Post by Therdde on Nov 1, 2008 22:28:11 GMT -5
Characters:
Goliath - Male Adolescent Dog
Jage - Female Dog
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
- Stand of Wisteria -
Goliath would then move to start in on the rabbit but would listen to her words.. "yeah the mountains..." he says between bites looking at the smaller dog. His ear would perk as he sensed she was about to say something else then stops and would look her over. "what were you going to say?" he asks curiously as he then takes another bite.
Jage shakes her head gently. "It is nothing important, pup. Take your time, enjoy the rabbit. I shall cast around for another, though that one's screams may have driven away the rest while we were distracted." So saying, the hunter puts her nose to the ground once more, snuffling at the snow.
Goliath would slowly nod assuming she is telling the truth about it not being important but still wonders as he does slow down slowly eating and enjoying the delicate taste of rabbit in his muzzle murring quietly as he gulps down the rabbit meat.
After casting around for some time, Jage turns up nothing and returns to Goliath with a sigh. "I was right. There is no sign of any left here." She shrugs. "But it does not matter. There are other places, and other prey." She looks about her at the dry wisteria, lifting her nose to the wind and warily sniffing it. Once upon a time she would never have considered coming here, for fear of running into hostile wolves or, perhaps worse, the feral dogs. Though she does now, there is always that chance...
Goliath would then slowly stands up nosing the half of rabbit he had left behind. "here eat I'm full" he says lying still hungry but knowing he'd live with this fact. He would then move away from the rabbit licking his muzzle free of the blood on his muzzle as he looks at the other dog.
Oddly, being alone hasn't bothered Skelaghe as much as it did when it happened in early autumn. It has been weeks since she has spent more than an hour with anyone she knows, but it seems... Somehow right. Not quite like she is being punished, but rather like she is being prepared for something. She has taken the opportunity to do a lot of meditating, and as she walks through the area, she is calm. Almost like her former self, before she ever laid eyes on a human or saw what they can do. It isn't long before the scent of some unfortunate prey hits her nose, and it causes her to pause her step, more because she is cautious about startling some eating animal than because she is hungry.
Looking down at the rabbit remains and licking her lips, Jage looks suspiciously at the St. Bernard's bulk. "Are you sure, pup? I will gladly take your offer, but remember, I can easily find more prey elsewhere. I am not concerned." She remembers Jamie and her concern that the elkhound is not eating enough, but brushes off the thought. Turning her nose to the wind once more as she waits for Goliath's response, the unmistakable scent of wolf hits her sensitive nose, and the hunter stiffens noticeably.
Goliath would shake his head gently "no you go ahead and eat up i am good" he says with a gentle smile knowing that this dog by calling him pup was older and he did know one thing. respect is deserved to those who survive long. He was also looking at her small form thinking she might be a bit too thin but his mind would wipe of these thoughts as he smells wolf and tenses himself a bit sniffing around.
Skelaghe can't tell that she has been noticed. What she can tell, after a while, is that one of the scents that comes along with that of blood and meat is familiar, and so, rather than turning to head in a different direction, she barks a greeting, then continues along towards Jage and her companion. Her pace remains slow, and a little bit cautious, in case it takes the owner of the familiar scent a while to recognize her, with all the other scents around.
Ignoring the rabbit corpse for now, Jage relaxes as first the scent, then the form register as familiar in her mind. She returns with her own quiet woof, unwilling to draw more attention to the little group than she needs. Looking back at Goliath and seeing his stance, she tries to reassure him. "Do not worry, Goliath. I know this wolf - she means no harm." Returning her gaze to Skelaghe, the elkhound takes a couple of steps towards her.
Goliath would relax after the elkhound's reassurance as he then slowly moves to sit to let the two talk as he licks his chops of blood. He was laid back and usually didn't tense up when he heard a creature approaching but he tensed when she did not knowing if she knew it was a enemy or not. But since all was okay now he would turn his permanently droopy face towords the wolf and gently nod in greeting.
