There they were again, thrown back into a world they understood so little. The last memories being that of a emotional fight, one that had severed the bond between sisters in deep despair. And her beloved torn asunder. Sólja had awoken once more in the lands due south, her bi-colored eyes slowly opening to find herself in a forest of fog. It was cold with great snow fall. It sparkled on its way downwards, catching her gaze with its dazzling beauty as it hit her thick paws.

It was wet and cold to the touch, but still a pretty sight all the same. It blanketed the forest in a pristine coat of white, glittering like crystals along the forest floor. And along with the snowy landscape came the thick fog that threatened to swallow them up. Champ? Champion, are you there? Sólja willed herself to her feet, rising to her full stature with a soreness to her body. Whether or not they had just landed here was still a mystery to her. But she would let that fact slide for she had her own problems now to worry about. The first thing on the agenda? Find her beloved.


Champion

Wherever they'd been hadn't been here. The sharp cold was sudden despite her short plush coat and Champion's arrival was met (again) with confusion and frustration. Their moving on after the fight with Dia and Zora had been paramount to progression. Still, to feel the energy of this place and know they had come back somehow was so surreal. How was it that a place like this could let them come and go. Was it a fever dream?

She had not been quite as worried as her mate upon arriving, having full confidence by this point that Sólja would always be their larger shadow.

The dilemma was, rather, that Champion was quite small in comparison to Sólja and was presently upside down in what she could only imagine was a snow drift. Snow didn't set her into a fit of panic like mountainsides or shifting rocks might, but this was pretty uncomfortable.

Here! I'm here... She called back, the only part of her visible being her tail and back legs as she flailed for a moment to become upright again. She emerged victorious, absolutely covered in snowflakes, wide blue eyes scanning for Sólja's face.

Sólja continued searching the area for her mate, positive that she would find her alive and well. Or at least kicking like hell. The larger of the two women headed off in the direction of Champion's calls, her ears now facing completely forward as she picked up on the sound. Her gait quickened with both speed and agility as she made her way over. Oh thank goodness! I'm glad you are alright. Well about as alright one could be being stuck in some heap of snow. She bent over to give a brief nuzzle to her mate, then moved slightly back to give her some breathing room.

Where the hell are we now? I guess the universe decided we needed to come back here. I really wish it would just make up its mind. The last thing she remembered was getting through that horrible fight with Champ's sister and Zora. It was still fresh in her mind, as if it had happened just moments ago. She could still hear the yelling and sobbing that went on between the two, only for them to go separate ways. Now they had to both contend with what ever hell this place had to offer next.

Well, she was free of the snow, and here was Sólja with her. Champion returend the intimate gesture in kind, having learned by now to not only accept affection from Sólja but also to reciprocate it. She shook the snow out of her coat and took in a deep breath, looking around her.

It's the same place, isn't it? It ... it's weird, it feels the same, you know? Her toes flexed to dig into the snow beneath her and she shrugged, bumping her shoulder against Sólja as she moved next to her. At least we're together, right? She offered, leaning her support for Sólja as she considered what they'd do next.

It was lovely to be at a point where Champion finally gave back affection of her own. She leaned into it, then gave her some space once more. Yes, it is. And it very much still feels the same. But I'm glad that we are still together to face it. Where should we head off to from here? What's the plan? Sólja sat down with her tail now wrapping up around her waist, covering her feet and butt from the deep snow. She gave the place a good look as she waited for Champion to make up her mind, something that helped to keep this woman more balanced and on her feet. Being the more uncertain and nervous of the two, she relied on her mate to give her confidence in any new situation. Her gaze then moved back to Champ's, her demeanor a little more calm and collected.

It felt like her life had never quiet settled into place, though it was close to doing so now. The snow was a stark contrast from where she thought they'd been before, but transitions were fuzzy. They had been last time too. She knew Gladiator and Zora had thought they'd died, but Champion didn't remember dying. Sólja hadn't thought they'd died last they spoke of it either. So then, how were they here again?

You're right, she affirmed, agreeing that she was happy they were together. She'd had Sólja by her side for long enough now that she wouldn't know how to function otherwise. Champion sighed deeply, breathing in and contemplating as she looked up at her mate before focusing more on their surroundings.

I guess we need somewhere to hunker down in case weather gets worse, and then we can figure out things from there? It was a solid offer. Champion didn't quite feel safe in such a closed in area as this misty forest with it's snow and eerie quiet. She craved an open space where she could see the threat coming.

Maybe... maybe this time we can find home.

She knew Sólja had wanted to settle down with a pack, and Champion had reached a point that she wanted to stop wandering too. Though, the idea of a pack was still unsettling. Maybe just them and a couple of friends?

There was an even bigger smile showing at her face at Champion's agreement. Her tail wagged slightly as she thought of their next endeavor. Let's move a further north, we should be able to get out of this swamps that way. Then we can find higher ground and hopefully more open areas. That will give us a better idea of where to go next from there. Sólja looked for a moment in that direction, her hopes high that they would be able to find something more for themselves.

Yes...a new home sounds nice. Maybe we will meet others along the way that share our sentiments. We can build a family? A thought that had also been on her mind as of late. Yes, she wanted to be in a pack. But that could take shape in many ways, and she was eager to see how that turned out. Even though she knew that Champion was very weary of packs, a part of her knew that this could change if she just gave the idea a chance.

This felt nice. The warmth between them that continued to spread the more and more she got to know Sólja. It seemed like no matter how long they were together, they learned about one another. She'd known that Sólja wanted a family, but the invitation to build one still sent a (very nervous) thrill through Champion's gut. She didn't have a passion for kids, per say, but she did look out for them when she ran across them. She had NO clue how to talk to them, or handle them, or any of that... but for Sólja, she'd... try?

She blushed at the thought, though. It made her realize what might have to be involved for that. She remembered her first season, and the man that had taught her how other men might act. That they might want to crawl on top of her. It had creeped her out, and every season since she'd hidden herself, or stuck close to Sólja. She loathed the idea of letting anyone that close to her except, perhaps, her mate.

I like... the idea of a family, she agreed after a few moments, finding herself moving as she spoke, glancing to see if Sólja was following. But I worry about how we come to that... With... All things considered, I guess. So far as she knew, Sólja felt a lot the same as she did, though maybe not as strongly, about sex and love making.

Sólja

The idea of a family was equally just as terrifying to Sólja as it was to Champion. Though she wasn't trying to let her fear show for her mate's sake. But it ate away at her like a festering plague. She had no idea how to act around children, with only the warm and loving memories of her grandparents to go off of. She had little memory of her actual mother, and couldn't even remember a father in her life. So her expectations of what it meant to be a parent were greatly diminished. At least Champion seemed a little opened to the idea. I'm on the same page as you. But I'm sure we can figure it out somehow. But I promise that I won't let anyone touch you, nor I. Not as long as I'm around, they won't lay a paw on your head. Strong words for such a soft and gentle spirit as she was. Maybe we could adopt if the opportunity presented itself? Just an idea of course. A possibility that could be in their sights? She liked to think so.