Wapun Meadow gilded lily

freedom had never tasted so rich. the spritely, untamed woman carved through new lands with splendor. alone, no family, no traditions—just she and the wind, which whispered good tidings in her ears. it had led her here, for purposes not yet known to her. ancestors surely have something planned for her, something great. 

esadowa flaunted through the snowy meadow with a wistful smile. singing a tune native to her tribe, the only piece of them she carried with her in strange lands. as quick and graceful as the breeze, as free as the birds that fluttered about in the skies above. 

unbothered and untethered, the way she wished to remain. for she was a wild storm, one that knew no end.

Cole's approach was steady, deliberate, his large frame cutting through the snowy expanse with ease as he emerged from the cover of the trees. His amber eyes landed on the spritely figure moving through the meadow, her song carried faintly on the winter breeze. He did not recognize her, and that was enough to raise his guard.

He stopped a respectful distance away, his posture neutral yet firm, a sentinel in the wilderness. His voice, low and even, broke through the melody of her tune.

You’re far from any familiar claim, stranger. These lands aren’t as empty as they look.

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. She carried herself with a lightness that contrasted sharply with his own grounded demeanor.

Tvar stood still for a moment, his breath curling in soft plumes as he watched the snowfall drift lazily to the frozen earth. The silence of the meadow pressed against his ears, but it wasn’t comforting—it was hollow, a quiet that amplified the storm within him. His mind, unbidden, churned back to her. Always her.

Gjalla.

She had left. Or perhaps he had let her go—he wasn’t sure anymore.

Not that he had a choice.

His claws flexed against the frozen ground, the soft crunch of ice breaking beneath them grounding him in the present. There was no point dwelling on it. He wasn’t the kind to wallow. He was a wolf of action, of forward momentum, and yet…

And yet.

As his heavy paws carried him forward, his mind still lingered in places it shouldn’t, on wolves he should have left behind.

@Cole and indirectly @Blackfell if you'd still like to write!

a songbird flitted above head, a welcome pop of color amongst the dreary backdrop of the snow. she'd never liked winter. deesk'aaz, devoid of life. in her minds eye, she imagined the meadow to be vibrant and brimming with wildflowers, bees...

oh, how she missed summer. it wasn't enough to break her stride, though. with a pleased smile, esadowa's light-footed steps place her atop a snowy boulder. she claims it as her own, for the time being, and settles down with a dreamy sigh. tail curled at her side, emerald eyes searching the snowy meadow. 

a large figure appeared from the tree line. for a moment, she thought a bear must've awoken from its slumber, on the prowl for food. she tilted her head, curious, as the figure stepped closer. perhaps she should've been afraid, but her spirit was fierce. 

not a bear, but a man, regarding her with a deep voice. she grinned, sprawled languidly atop the icy rock. "could have fooled me." her voice was soft, calm. but in her eyes danced a glint of something playful. "have you come to chase me away, shashtsoh? i am merely resting my tired paws."

Cole’s ears flicked at the sound of her voice, the calm confidence in her tone catching his attention. His amber gaze lingered on her form, reclined atop the snow-covered boulder like it was her throne. There was an ease about her, a confidence that didn’t feel forced, and yet…

There it was—something faint but unmistakable. A scent. Male.

He didn’t comment on it, though his stance shifted ever so slightly, broad shoulders squaring as his tail swayed with controlled precision. The valley’s borders weren’t a place for carelessness, no matter how serene the setting seemed.

Resting, huh? His voice rumbled, low and even, though his gaze never left hers. Y'r close to Bearclaw’s lands. Strangers aren’t often given a free pass.

His tone wasn’t hostile, but it carried weight, a quiet reminder that she wasn’t without scrutiny. Even so, he didn’t make a move to chase her off—not yet. Instead, he stood tall, his presence a steady, unspoken challenge, waiting to see how she would respond.

