Nightcrawler

His hunting trip had ended in utter failure, leaving Nightcrawler not only without his hard-earned meal, but two broken ribs as well. He had managed to kill a calf, but the mother and defending stags had been just a bit quicker than him this time, and left him on the receiving and of dangerous hooves. Oh well, you win some and you loose some.

By now, the ebony wolf had slowed his pace to a slow trot, holding back a wincing gait, even though every movement brought pain stabbing to his side. Feeling rather conspicuous in the open, light-hued land, Night turned his attentions to a steep ravine created by two tall, steep-sided eskers. Easng down the slopes with a cascade of loose soil to mark his every step, the wolf reached the bottom of the pit and laid down gingerly on his good side to rest a while. Later, he planned to return to the Oak Prairie and see if his kill was still there; and if he could safely retrieve it or not.

Zhener

The wedgie was quite glad that the temperatures were warming again, making it feel more like his homeland. He also found hunting easier now, although he scavenged a lot on the road side.

Spying a potential friend, the eagle glided down and landed a few feet from Nightcrawler, "Oh, ello! You are from zhe pack vith Eytan, ja?" He questioned, hopping forward and cocking his sepia head to the side.

Nightcrawler

Nightcrawler quickly sat up, looking at the bizzare bird cautiously, although he did know plenty about him. "Yeah... you're Zhener, right? I'm Nightcrawler." The eagle seemed friendly enough, so Night didn't adopt a defensive posture. In fact, he was glad to have someone to talk to now, even if Zhener was a little... annyoing at times.

Zhener

"Ja, Zhener! So, vhat are you doing out 'ere? Not so good a place to sleep. I see many humans en big dogs out." The wedge-tail shuffled his large talons, dipping his head momentarily to peck at a particularly shiny rock he spotted. Then he looked back to Nightcrawler, changing the subject without notice, "Vant some food? I vill hunt for you, ja?" Ah, good old food. To Zhener, it was the best way to make friends.

Elara

Elara had been coming from the packlands where Nightcrawler had said he would be her heart heavy. He hadnt been there or at least he hadnt responded to her calls. She made her way to the eskers and she spotted the eagle fly down and land and she quickly raced over wishing to see what was so interesting. Thats when her eyes laid upon Nightcrawler. She gave a happy yip and raced down to him, skidding to a halt a few feet from him and the eagle. She grinned mischieviously and said "Night!" She wondered if he remembered her. But then again she wasnt that important. Her sisters were the better ones. Everyone remembered them.

Nightcrawler

He had smiled laughingly at the eagle, "That would be good, Zhener. If it isn't too much trouble." A flicker of movement made the wolf's head turn to the side, where he saw another coming towards him. From past experiences, Night quickly stood up in preparation to run. But it was only a false alarm; this was a friend!

"Elara!" He barked with surprise, his tail waving in delight. "I haven't seen you for a while. How are things?" Yes, he definitely remembered her from the Canyon. If it was one thing Night was good at, it was remembering friends, for they were so important to him.

Elara

She chuckled and bounded closer to him batting him gently on the head in play, nipping at his ears. "Pretty good. Did you see the fight that was here a while ago? It was pretty bad but I didnt join in. I was to scared" She said sheepishly. Luna and Desdemona had fought but only because Luna had jumped into the fray and Dese had felt the need to protect her white sister. She smiled at Nightcrawler now, happiness radiating off of her in waves. She finally had someone to talk to.

Zhener

Zhener took to the sky, "I vill be back soon! Vait 'ere for me!" As he circled higher, he looked curiously to Elara before screaching a 'hello'. Then he flapped his wing, turned with the wind, and sailed out of sight.

Nightcrawler

He gave a nod to Zhener as he took off, then looked back to Elara, "I've heard a bit about the war. And I've seen the... casualties." He fumbled a bit over the words, for an old friend of his had died out here in the battle, and it bothered Night something terrible to come across his friends remains. But he didn't want to linger on sad thoughts right now, and offered a rekindled smile on his sleek muzzle, "Being scared is a good thing, sometimes. It can keep us from making foolish mistakes now and then."

Nightcrawler

Something caught the wolf's attention, jerking his head to the nearby Ochotona Mountains area. His nose quivered and his ears strained, while his eyes spoke of terror and horror. "Oh no...!" Nightcrawler looked frantically to Elara, "I'm very sorry, but I must go! I will be back here as soon as I can, if you still would like to talk." He tried to force a smile, but a pressing emergency had drained him off all joy at the moment. One of his packmates was in dire trouble, by the sounds of it. As Night said his last words, he was already bolting away, across the dunes, towards his terra.