Desolate Pines

[sebastian]

He continued to walk away, laying his ears flat in annoyance. Yet He did not speak, just let her ramble on and on, mocking him. Thinking to himself<Feckin' woman? what can yeh do? We'll meet agin tha's fer sure> his eyes scanned the path as he walked along in the oaks. Eventualy, she left. after a final jeer and he continued to walk for a good long ways, the rest of the time the sun lit his path and still he did not stop. Finally after a jog across a lush grass field he ran into a hedgerow of prickers. there was a low enough path enabled from the woodchucks that he could if he hunkered down, get through. He did, but not without many a pick, but thankfully his thick fur kept most of the sharp points away. he was beggining to notice the tree's becoming more and more sparse, so he turned around, and began walking along the pricker row.< His thoughts finally returned to him from time to time after that. It had been a good long while since he had seen another were, and a female at that. She seemed naive to the ways of the world, that was for sure. yet it continued to fuel the idea in him that burned so hot now. That her lands, her place of quietness and freedom to roam as one wished, was the mecca he had been looking for. it plagued his thoughts that he just walked away like that, yet contact for him was in short spurts. Not what you'd call a people person i guess. he stopped, sitting in a pile of tall grass for a good while, before he lay down keeping his eyes barley open for a good long time, well into the afternoon, before he closed them for a light nap.

[Zayevah]

I trotted on, only stopping to watch his form disappear. I shook my head and exhaled in frustration. What was with that wolf? He didn't even manage to give me his name, or ask for mine. I turned away and began walking toward the badger set. Fine. If he doesn't want to socialize, then so be it. When he does, he'll end up going back to the cave... I suppose. I reached the badger set and sniffed around some. It irritated me to pick up his sent again, but I also noticed the badger scent was gone. I moved on to the stepping stone, stepping lightly over them. It started to rain. Within moments it was pouring. The river was swelling and the ground becoming muddy. I was still a good ways from the cave. I cursed the sky as I took off running at full speed. The rain struck my eyes and pounded my coat. The extra weight slowed me down. Soon enough the waterfall appeared into view. I sighed in relief. What a down fall to this forest. Hopefully it wouldn't be raining on the other side of the cliff. I climbed the stone ledge, leading into the cave. Finally out of the rain, I shook myself roughly, relieving myself of the heavy droplets. I sat down there behind the waterfall and watched the land become flooded by the rain. There was no thunder or lightning for warning, just... rain, lots and lots of rain. "It'll keep the forest alive." I spoke out loud, realizing just how empty the cave was, as my voice echoed off the walls. I sighed and made my way for the tunnel. It was dark, darker then it had been before. I stepped down into it and my paw hit ice cold water. The tunnel was flooded. "Great... So... I guess I'm staying here til the rain stops and I can get home." I turned around and sat down a little ways off from the tunnel. Great, now what will Zillah think. I don't think I could make him believe my lies any longer. I'll have to tell him. I heaved a sigh, and made my way up the stone steps to lay on the ledge that overlooks the cave. I laid there and listened to the waterfall and the crying sky, thinking about the earlier confrontation. What kind of world did he come from? Violence was the first choice, but yet he didn't attack me. Maybe he left that world for a reason. Maybe he really was different from those who fought for the hell of it. The rain continued and I became drowsy. It looked like it would never stop. Who knew what time it was, it's always dark in this forest. I finally gave in and drifted off to sleep.

[sebastian]

He dozed for a few hours, before rumbling awoke him. Sitting up he looked the dark sky as the water began to sprinkle. he sighed and got up. he trotted along the hedgerow, while the rain poured down on him. He began running back into the tree's across the field. He was curious once more. he just wanted to see those lands. Not her. The freedom of it. He wanted to witness that. So he began heading twords those pine tree's from a different route. The rain poured on his coat still, as the sun began to rise in a weak hint of light on that meek day as he splashed into the river that bordered her lands. He climbed out of the clean water and up onto the muddy overflowed banks, his paws sinking into the mud. He loved it. He trotted around in the mud for a little while before he headed off into the pines to see what her lands had to offer, more bold than before because of their previous encounter, she wasnt what you called the norm for him.