@Cole

bearclaw. esadowa tilts her chin upward in a moment of contemplation, perhaps assessing. how odd it is, for any wolf to think they own the earth beneath them. her family had always welcomed wayward travelers, eager to swap stories or trades. 

her smile broadens. "well, i will bring bearclaw no trouble. i am just...passing through." there's wistfulness to her tone, airy and eased. "surely they wouldn't mind a lonely traveler?"


she shifts on her side, more so to face him more directly. there's a change in his stance; more tension, coiled. though, as the wind brings her a scent, she figures his strife may not be with her. 

more company would be arriving, it seemed. she met the notion with excitement—good company was always welcome. "may i ask for your name? or shall i just call you shashtsoh?"

Cole snorted, the sound low and gruff, as he regarded the woman lounging so casually. His amber eyes narrowed slightly, tension still evident in his posture, though he remained rooted where he stood.

You don’t know nothin' abou' what Bearclaw does. His tone was firm, the southern drawl slow but deliberate.

He shifted his weight, jaw tightening briefly before he added, Name’s Cole. 'n yourself?

For a moment, his gaze flicked to the horizon, the faint scent of another still tugging at his senses. Turning his attention back to her, his voice softened slightly, though it lost none of its edge. If you’re just passing through, you’d better do it quick, before someone less friendly comes sniffing around.

His chuff carried easily across the quiet air, a subtle noise as he drew closer. Cole would hear it first, no doubt, and the girl soon after. Tvar’s tail swayed gently behind him as he came, each paw crunching into the hard, compact snow covering the meadow.

He reached them with a faint exhale, his broad frame towering as he came to a stop near Cole. His icy gaze shifted to the girl, raking over her briefly in quiet assessment. She was airy, almost carefree; a stark contrast to both the men in attendance, and he found himself biting back the faint tug of a smirk.

Nothing like a woman to lighten the mood.

“Morning,” he offered simply, offering Cole's shoulder a nudge with his cold nose. "Thought I'd come find you for a patrol. Seems like you're busy." He coughs out the last few words, bringing a foreleg up to wipe at his snout.

@Cole @Tvar

now it was a proper party. another man arrived, cloaked in shades of blue, towering alongside cole. what were they feeding these men? mountains of muscle and fur, she hadn't seen a wolf as large as those two. looking as if they walked out from a tall-tale shared around bonfires.

she must've struck a cord. cole seemed a sticker for rules—how boring. "esadowa. yá'át'ééh, cole." his concern was not lost on her. she giggled, tilted her head slightly to the side. "don't worry, i can handle whatever the wind brings me." spoken with gentle confidence. 

emerald eyes drifted to the newcomer, which she regarded with a pleased smile. "stealing him away so soon?" she teased. "who must you be?"

Cole's gaze shifted sharply at the sound of Tvar’s approach, the chuff carrying clear through the crisp morning air. He raised a brow in greeting, his posture straightening slightly as the other wolf joined them. The faintest curve tugged at his lips, more acknowledgment than warmth, but friendly enough for Tvar to notice.

Thought you'd catch me alone, he rumbled, voice steady, before his attention flickered back to Esadowa, her breezy demeanor lingering between confidence and amusement. She was bold, that much he could tell, but there was an edge of naivety in the way she carried herself. He wasn’t quite sold on her ability to handle "whatever the wind brings."

Esadowa, huh, he echoed evenly, glancing at Tvar as if to gauge his impression. Wind’s got teeth out here. Be sure you’re ready when it bites. The words carried no malice, but there was a weight to them, a warning laced within.

When she turned her attention to Tvar, Cole gave a low grunt, stepping slightly to the side to let his packmate speak for himself. His focus remained sharp, though, observing the interaction with quiet vigilance. Whatever Esadowa's intentions, they weren’t taking chances.

She was smiling, her emerald eyes fixed on him with curiosity. Tvar’s lips twitched, a faint smirk threatening to surface before he buried it beneath his usual composure. “Tvar,” he replied simply.

His tail swayed lazily behind him, his posture relaxed but not dismissive. He wasn’t one for small talk, but the woman’s boldness intrigued him. He tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before flicking back to Cole.

