Morningside Cuesta Curiosity doesn't always kill the wolf

Trotting delicately up the gently sloping field, the young she-wolf gazed in amazement at the lush terrain before her. A blanket of crisp white snow stretched as far as her amber optics could see, peppered with tiny paw prints, probably made by rabbits or birds. In the distance, pockets of emerald green forests contrasted the cloudy grey sky like an elk in snow. This new found land was far different to the valley she and her former pack had once thrived in. She sighed and gave her pelt a shake to rid her thoughts of those painful memories.

But her excitement soon bounced back as she bounded through the chest deep snow towards the sparkling valley ahead. "So much prey!" she breathed catching sight of an elk herd in the far distance. All of a sudden, the ground seemed to disappear completely beneath her paws! She yelped in shock and scrabbled at the rock face rushing past her but with no avail. "Oof." She landed with a thump on the gravel below. Craning her neck, she could just make out the jagged cliff edge on which she was standing moments before her fall but a new scent caught her attention. Wolves! Her eyes widened as she recalled her previous encounters with strangers when she was a pup and she was immediately alert. Every shadow seemed to be bearing fangs as she silently rose to her paws.

S'okay if I jump in?

Wondering seemed to be the only task this she-wolf could do right. It wasn't her fault though, she felt that she needed to be able to explore, it was just something she couldn't control. She wasn't very fond of the idea of just staying in one place for her entire life, she needed to be out in the wild like the animal she was born as! The large female walked along a trail, seeing how the heavy snow was slowing down her pace. However, she smirked to herself. Mother Nature forgot how this tawny female was gifted with long legs. Raising them up higher as she walked, the burly female trudged through the snow with little effort. This was one perk to being large, however her body was weighing itself down the slightest as she walked, and every now and then she would have to push herself up higher above the snow. "I am hating this part when walking in deep snow." She thought, feeling snowflakes start to kiss her dirt colored fur.

Finally seeing how the snow was slimming down as the path continued, the female shook out her fur quickly. As she finally walked down the path more, a new scent filled her nose. She swiftly lifted her large muzzle into the air, letting the new scents make their way into her nose. Her eyes widened, it was the scent of one alike herself; another wolf.

She wasn't expecting a wolf to be around these parts, especially right now. Normally for a loner (diagnosing the foreign scent), they would have taken cover or already left the area. The female shook her head at the thought and decided to welcome the wolf. Maybe this wolf was friendly and looking for a place to stay? With a hopeful heart, Krypton lifted her muzzle in the air once more and let out a loud, welcoming howl into the air. She prayed it would land onto kind ears and hopefully, one who would enjoy her company.

Alert and afraid, Vespa listened to the howl pierce the tense atmosphere surrounding her cowering frame. It seemed welcoming enough but the young she-wolf wasn't fooled. She was weak and still not yet fully mature and an encounter with a stranger would probably end her up with yet more injuries to add to those of past experiences with other predators. Nevertheless, she was curious and craving the company of her own kind, something the dusty silver canine had been without ever since she had abandoned her brother.

Rising to her paws, her ears pivoted to where the sound had come from, above her on the cliffs. Snowflakes were beginning to settle like dust upon her pelt and she licked them off, enjoying the liquid for a few heartbeats before regaining her hold in the moment. She tasted the air and, sure enough, the faint trail of an unfamiliar she-wolf flooded into her glands. "Might as well take the gamble," she muttered quietly and lifted her muzzle to the stormy sky, answering the howl with her own wavering call.

Keeping her walk pace a little faster than normal, the tawny female kept walking on the snowy path. Her paw pads were numb already from the snow, and her ears were feverish to hear an answer to her howl. In surprise, it was answered. She felt happy to know some wolf out here would like company, and maybe one who would like to accompany her more?

Picking up her trot, she followed the trail to where the howl and scent were, hopefully to arrive there quickly and greet the wolf. Before she could trot another step, she decided to roll in the snow. Hopefully it would flatten her fur down and make herself seem smaller (although it would only make her messier). She took the chance and quickly rolled around, getting snow everywhere on her and somewhat flattening her fur. It was also an excuse to roll around and get messy.

Quickly getting up and shaking off her fur, she picked up a gallop and ran towards the scent of the female. "Wait there! I'll be there soon!" She quickly thought, letting her long strides engulf the land. With a loud bark, she hopefully would let the wolf or wolfess know she was on her way.

The brief falling of snow ceased and the young she-wolf shook her pelt to rid herself of the chilling flakes. Out the corner of her eye, she noticed a scraggly juniper bush, berries rough and crinkled from the cold weather, rooted beneath a boulder. She tilted her head curiously and padded toward it. She could feel her pads being ripped open by the rough stone but ignored the stinging pain as she snuffled up a mouthful of the sweet, juicy berries. It was barely enough to quench her hunger, as her stomach gave a loud growl, but it would have to do.

A bark sounded off to her left, reminding Vespa of the strange wolf that was on its way. Maybe it would give her food! She wagged her tail and let out a soft whine as a vision of a full belly swam before her eyes. "Or maybe it'll lead me to some shelter," she cursed under her breath as the south easterly wind picked up and buffetted her small frame. Either way, it would be good to get to know some of the wolves who had already lived in this new haven so she could explore the picturesque landscape which she would soon call home.

Finally breaking to a long stride trot, the burly female had reached the spot where the scent was wafting in at its strongest. She kept trotting and finally caught sight of another wolf, one that was alone. The wind started to pick up, barely chilling the female from all of her fur. The wolf, one she believed was a female (due to her slimmer size) was smaller than Krypton. Of coarse, everything was smaller when compared to krypton, she was a large size for a female. It was in her blood though, Mackenzie Valley wolves were larger than most wolf subspecies. Krypton stole a glance at her paws. She could crush a skull underneath the weight and sheer size of her paws.

She broke down to a walk and taking only a few steps, exposed her voice. "Hello?" She asked loudly, hopefully her voice crawling over the wind to reach the other loner's ears. The snow had stopped, but that didn't mean the weather wasn't cold. If this loner needed a place to stay, she could bring her to Silvertip for a little while, maybe even have her join? She would speak about it later with the loner if all went well.

She stayed where she was and looked at the female with calm eyes, her hackles slightly raising along with her tail. Ears pricked forward, eyes calm, body slightly heaving from the run - Krypton waited for the loner to answer.

"Greetings," she replied smoothly, fighting to keep her voice calm and nondescript. She stood still, eyes slightly averting the newcomers gaze and tail at a neutral height. If she made a wrong move, she would surely be torn to shreds. "Why did you decide to follow me?" Her voice was quiet and  curious as she realised the wolf had followed her path across the sloping field. She hoped she wasn't on pack territory, though she hadn't noticed any border scents.

The wind howled in her ears and ruffled her matted pelt, blowing snow into her eyes. She fought for balance as she tried to keep a steady posture, the fur along the ridge of her back beginning to rise. Hopefully this encounter would be worthwhile.

The woman heard the other's response, then a question fell from her lips. Why had she followed her? If anything, Krypton only followed the howl, she never stalked a wolf out in unfamiliar territory like this. The woman first said nothing, letting her fur become wild in the sharp wind. Her eyes quickly landed on the sky, seeing no sun but only clouds.

"I came to find new wolves for my pack, as well as explore." It was a simple and short answer. Hell she even responded in a monotone, it was normal for her to greet others who were relatively healthy and safe.