Hideaway Strath Tell it on the mountain

He'd chosen not to climb to the top of the mountain, and when the weather cleared he found a route to follow down in to the muck again. As soon as he spotted the undulating forest of the strath he was in the clear; but as he crossed from one outcropping of exposed rocks and shale to the forest, he felt the whipping winds buffering against his shoulders. He ducked against them. They were strong winds that told him winter was here to stay, rooting itself in the mountains, but he wasn't afraid.

As Tulimaq crept through the forest's densely growing fringe, his broad paws kept him from sinking in to a fresh layer of snow which had fallen overnight. The mountain had it worse. He'd woken with thick layers of pale insulation all around him, and the same silver-white snow clung to his scruff and his spine, frozen in place during his hike. The forest wasn't as densely coated, probably because the trees collected the flakes rather than the ground. That made travel easier.

But he stopped as he came to a gap in the trees, and glanced back at the mountain that had been his home for the past few days - and he realized with a hitch in his chest, that he couldn't abandon it.

*decided to cut her loose*

Despite her best efforts to lay low, Bat couldn't avoid her mother forever. When Wildfire tracked her down and told her about the encounter with Artaax, the youth didn't say much. Wildfire left to go find Raven and Bat went in the other direction, her tread carrying her slowly toward the borders. There was her brother's scent, all right, leading off in the direction of the distant coast. Bat swallowed, contemplating everything she'd been told. Then she swiveled, facing to the south now, and bolted.

She ran through the neighboring glade without stopping, then drew up short when she reached the foothills of a peak. After a brief deliberation, Bat decided to go east. She knew she would find the falls if she turned north again, though as soon as she reached the bank of the river, she followed its flow southward, into a territory she had never explored. Crags rose up on either side like some sort of gate and she passed through, feet crunching in the deepening snow.

The carpet of white thinned again when she walked into a forest like many others. And just like every time she came creeping into a strange wood, Bat found she had company. She slowed to a stop, eyeballing the stranger from a distance before woofing to announce her presence.

When he heard the breathy sound of someone calling out, Tulimaq turned his attention to his surroundings and to the forest, although he could've stared at the imposing mountain in the distance for hours; he was silently enamored with it. He had not thought this forest to be anything special and hadn't anticipated that any wolves would find their way through it, but he was pleasantly proven wrong by the sight of an agile young thing watching him from the depths. At first he mistook some of the dappled light creeping through the canopy for a set of eyes and moved to intercept it, only to realize a second later that he was wrong. Her silver eyes stood out against the soot-toned composition of her narrow face.

He felt like posturing but didn't, deciding to play the role of the wanderer like he usually did. The mountain could wait. He boldly approached the youth and with a reaching step, lunged at the fur along her scruff so that he could sniff at it; whether she allowed it or not, he was searching for information and was amused to find many indications that this was not just a lone wolf, but someone who likely lived nearby. A pack wolf. He would have to explore the area more thoroughly if it was to become his home.

As he drew away from her the man's voice boomed, I wasn't aware there were wolves in the hinterlands, and while the phrase itself was casual there was an edge to the way he said it, inviting further information.

When the stranger turned in her direction, Bat scrutinized him from a distance. He looked average on most counts, though his legs were a little long in proportion to his body. He was larger than her, although not intimidatingly so... though Bat flinched, mostly in surprise, when he lunged at her. Instead of burying his fangs in her neck, however, it was just his nose probing at her.

"Dude," she said, sidestepping away from him, "keep that ice cold thing away from me." She shook out her body, ears flapping audibly, then regarded him again. "You can just ask, instead of sticking your schnozz all up in my grill. Thanks for not putting it in my butt, at least." Her head canted as she finally got around to answering his question statement with a simple, "Yep, there's dozens of us."

Her flippant retort was surprising for its sharp tone and childish nature, and he couldn't stop himself from lifting a lip at the sound of it. Tulimaq decided right then that he disliked being called dude. He flicked his tongue across his teeth and lips and let himself relax, hardly bothered in the long run.

