Otter Creek Speak softly

@Claire

Beric had wandered deeper inland, through mountains and forests and plains. His next pit stop seemed to be a quiet little creek- just what he needed. He was tired and needed a rest. He walked leisurely towards the water, lowering his head to get his fill of the crisp, fresh water. He preferred running stream water to lakes. There was just something... better about it. Not that he would die of dehydration if the only available source was still water.

Done drinking, he plopped his body down on the bank, resting his head on his outstretched front legs. He had just closed his eyes when something tugged at his front paw. He was up in a second, but the offender slipped back into the water before he could even see what it was. Not taking any chances, he laid back down a few feet from the bank. For a few minutes, his eyes remained open and on the bank, almost waiting for something to pop up. His eyelids grew heavy, however, and he gave into them, shutting them softly. About the same time, a creature slipped out of the water and onto the bank, silently running over to Beric and pulling on his tail. The large male wolf stood up quickly, growling as he turned around to face his attacker. What he saw was a juvenile otter, a laughing chatter coming from it as it ran back to the water. He was nowhere near hungry, so hunting the bothering creature wasn't really in his plans. He growled again, just for good measure, hoping it wouldn't come back. Beric really didn't have the energy to try and find another spot, even though this one was turning out to be more noisy than he first thought. He laid back down, hoping to get a few moments of rest. He closed his eyes, but was really waiting for the otter to come back. He dosed off in his wait, and awoke a short time later to droplets of water on his muzzle. He opened his eyes, and it there, standing right in front of him. It chattered, and his ears perked, but otherwise he didn't move. Maybe it would go away. It obviously meant no harm to him, and it was under the impression he wasn't a harm to it. It chattered again. What? he asked, like it would answer him back. Suddenly, it was heading around his body and jumping onto his back. Beric turned his head to try get it off, but it was faster than he was right now. The wolf groaned, turning onto his side. The otter moved with him, chattering again. Beric just lay his head down on the grass, giving up.

oh hey!

A scawny figure trailed quickly across the extense lands covered with tall grass and shrubs, its dainty feet moving with ease, she definitely liked this better than the mountain sides. Where a mistep could seal your fate for the worst.

She felt her breath increase it speed, and for a second thought she may faint. Why wouldn't she? It had been four days since she has last eaten. She flicked her tongue over her coal black nose, wondering if perhaps she should have eaten that dead mountain goat she had found in the mountain.

Whatever, she murmured, coming upon a river. She approached figuring she could fill her empty belly with water 'till she found some food. But just before she could lower her neck to take a drink, a quite funny scene developed a few yards away from her. A male wolf and an otter interacting, with no sign of aggression towards one another.

"Oh,wow" she exclaimed, her eyes flicking from the otter to the wolf respectively.

The otter did not settle comfortable, like Beric had hoped. It began to jump up and down on his side, Oomph! Ow! Quit it! he demanded, not that it listened to him. He got quickly to his paws, and turned on the creature. It ran and he ran after it, though not wholeheartedly. He slowed to a stop, and the otter turned and came running toward him, wrapping itself around his front legs. He sighed, and his gaze scanned the area, and found a female looking at him and his new... friend.

His ears swiveled a little embarrassment, and he gave a little smirk, shrugging one shoulder. I, uh... He just... seems to like me, he said.

The female shuffled her paws watching the cartoonish interaction between the wolf and the otter, she had never seen something like that before. The little water mammal must be mad to test his luck with a wolf so big.

Claire's pale eyes glimmered with interest as he saw the male take off after the little creature, with no real intention of harming it. Then the otter pushed the limit again when it wrapped itself across thge wolf's paws, standing in his striking range. Bold move for a little furry thing.

"Lovely" she said at last, meeting her eyes to his. His embarrased gesture coaxed her forward, trotting lightly to stand closer to the pair.

The young otter seemed to be making a fool of Beric, but the male wolf was not the type to kill when it wasn't for food or for life. It was just playing anyways, and not harming anything. Except Beric's pride, maybe. The female trotted over and Beric sat back on his haunches. My name is Beric, from Wheeling Gull Isle. I came for a rest, but... Well, he won't let me, he said, motioning to the creature rolling over between his forelegs.

