Secluded Spring was just that: secluded. It was this very reason why Ruiko found himself revelling in the land he currently stood in, his hefty figure strewn lazily across a large rock that was warmed from the sun. He hadn’t seen Ranger in a few days – his worry for her grew slightly, but he allowed her the space she seemingly needed. In turn, Kinis had also been scarce from his presence, which worried him even more so. The boy had grown in to a bolder and more adventurous state, and while Ruiko pretended to allow the youth his space, often he spent a good portion of his days trailing the fresh scents of his younger sibling just to reassure himself that Kinis was fine.


Smoothing his tongue across his lips, the male bent down to one cream paw and cleaned off the small bits of blood that had dried there from a previous hunt; his catch lay not even a foot from him now, the limp pheasant stirring his gaze from the silent waters to hungrily glance at every so often. He held off on eating the meal for now, hopeful that Kinis would join him and the two could dine together. Their catches were smaller with less numbers, and the regal tawny male found himself far more antsy with the desire to claim land now more than ever. Spring was here, and it was time.


For a sparse moment, the sun faded behind a greying cloud, and the wolf lifted his broad muzzle to the sky. The wind shifted ever so delicately to the east, and the Tainn briefly wondered if they were going to get a shower on this May afternoon.

Ruiko's afternoon could have been happily spent with him splayed across a rock, little to no cares drifting on his mind for the moment. Family and their well-being was consistent on his mind, but he also trusted and believed they could handle themselves, so until Ranger or Kinis made themselves scarce for a day or so, the tawny regal would allow them that time and still keep peace of mind.


As for peace, his was soon interrupted as two wolves emerged from the bits of green foliage that shielded the springs from the other lands. Lifting his muzzle up slightly, the Tainn propped his hefty figure as he regarded the strangers; an ivory she-wolf with her back facing him as she seemed completely oblivious to his presence, and another silver male who rounded straight to the water.


Blinking with what could have been considered an owlish expression has the regal wolf not kept a stoical mask upon his facade, the large male shifted slightly, his pelt bristling lightly as his eyes darted to the meal he had caught not long ago. Ruiko would have perhaps tolerated the others sudden presence despite the threat of his meal being stolen had the other male not suddenly jerked about to face him. No sooner did the strange grey male's hackles bristle did a sneer break through the large Tainn's features, his paws pushing him up swiftly to a stand. "I'd stand down if I were you," he growled lowly, his tail lifting at the sudden challenge of dominance this other wolf displayed to him as his hackles bristled with warning. The white she-wolf was already forgotten.

The other male was adamant in his posture, and only when the pale she-wolf spoke did Ruiko spare her the briefest of glances. It occurred to him that the other male was more intent on protecting this female than snatching his lunch, and with another warning growl, the tawny wolf leapt from the rock he had been upon. Bending down to snatch his lunch up in one swift movement, the male cast one more stoical glance to the couple before making his exit, his own large figure trailing lazily as if to rile up the stranger that had threatened him; just to show him that he was by no means being chased off in fear.