Traversing the gorge was no easy task, not even for someone who'd lived on these mountains their whole life.  Aura knew ahead of time they would have to take it slow and steady to minimize any chance of injury, thus the whole day had previously been declared gorge day.  Winter's creeping arrival was making it more and more difficult to collect herbs that had any sort of decent medicinal value with every day that passed by, but that never seemed to effect this place all too much.  With that in mind, the trip would have to be made sooner or later, and the wolf figured that they'd thank themselves down the road if they just got it out of the way now. "Finally." The pink canine sighed, making their way to safety after a long few hours of tiptoeing down the rocky terrain.  "Agrimony." they squinted, immediately noticing the vivid yellow flower just feet ahead.

The partially overcast sky blanketed everything below it in a dull grey – the classic feeling of winters' grasp closing in on the land. Amber eyes looked to the right and left of the gorge before a worried brow creased their center. The day was well past high noon and I could feel the nervousness starting to creep into my muscles. I could feel them getting tight even with me just standing still. Maybe it was just the cold making my skin want to nestle closer to the warmth of my core, but something was surely unsettling my head as well.

I remembered entering this gorge through a forest. The land had a gradual slope at that point, making it easy to wander in. Now I had traveled far enough along the seemingly to be bottom of these two landmasses that it looked almost impossible for me to scale back up those walls. My best bet would have been to head back the way I came and come through the forest once more. Honestly, I was being lazy. I really didn’t want to walk all the way back I came and so I kept my intention to keep walking…however long that may be.

“Oh boy…I must really be stubborn today.” I sighed, continuing to pad along the side of the rock wall.

I didn’t want to be down here until nightfall. That was my deal-breaker. If I had to spend tonight down here, I know I wouldn’t be sleeping. The thought just pushed me to quicken my pace. It was only a minute or so of walking before I saw another wolf in the distance. Hm. That seemed odd – rather, maybe it wasn’t odd at all. Maybe it was possible that others got lost in this place too just as I had. It had to be a common situation, right? A frown tugged at my lips as I continued forward and I couldn’t help but think that this may have just been a me issue.

As I got closer to the other canine, I felt my dark bushy tail wagging softly behind me, tapping my flanks as it did so. “Er- Pardon me!” I woofed, coming to a slow stop. My head lifted and a gentle smile spread over my maw trying to give an amicable disposition. My paws padded over some mossy area, absent-mindedly stepping on the soft flora as well that took up space between us. “Sorry to bother.” I blinked. The size of this wolf was a bit bigger than my own stature, and I took note of how it made my senses feel. My body instinctively took a step back before looking behind me, and back to the wolf with a worried expression.

“I… I need help.” My voice came through softer this time. I felt independent and in control most of the time, which hindered my ability to ask for help sometimes. But in this case, I was desperate.

Aura had just plucked the agrimony free from it's soft bed of soil before their ear impulsively twitched toward the sound of footsteps.  The canine didn't act immediately, opting first to find a safe spot to place the cluster of flowers so that it might not get lost while whatever was about to happen got done and over with.  It just so happened that once that was accomplished was when the stranger's voice called out.  Nice timing.   The wolf in question was younger and sported a rather peculiar looking coat, though Aura wasn't really one to talk about the obscurities of others' fur.  She appeared to be concerned about something, which immediately caused various alarms in Aura to go off.  Was somebody hurt?  "Oh?  'Haps I could assist.  What's goin' on?" they spoke in a smooth, friendly tone, swallowing up whatever fear might be inside as to not freak the yearling out any more than she might already be.

'Oh wow...' Finally being close to the stranger gave me a chance to get a look at her facial features. What held my attention was her crystal azure eyes and how striking they seemed against her fur color. I wasn't used to wolves that seemed so different from me for back where I grew up, everyone kind of looked like, well...me. Her stature was only marginally taller, maybe more built than I was. I hadn't really looked over the rest of her for something of importance was nagging at the back of my mind like a gnat flying around the space. Surely, I was held there for a few heartbeats before the look of concern plastered on her face brought me back. Huh? Why does she - Oh...right. I said something... what was it that I said again?

