Where: AIM
With: Tahja Estes's Hige
Finished: Yes
Finally. There he was...
Coming over the small makeshift horizon, Hige paused as he caught a second wolf's scent with Balan. Young, and female. Another pup...?
He gave a soft wuff to let them know he was approaching, and did so slowly, eyeing the leopard spotted pup with curious, warm eyes. (Hige has a thing for strange markings. XD *lol*) "And you might be?" He quipped, slowling to a stop next to the sand and earth colored wolf. He held his head a bit high, but let his tail sway to and fro a bit so as not to alarm the 'kid'.
Tat was enjoying her rabbit happily and barely registered the sound of another wolf approaching but once her eyes fell upon the warm toned wolf she slowly backed away from her rabbit unsure of what he wanted. Barely glancing at Balan, Tat lowered herself into the snowy ground once more, her body making an imprint in the cold whiteness. As he spoke she didn't raise her eyes, afraid this wolf would act like many of the others she had run across in her past should she stray from her show of subbordinance. "I am Tatiana." Her voice was soft and gentle yet held a small quiver that caused her to wince internally.
His ears twitched, picking up on the fear in her voice and somehow feeling responsible and guilty for it. He wasn't one that liked to see pups in discomfort, physical or emotional. For a minute Hige felt humbled. He had only had to observe Devvyl and Selia taking in uncertain pups before, including himself... He had yet to be on the other end of the stick before...
He almost shot a look to Balan, but refrained, instead lowering his head to get a better look at her, as if he couldn't see her from where he stood.
"You'll get cold lying like that. You're a friend of Balan's...?"
~It doesn't seem like she has a pack,~ Hige thought, noting the lack of any stronger scents on the young one. He went on in an easy tone, trying to soothe the distress she felt with a more friendly voice.
"My name's Hige, are you out here alone?"
Ears that had been laced upon her head perked up slightly as the voice drifted in the air around her. Carefully and slowly she rose from her crouched position in the snow, tail still firmly tucked between her hind legs. A friend... was she a friend of Balan's? She had only just met him. "Um, I am not sure. We just met." As the words left her she turned her head to look at Balan. She hoped they were friends. He was very nice, he was the one who had given her the hare after all.
As the voice of the stranger wolf broke through her thoughts she turned her attention back to him. His voice seemed warmer and more inviting... or was it only her imagination? Oh well, did it truly matter? Hige... Tat liked that name she decided.
Alone? "Yes." She's been alone for such a long time and her emaciated body proved it, but that hare had done wonders to lift her spirit. If only mother was around to help her.
Hige had finally taken that moment, as well, to look at Balan, meeting the other wolf's eye. He could tell just by that expression that Balan had already taken to Tatiana. Hige trusted Balan's judgement, and Tat was left in a tough spot. He wondered briefly... why was it that so many abandoned pups wandered into these woods?
((he doesn't know about the hunters,))
"Well then, if he hasn't already asked: Would you like to stay with us? There's a storm that'll be upon us soon, we have shelter just over the ridge." He looked that way, then back to Tatiana.
She looked hopeful. "Balan asked me as well. I didn't realize you were of the same pack." She moved a bit closer the Hige and took in his scent and could easily smell Balan among many others around the Alpha. Her tiny tail lifted from it's wedged position to begin a small motion behind her. "Are there others my age in your pack?" She was hopeful. Maybe she ould have a playmate. After loosing her mother then being seperated from her two remaining sisters she had not seen another friendly wolf since Balan and Hige. To have someone with her that she could trust would fill the empty void in her. The life of a loner certainly didn't suit her. She had decided this quite a long time ago.
"Yeah, my mate and I are leading this pack further South to the warmer lands." Hige's muzzle formed a bit of a grin, relaxing. That was much better, seeing her tail showing signs of life instead of staying hidden beneath her. He never wanted any young ones to have to be afraid like he and so many others he had come to know did. He found that priority added to the growing list. A place where Shilah, Kaya, Winter, and Tatiana could all have normal puphoods.
He lowered his head a bit to familiarize himself with her as well, sniffing at the top of her head quietly.
"Three, though one walks on two legs. They're all pups about your age."
Tatiana didn't shy away as Hige moved his head closer to her, in fact it only managed to increase the constant back and forth motion of her rear appendage. As the other pups were brought up the movement grew stronger if it was at all possible. "Yea! Playmate!" She said happily but stopped her joyous words at the mention of one on two legs. "Two?? How does he walk on two?" Her head cocked to the side slightlyquite curious about this new discovery.
Hige chuckled a bit, then gave Balan a secret grin, managing a wink. "You'll see. It's pretty cool, actually. She only has fur on the top of her head, sounds weird, right?"
This made four pups to provide for. They had wanted to start the pack small, Hige had thought seven members was big enough to start, then to gain three more before they even got on the actual journey?
"Finish eating, there's more food back with the others."
Fur only on her head? How strange. Was this pup subjected to some horrible torture? Probably those horrible creatures mother called humans. She'd never forget what they looked like with their hairless bodies that were covered in the furs of other cratures and loud booming sticks that had caused her mothers death. The memory caused her to shudder but she did as Hige suggested and turned back to the hare which was just about devoured.
Resuming her original spot in the snow she continued to pick her way through the carcass, her tummy happily accepting the red meat that was being sent its way. Tearing apart the light hued fur of the creature she reached the last bit of flesh that still clung to the bones and uncerimoniously tore it off, eagerly munching on it till there was nothing left.
With a maw marred crimson she looked up at Hige and Balan ready to go join her new pack, and new life that awaited her.
He didn't want to alarm her, but he did take the liberty of licking her muzzle clean after a moment before straightening and placing a lick to her forehead. "Well, come on Tatti, the pack is waiting." He grinned, turning and waiting to lead both back.
