| Lazy Days

[¤|Teagan]

It was cold. Annoyingly cold. The snow fall was deep, especially on the mountain. The mountain was covered in white, as was everything else around the place. Winter was certainly not my favorite season, with all that snow and cold and blizzards and ice. I preferred the warmer months, the spring where the thunder rolled and lightening flashed in a spectacular scene. With winter, the only thing you got was snow. White-outs were not at all amusing, they were boring.

I stretched my legs, trying to work the sourness out of them. The snow clumped under my paws, clinging to my fur and dangling off me like icicles. I dug out a little spot, a bit into the wilderness where the trees were. With a sigh, I plopped myself down into my hole, curling up in an attempt to keep myself warm. Morning had already broken, but it was hard to tell with so many clouds above. I resigned myself to another quiet day of laying around, deciding to push off hunting until tomorrow.

[.:| Skaer |:.]

The snow was coming down thick and fast now. Before, about five minutes ago i guess, it had been drifting down peacefully, resting on the breeze before it settled onto the ground and those that had fallen before it. I liked snow when it was like that, I ha been standing in the middle of the clearing just watching it, up until now. Now I could hardly see anything it was so thick, a total whiteout. I liked it when I could see the snow, while being able to see everything else too. Not just a field of white, where running into a tree standing silently two feet in front of you was a definite possibility. No. Now it was time to seek shelter from the blizzard. Hunting was now definitely off for the night, the reason I had come out on my own this evening, as the Lera would be seeking shelter too by now.

I lifted my head and let out a frustrated howl, not only had I now no chance of hunting, but I had lost that strange kind of peace that only came over me on two events, one of which was the light snow. Finishing, I turned about and headed to where I knew there was a cliff like formation on the mountainside, hoping there would be some shelter there. I was not familiar with this region, for it was quite some way from the lands of the Balker, so I had little knowledge of wether there was shelter there or not.

[¤|Teagan]

A howl caught my attention. Against my will, my ears shot up, listening through the falling snow in search of the source. It did not sound familiar to me, which was not entirely surprising, but not comforting either.

I slowly rose up, the snow tumbling off my back as I opened myself up to the biting chill of open air. I must have fallen asleep to have been covered by so much snow. Or perhaps the trees had just been dumping their loads on me. One dropped a few clumps on my head as if you confirm my suspicion. Ah well, snow was warm when you were buried in it.

I looked around slowly, still sitting in my little snow ditch, debating silently if I really did have to go out there. It seemed the snowfall had picked up to an annoying level, throwing in another obstacle I would have to over come. I shivered for a few minutes before standing up, shaking off the last of the excess snow. I let off my own, deep, calling howl, listening closely for another reply. What better way to find someone then to call for them?

[.:| Skaer |:.]

The howl drifted to me over the breeze, or well, the gale that was now building up. Not my own, not just an echo. No, it was the howl of another Varg somewhere in these parts, for it sounded loud and close. Strangely it was a lower pitched calling howl, not one to ward of a stranger in the lands like me. It must have been a reply to mine. My curiosity spiked, though I was still wary, and it had put me somewhat off guard. I growled at first, no point in snarling, it wasn't close enough to see it, then let out a calling howl of my own, though it wasn't as low pitched as the others, for I was still wary, and wasn't exactly welcoming this new stranger. Turning, I set off on the opposite direction I had previously been traveling in, now towards the sound, though I needed him to howl again so i could pinpoint exactly where he was, for the thick snow often muffled sound, so all I could get was a general direction.

[¤|Teagan]

So I had not imagined the call. That was comforting to a small degree, but it still meant there was another Varg in these lands, one who was possibly a threat. What fun it would be to have to fight in a blizzard. The idea of re-burying myself in the snow was tempting; my mind conjured up thoughts and feelings of warmth and security, all the things I desired as the wind assaulted me.

Ah, the stranger already knew I was here, might as well go find him.

With another shake I stood up, trotting off in what I assumed to be the proper direction. I gave one last longing glance to my make-shift bed, watching the white snow swirl it away into oblivion as I moved away. The hidden forms of trees loomed out of the white, surprising me as my nose came inches from smacking into them. What a lovely time for a walk.

I paused, listening. The wind sang through the air, sing to loud for me to hear the soft footsteps of any creature that might be around me. I let out another howl, mimicking the pitch and sound of the stranger in an attempt to re-locate him.

[.:| Skaer |:.]

There it was again, loud and clear. Practically right next to me. I snarled, curling my lip up to show off the pin-point ivories beneath, striding to my left to meet this stranger. At first I couldn't see anyone, so well camouflaged were they in the snow, but soon enough my Balkar eyes detected a yellowed patch in the white in the shape of a Varg. Sure enough he was there. I padded closer, head no longer held low and snarling, but rather high and proud, for this strange Varg would be no match for me in a fight, if it came to that.

These your lands, Varg? I very nearly went so far as to say "Sikla," yet that would be improper if they were truly his lands, and after all, I was not on Balkar business, but my own.

[¤|Teagan]

The mystery visitor materialized out of the snow, a dark shape that loomed ahead in an startlingly foreboding manner. He didn't appear to be threatened by me, I could see why, but I indeed felt threatened by him. I took a few steps back, trying to stand tall and now cower like a subordinate. His presence made me want to roll over and beg.