I blinked as my brain pulled up a memory file. Yes! I didn't plan on staying here. "See, I walked in a ways back there..." I turned, bringing an ivory paw to point in the direction behind me. "But, uh..." My ears swiveled and fell as the feeling of being lost again fueled my embarrassment. "I thought there was a way to walk back out this way. Ive been walking for a while now...feels like hours. You're the first wolf ive seen down here." My head came back to look at the other female, this time with hope filling my amber orbs. "Besides climbing out of this gorge, of course. Im not that coordinated." A paw came back to rise to show that my feet, while only still slightly bigger in proportion to the rest of my body, were slick wet with all the moisture they collected padding throughout the foliage. I managed to give a shy smile before shifting my weight and allowing my paw to fall. " I honestly don't mean to trouble you miss, I just -" I sighed dropping my gaze to her feet. "I really just don't want to figure this out by myself." Ever since I saw my sister venture off on her own, figuring out how to do everything on my own was a challenge. From hunting rodents to finding my way around... I wasn't meant to be a loner. I was born to live with a support system. My eyes came back up to meet the blue orbs that held my gaze earlier. I felt like I could stare into them forever and keep finding interesting features within them...

The wind howled over my head causing my tail to fly up behind me. Curiously, my attention went to the walls of the gorge and then up to the sky above us. The patchy clouds that loomed overhead just a few moments ago gave way for a darker blanket of gaseous puffs. I wondered if we were going to get rain or snow sometime soon... A pale nose twitched and I snorted lightly smelling moisture. Mother nature couldn't have picked better timing.

"I see.." the pink toned wolf spoke in response.  So the girl was lost.  Well, that wasn't all too bad then.  Aura grew up in these mountains, after all.  The woods weren't often visited by them personally, but they'd been through enough times that the task of getting this girl back to where she was supposed to be would probably be easy enough?  "Don't worry, we'll sort this out." they smiled before lowering their head to pluck up another clutch of stray agrimony.  No reason why they wouldn't be able to both help this lost stranger and get the herbs they needed, right? "Do ya 'member where yer 'posed to be?  Like, where ya came from?" it was important information, after all.  Couldn't guide the little duck back to water if you didn't know where the pond was.

’I see… Don’t worry. We’ll sort this out.’

My heart pounded just hard enough for me to feel it skip a beat as excitement started to well up in my gut. That means I didn’t have to go at this by myself! She was willing to help! My tail flapped side to side again juberously, reflecting the hope that filled in the pockets that anxiety was boring through my head.

“Really?” My paws suddenly felt light and I moved into her chest, interrupting her movements as she bent down for some reason. I felt my eyes close and rubbed my muzzle against the pink tufts of her fur on the front of her neck for a moment as a thank you. ’ Oh…is this weird?’ Bah, I couldn’t help myself. Her response probably meant something different to me than what she was expecting, but I couldn’t care less at the moment. I stepped back and took a few steps to the side to look behind her – my tail still wiggling from side to side. I couldn’t see super far for at some point the distance sort of began blurring together in my vision. I tilted my head.

’ How did she get down here if not the same way I did?’ Honey-tinted orbs turned to the walls again curiously. The walls of the gorge looked narrow in some parts further down, coming close to touching the other side of the gorge before opening back up again to a sizable space for one to run rampant in. The rocky surface held some areas where one would be able to climb up on, but I imagined at some points all of your paws would be on one tiny surface. I swallowed.

The idea of me going up there and attempting to rock climb that high made me nervous. The image of me getting really high up and trying to balance myself on some rock ledge that was jutting out from the wall ended with me taking a wrong step and feeling myself fall back down to the pits. I groaned inwardly, turning my attention back to the pink wolf.

