@Aoi: You play Frodo Silvertongue as well, right? I must give you an internet fist-bump for being a fellow LOTR fan.
@Naniko: Argh, you beat me to it! I hope it’s all right that I join you guys.
The snow felt like clouds as Finn raced over it, leaping so high and so far she felt like she could fly. Alastair kept easy pace beside her, his lean legs moving through the drifts rather than over in great puffs of white. The two were in high spirits, for just yesterday Finn had been promoted. A great grin was practically nailed to her face, for it did not waver, even at the blistering speeds that made Finn’s eyes water and throat burn with the cold air that flooded down it. Promoted! Her! And now she was a Tuyul! It was hard to contain such happiness without exploding.
Laughing, she shouldered into Alastair, watching him almost crash into a tree as a result. However, his revenge was swift, and she found herself almost dancing as she ran while he tried to trip her up with his long antlers. It was bizarre, how a wolf and a deer could become so close, almost like siblings, but then again, they weren’t exactly the average specimens of their species. Besides, their friendship had long ago been forged in the fires of adversity, and it had only grown stronger with time.
The timorous howl that rose through the chilled, afternoon air drew Finn’s attention almost instantly. It came from the border, and it was unfamiliar in timbre and pitch. Alastair heard it too, as evidenced by his turned head and intent gaze. As one, wolf and deer turned towards the sound, racing through the barren trees of the Dampwoods at breakneck speed. Finn could see the crows of the pack fluttering overhead like scraps of fabric in the wind, some moving in the same direction, others away. Naniko would know soon enough that they had a visitor, if she didn’t already. Just before she broke into the clearing, Finn paused, Alastair stopping beside her.
“Just so whoever they are don’t try and take a snap at you,” She muttered, placing her paws on his side and reaching up to secure and arrange the red ribbon tied in the deer’s antlers. It was a marker, a warning, that this deer was valued for something other than an easy meal, and Finn intended to keep it that way as long as they were friends. Task accomplished, she returned to for paws and trotted out to meet the new arrival, Alastair close at her heels. She couldn’t help the slight start of surprise at seeing how young the wolf was. As predicted, Naniko was already there, along with one of her sons
Seeing no reason to interrupt, Finn leaned back on her haunches a comfortable distance, watching the scene with alert and interested eyes. It seemed that Severus was being taught a lesson in leadership. Finn rather liked Naniko’s brood, they were children, being exactly as they should be. Finn couldn’t remember ever considering her own youth a “childhood”, so it was nice to see someone doing something right. Should the Angela glance her way, Finn was ready with a respectful bow and a grin, but she did not speak so as to distract the youngling from his task. Put at ease by the familiarity of the two pack wolves, and the small size of the newcomer, Alastair stepped a little closer, snuffing at Aoi with his large, black nose.