she might indeed be the first to explore the great peak that towered above them.  What would she name it, if she could?  The female's tail swayed gently as she pondered.

It was a rather ironic thing. Tahoe didn’t give much care to a name, or for that matter, many things at all. His mother had been the opposite. She had named him, his name directly meant The Lake. Something about the topic of discussion gave him a twinge of amusement. He listened to the woman’s reply, captivated by her ideology. There was a prudent, yet peaceful way about her. He wanted to hear more. 

The wolf gave his pelt a brief shake, momentarily glancing out at the expanse of water. The soft waves had a reflective sheen, the sunlight playfully fluttered upon their surface. His gaze parted from the water body, falling upon the woman lingering nearby. 

Think this place is worth a name then? He asked, trodding toward her, stopping at a comfortable conversation distance away.

The red-hewn male came closer, his stroll seeming amicable enough.  The motion pulled Tehama from her musings over the nearby mountaintop, and she tucked her chin, lowering her tail slightly, almost imperceptibly.  The man's approach made her, if not nervous, then cautious.  She had been a few moons now without the conversational company of others, and to be so close now was something of a novelty.  Still, Te wasn't without manners, and could see that he made no move of aggression.  She stayed where she was, positioning herself to more fully face her golden-eyed companion.

His question was... well, Te was almost forced to suppose he was making fun of her.  Still, she took a moment to slide her gaze from the other wolf's worn features to survey the expanse of water beside them, considering her answer.  The blue of the fresh glacier-fed lake reflected the smattering of clouds drifting above them.  Serpentine curves of silver bespoke of fish making lazy circles way out in the deeper water.  The sunlight fell like honey upon a large wood to the northwest of the lake, and kissed the tops of the brush and smaller trees in the thorny, brambly copse where the lady had slept the night before.  And, of course, the very upper reaches of the mountaintop crags were reflected in the curve of water nearest the shoreline the two wolves shared.

"It deserves a name, surely.  But if there are wolves living here besides you and I, perhaps it has already been given one," she deflected, voice calm and measured, after a moment.  Though she certainly could have come up with any number of names for the loch whose small waves danced with morning sunshine, she didn't particularly wish to subject herself to a stranger's laughter if indeed he were jesting at her expense.  Besides, he said he'd never been given its name.  Who, then, had witheld it?  She wanted to know. 

The woman flicked her grey eyes back in his direction for a short look at the male's features once more.  "I am called Tehama, Te for short."  It wasn't worth getting into the details of her given name versus her inherited title, and besides, Tehama suited her more than meek Sela ever had. Continuing recklessly forth, she asked, "Did your parents share my opinion that everything ought to have a name, and give you one, or do you simply go by Wolf?"  A smile danced about the edges of her lips.  On the offchance that the male wasn't making fun of her in his head as she feared, perhaps she might open him up a bit with her own particular brand of humor.

He could see her much better from here. Her eyes were a light grey, redolent of a cloudy afternoon. Vaguely similar to him, she bore a thin scar on the right of her cheek—Tahoe's entourage of scars were much more prominent in comparison. She appeared smaller than him, he had to slightly dip his skull to meet her eye. An enervated yawn slipped from his maw, evidence of him being unable to fully shake his morning grogginess. He then placed his haunches upon the course earth, thoughtfully awaiting her reply. Her gaze broke off after few moments, resting elsewhere—he thought she seemed a little timid. Perhaps she was similar to he, and did not particularly enjoy the company of most. He would have to wait and see. Tahoe blinked, studying her profile. Appearances meant nothing to him, but he couldn't deny she was nice to look at. Finally, her attention returned to him. 

"It deserves a name, surely. But if there are wolves living here besides you and I, perhaps it has already been given one," Came her response.