[Zayevah]

I woke up to see the rain was easing up. I yawned and stretched. I got up and went straight to the tunnel to find that it was still flooded. I sighed in irritation. Fine. I walked over to the cave entrance and just looked at the land. My land. The rain was just a drizzle now, but heavy droplets fell from the cliff. I ducked my head as I stepped out of the cave. My stomach growled as I realized I hadn't eaten since three evenings ago. "Lets see what my land has to eat" I spoke out loud, almost cheerfully. This would be the first time I'd be exploring the lands inside the boarders. My paws sunk in mud. I really didn't mind it, but I also didn't favor it. I stopped and sniffed the air, but the rain covered the scents. Ok, so this is going to be a sight and kill kind of deal. Fair enough. I walked on. A lot of the forest looked similar, with tall pines and thick foliage, but every tree, bush, stone, and shard of grass was different. The pine needles were thick through the center of the forest. A beam of light touched the forest floor a little ways off and I paused to admire it. It gave off an almost ghostly manor to the forest. But my eyes caught sight of a buck, grazing not far from the light. He was a nice size. I crouched down and eased forward, slowly, not to alert it. Quietly I made my way closer to it. It was still raining, but lightly. I paused as the deer looked up and examined his surroundings. Animals were truly blind to the obvious. I watched the buck bend back down to continue grazing. I took the few steps more to be in leaping distance. Everything was perfect. No interruptions. I readied myself, pulling myself together for the leap, but then I saw two emerald green eye's staring at me, from across the way. The deer had seen my stance and ran off. I narrowed my eyes at the watching figure. It was the wolf from earlier. There was no doubting the eye's so similar to my own. He had just cost me my meal. "I didn't ask for an audience." I spoke to him with frustration thick on my tong.

[sebastian]

He continued trotting through the trees. He noticed that the rain wasnt pouring so heavilly, but he decided that wasnt important right now. What was was the buck he saw, munching away on the wet grass. He hunkered down and watched it eating, oblivious to his presence. he snickered to himself and licked his jowls, water dripping from the wet fur. He crept forward slowly on all fours way down in the grass, his ears perked up as he stopped. a light ever so faint swish of fur on grass. he looked around, barley moving and thats when he spotted her. again. he cursed himself. He aparently had spotted her before she caught sight of him. He merely watched her sneak up on the deer. Her formwas good, he had to give her credit as he watched unblinking. Then the deer spooked and took off, then she spoke to him. an audience eh? Hm. < Yeh dont require an audience eh lass.. pity> he snorted in response< becaus' i do believe yeh the one tha' jus caught me my suppa. Did yeh see me creepin? Negativ'. I saw your aproach... good form might i add lass, but yeh spooked him when yeh spotted me...> he blinked those green eyes as he watched her, still not moving.

[Zayevah]

I trotted out and sniffed around where the deer was to pick up on its scent as he started to talk. I looked up at him as he accused me of costing him his meal. My ears laid flat on my head and my eyes narrowed at him. I tried to ignore the compliment, but it just wasn't working. "Well I wouldn't of spooked my meal if you didn't distract me. What are you doing on my land anyways?" I don't remembering inviting him on my lands, only to what he thought was my den. I began trotting off, following the fresh scent of the deer. I turned around to see him still sitting where he was. "Well... let's go. You're on my turf now. The longer we wait, the further the food gets." I waited until he got up to follow. He looked extremely reluctant. "You know, meeting new were's isn't that bad, especially one's that don't try to take your life... even after you intrude there land and try to eat their prey. Guess I should be fairly unwelcoming after that..." I turned my head and looked at him, rolling my eyes. I wonder how he took sarcasm. The scent took a direct route through the trees. "So what's your name, slick? I think I'm done calling you 'the wolf from earlier'." I sighed as he hesitated. "I promise I wont bite. Not hard at least..." I laughed at my own lameness. What does it take to get this wolf to talk with me?

