River Encounter

[nightblood]

The snow-covered ground glistened in the light of the mid-day sun. The swish of NightBlood's tail was the only sign of life on the river bank. The Sentry lay staring into the water with her head on her forelegs, the tips of her claws touching the surface of the semi-frozen river.

NightBlood lifted her head and gave a loud yawn, returning her chin to her foreleg. The wind blew across her fur, but she gave little sign that she acknowledged it. Her encounter with Pollux had only lifted her spirits slightly. Although she had appreciated her company, she felt she needed time alone to think about the passed events.

Sighing once, the Sentry continued to gaze into the water, every now and then catching a glimps of a fish through the thin ice. Soon enough, she remembered how hungry she was. Quickly standing up, Blood placed a paw on the ice, testing it's strength. The frozen water immediatly cracked under her weight. Judging the water's depth, the wolf slowly pressed on the ice until it broke away completely.

Looking around, NightBlood waited for a sign that she had alerted someone in the area. When none came, she returned her attention to the hole in the ice. Having never ice-fished, she studied the water curiously, judging how exactly to extract a meal from the river without needing to break more ice.

[Electus]

Arnlan seemed always in the grip of winter. Mortil wondered slightly at that fact, but the thought did not trouble him for long. He loved the white snow, the glistening of ice that frosted over rivers. However, why he wasn't sleeping the day off in his den at the moment wasn't a question he knew the answer to. He wandered a bit aimlessly, until he came to the bank of a frozen-over river.

He stared at his reflection for a moment, and for a second, it appeared to be fierce and wild. He shook his head, eye widening slightly. He hadn't seen Nightblood or Archer, or anyone for that matter, in a few days. He didn't mind. Solitude was as much a part of him as Umbra...

He sighed, staring moodily at the ice. His sharp ears soon heard a small crack and crashing sound, somewhere downriver. With nothing better to do, he roused himself and wandered down in that direction.

[Brink]

William Riverbound~

The river water was icy, freezing actually. So cold, in fact, the top of it had frozen. Not completely though. It wasn’t like someone had decided to cast solid ice upon the water’s surface. It was more like frosting that had been stuck in the fridge: appeared solid, but if you put your finger on it, it was soft and your finger would sink in. Of course it wasn't frosting; it was extremely cold, slippery, and didn’t taste particularly good.

Through the thick, inky a form swam, invisible to the world above. It swam in quick, little circles, making the water swirl, forming something like a whirlpool. It sucked small fish into it, making them easy prey. None of the fish caught were a suitable size for William’s meal, so he simply plucked them out and did his best to toss them away so they wouldn’t be caught up in the little trap again. A shadow fell over him and he looked upward. Somewhere above him, the ice seemed to explode. The crackling noise was dull and empty, distorted by the water. One would think it came from a distance. Will knew better. Most of the seven years of his life and been spent in water so judging distance was no difficulty. The little otter abandoned his mini-whirlpool and swam upward. His head appeared in the thick, black water under the hole, distorted and looking demented fish.

He didn’t know of the bulky females troubles and he wasn’t about to pry. So, he broke the surface beady black eyes looking up at NightBlood. He kept low of course, so fleeing was easier. Will’s head cocked to the side as his little webbed paws paddled furiously to keep himself partially out of the water. The water-dweller wondered why such a heavy canine would decide to walk on such thin ice. No questioning though. Didn’t feel that comfortable around it. Too big. Sympathy for the creature kicked in and he found himself speaking. “Ya know, if ya do it that way, I’ll your gonna get is wet. Ice’s too thin.” His attention was pulled away momentarily when another wolf appeared, but he quickly went pack to sizing up NightBlood.
[/blockquote][/color]

[nightblood]

As a dark figure moved in to view of the hole, NightBlood contemplated about wether or not to attack it. It didn't look like any fish she had ever seen, and it was far too big for her to fight in her more malnurished condition. Coming to her conclusion, she looked passed the figure and tried to catch a glips of some smaller, but still meal-worthy creatures.

Instead, the strange animal broke the surface, obstruction her vision. She glared at it for a moment, seemingly daring it to make her angry, but then calmed down enough to study it. She was always interested in new things, even if they got in the way of a meal. She only got as far to note the fur that covered it before it opened it's mouth to speak, reavealing a tooth structure similar to any wolf's.

“Ya know, if ya do it that way, I’ll your gonna get is wet. Ice’s too thin.”

A slight stun, but Night should know better than anyone that wolves were not the only creatures who could talk. She frowned at the creature's statement and, instead of asking her initial question of 'What are you?', fell back on her second question.

"How do you propose I get a meal, then?"

