Ruiko kept careful watch on his companion, feeling more relieved, as each day that passed she seemed stronger than the last. In retrospect, after they had left Swift River, the regal tawny wolf had often worried that taking her away from a pack when she was injured had been a reckless and poor decision, but Ranger had proven to him that she was a survivor. If anything, she seemed to flourish even more since their time together.


The day found them in leisure by a small creek, and the sun hinted at the promise of warmth to come to the lands. The time of year had come more startling to him than most, and Ruiko could sense the she-wolf’s oncoming heat and it made him antsy. Any scent of a strange male wolf that the two crossed was enough to bristle the regal wolf’s hackles and crowd closer to Ranger in a protective and silent claim, yet they were packless, and he was not willing to bring pups in to the world unless they settled themselves fully. The ebony she-wolf planted a kiss upon him, and casting a glance down to the girl by his side, the Tainn wolf shifted closer to her side, his tongue smoothing out across the back of her neck as he groomed her with a low growl of contentment. “I miss them too,” he spoke gently, though made no further comment on the subject. They would be fine – Indru would keep them safe.

He continued his ministrations, moving from the graceful arch of the back of her nape to the blades of her shoulders. They had both thinned a bit since their travels – game had been harder to come by with only two noses, and it was certainly more challenging to capture. For now the two wolves fared fine, though Ruiko knew they could not stay like this for much longer, even with winter coming to an end.


Ruiko did not respond to her response of inviting his family to a home they would find, but he did nod in reassurance. In truth, he was uncertain if any of them would be interested in having anything to do with the two wolves who had in their eyes abandoned the pack, but he was hopeful that they would. Indru, he knew, would be content with whatever Ruiko decided.


Ranger spoke his name, a question hidden in her voice. “Hm?” His tone was a mere grunt, his creamy muzzle finally pulling away from the she-wolf to glance briefly in to her features as he showed her she had captivated his full attention.

He waited patiently for her to speak; a trait he had only discovered recently. Patience had never been a virtue of his, yet during the weeks they had spent as lone wolves with little to no responsibility but each other, he had learned to simply wait. Right now, they were waiting for the time to settle down and claim lands, and for reasons unknown to him, he was waiting to claim her completely as his.


Her words came, and the tawny regal had expected them for some time now. His ebony companion was beginning the cycle of her heat, and Ruiko knew she would want to settle down, for it was only instinct. The Tainn male could feel the pull of breeding season as well, but with no pack to help their potential young, he felt little need to procreate just yet. At the ministrations of her tongue and request, the golden male remained quiet for a moment, contemplating her request. There was little land left to claim in Relic Lore that he desired, for he did not want to settle too close to the current packs. Casting another glance her way, the male tilted his muzzle slightly. “We need others to form a pack,” he gently reminded her, for their party of two would find hardship whether they called themselves lone wolves or pack wolves.

Ranger fell silent for a moment, as if mulling over his words. Ruiko took that small lull in conversation as an opportunity to continue his grooming, his tongue sliding gently over the back of her nape before his teeth teased the sensitive fur and skin just below her ear. It was almost a cruel gesture for them both for they would not copulate their burning emotions in fear of bringing pups in to a world where they would not survive, but all the same, the ebony temptress before him was a she-wolf to indulge in.


The mention of Avalloc stirred a blink from the stoical male, and he pulled back slightly to regard her. The thought of his adopted cousin was a myriad of emotions; he was uncertain whether to be angered at the male’s lack of loyalty to initially following him, but that did not change his love for him. Despite such, Ruiko would not disturb his long time friend. “No, we will leave Swift River and it’s members to their own will,” he decided, not willing to tempt Indru’s loyal followers away. After all, they served the pack that kept his younger siblings safe. “And Kinis is still young. He has much to learn,” he commented, though the tawny male would not bear having his brother stay as a lone wolf. Ruiko would be insistant that the youth join them, but it was not enough to claim as a pack. "In time we will find others," he soothed, a small smirk pressing to the corner of his inked lips.