As she ventures further, both dogs become visible in the waning light on the winter sun. With a smile, Skelaghe returns the male's nod of greeting, then she turns her gaze to Jage, greeting her warmly. "Good evening, Jage. It is good to see you." It is /always/ good to see someone she knows well... Especially since she knows that Jage is friends with Jolon, and Sketch has been spending most of her time with Jolon as of late, so far as Skelaghe knows. If Jage is well, it just increases the chances that her young charge, or former charge, is well also.
With a smile, Jage inclines her head to the wolf. She has no idea that Skelaghe and Sketch even know each other, let alone have such a bond. "Good indeed, Skelaghe." With a nod, she indicates the St. Bernard. "This pup is Goliath. Goliath, this is Skelaghe." With the formalities thankfully out of the way, Jage's gaze falls on the rabbit. "How is your hunting this winter, Skelaghe? Are you hungry?" She gives a nod to the pitiful corpse. "It is not much, but nothing is this season. But you are welcome to it."
Goliath would then stretch as he lets out a heavy yawn he would then slowly push himself back onto his paws looking over at jage then looks over at the wolf and smiles gently nodding. "pleasure to meet you." he says his voice is deep yet gentle as he then moves away from the rabbit corpse to not try and seem theatening to the wolf at all.
"I ate earlier today, but thank you all the same." Skelaghe could never accept food from anyone who may need it as much as she would. Such situations have risen in the past, and her response has always been the same. Caution not to offend her companion's hospitality, while denying the gift anyways. After addressing Jage, she looks back to the male. "Likewise, Goliath."
Jage nods. Only when both her companions have refused her offer does the hunter accept the rabbit is now hers to eat. "Then I hope you will not mind if I eat." So saying, she moves to the rabbit and flops down next to it, licking at it. Though she tries to hide it, she does look truly hungry. "What brings you here, Skelaghe, in this season?" she asks between licks. "Perhaps necessity, like young Goliath here?"
Goliath would then move to sniff about as if hoping to smell another rabbit actually hiding about though no such thing would be as he then moves to sit himself. His muzzle though locked in a permanent sign of sadness his eyes would actually look cheerful as he sat there his tail gently wagging happy that jage is eating. Though his interest would turn towards the wolf listening as politely as he could.
Necessity? Sort of, but... Not really. She needed to spend some time walking around, shaking off the incredible sleepiness that her inactivity this winter has caused, so in a sense, it was that need that brought her here, but nothing that could be considered necessary for her physical well-being. "Not quite. I simply had no where else to be." Here is as good a place as any, for a walk. "I have been taking shelter from the snow in the forest, but it seemed time to check up on some animals I have not seen in a while."
Jage looks up, the blood barely visible against her black muzzle. She swallows twice before speaking. "Are you looking for any in particular? I have had few visitors this winter, but perhaps amongst them we have mutual acquaintances." She doesn't wait for an answer before tearing ravenously back into the rabbit. She's spent so much time hunting for others and sharing her food this sparse winter that she considers, for a moment, that Jamie's worry is not misplaced.
Goliath would then gently smile as he would then gaze at the two watching them for a moment. "well thank you for the help with the rabbit very much Jage but i think i will now take m leave for i think you two should be allowed to talk on such manners without another listening in." He would then smile back at the wolf. "I hope you two have long days and pleasant night and that the rest of your winter is plentiful. Hope to meet you two again" he says pleasantly as he then moves and starts to pad off to the forest slowly disappearing into the woods towards the mountains.
Skelaghe is not looking for anything in particular. She has spent the last several months training herself not to look for things, to accept that they will come as they come. She /does/ take this opportunity, though, to find out if what she suspects is true, and make sure that Sketch is doing well. She does no more than offer a nod of farewell to Goliath before turning her attention to Jage once more, sitting down before she speaks. "I am not looking for her, but I suspect you may be right, that we have yet another mutual acquaintance. A young dog who is very familiar with the one I had that misunderstanding with, so long ago." In case she is wrong, she keeps Sketch's name to herself, just in case the young female would have any reservations about being 'introduced' to someone when she isn't even here.
