His paws were slick with slush and mud, though he paid little heed to such things. The pads of his paws remained cold as he trudged through the fields, noting the melting snow with mild approval. Ruiko had never cared much for the fields, though if he were to claim territory in either the thicket or the springs, it was likely that they would largely become a hunting ground for the pack at one point or another. Yet the quiet of the winter day offered little to tempt him with, and a quick scan of his eyes stirred the fact that there were no herds to be found in the open today.


His prowl forward stiffened slightly as he began to lope up the hill. His wounds from the ebony she-wolf Elettra were healing nicely, though the cold sting of winter did not help the process. With one quick glance down the slopes of the hill, the Tainn male could see at better advantage up here. With the main intention of looking across the fields at a higher point, instead his eyes were met with the now familiar figure of Rebecca; the she-wolf who’s meetings always proved to be.. interesting. Speaking nothing, the male continued to move upward, his nose bending down once more to where it seemed a herd had been perhaps a day or so ago.

While his intention had been to drift past the girl, her voice called out to him and the tawny wolf swung his muzzle to her direction. The submissive posture of the dark girl was surprising to the male – especially as the other times he had met her she had seemed uncertain of him.. and quite skittish. The tagged on ‘sir’ was enough to preen his ears forward in mild amusement, though he did not comment on such a thing. ‘Sir,’ was his brother Indru now that his father was dead.


“Rebecca,” he greeted smoothly, his tail shifting lightly in the cool winter breeze. Had a stoical mask not been meticulously placed upon his features, the male might have showed his hesitance to speak to the girl with a set of emotions like a roller coaster.


The reason of her interaction became very obvious, and as the words slipped past her lips the large Tainn briefly wondered who she had come across to learn of such thing; Kinis, Volkan? Aisling? Perhaps even Triell. Either way, it was unimportant. “You did,” he confirmed with a brief nod, his gaze flickering over her briefly. “And what could you offer a pack that has not yet formed?”

The swarthy female remained in a submissive state – one that did not exude self pity or sadness, such as what he had witnessed before from her. It was a refreshing version of the she-wolf he was beginning to know, and as she spoke of what she could offer, the tawny male lifted his shoulders in a shrug. It was a list of what every wolf usually said, which was well enough for the regal male. But more importantly than what she could do.. “As long as you are willing to serve the pack with any of your aforementioned skills then you will be a welcome member,” he decided, his eyes sweeping over her momentarily.


The wag of her tail was not lost upon him, and before the girl verbalized her consent to do such things for the future pack, the large golden male moved forward to her now. Dipping his muzzle, Ruiko gently cupped the top of her muzzle with his, accepting her as a subordinate. Pulling back, the male then bowed his muzzle to brush gently along her shoulder, rubbing his scent upon her so no other would mistake her allegiance.

The she-wolf stilled beneath his ministrations; an action that revealed to the tawny male that she had learned something since last he had met her, for her behavior was usually out of the ordinary. Pulling back now, satisfied that his scent was upon her for when others questioned her, Ruiko gave a light nod to the girl, his tail giving an idle flick before his gaze cast briefly out across the fields below them.


“The pack is not established right now. We will be in the northern areas of Relic Lore in a few weeks time – the location is uncertain right now. Meet us there.” There was a small pause, his eyes trailing over her for a few minutes. The next few weeks would give her time to dwell on her choice and whether or not she believed she wanted to be a pack wolf. If he saw her after the pack had established, he would welcome her into his home. If he didn’t – he would assume she had changed her mind.


With a slight nod, the regal wolf began to descend the hill, taking his leave from the swarthy girl.