He was mildly disappointed she didn't come up with the answer he was looking for. Creativity had always been a trait he lacked in, hearing something unique was quite interesting to him. Moreover, Tahoe was charmed by her insouciance. He got satisfaction in meeting those who were as untroubled as he. Connections were useful, especially if the wolf's presence wasn't intolerable. As for the latter of her response, he hadn't encountered many wolves in the immediate area, no signs of a pack. Based on the nature of their conversation and her scent, McBride could guess the woman wasn't associated with any packs as well. 

"I am called Tehama, Te for short. Did your parents share my opinion that everything ought to have a name, and give you one, or do you simply go by Wolf?"  She went on, introducing herself, wearing a smile.

He scoffed lightly at her banter, giving a languid shake of his head. Ah, who cares what they think? Real place names only got use if you're in need'a directions n' such. Might I ask where you're headin', Tehama? The man asked, nonchalant. His expression remained neutral, though his eyes bore a subtle gleam of frivolity. The name's Tahoe. Wolf doesn' seem so bad of a name, compared to ones I've heard.

The faint smile that lingered upon Tehama's lips faltered almost imperceptibly as the grizzled male asked about her future travel plans before offering his name.  Tahoe.  Tehama considered the name carefully for a moment, attaching it in her mind to the older wolf's accented voice and rough-hewn features.  He was more pleasant to speak with than she had given him credit for, and the girl was not an introvert at heart; it was nice to exchange words with another after a long time travelling alone.  "It's good to meet you, Tahoe." The words were a nicety, but not without earnest gratitude for the company.

A slight sigh escaped her as she responded to his query, silver gaze cast upon the mountains before them."I'm not sure where, to tell the truth.  I don't know this area, and I didn't set out from..." From where?  From home?  Thousand Rivers held her family now, but Te could not call it home.  Home was Mount Mirror, now a broken, irreparable place. "... from my previous pack with a particular destination in mind."  The charcoal-dusted female's tail quivered faintly, reflecting her uncertainty.  Why she was burdening this near stranger (Tahoe, she reminded herself) with her musings?  Something about the morning light and the reflections upon the calm lake seemed to draw inner thoughts to the forefront of her mind.  

"I came up from the south in the past fortnight or so.  I heard the howls of others there and kept moving.  Now I guess I wonder if I ought to have sought them out instead."  The weather would be turning soon toward shortening days of lackluster sunshine, long dark nights of biting cold.  The woman did not seek to spend winter growing ever thinner and ever hungrier.  Tahoe didn't seem to be a pack wolf himself, and perhaps from his appearance he was used to such a life, but Tehama preferred the creature comforts that came from the collective efforts of a pack to sustain one another through good times and bad.

She greeted him modestly, her words seemed to lack the previous optimism and energy as her remarks before, instead taking a more uncertain, wistful tone. Nonetheless, he made note of her story. Tahoe assumed his question had redirected her thoughts to something she didn't want to dwell on. Tehama's past was similar to his, in a way. He chose to not make the comparison. The event which spontaneously spurred his life into its current direction was the past, and should stay as so. The man had severed all emotions toward his history and viewed them under a more analytical light—memories only served as a reminder to prevent the same events from reoccurring. As for Tehama, he could only speculate what was going on in her head. His mind hung onto the last portion of her statement. 

"I heard the howls of others there and kept moving.  Now I guess I wonder if I ought to have sought them out instead."

He understood better now, she desired the security of a pack. This was a common wish others had expressed to him along his travels. As a former pack member himself, he recognized the benefits of such a grouping. Things were easier when he had someone out to watch his back. Tahoe viewed his current solitude as not a choice, but rather a transitional period in his existence. He was growing accustomed to his surroundings, and once satisfied with his ventures, he'd figure the rest out as it came. Still, despite all his exposure to such mindsets, his suspicious mind could never comprehend such practices. Allowing a mere stranger past your borders would simply diminish the need for them at all. He pulled away from his thoughts as it came time to reply, giving a dip of his head in acknowledgment. 
 
