On the Edge

Melody padded silently through the forest, smelling the water nearby, as well as hearing it. She hadn't had a drink in a long while, and was in dire need of one. At last, she came to the bushes at the edge of a waterfall. Silently, she slinked forward to get a drink.

Melody noticed the other wolf approaching, but chose to ignore him, as he didn't seem immediately hostile. She finished her drink before allowing herself to face the potential threat. Her hackles raised, and teeth bared, she called out to the wolf,

"Are you friend, or foe?"

"My... my name is Melody," she replied slowly. She switched her tail to a halfway position, and she let it swish back and forth. She changed her posture from defensive, to a normal standing, and she felt her fur flatten.

"What do you think of this place?" she asked, attempting conversation. "There aren't many places with natural beauty like this anymore."

"Mmm," Melody nodded. "I kinda like it here, the water is a great rescource to be by."

She pawed at the ground a little, then looked up at the sky.

She then whispered, "It's been so long..."

"The stars," Melody replied. "The forest has been so thick, and at last, it's thin enough here that I can see them. Look."

Melody motioned with her paw up to the small split in the tree branches, seeing only a few little sparkling stars.

"Also, because this is the first time in a while I've found a seemingly civilized wolf. In the times before, they've been with a pack, and not receptive of loners. How have your journeys been?"

"o i wander from place to place as my whims take me. i have seen many places. but never have i found a place that i wanted to stay" he studied her for a moment. "follow me" he said suddenly. he started climbing up the side of the cliff, with the waterfall, jumping from one ledge to another, till he got to the top. he looked behind him. "come on up!" he called to her. " you can see the stars much better up here!"

Melody was startled at this change in events. She leapt up the first few rocks trying to catch up to him, but the slippery slope caused her to lose her grip, and she quickly scrabbled for a hold. Quickly running out of breath from the climb, she followed as best she could.

Melody looked at Sander, and then up at the sky. He was right. With the new angle on the clearing, much more could be seen than from back on the gound. She raised her paw, reaching out as if to touch them, but she felt nothing but air.

Melody lowered her head, and whispered, "Thank you."

he watched her reach out, like she wanted to touch the stars. "your welcome" he said quietly. he looked up at the sky. it seemed to go forever. "i should take you to sleeping fields sometime. the sky has more stars there and you can see it without trees blocking it" he laid down at the edge of the cliff, with his paws hanging off the end. he wondered why this wolf was different from the rest. he usually would talk to a wolf when they crossed his path, then move on. but this one was different.

he yawned, and lay his head down. he had been walking all day.

Melody leaned down, stretching. She liked it up here. It was nice, and Sander had proved to be trustworthy. She moved towards the cliff edge, and sat down, looking at the sky again. She saw the moon peeking over the treetops, and threw back her head in a howl. She let it resonate withing the trees, listening to the different echoes.

sander smiled. she had a lovely howl. he joined her in her howl, sending a soft , but powerful howl through the air.

As the last traces of their howl died down, Melody lay her head down. It's been a long day, though it had all been worth it at this point. This place was beautiful. If the amount of prey here was plentiful, there'd be no reason to leave. Melody closed her eyes, laying her head on her paws, listening to the calming sound of the water.

It wasn't until a few rays of sunlight filtered by the trees touched her fur, that Melody realized she'd fallen asleep. She opened her eyes, and stretched. Melody saw Sander over to her left, and was glad he had decided to stay.

Melody was halfway through a yawn, when Sander fell over the cliff. Melody rushed to the edge to see if he was okay, and was relieved to see him grinning back. She grinned, and started laughing.

"One way to wake up? No, really!" She shouted down.

Melody sat back laughing. At least he had survived that last fall. This one wasn't so bad. Melody thought about it for a second, before turning and walking away from the edge. She walked back a few feet, and turned to face the edge again. She took a deep breath, bunched her muscles, and sprang forward in a run leaping off the cliff and plunged into the water below.

Melody broke the surface, and shook some of the water out of her fur. She laughed at Sander, and pushed her paws forward, splashing him again. Melody swam in place, as she continued her watery assult.