There was a personal debate going on about the depth of her 'instinctual' nature, an argument she had waged for a large part of her life since leaving the Pack. The beat of her heart thrummed a kind and casual tempo, a pulse that reached out through her body and into the pads of her feet with every step. But was it real? Was it the face of her true feelings or simply a mask devised to hide what really lurked below? Ootat struggled at times with the always changing opinions in her own mind, at the very least it made it easier to avoid company that way. Nobody wanted to play host when they could not even provide for their own psyche. Of course that was the other thing... she never really craved the companionship of others, a curse she imagined, from a nomadic lifestyle. It was fast becoming a problem. This valley was filled to the brim with life, activity, but even more so - with wolves. Not to say all wolves are bad! Just so long as they avoid me... Ootat shook her head and moved on, pads smacking the dry ground with every jolt.
It did not take long, no more than a few miles, for the terrain to suddenly transform. She began to notice small plant life here and there before she caught the silhouette of something small in the distance. As it usually goes that small darkness became a vast forest, tall, thick trees entangled and barbed together. Flowers seemed to bloom between and through every crack and the female had to stop and stare, jaw slightly ajar. It was massive! Huge! Was there even a way in? Why would you want to go!? Her mind screamed, ringing bells and waving red flags. Somehow it did not seem to matter so much, the rest of her senses were blissfully calm, her usually riled nerves were blessedly untouched. Ootat licked her lips, tasting the humidity and confirming her desires. Although her mind found judgement lying elsewhere, the grey she-wolf squared her shoulders and moved in.
Sliding between the trees was anything but easy, some were so tightly woven it was near impossible! Through trial and error she found herself panting beside a small creek, the water so clear you could see the stones at the bottom. Temptation attempted to draw her in, the promise of sweet relief was hard to resist, but in the end Ootat let herself crumble where she stood, cushioned by ripe grass. This place was beautiful, utterly so in a way she had never experienced before, there was nothing in her memory to lend vision to such a masterpiece. It was hard to believe it existed at all, if not for the soft tickle of the wind against her nose, and wet grass wrinkled beneath the weight of her body. Panic, Her head whipped around as discomfort rippled down her spine. She was not alone.
In one moment the peace was drawn to the back-burner and the she-wolf rose to her feet. Nostrils flared and she massaged the earth, nothing. Whatever it was it was not dangerous and this was only a little bit comforting. Ootat clenched her teeth and swiveled her ears back and forth, but where was it coming from? Don't go. She went anyway, of course she did, picking a direction and setting off - tentatively. It did not take long, only a few meters down the creek-bed and she came across another wolf. It was young, terribly frightened, and female. "I have learned," She said aloud "that covering your eyes does not make the terror go away. It only makes it stronger." Her heart pinged for the trembling creature. "To face your fear is the only way that you will learn, truly learn, and become strong from it."
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