Dozens she'd said — then there must have been at least one family living here, maybe more. That would put a strain on resources should he require leaving the mountain; Tulimaq wondered if the pigs of the lowlands would be enough to feed his pack — ah, there it was, that little thought that would nag at him for the next little while. He must have made up his mind about the mountain on some level, but he was still surprised by himself and his own thoughts.

The man snorted softly and regarded her with a shrewd gleam to his eye. She was either a very young wolf or a very unhealthy one, judging by the narrow quality of her body and lean muscle attached to it. They must be well hidden, he explained (not that she'd asked but he didn't care), Where do you call home? He anticipated a facetious response, maybe some outright lies, and prepared himself.

This ambassador role he'd thrown himself in to wasn't working out for him so far, but maybe in time Tulimaq would learn how to be more personable (and stop invading other people's space rather than ask easy questions).

"Uh, not really," Bat countered. Honestly, the Redhawks couldn't have chosen a more ostentatious landmark to claim. The plateau stood out like a sore thumb against the surrounding forests and plains. "There's a pack on Heron Lake Plateau, ah..." She turned partially to double check her orientation, glancing skyward to gauge the position of the sun. "West of here, maybe a little to the north too." Turning back to face him, she added, "They're called the Redhawks."

She'd answered his question, sort of indirectly; she didn't know that she really considered the place home. Ever since Wildfire and the others had shown up, the Redhawks felt like an outfit that no longer fit her right. But if home was was where the heart is, then she did live there, via @Tegan. You friggin' sap, she thought to herself. In any case, if she could convince him to go abroad with her, then they wouldn't live there forever...

She blinked her silver eyes, realizing her thoughts had run away from her. "I'm Bat," she introduced, then waited for him to share his own name.

The girl offered up enough information to appease him, and to pique his interest further. Perhaps he should head north and seek these wolves out — these Redhawks — and test them the way he tested those that came before them. Tulimaq's desire to find fighting partners and prove his prowess had fallen by the wayside recently and so he was less inclined to push those limits — if he did stumble upon them, it would be for more practical reasons. If they were the only other gathering of wolves in this section of the wilderness then he could make allies out of them - unless they weren't worthy.

I'm Bat, the girl quipped, redirecting Tulimaq's attention from his mindless plotting and returning him to the matter at hand. He didn't miss a beat despite being somewhat distracted with the information, Tulimaq. I've... Claimed a section of the mountains for myself. Which is why he had been asking her so many questions, but he need not point it out.

He offered his name in turn, then mentioned that he'd claimed part of the mountains for himself. "You and who else?" Bat wondered automatically, the phrasing almost accusatory but her tone demonstrating her true intent: simple curiosity. "Oh," she added before he could answer, "there's another pack somewhere around here, south of the plateau. It's called Rosings. And another to the north, in Shadewood. Last time I checked, they were both still getting off the ground." Dozens, indeed.

He could've answered the question - she'd offered him a lot of information and it would be wise to return the favor - but then she began to explain further, and he learned how wrong he really was about this area. There were multiple packs all around, mostly to the west, which made him suddenly thankful for the curving mountain range that blocked his chosen home off from the rest of the hinterlands. Still, Tulimaq wasn't eager to talk about his solo venture upon the cliffs of Boartusk; he might've claimed it for himself but he had no followers, not yet. So he didn't answer that part - choosing to focus on the rest of what she'd mentioned.

Rosings, and the Shadewood, he murmured, committing the details to memory. These were good things to know. If these wolves were trying to settle then they'd be competition. Bat's family would take care of them if they came too far north or east, Tulimaq presumed, so he need not worry about resources yet. Perhaps I'll track them down myself - and pop by this plateau you speak of. Tell me, are your family members warriors? Have you ever seen combat..? If these wolves were anything like the rest he'd encountered, perhaps it would be better for him to cast aside his concept of an idealized base of operations.

Grats on 100!

