Building Courage

Esarosa had been wandering the lands for a short time now, exploring the region curiously. She knew now that there were others residing here, and she knew that there were packs in claimed lands. She wondered about them all with longing, but unsure of what her future held. She knew she couldn't settle anywhere yet, not until she'd experienced life unchained and free. Roaming in the northern territories, she found her paws cold as she crunched snow under each padfall. This was not something she was used to at this time of year, but it was interesting to explore such a place. So different from the territory she had already covered, where the sun had beat down on her jet black coat ruthlessly. Here, at least there was respite from the warm rays. Her coat was thick and she felt herself adapting well to the climate.

Still, she had sought shelter when her body grew weary from her travels. She found herself in a strange and very unnatural seeming cave - the Northern Mines. The entrance alone provided evidence of human tampering, but it seemed long abandoned. No fresh scent remained - instead, the scents were very stale and had mostly returned to their natural, earthy essence. She was intrigued by the place, wondering to herself if she should explore deeper, but wary also. She decided she would at least wait until she felt rested. As she lay huddled against the great cavern's wall, she dozed in and out of sleep, curling her tail over her paws and nose.

The sound of paws shuffling through snow stirred her slightly, causing her to lift her head with ears perked. Emerald eyes peered from the darkness of the mine's entrance as she spotted a wandering soul. He seemed lost in thought, trailing about aimlessly. She rose to her paws and left the comfort of the cave, exposing herself to the daylight. "Hey!" she called out, wondering if she might startle him a bit, but not taking it an easier as she trotted after him, "Where are you headed? Do you know these lands very well?" She hoped he would pause and talk to her, if only briefly. Something in his expression when she'd seen him pass said he was distracted, but she didn't mind interrupting him if he stayed a while. She didn't even know what he was like, perhaps he wouldn't be friendly at all, but loneliness was causing her to set reason aside.