[Electus]

By now, Mortil had drifted near enough to hear the conversation. It wasn't much of a conversation, considering that they had only started. Oh well. The ash-grey wolf drifted forward, not bothering to conceal his presence.

"How do you propose I get a meal, then?"

Mortil grinned lopsidedly as he approached. "You could always jump in, you know. The water's not cold enough for the ice to freeze properly."[/color] He poked experimentally at the ice himself, and sure enough, it cracked and broke apart easily. He smiled and turned his head to the strange creature in the water. It was of medium size, but of passing interest also. The fact that it spoke was of no great import to him. "But anyways...want me to catch something for you?"[/color] he offered earnestly. "It's quite simple really."[/color]

[Brink]

The large canine seemed surprised by the otter’s sudden appearance. He wondered is it had ever seen a creature such as himself. "How do you propose I get a meal, then?" It seemed so simple to Will, but maybe this wolf wasn't farmiliar with fishing. Well, a lesson couldn't hurt, although she probably wouldn't be able to see him through the ice and the dark waters.

"Like this." With that, Will eagerly dove back into the water. The water was still freezing, but his waterproof fur protected him from most of the cold. Creating whirlpools took to long, so he simply went after the fish. It wasn’t a fun, but it was a better method if you wanted a quick meal. And William doubted that the creature above would want him to take his time.

He tossed a fish a between the pair of wolfs, while the other was set on the opposite side of the whole. “Here ya go. You look kinda down. Food’s the best cure for that.” A wide smile, like a canoe, appeared on his features. It was usually contagious, but neither NightBlood nor Mortil look as if they smiled a lot. Will heard Mortil’s offer to grab a fish and smiled innocently. Intruding wasn’t what he meant to do, especially if the grey male was after the hefty female. That stupid looking smile still plastered on his face, he climbed out of the water. His fish was promptly retrieved. At this point, his meal was the most important thing. Before digging in though, he looked up and gave the two canines a smile. Just to be polite…

[nightblood]

"Like this."

NightBlood tilted her head a little and watched as the animal dived. Unable to see anything through the dark water, she sighed and sat down on the snow, lifting her head as another voice caught her attention.

"You could always jump in, you know. The water's not cold enough for the ice to freeze properly."

The large Sentry turned to look at the gray male, a smirk plastered across her face.

"Hey, Mortil," she said in greeting, "Not enough energy to do much. I was looking for an easy kill."

That's when a fish seemingly jumped up from the water. Along with it came the strange creature. She looked at it inquizitively, wandering how he had caught the meal so quickly.

"But anyways...want me to catch something for you?" Mortil offered, "It's quite simple really."

"I know how to fish," she said kindly, "Been doing it since I got kicked by that horse. Left a nasty scar on my back leg..."

Normally, Night would've been upset that the gray wolf took her as ignorant of the skill. However, she knew she was not in any condition to be angry. Doing so would only make her hungrier.

As the swimmer took up his meal, NightBlood smiled back at him, then turned to the Subordinate.

"But perhaps I could learn something from you..."

[Electus]

"I know how to fish...Been doing it since I got kicked by that horse. Left a nasty scar on my back leg..."

Mortil dipped his head apologetically. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound...so arrogant."

"But perhaps I could learn something from you..."

Mortil laughed his customary melancholic laugh. "Perhaps...perhaps." Without another word, he dived headfirst into the freezing river. The water was surprisingly clear and not murky like he expected, and thus he could see the dark shapes of fish darting around much easier than usual. He snapped his jaw at one, although in the frigid water it seemed to him that he moved rather sluggishly. Nonetheless, he managed to catch a fish in his jaws, and he headed back up, emerging from the mid-sized hole in the ice that he had made in his dive. He spit the fish out, looking at Nightblood expectantly.

"Well, go on Nightblood...I already ate. Umbra caught something early dawn. Speaking of which...I haven't seen Archer around lately. Is...he feeling well? I mean, are you cross with him?"

[Brink]

The otter’s eating had slowed, his interest piqued by the wolves conversation. The word ‘horse’ wasn’t in his vocabulary, but that was a pretty big scar… Will’s chewing slowed, until it was almost thoughtful. He mulled over the word ‘horse’, wondering if it was one of those two-legged things that often tried to ensnare him in their nets. The desire to cut into the conversation was counteracted by the need to be polite, something mama had drilled into him so long ago. The splash of one of the wolves caught his attention and he remembered what he had been doing.

Another bite was taken, slower this time. He had decided to stay here a little while, rather than go back home and be questioned about his lateness. Staying a little longer couldn’t hurt, could it? So, he looked back up at NightBlood and with his mouth still full said, “Soooo… you and him, huh?”Another smile (big surprise). Will might be getting the wrong idea, but it seemed to make sense to him. “I’ve got my own family back home.” He nodded back upstream where he and his family had built their little den.