Life’s better when you spend your time livin’ it instead’a plannin’ it all out. You’ll have no trouble findin’ your way ‘round. He offered casually in advice. Ah. Well, no probl’m findin’ a pack ‘ere, if that’s what ya want. The place is crawlin’ with folks.

Tehama's ears tilted forward as she listened to Tahoe's good-natured response.  She was settling more at ease with the other wolf's company, and after a brief moment she decided to sit down, her agouti tail coming to wrap around her haunches with a flourish.  The male's accent required Te's full attention to make sure she didn't miss what he said, and so she inclined her head attentively, and parted her lips, about to respond.  It was good to know there were more wolves here than she had anticipated.  There was certainly something to be said for allowing room for change and whimsy in one's life, going with the flow rather than---

A squabbling group of Stellar's jays chose just then to make their noisy way to a pair of maple trees near the lakeshore, flitting about the boughs that overhung the loch.  The black-headed blue birds' rustling and jousting sent a few early-golden leaves fluttering down to the water's still surface.  Tehama, previous thought cut short, watched contemplatively as ripples emanated outwards from the leaves, sending off fractals of morning sunlight.  She looked back at Tahoe's equally golden gaze.  "You don't desire pack life, yourself?"  Her question was gentle, not judging.  "That's a hard path to choose, I'd think."  The woman suspected the many scars and knicks that peppered the older wolf's features told the story for him.  She didn't mean to pry, and left the question to lie between them.  It could remain rhetorical, if he chose.  The lady looked again at the mountain that filled their horizon.

The arrival of the jays seemed to steal both of their focuses. He peered at them momentarily, flicked an ear, then looked again to Tehama. Her interest seemed to still be caught up in the flock, perched high up in the trees. The thought of birds made him recall the goose he had scavenged from earlier, making him swipe his tongue over his chops in search of a lingering taste. Since the woman's attention was elsewhere, he thought to briefly give his pelt a good shake, causing a mucky feather or two to plummet to the ground. Her ghostly eyes returned to him as quickly as they had left.

The question she posed was straightforward. Tahoe found that the subject of pack life was a frequently mentioned topic discussed amongst fellow travelers. He could see the reason as to why—a wolf was a trivial predator without the support of many. Desire for pack life was a word too strong for him. Sure, he would appreciate a pack greatly, but he never intentionally sought one. It seemed like almost an implied necessity to him rather than something he would devote his existence to finding. This was just his nature, which strictly went against relying on others. He had a vagabond's heart, yet the knowledge that thriving was unachievable in these woods alone. Once again, Tehama's pallid gaze veered toward the beyond. 

It sounds much simpler when you put it that way. He responded, a subtle gravity to his words. Not all folks are as easygoin' as you, Tehama.

Well, there it was--Tahoe's implied statement that there was more to it than just wanting or not wanting to belong to a pack.  Tehama respected the fact that there were many paths to walk in this life, and that Tahoe had likely gone through myriad experiences that she never would nor could.  The lady nodded in understanding.  "It's true," she acknowledged.  "We're each best served by seeking out what gives us contentment in this life," Te offered by way of opinion.  "Others may have expectations of us.  Parents, family, friends, packmates.  But in the end it's each of us that has to make decisions we can live with."

Though her life had held little drama compared to those of wolves both older and hardier than Tehama, of which Tahoe surely was one, she could empathize with bucking societal expectations.  She'd conformed to the expectations of her parents, right up until those were literally blown out from under their collective paws.  After that, it hadn't seemed as important anymore to please others.  The finite nature of life practically begged her to do what made her happy, not what pleased anyone else.  And funny enough, she suspected her mother the previous Tehama had realized the very same thing.  Seeing her mother happy again with her new mate and pups by her side had cemented Te's opinion that she, too, needed to get out and find her own way in the world.