“Well, I – “ The stranger asked where I came from and I allowed my vision to lift back up to the walls while I thought of a response. “I guess I can’t really say for I'm not sure it exists anymore.” A flash of fire fluttered through my imagination and I could hear the roar of the flames echoing around the trees again. I shook my head. No… I wasn’t sure that I wanted to revisit that memory. I thought of something else to say rather than the long-winded version. My eyes trained back on the stranger before me, looking at her with a sense of sadness.

“My sister was looking after me, but she and I parted ways a few moons ago. I don’t have somewhere to go back to.” My front paw tapped on the ground, chasing away nerves that were creeping into my legs. I changed the topic. “I came in here thinking it’d let out quick enough but I guess I was wrong. Now I suppose I'm just looking for where else to stay, rather… others to stay with.” I smiled nervously, trying to work back up the joyful feeling that I had only moments earlier.

Slowly, I took in a deep breath, allowing it to fill my body and settle my heart. If she was going to help me, I didn’t want to be a stranger anymore. ” My apologies – My name’s Ella.”

Aura felt their face flush as the yearling nuzzled into the fur of their chest.  The wolf wasn't normally very.. parently?  When it came to  the young'ens, but something about this wee one made them want to step up and protect them.  Psh, protect them from what?  Perhaps they were just being silly.   They listened as the little pup told her tale and could feel their frown deepen with every word.  So she was just out here roaming the world all alone and that was that?  Well that wouldn't do.  But what could Aura do about it?  Sure they had a home, and they'd be more than happy to let someone stay a while until they were able to get back up on their feet.  But the mountains weren't no place for a little outsider kid to be growing up in.  Not to mention the mountains were something to adapt to over time, not something to get thrown into one day without proper practice.  The mountains didn't care if you got hurt and died up there on them, and that's exactly what would happen if the kid didn't know how to properly traverse them.  But if she did stay, well, Aura could teach the girl everything she needed to know, right?  It'd be like having a little sister!  Was that the responsible choice though, or were they just listening to their heart instead of their brain? Holding back a sigh, the wolf weighed their options. "Got a couple things in mind for ya, but it's your choice what we end up doin' 'kay?  I can lead you on out of here, back where you likely came from... Or ya can come stay with me for the night an' we'll figure out just what ta' do with ya' bright an' early."  Maybe one of them fancy packs down south could take the girl in.  You'd have to be cruel to deny a pup a safe place to stay after all.  "It's mighty nice to meet ya, Ella.  I'm Aura."

I could feel the light beginning to come back to my eyes as this stranger presented a couple of options that she was willing to do for me. I bounced on the balls of my paws lightly, feeling happy that my worries were being taken care of. I didn’t know what I did to deserve this… but she didn’t know how grateful I was because of it. I bit my lip before responding, making sure that she was done.

“Oh, thank you thank you thank you!” I barked excitedly before settling myself to think about what I needed to do. Anytime spent in good company was fine with me, and so without giving it too much time to mull it over, I was ready to give her an answer.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to wait until the morning?”

My eyes traveled upwards once more and I scanned the skies, watching the clouds get darker with each passing moment. “I can’t tell if that’s rain or snow but… Either way, I don’t wanna be stuck here.” I let my attention fall back on my surroundings and I took a step back from Aura. When she said her name, I let a toothy smile show before dipping my head in greeting. “Im so lucky I found you Aura. I really don’t know how I would have faired if you weren’t around when you were. If… I can ask. How did you get in here.” Oh please say that she walked in on a gradual slope somehow. That or maybe there was a lift somewhere around here.

