A day's Travel.

[MissTris]

Tris trotted, further and further away from the rest of her pack. She new out this way some of the more solitary tended to reside, sentinels who were loyal to her, but liked their space from to many others. Everyone's little party back there had been about half way down the territory anyway, so this would take her to the evening if she did not stop.
She passed one or two of these pack loners, or guardians as some referred themselves, and one decided to travel with her a ways down her Track. ((feel free to bring a character in for that one now travling with here, instead of an RGC, anyone.))
She was going to observe the burned lands, hoping to see some better growth amid the ash. Much of the way was uneventful, as many a day can be, and shadows stretched, the smell of the heated land grew softer. All the while, the clogging, dead smell of Ashes grew stronger. It was tarty and left a coating in her mouth as she breathed.
Had any of her pack called for her she replied back, howling with her bell like tones 'I am fine, I am patrolling.' part of it said as well, she was fine to be left alone, though she did have a guardians company.

Night had broken as she reached the barren zone at the edge of the territory. A full day worth of running to reach, if you wanted to be there before sunset.
Miles away the human lights twinkled, unnatural stars placed on broken land. She snorted at them, which also cleared her muzzle a little. The breeze that had been blowing dimmed her coat with loose soot, making her red-brown and gray. It settled in the fur of her dark brown feet making her look aged. She sniffed, carefully as to not snort a pile of ash...

Tris started to dig.

Small, deep brown paws tore ash up, thinning the layers. At last she touched ground, clean ground! Here she stopped. She had dug only a little spot in the sea of twirling gray and burned black. A freckle of freshness in all that destruction. In the light of the smiling moon she saw what she craved. A young plant, just barely sprouted, poking into the sky. Softly she sniffed it, and though it smelled of ashes she could get the hint of green life. It would grow, and in turn it's young would grow, after she was dead. She smelled hope, through the hard ashes. Careful not to crush it, she put the ashes back.It would need the insulation, and ashes could help fertilize in the coming winter. She stood, ashy and gray, but full of love for this place. Not once had she or the Guardian spoken. There was no need for words before this, aside from the greetings of one another.
Tris threw back her head and howled, putting as much joy, simple happiness into it as she could. Love for Nature and it's wonders. Though the wind blew towards her, the humans miles away would catch a hint of the sound and misunderstand the meaning. Tonight they would be weary, and keep watch over their flocks, fearful of starving wolves.
At last, as night settled in, though not quite the peak, she turned to return home to the main body of her pack. She hoped Whisper had done well in her hunting practice, had her betas reconciled well in these hours of her wandering? She turned her steps to follow along the side of the territory by the mountains. If she went towards the stream it would take much longer to reach home again.

[Blitz]

OOC://

Would it be alright if I had Nebula wander in to meet Tris? :3

[MissTris]

ooc: not at all, she's gone off wandering, who knows what she may meet eh?

[Blitz]

Amongst the ashes was a creature, covered in the loose soot that was carried by wind. Large paws fell down upon the Earth in a gentle motion. Her eyes never straying from the mass of deep greys, once a forest now a wasteland. The feline felt a silent sorrow for the land, weeping at the demise of it's child. Such a sad thing indeed, to have Earth's trees destroyed by the element of fire.

Her leathery nostrils only picked up the thick scent of ash, unaware of the wolf ahead of her unmarked path. The clouded leopards long tail swayed and flicked absent mindedly; slowly the feline came to a stop. Ceasing all movement, her eyes trailing to a shadow, the origins was to be one of a canine figuire. She hadn't had the best encounters as they often chased away the young feline in fear of her competition for food. Tensing, Nebula stared silently at Tris, taking in the sight of the regal seeming alpha female.

Admiring her colors, the powerful way she seemed. To be able to command a pack of wolves, lead them to saftey, Nebula knew very little besides what she'd seen. Her head lowered, the young creature worried that this female would not take kindly to her presence. Now she crept closer, tail flicking wildly from side to side.

Nebula said nothing, stopping when she was close enough to Tris. Staring at this creature with wide eyes, filled with the curious like that of a child.

[MissTris]

The winds here on the opened, still healing scab of land shifted more than anywhere else, in one such way she finally caught the scent of the feline beside her, and the smell was foreign to her sensitive, ash filled nose. She'd been feeling a presence, but only believed it was in her mind.
She jumped off to the side, back bristling with her confusion. But there was no attack.
"Who are you feline? you are hard to see." she says, her voice commanding, but not hateful. She can see he form, but in this night she's curiously hard to pick out.
The red wolf on her part, can understand part of her own confusion since she herself is ash covered. Checking herself a little more Tris discovers that although she was startled she never felt the threat that would normally emanate from a predator. "I'm sorry" she says out of no where.
"You mean no harm do you?" she almost laughs as she says it. Since she's small anything large would be at advantage of hurting her.

[Blitz]

The big cat is pleased to see this wolf doesn't snarl or snap at her sudden presence. Rising up, the feline gives a gentle chuckle at Tris' words. "No, not in the slightest." She answered, long tail continued to flick wildly behind her.

"I am Nebula, I've only just arrived." She answered, having only been amongst Cross Roads for a day or two now. Exploring both sides of the river with glee, she enjoyed the mountains as they reminded her of home. Yet the wolves she'd spotted looked bitter and unwelcoming, unlike the wolves who's land had little deer to offer. Getting a closer look, Tris looked far more fox-like than wolf-like, confusing Nebula for a moment.

