By The Water (Open)

[trenton]

My Fear is Strong

Hydra crept through the grasses on the edge of the valley, as from the water as you could get without leaving the valley. She cringed when her paw sunk into the soggy ground, letting out a whimper. She lifted her paw and shook it, trying to get the water off her body. She placed her paw back on dry ground. She glanced up at the morning sky, knowing now would be her only chance until tomorrow to drink. She would have to endure wet underpaw, she was getting desperate.

She found a clump of grass still covered in dew, and began to lick the beads of water off each strand of grass. It was hard work to drink this way, but going near the river in the valley, much to risky.

My Faith Is Weary

[reeddragon]

Vesperi had spent all day away from the pack den, traveling along the border of the lands. It wasn't a patrol, exactly. She didn't know the land well enough to be able to truly defend it. It was more of a sightseeing trip. She wanted to memorize the land and its borders so she didn't accidently stray from the safety of their territory or end up lost. If she did get lost, she could howl and have a packmate take her back to someplace familiar, but she didn't want to bother anyone like that.

She caught a familiar scent in the air and eventually spotted the other wolf licking grass. She watched for a moment before cautiously approaching, wanting companionship but not wanting to disturb her packmate.

"Er...hello."

[trenton]

My Fear Is Strong

Hydra was lightly licking a particularly wet strand of grass, when a voice spread through the air. She flicked her ears and jumped into the air. She spun around her pink tongue still lolling out of her mouth. Her round orange eyes were widened in fear. A familiar scent hit her nose, and her muscles relaxed a little. She recognized Vesperi, and let out a deep relieved breath.

"Hello Vesperi," she said, her voice a bit shaken, and her large owl eyes still wide.

My Faith Is Weary

[reeddragon]

The other wolf was clearly alarmed, and Vesperi winced as she watched her reaction. One would think from looking at Hydra that a group of bears had just declared her to be their lunch. Fortunately, she seemed to relax a little after the initial scare, and Vesperi stepped forward after being greeted.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to startle you." Vesperi looked at the grass. IT was rather moist, though parts it of where Hydra had licked were mostly dry. "I was just getting better acquainted with the land, here, and I happened to se you, so I thought I should at least come say hello, or something." Her gaze drifted back to the other she-wolf. "How have you been today?"

[trenton]

My Fear Is Strong

Hydra shrugged. "I was just getting a drink," she said, blinking a few times. Hopefully that didn't sound too absurd to the other female. "It shouldn't be too hard to get familiar with the territory, a lot of open spaces so you can't really get lost," she said encouragingly.

"How are you liking pack life here?" she asked, cocking her head a little bit to the left. She knew some wolves had trouble settling in, and had yet to find out if Vesperi was one of them.

My Faith Is Weary

[reeddragon]

When Hydra said she was just getting a drink, Vesperi tilted her head to the side. "From the grass? Does it taste better that way?" Her tone was genuinely curious, rather than snarky like one might expect with such a question. She licked the grass to try it herself. It wasn't bad, though a river or even eating snow would be more efficient. Hydra had her reasons, though.

Hydra explained that the territory had a lot of open spaces and Vesperi nodded. "Not much difference from my old home in that regard, though it is quite a bit warmer here, I've noticed. It seems the further south one goes, the warmer the air gets."

Hydra then asked how she was liking pack life. Vesperi smiled. "It is an adjustment, but I do believe I'll be happy here. What about you?"

[trenton]

My Fear Is Strong

Hydra smiled a bit when the other wolf lapped at the grass. "I'm afraid of water... so I don't like getting to close to it," she admit, and pointed her black muzzle in the direction of the slow moving river. "I always feel like I'm gonna sink into a never ending abyss," she said sheepishly, looking down at her dark paws.

She thought about the question for a moment and blinked. "I like it here. Brock and Ayria seem fair. I could do without all the bodies of water though," she said with a laugh.

My Faith Is Weary

[reeddragon]

"Ah! I see." Vesperi smiled at Hydra. "We all have our fears. You do get enough water this way, right?" Water was important, and she didn't want to think about her packmate preferring death to making sure she got all the water she needed. Vesperi herself didn't fear the water or drowning, though she had no reason to. If she was in danger of drowning, she could simply turn into a fish and swim to the surface before resuming her normal form. Chances were she would have been a fish or dolphin before being submerged completely.

Hydra said she liked it here, but she could do without the water. "I understand. Maybe someday we'll have a drier piece of land added to our territory."

[trenton]

my fear is strong

Hyrdra nodded, a bit crestfallen. She shouldnt have to hope that one day there would be dry land, she should be a normal wolf. Life was so much easier back when she was a real wolf, and drank water from a stream.

"So, what do you think of Naamas?" Hydra asked curiously, feebly altering the conversation away from herself and her petty fears.

my faith is weary

[reeddragon]

Hydra looked sad, but Vesperi didn't know what to do to help her. She wished she did. She hated seeing a pack mate suffer in any way or degree.

Her companion then changed the subject. Vesperi blinked. It was a question she had never been asked before, and not one she had ever really considered. She had a vague idea of the concept of a naama, but never thought deeply about the other lupine race. "I...can't say I've met one. I don't suppose I mind them. They exist so they have a purpose to fulfill just as we do..." She shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't know much about them, overall. What about you?"