Duck Lake Watching the world go by...

fifteen steps The days were starting to grow cold, the young wolf had noticed that, but that did not mean it was dark. Not just yet. There was still the odd day where the Wintersun was low in the sky projecting as much warmth as it could onto the dew tipped earth. With his winter coat it was perfect basking weather and where better to bask than by a lake. He had travelled a long way to find the perfect spot. Lands like this reminded him of home. Idoly yawning he picked out a place that was close enough to watch the wildlife flit across the surface of the water, but not close enough to disturb it or make it move. Contrary to popular belief wolves did not always hunt. Much of the time Smoke himself preferred simply to watch the world around him, the way it worked and understand everything around him. Plus the way the birds sometimes ran across the ground made him giggle to himself. Closing his eyes for a moment he started to doz, this time in a dreamless, light sleep, enjoying the comfort and the quiet around him. Lazily he opened one eye then closing it again tried to pick out individual sounds in the din at the busy lake. A frog croaking, a bird singing, the water ripping close-by at the waters edge. then a sheer drop.

    Galahad didn’t realize how kind autumn was being. Putting out your tongue, you could still taste the frost in the air of a morning, from the freeze the night before, but thus far Mother Nature was leading her old friend summer along a kinder, gentler path into the fall. The occasional day had allowed the temperature to dip, but thus far there were still many days like this one—a bit chilly at night, true, but as the sun rose it smiled down upon the earth with only the barest clothing of itself in clouds, if even that, and thermometers registered another balmy fall day. Galahad had never seen the ending of summer before, however, and though he had heard rumors and tales told of winter’s howling bite, it remained as yet a fantasy, a distant tale told to errant pups. Mend your ways, little Galahad, or Father Winter will come get you!

    Galahad remained skeptical of the truth of such words. Maybe they were just used by adults to bludgeon those wayward pups back into line with, silly made-up things that only the young and credulous bought into. He had noticed the nights getting colder, however, which worried him some. But maybe it was only his still getting used to spending every night alone, who knew? Maybe he’d be grateful for this overlong black fluffball of a coat yet, though. With no one else around anymore to trust, he’d have to find out such truths and falsehoods for himself. Soon enough.

    He paused a moment to watch a flock of waterbirds V-ing by overhead, descending unusually quickly, it seemed to him. Curious about their noisily low altitude, he followed. The reason for their descent quickly became plain as he skirted some golden-leafed trees and found himself looking at the culmination of that watery passage he had thought he’d left behind at least an hour or two ago. The ducks splashed down with much quacking and flapping commentary. Although they seemed absorbed by their own noisy birdsome conversation still, they were a ways out in the water, and Galahad doubted they were as unobservant at they might at first glance seem. He’d be unlikely to snag so much as a mouthful of feathers, much less a meal, if he chased after them any further. But what he could do was step forth and lap at their watery landing site more quietly along its nearer edge. This he did, keeping one inquiring yellow eye on the birds, still more curious than optimistic. Then, with one last lingering glance over his shoulder, he angled his feet toward the screen of trees and padded away, wondering if maybe prey to practice on might be easier to find elsewhere or if he should just give the attempt up altogether for today. His steps didn’t take him far, however. With the distraction of the ducks drowning out other sights, sounds, and thoughts he nearly stepped on the sleeping figure before he saw it. With a gasp, Galahad’s steps involuntarily reversed themselves, his body stiffening as he backpedaled in double-time. A stranger! Right in front of him! He might have just signed his own death warrant, had he but ventured just a little further. Heart pounding, eyes fixed on the gray fur rising and falling before him, Galahad seized only enough control of his paws to try and make them scoot backward more quietly. Like a ninja, or a puma, quietly but quickly, yes, that was the way. Don’t panic, now… So preoccupied was he by his sneaksome retreat from the obstacle before him that he forgot about the hazards behind him. He jerked and half-sat down in surprise when, as the ducks’ conversations began to lull, his back feet sploshed straight into the lake with what seemed to him a terrifically loud noise, at least as bad as those irritating ducks if not worse. With a yip, he launched himself forward again with his tail dripping behind him, a cold wet sensation he ignored as he glanced about wildly for a more likely path of escape.

fifteen steps Rather than sleeping, Smoke was more accurately dozing, finding himself somewhere between asleep and awake. Noises around him still existed but were dulled somewhow like they were faded or pushed to the background, yet still every few seconds his ears twitched and rotated, checking his surroundings. In contentment her breathed in a sigh and that was when he caught the scent. Another wolf. He opened one eye just a crack and saw a young male quickly backing away from him. He could not help but smile to himself at such a display. Clearly this other wolf was more nervous than he needed to be. He gave him chance to leave with his dignity and Smoke continued pretending to sleep. He kept his breathing level and his heart rate low keping his eyes lightly closed but still he could feel the males eyes burning into him, making him uncomfortable. It was after a few moment that he was forced to speak, but his eyes remained closed and he stayed in his ball not feeling the need to move just yet. Maybe once a quick introduction was complete he could simply go back to sleeping. "No need to rush off, I know you're there now. Why don't you come closer and tell me who you are now I've smelt you." Still without looking up he smiled to the wolf, stretching out then curling back up again. then a sheer drop.