He spoke, and I jumped in surprise. The words were hard to hear on the wind, but I caught them. He had given me a hard question, what should I say? I certainly didn't own these lands, but then... ah, what is "ownership" anyway? A fickle idea, just a concept, right? Figuratively speak, I did... somewhat own the area. I often hunted and slept here, right?

I, uh- Speak loudly, be strong! Look imposing! I told myself. I suppose you could say they are. I hoped it was just vague enough to not let on my deception, yet concrete enough for him to accept it. They aren't yours, anyway. I added, perhaps an unwise choice, but it was to late to take it back now.

[.:| Skaer |:.]

I could see right through him, as I could an Varg when they were lying or unsure or just making stuff up. I was gifted like that. It showed in their eyes, in their movements, in the way they spoke. He was not lying exactly, he seemed unsure definitely, he was stumbling with his words, sounding different at the beginning and end o his sentences. And he was being vague. You don't know who owns these lands, do you? No matter. It makes good hunting here, and I have never seen another Varg here that acts like they own the place. And I surely don't. My lands are quite a way from here.

I looked at him questioningly, perhaps strangely then. You're not a Kerl are you? You travel alone, but you don't seem like one to me. He didn't seem to have the harsh personality and strength of character, or the madness, that I had often seen in Kerls. He seemed a rather lonely soul really. Still, he didn't need to know where I came from, not just yet anyway, if he hadn't guessed already. There was no need.

[¤|Teagan]

Far away lands? He was being vague himself, it seemed. Unfortunately I wasn't sharp enough to discern the truth from the words, so I quietly mulled over it unhappily.

A Kerl? Oh, eh, no, not at all. I'm... I'm a part of something... I struggled for a response, wondering how much to let on. There was something about him that told me not to trust him, and I felt obliged to follow my gut feeling. My gut rumbled in agreement. Or perhaps it was just hungry.

What about yourself? You seem to be just as alone today as I am. A change of topic, the perfect distraction. I wanted to turn the question back on him, I wanted to know more about this stranger. Know your enemy, they say. Or, in this case, discern friend from foe.

[.:| Skaer |:.]

Me? Oh I'm only out hunting. The packs can get a little bolshy sometimes, and I feel the need to get away from it all sometimes. Though it's not that bad, having power and all that. I looked at him, head slightly thingyed, my eyes guarded. I had let slip a little there, but would he pick it up though? I suppose that depended on how much he knew about us. I was not gonna let anymore escape me, even through my eyes. I wanted to know more about him first, though I was sure he was no threat. He had no pack, or so I thought, to come back him up, and I could smell none nearby. Anyway, the fellow seemed a little of a coward, with all the stuttering answers, so will probably fear me when I tell him of my pack and their real identities. Not that there were really as many of us as there used to be, back in the old days, before Morgra and all that the Searchers made of us. Or made less of us.

[¤|Teagan]

Oh, I guess that makes sense. I muttered, not really finding a good way to continue the topic. I mulled over his words a bit, decided there was more in them then I first saw, and proceeded to blunder out another question which should have remained quiet. Did you say "power"?

I flinched a little as the words escaped, but accepted the fact that they were out there now, and yelling "oops, never mind!" was going to neither solve the problem, or gain me any level of respect. I let out a low, nervous chuckle, turning my ears back to keep the wind out of them. Perhaps after these tedious formalities and mistrusting questions were over, we could find somewhere better to talk... or to fight, as it may be.

[.:| Skaer |:.]

I was still looking at him, somewhat calculatingly, when he answered me. Not anything special, nor anything particularly interestingly. At least, not until he spoke again.

So he had picked something up at least. I had said power indeed. Yes, I did. I left it at that, left it to sink in, giving him time perhaps to work through my previous words a little further. I actually found myself enjoying this, toying with this Sikla, stringing him along, waiting for him to catch on to who I was, or at least where I was from. And I wanted him to. Not to see him cower away from me in fear, but something more akin to curiosity as to what he would do. I had never met a Varg like him before.

I figured then that I had waited long enough.

To have power over other Varg. To have them bow to your will, to see them tremble in fear at the sight of you in your full fulfillment of your role, the satisfaction that it gives you... But you don't have any of that, do you?

Of course, I knew myself, and it was not others cowering that gave me satisfaction, but there was a certain element in having others do your will I'll admit. I don't really know what kept me in the Balkar, or even what made me decide to join in the first place. I just decided to join, and I was good at it, so I stayed really, I guess. And besides, I was trying to give this rather slow minded varg a push in the right direction, testing him in his reaction, well of would when he answered of course. That I was still waiting for.

[¤|Teagan]

"... But you don't have any of that, do you?"

My cautious mood exploded with a burst of anger. I snapped angrily, flashing my teeth as I focused on the insult and the words, pulling from it their true meaning. This Varg, this... Balkar obviousely enjoyed his position of power. I could only wonder how many innocent and how many pups had fallen under his bite? How many had he smothered with his paws, or... Fenris forbid it, drowned? The more I thought about him, the more I grew to hate him. Prejudice clouded my former judgment of him, re-shaping him into the monster I wanted him to be. And I feared the monster.

But a dark little idea swallowed the fears, bringing out a rage I was hard pressed to control. What were the chances he'd had something to do with Romana's death?

I reminded myself that screwing with him could only end in tragedy; most likely a tragedy that included my death. But would death be so bad if I got to see Romana again? Don't go there, Teagan.

You're Balkar? I breathed quietly, barely above the howl on the wind, which so coldly ignored the unfolding drama.