Adventure at the Oxbow (FINISHED)

Ceiko turned to glance over at Axolotl, "Yes, of course, there's nothing I can do to stop you." He said simply in return, he was rather troubled at the moment, but did his best to keep a formal tone.

Ceiko walked slowly, not just because he had no intentions of catching up with Swift anytime soon, but because he was carefully picking his way around. He felt the trail, a worn strip of dirt and eroded plant growth, lost at the fault of countless paws that had trampled it down. He took note of the scent trail that Swift left. It was easy for him to track not only because it was fresh but because of the growing enhancement of his senses. He made note of every sound he heard, most were just the rustle of trees, but that was all he needed to avoid them. He watched his surroundings as carefully as he could.

However, as careful as the young male was, he found himself soon stumbling across a rather large branch that had fallen across the trail. He grunted as his paws hit hard against the tree branch. He closed his eyes with nothing but pure anger directed at none other then himself and his stupid disability. He hoped Axolotl and Hediki took little interest to his mess up, either not having noticed or merely thinking because he was looking up, he didn't really notice it.

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Swift had finally slowed to a stop, she was less then a quarter of the way to the boarder. She felt her breaths comming in hard. She found herself rather shocked she had managed to run so fast, so far. She felt herself stumbling over her own paws however. Her paws were numb with exhaustion and cold. She looked around and found a warm patch of sun to wait under for a bit.

Part of her regretted running ahead, however she didn't know if she could stand being around Hediki. At first, yes, she disliked him because he was different. He was nothing but a mutt between the two packs. He was as good as a rouge pup being accepted into the pack. He was different, and perhaps a small part of that idea scared her. However that fear grew to reality. The young pup was stronger then her undoubtedly, he was as quick as her if not quicker. He was loved and admired by all the pack.

Unlike herself. She kicked at the snow. Hediki got praise from her father, but all she got from him were odd stares. She never could read them well, was he upset with her behavior? Was he pleased? She could never tell. Her tail flicked back and forth, displaying her irritation. Even from some of the senior members she got the same odd stares. Was it because she was so small? Was it because she was the alpha's daughter? Yet, none of her siblings got the same looks.

She shook her head miserably, lost from all reasoning. She was nothing but a problem child, lost among an unknown past, and sucked into the problems of her own mother no longer being with her father. She flicked her tail, slightly irritated how some young she wolf could so easily push her mother from the alpha's pedastal.

Swift did a few circles in a snow bank, patting it down until she fit inside it enough that it blocked out the frosty winds. She sat there with her tail covering her nose, waiting for the others to arrive, quiet and miserable.

As time passed, Swift soon saw Axolotl approach, she figured that it wouldn't be long until Ceiko and Hediki caught up. Swift shook her head, looking at him. She wouldn't tell him, or anyone what she thought, so instead lied quite convincingly. "No, I'm fine, just cold." She huffed, letting out a yawn of exhaustion as she stood up slowly and stretched out her muscles in a long bow forwards.

Ceiko nodded, a bitter expression on his face as he climbed to his paws, growing to hate snow quite a bit. He flicked his tail back and forth briefly, only out of the fact Hediki seemed quite distracted. No-wolf really sat down to ask him how hes been, yet he always did for others, and did for Swift especially, time and time again. However, he let the feeling flee, knowing it wasn't going to get him anywhere but upset for the night.

(Actually, Avikii was awaiting your reply before posting, she deemed it your turn... XD)

Swift grunted, after a while, Ceiko and Hediki were here. It would take but a moment for them to reach the boarder, and that was something she would rather do together if there were any danger ahead that arrived around the earlier hours. The patrol that she was on earlier, had deemed the boarders clear, yet it never hurt to take a simple precaution. She glanced at Axolotl as she stood up, then down to the ground as she shook out her pelt. She looked to the others, to make sure they weren't about to take their own break, and started walking, but kept ahead and silent.

Once Axolotl reached the border he picked up a strange scent. "Can you guys smell that?" he asked while turning his head to look at his pack-mates. Something seemed wrong. Everything was quiet, too quiet.

Hediki had to admit that the feeling of being free to leave Canyon territory felt wonderful, he gazed across the creek at Swift and Ceiko, who had found themselves prancing happily through the mildly frosted grasses. He set a paw in the crisp, sparkling water and waded his way over to the other side, shaking out his pelt once he felt dry land under his paws.

The warrior looked up, letting a smile cross his muzzle at the peaceful land around them. Though it did seem peaceful, at any moment could a Bison Pack wolf show up, or even a tribe wolf. Yet, Hediki knew that it would be unlikely for a Bison Pack member to act hostile, and overall, he doubted they would even run into one, ah the wonders of neutral territory.

He set out again, padding toward Swift and Ceiko. The male was surprised to see Swift so happy, seeing her not scoff at the fact of him growing closer made him a little more at peace. "What do you say we head all the way to the Old OxBow?" He quickly suggested excitedly, wondering what it would look like in the light of day rather than the light of a full moon.

Swift was reluctant ant first, but she nodded offering a smile. She had thought of it first, but hadn't gotten to say it, feeling jelousy nip at her as Axolotl made the remark of how great an idea it was.

She shook out her pelt of the last remaining water droplets and bits of frost off to the area around her. "Ill lead!" She said quickly, turning off and starting out before anyone could argue against it. Her tail waves mesmerizing-ly back and forth, it seemed that it was rather hard for her to be like this. She hated being so silent as she had usually been around Hediki, and since speaking her voice and not speaking got her simply nowhere she only had the final option to just try to tolerate him and move on with her life. So that's what she did.

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Ceiko merely rolled his eyes at Swift's eager voice to volunteer to lead, go figure. He scoffed under his breath, how cliche. Nonetheless, he didn't argue or say anything against it.