Jage licks blood from her nose, watching Goliath. "Stay safe, pup. Perhaps with better weather, we shall meet again." She watches him go until he is out of sight before returning her attention to Skelaghe and listening carefully to her description. Misunderstanding? That can only be Jolon. And the only young dog Jolon even talks about, let alone cares for, is... "Sketch. You are speaking of Sketch, yes?" The elkhound's muzzle sets in a thin, tense line, forgetting once more (though only for a moment) her meal.
Skelaghe is not surprised that this elkhound knows Sketch's name, but she /is/ a little surprised by the overall reaction. The only thing Skelaghe could have imagined Sketch would do is become violent again, had something upset her, but... Skelaghe was so convinced that it wouldn't be an issue. She only hopes she wasn't wrong. With a bit of worry edging into her tone, she says, "Yes, Sketch. Is she well?" And is Skelaghe really prepared for the answer? What if Sketch ran into another situation where her anger blinded her and caused her to foolishly attack some animal that could easily overpower her?
How can Jage answer that? She isn't one for social politics, keeping secrets, and all that jazz, but even she realizes this is a sensitive subject. "She is..." The elkhound heaves a sigh. "She is in a bad situation." Lifting her muzzle, she tilts her head curiously at the wolf. "How do you know Sketch, Skelaghe?" Though she is stalling for time to mull over how much she should tell her, the answer to the question could help her decide that too. A daughter of Jolon's, knowing a wolf? She's very curious as to how that happened.
Skelaghe flattens her ears against her head when she hears that Sketch is not doing every bit as well as Skelaghe would have hoped. True, no details have been given, but... She doesn't need details to assume the worst. There is real sadness in her tone when she answers the elkhound's question. "She had been captured by a human, and I freed her." There is much more to the story than that, but, more important... "Is she alive?" Please, let this not be what she has been preparing for. Let this not be the reason why she has spent so many hours in meditation so that she could handle what the fates were planning on throwing at her next.
Captured? Freed? The elkhound's jaw remains tight, and her ears mimic Skelaghe's own, slicking back. "Yes, she is alive, and physically, for now...she is well." Poor Jage is confused - she isn't sure which of the two issues to deal with first. As another female, a mature female, and one who seems to have some say with Sketch, she would love to talk out Sketch's present situation with the wolf, but all the same...her love and trust of humans rises defensively inside her at the way Skelaghe glosses over the events. "What do you mean, captured?"
Skelaghe's concern for Sketch has caused her to forget that this is a subject best left alone when she is speaking with Jage, and the answer that Jage gives is not at all comforting. For now? With this on her mind, she answers, "Held against her will. Beaten." Then, it clicks, and Skelaghe's tone suddenly softens, and her eyes refocus. "By a single human. Like all animals, they are not all worthy of adoration, Jage." It was Jage's advice that forced Skelaghe to abandon her temporary obsession with humans, with how to defend against them. Surely Jage can meet her halfway, if they are forced to talk about this topic.
Jage frowns, her ears still back, and she shifts uncomfortably in the snow. "...I know," the elkhound says quietly, hesitant to admit a truth which has been staring her in the face for so long. "It is...a hard opinion to relax, after so many seasons." She still cannot understand a dog not wanting to be with a human, and perhaps Sketch was beaten because she was disobedient (not hard for Jage to believe, considering how Sketch has acted around her). But the elkhound doesn't voice the opinion. It would be a hard one to defend, she knows. "Then...I am glad that she is away from...such...an experience," Jage answers. It's almost funny to see the gruff dog trying to be delicate.
Skelaghe is having a hard enough time not voicing her own opinion of humans, her hatred for their disregard of the will of other animals. Knowing this, she is trying to do everything she can not to force the topic, to meet Jage as far as she can. To not force the elkhound to say anything she doesn't want to say in order to keep this conversation peaceful... As it is, were this any other time, Skelaghe would already be concerned that she may have hurt her own relationship with the female elkhound. There is still something she considered more pressing, though. "Sketch... Where is she?" If it is within Jage's territory... Will Skelaghe be given permission to seek her out, or will she have to wait in a neutral location for Sketch to come to her... If Sketch is even capable of doing so? Did she overestimate Jolon's willingness to let Sketch do as she wishes?
