Luna Hill Ready, Ready?

The female remained calm and composed, mildly chiding both of them for disrupting the peace of the night and the beauty of the skies. Coupled with Coquelicot's words that assured no harm, the tawny male appeared to relax his hostile stance. Reluctantly Coquelicot did the same, but still remained alert, eying the two others with veiled suspicion for a few seconds longer as their attentions turned to the piquant stars above them. It didn't seem like they were going to attack him anytime soon.

Lips pursed in a small frown, eyebrows furrowed in bemusement, Coquelicot did the same, scrutinizing the cold glittering specks scattered miles above in an impersonal sky. He couldn't see what was so special about such a sight - didn't one see the night sky everyday anyways? Unfortunately, such natural beauty was wasted on his stern sensibilities. If one was perpetually looking up to the heavens, then they wouldn't be able to see what was in front or behind them. The world was an unforgiving place, with dangers at every corner. Daydreaming - or stargazing in this matter, was a luxury that was both pointless and potentially expensive.

Gone Tomorrow

Maybe she was out of place for chiding the two males for being defensive. Truth be told, she wasn't all calm and serene either - she was alert and focused, just waiting to leap into action if the chance meeting turned hostile. Granted, she would probably run like a coward if fighting broke out - she was no warrior. So it was in her best interest that she spoke out against the two and attempted to calm them down. She currently had no reputation in this land, and she didn't really want to earn one by running at the first sign of trouble.

Turning her head in the direction of the larger male, she smiled at him as he questioned her comment about the night sky overhead. It was a weird hobby that she had, but somehow looking at the stars helped her put everything into perspective. "I do. They help me remember that not everything is about, well, me," she told him, chuckling as she ended her sentence. Sometimes it was necessary to take a step back and put things into perspective. "There's something about it that just gives me hope." She added, slipping down onto her haunches, turning her attention back to the two wolves before her. "I'm Corinna, Corinna Donata."

Both males had seemingly settled in to the she-wolf’s distractions, and while the auburn stranger remained silent to Ruiko’s query, his own gaze remained fast upon the slender she-wolf. It could be assumed she was a gentle creature upon his first impression, and from that thought alone, the regal second found himself more relaxed in her company than he would have thought possible.

He listened to her words with silent curiosity – he could grasp the idea she attempted to paint for him.. but he still did not see the true point to it. Perhaps it was because he was a pack wolf, and to simply remind himself that not everything was about him.. well, all he had to do was look at his three baby siblings each time he came home with food for them.. the way their hungry jaws would pull at the tough meat, and at times they would seek the corner of his mouth for anything he might have for them. No, with the death of his parents and the harsh reality of raising a childish pack.. Indru and Ruiko had quickly learned just how much the world wasn’t about them.

“Ruiko Tainn,” he introduced in turn, his gaze only now seeking out the male.

Coquelicot had originally assumed that the female's fixation with the stars was a whim born out of a fascination with natural beauty, nothing more. But her words of explanation gave him a bit of perspective on the skies. So it was a way for one to realize that the world was a much vaster place, and that individuals were merely part of the world rather than the view that the world was a part of an individual's life. Fascinating. Although he didn't really see how that could give anyone hope.

In fact, he found it more depressing than anything else. To know that you were one among many, all underneath the same inky black skies. He didn't want to think about this anymore and felt relieved as the female introduced herself. Corinna Donata. Then the previously hostile male did so in turn. The now-named Ruiko Tainn turned searching eyes on him now. With a silent sigh, Coquelicot supposed that he should oblige the two with his name, just in case this Ruiko reverted back to a borderline violent mode. "Coquelicot False."

Gone Tomorrow

Neither one of them commented on her observation about the stars, and for a moment, she felt foolish. Who was she to talk of selfishness to these two random strangers? She wasn't an idiot; she knew that neither one of them gave a damn about her and her idle philosophies. But, she found it hard to talk to strangers, so she compensated by talking about herself. It didn't exactly work all the time, but it was a step in some direction, if not the right one.

Waiting, she turned her gaze to each of the males in turn as they introduced themselves. Like her, they offered no other information about themselves than their names. Both their surnames aroused interest in her, though for two completely different reasons. "Tainn...that's the Swift River's pack name, isn't it?" she asked Ruiko, hoping that he might divulge some more information about the pack's current status after the fire had forced them to relocate. Sage eyes turning to Coquelicot, she tilted her head to the side in curiosity. "False? As in the opposite of true?" She questioned, a silly grin playing about her lips.

She was a mediator to this random gathering – she proved so the moment she attempted to further placate them both in conversation after their introductions. At her question, Ruiko only offered a simple grunt in response, followed by a nod. She must have been in these parts for awhile to know the pack had relocated, but he spoke no more on the subject. Quite frankly, he tried to avoid even thinking about the recent changes and disaster that had struck he and his family.

Instead, he focused his attention to the male, studying the expression that would cross the stranger’s face at Corinna’s comment. Only then did it occur to him that he was wasting his time here, randomly blabbering with two strangers that he would most likely never see again. Straightening now, the large tawny wolf cast a glance back over his shoulder to the direction of his home land, knowing he should be returning soon. It was late, and come morning he would need to hunt with Indru, as they now had little mouths to feed. “It’s late,” he spoke, his tone breaking the silence with a sharp bluntness. “It was a pleasure meeting you both, but I’ll be on my way now.” With that, the male gave a light nod of his muzzle, and without second thought, Ruiko Tainn strode to the direction of his new home.. no matter how broken it was.

So the Tainn family comprised the pack of Swift River? Gazing at Ruiko with a newfound interest, Coquelicot made sure to store his appearance and name in his memories. The tawny male acknowledged the relation with his pack with a grunt, but elaborated no more on the subject. It didn't seem like he was much of a talker. The loner quirked his lips in a half-hearted smile at Corinna's attempt to instill some humor into the somewhat somber situation, but his eyes remained dark and emotionless.

"I suppose you could say that," he murmured, words laced with the slightest taint of bitterness. As Ruiko interrupted the ensuing silence with words of farewell, Coquelicot watched him leave the vicinity before he gave a curt nod to Corinna in turn. "I'll be off as well. See you around sometime, maybe," he said as he strode away with a flick of the tail, back into the shadows that beckoned him in with welcoming arms.

Gone Tomorrow

And just like that, she was alone. Each of the two males in their turn bid her a farewell before turning tail and striking out into the darkness. She remained on her haunches, green eyes watching them both go. Ruiko headed in the direction of the Sacred Grove, where his new pack borders were freshly marked. Coquelicot went in a different direction, to what place, she had no idea. He was not a part of the Swift River wolves; he was a vagabond, just like her. Shaking her head, the female cast one last look at the clear skies before she too rose up and headed out on her way; leaving the hill empty and vacant, just like she found it.