[Tallow]

Winter had taken a temporary turn for the warmer. The untimely thaw brought both perks and downfalls. The warmer weather brought more prey poking around on the surface, a welcome treat for the thinning predators. But, as the scene played out, there was danger.

The river near the tree root den started to thaw. Jagged shards of ice started to race across the surface. The pileups worked like a beaver stacking logs and soon the snowy woodland found itself in freezing flood. Tallow's temporary home, thankfully, was far enough away not to be affected by the jams. With time the water had receded, leaving ice covered pools that the wolf now tread carefully across. She scented the deer first and the more she traveled the clearer it's distress calls became. She would not turn down an easy meal.

The wolf spotted the target soon enough. The deer, it seemed, fell on some bad luck trying to cross the river. Wide eyed, the only part of the deer visible was her head and flailing front legs. It was trapped in the ice jam. Tallow considered the scene. It wouldn't take long for the hapless creature to pass. That would certainly be easier than dragging it out in a panic. Wolves, as a rule, cared little for the feelings of their food. But perhaps some mercy, along with wanting to eat soon, spurred on the decision to help the deer along. Avoiding the flailing hooves the dire grabbed it's neck and forced its head underwater. It became difficult to hold on for a while, but soon the deer stilled.

The drowning was the easy part. With heaving growls Tallow worked to pull the carcass from the ice. With a lot of work she succeeded. Panting she looked over her prize. This would feed her for a few days at the very least. It wasn't until then that she caught scent of another. It was Tallow's turn to freeze this time. Could this be an interloper here to take her spoils?

"I'm willing to share with you," Her voice was quiet, and perhaps the gravely tone made her sound inadvertently aggressive. Tallow was alert, but ready to compromise. She started to turn to face whoever was behind her, "If you're willing to be civil."

[-Fevel-]

It snowed less here, or, maybe, there were just more things for snow to fall on, making it look less, instead of a blanket lain over a flat bed of grass and occasional rock.  Here, the snow looked like a sheet thrown over a hastily risen fort. And it was melting.

Warm air brought hopeful hints of spring dancing with the wind, the smell of thaw floating up and out from under snow, some of the plantlife leaning up to meet the giving rays of sunshine, and the forest breathed a welcome sigh of life.  That, Fevel noticed, wasn't much of a change from the plains of his home.  Plantlife was the same, regardless of tallness.

With the thaw, however, also came dangers. The yearling had grown restless with the the warming sun, eager to get out and stretch his legs, only to find his residence for that night had nearly been flooded.  The old cave he'd found to rest in that night had nearly been a pond, had it not been for a steep rise at the mouth of the den, Fevel would have woken up to a cold bath.

The young Fringe peeked his head out cautiously.

The mouth of the cave rested beside a river. Or, well. It had been when he'd gone to sleep that night.  Now, it was a torrent of melting ice and slush, bursting it's banks and soaking the land around it, and somewhere downstream, the distress calls of some poor creature met his red ears.

Curiosity demanded he investigate, and Fevel was nothing if not good at following his inhibitions.  The boy lumbered from his housing, back bowing in a hearty stretch to get the sleep out of his muscles, tongue curling out of his mouth to yawn, Fevel finished with a good shake of his bulk in an effort to loosen dust of his den.  In the end, he was sure, it didn't do much. Fevel likely still looked much like a boy who had slept in to late.

He followed in the direction of the earlier calls regardless,  padding along the river until he came across was making, or rather, had been making, the noise.

A pale wolf was just finishing in her struggle to pull a waterlogged deer from the river, soaked herself. Ears forward, Fevel inched closer, about to call out and ask if the stranger needed help, sure in his own strength and the girl's combined they could get the deer out mucher more quickly, but with one final heave, the stranger succeeded.

And then froze, clearly sensing Fevel's presence.

