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Description

Part of being a leader is knowing that one is neither immortal nor invincible. Your Tokota must select and train an heir.
  It was snowing again. This late into spring, Opal knew it wasn't normal. This morning was strange--foggy and brisk with little bursts of wind that tussled through her braided ruff; prickled the fur along her shoulders. She was alone today. A rare thing that was becoming more common the more she aged. She wasn't sure if it was because she was an adult now, or because Yuka was too. All the same, alone she went into the embrace of the pines. She was a silent mover despite the width of her paws. The squirrels ignored her. The big dire was no threat to them. They knew something else called to this large presence into their domain, but not even Opal knew what it was.

  She raised her head into the breeze that coursed around the tree trunks, tasting what it told her. Nothing new. The birds were disturbed. The musk of their feathers was heavy on her breath as though a flock of them had taken flight in a hurry. But that was nothing out of the ordinary. She pressed deeper, continuing to look for nothing. She was restless for no reason, and that bothered her. The trees were still. Quiet with the solemn nature of snowfall.

The big dire came to a clearing that lay no more than a few hundred yards from Yuka's camp. It was here that Opal slowed. She was sure she heard something. Birds again. Shuffling in the snow--white as the ground. Ptarmigans. She could eat them if she wanted. Perhaps it would subside this agitation in her chest. Dropping to a half-hearted stalk, she climbed the edge of a bank, eyeing a tangle of smaller trees. They bowed and tangled with one another creating a roof of fresh snow. A perfect place for birds to shelter. Even better, she could smell their eggs.

Licking her lips, she crept closer. The frozen grass shifted and she became a statue, then pressed in further a moment later. She was having bird for breakfast. Jaws spread, she went for the catch, feeling warmth against her gums, gripping it with her teeth. But what followed was not feathers, nor was the sound anything she remembered. High pitched and pleading, she recognized this as something else. All in a stupor, she reeled back, dropping her catch almost as soon as she'd caught it. Something tawny and gray fled into the brush. She licked her chops uncomfortably. Fur? Snorting a puff of frosty air, she blinked. Confused. Little paw prints in the snow led away from her. Now she was completely lost. Following with her nose to the snow, Opal stumbled after whatever she'd just found...

  Against the side of a rocky hill, she eyed a dark cave into its heart. The prints led into here. Padding inside, she huffed a soft woof. Questioning the darkness. A light yip answered and she heard something move away. But she was getting a better idea what this was. Creeping in, she took a moment to adjust her eyes.

  The longer she stood there, the easier it became to see the tiny ball of fur curling in a fearful lump against the far wall.

In what could almost be described as a coo, Opal's ears curved back against her neck as she whined, eyes wide with shock. This was like something dear inside of her. But what... 'Yuka,' her mind answered. Something small and defenseless. A child like the one she'd known for so long--who now had grown far from that little youth she had protected and loved into adulthood. Stepping in quickly, almost forgetting to be gentle, Opal began to lick and nuzzle this little stranger. So cold and soft. Bony--now that she felt them. The poor thing was starving--though she could smell eggs on her breath. The more attention and care she offered, the more the little pup leaned into her. Gradually the pair curled into a tight little embrace on that stony floor. She licked through all her burrs and tangles until the pair lulled into a calm sleep. Long into the day, the pair stayed. Without words it was decided. Opal would keep her close.



This week was the worst--Which I think I say all the time. But all the same I'm very glad it's done. ;o;
I keep drawing new concepts for Opal's PotA prompts. They need to be perfect, right? This one I think I'll keep A more formal introduction of Opal's little adopted "fawn" Ptarmigan.
The lil antler hopefully counts for Opal, but also as the antler on Ptarmigan later in her life. Antler buddies <3

+

So much music. SO MUCH
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2RmJg…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8eNW3…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wReNQC…

Reference: i.imgur.com/XExPIGk.jpg

Opal is confirmed Alpha--Now I just need to suck it up and submit her. Which I can't do until I'm satisfied with everything.
And she is officially taken from Average to Alpha without any art other than my own ;A; Such a long, fulfilling journey.
I'm tempted to try the same with Ptarmigan, but I don't think I have it in me xD

