Timber

The collie sauntered over one of the rugged trails with his head and tail held dejectedly down. After reaching the highest point of the canyon, the dog gazed out over the valley with a longing sort of look. This was enemy territory for him; he was a Ranch pet and knew all the wolves and wild ones hated him. But he didn't care. Tossing back his slender but powerful muzzle, Timber gave a wretched, heartbroken howl that told of a tortured and broken heart. Where was Shimmer? Where where the cruel murderers of his brothers and sister...?

Tri-Tundra

The pale grey fae was searching for members to join her pack when she heard what seemed to be an earpeircing, wretched attempt to howl. Cautiously, she approached the spot where she thought she heard the sound. 'What a day' she mumbled to herself as she saw the collie. She was not the average wolf. If the collie had known that she just saved the life of a dying seal, he might have thought differently about this caring wolf. She looked at him with her emerald eyes glinting. She wondered what was wrong, but did not approach.

Timber

Hearing the sound of another nearby, Timber instantly halted his sorrowful song and whirled around to face Tri-Tundra. His ears laid back instantly showing he had no intentions of fighting, but his hackles and lips were raised defiantly in aggression. The one pure wolf he and his family had trusted had betrayed them, so in his mind no wild wolf was trustworthy. "Have you come to kill me too?" he snapped out, hunching his body down in a defensive position.

Tri-Tundra

Her eyes widended when she heard what he asked her. "Kill you? Nonsense! Why would I kill you when you have done no harm to me?" She remained standing, auds perked, but was not defending herself in any way. "I am merely searching for members to our new pack. Collie or not, I just want to help." She looked to the sky thoughtfully and said aloud to herself. "Then again, a collie would never ally with a wolf; but it is worth a shot." She turned to him, but did not move closer. "I am Tri-Tundra, and why are you so quick to ask if I want to kill you?" He might not want to answer, but she was a fast one to ask questions.

Timber

"I have a family." He snarled quietly, with a definate touch of remorse in his words. "It's bad enough that your kind comes to kill my masters' cattle and sheep; but now at least three of my siblings are slain as well!" His tone was almost raging now and still he held a defensive position. He was once a very outgoing and friendly dog, but now was tormented by the loss of the ones he loved and left wondering what had happened to Shimmer.

Tri-Tundra

She felt as if her heart had frozen. She looked down as she spoke. "My greatest sympathy is yours, whether you want it or not." She then lifted her head. How could there be so many of her kind that did not understand? She would never know, but she asked "Do you know of any that survived? I could help you find them. Can you tell me the name of the wolf/ves who killed your family? I might know where they are from. Did they belong to the Shadow Lurkers Pack?" She stayed her distance, but still left her guard down. If he was in enough rage to attack her, she would let him.

Timber

His voice was filled with malice as he spoke, not finding the heart to even think about trusting another wild brethren. "Many are to blame; their names I do not know... only their scents and look." His gave a low growl in breath, "Those in the pack that roam the Glades; they are most responsible." He didn't know the name of the pack, nor of its members. But by scent and sight he knew exactly who they were. "If I ever catch one of those filthy murderers alone, it'll be their last day in the Valley!" His sharp eyes studied Tri-Tundra critically, trying to judge her intentions. She acted unlike any other wolf that came to the Ranch; but perhaps that was it. Did she not loath all pets like the other did? It seemed a radical thought to him, but just maybe there were some good wolves out there. Maybe she was one? He didn't know.

Tri-Tundra

"Glades....Glades..." She thought extremely hard trying to think of a pack with that name. Then her eyes widened "Silver Glades? With Manov and Cortinarri?" She only asked the names because it might spark a memory in him. "I can't believe they would do that! But that is the only Territory I can think of with glades in it." Her tone then turned soft. "That is terrible. But some wolves live only to invoke pain with murder." She shook her head. She then looked up, a pleading honest look in her emerald green eyes. "If you EVER ever need anything, the Avalanche Grove territory will do their best to help you." She said. She was only a subbordinate, but her and the Alpha went back really far.She dipped her maw, and since it seemed like he needed it, she let out a powerful, low howl. It was full of sorrow and grace, yet still so strong. She did it for him.

Timber

He didn't want to admit it, but he was actually touched by this wolf's compassion to help a stranger; and one being so aggressive as himself. He wasn't so far gone with grief and animosity to finally see that she was being truthful. Slowly, his fur relaxed across his back and neck and his snarl faded away as he listened to the howl. A small sigh escaped his lungs before he spoke in a more rational yet still dismal tone, "You are not the first wild wolf to earn my trust, but I feel that you will be the first to actually keep it." Timber sat back on his haunches, realizing how tired he was after running about looking for Shimmer for so long.

Tri-Tundra

"Thank you." she said. After her howl had slowly descended and all had gone still. She then cocked her head, seeing that he was tired. "You seem exausted. Would you like to rest at Avalanche Grove? She asked. "If you don't have enough trust in me yet, that is fine, we could always meet back here once your rested." She looked relieved that he now trusted her, for all she wished to do was help. That was her, too often did she help she hardly cared about herself anymore. She didn't notice that her fur was ragged and that her ears drooped a bit from exaustion. She hardly even noticed when she nearly fell asleep during her howl.

Timber

It was amazing what the kind support of a stranger could do to one's spirit. Though he was by no means absolved of heartache, he at least wasn't defensive and angry as he had been when Tri-Tundra had first approached him. "I apriciate your kindess; but I don't know what my parents would do if I returned with the scent of your pack on me." he tilted his floppy, black ears forward a bit, noticing her own state, "I can offer you food at my place if you are ever in need of it; that is, dog food. Please tell your pack not to attack my masters' livestock; we have to protect them." He voice held a pleading quality to it, for he was begining to see this wolf as a friend, and thought it would be a terrible shame to have the friendship broken.

Tri-Tundra

"Of course. I would not want to alarm your parents." She smiled when he offered food. "I suppose in times of hardship, it would be most appreciated." Her smile then faded when he spoke of the livestock. "I will certainly do my best to tell them about your livestock, and our friendship. Although it might not be Dark Star's best news, he will surely understand." She too, hoped this friendship would not be broken.

Timber

He smiled faintly, "And I will tell... or try to tell my family of you and your pack. They will understand, I'm sure. Just stay from my masters' sight, for they can't understand things easily." Timber explained. Then he gave a small nod, "I must continue my search for Shimmer. Thank you again; you've done a lot to cheer a sullen heart." the collie then began to pad slowly away in his continued and seemingly fruitless search for his companion.

Tri-Tundra

She smiled and barked with a wave of her bushy tail. She padded off in the opposite direction. She would too keep her eye out for shimmer, and be careful to make sure none of the pack members would eat the cattle or livestock.