16520/Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves
Date of Scene:	08 December 2023
Location:	Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
Synopsis:	Damian takes Gabby out to release some wolves in the wild and surprises her with the name of their leader.
Cast of Characters:	Damian Wayne, Gabby Kinney

---

Damian Wayne has posed:
True to his word, Damian had sent one of the many cars that his family hires to pick up Gabby and bring her to the airport. He had told her to dress warmly. And he's following that rule. Black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, boots and gloves and he has a hooded puffy jacket tucked under his arm in white with orange trim. Gabby is greeted with affection before they move to the helicopter and it lifts into the sky - heading west. A light lunch is served on the flight, the helicopter chosen so that Gabby can look easily out of the windows at the world below. It takes a few hours to get where they are going, but soon the Rockies are coming into view as they fly into Colorado Springs - where another car is waiting for them.

A short drive later, and the pair are arriving at their destination as he slips on the heavy coat and zips it up as he gestures to the sign. 'Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center'.

He grins widely. "The wolves that have been rehabilitated are getting ready to be released for the winter. I was able to secure us some time helping with the release and to spend time with an Alpha that is healing from a gunshot wound." he explains to Gabby, and waits to see her reaction.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney was curious, of course she was, but she was also trusting him. He asked she dress warmly so she had. There's clearly a chunky sweater beneath the leather jacket she'd opted for, and she did have on proper gloves too. Someone, somewhere, had thought she might want to keep her fingers warm and functional clearly. Otherwise it's jeans, boots and a hat with a pompom ontop. She wasn't entirely fond of the pompom itself but the colors were nice. A little mix of warm pinks, purples.

The ride to where ever they were going is of course one that has her filled with curiosity, but she's also just as entertained looking out the windows. Of course she DOES have to have those earphones on that help block out most of the rotor noise the way there. It does it's job though. Got to love sound cancelling, and it allowed them to talk to each other via microphone too. Perfect.

When they arrive she tucks her hat back on having taken it off for awhile. Damian's explanation earns a glint to her eye as she grins widely. "Actually 'Alpha' is an improper term, wolves really only create a hiarchy of sorts when they're in captivity---But yeah they usually do have a leader." Bouncing forward on the balls of her feet she grins broadly. "This is awesome!"

Damian Wayne has posed:
When Gabby corrects him, Damian chuckles. "I believe it was the Alpha of the pack, originally." he says thoughtfully. While they are talking, the park's ranger comes out to them and greets the pair.

"Mister Wayne, thank you again for your very generous donation. I'm glad we had a chance to set this up for you today!" He looks to Gabby and nods his head in greetings. "Miss Kinney, I presume? A pleasure to meet you as well." He gestures up the hill. "We almost have the wolves in position for release. We have snowmobiles you can use, if you'll follow me to the release point?

The director leads to where three snowmobiles are set up and running. "It's pretty much like using a motorcycle!" he explains as he walks through the operation of the vehicle and once sure that they are prepared, starts heading up the hill.

Damian awwws a little and gets on his. "Was hoping I could race you on these." he teases Gabby as he starts after the director. "Have to be responsible adults, I guess."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney nods readily when the director introduces himself and gueses as to who she is. "Good to meet you! Thanks for this opportunity, too. It'll be great to see them heading out where they belong again." Really she was looking forward to this. Like always she was easy to roll with the punches so the surprise is readily accepted. That doesn't mean she wasn't surprised at all though.

Once they reach the snowmobiles she studiously watches over the explanations on how to use them with a nod, and a reassurance of, "I ride a motorcycle as my daily. You're right this is pretty similar."

Damian's remark just gets a wink. "Maybe on the way back." She gets onto her own, following the proper procedure to use it, and is soon following in line with the others.

Damian Wayne has posed:
It's a short trip up the hill, and when they arrive, there's a large five ton military surplus truck, and a pair of workers removing the last of the very large dog carriers. Once set on the ground, they wave to the director, who waits for the couple to arrive and explains.