Jage heaves a sigh, willing now to speak of other things, anything to not have to deal right now with her conflicting feelings on the humans she should revere. "She was with us, when Jolon brought her. She has...she has run away." The elkhound shakes her head. "She headed south when she went, and that is all I know. Jolon and I...we did not follow her." Well, that isn't entirely true. The only reason Jage is so far from home is because she is concerned for Sketch, but fresh snowfalls and the long wait between Sketch's departure and her own have thwarted her efforts.
If they did not follow her, then there is no reason Skelaghe should think that she will run into Jolon if she decides to seek Sketch out. If Sketch is in trouble, she shouldn't be alone.. And Skel can find out what happened from someone more willing to talk to her. She gives a nod of her head, then says, "Thank you, Jage." And then she stands. This is no time to spend hours philosphizing or idly chatting, as much as Skelaghe might normally enjoy those activities.
Jage nods briefly, then after a moment's hesitation. "Skelaghe...if you do find her before I manage to, will you let her know that Jolon and I are worried?" And the elkhound looks it, too, as she gives Skelaghe a surprisingly anxious look. "And that...she will be welcomed should she choose to come back? It would mean a great deal to us, if not to her."
Skelaghe remains in place while Jage speaks, and after the elkhound finishes her request, Skelaghe gives a solemn nod of her head. "Of course I'll pass your message along." And it will be up to Sketch, what she does with said message. Skelaghe couldn't possibly offer her advice until finding out what happened, for certain... And possibly not even then. "Farewell, Jage."
"Good luck, Skelaghe. Thank you," the elkhound adds with a bob if the head before returning to her meagre meal. After this, she must get back to the fields. She doesn't want to cause Benny or Jolon any undue worry - and if either of them have realized she's gone, she may have already done so.
Goliath - Male Adolescent Dog
Jage - Female Dog
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
- Stand of Wisteria -
Goliath would then move to start in on the rabbit but would listen to her words.. "yeah the mountains..." he says between bites looking at the smaller dog. His ear would perk as he sensed she was about to say something else then stops and would look her over. "what were you going to say?" he asks curiously as he then takes another bite.
Jage shakes her head gently. "It is nothing important, pup. Take your time, enjoy the rabbit. I shall cast around for another, though that one's screams may have driven away the rest while we were distracted." So saying, the hunter puts her nose to the ground once more, snuffling at the snow.
Goliath would slowly nod assuming she is telling the truth about it not being important but still wonders as he does slow down slowly eating and enjoying the delicate taste of rabbit in his muzzle murring quietly as he gulps down the rabbit meat.
After casting around for some time, Jage turns up nothing and returns to Goliath with a sigh. "I was right. There is no sign of any left here." She shrugs. "But it does not matter. There are other places, and other prey." She looks about her at the dry wisteria, lifting her nose to the wind and warily sniffing it. Once upon a time she would never have considered coming here, for fear of running into hostile wolves or, perhaps worse, the feral dogs. Though she does now, there is always that chance...
Goliath would then slowly stands up nosing the half of rabbit he had left behind. "here eat I'm full" he says lying still hungry but knowing he'd live with this fact. He would then move away from the rabbit licking his muzzle free of the blood on his muzzle as he looks at the other dog.
Oddly, being alone hasn't bothered Skelaghe as much as it did when it happened in early autumn. It has been weeks since she has spent more than an hour with anyone she knows, but it seems... Somehow right. Not quite like she is being punished, but rather like she is being prepared for something. She has taken the opportunity to do a lot of meditating, and as she walks through the area, she is calm. Almost like her former self, before she ever laid eyes on a human or saw what they can do. It isn't long before the scent of some unfortunate prey hits her nose, and it causes her to pause her step, more because she is cautious about startling some eating animal than because she is hungry.
