Totoka River Riding horses cloaked in grey

The river had broken free from the hold of ice.

Tenebris stopped at its bank and bent to drink of the free-flowing water. It was chilly and crisp on his throat, soothing the roughness that he felt there. As he looked inland, there seemed a terrible stretch of wild terrain that appeared to go on until it met the horizon. The wayfaring man was not certain he would wish to part with the coast so soon.

Turning back to the sea, Tenebris began a trot along the edge of the river. The gold of his eyes was trained on the grey clouds. The smell of brine mixed with that of fir and pine from the trees that grew inland.

Technically, she was a part of Bronco's group, but she wandered. She couldn't help it; she hadn't found Vesper, yet, and that was the sole purpose of her mission from the caldera. Else, why would she have left? Plus, Fennec's fortune had led her to the sea. . .she knew that in her heart.

But she did not stick to the island, not until she and her sister were reunited. Today, she traipsed along the coastal river, looking for fish. The current was fast enough that there was a possibility of game, and she peered—

She wasn't alone. Of course.

Blueberry stiffened and sighed, looking at the grayscale figure nearby. She barked his way, but did no more, her body taut and wary against the winter wind. She braced herself, waiting for a surprise assault a la the melee in the evergreen forest.

A stranger’s voice sounded into the air.

Tenebris turned and regarded the pale figure with a steady gaze. They were medium in build and lean, trim in their shape. The wayfarer searched for signs of others but could not see any immediate grouping who might draw near to the pale shape.

The knight drew his head and howled in response. The rugged voice filled the air.

There had been others that he had met while traveling the length of the coast. Many of them had been short in patience, and a few had been frightfully short in thought. Tenebris wondered what this lean ghost would offer.

She edged toward him. He kind of reminded her of her father, but with both eyes intact. Indigo burned into his gold, searching. Neither of them said a word until she decided to pipe up, her voice unremarkable and small.

Are you alone? Blueberry asked.

She glanced into the stream, watching the water. Shifted her gaze, slowly, back to his. His muscular figure caught her breath in her throat. Not as handsome as Bronco—no one could match that—but of a similar cut, a similar attraction.

She cleared her throat. D'you want company?

When the white wisp spoke again, it was with the voice of a child. Tenebris thought of Evelit. The man felt his throat tighten and his eyes burn. His expression remained stalwart and shrewd. 

Alone, yes. He nodded his head in answer to the first question. 

The second was unexpected. Tenebris eyed the young wolf with a wary expression. The spitting image of his sister. Down to the depths of the stranger’s indigo gaze. 

Sure. 

The knight motioned for the wisp to approach.

Thus invited, she stepped forward, feeling the chill of the river so near her still-over-large paws. She sat down and looked into the water, squinting a bit. You think there's fish in there? she asked, swiping her tongue over her lips. Maybe we could fish. . .

The thought of poking around in the icy shallows seemed positively ghastly, but hey, maybe that was just one of those things that adults sucked up and did. For the good or the pack, or whatever.

Blueberry turned her gaze to him, questioning. Almost averted it immediately; God, what if that had been a stupid question?

The young wolf approached on paws that were still too large for her age. The man watched from the waters, hoping he might stir the image of his youngest sister from the stranger’s face.

When she had approached, she asked if there might be fish in the river. 

Tenebris looked to the frigid water with a small frown. He would imagine that there were several kinds of fish that might be found in a river of that sort. It would only take a short while to find where he could work on catching them.

Perhaps, the knight mused gruffly. Are you hungry?

The gold of his eyes returned to her, searching her features intently.

Shyly, she dipped her head but nodded, hoping the pangs in her stomach didn't translate to audible grumbles. She could almost taste fish in her mouth, the light, fleshy, tangy flavor. . .

But I'm not sure how—or, I guess, I'm not very good at it, she admitted, glancing at the man, her countenance sheepish. She was loath to even step too close to the water, afraid of scaring away potential game. Took a deep breath in.

Soooo. . .how to start?

Was that a silvery shape, beneath the current? She stared hard down, looking for an opening.