He knew what a comical scene they were making, and that this was usual. It wasn't like he sought out fauna to play with. It just hadn't learned what enemies it should steer clear of, and he wasn't in the mood to teach any lessons.

The young female's eyes fluttered across the male's face, making their way from his chin along the bridge of his snout to finally meet his eyes. She gazed into his yellow orbs for a second or two before shifting her gaze quickly to the smaller mammal.

Looking past her gaunt figure and matted fur that clinged to her bony structure tainted with mud and filth, Claire could be considered a pretty female. Her slim face still held faint traces of the beauty she once wore proudly, when the days weren't full of gloomy clouds and misery -as they seemed to be to the girl.

Whether of not Beric could see it was up to him. While the male introduced himself, gicing full detail of his name and his alliances Claire remained silent knowing she had nothing as interesting to contribute. Yet she took the trouble to say her name, "My name is Claire Van Vliet," she began, her voice awfully hoarse since she had not had a drink for quite a while. Noticing this, the pale girl cleared her throat, "I don't belong to any pack.. I-I travel alone" she concluded casting her eyes to the male.

The otter finally got bored with Beric, and chattered as it went back to the bank and into the water. Beric sighed in relief at not being a toy anymore, and stood, walking slowly towards the female to close the distance between them. He sat back down a few feet from her, taking the time to appreciate her now. She was a mess of beautiful colors, dainty in her slim form. Her eyes stood out the most, though. He gazed into the hazel color for a few moments before breaking the contact, not wanting to be rude. Claire, he repeated. That's a pretty name, he said. For a pretty girl, he thought. He wasn't brave enough to say it, though. He didn't have much "game" when it came to females.

She admitted she was a traveler and didn't belong to any pack. It might be the reason why she looked so skinny, though that could just be her form. Either way, he didn't comment. You're welcome to come check out the island, he offered. We're a bit newly formed, but settling in. He didn't think of himself as a recruiter for the pack, but he knew how hard the lone life could be for a wolf. If you're interested, anyway. No pressure, he added with a smile. Are you from around here? he asked.

hmm.. we could either pretend this was before this thread when the angels scream, so that when Claire finally arrives at the island, Beric will remember her OR i don't know.. :0

The skinny girl followed the otter's trail with her eyes, until it finally disappeared into the water. She then turned back to the wolf in front of her and gave him a quick smile before sitting with her tail wrapped around her toes. She noticed he insisted on making eye contact with her, which made her shift uncomforably and lower her gaze.

When he reapeated her name, her chin rose and her eyes darted from the ground to his face, quickly dashing away when she found him looking at her directly. "Thanks" she muttered weakly when he complimented her name. She wasn't good at taking compliments, she had never been, and the thought of him maybe trying to flirt with her just fueled her anxiety.

The mention of an island made her wary, she loved water, hence her last name that refered to rushing water -Vliet. But she had never been fond of the ocean, she had travelled there with her more once before and the whole expirience was overwhelming. They were both thristy and of course drinking salt water would only mean dehydration. She flinched visibly and gave a soft , "umm" not knowing how to turn down his offer politely.

She then decided to answer his other question, "No, I come from far away, I've travelled my whole life with my mother, honestly I cannot remember where my first home was" she admitted with a shy laugh.

Sure, that works for me :-)

It seemed his compliment had made her a little uneasy, as she constantly shifted her gaze and refused to meet his own. He dropped his own in an attempt to make her feel a little more at ease, shifting it here and there, though looking at her when she spoke to let her know his attention was still on her. She seemed uncomfortable when his invitation to visit the island, as well. He gave her a soft smile and a shrug of one shoulder, No big deal if you don't want to. You won't hurt my feelings if you don't visit, he assured her. He was simply trying to be kind and make a new friend, but he understood some wolves just were not trusting and he wouldn't force it.

She did open up a little bit, though, admitting she had been traveling for the better part of her life. That reminded him of someone from back home. My Mom lived much like you did. Her Mom was a lone wolf who gave birth to her, and left her own her own at six months. She traveled for some time before finding a stable home. He shrugged a little, Your story reminded me of her, he stated. Where's your Mom now? he asked, his gaze looking around, as if he expected to spot her somewhere nearby.

