Falling Ice — Beginnings
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Falling Ice — Beginnings
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Posted 2021-11-14 17:57:51
Starting info: Peak and Bear are two she-wolves who left their packs (for one reason or another). A while after they meet, they begin helping other she-wolves. A group forms, which is to become Falling Ice. |
 salts #51689 |
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Posted 2021-11-14 18:34:32
A wolf, dusted in snow, clambered up a sheer, rocky slope. She moved slowly over the last remaining ice of long-dark, head low and eyes slitted. As she gave a final heave up the side, she looked out over the dark mountain range. The moon cast a silvery glow on the trees far in the valleys below, just budding in new-light. Up in the mountains, however, the wind remained biting with chill and snow swirled around her paws. As she shook out her thick fur, more black was revealed in her pelt under ticked white. She sat down with a huff, bringing a paw to her muzzle. She gave a few irritated licks at an old wound that had caught on the ice and opened up again. In the moonlight, new scars dotted her shoulders. Her face remained unreadable as she searched the barren landscape, ears pricked forward. Suddenly, she got low, slinking behind a heap of boulders. Her mouth opened a bit as she sniffed the air, yellow eyes sharp. When she pressed to the ground, she looked like a snow-covered stone in the dark. Another wolf had appeared, moving swiftly across the mountain range. They kicked up snow as they went, brown and cream coat a splash of color against the desolate mountains. The she-wolf crouched, alert but unmoving, and waited for the other wolf to pass by. Suddenly, the cream wolf veered to the side, skimming over the snow towards her. The she-wolf pounced, baring her fangs. She wasn't looking for a fight, and hoped she could ward off the other wolf with intimidation. The cream wolf drew to a stop, tail lashing. She made no move forward, but looked the she-wolf over slowly. "You're injured," they said finally. The she-wolf realized it was another female. She shifted a little, realizing she had been favoring her bleeding paw. "I could smell it over that last peak," she nodded to a mountain behind her. The black wolf narrowed her eyes. "If you're looking for an easy fight, you won't get it here," she snarled. The cream wolf's ears flicked. "I have herbs, you badger," the cream wolf replied. She turned on her heel, tail flicking in irritation. The black wolf growled a little. "Where's your pack?" she asked. "I'm alone," the cream wolf replied. She returned to her first trot, quickly pulling away from the black wolf. She watched the other she-wolf for a second, taking a hesitant step, before running after her. The cream wolf took a weaving path through the boulders, often jumping over small gullies. The black wolf followed, ears against her head, as she stumbled over the new, difficult terrain. The cream wolf suddenly disappeared around a sharp bend, and the black wolf tried to keep up. She skidded around a boulder and had to dig her claws into the ground as she almost plummeted over a sheer drop. She looked over the dark cavern, panting, as a few pebbles clattered down. She heard their echoes for what felt like minutes. As the black wolf glanced around, she saw the cream wolf appear from a hidden crack in the mountainside. She moved confidently along a narrow ledge, a bundle of leaves in her jaws. She tilted her head, looking surprised. "You didn't make it easy to follow you," the black wolf grunted. "I didn't," agreed the cream wolf. She picked out one of the leaves and began chewing it, gesturing for the black wolf to raise her paw. "I'm Peak," the black wolf said after a moment. The cream wolf rubbed the chewed leaf on her paw in silence. "Bear," she said finally. Peak could see it. She had a round, brown face, and her ears were a little small. She had the wide shoulders of an ambusher, too. "You're all alone out here, then?" asked Peak. Bear sat back, whiskers twitching. "And you're not?" she replied testily. Peak couldn't imagine what this she-wolf's problem was—helping her only to be so annoyed at her. "I don't have a pack anymore," she replied, trying to sound level. "I'm just wondering about you. How did you find herbs up here?" "These are from my pack," Bear said. "Down in the forest. I left to... make my own way." Peak nodded, looking away for a moment. The moon hung over the silent mountains until