"What do you mean, we're leaving?!" Turnipper asked aghast at the upfront and not priorly arranged announcement.
Though Chen was decided. "The land is barren. We need to find better hunting grounds." They were also mostly healed and in good condition to travel. Furthermore the weather was on their side. Though especially the later two conditions could worsen, should they stall their departure any longer. Now was a good time.
"We can't leave," the fox urged desperately, though by now knew quite well how impossible it was to change Chen's mind, especially about things that concerned the pack's efficiency and survival. "We're one wolf short!" No matter where and how far he had gone, he couldn't find a trace of Toshiba. And by now, Turnipper was seriously concerned!
"I'm not sure whether he would return," the white wolf revealed. Toshiba was stupid, but also very proud and very stubborn. An 'alpha' that was chased away by its own pack? He was in the right to never wish to see any of them again. And maybe it would even be wise to let him go. A humiliated wolf makes for a bad ally. Though, the approaching winter taken into consideration, missing one set of teeth was hardly favorable either. Not to mention that Toshi's odds of survival were small on his own. When Chen had first met him, he was half starved - and that had been during summer! "Though I agree with you, we should at least try to get him back."
The fox breathed a sigh of relieve. "But how do we do this? I still don't know where he is."
With his nose, Chen pointed behind the other canine. "He is on the other side of the river."
"H-how do you know this?"
"I recently picked up his scent. It's lingering there," he said, though actually had found Toshi's trace several days ago. Basically immediately, once he started seriously tracking him.
Unbelieving, Turnipper glanced over the water and sniffed the air. It smelled of lavender and wet foliage. He had combed the entire riverside, though never got a whiff of his wolf. If Chen could smell him from this distance, his nose had to be -very- keen! "But... how did he get there? And how are we going to cross the river?" There was no chance they could swim, it was too wide and cold, and then there was the current.
"There's a bridge, downstream," Chen said casually, as if it was obvious.
Though Turnipper hadn't found a bridge on his roamings, and he'd gone far downstream. Just how extensive was this wolf's territory? He wouldn't have thought Toshi would run off this far - why would he?! - though he also was a wolf, after all, not a fox. "How far is it?"
"If we make move now, we'll arrive at dusk, take a break there, hunt through the night, then sniff out Toshiba the next day," he explained matter-of-factly.
"Which is exactly what we're going to do, isn't it?" he suspected, considering Chen's resolve. The white wolf nodded once. "Is Res ready for such a trip?"
Chen's concisely answer came swift, "He ought to. If not, we will rest earlier. Once we've met Toshiba, we're heading further east."
The fox's pointy ears perked. "You make that sound as though I'm invited?" he noted carefully. "Does... that mean you're alright if I stay with you?"
The tense wolf sighed overtly. "You are harder to get rid of than fleas! In any case, though, you have nothing to fear from me." After what this fox had done for the pack, sparing its life was the least Chen owed him. Besides... Reszet seemed to be fond of him, too now. Not to mention Toshiba, should he return to the group. "Whether you leave, or stay is up to you."
"Thank you, Baochenmo," Turnipper said with a grateful nod and a happy wag of his tail. It's been a long way, and there's still some distance to go, but slowly, this pack of odd wolves felt more and more like something that could become his home.
Coldly, Chen went straight ahead. "You'll be in the lead. Make sure not to slack, I'll take care of Reszet. We're leaving as soon as he's back."
With another, confident nod, Turnipper went ahead. It was an uneventful journey, to say the least. Just long and arduous, especially for the smallest member of the group, since it was hard for a fox to keep up with wolves. But he managed. He wanted to see Toshiba again, make things up with him.
Reszet did remarkably well, too. A few short breathers kept him going the whole distance and just before nightfall, they reached what looked like a weirdly straight, impossibly giant skeleton that spanned the river. The ancient human construct was already visible from afar and a testament of the vast impact their species had had on this world.
They held some distance to the bridge yet, though kept it in sight. Chen insisted on the precaution, saying that here the river gave them cover, while staying to close, or even on the bridge would narrow their movement, broaden their frontline and leave them with just one rout for retreat. Or simply put, an unacceptable disadvantage for a well-prepared wolf.
"Should we make a new fire?" Reszet asked timidly when silence spread between the group's resting members. Besides looking for something to say, he didn't actually feel that cold. Even though Res kinda got used to a warm spot to sleep. It felt nice.
Though in response, Chen only said, "I don't see a reason to." The effort would hardly be worth it, now that Reszet is better. And a fire might attract unwanted visitors besides. Not that there was much an able wolf had to fear in this region.
"Maybe Toshi will notice the fire and come to use?" Turnipper reasoned. He tried to hide it, but he was really antsy about approaching his wolf, now that he was this close to him again. The way he'd left... What if Toshi didn't want to see him again? What if he got this angry again? What if this final attempt to fix this pack will be its ruin? "If nothing else, I can put some crawfish on the embers in the morning before we go."
"..." That was actually not even a bad thought. Not a terribly good one either, however. Chances were pretty small that Toshiba would pick up the smell of smoke on this distance. But the light meal in the morning was a good fallback. You never know how the hunt goes! "Alright, we will make one. Not too large, though. Reszet, come. I might as well teach you, while I'm at it." With a wagging tail, the gray wolf followed his mentor.