Hm, he voiced. 

I am no fisher, myself. But we shall see if we can catch you something. Tenebris breathed a plume into the frigid winter air. It rose over his head and faded away. If he could not catch a fish for the child, he would venture into the woods to search for prey that ran. It was an easy fix. 

The knight searched the water for a flash of glistening fin. The gold of his gaze followed the current as it swept to the sea. How did bears catch so many fish? Surely not standing beside the water in wait, he thought. 

Tenebris caught a glimmer and snapped into the river. The rush of cold filled his nostrils and he pulled back with nothing clasped in his teeth. A frown made it’s way to his wet features.

rolled for success in Discord!

She watched him dive down, try to snag a fish, only to come up empty. Blueberry doesn't judge him; from what she's seen, it's a difficult task. 

But she ought to try.

The girl stared down into the water, breathing deep. Inhale, exhale. Inhale. . .

She pierced her head into the icy current, having found a streak of fleeting gray. Snapped jaws, then snapped again, and then—

OH! she exclaimed, her voice muffled by the small trout, writhing in her teeth.

She bit down and it ceased, slowly; she slammed it upon the riverbed and it was dead, and she stared down upon it, gaping mouth mirroring its own stunned look. I. . .wow, she whispered.

The pale wisp watched him.

The depths of her gaze trained intently as he had tried to pull a fish from the water. Tenebris had failed, but when the young one lurched into the river current and pulled back, she had succeeded. The knight’s tail wavered twice. She had said that she didn’t know how to fish. It was impressive to catch one on her first attempt.

Never fished before, hm?

Tenebris’ eyes glittered gold, sharp, as though laughing.

The man’s lips did not share this reflection. Nevertheless, he was impressed.

Her stunned gaping look turned, suddenly, to giggles, and she looked at him, shaking her head. Not really, she remarked, half-ashamed but more pleased than anything. She stepped on its tail and began to worry its head away, wrenched it free, presented it to him.

Fuh' 'oo, Blueberry said, dipping her muzzle, the picture of magnanimity. There was a grin there, stretching beyond the fish, tight in the corners of her mouth.

She was undoubtedly pleased. Her eyes were creased, but sparkled.

She felt purpose.

The young fisher placed a paw on her catch’s tail and wrenched the head from the prey animal. Tenebris watched her quietly. Only the hint of a smile seemed to linger on the edges of his dark lips.

When the young woman offered it to him, he pulled back curiously. There was pride stretched on her pale features. She had caught that fish, and the knight was not certain that he should be the one to eat it. Tenebris glanced at the offering with a soft nod of his head.

You catch another and I’ll eat with you, he said to her gruffly. Otherwise, this is your prize.

When Tenebris met her eye again, it was with assurance. She could do it. She’d proven herself capable of getting one of them, already.

She dropped the fish at his promise. Oh, Blueberry said, frowning a little. But I don't want you to go without. . . Well, then, she'd have to do it. She thought he was probably a stubborn man of his word.

Sighing, she drew closer to the water again. Watching the fish. There was more pressure on her this time; if she didn't catch a fish, he'd not eat. And she liked him—he was a good teacher.

Watching the gleaming, fleeting figures. . .

Splash. Cold. Splash. 

Empty-jawed.

I'm sorry, she said, teeth chattering. Here— She began to wrench the fish in two with trembling jaws, working at the slick flesh, its delicate spine. We'll hhsplihht ihht.

The knight was surprised by the young girl’s selflessness. They had only just met.

The man’s harsh gaze softened upon her. Tenebris could not help but to wonder where her family was and why she was wandering the seaside alone. His thoughts trailed as the young wisp returned to her perch and attempted another catch. This time, she was not quite as successful.

Ah, well… it was a fine attempt. The man regarded her with a careful gaze.

The pale girl insisted still that they share her first catch. Tenebris would not deny her this. It had been her prize, after all. It was not the knight’s place to dictate what she did with it. Beyond this, he was grateful for the offering of food.

Thank you, Tenebris offered with a small dip of his snout. His voice weighed heavy with a genuine appreciation.