Bramblepoint all you have is your fire

if you're interested! aw otherwise.

dawn was grim. the clouds hid away the sun so only the most dim of glows came from above. within the fringe of the bramblewood rested zharille, who roused with a grunt and took the time to stretch her sore body. she had slept well, but she had done so against the roots of a tree that left her aching in places.

as she shook her coat out and felt the reaching pop of her shoulders, she looked for the boy (@Dagur); the scent of another wolf - a familiar one - came to her within moments. without waiting she cast her chin up and crooned a note for @Ensio - the man who she had seen on the ice.

perhaps she was only tasting a fading dream.

can be skipped if not reacted to

The world was dull.

Dagur laid half asleep and felt as if it had been his first night sleeping in weeks. He heard the grunts and shifts of the Big Woman not far from where he had settled. Perhaps a sign that it was time to rise.

Even moreso as she called upon somebody.

Stiffly, he rose. Then began to (accidentally) mimic her in starting his day with stretches. He felt the tug of tender wounds over his skin keenly.

He did not roam far since their initial encounter. Zharille was worthy company. He stayed with hearing range. Deeper in the recesses of the woods, he slept. Awoken by the sound of her voice.

Abandoning the snow lined log that he had been resting with his back against, he whiffed deeply in reply. I am on my way.

The scent of someone new instantly hit his nose. He tensed, growing slightly suspicious. Another male, quite a bit younger than either of them. 

When he emerged, he greeted her with a fleeting, soft nip to her cheek. Sternly, he pinned his eyes on Dagur. Looming tall, tail flagged in a sign of his confidence. Rumbling, he stepped nearer, expecting deference.

the ice-man came. it thrilled her to be heeded. she gave him a pleasant rumble of welcome until his eye focused on the boy, and as he began to posture zharille reached to snap at his ear.

be nice, she warned; but then she chuffed, as close to humor as she could get, and nosed at the pale man's neck. he was much more interesting to her - older, stronger, why heed the boy at all?

Dagur could not be made to bow to a man who had done nothing but show up.

This man had not brought meat. What was the use of him to the boy?

He snorted half-heartedly. Seated and reached a hind leg up to scratch behind his ear.

Nonchalant about the ordeal.

Well. At least the boy had not been outright defiant towards him. Aware of Zharille monitoring them, he kept stern but composed.

That didn't mean he was done with Dagur yet, though. Ensio was larger, fitter and older. A capable provider, even if he had no meat to show for it, today. Stiff legged, he stepped around in direct sight of the boy. Pinned harsh eyes on him. Challenging. Daring him to meet his gaze.

the man and boy would find their footing with one another, regardless. their interest waned from zharille and shifted between them, and so she allowed them their space to suss things out for themselves. the one warning was all she would give - as zharille wanted to see who was stronger, or more cunning.

at least until she grew bored - whichever came first. dagur's disinterest was a strong clue.

What did he want?

It felt childish, even to the child! Dagur had no food, no claim, no real stake in any of this. He only stayed with Big Woman because she was a source of food. A wolf who claimed. He was more her shadow than he was a real thing.

So what gives?

He snorted, a flick of his ear. Then began to move away. Back towards the lake.

Well. At least the boy walked away. Did not meet Ensio's eyes, or show any other sign that might be perceived as a direct challenge. Perhaps he understood the bare bones of wolf body language. Or perhaps not. A more true test would come when they were brought together, over food.

Bored of the situation, he turned to walk the other way, out of sight.

they did not fight. zharille did not know what to expect, except neither did much of anything; they appeared to size one-another up and find the opposite man lacking, which suited her. better that they get acquainted without bloodshed. better that they do not get harmed in the process.

zharille chuffed to the waiting boy, as ensio had departed. she motioned that he should follow her, and together they would scout the lake's edge for the sleeping spots of frogs, or hidden wading birds, and the like. in this way they would learn to hunt together and dagur would be of more use as time wore on.