a sharp chill of air buffeted the she-wolves. Bear turned around without a goodbye, disappearing into the crack. Peak watched after her, tail whisking over the ground in annoyance. She stepped carefully along the thin ledge, trying not to look to the side. Finally, she pushed herself through the crack into a cozy den. "Again, did I ask you to follow?" said Bear. Her blue eyes glinted in the darkness. "You didn't have to offer me herbs," Peak snapped back. She stood in the entrance for a moment, shoulder fur bushed up. Finally, she heard Bear snort and move around in her nest. "Come on, then," Bear offered. Peak moved forward with less hesitation than the first time, considering her other option was a long night on some icy boulders. She stepped into a collection of dried grasses and what felt like tufts of prey-pelt. She sunk down, keeping her distance from Bear. Before long, Bear's breathing had evened to sleep. Peak lay her head on her paws, still annoyed by the smarting of her paw. Even more, she watched the entrance uneasily, like an enemy would trap them in. If one did appear, there was nowhere to run. She tucked her nose under her tail and drifted into a fitful sleep. |
salts #51689 |
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Posted 2021-11-14 19:43:24
A sharp paw to the side woke Peak. She leapt up, snarling. Bear stared back, undaunted. "You sleep like a rabbit," she grunted, rising to her paws and shaking out her creamy fur. Peak let her shoulder fur lay flat, looking embarrassed. If Bear noticed, she didn't comment as she trotted to the den entrance. "You interrupted my hunt," she said flatly. "Now get me something." As Bear disappeared from view, Peak noticed the light streaming through the crack. She followed Bear, and stepped out into a sparkling new world. The sun had risen on this side of the mountain, casting the remaining snow into a brilliant light. The ice sparkled as it melted and fell off into mountain creeks. Bear was drinking from a small trickle of ice, licking her lips as she turned to Peak. "I didn't interrupt—" Peak began testily. "There's a marmot nest nearby," Bear replied. She trotted off down the twisting, craggy path, leaving Peak with her ears back. She thought about leaving this brash she-wolf to her own devices, but then her stomach growled. She followed Bear swiftly, determined to keep up. Eventually, the pair stopped at a small hole in the ground. Prey-scent flooded the area, making Peak's mouth water. She sniffed the air, then made for downwind of the nest behind some rocks. Bear followed this time, ears perked. Peak felt like her paws were going to stick to the ground by the time she heard snuffling. A small nose peeked out from the hole a few times, before ducking back in. Peak tried to keep her tail from thumping in impatience. Ever so slowly, a marmot snuffled out of the den. Peak watched it carefully, eyes flickering to Bear. She'd never hunted with her before, so she hoped she'd have the sense to wait until the prey couldn't run back to its den. Bear stayed quiet, but began to slowly shuffle to one side. Peak wanted to growl at her, casting her a furious glare. Bear kept moving along the boulders until she almost perched over the den. She was cutting off its escape. The marmot still seemed distracted, snuffling away from the hole as it picked through dead, icy grasses. Peak began to slide forward, laying her paws down carefully. The marmot started suddenly as one of Peak's paws crunched over ice. She launched herself, silently cursing at a mistake a pup would make, as the marmot began to tear back to its den. Bear pounced as well, landing in front of the den just whiskers from the marmot. As the creature tried to scuttle back, Peak landed on it with fangs bared. It was skinny from long-dark, but it would be the most of a meal she had since... Peak carried the creature back where they had come from. There were certainly more in the den, but it wasn't like she could dig into the icy stone like a forest den. As the pair settled down, Bear hooked the marmot towards herself and began to tear from its pelt. Peak snarled, ready to fight for her meal, injury or not. Bear glowered back but made no move to protect the prey. "If you want to eat, then do it," she growled. Peak stepped forward, waiting for Bear to pounce at her. She wasn't doing anything—no dominance or submission like how pack members acted with each other. Peak bent down, taking a quick bite from the marmot. Bear followed, seeming unperturbed. "You don't act like you