Meadowlark Prairie just a little bit's enough.

@Mason :)

Things seemed pretty damn fucked back home.  As tempted as Finley was to dwell on all that had transpired in such a short time - Peregrine deeming himself useless and stepping down, Fox's impending puppy explosion, her own battle with mending her relationship with both her mate and son (the former of which at least seemed to be in good shape) - the Blackthorn had no desire to do so.  Being within the confines of the Caldera, it seemed to Fin that she was unable to escape the thoughts that so rudely insisted on being present in her mind.  But outside of the Caldera, things were different.

It was what she had always loved about being an outrider, the way it allowed her to escape.  Something about putting literal distance between herself and the drama made it so much easier to put figurative distance in as well.  Even though she knew that she had only a few hours to run free and away, it was such a relief to her to do so.  There was no exact direction in her mind, nor did she really have any particular intent in this afternoon's jaunt.  She just wanted some time away from it all to relax, and that was exactly what she was doing as she cantered almost lazily along the flat, snowy plains with the shadow of the Caldera's slopes ever looming on her horizon.

Mason gasped as he ran, and realised he was going too fast. He slowed his pace to a more manageable trot. He looked around him, and noted various landmarks which he could hopefully map to make his way home easier. Mason didn't know that this area was normally vibrant with colour: right now, it was dull with snow. It made things easier. He couldn't be distracted from his crappy thoughts, then.

But wait - what was that? Mason knew he was nearing Redhawk Caldera, as he had been near here once before, but at a different border. He hadn't ever met anyone from the pack his Dad used to belong to. He and Steady had not managed to get attention. But now, out here in the strange wide open prairie, he saw a dash of silver and a light wind carried her scent to him. Mason angled his path so he could chase after her in a diagonal line, and hopefully despite his lack of breath he could catch her. Paws took on a burst of speed, and Mason's brown-tipped ears sucked back with G-force as he sped towards Finley.

"Hey!" he called with urgency. Forcing the sound out used precious air and he began to cough and splutter as he ran, not far from her now. Hopefully she would stop her pretty backside moving and turn around so he could see her face.

Finley didn't anticipate that she would meet anyone on her trip.  Not anyone wolfish, anyway.  She heard the shout before she saw the noisemaker and started slightly because of it.  She stopped in her tracks and turned to peer across the rather desolate landscape, finally landing on a blob of white that didn't appear to be quite as stationary as its matching backdrop.  Canting her head, she woofed back and struck up a neutral posture, waiting for him to come closer and explain why it was he had chosen to interrupt her jog.

Score! She stopped and turned. Mason didn't have long to go before he got close enough to slow down. His coughing gradually resided as he tried to casually stifle it. Didn't want her thinking he had the plague, did he? Mason was walking by the time he got within speaking distance and he tried a grin as he wagged his tail. Her fur was a darker version of his own, without the markings - instead the colour showed in warm brown eyes. Mason spoke up, feeling he needed to explain, "hey, I'm sorry if you were busy I just... wanted to say hello." He admitted, sheepish. Not a recluse, Mason liked his company, and he was already feeling a bit insecure and alone. He hoped she wouldn't be mad. "My name is Mason, I wondered if you knew any lakes around this area?" he supplied, slinking a bit lower to the floor and pushing one front paw forwards against the snow in supplication.

Fin's ears flattened as he coughed and was glad when he managed to stop.  For some reason, coughing had always bothered her.  The sound was gross and the whole dislodging phlegm from your throat thing was pretty gross too.  But she was mentally digressing...

Fin wagged her tail and smiled to let him know that she didn't mind his intrusion on her run.  She had for a second, but she was a fickle creature.  She was one that had never really minded being alone, but she'd also never minded having company either.  Her moods would at times sway more towards one rather than the other, but overall she was perpetually content with either.  His question made her pause thoughtfully before she replied.

"I'm Finley, and do you mean Rodney?" she asked, oblivious to the fact that those who weren't familiar with the massive lake were likely to be confused by her phrasing.