[sebastian]

He listened to her talk as he continued to sit there."Well I wouldn't of spooked my meal if you didn't distract me. What are you doing on my land anyways?" So it indeed was her land. Well that got that settled. Her tree's. She continued on untill she said "Well... let's go. You're on my turf now. The longer we wait, the further the food gets." < So it's we now is it lass, funny, i don't remember a we.. where did this we come from?>"You know, meeting new were's isn't that bad, especially one's that don't try to take your life... even after you intrude there land and try to eat their prey. Guess I should be fairly unwelcoming after that..." was her response. Then she asked his name as he still remained there, seated, watching her walk off through the tree's. He thought for a few moments before he rose on his haunches and took off, running past her in the direction the buck went< You wish to know my name there lass?> his laughter rung out in her ears as he continued to run swiftly after the deer< my name is of no importance lassie.. none what so eva...> he felt her following nearby and he looked once to her. What harm could it do letting her know his name< Sebastian lass...>

[Zayevah]

I continued to walk, knowing he wasn't following, but I knew he would... eventually. I heard thudding behind me only for a split second before he rushed past me. I rolled my eye's and smirked, little gestures that he didn't see. I began running, taking my time to catch up to him. "You wish to know my name there lass?" He asked as he ran. His laughter echoed through my head. I shook my head sarcastically. No, I just asked so he wouldn't answer me. I continued to run behind him, not caring to lead, as we were going in the same direction. "My name is of no importance lassie.. none what so eva." He spoke. Who would want to be nameless. I frowned at him. He's an odd one. He made eye contact for only a moment as he continued to run. "Sebastian lass..." I smiled, guess he changed his mind. "Well Sebastian, I'm Zayevah, and as you already know, this is my land. I'd welcome you to it... but it looks like you've already made yourself welcome." I picked up my pace, meeting him at his side before pulling ahead of him. Another were I was faster then, unless he isn't trying. On we ran. I curved off the straight path, following the scent. I slowed down, as the scent grew stronger. Sebastian took the few paces ahead so he'd be leading. I simply rolled my eyes. He's male, what can I do? "So, I don't think it would be smart for both of us to leap at the same deer..." I kept my voice low, not knowing exactly how far the buck was off. The raining had ceased, but the ground was still muddy and soft.

[sebastian]

he heard her name and considered it a difficult one, an odd one. He would merely call her Zay. When they continued to pad on and she informally invited him to her lands, he smirked to himself. She had matched his pace for a little bit and he let her lead. The scent was indeed becoming stronger, and he ran ahead a litle bit, before something clicked in his mind.< aye no lass wouldnt be wise none atol.." he doubled back his nose to the muddy ground. Something was very interesting. The scent grew stronger yet it wasnt even close to what it had been. He looked around< aye i think he doubled back..> he turned around again and strayed off the trial only to pick it up once more. And there, laying low in the grass ahead, if she followed was their buck. He hunkered down and stared at the buck. He licked his lips once more. He would let her take this one. Just because it was her land. mainly. he had other reasons< this one be yours Zay...>

[Zayevah]

"Aye no lass wouldn't be wise, none atol." Sebastian said. What was he mumbling on about? He turned back, so I watched in silence, standing where I had stopped. "Aye I think he doubled back..." He said. Well that made since why the scent was strong but grew weaker on either sides of it. He began walking off, so I trotted after him, carefully, not to make any loud noises. He ducked down so I copied, stalking closer to the buck, stopping at his side. "This one be yours Zay..." I smirked at that. No one had called me Zay since the tribe packs, and that was only the closest of friends and family. I shrugged. I was about to tell him to take it, but I wasn't about to turn down the hunt. Staying low, I made my ways toward the deer. It was odd, knowing he was watching me, but I wouldn't let the deer get away this time. My paws and body moved fluently together. I didn't even need to think of what I was doing. It just happened. My tail stayed low, unmoving. My coat was white, so the slightest of sudden moves would spook the deer. I was almost in leaping distance. I took another step forward and my paw sank into mud. If I tried to pull it out, it would most likely scare off the deer. So I'd just continued on. The other paw sank right into the mud. Soon my entire undercoat was muddied, but I continued on. I sighed to myself in relief as my paws was released by the mud and soon I was on solid ground again. I stopped, and positioned myself for the leap. I didn't give the buck time to think. I was on him, and had him in a choke hold before he got one hoof out from under him. I chomped down, hearing the bones crush in his neck. I left him go, watching as it fell limply to the ground. I stepped away from the kill and turned my head to see my body. Great, now I'm white... and brown. I shook myself, trying to rid myself of the thick mud, but it was no use. The waterfall was sounding great right about then.

