Days of captivity were at last behind her with a stainless plateau of white as her reward of freedom. Endless flakes of winter’s grace floated down to top the frozen lands with a fine sheet that shifted and crumpled under wandering paws. A chilling gust would catch the loosened flakes and return them to the air in a spectacular flurry that made one’s eyes draw wide in wonder and smile in amusement to Nature’s show of mirth. Truly, she had missed these simple amenities, these small yet memorable moments that never ceased to enrapture her.
It was perhaps a week ago she was stolen away, kept under the protection of her Konrei guard for the duration of her more vulnerable albeit enticing times. She had only managed to slip away perhaps twice to stretch her legs and change her scenery from the depths of her confinement, but never to this extent. Her jailer was a merciful one, catering to her every whims and only asking to further consummate their love. Each purposeful union was not only for the sake of lust but to better the chances that both would become expecting parents to a brood comprised of their unconditional adoration. As repetitive and vigorous as it was, there was little doubt that a seed had been planted and would take root, and in time her body would show the fruits of their efforts growing within.
Her anticipation was hardly contained as excitement opened her dutiful eyes to the world and its wonders, reveling in this moment of blissful hope. Waiting would be the most difficult part now; a sign, a tell, anything to show they were successful. It was not enough to assume… but she had to know. A more rational course would have been to speak with her Jiryu immediately and ask how she had felt when she learned of her pregnancy; or rather the Lady Jace would know. There were more obvious resources she could have taken advantage of but they all resulted in her staying within pack lands for another day.
The wanderlust had set in once again, drawing the female from her den and along the path she tread now; toward the Halcyon Mountains, then from there to the treacherous gates of Inferni. A saner creature would have thought better than to walk such a dangerous road, but as sure as her mind was of its path, so was she convinced she had nothing to fear of this hybrid clan. It was not in arrogance, but faith that brought her time and again to the borders, not to antagonize or taunt, but so socialize with a friend whom she held dear above all else. Unfortunately not all would look to the situation with optimism, as such was the male that traveled behind her. She had caught his scent ever sense she crossed into the mountains but for the sake of her sanity chose to ignore it. His constant pestering of her affiliation with an Infernian hybrid was gradually grating on her nerves. He may have been right urge her caution, but she wouldn't live in fear of the territory. Not all of the clan were as ruthless as he believed, and if he did not believer her, than he could watch her prove him wrong from his distance.
Despite her reservations for the pack itself, she harbored no ill will towards its individuals… or rather those she had met. Even the frantic girl she had encountered not long ago received none of her hostilities thought or otherwise. In the eyes of the Nomad, she was but a misguided soul cursed by the fates with an obscured outlook no doubt construed by unfavorable circumstances. But such instances would not be helped. It was but a way of life and only the mind could make of it what it would. No experience in her eyes was inadvertently good or bad, but what became of the victim afterward would justify it as either or.
Suffice it to say, she had quite a good experience to share with her dear friend that put quite a bound in her four-legged stride. As always, the female came with an offering in her jaws; a badger this time, with a more plump frame. Overtime, the Nomad had fallen out of her culture’s practice and fashioning more usable trinkets as an offering of good will, in favor of food to show her want for her friend’s health and prosperity. It seemed much more fitting than a fashioned pelt of cuff, more beneficial to a body in the process of development. And more than anything, it was a token of apology to her tawny friend, for having disregarded their lessons for so many days. She could only hope she would be forgiven and perhaps restart their lessons from last they left them. Vesper was showing great improvement and the mentor’s pride would not let her student cease her training until she reached absolute fruition.
As she descended the subtle façade of the base of the mountain, prey in maw with paws carrying her at a comfortable cant, she kept her nostrils open for a familiar, though disgusting scent. The attack on her packmate was still fresh on her mind and despite the distractions that reared inconveniently; she was not so quick to disregard the wrong and leave it to the hands of fate. She had promised vengeance, and for the sake of her scarred comrade, she would have it one way or another. Knowing a loner was a difficult body to track without some favorable guidance, she tried none the less to catch wind of her however faint it might have been when the opportunity arose. And perhaps her seeing Vesper would provide valuable information that would aid the both of them. No doubt someone in the wolf hating pack would have spied a blonde dog. But she could only hope that the fates would be so favorable to her when she already asked for them so much.
Patiently, she nosed the ground as she neared the borderline before giving up entirely to greet her cherished friend. Trusting the scout would patrol the borders soon, the female seated herself comfortably in the snow dropping the carcass to lie on top of her paws and out of the wet snow. Without a call to draw attention to herself there was no doubt it would be a while before she caught sight of her friend, wherever she may have been within the encampment. But as she had often professed to her familiars and conveyed through her actions, she was a creature of commendable patience despite the duration of time. Her only stipulation was that the wait not be too long unless she were to return to Ichika with a frozen rear.