When Gabby arrives, it's as if the wolves can sense something, they become far more active and energetic around her as Damian gets off his snowmobile. "Is this normal?" he asks in some concern. The director shakes his head, but says, "They usually act this way when there are other wolves nearby. There shouldn't be a pack nearby, at least none that we observed." he admits with a small frown.

The largest of the containers contains a wolf in white, that is easily as large - if not larger than Gabby. And it is currently starting down the young woman, it's yellow eyes focused on her, her teeth bared and she is slightly crouched down. Not a surrendering position or a threatening posture, but the soft growls could be curiosity?

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney turns the snowmobile off and swings her leg over the edge to hop to her feet. It's the noticable change in the wolves that draws her attention. Or, more accurately, the fact that everyone *else* seems to notice a change in them. Her gaze skips over toward the large white wolf staring her down as it suddenly clicks.

"Oh." There's a pause, and she draws a deep breath scenting the air.

"Sorry. It's me."

A glance is cast toward Damian and the Director as she seems to hesitate. Felines she knew how to deal with when they acted similarily around her. Usually a great big headbump had it all resolved. Wolves? She wasn't as familiar with in spite of her apparent knowledge of them. It takes her a moment to think.

"It's uh, kind of a family thing," she hesitantly explains as she starts toward the crate of the white wolf. Not *directly* walking toward it, but inching closer so her side is to the wolf and not a direct approach. It was a slow movement to be non-threatening so it could get her scent better. Yes, she was another predator, but they weren't her prey. She was just visiting.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"She's a mutant." Damian explains to the director, watching as Gabby makes her approach to the large wolf. The Alpha crouches down lower, a snarling growl as Gabby gets closer and closer. It makes one threatening snap at the woman as she gets close, causing the tracking tag on her ear to flop back.

As close as she is to the wolf, Gabby can make out the tag on it. As well as marking it as being tracked by the Colorado Wolf Research facility, it has a tag number. And a name.

'Zelda'.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney pauses at the snap and growl with a little whimper. She was recalling everything she knew about animal behaivor she'd read--Because it DOES come in handy. After learning she had this... oddness with animals when sitting her friend's tiger, she had read up on many.

The little whimper stops though as she spots the name on her tag, and lets out a quiet whisper of, "Zelda. That's a perfect name for you," she assures resisting the urge to smile because she doesn't want to bear her teeth.

Instead she drops to the ground. Completely ignoring the fact that it's snowy out she rolls onto her bag and tips her head back to stare up at the wolf this way. It was an act of submission to show she really wasn't a threat. This was their day to return home, she didn't want them to be stressed out because of her.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Zelda watches Gabby for several moments, and then - her posture relaxes - and she pulls back. She watches Gabby on the ground, and Damian is sure the other workers probably think his girlfriend is not all here, but for Damian? He's happy.

With the immediate threat out of the way, the director glances to Damian and gives a signal. "Oh! Babe?" he asks Gabby. "Are you ready to set her free? The others will be released after her, but she's to be the one to lead this new pack." comes the explanation.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney lifts her head at the remark to flash Damian a broad grin. The antics had worked. Even if she hadn't, eventually she might have worked things out with Zelda. She just helped speed it up by doing it in their 'language.' "Yeah!"

She rolls to her feet easily enough and stands smoothly but not so fast as to seem like she's attacking. She does pause to look at the Director to make sure it's okay before she steps toward the cage to open it up without a bit of fear, or hesitation, or apparently sense of self-preservation. The latches are undone and she swings the door open stepping to the side so that she's not blocking anything. There's a clear line of sight out without anyone in the way.

