Ruiko hadn’t trailed far from the thicket and Ranger, but it was far enough that worry was a companion on his shoulder during this small trip. It was the thick of breeding season, and his ebony companions scent was slowly wearing down his resolve to be responsible and wait for them to claim a land and settle before impregnating her, and so the regal wolf had decided to take a walk and clear this irresponsible thought from his mind. Before the sun had even kissed the horizon with morning light, Ruiko had traced his muzzle along the top of Ranger’s head in a farewell kiss, murmuring a promise of his quick return. With that, the Tainn male stalked off in the direction of the Creek, for it was an area he had always enjoyed.


As daylight began to flood Relic Lore with the promise of a beautiful day, Ruiko was reminded that winter still had a harsh grasp on the land before them as a chilled gust of wind blew past, ruffling the golden brown of his pelt. Trailing the course of the creek, the rogue cast a glance down to the frozen waters every so often, anxious for the season that would thaw the land and bring back the leaves on the trees and more importantly, the abundance of prey.


With the wind sweeping past every so often, Ruiko became aware of another’s scent nearby. It was decidedly a wolf, and a female. Not hesitating in his steps to switch directions, as he normally would have just to avoid having to deal with a stranger, the male continued on his way. Within moments, the dark figure of the stranger came to view, and while Ruiko made no effort to call out to the she-wolf, he did stop for a moment, his muzzle bending down to lap gently at a small break on the surface of the ice to quench his thirst.

Ruiko was generally an untrusting fellow, and so when the dark stranger took notice of his presence, the large male felt his hackles bristle in response, though he still paid her little heed. She was a rogue much like himself, and while he would eventually establish a pack in the lands of Relic Lore, he felt no need to begin to find himself potential members just yet.


The water was excessively cold on his tongue, and the regal male paused a moment in his ministrations, allowing his jaws to become accustom to the sensory shock. Despite such, his drink was refreshing, and seemed to push the Tainn from his drowsy sleepiness to a more wakeful state.


Pulling back, small droplets of water pooled upon Ruiko's cream chin before his tongue smoothed over his lips. From his peripheral vision, the regal lone wolf caught sight of the stranger approaching, and with a brazen glance, the male allowed his bright amber eyes to gleam over her smaller figure. He was surprised at how closely she seemed to Ranger's appearance, though he kept silent for now. Her paused greeting stirred a blank blink from the male -- his feature a stony mask, but in turn, Ruiko inclined his muzzle lightly. "Hi," he mirrored with a drawl, his shoulders relaxing as the she-wolf proved she wanted no conflict. Her question was random, but strangely Ruiko welcomed it more than the overrated 'how are you today' statements. "Heartleaf Creek," he responded.

A rather meek smile was cast his way, though the agouti male did not return the emotion. As he offered her the name of the territory, the youthful she-wolf cast a quick glance about her, as if studying her current whereabouts. It was clear she had not been in Relic Lore long, and Ruiko vaguely mused how long she would stay in the lands. Relic Lore was his home, it was all he knew.. but what was the appeal from the perspective of a traveling wolf?


She muttered a few words lowly, but the small distance between them kept the regal lone wolf from hearing exactly what she spoke, though a light frown threatened to pull upon his stoical features. Half tempted to ask her to repeat what she had just said, the dark female instead asked his permission for a drink. Barely able to hide his amusement at this question, Ruiko gave a light incline of his muzzle in the false imitation of a gentleman (which he was far from) and lightly gave a small side step from the creek.


Giving her the room she had wanted, the hefty beast continued to regard her with mild curiosity, allowing her to quench her thirst. "I assume you haven't been in Relic Lore for very long," he mused in assumption, despising small conversations such as this.

The male’s eyes followed the she-wolf’s lithe form, wondering what she would have said if he had simply said ‘no’ to her request for a drink. As a newcomer to the land of Relic Lore, she likely wouldn’t have been able to dispute if he told her these lands were his; spare that his scent was not thick enough upon the air. Ruiko, as much as he enjoyed stirring trouble and irking others, remained silent as she she-wolf drank, instead taking the friendly route as it just seemed easier to deal with. His patience only stretched so far, especially on quiet days such as these.


The stranger offered where she was from, causing a low sardonic snort to escape the male’s nostrils. She found it cold? “You’re going to have a hard time when we’re in the heart of winter then,” he mused with a flick of his tail, wondering why anyone would stray so far from their birth home if they disliked the conditions they were wandering to. “I have,” he agreed shortly, though not offering any more information on the topic. Had he wore his emotions on his sleeve, so to speak, the regal Tainn could have weaved the tale of his birth pack at Hidden Tree, and the horrors he and his family faced as they were divided when their home burnt to the ground. But he didn’t, and as stoical as Ruiko was, he was also protective of himself. It was none of her business, to put it simply. Her next question caused the hefty male’s shoulders to shrug, choosing to not be stung by her words as his recent title strip from Swift River was still very much on his mind. “Not anymore,” he replied with dark amusement, his muzzle canting slightly.

She studied him as he responded, and while she couldn't quite place it, something in his face seemed to soften. Oh wait – that was just what she was hoping would happen. On a second glance up at his stoic visage, Volkan resolved that this wolf was simply speaking to her and nothing more. The yearling supposed it was appropriate, given that they'd just met and were basically complete strangers. For now, he was being as polite as she could have asked him to be, and that was all. She'd have to take what she could get.

"Not anymore," the male said, and Volkan met his amused expression with one of slight confusion. "Uh – sorry to hear that," she responded, a little taken aback; she hadn't exactly been expecting that one. So that meant she was cool here, right? Was this guy no longer part of a pack, then? Or just... not the alpha anymore? Whatever the case, he didn't seem to mind Volkan being here, and as long as she wasn't trespassing, she didn't have any reason for concern.

She thought about pushing the conversation further and asking what had happened to make this guy fall out of rank, but thought better at the last moment. Instead, her mouth, hanging open in silence, clicked shut with a loss for words before she spoke again. Time to change the topic, she supposed. "...I'm a rogue, too," she added at length, as if it would be any consolation – if he even needed one. Like he would, from some little brat of a stranger. "I mean... I guess it's not that bad. Just gets lonely sometimes, don't you think?" By now she had come to feel a little awkward just standing before him, and was aimlessly nosing around the ground to her left.

His words seemed to throw her off slightly – a reaction he enjoyed, if only to keep the usual monotonous meet and greet discussions at bay. Her apology only stirred a light shrug of the large male’s shoulders, though he found himself pleasantly surprised that she did not question what happened – for that would have been what many wolves who liked to dig their nose in to others business would have done.


The direction of conversation changed slightly, and at the girl’s declaration the male gave a light snort. He had gathered she was a lone wolf – there were only three small packs in Relic Lore, and she seemed very unfamiliar with the lands. Her query was not something he had truly expected, and in turn, the tawny wolf reclined to his haunches – revealing he was in no rush to end their meeting. “No,” he responded gruffly, his eyes grazing over the girl who absently reminded him of Ranger. “But I travel with two others.” Ranger was a constant companion at his side, and when the time was right, he would take her as his own. She was a regal she-wolf, one who would easily hold her place at his side as a leader. Kinis however, came and went as he pleased – which both pleased and worried the rogue. It was good that his youthful brother was discovering the lands and those within it, but Ruiko, if he could ever feel a paternal bond to another, felt it with the young Tainn, and was only comforted fully when Kinis was with them. “Why don’t you settle somewhere?” It seemed strange to him that the girl had yet to seek acceptance in a pack if she was lonely – it was the natural way of the wolf.