The other, ‘Mortil’ he thought the bigger one had called him, resurfaced. William clammed up, not wishing to disturb the “couple”. Instead, he went on listening, that damn grin never wavering. He became slightly confused when Mortil asked if NightBlood was cross with this “Archer” character. Finally, his grin wavered, only slightly. He picked at the remains of his fish, trying to figure out who was who and what the hell a horse was….

[nightblood]

"Perhaps...perhaps," Mortil said with laugh. With that, he dived into the water. Blood hurried to try and view hm through he water, but gae upas it ws too dark from the surface. She sat up and wated for the gray wol to return.

“Soooo… you and him, huh? I’ve got my own family back home.”

With a soft choke, Night turned to the water creature. She had never considered Mortil to be more than a friend. Even if she did, there was no telling how Umbra would take it. That said, she wasn't exactly ready to love again anyway.

"I'm afraid you are mistaken, sir," she answered him, unable to be angry with that smile, "He and I are just friends."

It was then that Mortil resurfaced with the fish in his mouth. He promptly spat the meal out onto the shore and looked at her. Night's eyes, on the other hand, were plastered on the fish. She licked her lips without knowing it. It took all her strength not to jump and attack it.

"Well, go on Nightblood...I already ate. Umbra caught something early dawn. Speaking of which..."

Night had gotten up and headed toward the meal instantly at his invitaton. Although she wanted to ask about Umbra, her growling stomach wouldn't let her. She placd one paw on the fish to hold it in place as she layed down and was about to take a bite when Mortil continued.

"I haven't seen Archer around lately. Is...he feeling well? I mean, are you cross with him?"

"He's fine. And.. yes, I am."

The sentry lifted her back leg and scrated an itch on her neck. At the same time, digging the necklace out of her fur. Had Mortil seen it at first glance, he might not have asked. The questions annoyed her, but she would rather he hear it from her and not the garbled-up version from a gossiper.

Blood too a bite out of the fish, quelling her stomach for a moment. She lifted her head and looked at Mortil.

"Good one. Thanks," she said with a smile before 'wolfing' down the rest.

{{Haha. Lame pun. XD}}

[Electus]

"He's fine. And.. yes, I am."

Mortil nodded without a word. He absently looked at the river creature, which still lingered around. He hadn't caught the brief conversation between it and Nightblood while he was diving...perhaps that was best.

"Excuse my manners. I believe we have not been introduced before."[/color] Mortil said to it, his tone unassuming and polite. "May I have your name?"[/color]

He sat down on his haunches, tilting his head sideways as he liked to do. He absently swirled snow around this way and that, savoring the icy feel in his paw. It had been a long time since he was this content, this...happy. It was a refreshing feeling.

"Good one. Thanks"

That was Nightblood again. Mortil returned her smile with his customary one- thin and brief. "Think nothing of it. But...never mind. We'll talk about him later. I see you have your necklace with you. I apologize for asking about Archer. You must have thought it foolish."[/color]

[Brink]

Will looked slightly confused upon NightBlood saying that she and Mortil weren’t together. A frown seemed to crease his mouth. The otter usually wasn’t someone to frown, but confusion could do that to ya. The seemingly endless stream of thoughts running through his head seemed to end when Mortil spoke. He was right, they hadn’t introduced themselves. “I,” he began, raising himself to two short, brown legs, “am William Riverbound. Will’s fine though.” More of that infectious smiling. Would it ever end?

Their conversation continued on, and Will’s curiosity and confusion to also continued. Then there was mention of a necklace. The critter’s deep brown eyes quickly darted to the trinket that he hadn’t noticed before. It was pretty. His eyes fixed on it, and his features went blank. It only lasted a few seconds though, and he dropped back down to his four webbed paws.

“Who’s Archer?” he blurted out suddenly, his eyes hanging on the necklace a few seconds more. They then moved across the faces of the wolves questioningly. Curiosity always seemed to get the best of him… It was that constant feeling of being lost, not knowing what was happening, why it was happening, and how it was happening that always made him ask. This time it might've been a mistake, but the damage had been dealt and going back and fixing it was impossible.

[nightblood]

"Excuse my manners. I believe we have not been introduced before." Mortil said to the water hunter, his tone unassuming and polite. "May I have your name?"

“I,” the water creature began, raising himself to two short, brown legs, “am William Riverbound. Will’s fine though.”

Night said nothing, but continued chewing on the fish's meat, careful not to bite the small bones. She and Mortil's names had already been mentioned. If the animal had not caught them, they would be said again eventually.

"Think nothing of it. But...never mind. We'll talk about him later. I see you have your necklace with you. I apologize for asking about Archer. You must have thought it foolish."

