Sex: Femalefirst post C:
Nothing, but the warm glow of an approaching dawn, smiled on the bare boughs of the dismal wood though which Tuwawi strolled. Once again, the small ember had been reduced to vagrancy; traveling in a Northeastern direction from Snapjaw Battalion's territory. The reason behind the abandonment of her tribe was a mystery, and left nothing but a generous portion of apathy brewing within. Perhaps it was Njal's absence that drove the ruddy she-wolf from her thriving lands, or maybe it was her unusual discontentment with being subservient to anyone other than her dark queen. Things had changed and decisions had been made... but had they been for the better? A ribbon of chilled breath floated upwards from a heavy exhale, affirming the fire wolf's dampened mood.
To the west, the full moon clung to its place in the sky, and for a while Tuwawi admired it. The days were already becoming longer, signaling the arrival of spring. A bountiful season would be upon the wilderness soon, but would she be with anyone to share it with? Life on her own was difficult and the instinctual desire to be apart of something bigger pulled at her strings. An inky nose lifted into the air to scent for anything -- a whiff of friend, prey, or foe. Faint odors of other wolves lingered on the breeze, which caused Tuwawi's hair to prick with an anxious excitement. Perhaps now, her wandering days could be over.
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The smells of this wild wood did little to shroud the approaching mountain fragrance Tuwawi knew so well. At once her heart jumped into her throat, stomach twisting in an anxious knot. Never in a million years did she expect to find Tartok's leader here amongst this strange land. Only moments passed before the dark she-wolf emerged from between the forest's trees - stalwart and cool as always - and Tuwawi felt herself drift into a dreamlike state.
Tartok's smallest warrior rushed to her Issumatar as she lost all composure. Like a young cub just out of the den, Tuwawi danced and galloped, red plume brushing the ground wildly, until the black matriarch was just a few steps away. An overzealous heart couldn't decide what to do with itself, and so she rolled onto the ground, overjoyed, beneath Siku. Her red head launched itself to kiss the queen's raven chin, her face was lit with the love from an endless shower of affection. Siku was everything to Tuwawi: mother, sister, leader - and there was no doubt, at least in her mind, to whom she was loyal.
Stormy grey eyes darted to the treeline, half expecting the others to emerge. Jericho, Miyako, Aguta, Kroc... even Njal; but no other wolves showed themselves. The realization was sobering, and Tuwawi found herself hit hard by the idea that perhaps they were the only ones to make it this far. She huffed from the exertion, and rose next to Siku, leaning onto her heavy frame and pressing an ear to her ribcage, content to listen to its deep breathing.
Everything was bittersweet. The happiness of being with Siku tempered the loss of not having Njal. He had wandered somewhere she, in all her searching, could not find; and the passing of this season meant her womb was left void of Tartok's sons and daughters. The ember bit her lip, reality catching up in fast forward. Would Siku shun her for leaving Snapjaw?
Tuwawi could ask questions later. For now, she was at a loss for words.