The Winter Den

Soran nodded in mock agreement and returned the eye roll, taking the time to rewrap his tail tightly around his paws. As he did so, he noticed the dark female from earlier, the one who resembled Pallatsera closely with every action, as she collided with Insomnia and strode off to the den. It was unfair though, as he suddenly realized, to be comparing her to Palla. What if her actions were her own and the old Alpha had simply copied off her sister? Even the way she stood, it was clear she wasn’t used to the new life of a busy pack, and perhaps he would speak to her after Mahina did.

Turning his head back to Spirit, the male gave a small shake of his head. “Of course, had I stayed here forever, there would have been a dangerously low amount of leaf helmets.” He said, a joking smile playing on his muzzle as he gestured to the nettles above. “But you I hear, are so bold as to walk around in the snow and even enjoy it.” the Delta continued, tones of fake surprise dripping off of his voice like the sap above him.

Kanae now stood on a ridge that overlooked the clearing of which the pack stayed. Her chocolate orbs scanned them all calmly, though they contained a tinge of sadness. She wished that she could go back down there; she did not. Eyes warmed when they took note of Ninja rolling around in the thick blanket of snow.

"Ninja." She spoke his name softly, letting the wind carry it.

Elysia nodded gratefully to Mahina. She was feeling increasingly uncomfortable, physically and emoitonally. She was cold, though she didnt want to admit it. The others were outside and they werent shivering messes. They weren't huddled up against trees either. If they weren't, then she didnt need to be. Elysia wondered what Pallatsera had done. Pallatsera had been small, like herself. She got cold easily. It was the only time Pallatsera had been a touching type of wolf - when she was cold. Elysia remembered many winter nights spent curled up with her sister, sharing warmth that both of them had needed. Elysia had to force herself not to wince at the memory.

She shook her head, trying to think of something else. She didnt need Pallatsera's warmth, as much as she might want it. She had to be realistic. She forced a smile to Insomnia and Mahina. She wasn't as socially adept as Pallatsera had been. She was okay when she started the conversation and sometimes when others did - but other times she just couldn't quite do it. Now was one of those times. She dipped her head to Insomnia and Mahina. "I think I will, if you dont mind, go find a tree or something to that affect." It was an excuse, but at least a truthful one.

Elysia backed away, hoping not to have offended either one. She liked them, could even grow to consider them friends, but she had too much on her mind. She glanced at Soran as she passed, her eyes lingering on his chocolate fur. It looked warm, inviting. She shook her head again, clearing the thought. She padded to another large sycamore, curling on the ground and pressing herself against the dry bark of the trunk. She could still see Insomnia, Mahina, Soran and Spirit from where she lay.

Ninja stopped rolling in the snow. His ears twitched. The sound was very faint, but he could just barely make out the words. 'Kanae?' he said to himself. He didn't know how to react to that response. The brute stood up and listened carefully. No more sounds came and he figured it was just birds or something else talking to each other. He sat down and tried to shake the memory of someone or something, calling his name.

Spirit smiled, "Me? I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." She voiced, feigning sarcasm. Her gaze flicked over to the snow as it lay sprawled across the ground. Her ears flicked as she looked up to see a dark she-wolf passing by, Elysia was her name - she'd heard it floating around. Spirit winced slightly as she caught the look in her eyes. Slowly, Spirit looked back at Soran, tearing her gaze from the female as she went to a nearby tree. She could feel some part of her sinking inside, but why? Why should she feel that way at all, it was only to be expected. Spirit closed her eyes, shaking her head. She shouldn't let something so small get to her, so why did it hurt?

Spirit opened her eyes once more, trying her best to put it past her. She put on a faint smile, trying to ward the feeling off. "It's a shame there really are no leaves anymore." Her tail glided across the snow behind her slightly. "Of course there are nettles... but they're rather itchy if I do say so myself." Spirit said, glancing up at the nettles above their heads.

Ninja looked over and saw Insomnia. This whole time he been in the pack, Ninja never once talked to him. But, that would change. He padded over there and sat down near him. "Hello." the brute wanted to say more, but only a single word came out.

Charna trotted along, completely off in her own world. There wasn't much going on in her mind as the winter's cold winds blew around, tussling up the autumn's killed leaves. Lowering, Charna leapt at them, batting at them like a pup. She hadn't a care in the world. She was a part of a pack, which meant she was safe from threats, and much more. It had been remarkably easy to assimilate into the environment, which made her happy. Then again, a lot of things made her happy.

(LAME, but I wanted to hop in)

Soran grinned and swept aside a pile of nettles with his tail, coating the fur with stray sap that had fallen to the ground and long since frozen. With a quick flick of his paw, he placed a pile of snow that balanced perfectly on top of the white she-wolfs head. With the brightness of her fur, and the chalky color of the flakes, it barely stood out at all. “A little cold, but it works none the less...” He replied loftily, brushing away that last of the snow on his paw with a quick flick of the wrist.

His eyes flickered over the dark female that had passed them earlier as she said, secluded and most likely freezing under a lone sycamore tree and he shuffled his paws in indecision, but he knew he would have time to talk to her later. His ears flickered slightly at the sounds of others in the distance, mingled with the scents of wolves from their own pack. Turning his attention back to Spirit, he casually gazed at one of her dark, stone colored ears, debating whether or not to attack.