"I'm willing to share with you," The wolf spoke, voice rough sounding and quiet. He almost felt to ask if he'd angered her in some way, but he'd only just met her. He didn't know what he could have done to earn her ire so quickly other than just stand here. "If you're willing to be civil."

"I was actually going to ask if you needed help getting your deer out, but, you know, you've done that already," Fevel said, though his stomach did decide to make it known, quite loudly, that he had skipped breakfast in favor of sleeping in, his ears drooped, head ducked in embarassment.

"I wouldn't turn up free food, though."

(Ooc: hello yes it is 4am and I'm writing this on my phone so it there are typos i am sorry)

[Tallow]

The wolf before her was massive. She had seen Fringe Dires before, there were a few back in her old pack. Beasts bred for size and ferocity. If this one wanted a fight Tallow, despite her training, would have a rough go of it. But, upon closer inspection, this one wasn't encroaching on her meal. In fact, he was here to offer some assistance. Tallow lifted her head slightly, taking in the stranger. It wasn't until his stomach did the growling for him that she chuckled.

"Come on, then. There's plenty for both of us." Her smile was inviting and warm. These months on her own nagged her in the back of her mind. This could be some kind of trick, old instincts whispered, but this wolf seemed far from underhanded. He had a genuine air about him. A friend could be welcome in the cold loneliness.

If the other approached she would start tearing into the carcass. It held little warmth but at least wasn't frozen. After a bite Tallow looked back to her lunch guest.

"I apologize for the suspicion," She rasped, "You can't be too careful out here. Have you been in the area long? Or just passing through?"

If this wolf lived around here there could be benefits. The scent of two sizeable wolves in the area could keep trouble at bay. He could also prove to be a hunting partner. But, equally important, Tallow could use the companionship.

[-Fevel-]

The she-wolf chuckled, amused by Fevel's rebelious stomach, leaving the boy feeling rather ready to pout.  It was her smile, though, changed his tune pretty quickly.

"Come on, then. There's plenty for both of us."

And, of course, he didn't have to be told twice.  Fevel kept his head low and as non-threatening as a bulky yearling can look as he padded over to the she-wolf and her meal.  She'd already begun tearing into it as ye approached, which, was fine with him. There was plenty for both of them.

Deer was smaller prey than what he was used to, but it tasted just as good to him, and before long, he had a mouthful of food and had managed to make a mess of his face, caring little for table manners as most boys do.

"I apologize for the suspicion, you can't be too careful out here. Have you been in the area long? Or just passing through?"

Cheeks damn near full, Fevel shook his head, thinking better of talking around deer meat, the boy at least took the time to swallow before giving the woman a true answer.

"To be honest, I'm pretty lost.  Don't know where I am other than being pretty far from home. Sure is nice to see a friendly face, though." Fevel wiped his mouth with a bashful paw, as if just realizing the mess he was making of himself. "My name is Fevel by the way. It's nice to meet ya,"

[Tallow]

There was something about him...was it is gait? His mannerisms? Maybe there was a lingering puppy softness to his features. Whatever it was Tallow didn't notice her picnic guest was so young until now. The dire always got along with younger wolves. For the most part they were kinder and easy to talk to.

Together they munched. Tallow stepped away only for a moment when the residual splash of cold water started soaking to her skin. A few courtesy steps from her guest she shook it off. As she returned Tallow took pause. It wasn't abnormal for a young wolf to stray from his pack, seek a life of his own. But lost? Tallow's grey eyes took on a sad tilt. The poor thing.

"Fevel" She smiled at the name, "I'm Tallow. It's nice to meet you, too."

The wolf took another bite, if only to give herself some time to think. Her entire life had been dedicated to helping those around her. It hit more than her pride when her failure ended in an innocent death, it cut her soul. The fire inside faded, Tallow thought it long gone. Could helping Fevel redeem her past? No. But it could get her on the right path again.

"How long have you been lost, Fevel? I can try to help you find your way if you want help. There's nothing holding me here."