Looking down at the rabbit remains and licking her lips, Jage looks suspiciously at the St. Bernard's bulk. "Are you sure, pup? I will gladly take your offer, but remember, I can easily find more prey elsewhere. I am not concerned." She remembers Jamie and her concern that the elkhound is not eating enough, but brushes off the thought. Turning her nose to the wind once more as she waits for Goliath's response, the unmistakable scent of wolf hits her sensitive nose, and the hunter stiffens noticeably.
Goliath would shake his head gently "no you go ahead and eat up i am good" he says with a gentle smile knowing that this dog by calling him pup was older and he did know one thing. respect is deserved to those who survive long. He was also looking at her small form thinking she might be a bit too thin but his mind would wipe of these thoughts as he smells wolf and tenses himself a bit sniffing around.
Skelaghe can't tell that she has been noticed. What she can tell, after a while, is that one of the scents that comes along with that of blood and meat is familiar, and so, rather than turning to head in a different direction, she barks a greeting, then continues along towards Jage and her companion. Her pace remains slow, and a little bit cautious, in case it takes the owner of the familiar scent a while to recognize her, with all the other scents around.
Ignoring the rabbit corpse for now, Jage relaxes as first the scent, then the form register as familiar in her mind. She returns with her own quiet woof, unwilling to draw more attention to the little group than she needs. Looking back at Goliath and seeing his stance, she tries to reassure him. "Do not worry, Goliath. I know this wolf - she means no harm." Returning her gaze to Skelaghe, the elkhound takes a couple of steps towards her.
Goliath would relax after the elkhound's reassurance as he then slowly moves to sit to let the two talk as he licks his chops of blood. He was laid back and usually didn't tense up when he heard a creature approaching but he tensed when she did not knowing if she knew it was a enemy or not. But since all was okay now he would turn his permanently droopy face towords the wolf and gently nod in greeting.
As she ventures further, both dogs become visible in the waning light on the winter sun. With a smile, Skelaghe returns the male's nod of greeting, then she turns her gaze to Jage, greeting her warmly. "Good evening, Jage. It is good to see you." It is /always/ good to see someone she knows well... Especially since she knows that Jage is friends with Jolon, and Sketch has been spending most of her time with Jolon as of late, so far as Skelaghe knows. If Jage is well, it just increases the chances that her young charge, or former charge, is well also.
With a smile, Jage inclines her head to the wolf. She has no idea that Skelaghe and Sketch even know each other, let alone have such a bond. "Good indeed, Skelaghe." With a nod, she indicates the St. Bernard. "This pup is Goliath. Goliath, this is Skelaghe." With the formalities thankfully out of the way, Jage's gaze falls on the rabbit. "How is your hunting this winter, Skelaghe? Are you hungry?" She gives a nod to the pitiful corpse. "It is not much, but nothing is this season. But you are welcome to it."
Goliath would then stretch as he lets out a heavy yawn he would then slowly push himself back onto his paws looking over at jage then looks over at the wolf and smiles gently nodding. "pleasure to meet you." he says his voice is deep yet gentle as he then moves away from the rabbit corpse to not try and seem theatening to the wolf at all.
"I ate earlier today, but thank you all the same." Skelaghe could never accept food from anyone who may need it as much as she would. Such situations have risen in the past, and her response has always been the same. Caution not to offend her companion's hospitality, while denying the gift anyways. After addressing Jage, she looks back to the male. "Likewise, Goliath."
Jage nods. Only when both her companions have refused her offer does the hunter accept the rabbit is now hers to eat. "Then I hope you will not mind if I eat." So saying, she moves to the rabbit and flops down next to it, licking at it. Though she tries to hide it, she does look truly hungry. "What brings you here, Skelaghe, in this season?" she asks between licks. "Perhaps necessity, like young Goliath here?"