ooc;; Poop post, I know. I sowy T.T

The wolf nodded and smiled as Ella expressed a desire to stay until morning.  That would give them time to come up with a better plan, maybe even talk to one or two of the other mountain wolves and get their opinions on what to do with the little yearling.  Not to mention make sure the girl got some good food in her belly.  Aura would feel much better this way.  It just didn't seem right from a moral standpoint to let the poor thing wander around aimlessly again.  Yes, this was the best option for now. "Oh, the hard way."  Aura chuckled, motioning up toward the intimidatingly steep slope of stone that practically surrounded them.  "But ya' won't have t' do all that sweetie.  I know an easier way, it's just gonna be a lil' longer of a walk." and by little they actually meant like over twice as long, but the pair would get home and they'd get there in one piece.  If it really was going to rain or snow then it wouldn't particularly be safe for either of them to go back the way Aura had came.  "Now be a dear n' help me carry these here flowers, would ya?  N' we'll be on our way." they offered the young girl a wide grin before taking half of the agrimony in their maw.  What a strange day this had been.

ooc: Nonsense, it was a good post!

My eyes followed up to where she motioned with her head - I felt my ears swivel back and down.

'Yeah... I was trying to avoid that.' I sighed lightly and shook my head once.

"Yeeeeeah. I-...." My words trailed off as I tried to think of something to say. I could feel my thoughts racing around without actually ever settling on a concrete reason as to why I couldn't go up there. I think I just didn't want to? I mean, I had never done anything like that before.

"What if I fall?" I prompted, turning my gaze back on her form, taking in her sight once more. "Look at how high that is. And... there's nothing here if we slip. Or if a rock breaks. Who's gonna help us if one of us gets hurt??" Amber orbs widened at that thought and I blinked, thinking the worse. "Oh my... If you get hurt then what? I cant - I don't know how to help."

My mind began to spiral and I didn't notice my rambling mouth until the very last question. Ugh, all of that was meant to stay in my head. "I'm sorry. I'm really new at this." I forced a weak smile for the humor of it before turning to look back up at the side of the gorge again. My vision trailed along different paths that I could take... going up one until I couldn't find another foothold and then starting over with another trail. My muscles weren't tuned for something so... vertical. And it made me nervous to think about trying a life or death situation while it was my first go at it. I began to think that maybe walking back the way I came wasn't such a bad idea after all.

My paws meandered over to the flowers on the ground that she had gestured to. I tilted my head while I thought about what in the world was she collecting flowers and plants for. "Maybe if you go first? Can I watch?" I offered, trying to muster up the smallest amount of courage. I really didn't want to be stuck down here at night. I bent down and picked the flowers up in my mouth and situated them with a few swoops of my tongue and jaw. They tasted soft and earthy... maybe slightly past their peak. "Where to?" I said, speaking around the flora that I held.

Aura suppressed a chuckle as the young one's nerves got the best of her.  The pink wolf would never do anything that might put someone else in danger, especially if the someone else in question was a wolf they'd only just met moments ago.  "We'll take it step by step, jus' watch what I do n' you'll be jusss' fine."  they grinned, making their way to the first couple of rocks the pair would have to climb and hopping on up.  They were relatively flatter rocks, easy to manage.  The long way was full of relatively flatter rocks, though Aura had no issues admitting that climbing any part of the mountain looked intimidating at first glance.  They understood exactly why Ella was so nervous.

"Is' a lot easier than it looks, I promise.  Neither a' us are gettin' hurt today." They waited patiently for the young girl to mimic what they had just done on the first two rocks before preparing the climb up to the next few.

”Speech”  ’Thought’

I have some pebbles and hefty big boulders.
I have been trying to fit them inside.

I gave a light nod, letting light brown optics rest on Aura warily. I took a couple of deep breaths down to the base of my ribcage to help calm my nerves, while also noticing that the pink wolf had moved away from my periphrial. I took note to relax my jaw lest I wanted to completely mush the flowers that I held. I swallowed, feeling the bitter plant juices go down my throat, and took a few steps forward. Aura went up on the first two rock levels and looked at me to follow.

With my head hanging low, just above the height of my spine, I padded forward and leaped up the first two as well, moving in next to her and waited for her next move. The rocks on the bottom half of the gorge looked spacious enough for both of us to navigate with little to no effort but thus wasn't what freaked me out. It was once we got higher.