came from a pack," Peak observed after the marmot was quickly devoured. Bear licked her lips a few times. "We're not in one, so what does it matter?" she replied. Peak tilted her head for a moment before looking away. "I just supposed there would always be some order to wolves," she said. "I don't care about that," said Bear. She gave a massive stretch before standing and moving off. Peak, predictably, followed. Neither made a comment as they walked along the barren landscape. They ended up on a trail of mountain goat tracks, which stopped suddenly at a sheer cliff. Peak looked up, sniffing the air. The scent was from hours ago. One marmot wouldn't do much to feed two grown wolves, but the pair returned to the den anyways. Peak noticed a few fresh blades of grass mixed in with the dried ones in the nest. "How long have you been in the mountains?" asked Peak after a while. "Since the last claw-moon," replied Bear. It was nearing a moon that she'd been here. "By 'your own path,' did you mean a pack, then?" she asked. Peak had only been on her own for a few days, but this is the first wolf she'd seen in the mountains. Pickings were slim up here. "I haven't decided," said Bear. "I'm putting my paws wherever they end up." Peak liked that answer. She'd immediately thought about finding another pack—far, far from the forest below, but letting her future lay up to fate had some appeal. "Still, it's good to have protection from a pack," Peak said after a moment. She felt the irony tugging at her pelt as she did. "If you like that," Bear said noncommittally. Peak opened her mouth to respond before a piercing wail split the cold mountain air. She turned to Bear and saw her ears were pressed back too. Bear quickly made her way out of the den, Peak following more slowly over the thin ledge. The scent of blood filled the air as the two wolves hurried over the mountainside. Peak realized she was keeping up with Bear, paws more assured with food in her stomach. Her pad only smarted a little as it smacked against the stone. Three wolves circled in a gorge below them. A creamy she-wolf lashed out at two wolves, tan and grey, but she was already limping. Blood flowed freely down her shoulder, and her eyes rolled about in fear. A small pika lay between her paws. Peak bared her teeth, but her paws stayed rooted in place. She was only started to action as Bear slid down the rock wall, snarling. The tan and grey wolves turned, looking surprised for a moment, before advancing on Bear. The creamy she-wolf shook, leg finally buckling under her. Peak watched Bear, conflict burning in her gaze. The scars along her shoulders twinged for a second before she leapt down the boulders as well, landing with a fierce growl. The attacking wolves looked less sure, glancing between themselves. Bear took the distraction to swipe at the tan wolf, who howled in fury. The grey wolf turned on Peak, and she steeled herself. The grey wolf leapt first, but Peak ducked beneath his jaws. She slammed her back into the confused grey wolf as he passed over her, sending him skidding away with a yelp. He shook his head, looking humiliated. Peak moved forward, slamming her paws into his shoulders. The wolf was ready this time, and stronger. He whipped around, fastening his teeth in Peak's leg. She snarled and slashed the claws of her free paw across his eyes, and he stumbled back. Behind her, Bear snarled in fury. Peak could hear the pain behind it. The grey wolf glanced to the side at the pika once more, before yelping to his companion. Blood in his eyes, the grey wolf made his way around the edge of the gorge, keeping low. When Peak turned, she saw the tan wolf trying to hold off Bear and the creamy she-wolf, who stood on three legs. The tan wolf watched his companion slink away and followed, receiving a harsh nip to the hindquarters from Bear. She followed the pair, snarling like a wolf with madness. Peak panted, feeling the pain shoot up her leg. She huffed in annoyance. That was her injured paw. The creamy wolf had already returned to the pika, snarling over her catch. "Don't thank us," said Bear dryly. Peak shot her a look. "We don't want your prey," Peak reassured her. The she-wolf still looked frightened and grabbed up the pika in her jaws. "I'm Peak, and this is Bear," Peak continued. "Really, we caught our own earlier. A pika like that really isn't worth a fight." "It's the first I've had since half-moon," she growled. For the first time, Peak noticed the ribs protruding beneath the she-wolf's thick pelt. Her face was