Queendom

Prologue

     The daylight is bathed in an icy, milk sheen, splashed with the reflection of snow that blankets an old, icy ground.  It sometimes comes up to Saburo's chest; sometimes he trips and falls face-first into it. It was funny the first few times, but now they're just tired. 

     Saburo, the more built of the two, is sore and cold, his coat growing wet with the constant upward-assault of snow. It's off-white in color, brushed with greys along his back and points, feathered with a few cream strokes along the edges of his flat back. His build is much like the other wolves of the tundra--slightly rounded, small ears to avoid frostbite, a tail reaching just above his patella, a massive body and thick coat. His fur is a little lacking in the "wooly" department, but he gets along well enough. His partner will make up for it this coming spring.

     Ravit is off to his side, just ahead of her mate. Her white fur is stained grey by the clumps of snow and water that cling to it, the grey tips of her tail visible under her spirited clamber up what must be a mountain of some sort. They haven't been this far in a while; Saburo assumes that his mate is thinking of looking over a high vantage point before settling in for the night. Well, he hopes that last part, really. It's something they'll have to talk about, once they've made adequate progress for the day. Ravi herself has only just found her second wind, after all, taking the turn of leader.

     Trees wrap around them, twining the path around the pair of wolves more and more as they scale the snow. They're going North, and had mutually expected the Boreal to have thinned out by now, but evidently both of them have misjudged just how far South they'd been. The path is unfamiliar, or maybe it's been too long, but the wolves have been at this since they awoke last night. Neither would dare complain, nor would they think to stop before reaching a comfortable resting point, but the wear is palpable between the mates as they press on weaving between the trees. Travelling down to the wide forest was hazardous the first time; it's not much different this time, save for the youthful glee and enthusiasm of that new prospect of starting your own life, with your own mate who's your best friend and wonderful and knows all that you stand for, and finding a new place to put your ideas into action. You have big plans together. Exploring the Boreal was only the beginning of it.

     The horizon--what there is of it, as Saburo cranes his neck up over the hills and between the trees--is beginning to grow a curve, and the male listens for his mate. Ravit is making little huffs that sound like 'thank God' and picking up her pace with heavy limbs. Saburo picks up his pace too, steadying his breath to top the mountain. 

     They arrive at once, Saburo only a few steps behind the lighter female. The hill is a little small for a grand view of the landscape, but what they can see, perched above the shadow of the slope beneath them, is only more forest. It's a little disappointing, but when Ravit takes a glance behind her, it's considerably thinner than where they came from. Looking back, the forest in front of her fans out near the edges--it's not close enough for them to see the point where the forest meets tundra, but they should be able to make it there, or at least very close, in two more days.

"Two more days," she repeats to her companion beside her, though she knows he would have assumed so himself. It's good to get the confirmation out in the air.

     His silence is affirmation, after such a climb. Ravi takes a deep breath, stretches her limbs slowly. 

     There's a long stretch of quiet as the two catch their breath. The view is nice from up here, even if it isn't the best, but the altitude makes for a rather unpleasant breeze and the air is thin around them. They can't see much but the sides of the tops of trees, but it's a nice place to stop, anyway.

     Saburo humms in assent; he's breathing regularly, now.

     Taking the signal, Ravi takes a few steps forward and looks back at him with a few generous wags of her tail. Let's find some place to settle in for tonight, the words hang in the air soundlessly, they've done this before. Maybe we can find some rabbits.

     And the pair is off again, down the front of the mountain.