Vasco had no eyes for the heavens, only glancing towards the mountain side every so often in a faint hope of spotting a dark figure heading down. But they had been cautious lately; The cowards! He still wasn’t entirely sure whether he’d been successful in finishing off that yearling brat all those moons ago, but the evidence spoke to the opposite – if they’d found her dead they would surely suspect an accident, them hiding out like this had to mean she’d somehow made it back to tell of her fate.

The aging Halex had been hiding out after his evil deed, wanting to make sure his plot had succeeded, and the heat was off his trail before he returned to the Backwater. Instead, he had a sour taste in his throat, the triumph long worn off and his ecstasy after the act turned to a deep longing for more. The Cove had to pay more, they had to feel the hurt and misery he had, more even!

So he continued to plot, spending his energy hunting and sniffing for any sign that one of them had ventured back into the Edens, where the snake lay in wait, eager to strike. His stalking carried him north along the mountain’s foot, and then back south, when he came upon what he had sought for so long; the fresh stench of his enemies! One of them had been by recently, only a few days at the most, heading west.

With an icy grin, Vasco had turned to follow the trail, already fantasizing about what horrors he might wreak, when he all but ran into a stranger. An elegant figure, pale tawny fur and golden-brown eyes, inexplicably turned to the sky instead of the world around her. Vasco paused in his step, instinctively ducking his head and lowering his tail as he peered up at the younger wolf, trying to anticipate her reaction as he stuttered: “O-oh m… M’ sorry.”

Thoughts ”Speech”

Obviously, this wasn’t the wolf he’d been hunting, she just happened to be standing right in the middle of the trail, gazing at clouds. Irritation thrummed in Vasco’s veins, even as he groveled before the larger wolf, forcing a mask of submission upon his face. He was in no mood to pause his chase now, his heart pounding with blood lust, but he also wasn’t keen on starting a fight with someone other than his prey.

So, not knowing this woman’s inclinations, he hung back reluctantly, waiting for her response. And as his rapid breaths wheezed on, one after the other, the stench of the Cove slowly faded from his nostrils, leaving room for him to take in the younger woman’s perfume. A flurry of different scents hit him, many of them all too familiar, eerily so.

Vasco’s brows furrowed and arched at the same time, giving him an odd, almost bewildered expression. Then she spoke, her words of reassurance though there was little affect in her voice, the look in her eyes impossible to read. The older man cocked his head ever so slightly, gently lifting his ears and straightening up a little, though his posture was still clearly submissive. “Thank you,” he breathed, still a hint of nervousness in his voice. A moment’s pause, colorless eyes studying her intensely, as he deliberated with himself. Then he continued hesitantly: “I’m Marco, may I ask your name?” Meek politeness masking his true feelings; Who ARE you?

Thoughts ”Speech”

There was an important distinction between pride and arrogance, one that could make the difference between getting chased off and getting what you wanted. Vasco’s pride was not affected by the impression of strangers, he couldn’t care less what this girl thought of him, once this interaction was over, he’d likely never see her again; all he was after was information, and if it took a bit of bowing and scraping to get it, his ego would survive just fine.

The ginger girl wasn’t quite the well he had hoped though, initially answering him with just a first name and nothing else; Typical… True, he had given no more himself, but still, he had hoped she’d be less tight lipped; Most wolves enjoy talking about themselves… None of this disappointment showed on his face however, a polite smile and attentive ears was all she would see – if there was one thing Vasco Halex could do, it was put on a façade – and once again, it paid off.

It was a small admission, an excuse made out of politeness, but was a way in! Expertly hiding his mirth, Vasco folded his face into one of concern, showing true care for this stranger. “I’m sorry to hear that, Nori,” he said with appropriate gravitas, lifting himself further out of his submissive stance as he took on the role of consoling elder; “I know you probably don’t want to talk to some strange old man about it, but if there’s anything I can do…?” He let the statement linger, hoping to subtly influence her to keep talking; About anything, just talk… Even the most casual comment might reveal something! This stranger might just be what he needed to finally get at the Cove.

Thoughts ”Speech”