Goliath would then move to sniff about as if hoping to smell another rabbit actually hiding about though no such thing would be as he then moves to sit himself. His muzzle though locked in a permanent sign of sadness his eyes would actually look cheerful as he sat there his tail gently wagging happy that jage is eating. Though his interest would turn towards the wolf listening as politely as he could.
Necessity? Sort of, but... Not really. She needed to spend some time walking around, shaking off the incredible sleepiness that her inactivity this winter has caused, so in a sense, it was that need that brought her here, but nothing that could be considered necessary for her physical well-being. "Not quite. I simply had no where else to be." Here is as good a place as any, for a walk. "I have been taking shelter from the snow in the forest, but it seemed time to check up on some animals I have not seen in a while."
Jage looks up, the blood barely visible against her black muzzle. She swallows twice before speaking. "Are you looking for any in particular? I have had few visitors this winter, but perhaps amongst them we have mutual acquaintances." She doesn't wait for an answer before tearing ravenously back into the rabbit. She's spent so much time hunting for others and sharing her food this sparse winter that she considers, for a moment, that Jamie's worry is not misplaced.
Goliath would then gently smile as he would then gaze at the two watching them for a moment. "well thank you for the help with the rabbit very much Jage but i think i will now take m leave for i think you two should be allowed to talk on such manners without another listening in." He would then smile back at the wolf. "I hope you two have long days and pleasant night and that the rest of your winter is plentiful. Hope to meet you two again" he says pleasantly as he then moves and starts to pad off to the forest slowly disappearing into the woods towards the mountains.
Skelaghe is not looking for anything in particular. She has spent the last several months training herself not to look for things, to accept that they will come as they come. She /does/ take this opportunity, though, to find out if what she suspects is true, and make sure that Sketch is doing well. She does no more than offer a nod of farewell to Goliath before turning her attention to Jage once more, sitting down before she speaks. "I am not looking for her, but I suspect you may be right, that we have yet another mutual acquaintance. A young dog who is very familiar with the one I had that misunderstanding with, so long ago." In case she is wrong, she keeps Sketch's name to herself, just in case the young female would have any reservations about being 'introduced' to someone when she isn't even here.
Jage licks blood from her nose, watching Goliath. "Stay safe, pup. Perhaps with better weather, we shall meet again." She watches him go until he is out of sight before returning her attention to Skelaghe and listening carefully to her description. Misunderstanding? That can only be Jolon. And the only young dog Jolon even talks about, let alone cares for, is... "Sketch. You are speaking of Sketch, yes?" The elkhound's muzzle sets in a thin, tense line, forgetting once more (though only for a moment) her meal.
Skelaghe is not surprised that this elkhound knows Sketch's name, but she /is/ a little surprised by the overall reaction. The only thing Skelaghe could have imagined Sketch would do is become violent again, had something upset her, but... Skelaghe was so convinced that it wouldn't be an issue. She only hopes she wasn't wrong. With a bit of worry edging into her tone, she says, "Yes, Sketch. Is she well?" And is Skelaghe really prepared for the answer? What if Sketch ran into another situation where her anger blinded her and caused her to foolishly attack some animal that could easily overpower her?
How can Jage answer that? She isn't one for social politics, keeping secrets, and all that jazz, but even she realizes this is a sensitive subject. "She is..." The elkhound heaves a sigh. "She is in a bad situation." Lifting her muzzle, she tilts her head curiously at the wolf. "How do you know Sketch, Skelaghe?" Though she is stalling for time to mull over how much she should tell her, the answer to the question could help her decide that too. A daughter of Jolon's, knowing a wolf? She's very curious as to how that happened.
Skelaghe flattens her ears against her head when she hears that Sketch is not doing every bit as well as Skelaghe would have hoped. True, no details have been given, but... She doesn't need details to assume the worst. There is real sadness in her tone when she answers the elkhound's question. "She had been captured by a human, and I freed her." There is much more to the story than that, but, more important... "Is she alive?" Please, let this not be what she has been preparing for. Let this not be the reason why she has spent so many hours in meditation so that she could handle what the fates were planning on throwing at her next.
