Stormrunner

An orchestra of songs filled the cool morning air as songbirds poured their hearts out to stake their territories and impress mates, while the trilling cries of tree frogs and chirp of insects added flavor to the lively chorus. Storm almost felt compelled to add his voice to the mix, but chose instead to simply enjoy it as he strolled along the banks of the main marsh, nose to the ground and eyes alert for murder logs.

Half a mile in, the gray-coated wolf turned away from the waters and entered a lonely stand of silver maples choked with briars and gooseberry bushes. His tail began to wag, and he woofed softly, "Dawn, are you here? Dawn?"

Dawnstride

"You're early." The voice called from the deep shadows where Dawnstride was resting. She stood, her legs quaking a little but ultimately holding her weight. The feline ducked through a few low-hanging vines and pushed herself forward, stepping out of the makeshift den of branches and thorns and into the pale light that was just beginning to peek through the dense copse.

The cougar-mix raised her head and took in a big breath, whiskers pressed forward and eyes coolly sizing up the wolf before her. She'd come a long way in the past few weeks since they'd met, with her strong reservation against the canine having been chipped away by each visit he made, and each meal he and his cousin brought her. Her physical form had improved too, with her tawny and gold coat beginning to retake it's former gleam, and her ribs slowly smoothing out as fat and muscle began to return. It was a transformation on two levels, and it was nearing its completion.

"No food?" A sour expression shadowed the cat's face as she eased back on her haunches. "You've been lazy this morning. Or unlucky in your hunts?"

Stormrunner

The sound of Dawn's voice renewed the vigor of Storm's wagging tail and brought a smile to his stormy-gray mug. Where she was still getting warmed up to him, the wolf already viewed her as a fellow packmate and friend. "Morning to you, too." He woofed, stepping past the long, drooping branches of the river trees and into the center of the small stand. A chuckle sang through his words, when he replied to her again, "Heh, neither actually. Hawk is bringing some food, but I had something else in mind." And his eyes lit up like those of an excited puppy, and carried through in his vocals, "I thought today would be a perfect time to introduce you to the pack. I've already talked to my father about it, and... well, he'll warm up to you."

Dawnstride

His level of pup-like enthusiasm was a source of annoyance for the big cat, and yet... little by little, she was finding it rather endearing as well. In this moment, Dawn tolerated it with a mild scowl and a decidedly still tail and unblinking stare, which was better than the rumbles and bristling he'd received earlier in their relationship. "You really think it's a good idea for that? You said you don't know how your mother will respond, and your father is not terribly keen on outsiders. Especially of the non-lupine variety." She inclined a brow at this and eased back on her haunches.

Stormrunner

Her lack of enthusiasm didn't dampen any of Storm's, "It'll be fine, his mom use to be great friends with a cougar. Besides-" The pace of his wagging tail slowed, and his gaze turned in the vague direction of his packlands, "-one day soon, I'm going to take his place. I have to start making big decisions, and standing behind them." This wasn't the first time he'd mentioned such ambitions, but there was as always a hesitant ring to his words. He had no doubt he could take over for his father, but wondered when the appropriate time would be, and how Starscream would handle it.

Dawnstride

She watched his demeanor shift, sliding from exuberance to something a little more tempered. The big cat rose up off her haunches and pushed past Stormrunner, and past the hanging branches and unfurling spring leaves that made up her hideaway.

"Well?" Dawnstride looked over her shoulder, "Best get moving before the sun rises any higher, and the heat begins to build." Truth be told, Dawn was sure she was more anxious about this meeting than her canine friend, but she had her confidence and strength back thanks to him, and this was the least she could do to repay his help.

Stormrunner

Life returned to his lanky tail, and it thumped merrily against the surrounding foliage as he turned to watch Dawnstride depart from the den. "Really?" Excitement filled his voice again, with her confidence quickly buoying his own. Storm all but pranced out of the copse, brushing fur against his feline companion before sprinting out ahead of her. "It's not terribly far from here. I-" The wolf faltered for a moment, considered his missing cousin, then gave a proverbial shrug of the shoulders, "-Hawk can follow our scent. Come on!" With that, the young Stormrunner began to make his way back to the Aspen Grove.

Dawnstride

There was no wagging tail for Dawn, only the calm resolution of a big cat who was preparing herself to face a pack of predators that may not be as keen on her arrival as Stormrunner was. Whatever doubts lingered in her mind, Dawn kept them at bay as she followed Stormrunner from the trees and out into the open marsh. Head down and ears alert, the cougar-mix padded after him.