Silvertip Mountain it's people who claim that they're good that you have to be wary of

night fell, the air stifling and sodden like a lover's sloppy kiss upon the land. unsettled, asperas departed the safety of the caretaker's side. through winding mountainous terrain the voidsent prowled, vigilant. a search for something unnamed, an absence felt keenly; under nightfall's cloak, the unknowable grasped with spectral fingers. asperas felt the pull, and followed, hunting...

but for what?

@Vesta/@Surya/@Ashlar only one, please <3

she was so covert as to be invisible, blending as she did with the darkness. but surya, restless as usual, noted the furtive movements, the way something disturbed the peace of the night. he strode forward to bring himself face-to-face with—

oh, ah, hello, he said, a little nervously. it was one of merrick's brood, the sneaky little girl. would the man be mad that he approached her, uninvited? he seemed protective over his children, and his mate even more so.

still, it was a chance meeting—he hadn't meant to stumble upon her. wrong place, wrong time.

shouldn't you be with your mother? surya asked, cocking his head. his voice held no scolding, only vague concern, both for himself (should he be caught alone with the wayward girl) and for her (who knows what dangers lurked in the yet-unexplored corners of this place). 

no, he only meant to strike up conversation, and hopefully lead her back to safety.

for all that the unchild searched, she did not find the object of her pursuit.
instead, asperas was found. earthen tones bloomed through the black, a dusty hazel rose peering at her with eyes the color of envy. the confident patter of tiny paws faltered, halted, subtly-mismatched gaze caught in rich enraptured tones on the unexpected artistry found in one so different from herself.
whatever pleasantries passed through the spiderling's mind in that moment were quickly vaporized by the man's greeting. asperas snorted and tossed her head haughtily. no, the impudent little hellion retorted in clipped tones, and made to march past the earthclaw.

he shouldn't be surprised. the girl showed the same force of will as her father, at least (he hadn't had the pleasure of meeting her mother, at least farther than a passing glance). he gave her a jaundiced look as she forged ahead, shifting his weight to block her path.

he wasn't the largest of wolves, but he was bigger than her, at least. stronger. and, most importantly, grown up.

i think so, surya responded, emerald gaze stuck squarely on her small, pointed face. what if she wakes, and finds you gone? she will be worried.

not a mother, either—but the recipient of a mother's love.

he stood his ground but softened his face, staring at her. why are you out, alone?

thwarted! a brief chagrined rumble burst from inky lips, and asperas fixed a withering glare upon insolent earthen features. no worry, the unchild countered, hackles ruffled and spiked along bony spine. she showed him her teeth, as if to make a point: there was nothing to worry about. she could fend for herself. besides: not alone. ursus. the whole of the pack was here, was it not? her father's followers would surely defend the bear priest's heirs.

despite himself, he smiled. her coloring was different, but she reminded him a lot of his sister—fiercely independent, strong-willed. he gave her a solemn nod, letting the expression fade a little, so as not to give the impression that he was laughing at her. the farthest thing from it, really.

okay, surya replied. but. . .will you allow me to join you for a while?

asking permission from a whelp. he couldn't believe it. but she was merrick's daughter, and he felt a little uncomfortable ordering her around when he was so new to the fold. a pauper did not deign himself the same level as a princess, much less a bear princess.

he shifted his weight from one forepaw to the other, waiting.

the unchild regarded him coldly, more so when he spoke again. yet, after a time, she relented. okay, asperas agreed grudgingly, and wasted little time in setting off once again.

the man trailed her, and for a time they traveled in silence. asperas admired the quiet shadowy places cast by the night, and softened minutely to companionship over the hours. by the time the earthen wolf convinced the void princess of ursus to return sullenly to the birthgiver, her gaze was distinctly less hateful upon him. a shame, for it would later become apparent that asperas would not encounter surya again for quite some time, if ever.