Captured? Freed? The elkhound's jaw remains tight, and her ears mimic Skelaghe's own, slicking back. "Yes, she is alive, and physically, for now...she is well." Poor Jage is confused - she isn't sure which of the two issues to deal with first. As another female, a mature female, and one who seems to have some say with Sketch, she would love to talk out Sketch's present situation with the wolf, but all the same...her love and trust of humans rises defensively inside her at the way Skelaghe glosses over the events. "What do you mean, captured?"
Skelaghe's concern for Sketch has caused her to forget that this is a subject best left alone when she is speaking with Jage, and the answer that Jage gives is not at all comforting. For now? With this on her mind, she answers, "Held against her will. Beaten." Then, it clicks, and Skelaghe's tone suddenly softens, and her eyes refocus. "By a single human. Like all animals, they are not all worthy of adoration, Jage." It was Jage's advice that forced Skelaghe to abandon her temporary obsession with humans, with how to defend against them. Surely Jage can meet her halfway, if they are forced to talk about this topic.
Jage frowns, her ears still back, and she shifts uncomfortably in the snow. "...I know," the elkhound says quietly, hesitant to admit a truth which has been staring her in the face for so long. "It is...a hard opinion to relax, after so many seasons." She still cannot understand a dog not wanting to be with a human, and perhaps Sketch was beaten because she was disobedient (not hard for Jage to believe, considering how Sketch has acted around her). But the elkhound doesn't voice the opinion. It would be a hard one to defend, she knows. "Then...I am glad that she is away from...such...an experience," Jage answers. It's almost funny to see the gruff dog trying to be delicate.
Skelaghe is having a hard enough time not voicing her own opinion of humans, her hatred for their disregard of the will of other animals. Knowing this, she is trying to do everything she can not to force the topic, to meet Jage as far as she can. To not force the elkhound to say anything she doesn't want to say in order to keep this conversation peaceful... As it is, were this any other time, Skelaghe would already be concerned that she may have hurt her own relationship with the female elkhound. There is still something she considered more pressing, though. "Sketch... Where is she?" If it is within Jage's territory... Will Skelaghe be given permission to seek her out, or will she have to wait in a neutral location for Sketch to come to her... If Sketch is even capable of doing so? Did she overestimate Jolon's willingness to let Sketch do as she wishes?
Jage heaves a sigh, willing now to speak of other things, anything to not have to deal right now with her conflicting feelings on the humans she should revere. "She was with us, when Jolon brought her. She has...she has run away." The elkhound shakes her head. "She headed south when she went, and that is all I know. Jolon and I...we did not follow her." Well, that isn't entirely true. The only reason Jage is so far from home is because she is concerned for Sketch, but fresh snowfalls and the long wait between Sketch's departure and her own have thwarted her efforts.
If they did not follow her, then there is no reason Skelaghe should think that she will run into Jolon if she decides to seek Sketch out. If Sketch is in trouble, she shouldn't be alone.. And Skel can find out what happened from someone more willing to talk to her. She gives a nod of her head, then says, "Thank you, Jage." And then she stands. This is no time to spend hours philosphizing or idly chatting, as much as Skelaghe might normally enjoy those activities.
Jage nods briefly, then after a moment's hesitation. "Skelaghe...if you do find her before I manage to, will you let her know that Jolon and I are worried?" And the elkhound looks it, too, as she gives Skelaghe a surprisingly anxious look. "And that...she will be welcomed should she choose to come back? It would mean a great deal to us, if not to her."
Skelaghe remains in place while Jage speaks, and after the elkhound finishes her request, Skelaghe gives a solemn nod of her head. "Of course I'll pass your message along." And it will be up to Sketch, what she does with said message. Skelaghe couldn't possibly offer her advice until finding out what happened, for certain... And possibly not even then. "Farewell, Jage."
"Good luck, Skelaghe. Thank you," the elkhound adds with a bob if the head before returning to her meagre meal. After this, she must get back to the fields. She doesn't want to cause Benny or Jolon any undue worry - and if either of them have realized she's gone, she may have already done so.