Turtleback Lake A few more breaths that you can't count, at least not on me

As Saerosaer threaded his way along the still lakeshore, he pondered the darkening sky overhead with hooded eyes of fire. His expression was pensive, as it so often was, yet the exact subject of his rumination was never to be known. It was much too vast for his line of sight to be followed, and any talent for reading the sky was unspoken by him. Even he didn't know what he was looking at. It's warm, he noted, a thought that had nothing much to do with the state of the sky, and he let his gaze drop to the sound of a light splash as a freshwater fish briefly broke the quiet surface.

Across the way there hunched several islands. While he had places to go and things to see, the Arctic male paused to eye them and wondered what might be found upon secluded little isles like that. In the Arctic, it was ice and more ice, and the land was permanently powdered with snow. The ice was damn tough to live on and the only islands to be found were bergs, much too dangerous for any self-preserving wolf to attempt to land on. In comparison, these islands were puny and welcoming.

Yet he was about as poor a swimmer as he was an astrologian, so the long way around was the only way for him. He broke his stillness with a lurch and continued to trace the shore eastward, all the while cursing how much warmer it was here and how he missed the magnificent sight of bergs sailing along. Oh well, he thought. The debt awaiting him back home was worth skipping town to avoid anyway.

(This post was last modified: May 19, 2016, 12:28 PM by Saerosaer. Edit Reason: Preview post tricked me with HTML working. D: )

Could not resist, helloe again :D

Silvered paws beat rhythmically against the ground, legs moving smoothly through the low grass as the dark wolf made his way along the wide plain. Bright ember eyes searched the surroundings thoroughly, nose quivering in its hunt for any interesting smells. His brows were furrowed, ears pressed half back; Is this too far? How long will it take me to get back? He was torn, part of him wanted to turn back, his heart racing with fear of what might happen while he was away. On the other hand, he had set out to find them something to eat, and he had yet to catch anything; While he longed to be by @Jessie's side, making sure that she was safe, the idea of returning to his partner empty mouthed send chills along his spine. None of them were experienced with this sort of thing, but it seemed clear enough that it could be any day now, any moment he could become a father! Shivers of thrill and anxiety rushed through him at the thought; A father! It was a joy unlike anything else he could imagine, something he had longed for for so long and now it was finally happening. But it was a mixed pleasure. While they had found a land to build their new home, they were still alone, still without a pack to help care for the puppies. The eternal question ran through the budding parent's mind again: Did I do the right thing?

Woeful thoughts were interrupted when a fresh scent finally caught his interest. It was not the smell of prey though, but that of another wolf close by. Curious as always, Drestig speed up, swerving in and out as the open land started to change into forest, taller and taller trees standing closer and closer around him. The he suddenly cleared the woods, freezing in place for a moment as he took in the stunning sight before his eyes. A lake, vaster than any he had ever seen spread out at his paws, it's deep blue surface only broken by a few, green islands, sitting many lengths from the shore. It was a truly breathtaking sight, and had his mind not been so preoccupied, the graying wolf might have stood for longer, watching it all. But the scent of a stranger still tore at his snout, and when he turned his head, he caught sight of a pale figure, following the shoreline up ahead. Striking up a smile, the ebony chap took a few steps in the other's direction, calling out in a friendly voice: "Hi there!" Dark tail waving low behind him as he waited for answer.

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"Speech" Thoughts

Saerosaer banished his thoughts of home and debts and dropped his head to watch the wind wrinkle the surface of the water. An unseen goose honked in the distance and Saerosaer's ears swivelled to the sound of a duck as it met the water breast-first. The lakeside was pristine and tranquil, and be he a more scholarly man, he might've found peace in it. As it were, Saer was a wolf and found serenity in nature by proxy, but no more than any ordinary wolf did. It had no special call to him, though he did enjoy the sky and all it had to tell.

What Saer really enjoyed was others, more specifically figuring them out and learning the best ways to make them serve his needs, and as a voice called out a genial hi there and drew the Arctic wolf's gaze around, his interest in his surroundings waned considerably. Fiery eyes combed the setting as he made a half-turn, and then he stopped as they caught on the more formidable Drestig. Saerosaer made no effort to hide his scrutiny; his eyes roved over the other man's sleek carriage, noting the subtle press of ample muscle through jet black fur. A strong fellow, surely. The smile that adorned the dark-haired wolf's lips, painted snowy with presumed age or perhaps premature fading, was notable but Saerosaer could not place why. He didn't realize he was mimicking it back.

Friend, he drawled in a honeyed tone, briefly meeting the burning gaze of his fellow drifter. He held it only momentarily, a cordiality, and dropped his eyes before it could come across as a challenge. Saerosaer was many things indeed, but not the kind of wolf to outright challenge someone he knew was stronger than him. His was a game of minds and tongues, not muscles and heroics. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Whether he meant the pleasure of acknowledgement or simply the opportunity to win the graces of a wolf who was bigger and stronger than him went unsaid.

The creamy wolf turned at his call, returning a smile of his own as he answered in a smooth voice. Drestig paused a few lengths away, studying the stranger as he was studying him, ember eyes betraying nothing as they swept over the white wolf. He looked young, though surely past the yearling state, his stature lean under the fluffy, unblemished fur. The elder man nodded his head slightly, meeting a gaze similar to his own for a brief moment before settling his eyes on a point further down the boy's white muzzle. He was still smiling, breathing a few chuckles at the phrasing of the offered question, though he was glad that the pale lad seemed open to a bit of company. Unable to resist the temptation, he gave a half-bow, raising his brows at the stranger as he replied graciously: "Oh the pleasure is all mine, I assure you!" A true wolf-grin underlined the quip, ebony ears flicking cheerily. He kept waving his tail though, and the smile returned to its genuine, friendly state as he continued more seriously: "I was simply passing by and thought it rude not to introduce myself. Name's Drestig Avalon."

As he waited to see how the pale fellow might respond, the older wolf continued his study, more subtly now. While initially the small size might catch the most attention, Drestig was just as interested in the more subtle hints of character: the carefully careless stance, perfectly balanced to give an air of disregard, without being impertinent; And the sinewy muscle, masked by the dense, arctic fur. Very intriguing indeed.

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"Speech" Thoughts