Northstar Vale An Ugly Heart Makes For a Pretty Face

There was little she could ask for, and even then there was no one to ask of.

The sun beginning to set, Pala had grown tired. Days of travel left her paws cracked and her throat dry, and all she wished for was a place to rest.

Mountains were a familiar terrain that she was drawn to, and the scent markings in the vale did little to send her away. She would see what was here first.

He'd become used to the constant streak of tears down his right cheek. Less so, the blurred vision in his right eye. Something was wrong, but he was not equipped to say what. It should've healed by now. 

His brother had been correct, though. With some maintenance, the scarring on his face was hardly visible and the teeth marks had all but vanished, aside from tiny scabs where each puncture had been prior. The bone felt bruised, but that pain was lessening each day. 

Though his sight was suffering, his smell was not. He was quick to respond to the stranger's scent. It smelled too close. He debated on calling his brother, as any wolf deserving of respect would not be so ignorant of clearly marked borders. But he didn't. He could handle this on his own. 

Upon drawing closer, he called out. "That's far enough. You are trespassing." 

He couldn't see her yet, but knew she was near.

A voice sounded out, and she stopped. She could not see the other, yet she was sure they must be part of the markings source. Tail flicking, her eyes narrowed.

She spotted the soot coloured wolf some distance away.

"Is it a pack that's here? Or are you on your own?" The question was straightforward. She saw no reason to step around it.

If the wolf was alone, she would chase him away. If it was a pack it may be easier to wriggle her way in; their scent was not strong enough to suggest a large group. They were likely not in a position to reject her.

He proceeded to her, firmly seating himself in front. It was a way to tell her not to continue. 

"A pack. Can you not smell our clearly marked borders?"

A pack. She would see if she could stay, then. "I could. They are not strong enough, however. You must not have been here long."

Tail flicking, her demeanor did not shift to suggest submission as she stared back at him. "You look too young to be the leader here. Where are they?"

He raised an eyebrow--his good eye's brow--at her regarding the comment. If she smelled it, why did she cross? The next comment almost made him growl. Had she not learned any manners? 

"Give me a reason she should waste her time with you." he said, almost spitting it at her. He couldn't take her. Chaudry could. He debated on calling him now.