"C'mon pretty girl let's get you out of that nasty old cage," she remarks, but not in a baby voice as she usually did when speaking to say, Potato or even Goliath. No, this was just a quieter tone than usual. No loud noises, no frightening high pitched gleefull noises as she might usually do.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Slowly, almost painstakingly so, Zelda makes her way out of the container. Her snout appears, sniffing at the air, and then she darts out. She runs several feet, turns, and runs back to Gabby. The wolf goes up high, using it's forelegs to push on Gabby, trying to press to her, brushing against her, using her fur and mouth to mark the young woman with her scent.

Once Gabby has had her chance to love on Zelda in return, the wolf pulls on the sleeve of her coat and tugs. As if trying to tell her 'You're part of the pack, come with.'

Damian has out his phone and he is making sure to get plenty of pictures. Because Gabby is going to want those later. And making sure to share them with Phoebe as well. "Sorry, Zelda." he comments towards the wolf and grins. "She's part of my pack." He hopes.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney laughs when she finds herself jumped on. The wolf was actually larger than her when it was on it's hind legs, and she ends up with lots of licks. In her mouth unfortunately, which causes a little sputter, but she deals with it. Her hands lift to sink into the white wolf's fur giving a hugging scritch up along the side and ears and back until she jumps off.

The little bite and tug on her sleeve causes her to follow, and she calls out, "I think it's safe to say we can let the others free now, too." Damian gets a grin and wink, and she moves to start opening a few of the other crates too. It was time to get the pack back together.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian returns the smile, putting away his phone as he moves to help with the opening of the crates. There are seven of them total, besides Zelda. Two male, five female. As the other wolves are let out, they run around into the snow, far more skittish than Zelda is.

Zelda eventually looks at Gabby and then turns to run for the woods. She pauses at the crest of the hill and turns to look at the group. The other wolves come up behind their leader and then crest over the hill, disappearing beyond.

Zelda watches for a few moments, eyes locked on Gabby, before she too, heads up and over the hill and into the wild.

The director comes over to the pair. "If you download the app, you can actually track her." he suggests to Gabby. "It's part of the package with the docation Mister Wayne made."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney sets to the task easily though she's not greedy enough to open all by herself. The wolves were really more afraid of humans than anything so off they go easily enough once freed. The fact that the people who were letting them loose had been 'Okayed' by their alpha certainly helps.

Once they run off up the hill, Gabby turns to watch. That last look from Zelda garners a smile, and an upward lift of her chin. A nod... Or maybe seen as a sniff to the air in the wolves perspective... and a goodbye.

A moment longer she stares before tearing her gaze away to look toward the Director and Damian once again. "Okay! Yeah I'll download it," she agrees readily fishing into her pocket. And not finding her phone. A quick glance around finds it's on the ground where she'd fallen, so she just hops over there to scoop it up. It's back then to Damian's size to give HIM a quick squeezing hug.

"I probably need mouthwash after that," she reasons with a laugh. "That was great though!"

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian watches Gabby's intereaction, and he smiles, warm and affectionate for a moment as he had hoped that his gesture was... worthy of her. When the wolves depart, his attention turns back to Gabby, just in time to get hugged.

His arms come around her and he hugs her tightly to him in return. And he kisses her forehead. "I'm glad you liked it." he responds, lingering in her hug for several moments before he releases and feels around his pockets.

And he pulls out a little roll of lifesavers. "Pepp-O-Mint?" comes the question, popping one out to suck on before offering it to her. "Figured we can catch lunch here and then make our way back home. Unless you'd like to go skiing or something?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Oh heck yes." The mint is popped into her mouth and she reaches up to tug her hat back in place properly. "Food is good. I've never been skiing." That's not a 'no' though as she continues with widened eyes, "Wait do they have places were you can ski jump? Or ski off cliffs? I'm in!"

Damian Wayne has posed:
"Yeah, we're not too far from the ski lodges. I'll secure a couple of rooms and we can rent skis and make a day of it." Damian responds, as he tucks his hands into his pockets, respecting the space that Gabby wants. "In the meantime..."

He starts on a beeline to the snowmobiles. "Race you back!" he hops on one, starting it up to race down the hill!