The Vuesain didn't want to think anymore. Keeping to himself at the Lake was also not helping and the realization that his sister didn't think to give him the decency of telling him where she was going or why she was leaving was suffocating. Instead, she decided to leave without him under the cover of darkness, without a word or even goodbye. Sighing roughly to himself as he wandered through the Heights, she must of learned from the best as that had been his M.O. whenever the guilt or wanderlust grew too much for him to face it. The eldest Vuesain sibling taking a page out of the middle child's playbook was certainly interesting to think about. Neha had always been the lawful and loyal one, but now she seemed to be able to leave him behind without a care for his feelings.

So, the dark agouti male walked and wandered. Far enough where he could get away from the suffocating memories and worried gazes of his companions. Aleister didn't try to hide his anger, though he did try to stay away from everyone within the group as he didn't feel much like talking. He especially would rather avoid talking about his feelings. It seemed the Riddle Heights didn't occupy a lot of folks, so the moody male tried to the time to clear his head. At least relieve the anger that riddled his mind.

As he was working through his emotions by physical exertion, a familiar scent hit him rather violently. Why was she so far from the Lake? Following her scent, hoping to find her quickly along one of the ridges. Instead, she led him on a goose chase as he tried tracking her scent through the thick, warm air that made the snow stick to his paws and fur unpleasantly. Was she leaving the Lake too? His frustration grew until finally he was able to pinpoint her location which was a nicely hidden cave. As his mismatched gaze entered the cave, he was almost ready to accuse the fiery woman of leaving without a goodbye. However, the smell that hit him like a ton of bricks stopped him in his tracks.

Oh. This was why.

He had noticed something different when he was tracking her, but with the breeze and elements dampening the strength. Now that her scent was concentrated within the cave, there was no mistaking what changes were going on with the flame cloaked female and probably why she would leave the Lake. "Are you leaving too?" Such a insecure thing to ask, but Aleister just got left behind by his sister. He wouldn't be surprised if Flair wanted to leave him behind too.

When he approached, Aleister should of thought of the fact he was unexpectedly creeping up on the fiery woman with her having no idea who was coming to corner her within the dark cavern. Though luckily for him, she wasn’t in a worse mood and didn’t attack him right as he walked through the entrance. Her face was alight with anger as her teeth bared bright for him see, though it seemed as soon as she recognized him, her anger deflated just slightly. 

Amber daggers stared back him as they both stood frozen for a moment as he asked his accusing question. Part of him was angry at himself for letting the words leave his mouth. They should of stayed within his emotional head and not out in the open for her to get angry with him. A long, uncomfortable moment of silence followed as she tried to determine her exact words on how she was going to tell him to bug off. He probably deserved it anyway. When she finally spoke, she didn’t say she was outright leaving. Instead, she was just getting away for a little while as she was not good company. Though, selfishly he thought the opposite. ”Oh, was all he could muster at the moment in response.

Again her sharp amber gaze was upon him, this time realizing exactly what he said before. His mismatched gaze met her golden eyes for a moment, ”My sister ditched me.” He said plainly, though his tone was solemn and clearly holding back the hurt of the fact. He already decided he wasn’t following after her, but the realization he probably was never going to see her again still hurt more than anything.

Aleister wasn't a young, clueless buck. The dark agouti male knew generally what was happening with the fiery woman and he now realized just why she had retreated away from the Lake. Truly, he didn't realize the season had been upon them, still thinking they had months of brutal winter left to endure. Aleister wasn't a completely inexperienced buck either and he knew if he allowed his instincts to control him, he would probably do something reckless. So there he stood frozen in the cave entrance, refusing to move a muscle closer as he curled his claws into the rocky surface.

Having spent years alongside his sister, he had firsthand experience at what this season did to a woman. He had always tried to keep his distance from his sibling as it was definitely an uncomfortable time for her. But now, he was around someone he actually liked that wasn't related to him. This season was going to be completely different for him now that Neha was no where to be found. There was no one else that was related to him back home. However, that certainly didn't mean any of the females were interested in him that way. Moonshadow was certainly off the eligibility list as she was his mother's best friend and the Eastfall brother's mother. Just thinking about it made him wince. That left Lila and Flair, both who he generally liked, but he had no idea how they felt. Neither made it apparent that they were interested in him in that way, though he just barely scratched the surface of getting to know them and vice versa.

