Chase the World!

For days now, Ryka Tiaroth had slowly been exploring the great wilderness in which she found herself. Every little new patch of land was a discovery, filled with potential. She had yet to really encounter many wolves, but she knew they were there. The telltale signs of packs were everywhere, and she politely steered clear from their borders. She knew nothing about them, and didn't want to take any risks. While the young female fully intended on joining a pack, it wouldn't be for a little while. Past experiences told her to choose wisely. She had been disappointed before, and didn't want to make the same mistake again. Here, in such a vibrant environment, she hoped to settle down for good.

With a warm summer sun hanging in the sky, and only a few serene clouds dotting the sky, Ryka's spirits were up today. Despite the warmth, she was in the mood to go out and explore. She didn't really head in any particular direction...she just let her paws take her where they may. Whatever looked the most interesting would draw her attention, compelling her closer to investigate. After about thirty minutes of aimless but content wandering, the chocolate peppered wolf found herself immersed in an immense sea of tall green grass. The faint aroma of fruit hang in the air, coming from the sporadically placed bushes. She noticed the dark blue, purple blackberries dotting them, concluding that this spot was a likely place to draw in herbivores. But as of now, in the heat of the day, not a single animal was in sight. That was okay though, it just gave her all the more opportunity to explore in peace.

A substantial meal would've been nice, as she was reminded by the slight gnawing in her stomach. But at least there were plenty of blackberries to pick from. Such fruit wasn't her first choice of food, but hey, she was always willing to try something new at least once. Ever so gently, she reached out to pluck one berry at a time between her teeth, before swallowing it. After a few more minutes of repeating this process, she knew it would take forever to satisfy her appetite. Perhaps it would be worth searching this field for signs of prey. If she got lucky, maybe she could flush something out. However, she wasn't in much of a hurry. With a stretch of her body, and a little yawn, Ryka promptly planted herself down in the minimal shade from the bush, enjoying the breeze that tickled the long blades of abundant grass.

Chulyin traveled Northward. He'd been making good time simply going straight, but while around the willows, it had been blatantly obvious that a mountain range stood between him and whatever laid on the other side. And there was certainly still more land to be seen here. Elettra had spoken of her allies, and Chulyin had been aware of one pack and then the dark woman's land. But certainly "allies" indicated more than one. So there must have been another pack on this side of the mountain. So North he moved, and perhaps slightly west. It was a bit of a journey, and rather lonely, though such things didn't bother him much.

The journey to Naira would be long, he was certain. But to check every pack he could would be important, certainly. The knight could only hope his dearest sibling was not wandering around a loner still, after all this time. Chulyin could only hope for a sign, some word of her existence here. It would make his journey a little more direct, and then he would not have to suffer in such a way. A slight hunger bit at him as he came upon the blackberry bushes. He did his best to ignore them at first, simply wandering past them. But unable to bear the grumblings of his insides, he paused at a bush, leaning forward to pull a berry free. It burst, juicy, within his mouth, broken by his teeth. The flavor was less than favorable, but he chewed and swallowed, picking another berry off. And then another and another, until the gnawing faded a bit. It was something for now until he could hunt again.

Moving ahead again, he noticed a body in the shade of a bush and paused, eying the being quietly. A breeze ruffled his fur, carrying his scent towards her. Chulyin was not anti-social by any means, but he felt out of place. A lone knight was hardly a knight at all, and functioning was difficult. He enjoyed the company of others, knowing that there was someone above to command him. He enjoyed giving advice and counsel to those he was sworn to...Perhaps that would be Naira, but she wasn't here and Chulyin felt uneasy. <b style="color:#a51919">

Lurking until the end of July - Please PM/tag me to get my attention

Lounging contently in the shade of the bush, Ryka allowed her eyes to drift shut. She was by no means about to take a nap. She was simply enjoying the moment, and the peace that came with it. Memories and thoughts alike swirled in her head, some good, some bad. Those that were of the less favorable variety, she simply accepted them for what they were, and moved on. The past was the past, and whatever events locked within it could not be undone. A expulsion of air escaped her nostrils in a huff. If only she could always think so positively. After a night here, she would move back to her den site at the falls. Maybe consider checking out one of the resident packs, just to get a feel for what they were like. If an invitation was extended, she just might accept it.