Pulling herself back to the present moment and out of her mental sidetrack, Tehama smiled warmly at Tahoe.  She'd meant no offense, nor to pry into his circumstances.  "Your way of life is just as worthy of respect as any pack wolf's."  Her tail lightly thumped the ground where she sat.  A hardscrabble living might leave Tahoe more rough around the edges than a more genteel pack wolf might be, but Tehama knew the type she'd sooner rely on in times of trouble.

Tehama had many words of wisdom to impart. She was incredibly understanding, almost too much so. Life must've been kinder to her, if she was able to make it this long without becoming colder. He wasn't complaining though.

Tahoe had never been one for philosophical conversation. He had already made up his mind about the world. If things weren't changing, he wouldn't either. He thought it was useless to dream, as there was no point in taking the effort to imagine something which would never come true. Visionary types had always interested him though. Some were lost in their daydreams, others were in touch with the present while scheming about the future. Whatever the case, you could never know what was running through their heads at any given moment. While McBride wasn't all too sure about what Tehama was speaking about, he heard out her point anyway. Being beholden to the opinions of others did seem draining. As a former leader himself, he felt exempt from empathizing with being held under such expectations. It was much easier to live by your own rules. Nowadays, his life wasn't in total opposition to a pack wolf's. It wasn't about the concept, but rather the individuals.

He considered her words for a few moments more before giving up a response. 

It's just'a matter of time n' circumstance. Loyalty's a steep price to pay. He surmised vaguely. You desire pack life. You searchin' for one then?

I hope it's OK if I bring this to a close?  We should thread again sometime!

Perhaps in some way, Tehama was spoiled.  She'd known the love of both parents, and had a youth free of strife or hardship.  She got along well-enough with her littermates, though one leaned towards laziness and the other was too wild and unruly for any of the three of them to really be close.  But she hadn't been without tragedy that had literally shaken her foundations, and the disruption and chaos had not left her for a long time.  Only realizing that she was in control of her future, and that it didn't have to be spent unhappily in a place she didn't belong, had woken her up from that bleak mindset.  Now she was eager to see what the future brought, but months of traveling made it clear that whatever it was, it was going to be found amongst other wolves, staying put in one place, not in the way of life of a vagabond.

"Yeah," Te said.  "Yeah, I think I am looking.  I didn't know that I'd be settling down here when I came to the area..."  She grinned.  "Truth be told, at first I thought it would never stop raining here."  Her tail swayed.  "But it will be a nice place to spend the winter."  The chattering of Steller's jays died down as they moved on to the forests further abroad.  Conscious of her own desire to move on to further climbs, particularly that nameless lovely mountain, Tehama got to her feet.  "I'm glad to have met an acquaintance here now, Tahoe," the lady smiled.  Their conversation had focused her resolve in a specific direction.  She hadn't been certain she'd stay here, until comparing herself to a true loner, rather than simply a wayward pack wolf.  "I'm going to keep moving, but if you stay in these lands, perhaps we will come across one another again."

No worries! I'll archive here. I'd love another thread between these two someday!

Their plans were similar. Though, Tehama seemed to carry herself with much more purpose than he. For now, his goals were less tactful—nothing but long days of coordinated wander. In all his life he had never felt such freedom, he had always been plagued by unforeseen hardship, which severely limited his options. Freedom, though, was not something he strived to protect. In some sense, he desired for basic order to anchor his existence. Time would tell whether or not he'd find it. With winter looming, a lone wolf was at odds with the world. Tehama understood this, but her heart seemed to desire deeper fulfillment, while his banked solely on survival. 

He hoped the best for her, really. For him, it would be rewarding to have connections in a variety of places. McBride had indeed listened closely to her reply, though his own did not seem to reflect such care. Not out of his true shallowness, but rather the general ambiguity he maintained. Their short exchange had come to a natural end, and he'd rather see himself out before her.

Good luck, Tehama. Till we meet again. His gaze lingered on the woman for a moment before he turned away, trotting along the riverbank—disappearing to where from which he had came. Tahoe never stuck around for long. Soon, his new acquaintance would probably be on her way as well.