"Actually...!" Turnipper interjected before the two could set off. "If you don't mind, I'd be glad for the chance to learn that as well." He really was, though it might also distract him from the imminent reunion with his fling.
Chen gave the fox an unreadable expression before he jerked his head for him to follow as well. And under his tutelage the group set out to searched the riverbank for flintstones, gather adequate fire wood and prepare tinder. Turnipper got the hang of it first and was the one to start the fire. Res succeeded a few moments later. Though whether Toshiba could perceive the fire, or not, he didn't show up all night.
The first one to fall asleep that day, was the fox. His shorter legs had to run extra fast and he was apprehensive of what was to come. He'd even secluded himself a bit to spent his last waking moments with thinking. It was the first time since the jump that he and Reszet didn't sleep side by side.
The gray wolf was understanding, though. In fact, he was kinda even grateful for the space this gave him, and not just for being a wolf. He took the chance and sneaked off, once the weary fox's eyes were shut, to approach his most dearest companion. Chen was still awake, of course. Actually, Res rarely ever saw him fully asleep, this apex predator always had his senses sharp!
Slowly Reszet approached him from behind, assumed his usual position by Chen's side and then gently pressed his muzzle into the soft, white fur of his nape. As always Chen didn't object and allowed the smaller canine to brush him for a while. They didn't say anything during the act, never had done so before. And both of them savored the odd ritual in their own way.
While Baochenmo endured the fondness, torn between the physical bliss and his mental torture, Reszet devoted himself fully to the only part of his adorned superior's body he was permitted to touch. He wanted more, though as always harnessed his desire and wouldn't disrupt this moon-graced moment, not for all the world.
"This is enough."
Curbed only by Chen's spell breaking words, Res ceased his service. And usually he would now humbly take his leave to end the peculiar encounter. Though this time, Reszet stayed and gathered all his courage. "Do you like it when I do this?" he asked softly, glancing down upon the larger, unmoving wolf. He didn't answer and Res carefully laid down beside Chen. "Did she use to do it for you? Caoyesheng?"
Silence once again followed and it felt as if Chen had become tense. Though at length, he spoke. "Indeed." It was a cold response.
Awkwardly Reszet shrunk into the tall grass. The last thing he wanted was to stir up bad feelings. "I... enjoy it..." he whispered, trying timidly to catch Chen's eyes, though he was looking the other way. "I wouldn't mind doing it more o--"
"No!" the white wolf declared resolutely, harsh enough to make Reszet flinch. Chen noticed and sighed in frustration. "I'm sorry, that was... This is all I can bear."
Res' ears flattened. "Bear?" he repeated confused. "I thought you enjoyed it too? You never said otherwise."
"And I never said that I do, either."
A few times he opened his muzzle as if to say something, though stopped himself every time before a word could come out. Chen's emotions were so complicated and Reszet was terribly afraid of misinterpreting, or hurting them. The mere thought felt like standing on that waterfall again. "I don't understand..." he whimpered eventually.
It took a moment, but eventually Chen found the right words. "I crave her endearment," he admitted with noticeable difficulty. He would forsake the moon itself for one last glimpse of her, to ascertain she was well. "Though having you do it, is wrong." Reszet looked crestfallen at his words, but Chen didn't care. He couldn't care! "I cannot stand the thought of replacing here. Of abandoning her. Of finding comfort and peace without her."
Reszet blinked surprised. Should he feel flattered now, or insulted? "I... don't mean to 'replace'... anyone..."
"It's not you," Chen sighed. "I just don't want to let go of her. I'm afraid of casting a slur on her memory. I couldn't live with that."
Pausing for a moment, Res contemplated again whether he really wanted to say out loud what he thought. But it felt rather right to say it. Chen was a pretty upfront character, so he ought to handle his pretty upfront opinion. "I... I think your worry is unfounded," Res said and finally got Chen to look at him, albeit fleetingly. "I'm not as smart as you, but even I can see that Caoyesheng was - is - very important to you. And that you could never cast a slur on her memory!" A bit more carefully, he added, "I obviously didn't know her. But from what I understand, I think she wouldn't want you to fret so much about it. I think, she would want you to be happy." Anxiously Reszet awaited Chen's response, though the big, white wolf was calm as a pond.
"You are right," he admitted at length. Though Chen already knew that truth, which made his situation even more depressing. Where else should he direct all his built-up anger and grief but himself?! Caoyesheng was dead. Her murderer was dead. And Reszet almost had been dead as well. It felt like failure and death was all he had to offer. He deserved to live with the fallout of his inaptitude. In misery!
A bit more confidently again, Res perked up slightly. "What makes you happy?" He genuinely didn't have a clue, though was very eager to learn more about Chen. Unfortunately, though, he was once again met with disappointment.
"I don't know," he said gruffly, and also sadly sincere. "We should rest now." And as though it was the moon's command, he laid his pretty head down on his paws and closed his eyes.
"Y-yeah..." Peering over to the fire, Res almost made to leave, but hesitated. The grass was pretty soft and cozy here right now. "Turnipper wants some space. Is... would it be okay if I stay here, Baobei?"
The answer was long in coming, though made Reszet's tail wag. "Suit yourself."