Once again the timid young girl shifted her weight from one side to another while she met Beric's eyes briefly to dedicate him a warm smile in response to his offer. She did not speak, but the look on her hazel eyes got her message across. I'll visit someday.

Then as fast as the conversation seemed to resparkle, the male's innocent question made her spirits drown again. Somehow her mother seemed to appear in every single conversation the young female had, as if her memory were still haunting her and lingering in her mind rubbing salt on her open wound.
She flinched visibly, and even as she tried to keep her posture straight, her shoulders slumped forward, betraying the pain she felt inside her chest.

Claire fought the urge to break into tears, she didn't want to cry in front of this stranger. She bit her tongue until she felt the metallic flavour of blood in her mouth. But somehow she managed to lift her head and face the male, with sad teary eyes. "My mother is not here" she barked, "She died recently.." she explained with wavering voice.

Suddenly the same scene that had developed a few days prior played in her mind, the fog that greeted her that cold morning, the eerie silence that embraced the small cave Claire and her mother had chosen the night before, and the rancid smell that reeked out of her mother's matted coat. Those were all things she could never forget.

She didn't bother to give him any further explanation. He did not need to know of the conditon her mother had died in. The blank expression in her half-opened eyes and the great amount of necrotic tissue that surrounded an old wound in her leg. He did not need such image in his mind.

He was graced with a warm smile, and he returned it, thinking maybe he had finally broken through her shyness. He had never been good with females, and even worse with the ones who weren't outgoing. The confident ones at least lead the conversation a little, but Claire was making him work for it. The reward was like sunshine, though. His tail wagged, and then he asked about her mother.

Which was obviously such a huge mistake. His tail halted and his smile faltered when her expression change. He knew immediately he should have not questioned where her companion was. Oh, Claire, he verbally stumbled. I-I'm so sorry. I'm such a doofus, I shouldn't have said anything. He shook his head, mentally berating himself for being so stupid. He had to lift her spirits; it was the least he could do.

He lifted one leg and shielded his eyes with his paw, trying to look cute. He sneaked a look to see if it was working.

It took a moment for the female to answer, she had been looking at the ground when Beric's apology came so she didn't notice his playful gesture at first. "It's alright" she mumbled with her hazel eyes still glued to her feet. "You had no way of knowing" she excused him, while that very same phrase burned her throat. She had no way of knowing either. Her mother had not complained or even hinted she was ill when they went to bed that awful night.

She sighed and noticing the silence that had fallen upon them she lifted his gaze, only to find him looking at her with a paw over his snout. The first reaction of the pale girl was to look at him confused until the 'Happy Claire' inside of her caused her to burst into laughter.

A howling laughter that carried her sorrow and turned it into joy, a momentary joy that allowed her to cage her tormenting demons for at least a little while.

Thanks so much for the thread! Would love to have another soon!

He smiled at the sound of her laughter, his leg going back down and his tail wagging. For a moment, he was memorized by her. He thought she looked beautiful before, but her laughter took it to a whole new level. Catching himself staring, he smiled sheepishly and looked away. It was then he noticed the setting sun. Looking back to her apologetically, he said, Unfortunately, I need to get back home. The tide will be rising soon and I'd like to cross on the sandbar before it does. He stood, but didn't leave just yet. I hope to see you again sometime. Maybe we'll bump into each other around here. He hoped she knew she had made a new friend, and that she wasn't all alone in this world. Take care, he said with a genuine smile. He turned then, and headed for the island.

thank you too :-)

Claire's uproaring laughter was short-lived, just like his presence. She was sad he had to go now, since they were both beginning to crawl out their shell. But she could undertsand he had his reasons, and she could not force him to stay. He had places to go and things to do --unlike her.

"Goodbye" she barked soflty as she prepared to leave to. Where to? she didn't now yet, she'd just have to find a hollow tree or an abandoned den to spend the night. For a second she thought about the otter, perhaps he could keep her company now.

She watched him go, and with a simple "You too" she scurried into the depth of the flatland too.