The long, coarse blades of vibrant green grass tickled her sides, stroking through mixed brown and gray fur with the subtle breeze. Her sides heaved with a relaxed, easy sigh. Prying her eyes open again, she was met with a view of an endless sea of green, splotched with blackberry bushes. Honestly, the whole place looked deserted, so she certainly wasn't expecting any visitors. Along with the gentle summer wind, came something unexpected. A scent that didn't quite belong. Another wolf had stopped by, and judging by their scent, they were a loner, most likely. Immediately put on alert, Ryka climbed to her feet. A long stretch and an arch of her spine showed that she wasn't worried about them. Out of her peripheral vision, she caught a glimpse of black fur, situated not far from a bush. Curiosity took hold, and she swung her head around to watch them, her own body soon following suit.

He had noticed her, it seemed. And he came closer, just a little bit. Her tail flicked restlessly, flinging a few stray strands of grass aside that had been tangled in the fur. She couldn't say this male looked familiar, although he bore a close resemblance to that other wolf she had met by the lagoon. He almost seemed as if he were looking for something, or perhaps someone. Drawing in a silent breath, she gathered up her nerve and took a few steps forward. Emerald eyes looked his large frame up and down briefly, a wolven brow raised a fraction. "Hello stranger. I wasn't expecting anyone to show up today." Her feminine voice drifted across the gap between them, polite yet inquisitive. "Pardon me for asking, but can I help you? It seems as if you were searching for something..." She tried, that prodding notion in the forefront of her mind compelling the girl to speak. Perhaps she could be of some help, but as a recent newcomer to this land, she could only do so much.

Faint purple stains covered his already yellowed teeth and his tongue passed over the bones as he slowly lowered himself to his haunches, golden eyes locked onto the target in the brush. It didn't take long at all for the woman to see him, and his tail shifted behind him, coming to a halt in the curve of his hind leg, black blending perfectly with black. The woman was brown in color, with rather bright green eyes. It seemed as good a place as any to hide, if your fur was of the appropriate color, though who was to say she was hiding? It was no more than an absent consideration. Chulyin had had the misfortune of being born with stark black fur in a snowy wilderness. Hunting in the north had always been an issue for him.

When she brought herself from the earth, Chulyin got back to his paws, retreating back a single step. Why was he so weary in this place? Perhaps it was just a lack of sleep. His own golden eyes blinked slowly, though he was glad he could get a better look at his company when she wasn't sprawled on the grass. He was much larger than she, that was obvious enough. His nails dug into the soft earth beneath him and Chulyin forced himself to his haunches again, giving the woman a nod of welcome. A look of concern passed over his face, and he eyed her, <b style="color:#a51919">"Are these your lands, miss? I did not intend to trespass, though there was no scent borders I caught."

He found it unnecessary to answer her question. His only hunt was for Naira, but his mission was a burden he would share with no one. Quietly, he pondered whether it was wise to be sitting again. If he'd crossed some poorly marked border, then there was little time to be dawdling about in a land claimed by another. <b style="color:#a51919">

Lurking until the end of July - Please PM/tag me to get my attention

A gentle, ever so faint breeze swept across the quaint little expanse of the grassy meadow. It combed through her fur, reaching her skin, providing some momentary relief from the summer warmth. Under an attentive eye, she watched every move that the male made, looking for anything that would indicate his intentions. It had been a while since Ryka was in the company of another wolf, loner or not. One could never know for sure what to expect. Due to being forced to live a solitary life over the last year, she wasn't about to make any hasty assumptions. She did wonder though, why he was here. And why she had caught his attention in the first place. Maybe it was purely accidental, being that two strangers had been in such close proximity to one another in the very same place.

He seemed cautious, but neutral in demeanor thus far. She noted how he stood just as she did, as if keeping a close tab on her movements. Being of a smaller size than he, Ryka certainly wasn't about to try anything stupid. The very last thing she wanted was a nasty confrontation. She had enough of that when her cousin had ran her off, with every intention of snuffing out her life. Lowering her hind end back to the earth, she rooted herself to that spot, content to interact with him at a distance. No need to go getting into his personal space while both were well within hearing distance. Her inquiry went unanswered, she noticed. Deciding not to press him again, she focused on the concerned look he wore, paired with a question of his own.

