It was almost like he could still smell her, the honeysuckle, the bluebells in the herb mixes she used to lay out in sun every morning like it was part of her routine. He'd say like because it wasn't that she did it absolutely every morning, but just often enough that he would comment on it whenever she did it. Encourage it, so that he could show her that he did pay attention. That his mind was at home when he was actually home, still not locked into some glossy eyed state where it looked like the smoke had gotten to his eyes. She'd ask if he was okay, he'd tell her yes, it was routine at that point. Not anymore, and the idea that it was woke him. Digits flexed, there is cold in his bones. The way it makes his limbs ache, as he feels the mid-day breeze against the curve of his spine. Coal black hair dusted with something new, age, sheets of it had been tossed in the night and it almost dared to hide away his home under an uprooted pine. An hesitant grunt, as if he, a young teenager who had grown to hate the sun. Petty movement brings him to rise, to the sun that scatters his eyes. reflective, pale, moments pass before he is adjusted and looking in before the soft hush of rushing water hits his ears and he simply stands there. Waiting, watching - as if it was going to rush him suddenly but it is nothing more than a creek bed running a little stronger after a nights rain. He can see it through the thickened foliage, his chapped lips tight as he begins to move forward. paw pads, dirty boots, pushing through the moist sand beds, he follows the stream as it widens and turns into a roaring waterfall. Mist collecting on the tips of his black hair as he keeps a good five or six feet from the sudden drop off, observing the deep pools in the distance and the subtle change of scenery.[/dohtml]

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RE: old wooden - Eros - Jan 25, 2022

This was farther than allowed, but the chance to see @Seri again emboldened the growing boy. He supposed he was growing impatient, waiting for the other child to come back even though he'd made no promises about when. It wasn't that the yellow-eyed vagabond had been absent from the Heart for some undue amount of time, the young Valle was simply so eager to see another his age that didn't know everything about him and constantly taught him something new. Let alone the possibilities of unbridled freedom and independence, the golden fantasy of every pre-adolescent youth since the dawn of time.

It wasn't his friend that he found, however, as his paws brought him closer to the mountains than they ever had before. It was the roaring sound that drew him, the falls a novel phenomenon to the young wolf and therefor, an awe to his eyes. Widened champagne sights followed the falling water all the way down, to where they first caught sight of the older wolf. For a moment, his heart stopped in his chest as he thought he might have had the awful luck to run into his father while deviating from his instructions. When he realized it was a stranger instead, Eros breathed a sigh of relief and approached amicably.

"Hello!"

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Re: - Spirit of Wildwood - Jan 25, 2022

A warren of rabbits is hidden under a nearby tree. +3 Health

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RE: old wooden - Cole - Jan 25, 2022

It kept him quiet, unintentionally digging paws into the moist waterbed before him. Just enough spray that it kept the ground soft enough to leave the footprints of what had been before him. His eyes are distant - long gone in the concept of familiarity of the area and even tired looking. He was a man lost to the world, to his wife (forgive her, please), and to children that existed beyond his reach. So lost, in fact, that he did not notice the approach of a young boy until the adolescent voice pushed through the roar of the riverbed. His broad, boxy head snapped around, not in a moment of defense but in subtle shock before he first cleared his throat - the cut lip snagging on his teeth as it braced into a smile.

The evergreens splitting the sunrays - watching one..two..three of his children leaping like supposed king slayers into nothing more of a foot of glacier water - bluebells grazing his arms and the smell of her..everlasting

”My apologizes sir..am I in your way of a cool jump?” enticing, teasing, he suddenly took a step back with a raised eyebrow as if to dare the young boy despite the knowledge that such a thing would kill even him had he tried. Trapped under the smashing waves, a loss of breath, he tilted his head just for a moment as if to look back to the water before adjusting his hind end which was noticeably stiff before speaking again - that caught lip settling back down. ”What is your name?” and where are your parents? A follow up thought before he finally fashioned his hind end to the edge of the waterfall, still a good six feet from the edge.

