Like a bad rash, Rais was not something that went away for long. Any attempts at keeping his curious snout out of anything only strengthened his desire to press further. Not once, but twice had he been warded off from Swift River. If his first intrusion to the pack land was gutsy and the second was a death wish, this time was a downright suicide mission. One would think that with his keen mind, he would recognize it as such and keep far, far away from Swift River until they had long forgotten about the boy. But his confidence in his intelligence only had him convinced that he was simply above the law. Borders meant nothing to him, and threats of bodily harm to him were only a game. It was all a puzzle to be solved, danger adding the right touch of excitement.

He had been lurking about the fringe of Swift River for the past three days, plotting his next foray into the territory. He was careful, cautious to stay far enough that he wouldn't be detected by the border patrol. He had brashly marked one of their trees last time, and he knew someone was sure to have caught his scent from it. They wouldn't be happy if they found him camping right outside their land. The boy was trying to see what time of day and how often the River wolves moved at the border. He hadn't quite planned out what sort of havoc he would wreak once he decided to go inside. Maybe he would just eat all their caches and mark everything in sight.

He rolled over onto his back, his orange eyes lazily staring at a spray of purple juniper berries hanging over his head. He had chosen to hide inside the shrub for the cover it gave him, and the fragrant smell of its piney wood disguised his musk well enough. Waiting was sure boring though. He had figured out that usually, someone moved along the border once in the early morning, then later again in the afternoon. He expected that that was the normal pattern, and was just going to wait another day to be sure before he... "My tree!"

He was flipped back over and on his feet before his mind caught up with what he had heard. His breath was caught in his throat and each muscle was tensed for fight or flight. His watch of the border told him that, usually, the pack didn't actually exit or enter from this side. They would patrol past, but never did they actually leave the territory from his location. But, that voice, it was so familiar. The problem with the cover of the aromatic bush was that it blocked his own sense of smell just as well. Very carefully, he poked his head out of the shrub, head twisting as he looked around. He couldn't see anyone, so he stepped carefully out of the bush, scenting the air.

Oh! It was that girl he had run into last time. Rissa, he recalled. She seemed to have as much respect for staying within boundaries as Rais had for staying out of them. Otherwise, he couldn't think of what a pup would be doing so far outside of her home, alone. He had to respect someone, even a pup, who found rules to be just as malleable, or even discardable, as the boy did.

His watch forgotten, he left his post and trotted in the direction of the girl. He was sure it was just her, no other wolves could be scented nearby once free of the juniper's perfume. He moved lightly, nearly skipping and looking quite at ease despite his status as a fugitive. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Oh my. It seems we meet again, little miss." His eyes lit humorously on her newly christened tree, <b style="color:#494b4f">"Are you making yourself a little pack? I think you might need more than one tree for that. And probably more than one wolf."

table by bryony

With a start, the pup looked around, her eyes settling on Rais. He stood still for a moment, letting her decide what to think. It was possible that maybe she'd cry out for her family to come rescue her, so he was a little uneasy. He half expected one of the River wolves to come bursting through the trees any moment, but it never happened. He grinned, a small chuckle rising from his throat as she told him about her territory. As much as Rais fancied himself an adult, he was truly still a child. He did all the things an adult did, he caught his own food, went anywhere, anytime he wanted, and even set his own bedtime. His solitary life made it so that all these things were a necessity, and fun often had to be passed up to spend the day looking for food or water, a safe place to sleep. He wouldn't pass up the chance to be a kid again for just a little while. So he'd go along with her game.

<b style="color:#494b4f">"Of course, if the alphess would only be so kind to take a humble lone wolf like me into her pack." He folded his ears back and crouched down on his forelegs with his head bowed, pretending to cower under her gaze. Though it wasn't very convincing, with his rear stuck up in the air and his tail flopping from side to side. She started to move towards him, dismayed that she still didn't have his name. He rose back to his feet, but his silvery tail was still wagging. He hadn't gotten the chance to give his name the last time they met. Her tiny face was staring right up at him, and he pulled his head back to give himself some room. An assertive little thing, was she? He nearly laughed at how the serious look didn't quite fit on her face, but she probably wouldn't like him laughing at her. <b style="color:#494b4f">"I'm sorry, Rissa. I didn't get the chance last time, but that was pretty rude of me," He met her narrowed eyes with a crooked grin. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Of course I have a name! Let me try again, then. My name is Rais."

