Razorback Ridge Burning Hot
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#1
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@Screech

Nevouku had moved off from the mountain he had taken shelter at, heading further south to where he believed he could find a safe place. He knew exactly what place, but what he did not know, yet thought a lot about was whether or not was if he would be accepted once more. 

Nevouku took cover from the cold, being out here alone was not the smartest plan, but he had a plan. A set plan, and as long as he got far, far away from those he was on the run from, that was all he needed. As he set himself down, he felt a sudden panic as he thought of those he was on the run from, and his breath quickened. He quickly thought of others things in an attempt to calm himself.
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Upon his initial attempt at returning home, Screech realized he would have to cross through the center of the valley and come dangerously close to both the meadow where he'd been grabbed, and the forest from where he'd been lost. The prospect of venturing near either of these places made his skin crawl. So, after his brief interlude of rest, he chose a random direction that opposed the caldera, and was off again. The boy's path intersected with a half-frozen river that took some thought to cross, and then he was met with the beautiful rolling vista that was the Hoshor Plains; although the name eluded him, Screech found himself glad to have gotten this far despite the darkening sky.

The dark clouds he had witnessed earlier looked thinner than before - as if they were being pulled apart - but maybe the strong currents of wind merely tugged the clouds away from his path. He wondered if it would snow again or if the clouds would have to collect first - and before long, with his mind directed at the sky rather than the land around him or the path he followed, he lost track of time. Screech paused when he found himself overlooking a small ravine; it dropped out across a series of plateaus, then rose again along a ridge of shale, becoming a range of mountains that stretched on for - well, he presumed, forever.

He breathed deeply of the mountain air, and as he turned to survey the uneven terrain which he had just climbed (wondering if perhaps he could see home from this vantage point), he caught sight of a dark figure among the angled trees. Immediately the boy's fur began to prickle and fluff up, and he scrutinized the figure as it moved along. He wasn't close enough to get a good look at the stranger - and in a bold move (perhaps to confront his own fears), he began to pursue them.
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Nevouku slowed his breaths. This place, with the trees, he both felt sheltered and cornered. He wanted to stay, but he had to get moving. Even though it was cold, stopping was dangerous for him. And the cover he took, he saw that it would not be enough to survive a night. So he got moving as soon as he could, standing. 

Until he saw a shadow move. He froze. The panic rose up again. And as soon as he could, he moved. He bolted. "Get away!" he shouted, not looking back until he tripped on a root of a tree, flipping onto his side. But the pain was nothing compared to the panic inside. Nevouku looked about, trying to find the shadow to see where it would come from.
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#4

The boy wasn't being all that stealthy as he followed after the shadow, but he did slow his pace when they paused to shout at him - obviously caught, Screech seized up. In that moment he learned a few things about the stranger: they were larger than him, they were also older than him, and they were afraid. That last one was key - and very strange.

Why would someone who was bigger, stronger, and more experienced react so sharply to him? Screech couldn't help but feel a sudden wave of vindication upon witnessing the stranger's fear. He felt a little guilty too, but, for a brief moment he was superior and that was enough to compell him to keep up the act.

He didn't respond, and continued to follow the stranger, intent on seeing what would happen if he closed the distance and followed them.
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#5
Nevouku couldn't see the shadow of the other wolf, not until he saw them approaching from the distance. He tried to get up, but his leg ached. Not so much that it felt broken, but enough to keep him on the ground. "St-Stay back! I d-don't want any trouble!" He didn't take notice that the other wolf was smaller than him, he had learnt not to underestimate anyone.
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#6


He felt something as he followed after the other wolf, and it only got stronger the more they protested - at first he thought it was further guilt twisting his gut, a sour remorse for terrorizing an obviously unhinged adult. No, that wasn't it. Screech realized as he drew closer and closer that he was thrilled by the reaction of the stranger. That he was enjoying it, feeling powerful and in control. At no point did it cross his mind to speak or to leave the other wolf alone; he knew he could depart at any time, so he was safe in that regard, and the stranger might've been bigger but he was afraid. Having become accustomed to his own terrors and insecurities in the past few weeks, Screech reveled in the power imbalance. He snaked around the trees and followed an adjoining path to the one the stranger tread, listening to his own footfalls beating as he ran.
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Nevouku pushed his legs to try to get up, trying to pull himself away. While the other may have been getting over his fears, Nevouku simply could not. He could do nothing except just curl up against a tree, and hope they would miss him, just pass by and see him as part of the tree. So he curled up, trying not to cry out in fear.
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#8

If only the rest of his family could see this! Maybe they'd get a sense of how strong he was by bearing witness. If he could do this with a grown man by just tailing after him, maybe growing up and being a warrior wasn't such a bad idea after all! The more he lurked, the more frightened the stranger got, the more powerful Screech felt. If he couldn't been powerful like this versus the Blackfeather wolves --

But that was where his thoughts sort of skipped a beat, like a spindle jumping across a record.

Screech looked at the cowering stranger and realized something beyond his own selfish desires; he saw himself, curled up and crying for mercy within the black pit of dispair that was the Blackfeather forest. How powerful he felt now, but not when he was being targeted, with his injury and his immense fears. He was being no better than them.

Upon realizing this he stumble-stepped, losing his pace and tripping in to a nearby tree; his shoulder connected to the surface and he felt the twinge of pain as he scraped against it. With a wince he turned from the stranger - and without a word, took off.
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Nevouku heard a shuffle nearby, and closed his eyes real tight, just wishing away whomever it was stalking upon him. He heard more stumbles, then...it sounded like running. Once all was silent, except for the quiet whispers of the wind and some chirping birds, he lifted his head to see nothing was there anymore. He was shaking like a leaf, and tried to calm himself, while still looking for who, or what had come so close to him. Then, he went on his way, limping a bit.