sunken in with hunger. "Then we can protect you while you eat," said Bear, sounding like the last thing she wanted to do. Peak's ears flicked in warning. "She's obviously had a hard time," she grumbled to Bear. Louder, she asked, "Do you lose your catches a lot?" The she-wolf had begun tearing into the pika, obviously starving. She let out growls every few moments, like she still wasn't believing them. "Those two follow me and take my catches almost every time," she said when she stopped to take a breath. "I can't get away. I've been running for a moon." Peak's tail fluffed in alarm. "They can hardly fight, so I bet they can't hunt, either," Bear replied dryly. Peak noticed a scratch along Bear's muzzle, but she'd gotten away without any other injuries. "When it's two to one and you're starving, you'd say different," the she-wolf growled. She turned to her food hungrily again, not looking to speak. Peak and Bear waited patiently. Peak tried to glance over at Bear, but her gaze was elsewhere. "I'm Sun," said the she-wolf finally, dipping her head. "I apologize for my behavior, but—" "No need," said Peak. "No, I'd take an apology," Bear muttered. "Do you think those two might still be around?" asked Peak, trying to ignore her companion. "Oh, no doubt," sighed Sun. "I'm sure they're going to lick their wounds and come right back." "You could come with us," suggested Peak. "They didn't seem the kind to fight unless they'd win." Bear looked up in alarm. "Come with us where?" she said. "You've stuffed up my den as is." "Really, you've done enough for me already," said Sun, shaking her head. Still, she looked reluctant. "I'm not young like you," she continued. "Even then, I only cared for pups. Unless you pack needs that..?" "Not a pack," Bear replied sharply. "It's just us," Peak explained. "And we're all pretty new to the mountains. There's strength in numbers." She looked at Bear, yellow eyes entreating. Bear stared back, snout wrinkling for a moment. "I can find room," she agreed finally. Peak rose, tailtip flicking up. "Then it's settled," Peak nodded to Sun. |
salts #51689 |
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Posted 2021-11-16 19:37:22
The moon had waned back down to a claw. The three she-wolves had settled into a gulch protected by a large overhanging shelf of rock. Amid the desolate stone, the gulch had soft earth that grasses had begun to sprout from. A split in the rocks led to a spacious den, with room around it to add dens and nests. When the sky was clear, weak new-light sun warmed a few boulders in front of the den. Peak had settled herself on one, eyes closed contentedly. She rolled onto her back, feeling heavy. She'd gained her weight back after running for days. "Come on, the prey pile's empty," a familiar voice said by her ear. Peak cracked one eye open. Bear stared back, looking as unamused as ever. Before she could respond, Sun came trotting up. "I'll go with you, Bear," she said graciously. "I've been stuck in that den all morning!" Bear looked doubtful. Sun hadn't been lying about only raising pups—she was good company, but worse than a new runner chasing down their first deer. "Be back soon," Bear said gruffly, turning tail and trotting away. Sun followed her, casting a glance at Peak over her shoulder. Before Peak could wonder why, the pair had disappeared from the gulch. Peak rolled onto her side, enjoying the sun on her fur. Suddenly, she started to feel very uncomfortable—and hungry. She begrudgingly rolled off the boulder, landing heavily. She'd felt off her game for days, but she left the gulch at a quick trot and found herself panting as she crested the top. She shook her head testily. She raised her nose, trying to pick up prey-scent. Most of the small prey around here had scattered once the wolves settled, so she began to trot downhill, towards a patch of dull grass and mountain flowers. Peak moved quietly through the tundra, sniffing for small creatures. Prey continued to elude her grasp, and she sat down, irritated. As the dry grass whispered around her in the wind, Peak thought back to the pine forests far below. She realized she wasn't sure what direction she'd come from; it could be any of the hazy patches of dark green. Her paw and the other scars had healed well enough, but she still often lay awake late into the night watching the den entrance. She took extra time when hunting alone to check for wolf-scent, watching for light pelts on the horizon as she went. Peak shook her head, tail thumping once on the ground. It rustled