Staring into the sky

[Blizzard]

Blizzard gave a sigh as he stared upwards. It was his pack, he owned it, and it would be hard. He had never though of getting this much responsibility. He had just wanted a place to live. Well, whatever it was, it was a beautiful place. He just felt sad that his family could have been there to enjoy it with him. They couldn't enjoy it at all really. They could be dead for all he knew. Heck, they probably were dead.
He then turned his head toward the floor. The white snow beneath his paws was starting to make his legs cold, and so, he began to wiggle his body about a bit, still thinking deeply...

[Chill]

Chill glanced about. She thought she saw the form of a wolf above her, sitting, staring. She couldn't be completely sure--but the wind, when it tilted her way, brought the scent of Blizzard. It was a wolf. She stayed, halfway on the ice-path, and halfway beginning her climb, with front paws on a ledge that she could use to propel herself to the very top.

No, she thought quietly, let Blizzard think. He must have a lot to take in. And with that, the young wolf turned and retreated, silently, pressed against the ice to hopefully escape notice. She paused only for a moment, and then to make sure Blizzard was still there. She sighed deeply and moved on, a twinge of some feeling she didn't recognize beginning to swell inside her.

[Blizzard]

Blizzard had noticed her from her smell, and he knew it was her. He gave another sigh and shook his head. It was nice of her to not disturb me. he thought. But I can still notice her there. He gave a small, wolfish smile, and then turned in her direction. "Chill!" He barked. "Come back here!" He began to climb down the ledge himself to get to the same level as her.

[Chill]

Chill spun, turning to face Blizzard. She sighed, a long sound, unsure of what her Center wolf had to say

"I--Blizzard..." she said. "What is it?"

OOC: I have to go...be back later. Don't think Chill just abandoned you!!

[Blizzard]

OOC: Okay ^^

IC: He reached the bottom of the ledge and gave Chill a smile. "Thanks for trying not to disturb me an' all. But you know what my sence of smell is like!" He continued moving his body about a little bit, due to the cold now running up his front right leg.

[Chill]

Chill dipped her head in respect. "Yes, Blizzard. Your sense of smell is more than strong enough to...be alerted to my presence." It stung her to have to speak to a wolf that might have become a good friend this way, but traditions would stand. The wind proceeded, momentarily, to shift. She raised her muzzle, finding glory in the way her fur was buffeted by it and the way the brief instant of cold made her shiver.

The ice-blue wolf remembered only in time that she was speaking with Blizzard. A bit horrified at herself, she blinked and forced her tail, which she had allowed to whip about her in the wind, to rest limply behind her. "What," she began, regaining her composure only slightly, "did you want to say? Or perhaps, only to alert me to the fact that your sense of smell is in tune to my actions?" She added this last only to tease, feeling that she owed herself that bit of conversation after being so undignified. She might as well prove that she cared not for what Blizzard thought of her.

But do you really not care about this? some voice in her head persisted. Even if you are the representative, you're not indespensible. It's not like you don't appreciate Blizzard for all he does, not like you don't appreciate his decisions. She ignored this voice of reason, focusing her attention instead on the other wolf in front of her rather than an all-too-unreal one in her mind.

[Blizzard]

Blizzard gave a small laugh at her last comment and shook his head. "I mainly wanted to say thanks." This was very true on his part, it was mainly what he had wanted to say. He didn't really know what the rest of what he wanted to say was. He had just wanted company really.

I probably could have just told her that I wanted company. But it sounds too... too wimpish really. And anyway, I'm sure she'd think it was stupid.

He shook his head out of thought as a cold wind blew his way. A shiver ran down his body, sending him into a whole body twitch. He looked shocked after it had happened and then gave a sigh. "Sorry about that. I must've looked a bit odd..."

[Chill]

Chill parted her jaws in wolfish laughter. "Yes," she agreed, "you did. But only a bit. I know I did, with my tail whipping about like it's snow in a blizzard." She realized only after her words that Blizzard was the actual name of the wolf present. She imagined, briefly, Blizzard causing snow to dart up into a swirling torment around him, and was uncertain whether the image brought her humor--or fear.

Blizzard is your better, she told herself sternly. You ought to have a tinge of fear. It's good for you. Keeps you awake.

Keeps you awake? rebelled another part of her. It forces you to do what you'd rather not. What others want you to do. Blizzard should inspire, at the very least, respect into that mindless wolf that you call Chill. Chilled, more like. Chilled like your heart. Your heart that feels nothing for other wolves. Isn't that right?

No. No, I--I feel for other wolves.

Name one.

Chill found that she hardly dared to admit it to herself.

I feel for...Blizzard.

Recognition shocked her for a moment, but she calmed herself slightly. "Sorry," she said, an apologetic look creeping over her features, "I spaced out for a bit there."

[Blizzard]

He gave a laugh at her first choise of words. What had they all expected with names like that? He imagined himself creating his own little blizzard around him, and found that he wasn't sure if it felt good. He shook himself out of it and turned back to Chill. She was in thought about something...

When she had finished, she had apologized for spacing out. "It's okay. I do it as well." He gave a small, one-sided smile at her.