"Are you a vixen or a wolf?" She questions, not meaning to be impolite. She seats herself, continuing to enjoy Tris' presence, whatever species she may be. Curious, Nebula looks behind Tris to see no pack of wolves. This is strange, wolves she often encountered were swarmed by others of their own kind. Leading Nebula to believe that Tris must be a vixen, a large one but none the less a fox.

[MissTris]

Tris grins softly, "I am a Red Wolf, we look similar to Foxes, but are wolves all the same. You do not offend in asking that, I've heard it spoken in ways much worse. May I, in turn, ask what type of feline you are? I'm afraid you're a bit hard to pick out fully."
She did see that the cat sat down, and felt a sort of pleasure from her. Feeling this she sat herself "Might I inquire what you are doing around here as well, if you feel like sharing. It's not the best place to live right now, since we've had a fire." Her ears flick back and her head drops just a bit.

[Blitz]

"A clouded leopard." She answered, glad to hear that Tris was not offended by her questions. A slight frown fell upon her features at the question as to why she was wandering in a place void of foliage or life. It seemed the feline had been drawn to it for it's other worldly charm, but the ashes were beginning to make her cough.

"I've been wandering, trying to find someplace to stay." Nebula said, ears folding slightly. The feline truly wasn't used to travelling alone, but her brothers had found themselves their own places in the world. "I'm not used to wandering like this, " She began, head tilting to the side slightly as she spoke. "my brothers found their own land, so, I've been looking for a home."

This was followed with her frown replacing itself with a slight smile. Hoping her story had not dampened the mood.

[MissTris]

Tris listened polite, then rose without a word and pressed her nose to Nebula's chest where her heart would lay. "Welcome then Nebula, to the Cross Roads. We take those from every walk of life, no matter the consequence of their history. Everyone deserves a home. You are welcome here to ours." She says it with heart, meaning her words and feeling touched to have this simple experience happen. Life can be so hectic and crazy, she savored these gentle, loving moments.

[Blitz]

Nebula's ears shot straight up, listening to Tris.
Yet there was a sense, that everything was going to be alright now. Welcomed into a place by someone who knew little about her. The big cat allowed a paw to wrap around Tris, in an attempt to embrace to wolf. Wishing to hold the red creature close, and to rub her face into the wolf's soft fur.

That was often how Nebula greeted her brothers and that was how she would thank Tris. Taking care to be gentle, not wishing to hurt the wolf. "Thank you, for such a kind greeting." The feline said with glee, a grin spreading across her features. Yes, this was truly a time for joy to well up inside the clouded leopards heart.

[MissTris]

At first it surprised her, but ill intent did not come from this, she lay her chin across the beautiful cats ash blown shoulders and took in the real smell beneath the ashes. It was, interestingly, a very earthy and exotic smell which Tris had never found before. A small 'uff' escaped her, for a cat not much larger than Tris was herself this one was quite strong.
She turns to her ear "And I do not greet you so without any authority. I am Tris, Alpha Female of the Cross Roads." She hated to have such greetings, but realized perhaps she should mention on what authority it was that she let Nebula be with them.

[Blitz]

Releasing Tris, the cat landed back to her own paws with a soft thud. Looking at Tris, head tilting to the side in a childish manner. "So you take the lead?" She asked, still learning the ranks of wolves or rather who wolves were for that matter. Nebula found it strange how Tris was the leader, for amongst the big cats, whoever was larger would be the leading cat.

No, wolves had a totally different way, or Tris' pack was made up of dwarf wolves. "You must be the strongest, no?" Nebula inquired, listening closely. It seemed the questions would forever flow from Nebula's lips as long as she breathed.

[MissTris]

Tris chuckled at first, then is broke into full pearls of laughter, ringing into the night, high and clear like a silver bell, her laugh was sweet. When she stopped she shook her a head a little to clear it and smiling spoke "I'm sorry, I did not mean to laugh, it just struck me as funny. I am not the strongest, I was trained and groomed in the way of leading by the first female Alpha. My mate however may be the strongest of the pack, though he would have some hard competition did we not get along. There are strong wolves in our home, we are simply friendly."
She scratched her ear, chasing out a collection of blown soot. "Should one wish to take Alpha from me, I do not know if I would fight." she admitted, and with surprise again upon her own part. She was sure she would fight for it, but then no one seemed like they would challenge her, so she was never sure. She loved these of her pack. There were loners who roved Cross Roads, accepted by the pack as long as they were at peace, but who knows, one of those females may one day....
She shook her head violently, to clear away such a thought "Cross Roads is about acceptance and rising to your position, almost chosen for it. We can only hope others do not feel slighted by this." Her ears dropped, Nebula had opened a pandora's box though she never meant to.

[Blitz]

Nebula took the hint at the drop of the Tris' ears, quickly rushing to the canine. She only knew how to comfort from, of course, her big brothers. Wandering over to Tris, Nebula gently pressed her cheek into Tris' brushing up against her in the usual feline manner. "I'm sure you've done a fine job as leader." Nebula quickly assured, not wanting her new ground friend to feel saddened.

[MissTris]

Tris liked the feeling of Nebula, she was soft, and yet muscle rippled ready to act at her beckoning. "I suppose I do well." she says easily and gives her different companion an easy push with her shoulder, but not in a 'get away from me manner' it was more playful.
"I don't suppose there will be others like you we may meet are there? It was a surprise to come upon you, though a delight I will assure it." she considers a moment "You're a carnivore right? Not some kind of...vegetation eating cat yes? Sorry if I sound stupid, I just don't know." one ear flicks forward now but the other stays down, expressing her chagrin.