When he told her that Neha had left, her own response echoed his before her bright gaze casted downwards to the rocky floor. In turn, his mismatched gaze looked elsewhere the pain still fresh against his heart. Though when he felt her fiery gaze upon him, Aleister couldn't help but return her gaze as she apologized. "Not your fault," he answered with a sad shrug. The Vuesain couldn't help but gaze at her sharply, his eyes lingering. After a moment, he pulled them away knowing he was probably making her more uncomfortable. "I can leave if you want me to." Flair just had to saw the words and he would go without a fuss. Though, he selfishly hoped she would allow him to stay.

His intense gaze couldn't coax her fiery gaze off the cold rock floor, instead she kept them firmly upon the ground refusing to fall beneath them. Her claws flexed just liked his against the compacted earth, rooting herself in place. Both of them refused to move, him in fear of what would happen if either of them let their guards down. Aleister could feel the heat within the den become almost unbearable. She still refused to look at him.

As his question reached her ears, his aqua and honey gaze looked to her again where he hoped her gaze would finally lift from the floor. Just look at me... But her stubbornness won out, leaving him with less view of her face as she turned to the side away from him. Ears flattening against her russet skull, as a soft, almost inaudible yes fell from her lips. The breath he didn't know he held within his chest, escaped as his own mismatched gaze casted down to the floor. However, she quickly backtracked shouting within the progressively confining cave. Her uncertainty evident to the dark agouti Vuesain.

The fiery woman threw a paw over her face, as his gaze grew softly, more apologetic. Look at me, please... As if she could read his thoughts, her fiery gaze finally lifted to his as she muttered how they barely knew each other and how this wasn't a good idea. Her gaze fell from him as she grew frustrated either with him or the whole situation, though he wasn't entirely certain which one it was. A quiet apology fell from her lips, making his heart clenched. She shouldn't be sorry for any of this. The thought of her fiery nature drowning under uncertainty and frustration, made him take a forbidden step forward. "Flair," her gaze was still fixated upon the cold floor. "Look at me," he pleaded softly, as his neck reached out to try to get a view of her face that she kept hidden from him.

I'll leave right now. Just say the word," he said quietly, his mismatched gaze soft as he peered at the fiery woman. If she wanted him gone, he would take his leave from the cave. Though, he would probably stick around to make sure nobody came to bother her while she was alone. But, if she wanted him to stay...

As he took a tentative step closer to her, her fiery head whipped to glare at him, sharp amber eyes freezing him from taking another step. Locking gazes, her fiery gaze aflame like he's never seen before. The shewolf seemed to be taking a moment to mull over his words, a silence rolling between them. His own mind wondering what exactly she wanted, longing to get a glimpse of what she was thinking and feeling. Did she have any interest in him? Or was he just someone that was easily abandoned and unloved?

Her gaze left him again as she shook her head in frustration again. He should just leave, save her the frustration and uncertainty while saving him the embarrassment of her dismissal. Fiery gaze lifted to his again, as she stumbled through her thoughts. Taking a second try, Flair sighed and squared her shoulders to him, a solemn feeling washing over him. Here comes her dismissal. ...a good friend... Though, he honestly didn't expect anything to happen from this interaction, but something had stirred when he found her here alone with her perfume igniting a flame within him.

But, she was not ready for this, whatever this was that they were doing. Honestly, he wasnt even sure, his instincts were trying to take control. Though, he was not going to let himself lose control, even when every inch of his body screamed to reach out for her. No. Aleister was not that kind of man. If she did not want him, he would accept that. "Okay," he answered with a soft smile, hoping to soothe her frustrations. "Acquaintance, neighbor, friend, whatever you want me to be, I'm there." Offering her a genuine smile, his mismatched gaze trying to study her face as she looked away from him again.

She offered that he didnt have to leave, while leaving the option of him leaving unfinished like she hoped he wouldn't. "I can stay," he answered softly, a soft smile lifting his lips. "I'll be right here," he murmered as he began to settle down upon his elbows to guard the front entrance from any unwanted intruders. He truly never expected anything to happened, but both of them almost lost control of themselves as their instincts of the season tried to govern their bodies and minds. Perhaps this time they were just lucky.