Into the Wilds

[ChampionMouse]

It was amusing to the female how obsessed and preoccupied with destiny and purpose that one was. The wandering male, chasing after some distant dream while refusing to acknowledge where his feet were resting in that very instant. The instant. That one. This one. They were separated from one another, with no lingering attachment. Isolated incidents in the stream of time, only used for lessons of survival. Once this fruit was plucked from their branches, the scavengers would move on. To remain still, to long for something as inaccessible as the past, or the future, that was weakness. And in the wild places of the world, weakness was synonymous with death.

He was strong, of this she was certain. She had circled him, skulking about in the form of ghost-wolf as she examined his stance with judgmental eyes. He did not back down, even when directly challenged by her fierce eye contact. He was too busy shouting things are her, things that did not matter so much, or make too much sense.

"You will not frighten me, Spirit," he exclaimed. "I am Dunthra, Son of Murkthralog, and I have come out here to test my strength and look for purpose. I accept your challenge!"

But the female cared nothing for those words. They were gibberish. "Civilized" nonsense that had no place in her world. She bounded away, paws padding lightly against the barren rock as she climbed a nearby hill. The male stood still for some time, and the female tilted her head back to howl while he looked up at her.

It was meant to be a warning, not an invitation, but the male was deaf to the purpose of wild sound. Up the rock he came, kneeling before the female in her wolfish form.

"What would you have me do, spirit?" He asked with bowed head. "What is my purpose?"

The female gave a growl, baring her teeth in an angry grin. Purpose, purpose, purpose. It was a mockery to the lessons of survival. She changed, then, reverting to her green-skinned form that so proudly stood on two legs. The male seemed surprised to regard the fur clad female, and blinked several times as if to confirm her existence.

"Err...Throm'ka, sister. What are you doing out here?"

"...I...am living. What...are you...doing?" It had been some time since she had spoken the more civilized tongue, so the words came with mild strain and difficulty. She clenched her teeth as she spoke, and every word that formed seemed hesitant to move beyond her lips.

"I am searching for my purpose, as I said. Tell me, sister, what is your name?" he asked.

"Must...things...have names? I am a...creature of flesh...and blood, and....claws and fangs..."

"All things have names, that is how they are identified. I have only been calling you sister, and I would prefer to know what you are called beyond that."

"No, no, no!" The female growled again in her frustration. "It is the way of only -some- sentient mortal creatures to give useless names and labels to things. This, this is not the way of the spirits. The spirits merely are."

"Hmmm..." The male wiped some sweat from his brow as he thought on this.

The female said nothing, only watched and waited as the male hoisted his metal blade back up over his shoulder.

"Very well," he said at length, "But that still leaves the question of my purpose."

The female rolled her eyes.

"Look beneath you. Your...feet brought you here. You are...standing where you are...standing. Why...do you...question it? Enjoy these...simple...pleasures."

"Explain," he said, frowning. "I should be happy with simple things?"

"Do you...have a woman?"

"Wait, what? Are you saying I should find my purpose in a woman?"

Another frustrated sigh came from the female. The male was strong, but his mind was all wrong. She started moving again, until she was behind him. Her hands came to rest upon his weapon, gently tugging at it as he watched her carefully.

"You want my sword?" he asked, quirking a brow.

The female nodded, and the male gave up the weapon to her. She examined it for less than a few seconds before turning and throwing it as far as should from their vantage point on top of the cliff.

"...Why did I have a feeling you would do that?" he asked with a sigh.

"First you must...learn to use your...own strength. When you...can do this, and...have confidence in your...own ability...then you...can use...a tool," she instructed him, nodding a bit.

"Fair enough. I will follow you then. Where will we begin?"

The female merely turned and pointed down towards a lone raptor that was wandering on a ledge many feet below them. She placed one finger over her mouth to ask for silence, but this did nothing to hide a very large and toothy grin.