Yuki had been doing her best to learn more about Spirane, but the task seemed endless at times. The pack might have been a quiet place but it was still a place with a rich history, and that was just regarding the wolves! She’d been doing her best to learn the land as well, from its history (what had caused the fissures, and had they always been there?) to all its secret paths and beyond. She’d done her best to disperse her attention, ensuring she learned about both the ‘upper’ hierarchies and those on the lower end, just like she learned the peaks and the valleys. Part of that, of course, involved learning about the children too. Yuki had to admit that they were often the hardest ones to learn about – she knew some of their names, their looks and their families but she hadn’t a clue who might wish to be a warrior or who had a crush on who!

Yuki knew Eldrax though. At least, she knew his appearance and something of his family. He had born to Rhaegal and his companion, Bastille, and had two other siblings. One of his sisters had been afflicted with something terrible in her youth but had seemingly grown beyond it. Rhaegal was a prince, Bastille a thief by title. As for Eldrax? Well, Yuki had to grin to herself, she didn’t know much of him but so far, she’d learned he had quite a spirited take on leaving the borders with all that bounce in his step. It was the kind of bounce that made her curious as to what mischief the young wolf was hoping to find – or make. Or maybe she’d just been projecting. In any case, it was easy for her to say ‘oh, it’s my duty!’ and to follow him off beyond the borders and into the stony fortress of the crags.

It had been as much about following Eldrax as it was about having fun herself. Sure, she followed and kept an eye on him when she could, but she took the time to explore the snowy stone paths and towering rock all the same. In spring, she imagined the crags would be a livelier place; she could smell predator and prey behind the snow, and older wolf smells lingered too. But the snow had surely driven them all out, much to her dismay. She hadn’t thought much of it when she had kicked a stone in exasperation but then, Eldrax called out and made her shrink back in embarrassment for a moment. Oops! She’d been sprung. It wasn’t really her duty to get caught, was it?

"Yep! Somebody’s here,” she called back as she began to move across the stones and snow to where he had stopped. She revealed herself plainly, her grin a sheepish thing as her tail gave several subdued waves. "Yuki, future Snafflefang,” she offered with a dip of her head. Then, she was immediately distracted by the waterfall behind the boy, which she had at first not noticed. Her ears flickered forward and her eyes widened with interest as she watched the water cascade over the edge – her grin had fast become less embarrassed and far more intrigued. The water was still running despite the cold...Where was that warmth coming from? She knew she ought to continue with the formalities and all that but, well, why waste time with it? The boy had clearly been fascinated by the waterfalls too, so where was the harm in her being fascinated? With that, she bounced forward and towards the water, her tail waving. "So, this is what got you out of Spirane, huh?” Her eyes had not left the water though her ear flickered towards him, as if to send the words to him themselves.