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RE: old wooden - Eros - Jan 25, 2022

Sir? Eros' smile ticked ever high with amusement. No one had ever called him sir before. It made him feel grown, and he held his head just a little smile while continuing to beam back at the stranger. His gaze followed where the other wolf drew it, and the words caused his ears to twitch with interest. The playful lilt was familiar, but what the older man couldn't know was just how willing Eros was to take others up on such suggestions.

He moved closer, nose over the edge and into the mist which coated his whiskered muzzle in tiny beads. His tail wagged in big sweeps.

"Eros Valle," he introduced himself by showing some teeth in a broad grin.

"Are you an adventurer?"

Like Seri?

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RE: old wooden - Cole - Jan 25, 2022

Cole watched as the young boy began to walk towards the edge, just enough that made a woman want to step forward and yank the boy back by his scruff, but he stood still for a moment before raising his head, a stretched neck if only to show alertness. ”It is my pleasure, Sir Eros Valle.” His voice is gravely in that moment, if only for the need to clear his throat but he let the boy ask his question. ”You could say that, I suppose.” He neither confirmed nor denied, before his teeth clicked with the gesture of his nose towards the water as if to say - that is enough, get away. He knew in the grand scheme of things, he could hopefully try to grab a leg or have some sort of purchase on the boy given he try to jump to certainly his doom, but the man was not willing to risk such a thing.

”Lets go a little further down, must jump a smaller jump somewhere.” He motioned, that lip getting snagged once more in a rather feverish way as he motioned with his head towards a cascade of slightly slippery rocks that lined a warn game trail downwards, the lack of greenery marked it evident.

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RE: old wooden - Eros - Jan 25, 2022

Sir Eros Valle. Yes, he liked that very much. The older wolf's warning was heeded without qualm, especially given the offer that followed it. Eros pushed away from the edge and jubilantly followed after Sir - wait a minute.

"What's your name?" he asked, because the man hadn't returned the favor at all! For good measure, he tacked on, "and what do you mean suppose?"

There was no petulance in his voice, merely a bubbly curiosity that he felt was his due. His champagne eyes watched the man as he lead, and his tail had yet to cease wagging.

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RE: old wooden - Cole - Jan 25, 2022

He kept himself even, moving slowly until his hips fully stretched out from his extensive traveling and the dull air as he traveled downhill, weaving in and out of damp rocks until he came across a little opening with a split off stream that cascaded down about five foot into deep water. Halfway through, the boy pestered a question. ”Cole Vanhalem.” He did not say much more other than that, gravely voice once tamed and pushed as an ear shuffles back to the occasional odd water drop that sprayed into the sensitive fibers of his filthy ears. [b}”Can you swim?”[/b]. He asked, head tilting slightly as he came to a stop on the edge of the rock the barely more than two inches of a stream began to fall off into the pool below, looking down before looking to the cheery dove eyed boy.

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RE: old wooden - Eros - Jan 25, 2022

"Vanhalem," he whispered under breath, finding the name to be rather cool sounding. It didn't go past his notice that his second question went ignored, either. Eros was able to catch on, however. This wolf was uh, what did you call it? Private.

Can you swim?

Eros' eyes had drifted back to the visual force of the falls, but lifted once more along with the corners of his lips as the question reached him.

"Definitely! he spoke with confidence, stopping alongside the older wolf before elaborating with prideful nonchalance, "My Dads from the ocean."

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RE: old wooden - Cole - Jan 25, 2022

”From the ocean you say?’ He murmured softly, as if he was in utter disbelief at such a thing but it was just the way he attempted to entertain the child. Sophisticated but quiet, in his half year with his children they had managed to weasel their way into his heart but this had been different. His eyes traced the game path for a moment before looking back at the young boy, engrossed in pride and the kiss of confidence before beginning to move away. “Now..I’m going to go down here because I don't want to get wet..” His sentence trailed off in sort of a lifted way, an undeniable dare to absolutely soak him because why else would he be going to the pool belows side? A few moments past and his feet are planted at the sandy soil mixture, eyes glancing over the soft rippling ways to make sure the water was infact clear, and deep enough before looking up and nodding at the young sir, as if to say go.

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