She appeared pleasant enough and she wasn't going to tell him off. That was good. Mason looked at the soft, grey-white fur of her chest and he smiled. She was being nice to him. She was quiet though, after he posed his question. She didn't provide a name, instead she posed him a question back.

Mason was a quiet for a few moments. His head tilted to the left: one ear up, one flopped down. He urged himself to understand but it didn't work. So instead he asked her, not afraid of looking stupid; he usually did. "So who's that, then? Your boyfriend?"

With a good-natured grin, to try and fend off any awkwardness, Mason swished his tail and added "and if so, does that mean I'm in deep trouble?" Wtf Mason, dad-jokes are hardly going to swoon the ladies. Mason then laughed at himself, which was probably even worse.

It didn't take Finley long to get lost, even though it was her that had prompted the situation anyway by referring to the lake by his surname only.  She blinked at him, wondering what he was talking about.  Did he think her name was a boy's name?  That did happen from time to time, much to her chagrin.  The deep trouble thing went totally over her head - unless he was talking about sticking his penis deep into things.  But that couldn't be right, could it?

"Finley is my name, not my boyfriend's," she corrected, not pausing to think that she ought to correct the usage of 'boyfriend' instead of mate as well, "And.. I guess you might be in deep trouble, depending on what you're planning.  Rodney can get pretty deep, even just a few feet in."  Lake Rodney was huge; no doubt the waters were very deep particularly in its center, but even closer to the shore in some spots you could run into some trouble.

Well Duh, of course she was Finley. She had just said that! Was she a bit simple? Mason's eyes took on a softer tone. He had dealt with June for long enough to feel empathy for all those less able. It didn't mean they weren't real wolves too. Poor lass. Why would Rodney be getting deep? Was he a deep conversationalist? Mason's head began to hurt a bit.

"So... if you're Finley... is Rodney your boyfriend?" Mason said as slowly as he could. "And where... is... he?" Maybe he should howl for Rodney to make sure she was taken home with an adult. He didn't want to leave her roaming the snows alone. Mason looked around for anyone else but saw no one. He looked back to her pretty face and smiled at her, hoping she could understand his words.

Something changed in his regard of her, and Fin was at a loss as to why.  When he spoke again, it was slowly and deliberately, as though she was halfwit toddler that he was trying to teach calculus to.  She stared blankly at him as he asked if Rodney was her boyfriend, now thoroughly confused.  Although, she should have by now caught on as to where the confusion stemmed from, but instead she just grew aggravated, which made it far more difficult for her to clearly reason her way through this disaster of a conversation.  Maybe she was a halfwit.

"Weren't you looking for a lake?" Fin replied, speaking with the same tone and speed he had just used, intentionally patronizing him right back.

Mason noted that she seemed confused and out-of-place in the world. He started to feel a bit worried about her. When she returned speech, it was in a slow and steady rhythm like he had undertaken. Glad he was helping her to understand, Mason smiled softly and nodded.

“Yes, a lake. Is there one near here? I was looking for some herbs, to help poorly wolves.” Mason spoke gently, but not as slowly as before. Maybe he could try and bring her up to speed in the conversation. Did she even know what a lake was?

last post for me! Sorry this dragged on

She was over this comedy errors. She was happier being on her own, and he was really too young for her to have fun flirting with.  Fin sucked in a breath before nodding to a point over his shoulder.

"Go that way for a few miles," she told him, "You'll eventually run into Lake Rodney, which will likely satisfy all of your lake needs, whatever they may be." She hadn't actually listened. "I am going that way," she informed her, gesturing in the opposite direction, "Which is not the way you should go. You go that way. Not that way." Nods in one direction and the other and again accompanied her words before finally she have him a firm smile, turned, and left, determined to not run into any more lunatics.

Mason watched her walk away with some confusion, and less interest. She was a lost cause, if she couldn’t follow a conversation. It was a pity, but not a sin. He knew well from knowing June that some wolves were simply slower than others. At least she had finally pointed him in the direction of the lake.
 
Mason headed off towards the large body of water, intending to scout around its perimeter. As he reached the glassy surface and began to make his way around, he idly wondered what the lake was called…