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DOTW

“The Princess and The Frog”
Ava x Yuuzai
---

How could he simply abandon them like this? Ava trudged through the snow, a fire in her heart was the only warmth she could feel. She was not supposed to be out here, especially not on her own. Surely her father would be furious at the pale princess for leaving without an escort and worse- leaving Highvalley territory. But Ava couldn’t help the hurt that egged the Highvalley princess onward. Hayes was a powerful and respected member of Highvalley. He was also kind, and thoughtful. Shy yes, but sweet in his own way. Ava was not allowed to get too close to those in her pack. Mostly because one day she would be sent off to be married to an alpha of another pack when the time came. Getting too close and chummy with her pack would make the experience all the more difficult. It was something Fia had taught her daughter before she died. It was easier that way, Ava remembered her mother saying. Perhaps this was true, but Ava’s heart was too big. She had to try and convince Hayes to return to Highvalley. He was born there, they were his family- they could not simply let him leave without a word. Ava could see Tentaka’s land from the cold mountainside.

The snow was thinning into a chilly air and cold stone making it easier to navigate. The young Princess however was not too used to being in tough terrain as she was mostly kept hidden in the Highvalley main den where she was a teacher and healer to her pack. She had little to no experience in hunting or endurance and it showed. The lovely pink she-wolf was tired from traveling and out of pure exhaustion, she grew clumsy with her steps. In a heartbeat the earth below slipped and the she-wolf tumbled a bit down the cliffside. She landed hard on a flat spot a good few feet below her former location. Wincing, Ava sat up, her right paw shot a terrible pain through her arm and the Princess yelped. She had never really gotten injured before. She was sure she sprained her paw, it would need to rest if it was to heal quickly. But up on this awkward cliffside not far from the new strange pack of tentaka was the helpless Ava with no idea how to get down.
---

Scouting the territory was one of the duties of a Kage that Yuuzai truly excelled at. Though the skill was mostly thanks to growing up in Tentaka's mountains, Yuuzai could be counted on to know every nook and cranny of the area. His youth was mostly spent sniffing out hidden caves for him to camp in, though he never liked to stay in any of them for long. The lonesome aura of the caves got to him back in those days, and it made the caves feel claustrophobic even though physically he had plenty of space. Now it could be put to good use, serving the wolves of Tentaka instead of merely himself. The satisfying feeling of being helpful was still a little ways beyond him, but he could at least enjoy the respect he earned from doing good work.

It was a typical day of wandering around the territory when Yuuzai heard the crash. It wasn't right nearby, but he could hear it echo off the stone. Noises like that in the mountains weren't the most unusual thing, but it was worth investigating all the same; after all it could've been an unfortunate mountain elk plummeting to its doom, and that would feed the pack well for a while if kept cold. Putting on speed, Yuuzai hurried along the rocks. As he got closer to the scene, Yuuzai could see plainly that it wasn't a deer, but a wolf. Observing quietly for a moment he noticed it wasn't bothering to move, a sign they were probably injured by whatever came crashing down. The cliff in question wasn't technically on their land, and he was in no way obligated to help every wolf who broke something in a fall, but...

He sighed and began scaling the cliffside. Pack life really is making me soft... He thought as he hauled his backside up and continued to climb. Being adept at climbing up and down cliffs, it didn't take Yuuzai long to get to the landing where the wolf sat alone. Now closer he could see better what he was dealing with, a slim, light colored she-wolf with flower stems set in her fur around her ears. More curious now about her, Yuuzai approached slowly. "Having a rough time of it?" He asked, eyes flashing briefly to the paw she wasn't putting on the ground. The she-wolf’s scent was strangely faint and familiar all at once, but he didn't give it much thought. "This is a bad place to slip and fall."
---

A few moments passed and panic finally began to set in. How would she get down? Ava thought about calling out for help, but the cliffside groaned and shifted, the snow and rocks threatening to fall and crack at any moment. It was often told not to howl on cliff sides or in snowy bases in fear of avalanche. Something inside Ava caused the she-wolf to think about Klaus. She thought about her brother plenty, though her thoughts about him were very private, she usually tried to ignore them and the hurt they brought. For some reason in this moment Ava wished the dark colored wolf was here with her. He would have known what to do. Suddenly a figure began to near her on the cliffside. Ava watched them haul themselves onto the slab. Black fur glistened with the sunlight that was falling over the horizon.