Description

Part of being a leader is knowing that one is neither immortal nor invincible. Your Tokota must select and train an heir.
  It was snowing again. This late into spring, Opal knew it wasn't normal. This morning was strange--foggy and brisk with little bursts of wind that tussled through her braided ruff; prickled the fur along her shoulders. She was alone today. A rare thing that was becoming more common the more she aged. She wasn't sure if it was because she was an adult now, or because Yuka was too. All the same, alone she went into the embrace of the pines. She was a silent mover despite the width of her paws. The squirrels ignored her. The big dire was no threat to them. They knew something else called to this large presence into their domain, but not even Opal knew what it was.

  She raised her head into the breeze that coursed around the tree trunks, tasting what it told her. Nothing new. The birds were disturbed. The musk of their feathers was heavy on her breath as though a flock of them had taken flight in a hurry. But that was nothing out of the ordinary. She pressed deeper, continuing to look for nothing. She was restless for no reason, and that bothered her. The trees were still. Quiet with the solemn nature of snowfall.

The big dire came to a clearing that lay no more than a few hundred yards from Yuka's camp. It was here that Opal slowed. She was sure she heard something. Birds again. Shuffling in the snow--white as the ground. Ptarmigans. She could eat them if she wanted. Perhaps it would subside this agitation in her chest. Dropping to a half-hearted stalk, she climbed the edge of a bank, eyeing a tangle of smaller trees. They bowed and tangled with one another creating a roof of fresh snow. A perfect place for birds to shelter. Even better, she could smell their eggs.

Licking her lips, she crept closer. The frozen grass shifted and she became a statue, then pressed in further a moment later. She was having bird for breakfast. Jaws spread, she went for the catch, feeling warmth against her gums, gripping it with her teeth. But what followed was not feathers, nor was the sound anything she remembered. High pitched and pleading, she recognized this as something else. All in a stupor, she reeled back, dropping her catch almost as soon as she'd caught it. Something tawny and gray fled into the brush. She licked her chops uncomfortably. Fur? Snorting a puff of frosty air, she blinked. Confused. Little paw prints in the snow led away from her. Now she was completely lost. Following with her nose to the snow, Opal stumbled after whatever she'd just found...

  Against the side of a rocky hill, she eyed a dark cave into its heart. The prints led into here. Padding inside, she huffed a soft woof. Questioning the darkness. A light yip answered and she heard something move away. But she was getting a better idea what this was. Creeping in, she took a moment to adjust her eyes.

  The longer she stood there, the easier it became to see the tiny ball of fur curling in a fearful lump against the far wall.

In what could almost be described as a coo, Opal's ears curved back against her neck as she whined, eyes wide with shock. This was like something dear inside of her. But what... 'Yuka,' her mind answered. Something small and defenseless. A child like the one she'd known for so long--who now had grown far from that little youth she had protected and loved into adulthood. Stepping in quickly, almost forgetting to be gentle, Opal began to lick and nuzzle this little stranger. So cold and soft. Bony--now that she felt them. The poor thing was starving--though she could smell eggs on her breath. The more attention and care she offered, the more the little pup leaned into her. Gradually the pair curled into a tight little embrace on that stony floor. She licked through all her burrs and tangles until the pair lulled into a calm sleep. Long into the day, the pair stayed. Without words it was decided. Opal would keep her close.



This week was the worst--Which I think I say all the time. But all the same I'm very glad it's done. ;o;
I keep drawing new concepts for Opal's PotA prompts. They need to be perfect, right? This one I think I'll keep A more formal introduction of Opal's little adopted "fawn" Ptarmigan.
The lil antler hopefully counts for Opal, but also as the antler on Ptarmigan later in her life. Antler buddies <3

+

So much music. SO MUCH
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2RmJg…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8eNW3…
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wReNQC…

Reference: i.imgur.com/XExPIGk.jpg

Opal is confirmed Alpha--Now I just need to suck it up and submit her. Which I can't do until I'm satisfied with everything.
And she is officially taken from Average to Alpha without any art other than my own ;A; Such a long, fulfilling journey.
I'm tempted to try the same with Ptarmigan, but I don't think I have it in me xD