New Snow moved to one of her first dens, where her first children had been born. Absently she sniffed at it, knowing Bobcat had not returned—wondering if Thursdays Dawn ever would, but also having long since accepted the truth that the wilderness had devoured her. She sighed out a weary breath at nature and her savagery before she began to move to where her second litter had been born and raised.
Different, but moved due to the location of the first being known. That and this space had, at the time, felt safer. Now New Snow sniffed at it and contemplated this. For the first time she wondered if Mountain Boulder and herself would be allowed that; Red Woman’s cubs had grown, and perhaps several of them might want cubs of their own.
New Snow had never seen Red Woman behave unfairly—her brutality, to New Snow, was what set her atop the rest. Red Woman was only a little less aggressive than her own mother, though… perhaps not! This season would surely tell—her own mother had ousted sons and daughters to breed.
Which was what spurred the thought. Would there be enough mouths to feed the cubs of Wealda and the cubs her children might rear, and their own? As she sniffed at the earth, seeking the scent of their wayward daughter, it now seemed to click—the reason that Mountain Boulder had scouted so many spots.
She exhaled another heavy breath. The Caru would likely not travel to the Bloodwood to feed any but for their own, here on the Rise—presuming they themselves did not have cubs they might bring up this year! The thought warmed her; she had seen Blood Spot grow into a wonderful wolf, and thought they would make a good parent.
She began to stride away from the den. Then and there she had no compulsion to search out a new one within the Rise, but sought company to hunt or rest with.
Different, but moved due to the location of the first being known. That and this space had, at the time, felt safer. Now New Snow sniffed at it and contemplated this. For the first time she wondered if Mountain Boulder and herself would be allowed that; Red Woman’s cubs had grown, and perhaps several of them might want cubs of their own.
New Snow had never seen Red Woman behave unfairly—her brutality, to New Snow, was what set her atop the rest. Red Woman was only a little less aggressive than her own mother, though… perhaps not! This season would surely tell—her own mother had ousted sons and daughters to breed.
Which was what spurred the thought. Would there be enough mouths to feed the cubs of Wealda and the cubs her children might rear, and their own? As she sniffed at the earth, seeking the scent of their wayward daughter, it now seemed to click—the reason that Mountain Boulder had scouted so many spots.
She exhaled another heavy breath. The Caru would likely not travel to the Bloodwood to feed any but for their own, here on the Rise—presuming they themselves did not have cubs they might bring up this year! The thought warmed her; she had seen Blood Spot grow into a wonderful wolf, and thought they would make a good parent.
She began to stride away from the den. Then and there she had no compulsion to search out a new one within the Rise, but sought company to hunt or rest with.
December 06, 2023, 11:02 AM
They had not hidden their travels and Redd was ever observant. She knew of the den in the maplewood but did not yet comprehend what it meant. This troubled her. She did not understand why the huntlead did not seek to have his blood strengthen the Rise. If they sought to leave in spring, it would leave the rise sparse.
The pressure to do her own part in securing their future mounted. Redd was not sure she wished this, but instinct ran like a current through her very bones. She would need to find a mate and prove her worth as a partner.
These thoughts now occupied her in preparation for spring. When she spotted New Snow she approached with a friendly air. The spring was distant; she need make no firm assumptions yet. Just plan for those changes that might come.
In this line of thinking, Redd tossed her muzzle and bounded a few paces before turning to invite with a glance. She knew where she had seen hares only a short time ago. They would likely have settled nearby, or perhaps even ventured forth again to fatten for deep snows. She could lead.
The pressure to do her own part in securing their future mounted. Redd was not sure she wished this, but instinct ran like a current through her very bones. She would need to find a mate and prove her worth as a partner.
These thoughts now occupied her in preparation for spring. When she spotted New Snow she approached with a friendly air. The spring was distant; she need make no firm assumptions yet. Just plan for those changes that might come.
In this line of thinking, Redd tossed her muzzle and bounded a few paces before turning to invite with a glance. She knew where she had seen hares only a short time ago. They would likely have settled nearby, or perhaps even ventured forth again to fatten for deep snows. She could lead.
December 14, 2023, 11:08 PM
New Snow, by now, had forgotten all things of dens as she trailed something she had yet to determine. Life changed by the minute; she might well whelp here, should instinct demand it of her. New Snow was a wolf driven by that more than anything else.
And it was that, then and there, that led her. Her gaze turned toward the wolf that joined her—girl no more! Her tail wagged to see one of the Rises several daughters, and New Snow paused in her pursuit to greet her. She was happy to be joined by the she-wolf; New Snow lived in the moment she was in with the wolf she was with, and so she bounded happily toward the other wolf with a wagging tail. These bounds paused as the other bounded away, but New Snow picked up on why soon enough.
The hunter rumbled her happy acceptance to follow, and stepped alongside her with an excited lick of her chops.
And it was that, then and there, that led her. Her gaze turned toward the wolf that joined her—girl no more! Her tail wagged to see one of the Rises several daughters, and New Snow paused in her pursuit to greet her. She was happy to be joined by the she-wolf; New Snow lived in the moment she was in with the wolf she was with, and so she bounded happily toward the other wolf with a wagging tail. These bounds paused as the other bounded away, but New Snow picked up on why soon enough.
The hunter rumbled her happy acceptance to follow, and stepped alongside her with an excited lick of her chops.
December 19, 2023, 11:29 AM
When there was no hesitation to New Snow’s approach, what remained of Redd’s trepidation vanished like smoke. If there was a problem then it was not her. This was all she need concern herself with.
Redd met her with a brief exchange of scents, then set off at an eager jog in the direction she’d marked. It had felt a waste to track so many with only herself. As soon as they scattered they would go to ground, and there would be no quick meals once that occurred.
Before long, she slowed, her demeanor changing to a low and quiet stealth as they drew near. Just over the hill. She paused to communicate this with a glance, then began to creep to the left, her ears twitching to the direction of the wind. They would need to be invisible to get close.
Redd met her with a brief exchange of scents, then set off at an eager jog in the direction she’d marked. It had felt a waste to track so many with only herself. As soon as they scattered they would go to ground, and there would be no quick meals once that occurred.
Before long, she slowed, her demeanor changing to a low and quiet stealth as they drew near. Just over the hill. She paused to communicate this with a glance, then began to creep to the left, her ears twitching to the direction of the wind. They would need to be invisible to get close.
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