Ava pulled herself up, holding her head high and proud. Her mother had always told her that no matter what, as a Princess of Highvalley she was to always hold herself as one. This stranger was large and dark all but his glowing yellow eyes.
“I didn’t fall.” the pink hued she-wolf lied embarrassed. She winced at her paw, still unable to put much pressure on it. “I-” Ava stopped. Should she tell this wolf who she was? She wanted them to help her but not all wolves were friends of Highvalley. Ava hadn’t met many loners or wolves outside her pack, but she was very informed of Highvalley’s reputation in the lands. “I may have… tripped.” Ava chuckled half heartedly.
---

The way the she-wolf held herself as he approached was odd. The few times he had come upon injured wolves in the mountains, they were usually cowering. Whether that was because they were in pain or because he looked intimidating, Yuuzai didn't know. He had to at least respect her for standing her ground against a wolf who could be hostile. Her wincing only further confirmed to Yuuzai that she was hurt, badly enough that she couldn't get down on her own. Inwardly he had to ask himself again if he should really be doing this, but he pushed that doubt to the back of his mind as she began to speak.

Yuuzai barked a short laugh along with the she-wolf. "Same thing." He replied, amused by her attempt to joke about her situation. "Those paws of yours are clearly dangerous weapons. You'll have to be careful with them." He trotted over the stone to stand right beside her, and once he was in close he realized what about her scent was so familiar. It was Highvalley. This was a Highvallian wolf. However faint from trudging through snow, the undeniable odor of the haughty mountain wolves clung to her fur. That one bit of information made the situation so much more complicated, but despite the concerns and worries racing through his head, Yuuzai offered his side to her. "Lean on me, and follow." He instructed, "I know a cave you can rest in. It's not too far." He wouldn't bring up her heritage yet, not while they still had to get down from the cliff, but he would surely address it later.

---

The Princess had never met hostility before, but knew what outsiders were capable of. The Wolvenking’s lost siblings were a strong reminder than not all wish to befriend you. Though Ava was glad she spoke to this strangers better nature. Enough that he even offered to help her no questions asked. A part of her was rather embarrassed that she needed help like this. Independence was something Ava was quite comfortable with. Now however was not the time to be stubborn. Instead Ava smiled at the dark furred wolf, her albino pink eyes watching him trustingly. “You are quite the hero.” she purred leaning against the stranger. She felt hot and uncertain against this outsider’s flank. He smelled strange and foreign to her but there was the smell of many wolves on him. He must be a Tentaka wolf Ava thought.

The two slowly made their way to the cave where Ava would be able to recover from her injury without fear- or so the black wolf promised. Ava was worried that perhaps his intentions were not pure and at any moment Tentaka could take her as prisoner and use her as a hostage against Highvalley. The anxiety seemed to fade when the two entered the cave. It was shallow and flat giving the two a good solid place to stand and lounge. “Thank you” Ava muttered as she limped in and laid down on the flat earth. For the first time for the Princess, she could feel sweat under her fur. Being injured felt worse than it looked. Ava knew very well how to treat wounds, after all she was a Captain Meister. It was her task to provide healing and care to the injured and young. Ava knew that a sprain couldn’t be fixed with herbs and medicine. It needed some tender loving care and for Ava to stay off of it. She looked at the entrance of the cave, the horizon covered in tree tops and misty mountains. And between the tall giant bluffs, the sun of the day reaching out and changing the sky a gentle blue and yellow. Night would follow in the coming hour or two. Ava was a bit worried, she may have to remain in this cave and with this stranger for the night.
“What is your name?”
---

Despite her limp, Yuuzai managed to guide her to the cave with minimal stumbling. His years of climbing up and down the mountainsides was paying off in a small way. The way she called him a hero as they walked made his pelt burn, he was embarrassed, perhaps even ashamed to be given such a monicker. "Hero might be a bit much." He muttered, "What wolf with any morals leaves someone to rot on a cliffside...?" Perhaps he felt like he didn't deserve the title of hero. He already bore his guilt as his name.

