Bramblepoint in the woods somewhere

@Dash

The lack of growing fruit made the brambles seem sinister as they sat in the baking sun, daunting as ever. Their sharp thorns had already torn through his handsome golden fur and clung to the skin beneath, leaving him torn and cut in areas he had not been before. Though Sawyer found that the area reminded him somewhat of the Wild Wood of home. The trees had been thick and twisted; overhead they stood so full that it would block the sun on even the fiercest summer days. The undergrowth was a mixture of soft bushes and sharp twisting thorns. Weasels and voles thrived in the area and always provided a quick meal for the wolves who called the Wood their habitat.
 
Working his way through a particularly rough patch of brambles, the golden male shouldered the tangle aside and felt the sharp sting of the thorn against his ribs. Wincing a bit, he managed to find himself at the very edge of the wicked nettles and in a stretch that would be easier to travel. Breathing heavily, Sawyer turned his gaze back on the direction he had come and realized that he could not return that way again.

Dash had left Moonspear in search of food, but he had yet to come across anything. He would have chased after anything edible, but first he had to find something. He trotted down the mountain, into the grasslands, if they could still be called that, and towards Bramblepoint. He wasn't really sure what could be hiding in the thick thorn bushes, but maybe something.

He began sniffing around the edges, seeing if he could find scent of a potential meal. With low prey opportunities, maybe the prey that was here sensed they needed to hide better. This would the spot since everything was so prickly.

Movement caught his eye, and Dash froze, watching the golden wolf make his way through the bushes. Dash wouldn't outright take down a wolf for a meal, he was smarter than that. But, his stomach rumbled a protest. He sighed, choosing to ignore it. Instead, he chuffed to alert the stranger to his presence. Anything that was hiding here would be hiding well since the stranger had already been through the thicket.

A soft noise sounded the presence of another wolf. Sawyer turned his head in the direction of the creature who was occupying the same stretch of land as the southern boy. Flicking his tail upwards to demonstrate that he was friendly enough, the golden beast took a step or two towards the inky figure. Their intent was the same; searching for food. While Sawyer had not really been that intent on finding something, he did take a moment to note the thin frame of the other wolf. Times were tough in those parts, that was certain. The flaxen-eyed male frowned sympathetically towards the stranger.
 
“If you were lookin’ for somethin’ to eat in those brambles there… ‘m afraid you won’t have much luck, friend,” he remarked. The sweet twang of his accent seemed to drift through the air effortlessly. While it was a rather obvious remark that he was making, Sawyer thought it wise to warn the other wolf instead of having him waste energy and time in search of prey that wasn’t there.

Dash frowned at the words, his ears swiveling back, then forward again. He relaxed his stance as he realized that the male was friendly. He let out a sigh. I was hoping to find something, but oh, well. Thanks for the heads up, he said. The other male was kind to let Dash know before he exerted energy on a task that would come up as a failure.

He sat back on his haunches, regarding the other male. I'm Dash, from Moonspear, he offered up, his mind moving away from the hunt. It was pointless to dwell.

Sawyer’s words were met with a heavy sigh and a longing glance of disappointment. It was to be expected under such conditions. The golden man had never known a hardship like this one. He had lived his life well-loved and looked after by a devoted pack tucked away in the deep dark of the woods. It thrived, and because of that so did those who called it home. Since his arrival in the Teekon Wilds, he could not help but have an ache in his heart for the forest that he had called home.
 
The thanks from the dark wolf did not go unnoticed. Sawyer nodded his head politely and once it was said and done, his ears swiveled forward to meet the rest of the stranger’s words. Dash he repeated in his head, drawing his flaxen gaze over the frame of the dark wolf. “Pleasure, Dash… pleasure,” he drawled with a smile. “I’m Sawyer. Not from ‘round these parts. Moonspear, you say? That nearby?” he then continued with peaked interest. If the golden boy was to survive in the famine-ridden lands, he would need to seek out a pack.

The other male was rather friendly, which Dash was grateful for. He wasn't really looking for an altercation, and it was always nice to meet a friendly face. He introduced himself as Sawyer, but explained he wasn't from around here, then asked where Dash's pack was. It's that mountain, there, he explained, motioning his muzzle towards home. 

What brought you to these parts? Dash asked. He thought about asking where he was from, but Sawyer had already said he wasn't from these parts, and Dash figured he probably wouldn't know what he was talking about if he asked anyways. Besides, he felt it was much more interesting to know why he had come than where he had come from.

The Crowfeather wolf did not see much for altercation with a stranger in the heat of a famine. It was far more trouble than it would have been worth for either one of them. He did not know how those who had survived there were lasting. As his pale eyes roamed Dash’s figure with a burning curiosity, he noted the thin features and the jutting bones. Still, the inky wolf stood and hunted and communicated without lashing out in a vicious attempt to feed. Sawyer’s eyes followed the point of the dark wolf’s muzzle in the direction of a mountain that sat not too far away. It loomed over its surroundings with a dignity that could not have been beat. It was surely a beautiful place to call home.
 
A question then slipped past the other’s mouth and caught the swivel of Sawyer’s ear. He turned his attention away from Moonspear and fixated his eyes on his present company. “Just thought it best that I set out on my own… try n’ make a name for m’self. Got a big family back home and after a while you start itchin’ for greener pastures,” he answered carefully. “Though I ‘spose your pastures aren’t all that green,” he then added with small smirk.