“I wasn’t planning on interrupting,” he added, glancing between them. “But I wouldn’t mind hearing how you planned to handle whatever this wind of yours brings.” The words were straightforward, but there was an undercurrent of challenge in them, amused and teasing. He wasn’t sold on her confidence, but he wasn’t outright dismissing it either.

If nothing else, the woman had brought a sense of levity to the otherwise cold morning.

"well met, to the both of you." she hummed pleasantly. she could sense their doubt—her confidence feeding their amusement. with an impish smile, she languidly rolled over, off the boulder to land onto soft snow. with a stretch akin to a cat sun-bathing, she stepped toward the both of them. 

"reveal all my secrets? but i hardly know the both of you." she mused, a playful lilt to her voice. "rest assured, i mean no harm toward you and your people. is it so bad to seek out company?" she moved between the two of them, steps graceful and fluid. 

she stops, faces them with a tilt to her head. "you say i know nothing of bearclaw. enlighten me, then. dreadfully boring it is, traveling alone. what if i wished to join?" it was a tease, as she wouldn't shackle herself to another tribe or pack just yet. not when the freedom was fresh. but at least the two brutes could entertain her, for the time being.

She carried herself with an easy confidence, her emerald eyes sparkling with a playful edge that drew his attention. She was bold, no doubt, but there was something about her demeanor—graceful yet unyielding—that he found intriguing.

Company’s not so bad, he said, his tone carrying a warmth that didn’t often creep into his voice. His head tilted slightly as his eyes lingered on her, taking in her delicate features and the way she seemed to glow against the winter backdrop. Especially when it’s this lively.

He glanced at Tvar, noting his packmate’s quiet smirk before returning his focus to the woman. Her teasing about Bearclaw and her curiosity about their ways brought a small smile to his lips.

Bearclaw’s more than just a place, he explained, his voice steady. It’s kin, strength, and loyalty. You’d have to do more than entertain us to earn a spot. But I’ll admit... you’ve got spirit.

He stepped forward just slightly, a casual but welcoming movement, as though to close the gap between them. What’s your name, anyway? Seems fair to know who’s asking about ours.

His tail swayed slowly behind him, his stance open but still watchful, curious to see where this exchange might lead.

Tvar stayed quiet, his sharp blue eyes watching the woman closely as she spoke. He didn’t interrupt, didn’t offer much of a reaction beyond the slight twitch of his tail and the faint narrowing of his gaze.

When she mentioned joining Bearclaw, Tvar let out a low grunt, his ears flicking toward Cole.

Without a word, he shifted his weight slightly and gave his packmate a pointed look, one that said more than any words could.

lively. a soft laugh escaped her, emerald eyes glittering in sunlight with mirth. it pleased her—a compliment she'd never been given, but greatly appreciated. her willowy tail sways behind her, her smile now more genuine than teasing. "i'm glad we can agree. life gets boring without lively company, don't you think?"

a soft, thoughtful hum, a slight nod, maybe an approval. "bearclaw sounds familiar, then. like my old tribe. all about unity." she titled her chin upward, pondering, before she continued. "my people were traders, story-tellers. but awfully...strict."

she wondered if bearclaw was also as stifling, as hellbent on traditions. she'd entertain the thought, at the very least, though she was far more interested in the company than she was the idea of chaining herself to another pack. "my name is esadowa. you may call me esa, if you wish. do you...enjoy this tribe? what do they do for fun?"

Cole chuckled, the sound low and gravelly, his shoulders shaking slightly as he glanced between Esadowa and Tvar.

Fun? he repeated, a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Depends on your idea of it, I reckon. There’s sparring, dancing—if you’re into that sort of thing—and plenty of good stories around the fire. We make do.

He tilted his head toward Tvar, his expression sly. This one here? Not much of a dancer, but he’s got a hell of a jab if you’re feeling lively enough to spar.

His dark gaze flicked back to Esadowa, curiosity glinting beneath his calm demeanor. Bearclaw’s about unity, sure, but we’ve got our share of personalities. You’d fit in fine, lively as you are.

Cole let his tail sway behind him as he shifted his stance, as if settling in to enjoy the company a little longer. It wasn’t often he found himself in such spirited company.