[sebastian]

he watched her stalk the deer. This should definatly be interesting. It was like watching a snowcone try and sneak up on a kid in the middle of July. He was amused. She got right down in the mud though, he had to give her credit on that. Then, he thought she was stuck and he was about to take the buck when she was on him. He stood up when he heard the crunch and trotted forth, his toes splaying in the mud. He circled around her and the kill, then she shook her coat, trying to get the mud off, peppering him with chunks in the process. He blinked those green eyes lazilly and sighed< aye lass felt like sharin your mud bath?> a low chuckled rung in her ears as he nudged the dead buck with his nose. he then sat down at its shoulder< well ladies firs' aye?> he waited for her to start chow before he would eat. Her lands, her kill so to speak.

[Zayevah]

I turned my head to see I had got the mud on Sebastian when I shook myself. I smiled at him as he laughed. He nosed the buck as if checking if it was really dead. He sat down next to it and said "Well ladies firs' aye?" I shrugged and made my way back over to the buck. The first bite of the kill was always the best. It always had the most flavor. The rest seemed to melt away to quickly. I took a bite of the buck, the blood staining my white muzzle. Sebastian soon joined the eating. Yet, he would barely talk to me earlier today. I shrugged it off and continued eating, watching as it quickly disappeared. Before long it was completely gone. I sat up and licked my lips. "So where you from?" I asked him when we made eye contact. He was definitely not from around here. His accent was thick, one I hadn't heard before. It was almost intriguing. He was definitely older then me, I could tell it in his eyes alone. I hadn't seen were's his size around here either. I was still as curious now as when I first saw him. His face was almost fox-like, with a shorter muzzle. He was very different in so many ways.

[sebastian]

He waited for her to tear into the flesh before he started. Soon enough, the deer was devoured. Licking the blood sinew and gore from his snout he frowned as she asked him where he was from. There were two ways to answer that, depending on which view she wanted. Where his birthlands were, or where he called home. He decided to answer the second. Divulging too much information was never good with strangers.< I'm from everywhere an' nowhere lass, from here an' there, whereva' i lay me head really.> he blinked lazilly as he watched her< mainly bits o' europe> He stretched slightly and checked her out for the first time. Not like sizing her up, but really checking her out out.< and where do yeh hail from? roun' here?>

[Zayevah]

He didn't give me much of an answer, but an answer none the less. So as I thought, he was just passing through. He moved as if stretching, but not actually fully participating. He returned my question but who knows where I actually came from. Zillah and I wondered until we found the city. "No, not around here. I come from the Vahkyetta Packs, somewhere south of here. You most likely haven't heard of it." I shrugged. I tried to forget the way back home long ago, and I succeeded. "They were more tribe than pack. Hopefully it doesn't make you curious to go wondering off to find it. Well don't, because they'd kill you before you could get a word out to them. The don't accept outsiders anymore..." I paused. I didn't really realize my abhorrence for the pack until I stopped and thought about what I was saying. It was all true yes, but who was I to tell him not to go to them. He didn't really show any emotion to this, so I finished my little hatred speech. Guess he knows one of my weaknesses now. "... just... their not worth it." I remembered all the mud on me and decided I would make my way for the cave again. "A good swim would do me well..." I muttered as I trotted off for the falls. He would follow if he wanted. If not, then we'd see each other later, hopefully...

[sebastian]

He thought about following her, listening to her speak of the so called tribe. He blinked Lazilly as she spoke. He never had a familly of any sort and had only himself to watch his own back. Such was the way of the world i guess. He trotted after her without a word. He was in a mood for silence at the moment. They got to the waterfall, the water in the pool underneith the cascading water muddy from the turmoil of the rain. Still didnt stop him. He ran and catapaulted himself off a rock. Yet the wolf did not hit the water. A man did. 5'4 in stature and dressed in shorts and shoeless, his shirt gone. He didn't own one. He dove in and swam underneith the surface for a second or two and surfaced out in the middle,raking his shaggy black hair beack from his eyes, which he closed and turned his face skyward, the backsplash from the falls felt great