[Chill]

She wagged her tail slightly, unsure of what Blizzard would accept as friendly. Finally, she remembered his earlier words.

"You wanted to say thanks." It was a statement, really, but sounded more like a question. Chill sighed inwardly, giving herself a mental shake before speaking again. "What for?" She truly did wonder what she had done to deserve his thanks. She might as well let him know this.

"Blizzard," she added tentatively, "I cannot think of anything memorable that I have done." She sighed, but it had all ready been said. There was no taking it back.

[Blizzard]

"I was just saying thanks for trying not to disturb me. It was a nice thing to do!" Okay, he had two problems with the sentance he had just said. Number 1, it probably sounded like the stupidest thing ever. Number 2, he had used the word 'nice'. He hated that word. It sounded horrible, and that is why he had to say it wasn't it.
He shook his head. "It doesn't really matter. I was just getting bored up there anyway."

[Chill]

Chill dipped her head in acknowledgement. "I can understand that," she agreed. Standing up on top of a piece of ice for long periods of time was not her idea of fun. "But...Blizzard...I have to go now." She blinked, and looked truly sorry. "It's the full moon this sun. As representative, I must visit with the StoneSayer."

Chill turned away from the other wolf, moving as fast as her legs would take her. If she kept the StoneSayer waiting, she would never be pleased with herself. Finding the area near entrance, the ice-blue wolf stared, and stepped inside.

OOC: The rest of this part can be found in the StoneSayer board.

[Blizzard]

Blizzard nodded his head in acnoledgement as she moved away. Again, he sighed, and climbed his way back to the top of the crag. He began to think to himself again. I suppose although we had a short conversation. It went alright...

[Chill]

Chill began along the path again, hoping that she could count on Blizzard to still be nearby. As she rounded a particularly sharp curve, she thought she saw him--climbing towards the top. She sighed, deciding that her Center wolf was distinctly stubborn.

The ice-blue wolf had stepped to much the same place she had been in before, though at that time Blizzard had already been at the top and she was watching from below. She decided that this was important, and spoke, her voice quavering only slightly.

"Blizzard!" she called. "I have news from Kwolenth...and...well, it isn't good."

[Blizzard]

Blizzard stopped on his climb, turned, and jumped off. He landed face-to-face with Chill. "What is it?" His voice said with concern. Although he was worried (not good news was always bad) he did not show it in his eyes, they stayed the same, glazed over as they always were.

[Chill]

Chill sighed, scraping one paw over the ice in what could only be described as nervousness. "He--Kwolenth, that is--said that there will be...a storm. Greater than any before. A blizzard, I think. And, because of it...a sickness. Through the whole pack." She sighed. "Do--do you think any of it will happen?" She could always hope, of course, that Blizzard would deny the likelihood of any of it.

[Blizzard]

Blizzard's eyes glazed over with fear of what she had just said. "This is Kwolenth we're talking about.." He said, not wanting to say that it was the most likely thing that would ever happen to them. The thing was though, it had been likely to happen, and they all knew it in their hearts. But maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that it wouldn't. "He could have been wrong..."

[Chill]

Chill dipped her head in acceptance. "He is getting older," she said, more to reassure herself than anything. "Maybe he interpreted it wrong...mistaken one symbol for another...moved them accidentally..." She let her feeble protests fade away.

The ice-blue wolf sighed. He really could have read them wrong, she thought. Some words have more than one meaning. I wonder what they said, exactly? What words were used?

What words could have been used? a more reasonable part of her argued. Sometimes she was grateful for this voice of reason, but right now she wished she could just chase it away. What words for 'sickness' or 'storm' could have another meaning?

I don't know. Anything. He really could have moved them by accident, though, right?

Yeah, sure. He just let a group of strangers into his chambers, too, and is letting them eat all his food.

The thought, though sarcastic, was so humorous that she couldn't help but snort in laughter. She realized her blunder when she focused again on Blizzard.

"Sorry. I was...thinking...oh, never mind. I'll see if...I can find anything to eat." She padded away.

Great. Now you'll not only get sick and storm-swept, but you've made a fool of yourself in front of Blizzard, too. What's next, falling off the ice? Tail hanging low, head down, the young wolf was resigned to her fate.

Now more than anything I'm going to eat last--hunt last--speak last. I'll be chosen Outer Wolf for sure.

[Blizzard]

He looked at her, fear still showing in his eyes as she thought.
She must be trying to deny it I suppose. I know I am, but I'm not really sure how it works...
He shook his head and looked back at Chill. She then snorted in laughter which made Blizzard a little shocked.

He was still looking at her when she began to walk away. He started to follow her, and then stopped. "Chill." He barked. "D'you.. mind if I come with you?"

[Chill]

She raised her head, a look of surprising dancing over her features, changing almost immediately into pleasure.

"No, of course I don't mind. We can check the Snowdrifts. There might even be a rabbit."

Chill turned and began moving faster now, spiraling down the path in the ice, then doing something that no experienced climber can resist. She jumped, still on the path, landing on her side with paw pads up and unable to grip. She slid, turning in the direction of the ice, enjoying the moment, no thoughts for how she looked.

OOC: The rest of this is in the Snowdrifts .