#vanpa

“Are you sure you contacted a guide?” Gen asked for what felt like the hundredth time, if you asked Hailey; he couldn’t help but think that Eva wouldn’t have whined like this if she were here, and then immediately felt guilty for it; After all, she wasn’t used to rough living, and hadn’t actually complained all that much.

“Sure as the Rings, little bayrie,” Huxley said, cheery as always. “The signal was set and a meeting was arranged. We just need to wait.” 

“To be fair to the youngins, patience is hard when you’re standing half-frozen at the top of a mountain. But at least they have their fiery spirits to keep them warm. Us older folk just have to make do with patience and coats.” He chuckled. 

Hailey rolled his eyes. “Like you have so much experience in mountain climbing. How are you holding up, Redimus? You’ve been quiet. Or did the frost freeze your beak shut?” 

The one-eyed dorcean had only joined them because he had craved a change of scenery, and Huxley had convinced him that the Blieks were as big a change from Lacus as he could get; that, and his extra muscle and his own experience as a former member of the royal beamguide crew could be handy. He was sitting in the snow, a little distant from the others, with his many limbs folded under himself for warmth. His one good eye blinked, as if he had been in some sort of trance, and he turned his head to regard Hailey. Gen was tucked against his hairy side for the warmth his large form provided, shaking. 

“Eet iz fine,” Redimus said. “Nuzzing dat cannot be endured. But where iz dis guide?” 

Hailey shrugged. “That’s what we all want to know right now. I mean, the message said they would be here when we got here, but-” 

Suddenly, Redimus’ head shot up. His one eye was focused on a spot about a meter away. Everyone paused. Then something moved under the snow. Something big. 

Huxley backed away, and Gen tucked herself tighter against Redimus’ side. Hailey moved closer to his grandfather, grabbing his arm in case he needed to pull him to safety. His heart raced.

“...You don’t think there could be sand-snipers up here, do you?” He whispered.

Redimus answered. “No. Dat iz not a-”

Then something emerged from the snow, though it was hard to tell at first- it was more like its large, hulking shape had become more definite, as if it had been a part of the frozen landscape all along. It shook itself, and snow fell off of a glittering white hide, like a polar bear’s. Multiple thick, bulky limbs unfolded, supporting a large form not unlike Redimus’ in general shape. Two large yellow eyes blinked out the frost, and regarded them all. 

“I apologize,” the giant dorcean said, “I waited here zince I got yoor zignal. Znow fell in meantime.” 

In appearance, she eerily reminded Hailey of holoprojections he had once seen of snowy owls; but she was hundreds of times bigger, covered in white fur instead of feathers, with black spots on her broad back and multiple powerful limbs, rather than wings.She had to weigh at least a thousand pounds- at minimum. The framework of her bones could have supported the skyscrapers of ancient yore. Her sickle claws, the ends of which he could see projecting from under the thick fur, were as black as her beak; extending from the corners of this were black markings that made it seem as if she were always giving the world a permanent, sadistic smile that only a serial killer could have, though the yellow and black eyes were austere. 

Hailey took a soft breath inwards and stepped closer to his grandfather. Van Turner put a hand on his shoulder, supporting him. Hailey leaned towards him, keeping his voice low:

“...Um…remember ‘blues are nice, grays are mean'?”  

Van Turner nodded. His eyes didn't leave the hulking tower of a beast before them. Even Redimus seemed cowed by its presence. He raised his brows. 

“Yep. ‘And the beautiful ones are something else in between’. And what we have here is quite a beauty.” 

Hailey glanced at him. “So…?” 

Van Turner chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Wait and see.” And he winked. 

The giant white Dorcean then made a rumbling noise, and spoke again. She- they knew it was a she, because her voice, though deeper even than Redimus’, was undoubtedly female, and had a slow smoothness that was pleasant to listen to. Her accent, though, was slightly different than the variety they had grown used to. 

“I,” she said, her voice as clear as ice, “am Dozheeka. I am too be yoor guide throogh deeze mountainz.” 

The female Dorcean swept her gaze casually over all of them, possibly counting how many she had to look after- but then it landed on Redimus, and stayed there. She bristled, silent. Then she straightened herself, standing suddenly even taller, looming over him. Her neck arched, and there came from somewhere deep in her chest- a loud, low, continuous growling. 

Redimus’ eye had dilated until it seemed all black, an inky orb surrounded by a thin ring of yellow. He lowered his neck and lowered himself, but his eye remained on her, staring straight into hers. He, too, echoed her growling, but at a different register. 

A silent pause laid heavy over them all, concealing a pregnant tension ready to pounce. The female took a step forward, in Redimus’ direction. Redimus growled louder. 

“Um, hello?” Gen said, nervousness shaking her voice,  “we’re still here.”

The Dorcean whipped her head towards her, and then blinked a few times, relaxing and shaking herself. “Ah. I'm zorry. I had forgotten yoo,” she said. 

Redimus visibly relaxed himself, though his eye remained glued to her. 

“So you're the Range Guard here?” Huxley asked, stepping right up to her. The white Dorcean nodded. 

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