There is no better way to know us
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood
As the sun rose, the fading darkness revealed a lone figure lingering just beyond the border of the water-logged piece of land called the Lagoon. Her skin was like the rich red heartwood sometimes found in beech trees. Her mane was dark like the night sky, her eyes even more-so. There was no trace of white upon her, save for a tiny snip between her nostrils. Few noticed it from afar, being that it was small – a delicate marking if there ever was one. And that wasn’t even taking into consideration the rest of her. Not that she was the most gorgeous creature ever to walk the earth. That would be her sister. (No, not really, she’s just teasing). But anyone who called her ugly had a kick to the face coming for them. She was… Interesting. There were a few scars, a faded one on her chest, and a not-so-faded one on her right shoulder. Her eyes though, they were bright like they had stars in them. They spoke of trials and victories. Adventures, escapes. Life and death and loss and fear and love.
And her voice, when she spoke – it was fire and water, husky and smooth, all at once.
“Toli,” she said with a smile, even though it seemed she was still alone. She turned her head, tilting it gracefully towards a dark and light figure who slipped out of the trees just as the first rays of light reached the ground where the bay mare stood. “You make any new friends?” The words carried her amusement, and a spark flickered in her eyes. At the flick of an ear from her sister, she seemed almost disappointed. “What a shame. No manners. And after all the stories we’ve heard… I was expecting something a little more exciting.” There was silence, and the second mare, a little taller and slighter than her sibling, approached, snorting roughly. “No, I suppose we didn’t walk the entire border. Just our luck that these mysterious rogues must’ve been patrolling the east side, and the north. What to do, hmm? I so wanted to meet at least one of them.”
Tolinka snorted again, and bumped the bay mare roughly with her shoulder. “Oh, Toli, did you have to cover yourself in that revolting swampy slime?” She drew away, and the two of them shared a look that had the bay laughing quietly under her breath. “I know, I know. ‘Sinopa, you asked me to sneak along the border, and that’s exactly what I did.’ Looks like you were too sneaky, sister, but thank you.” The two touched their muzzles together, and spent a moment in repose, with the bay girl, Sinopa, resting her head over Tolinka’s lowered neck, her chin on her sister’s crest. Both flicked their ears as they heard a noise some way off, and as one, they turned and looked in that direction. “What say we go find one of these boys to introduce ourselves to, hey Toli?” Sinopa didn’t need to ask twice. Her black and white patch-skinned sister led the way with a smile that was sharp around the edges.
Tolinka had led Sinopa into the world, and though they viewed one another as equals, Sinopa felt it was only right that she follow still. Tolinka led, and for the most part, Sinopa spoke. Tonlinka didn’t like speaking to strangers much. She liked picking fights with them though. Not out of malice, certainly not. And not out of greediness, or want. She fought to protect herself and her sister, though the bay mare was more than capable of defending herself – she often started the fights, truth be told. Tolinka was the one who finished them. Strangers soon learned quick not to mess with the pair, and this ultimately led to Sinopa (and occasionally Tolinka) provoking others into closing with her, just to relieve their boredom.
Though far quieter, Tolinka was just as spirited as her sister, perhaps even more-so, because she oft grew irritable when she was all too easily forgotten or overlooked, just because she rarely opened her mouth. She slowed, now, as the scents of the males in this area grew thick, so that she felt as though it coated her as thickly as the mud did. Speaking of the mud, it was starting to dry in places so that she twitched her skin in an attempt to relieve the itch. In other places, the mud and water had run off, down the sides of her belly. Patches of white on her torso showed through the grime, and contrasted beautifully with the inky, off-black colour of her fore and hindquarters. (Maybe there was some truth in Sinopa’s teasing after all. That Tolinka was pleasing to the eye was no lie.) Beside her plainer looking sister, Tolinka was often the first to draw the eye. Strangers learned quickly though. Tolinka seldom tolerated uninvited contact. She’d nearly taken an eye, once.
Now, she stopped, and turned back an ear. She wasn’t willing to go much farther. Beside her, Sinopa sighed a little dramatically. “I suppose this’ll have to do…” She glanced around with her dark eyes, flaring her nostrils, trying to untangle the scents, and found herself unable to. There were numerous males here. Surely at least one of them would deign to show their handsome face. Sensing a presence nearby, both mares focused upon the unseen individual. “Come now, I promise I won’t bite,” Sinopa called out, her voice warm and crackling like fire. “Not unless you ask for it, that is.” She shared a glance with Tolinka, and a smile of satisfaction spread across her muzzle. As the other stepped into view, Sinopa’s eyes flashed, and Tolinka’s black ears twisted forwards. “Can’t say the same for Toli, though. They told stories you know,” he voice was low, now, softer. “Back home, she greeted with her teeth.” With that, Sinopa fell silent, watching the stranger with an intense curiosity. She had known of groups like his in other lands. Some had impressed her, others had fallen short. Together the sisters watched and waited, and wondered where this lot would fall.
It wasn’t hard to guess what these two hoped. It had been a long time since they’d been among those they deemed equals in wit and self-assurance. Would the stallions here match their mettle, or let them down, and treat them like dirt, like they were only good for pushing around? Only time would tell. Tolinka turned an ear back, ever vigilant. And as for Sinopa, well, she (not so secretly) hoped for some light-hearted teasing thrown back her way. After all, what good was living if you couldn’t have a little fun?
SINOPA + TOLINKA
the fox && the hound
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