the grass, and she watched a mouse skitter out at the noise. She leapt at the prey, but fell many steps behind it. Quietly cursing herself, she began to storm back to the gulch. Bear and Sun had returned as she stomped her way down the stone sides, both glancing up. Peak wondered if she'd been gone longer than she thought, but then she saw the meager prey between them and Bear's annoyed look. "Really, you two take them," Sun said, nudging a sad-looking ptarmigan and a mouse away from her. "It's my fault we lost the grouse." "I agree there," Bear replied sullenly. Peak rolled her eyes. "You're our senior, Sun," Peak said. "That has to count for something. We can go half a day without eating, anyways." Sun shook her head, muzzle tightening. "Well, I'm not going to let decent prey rot as we argue over it," Bear muttered. She snapped up the mouse before settling down. "We can share," Peak continued, looking at Sun intently. The older she-wolf looked dissatisfied, but settled down anyways. She took a measly bite from the ptarmigan and pushed it to Peak. "We should find some areas that herds come through, especially as it gets warmer," Peak said between bites of the bird. She had forgotten how hungry she was and ate quickly. "Maybe nothing big, but three wolves could separate a fawn or something," she said. Bear tilted her head in consideration. "It would certainly last us longer between hunts," she agreed. "But it can be dangerous in small groups." She glanced at Sun pointedly. The creamy she-wolf crossed her paws, face remaining neutral. "I may have lost the grouse, but I was the one that jumped for the ptarmigan," she replied levelly. Peak watched her, eyes sparkling with amusement as Bear huffed. Bear stood as she finished her meager prey, shaking out her pelt. "I'll go scouting, then," she muttered, stalking off to the den. Sun quietly waited for her to recede into the dark. "Oh, I ate most of this!" Peak exclaimed, realizing she'd torn through the bird. She pushed it back to Sun. "I'm not hungry," Sun said calmly, blue gaze flicking back to Peak. Peak's ears flicked. "Are you alright? Feeling sick or something?" Peak pressed. Sun shook her head. "I feel fine," she replied, holding up a paw. Peak tilted her head at the way she stressed her answer. "Really, if something's wrong, it's not a burden to tell me now before it gets worse," Peak said. Sun's eyes were sympathetic, brimming with something Peak couldn't read. "You know I've helped many, many wolves with pups," she said suddenly. "I'm no stranger to it." Peak shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "Really, you'll be fine," Sun continued. "New-light is a great time to have pups, even if it's your first time—" Peak bolted to her paws. "What?" she asked, almost snarling. Her amber eyes were blown wide. Sun watched her, looking as shocked. "You—you didn't know?" she asked. "No, it's—it's not possible!" Peak stammered back. She closed her eyes, feeling sick. She felt a warm pelt press up next to hers. "She-wolves can just feel it," Sun murmured comfortingly. "You have... maybe a moon left, by the looks of it." Peak felt like a stone had dropped into her stomach, alongside something else. When she thought about it—the heaviness, her moods, her odd clumsiness... She swore she felt one of the pups shift as she sat there. "It's not possible," she repeated feebly. "There's no reason to be scared," Sun said, giving her a lick on the cheek. "They'll be protected here." Peak opened her eyes, glancing at Sun for a moment. She wondered what the she-wolf had guessed. She nodded mutely, slowly rising to a stand. Sun followed, ushering her to the den with a sweep of her tail. |
salts #51689 |
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Posted 2021-12-04 13:58:02
Peak had begun to find the rocks outside their den quite boring. Every time she tried to go hunt, Bear practically forced her to stay back. It was... odd, how overbearing she was being, with how aloof she was normally. Peak sniffed at her swollen belly. She wished the pups would just get on their way already. Presumably, Sun had told Bear the news by now, which was why she was being so jumpy around Peak. Even if she hadn't, she was as wide as two wolves stuck together—it wasn't hard to tell. She guessed that Bear was young too, and just didn't have the experience like Sun. Still, she grumbled as she struggled to get comfortable. It wasn't like she needed to be doted on. She struggled clumsily to her paws as Sun rounded the bend to the dens, jaws filled with