Stepping into the cave with her, Yuuzai let the she-wolf's weight slide from his shoulder. Having her lean on him had bathed him in Highvalley's scent. He would have to make a point of drenching himself before he returned to the Tentaka den, Yuuzai would be answering no questions about why he smelled like them but bore none of the injuries of a border dispute. He twitched an ear thoughtfully as she thanked him, and following her gaze out of the cave he came to realize night was soon to fall. Time had passed quicker than he thought, perhaps their walk down the mountain hadn't felt as slow as it really was. A sprain bad enough to keep her from walking unassisted wouldn't just fade away by sunset. The she-wolf would probably have to stay.

As Yuuzai was inwardly trying to convince himself not to stay with her through the night, she broke into his thoughts by asking his name. The name question used to trip him up, as a younger wolf he would mistakenly address himself as Kagerou, but after so long he had come to know Yuuzai as his name more than what his mother had named him at birth. "Yuuzai." He answered simply. He fixed his eyes on her as he continued, "What about you, Highvallian?" He asked, his gaze growing serious, "Who are you, and what are you doing out here?"
---

So he noticed. Ava should have known better to think the stranger couldn’t smell her packs scent all over her. Letting out a sigh she thought about her next words carefully. It was better this ‘Yuuzai’ did not know her status just incase. “I am Ava. I came looking for a friend of mine.” Her eyes grew slightly sad. Would Hayes even want to come home? Though she was sure this stranger did not know of her status by just knowing her name. After all Navva was a bastard and she sometimes called herself Ava. That always used to bother her, but she usually kept it to herself. “I heard that Hayes has joined Tentaka. I was hoping to bring him back to Highvalley, to restore his faith in the pack.” It seemed that her execution of this was flawed. It had not gone according to plan. Her eyes shifted to Yuuzai. “Why did you help me?” she asked, unsure why a stranger would feel compelled to help a Highvalley wolf such as herself. If he had known she was the daughter of the Wolvenking, would he have still helped her? Would he have decided to use her as a prisoner to get back at Highvalley? Ava was still a little on edge about the subject. She may not have experience with those outside her Kin, but she knew she needed to tread carefully.
---

So Ava was her name. Yuuzai wouldn't soon forget it. He watched Ava quietly, observing her demeanor shift to one more somber as she told him why she came. When she dropped the name Hayes, Yuuzai's interest was piqued. He knew Hayes marginally, in the sense that all members of a pack were acquainted at the very least, but he'd never really inquired about where he'd come from or why. They'd basically never spoken more than a few words to each other in passing. "I see." Yuuzai replied simply. "Frankly, why he's here and whether he would want to go back is none of my business. I have no intention of running off to bring him here to talk. If he wants to give you the time of day, that'll be his decision alone." He paused for a moment, about to say something he would probably regret, "...But when I next see him I'll let him know you're seeking him out."

"As for you..." Yuuzai wasn't sure how to put it. He wasn't about to admit that he was asking that question himself, why did he bother to help her? Would she really have been in that much trouble if he had left her alone to deal with it herself? She probably would've healed, and she had teeth and claws that worked well enough to fight off anything hostile if they happened to pass by. And yet... "Well, what kind of wolf would I be if I left you there at the mountain's mercy? I'm not so heartess that I'd let a wolf suffer needlessly just because of the scent on their pelt." Yeah, that was true enough. Or maybe he was just getting too soft. He glanced out again at the darkening sky, once more considering something completely unlike him for the sake of a she-wolf in a pack he didn't particularly care for. "It's going to be dark soon. What do you plan to do now?"