Dash nodded when Sawyer explained that he left the pack his family was in to create his own path. Dash couldn't help but chuckle at the joke. Yeah, unfortunately the locusts came in and ate everything they could grab on to. I'm hoping it will all start to grow back soon, though I've never seen this before, so I'm not sure how long it takes for everything to come back, he confessed. 

The destruction that the locusts caused would have been beyond his comprehension if he wasn't here living it. If someone had told him about it, he would have found it hard to believe. In the wake of the bugs, they had not only take all the greenery, but had chased all the prey away in the process. Not exactly a great beginning for someone trying to make a fresh start.

 
The great golden male listened intently as Dash recalled the locusts and their attack on the Teekon Wilds. His brows were knitted tightly across his forehead and he seemed deeply troubled that such an attack would fall across an entire expanse of land in such a way. Sawyer had never encountered troubles of the like in the Wild Wood. He did not care to share this information with his present company, though. It did no good to speak of his great fortune when compared to the bout of bad luck they had seemed to receive. “How long ago did they come flyin’ through here?” he asked curiously. He’d seen the growth of trees and plants return within a month and wished he could share the same information with the dark-furred Moonspear wolf.
 
“It might seem dismal, but I’ve always been one for a challenge,” Sawyer then added with a quick flash of his teeth in a wolfish grin. He had been tested in different ways growing up, and while his experience was limited to trials of the mind and soul, he was willing to try himself against those of the body. It had been his intention to start new and he had never been one to quit.
 

The golden wolf asked how long ago the bugs had flown through, and Dash had to think for a moment. Estimating time wasn't something he was great at, since he was more of a live-in-the-moment kind of wolf. Time meant little to him. Well, I wasn't here when they came through, but I don't think it was too long before I came back. Maybe a month or a little longer? he guessed. 

Sawyer said he was up for a challenge, and Dash grinned. That's a good attitude to have, he commented. Dash was always looking for ways to stay alive, and he never let things get him down too bad. If all the wolves of Teekon Wilds got depressed and gave up, they would all starve and die. With the thought and ingenuity to continue on, despite the famine, the strong would survive. Are you looking for a pack? he asked. Dash remembered the other wolf had said he wasn't from here, but wasn't sure if he had any plans to stick around.

The dark-furred Dash seemed to have to contemplate the timespan that it had taken for the locusts to come and ravage the land around him. He stated that he wasn’t around when they’d actually flown through, which meant that he wouldn’t have an accurate frame to judge. Yet, he managed a short guess that would seem accurate based on the short buds of green that were forming on the trees again. “I’d say a month would be about right. You’ll be seein’ green again soon, I’m sure,” Sawyer chirped with a nod of his head and a curling smile on his inky lips.
 
When Dash remarked on Sawyer’s attitude, he offered a bashful lowering of his skull towards the earth and his smile faded a bit. Taking compliments was not always the easiest for the traveling southerner. Still, for a stranger to recognize a momentary strength was uplifting. “I am lookin’ for a pack. Hopefully in this neck of the woods somewhere. Are you Moonspear wolves takin’ in new blood?” he then asked with a curious tilt of his brow.  
 

Sawyer agreed with Dash's estimated timeline, and seemed to be hopeful the foliage would return soon. I hope so. I miss feeling... full! he exclaimed with a smile. Eating small meals would keep him alive, but it had been too long since he had felt satisfied. Surely mother nature would kick in soon and things would start growing back. That was the way that nature worked, right?

The other male admitted he was looking for a pack, and Dash nodded enthusiastically. Yeah, we have a few spots open. I think Charon and Amekaze, the Alpha's, would like you, he responded. He couldn't ever say for certain, since it wasn't up to him who got accepted and who didn't, but Dash got a good feeling about Sawyer. You could stop by, if you like, he offered.

You can close this out with your post if you'd like! I'd love to have another one soon. <3

In regards to the question that had been presented, Dash spoke with as much knowledge of their open ranks as he could. Sawyer listened intently while the dark-furred wolf answered his inquiry. When he had concluded, the golden wolf frowned thoughtfully and wondered if he was capable of seeking out a home on the mountain ground. The thought sent a shiver down his spine and he found himself both fearful of the idea and drawn to it. Whether or not he decided to seek acceptance into the ranks of Moonspear, he was certain that he would travel that way to visit the inky male.
 
Realizing that he had taken quite a bit of the other wolf’s time, Sawyer looked to him with a small sigh and then glanced along the path he had intended to take. “Well, Dash… I do think I ought to move along and not take up much more of your good time. I do appreciate all the chit chat, friend. I’ll come and visit you on the mountainside?” he prompted with a flashing smile and a wag of his tail. After bidding the kind stranger farewell, the long-legged Sawyer set out on his own path once more and planned a moment in the future to seek out the kindly Dash.

Ditto! <3

Dash was patient as Sawyer seemed to consider his offer. In the end, the other male promised to visit, but didn't elaborate on whether or not he would think about joining. Not one to push, Dash let it go.

I look forward to your visit, he said honestly. Until then, travel safe, he added with a soft smile. Several months ago, Dash would have been too shy to speak such things. He was happy with his progress, though, and his new-found friend. 

He turned in the direction of home, his tail wagging happily as he trotted along.