herbs. Sun winced as Peak almost tumbled down the pile of rocks she was sitting on. "Please, just take me on a walk," Peak groaned. "Bear's making me crazy, staying here." Sun looked around hesitantly, not replying for a minute. Peak followed impatiently at her heels as she stored away the herbs. For the first time, she noticed how impressive her stores had gotten. "I suppose a walk, just a walk, is okay..." Sun said quietly. Peak's tail rose happily and she began trotting away from the dens. Sun followed, sniffing at her belly until Peak snapped in annoyance. She felt bad at Sun's dejected look, but Peak had been in a funk this whole pregnancy. "Are you feeling alright?" Sun asked after a moment. "Pups moving, but nothing hurting?" Peak shrugged. "I don't know what feels normal," she muttered. Sun stayed quiet. Suddenly, a familiar smell hit Peak's nose. She skidded to a stop, fur bristling. She realized as she looked around how far they'd gone from the dens while she was moping around. The tree line of the forest below had gotten much closer. As soon as it came, it was gone. Peak forced her fur back down, turning to Sun to poorly explain herself. Instead of watching her, Sun was staring at a scraggly tree not far off. It was stout, its bark stripped away by years of harsh mountain wind. Something big was definitely moving around in the branches. "Is that—" asked Peak, eyes widening. The figure dropped from the branches, swinging upside-down. Sun just glanced at Peak for a moment before trotting over, ears perked. The figure just swung around by its back legs from a branch as the she-wolves approached. As Peak drew near, it most definitely smelled like a wolf—dark fur, with rust-colored ends, and bright orange eyes. "Well, hello!" said the still upside-down wolf. Peak's ears flicked in amusement. "Do you need help?" asked Sun hesitantly. The wolf looked around, glancing up at her paws. "Uh, with what?" she replied. Suddenly, she let go, tumbling to the ground. Peak yelped in shock, but suddenly the wolf was standing in front of them, landed squarely on her paws. "Why were you up there?" asked Peak. The wolf glanced back up at the tree. "Looked like good climbing," she replied simply. "And it was. But there weren't any nests or anything." Every second she spent with this wolf raised more questions. "I'm Peak, and that's Sun," she said instead, trying to be diplomatic. "Burning Ember," the wolf replied. The wolves cast a glance between themselves. "Are you from around here?" asked Sun. "Oh, no," said Burning Ember. "I'm on my wander." Peak tapped her claws on the rocky ground, growing tired of all the confusion. "Well, you seem to be handling everything just fine, so—" Peak grunted, turning away. Sun cleared her throat. Peak looked back, lips tight. "Would you like a place to stay for the night?" Sun asked, gazing back pointedly at Peak. She wondered why she was making such a fuss over this. Burning Ember looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I'm really supposed to learn to fend for myself out here," she began, before her stomach yowled with hunger. She sniffed once. "Okay," she said quickly, trotting up to Sun. Peak just sighed, turning back towards their dens. "What's your pack like?" Burning Ember asked. Before Sun could reply, Burning Ember began rattling away questions. "Are one of you the leader? You smell like plants. What do you do with them? Sometimes I eat plants and they make me sick." Peak's ears were pressed against her skull by the time they returned to the dens, and she was ready to bury herself in bedding. However, it seemed like someone had it out for her, because an upset-looking Bear was pacing around the entrance. "You just take off, without telling me where either of you are!" she began. "What if those lone wolves—" She stopped, staring at Burning Ember. The young she-wolf grew quiet for the first time since they'd met her. "I invited Burning Ember to stay the night," Sun replied with a note of finality. "And we don't need your permission to take a walk." Bear stammered. "It's not my permission, there's just a lot of danger here!" she insisted. Peak opened her mouth to snap back, but Bear had hurried off into the dens. She let out a sigh instead, feeling deeply exhausted. She waved the other two she-wolves off with a flick of her ears, only thinking of her cozy nest. Bear was curled up in another nest, completely still and facing the wall. Peak said nothing, just throwing herself down into her own nest and closing her eyes. |
salts #51689 |