--

Though he seemed cold, the stranger was oddly compassionate. Ava had not assumed those outside her pack to be so… understanding. A smile had crept along her maw as she observed Yuuzai’s independent demeanor. There was something about him that was rather amusing and charming. Ava knew better than to ask this stranger to seek out Hayes for her, but his offer to inform the former Highvallian of her presence was enough. “You are much kinder than I expected.” she blurted out. “I may have imagined those outside my pack to be a little more… aggressive to say the least.” the Highvalley Princess licked her injured paw, the sunset over the horizon leaked into the cave, bouncing off the walls and on the two wolves pelts.

“Well- I suppose I don’t have much of a choice than to remain here for the night.” Ava said, anxiety boiling in her belly again. Father will be furious. A scouting party was probably already in search of the fair maiden. Rodwen knew Ava would always return back before sunset no matter where she seemed to run off to- but tonight she would not be able to. Surely the Wolvenking would not go without worry of his second daughter’s sudden disappearance. Ava had not thought about such consequences but knew that she would probably be unable to run off like this for a long time; if ever. It reminded her of the times she and Klaus used to run off and escape their strict parents training. In the early morning they would travel to all sorts of beautiful places and chase frogs and fireflies. It was strange how the times had changed. Not only did the two not share those epic adventures any more, Ava wasn’t even sure her older brother was even alive. There was something about Yuuzai that reminded her of Klaus. Perhaps it was his reserved nature and maturity.

“Will you be returning to your pack Yuuzai?” the Princess asked, feeling her fur get a little warm. She didn’t realize how odd of a question that was till she said it. Yuuzai had no obligation to stay, but Ava’s Highblood and royalty upbringing had made the she-wolf entitled. If this wolf had been Highvalley, they would have done her every command and obeyed her every word. Referring to her as ‘Princess Ava’ and doting over her injury and every need. It was new and strange to be treated so normally. But she didn’t want to be alone. She had never spent a day in her life truly and utterly alone before. Something about sleeping in this cave in the darkness of an unknown land all alone was absolutely terrifying to her.
---

He looked at her with genuine surprise at being called kind. Or at least kinder than expected. That feeling of embarrassment crept up again, making him feel like a bit of a fool. Sure he wasn't the most terrible wolf to come across, but if she was going to start thinking he was nice, well......That would be her mistake. Being helpful once didn't make him deserving of being hailed as a hero. "You just got lucky I found you first." He muttered, almost indignantly. She was really giving him far too much credit.

Yuuzai had figured that Ava would choose to stay. There wasn't much else she could do if she couldn't walk on her sprained paw, attempting to leave and climb back over the mountains would only get her hurt worse. Yet, as Ava asked him if he would be leaving, he could see her discomfort. She seemed to shrink into her pelt ever so slightly, and despite his better judgement, he felt bad for her. Without a doubt the Highvallian would miss her home, and the mountains weren't any less unforgiving after the sun set. His lips burned to say yes, to leave her to her own devices and let her fend for herself. To ignore yet another non-obligation where he had already assisted far more than he was expected to. But once again, he couldn't abide that. "No." He replied, glancing out at the view of Tentaka's mountains as the sky went black, "I'll keep watch here for tonight." Yuuzai lowered himself to his belly, keeping close to the wall. "Just get some rest so your paw heals."
---

Ava let out a sigh of relief. She could tell the dark Tentaka wolf did not see the kindness he had done Ava. It was far too soon to tell, but the Highvallian she-wolf was sure Yuuzai had a pure heart. Though the mountains towered in the distance, their shadows beginning to swallow up the light in the den with each passing moment.

“Yes I was.” she purred laying her head on her paws, pink sunset eyes watched the black wolf with a new admiration for him. He had come and helped this lone stranger, asking for nothing in return and even ensuring her safety in her weak state. He might have been her ideal knight in shining armor had he not lived in Tentaka. She yawned and shifted, feeling exhaustion take over. Before she began to drift off into a light slumber, Ava looked to her unexpected ‘hero’.

“Thank you Yuuzai.”