Her brows lifted, curiosity flashing across her face before being replaced with a mixture of humbleness and slight humor. "Oh no, these lands aren't mine. No land is...I am just a simple wanderer out seeing what this place had to offer." She tore her emerald gaze away from him a moment, only to glance around letting her eyes sweep over the large field dotted with blackberry bushes. "And it would seem there isn't much today. Just a never ending supply of blackberries and two strangers." She remarked, an amused little smile tugging at her dark lips. Before she forgot, she might as well introduce herself. "My name is Ryka Tiaroth. I only just arrived here a few weeks ago in search of a home. Nothing was mentioned on why she needed a new home, nor why she had abandoned her original one in the first place. That was sensitive information she kept behind closed doors.

The man relaxed slightly when she informed him that this land was not her own. On one hand, it would have provided a convenient excuse to take his leave, but on the other, socializing was a good way to go about keeping his sanity. While not anti-social, he was very focused on his goal. It took a bit of mental workaround to tell himself that stopping for a moment was alright and very necessary. He may not have smiled or gave any wag of good nature, but neither did he growl or bare his teeth. The interaction was neutral as far as he could rate it, and so he could take the information given with a grain of salt.

He eyed the berries with a weary yellow gaze, <b style="color:#a51919">"I suppose if one were starving, they would be an easy and welcome meal." He nodded, though didn't take another dark fruit. She smiled, he didn't. Strangers. A very good word she'd used. Though the moniker wouldn't be in use for very long, for she immediately gave him her name. <b style="color:#a51919">"It is a pleasure, miss Ryka. I am Chulyin of the North." He had no last name to speak of as many seemed to have, so could only say where he hailed from: the north. <b style="color:#a51919">"A few weeks?" Though his voice held no element of surprise, his yellow eyes widened slightly. Unless her mission was not unlike his, Chulyin could not imagine why one would choose the life of a loner.

He could not rest until he'd found his sister, which caused him to suffer the curse of starvation and exhaustion. But he wondered what her own excuse was. <b style="color:#a51919">"Weeks, miss?" He questioned, his brows coming together just slightly. <b style="color:#a51919">"Why would you subject yourself to such torment?" There was a faint edge of distaste and anger in his voice, but hardly enough to warrant worry. <b style="color:#a51919">

Lurking until the end of July - Please PM/tag me to get my attention

In no rush to depart any time soon, Ryka remained firmly planted on the ground. Although she knew that she needn't keep her guard up around this wolf, she didn't take another step closer. No sign of offense was taken when he failed to smile or wag his tail in a friendly manner. They had known one another for less than five minutes, so an air of neutrality was completely expected. Vibrant green eyes followed his back to the bush of blackberries. "Yes, they will do as a small snack." She never had been one to sample fruit before, or what little the wild offered, but she wasn't opposed to it's sweet, slightly tart flavor. With most of the animals napping during the day, she would not expend the effort to flush them out. Now a name was offered...one she could pair with his face. "It is good to make your acquaintance, Chulyin." She replied smoothly, while wandering what caused him to leave his northern home. Of course, she had her reasons for fleeing her homeland too.

"Yes, that's right." She nodded ever so slightly, confirming his curiosity. It was lonesome, the life of a rouge. But it also gave her time to think, and it sharpened her survival skills as a bonus. But she well and truly missed the unity there was in a pack. Sure, she had come across a few and had been recruited. However, months after joining each one, she found that the fit wasn't right. Or that their beliefs and way of life didn't suit her. Some had just disbanded altogether. Ryka would rather settle in a pack where she was completely comfortable, than one that where she truly did not feel at home. And so her search continued. Perhaps here, she would find the answer, a permanent home where she would live out the rest of her days. If not, then she would simply move on.

She drew in a breath and let it out slowly, looking at Chulyin evenly. "Well, my family is gone, so I was forced to move." The details behind it all, she left out. She would rather avoid burdening him with her sorrowful story of death, loss and betrayal. "It's not that I prefer this lifestyle...I have been in several packs before. But as I quickly found out, they just weren't right for me." Her tongue swept over her dark lips, moistening them before she continued. "Hopefully here, my luck will change. I intend to choose carefully before making my decision."