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Rais wasn't very fond of his last name, Rose. First of all, he wasn't very fond of the father which it connected him to. He'd left all that behind when he set off to explore the world on his own, and so avoided using the surname unless it was necessary. Even if he liked his father, Rose was a silly, frilly last name anyways. He thought it was much too delicate for a wild rascal such as himself. He agreed with Rissa, though for a different reason. Rais Tainn did sound better. Though the rest of the Tainn's would probably not agree. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Well then, I'm honored to be a Tainn," he chucked.

Normally, he didn't take orders. Yet, the bossy little pup reminded him of something. He remembered all the daring, and oftentimes dangerous, adventures he and his brother would embark on. Or rather, all the adventures Rais would drag his hesitant brother along for. He hadn't had any expeditions like that for quite some time, and even though Rais would swear up and down that Trenzi was an annoying wimp... Well, he really missed the kid now that there was no one at his side to share his experiences with. He'd let Rissa lead the show, or at least, think she was, as long as it meant he would have a friend at his side to explore with.

He was wriggling with excitement, all thoughts of the real pack that this girl belonged to vanishing with the prospect of a game. His head bobbled up and down, <b style="color:#494b4f">"Of course, but, come with me! I know a great spot! Lots of fish, and it looks really neat, too." His paws tramped in place excitedly when she stood, and after galloping in a tiny circle he started trotting off into the woods expecting Rissa would follow.

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He looked back over his shoulder as he ambled through the trees, checking that the little Tainn was right behind him. The scent of Swift River's borders were fading away, and while he was mindful of the River cub on his heels, he wasn't particularly concerned. They'd just catch some fishes for lunch and he'd send her back by dinner, before she'd even be missed. <b style="color:#494b4f">"It's not too far," he called back, before returning his eyes to the trail. <b style="color:#494b4f">"It'll put us right on the edge of the Wildwood. You ever been there before?"

Rais would have been able to make the trip quickly on his own, but with Rissa he had to be careful not to leave her in the dust. His excited gallop had been stifled to a steady stride, slow enough that he could walk side by side with his newly appointed "leader". After some time, the susurrus of flowing water could be heard in the distance. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Nearly there," Rais murmured, his tail waving in anticipation. He hoped that Rissa would like the little spot that he'd found on his travels. He considered the place to be one of his secrets, even though he really had no one that he needed to keep secrets from.

The trees had thinned out, letting the two wolves out of the forest and onto the bank of a river. Upstream, jutting rocks churned the river into white foam, before it widened and deepened into a basin of dark, teal water. Rais knew that the seemingly calm surface of the pool was only a veneer, hiding the swift, deep currents that ran below. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Now, don't go charging in there. It's really deep in the middle. If you get swept up in there, you might end up all the way in Timbuktu when the river finally lets you go... If it even lets you go." He warned Rissa. While he could be reckless, he knew that forces of nature were nothing to be questioned. Wolves, one could reason with. There was no reasoning with a river.

The seriousness of his warning melted away as he loped towards the edge of the river, letting the water seep around his paws through the marshy ground when he stopped. While the center of the pool was deep and deadly, there was a decently sized shelf of shallows on which smaller fishes darted through.

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It seemed no lunch would be caught this day when Rais heard the rustle of paws heralding another's approach. Water splashed about his ankles as he whipped around and his bony shoulders hunched in preparation for whatever might emerge from the shrubs bordering the river. He couldn't imagine any friendly beast tromping through the brush in such a way, but he didn't quite think he'd be seeing that green eyed snowy wolf again. His neck jerked up, his round eyes wide with surprise. She looked none too happy, and Rais was sure it had to do with the little adventure he had taken the River pup on.

His ears folded back, nearly looking ashamed from the scolding. He didn't entirely regret doing what he had, though her words seemed to strike something within him. <b style="color:#494b4f">"My, Cali! Ahh, I can't really say I'm pleased to meet you again..." He shifted uncomfortably, unable to really excuse himself. He knew it, and she knew it, Rais was a dirty liar. Unless she were a blatant idiot, Rais was sure their first meeting was enough to convince the woman as such. While the boy was of a dishonest type, he hadn't really meant to put Rissa in danger. It was just an unfortunate coincidence that things that were the most fun were also more dangerous. <b style="color:#494b4f">"It... It was an accident, ah, she wanted me to take her somewhere, I mean, could you say no to that face?" He implored, his voice growing softer as he spoke. For a moment his eyes flicked to Rissa, hidden just behind Cali's limbs. Rais took a small step back, stopping when he realized that there was only more water to retreat into. A regretful smile crossed his features, a small hope blooming that she might let him off easy. <b style="color:#494b4f">"Forgive and forget, huh?"

table by bryony