Where The Waters Once Lay [Pesty]

Narrowed vibrant yellow eyes, cold yet intrigued, stared daggers into the muted gray eyes of the wolf before her. It wasn't often that the winter-coated she-wolf was openly approached by those of her pack. As much as she wished she could claim this was due to her intimidation over them, it was only a fantasy. No, her wolves only felt the need to approach her when they needed something, or to just play with her ever-flexible nerves. It seemed the latter was more common, though.

She half expected such from this wolf, but found that she was incorrect. How rare of an occasion.

"The river is beginning to run dry in lots of areas. Fish are starting to get stuck in dried up patches where water was." Despite the clear lack of full respect that shown in the smaller brute's eyes, he had still chosen to come directly to her den to report this to her. This earned a ping of slight satisfaction to set in. As chaotic and unruly as her pack was, there were few who would be foolish enough to fake such a claim. At least she could only hope so.

Artemis was silent for a long moment, considering his words. She would never deny that those of the Sanzin infuriated her. Sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder what exactly her thoughts were when she had taken down that old fool that called himself a Leader and took his place. But, regardless of any of that, she had her goals for her pack, and there wouldn’t be a pack to guide to those goals if they all died of thirst.

“I see.” Her voice was calm, her expression unwavering. Her gaze shifted slightly, looking just passed the male to where a pair of eyes peered in at her. A single gray-flecked ear flicked, her eyes only meeting those who peeked for a moment before they returned to the other male. In the same moment, her body moved, untucking her tail from her side and lifting herself to large paws.

"You may go now." The reporting male turned, glancing only momentarily at the four Aces who stood along either side of the den, most watching him very closely. He waved them all off casually with a flick of his tail and kept walking, uncaring of the cautious guards of the Suit.

As he crossed the rather low-running river back to the main Sanzin hub, Artemis exited her den, eyes following the leaving brute before she looked between the four wolves surrounding her. Her gaze met with one of them, a larger male to her left. “You are in charge until we come back.” Her still narrowed eyes then looked to the others. “The rest of you follow.”

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The grass crunched under the weight of the Suit, which was very much not a normal occurrence. The blades of what were usually green were now a dull yellowish brown, and the ground they grew from was unusually dry. She wouldn’t outwardly display this, but there was the slightest hint of concern in her mind seeing this. Artemis had always been a very proactive (questionably) she-wolf who sought things out for benefit. She could care less about the intricate “family pack bonds” that the other packs likely cared for. Hell, a part of her daily life was watching her own pack attack itself for fun, just because she could and it was entertaining. But even that was done so for a reasonable purpose. In the most distant, tough-love kind of ways, she cared for the Sanzin and their survival. And even if she at that moment decided to up and leave, letting the pack deal with its own problems, this situation would still be problematic for her own survival. It was cases like these when the white wolf had to step up and take action. If a scenario was dangerous for the pack, and would also be dangerous for herself if she was alone, it was a good cause to take notice of.

“I had hoped he was lying. I see now that is not the case...” Her pace forward slowed as they approached the riverbed, her eyes narrowing further as the water, more so the lack thereof, came into view. Just as the male had said, the water was disappearing, seemingly evaporating from the intense heat. It was moments like these when the snow-furred she-wolf was thankful for her light pelt. But, unfortunately, even a light coat didn’t help much in this weather. It was excruciatingly hot every single day without falter. Even those of the pack, usually so active and rambunctious, were starting to grow overheated and far less jumpy.

Movement caught the corner of her eye, head turning to spot a fish jumping and splashing in a small portion of water. The miserable creature had managed to find a somewhat bigger puddle where water was gathering within the bottom of the bed, but even that was not big enough. There was still water running in the bed, but it was so low that even a small step forward could allow her to cross it.

“This will not do...” Her eyes lifted, looking passed the riverbed and passed where she knew their territory border to be. The mountains in the distance, and the heavily forested woods opposite. Perhaps she could send a patrol to investigate near where the water entered the valley, right between the territories of the Vertok and Au’Dar. Or, with any luck, maybe one of the other territories had some sort of still-standing pond or lake…

“The ocean water, though disgusting, is drinkable. It will quench the pack’s thirst for now. We will wait only a few days, and if this problem does not solve itself, we will send patrols of our own to try and find another water source. Whether it be beyond our valley, just out of our borders, or into the others.” Though it was a rare thing to happen in most cases, due to the identity of her company, the large she-wolf turned, meeting the gaze of her companion.

The newest addition to her set of guards. The boy was young for an Ace, and though his personality was unique compared to most of the pack, he had the strength and the talent, which had earned him this spot. He had only been in this position for a week, or maybe less, and already things were growing more active. What a way to be introduced into your new rank.

“What say you, Tobin? Do you have any ideas?”

"Speaking." Thinking.