"Ignorance is not to be confused with foolishness." Blood said, raising her head to address him. "You did not know. You asked. That is smart. Only a fool does not ask questions."

Wow... that's enough wisdom for one day.

Returning to her meal, NightBlood perked her ears to better hear Will as he began to speak.

“Who’s Archer?”

Without triping over her words, NightBlood answered the question boldy and bluntly. She lefted her head and glared at the creature, a snarl placed on her muzzle.

"I gutless black canine unworthly to be called a wolf of Arnlan. My ex-mate."

With that, she went back to her fish. More that half gone by now, the meal was begining to chill on the snow. Night kept one eye (all she could) on Will as he stared in her direction. Finishing her meal with a final bite, she followed his gaze to her necklace.

"Dog fang. Killed it just after getting kicked," she answered the question she assumed was in his head.

[Electus]

"A gutless black canine unworthy to be called a wolf of Arnlan. My ex-mate."

Mortil was a little disturbed to hear Nightblood utter those words. After all, Archer was her mate, and he thought love would not be such a...fickle thing. Granted, Archer was in part to blame for her cousin Shadeblood's death, but in a way, Mortil found that he felt some guilt as well. If only he had just let Umbra continue, let Umbra tear Bloodloose limb from limb...Ah well. Past was past. The only thing to deal with was the present.

"You have not known me long as a friend Nightblood, and please know that I mean no harm when I say that you have hated me for a longer time. But since I do hope that you trust me now, I will be arrogant enough to offer advice. Love is...a rare thing to come by. I will grant that yes, Archer did have a part in Shadeblood's death, but you should not blame him. Believe me Nightblood, there are far too little things in this world that I love. If I cannot have any love from anyone or anything, I would at least as a friend like to see you happy. I wouldn't want to see you like this. In fact, I don't like to see you as such." Mortil stopped speaking, aware that he had said far more that he had wanted. Nonetheless, he felt that it must be said. Inside him, he felt a familiar presence coiling around his heart.

Isn't someone philosophical today? I thought you didn't like getting involved in things that don't concern you.

I guess I'm not the same wolf anymore.

I would presume so. Well, in any case, please don't drag me into it.

Never.

Mortil now turned to Will. "Nice to meet you Will. I assure you, the pleasure is mine."

[Brink]

The glare was enough to warn him that inquiring anymore would be a huge mistake. It had also made him take a few steps back, fear lighting up his beady eyes. Will had moved closer to one of the cracks. If need be, he would quickly widen the crack and slip through, retreating back home. Frowning, he met her stare, ferocity now in those tiny eyes. Anger had flooded its way into the otter. He was mainly angered because of his fear. He was an otter, after all. And they were on ice. Mortil and NightBlood were bigger and faster, but Will knew how to handle himself on the ice. Seven long, harsh winters had gone by, and sliding on the ice while on his stomach was an easy feat. Furthermore, he was only twenty-six pounds. NightBlood easily weighed over one hundred pounds and Mortil a little less than that. If running, their masses would surely crack the ice and sent them crashing into the icy water. And there, nothing could catch William RiverBound.

His next statement was cut off by Mortil though. He tiny creature sat there, looking deflated, but also listening and considering what Mortil was saying. "You have not known me long as a friend Nightblood, and please know that I mean no harm when I say that you have hated me for a longer time. But since I do hope that you trust me now, I will be arrogant enough to offer advice. Love is...a rare thing to come by. I will grant that yes, Archer did have a part in Shadeblood's death, but you should not blame him. Believe me Nightblood, there are far too little things in this world that I love. If I cannot have any love from anyone or anything, I would at least as a friend like to see you happy. I wouldn't want to see you like this. In fact, I don't like to see you as such."

Will scurried forward, compelled by Mortil’s little speech to say something. He was closer now, standing on his hindpaws, beady eyes looking towards NightBlood. “He’s right, ya know? Well, love isn’ a rare thing ta come by. Look a him,” he motioned towards Mortil with a tiny brown paw, “he loves ya. Not like how I was sayin’ before, but he loves ya; he’ll stick by your side, an’ I know this just by lookin’ at him. But true love, now that’s a hard thing to come by. And you had it… but you lost it.” A short pause as he searched for the right words. “But that doesn’t mean that you still don’t deserve to be happy or still love, right? Everyone deserves to love or be loved.”

[/b] The last statement was quieter than everything else, as his intent gaze wavered slightly. He then gave a weak smile, not sure if NightBlood would listen to him or not since he was nothing more than a tiny otter, insignificant in NightBlood's and Mortil's lives.

"Nice to meet you Will. I assure you, the pleasure is mine." William's only acknowledgment to the statement was a quick nod in Mortil's genreal direction. [/font][/blockquote]