Perhaps she was being too forthcoming with information, though Bat saw no reason not to share what amounted to public record. Tulimaq mentioned going and seeing these packs for himself and she bobbed her snout as if to agree with this course of action. As a scout with a roguish streak, she certainly approved of sticking one's nose in others' business.

He asked about her family and that caused a bit of an ache in her chest. It reminded her of the recent run-in with Artaax, the threats he'd made and then repeated to Wildfire and Kiwi. Her mother had warned her that he might come after them with other Drakru in tow, then reassured her that the Redhawks would never let anything happen to them. Nonetheless, the whole recollection prompted a great shudder of her lean body.

"Yeah, the Redhawks have lots of hunters and mercenaries," Bat said. "I dunno about combat though." She hadn't seen anything and the bit about the possible war brewing did seem like something she should keep to herself, for her pack's safety and for her own peace of mind. It was just about the last thing she wanted to talk about right now.

"So, do you have any followers or what?" Bat asked, circling back and arching her brows inquisitively.

:) TY!!

He could've followed her back home if he'd been so inclined, but the more he thought about it the less he wanted to do that. If he wanted to make a good impression then Tulimaq would seek out the smaller, weaker groups first. Perhaps they would offer him some new information, or maybe he'd confront some of them and test their battle capabilities - poach them for members if they were worthy - and then head north to the plateau. If what Bat said was the truth, he had no reason to worry about the westernmost section of the hinterlands.

She brought to light the fact that her family were mostly hunters and mercenaries, and that thrilled him more than he expressed. Tulimaq had been aching for a good fight as he'd crossed through territory after territory, and if he could find a worthy sparring partner here then that would seal the deal. This could be everything he's ever wanted.

Then, cutting through his thoughts again, there was Bat: —any followers or what?

Tulimaq smirked at the question, intent on evading it but - well, she'd given him everything he'd needed, so why not just tell her? Not yet, he murmured, not at all bothered that he was admitting to this weakness. But I only want the best, and I'm sure I'll find what I need here. The rest of the wilds be damned - he wanted the fiercest warriors, the most ferocious and wild of the lot, and this place was his last hope.

As he spoke he began to move again, his steps slow in case she had more to say to him - but there was a renewed vigor to Tulimaq now, and he wanted to see just how far these hinterlands went.

He admitted he had none so far, which piqued her curiosity. He seemed pretty confident about his claim for a loner. But Bat didn't doubt he could put together a pack, even though she really didn't know jack squat about him. There was a lot to be said for confidence.

He began moving, which caused Bat to tilt her head again. If he was done talking to her, she wasn't letting him off the hook so easily. Falling into step behind him, she quipped, "Does this make me your first follower?"

He thought he was being sly, saying what he did and escaping before she could catch up, but he wasn't that fast and she wasn't that stupid; if anything, she knew the forest better than he did because her family had been in the area for such a long time. He gave her that much leeway (rather than facing the obvious conclusion that she was faster than him as well as younger). She followed after him for a few paces before her words caught in his ears, and he glimpsed at her without saying anything for a moment.

She was young and healthy, much like Merrit had been. Her body was quick, she seemed mentally sharp (at least verbally sharp), but would require some training before he was really satisfied with her — ah, and here he was contemplating her comment as if it were true. He hadn't noticed if she had been jesting or not, and quipped back at her, Depends, can you keep up?

Bat was fast, but Tulimaq knew his limits and he had no reason to hold back as he careened through the trees, picking up the pace and racing from shadow to shadow — testing her, more or less.

He countered with a challenge before taking off into the forest, his long runner's legs quickly carrying him away from Bat. She made a halfhearted effort to chase him, though she quickly slowed down and a little breathlessly shouted, "Good luck!" It came out a little sarcastic (probably because it was shortly followed by a loud laugh) but the sentiment was genuine.

She waited to catch her breath, then spun, heading back toward the stone gateway. She wouldn't go back to the plateau just yet, though Bat wasn't quite sure where she'd head next.