Stay in the territory. Don't leave without an escort. Blah blah ah. The rules were endless and infuriating for the child. She could have assumed that it was because of her mother and brother but these rules had been in place before that, when the volcano erupted. The thing was so far away, it wasn't like it would spew lava on her if she explored! Thus, one could find the young dire wolf outside of the territory, rapidly approaching a wall of stone. She had seen it from afar, looming high but she had never been to it before, she didn't realize just how big it really was...but she was about to. 

With a bounce in her step she giggled and kept going, eventually coming up to the wall.  She'd purposely not looked up to see how tall it was until she was not far from the base. Finally she came to a stop, perhaps 50 feet from the base of the wall and as the youth looked up, her jaw dropped. "Woah..." the youth would breathe out with wonder. How could it have been made? Why was it there? What sort of creature would waste so much time building it?

The dark male had been on patrol when he spotted the pup bouncing across the territory off towards the wall past their borders. He paused and waited to see if she'd been followed by an escort or her father, but when no adult was on her tail he found himself in a rut. It wasn't like him to ignore a wandering pup out ignoring their boundaries, and surely Acere would forgive him for leaving the patrol unfinished when it concerned his daughter.

Fracture followed a distance behind her and she seemed blissfully unawares. Eventually the pup made it to the wall, and as she stood to admire it's towering beauty he came up alongside her. "Princess, surely you know better." His gruff voice came across as stern yet uncomfortable. He didn't know many children nor spend time with them, and it wasn't his place to command his King's young ones. However she was also Heloise's daughter, and though his friend had seemingly abandoned them he still felt indebted to make sure they were safe and cared for. "Your father will not be pleased." He made no move to step towards nor move the girl, and said nothing on requesting her return to the territory. If she wanted to explore then he assumed the King would allow that under the watch of one of his Knights, and Fracture believed children needed such freedom to grow strong and independent.

It was true, she hadn't noticed that she was being followed, but then again nothing bad had ever happened to the princess when she'd left the territory, she had no reason to think anyone would follow or harm her. The blissful ignorance of being a child. One day she would wake up...but that day would not be today. She was still gaping at the wall when a sound rustled behind her, ears fell back and her skull turned just as her pack mate came up alongside her. At first her eyes were wide, body tense and leaning away from him- until she found Winterfell's scent. She relaxed instantly with a smile. His words were caught easily, but we're met with a shrug. "Of course I do. Just cause I know better...doesn't mean I'll listen." She replied with a lopsided, mischievous grin. 

His next words made her snort softly with a giggle. "What he don't know won't hurt him." perhaps it was typical childish rebellion, perhaps it was something more? Orca herself did not know, but she was enjoying her moments of freedom...even if it came at the expense of her father.

The rebellious pup threw back her retort with a grin and Fracture's brows raised in surprise. The limited experience in pups he'd had involved ones much more respectful of the rules and of their elders, and he'd not seen one so determined to give her father such a fright. "I see." He rumbled in response, looking away from her to sweep his gaze across the towering wall. "Well, while you may have immunity to your father's wrath, I do not. I'm to be on patrol now." He paused to shoot a glance back at the pup, humming thoughtfully.

In previous checks in the area, Fracture'd caught the scent of a nearby den of fox. He hadn't thought to bother them as long as they'd stayed away from Winterfell's territory, though from the way this pup spoke it hadn't been the first time she'd disobeyed the rules and it likely wouldn't be the last. He'd have to ensure they were taken care of, and perhaps the experience would teach her a thing or two about the dangers of the outside world. "Would you like to accompany me beyond the wall, princess? I'm afraid I can't leave you here on your own."

Perhaps she was pushing things a little too far with her father, but she was blissfully unaware just how fine a line she walked. She’d never seen her dad angry or upset before, he had always shown patience and understanding towards her. When he spoke, she listened and frowned slightly, showing she didn’t intend on getting anyone else in trouble. She opened her mouth to speak, but promptly closed it. Unsure of what to say and worried about saying the wrong thing, after all, this was not her father and she didn’t know how far she could push him.

Her ears would perk up at the mention of going beyond the wall, only to fall slightly as he called her princess again. “Orca.” She said, hoping that he would offer his name in return. “That sounds fun. Just patrolling?” She asked, following beside him excitedly.

The pup gave her name and Fracture nodded, he knew who the pup was although they'd not formally met. It was hard not to notice them in their playtime when he knew that their mother and sibling had vanished without a trace. Orca seemed to be managing well enough, but perhaps this rebellion was her way of dealing with the loss of Heloise. "Orca, I'm Fracture." He returned. She seemed happy with the prospect of going beyond the wall and he chuckled quietly. "Just patrolling. It's often boring work, but at least you'll be protected." He lifted his head and scented the air, trying to catch wind of the faint smell of fox he'd noticed prior. "This way." With a nod of his head he gestured the pup onward, through to the hole in the wall which they could walk through. If his suspicions were correct, the fox's den wouldn't be far. He kept a close eye on the pup to be ready if they stumbled upon them.

Orca wasn't entirely sure how to cope with the loss of her mother and brother. The youth had no reason to doubt her father and what he had told her about them but... She couldn't help the nagging feeling that he was wrong. Heloise and Whittaker wouldn't come back... However, she was young and despite her rebellious nature she did have the common sense to know that the world outside of the packlands was dangerous. Perhaps she was looking for that danger. The man introduced himself as Fracture and the girl grinned with a nod.

He then chuckled and explained it was just a patrol, but she would be protected. She nodded, holding back the shrug that threatened to roll her shoulders. At least she could explore more. Eagerly, she would follow him, occasionally trailing a little ahead but constantly checking back by looking over her shoulders or tilting her ears back to catch the sound of his steps. Since the youth was getting her way, she felt no reason to try and slip away from her temporary guardian. They came to a hole in the wall and she paused, head tilting as she wondered about jt, she didn't have a chance to wonder long though, Fracture urged her forward and she bounced ahead through the hole and to the other side.

Fracture was correct, it didn't take long for Orca to find the fox den. Her hackles rose along her back and shoulders, her head held high and ears at attention she watched the small creatures, they regarded her just as alertly as she did them. An ear slanted back, checking for Fracture. Then, she charged forward with a pathetic little puppy snarl. Long legs and giant paws took her quickly but awkwardly to the foxes that panicked but charged been perhaps they had pups in the den? Orca didn't pause to think about that like she should have.

The girl flung herself at one fox, jaws parting to bite down hard on...well any part of the fox to be honest. A mouth full of fur and flesh greeted her, but so did the pain of the fox biting into her shoulder. She yelped, recoiling instantly. She'd never been hurt before. Not like that. The pain burned through her shoulder but she'd started something and the fox did not care if she was young and inexperienced, it came at her again. Orca spit the fur from her mouth to prepare to fight back again.