Secret Falls I was scared of a heart I couldn't silence

"Not very often, no." He told her, quite proud of that fact.

But that wasn't her point, was it? Even Askan realised that it was highly unlikely she was actually serious, that in all probability she was mocking him. Well, what had she expected him to say? To point out and name all the constellations in the sky? Tccht. As if he'd waste his time filling his mind with such drivel. Before he even had time to truly get all flustered over her implications the stranger posed a nosy, if not fair question.

"Most people don't gawk at the sky." He said, jabbing her right back. Two could play at this game. "I wasn't looking for company. Up here seemed like a good place to keep out of sight. Not my fault you're weird." He smiled a little at that, smug, as his tail twitched in poorly hidden amusement.

She then went on to talk about sentries and the like and...she lost him. Not because he was unfamiliar with the meaning of the word, he wasn't an idiot after all, but the nuisances , the lack of context left him puzzled. If they had day sentries did they have night ones too? Why did they separate the two? It was odd, archaic, Askan had to know more.

"Day sentries? Your pack had different roles according to the time of day? Why?"

Askan & Reyes

Upon hearing him confirm that he truly didn't miss much, Kieron let out a girlish giggle. Even as he told her that most didn't gawk at the sky, she grew quiet, but the smirk still remained. He hadn't been looking for companionship. To be fair, neither was Kieron; she had simply been exploring, taking in the sights and sounds and scents of the Lore, possibly searching for relics and wonders to behold. Upon being called weird, she outwardly beamed at him. Sure, it wasn't a compliment, per se, but she preferred being called something other than pretty or lovely or smart or thoughtful. His little tail wag was enough to please her in their little exchange of jests.

As the rogue questioned about Day Sentries, wanting to know more, she folded her hind limbs beneath her and sat for a well-deserved break. She had spent most of the day walking and, at times, covering ground in a hunter's lope from a drive of wanting to see everything all at once. "It made sense," she explained. "Darker coats patrol at night. Tawny coats patrol during the day. White coats go out on the winter hunt. The larger your body, the more likely you were drafted as a Guard. The smaller, the more likely you were taken up as a Scout." There was a slight shrug of her shoulder as if her statements were common knowledge, "For us, it made splitting up tasks easier, if anything. It ensured that there was always someone watching, that there was no weakness."

She certainly was the smiley sort, wasn't she? Though he wouldn't admit it, he had sort of gotten used to such sunny dispositions. At times being around someone so happy was more than the grumpy bugger could bear, made him want to shove his face in a rabbit warren or something equally as dramatic.  But seeing as though they'd only just met, spent a few moments or so conversing-well he wasn't going to leap off the rock any time soon. His tolerance for the cheery had increased somewhat over the years, he could tolerate it in small doses from time to time.

She went onto explain their reasoning behind the segregation of roles and...well, when put like that it made sense. He purses his lips in thought as he wondered how well such a system would have worked in his homeland. With a huff he realised it wouldn't have, after all everyone- besides from an annoying cousin of his- had dark coats.

But what of her? His gaze flickered back to her as he watched the loner lay down, calm and comfortable.  Askan remained standing as he didn't want to give her the impression that they were too friendly- though honestly, it was mostly because he wanted to be taller. She was only a smidge bit shorter than he, far less chunky too. At least there was that, he supposed.

"Then what of you? You're both light and dark, what role did you fill?"

When talking about something of substance...maybe this socialising milarky wasn't too painful. Far from pleasant but tolerable, like nibbling out a knot in his winter coat.

Askan & Reyes

With her limbs now stretched out before her and her whole being at ease, she thought back to how she and her siblings had been split up as yearlings. How their interests had been nurtured and their personalities emboldened by their teachings and newfound responsibilities as functioning members of their pack. Again, with the banter and the sharing of the seemingly obvious, she let her smile soften, "I was the only one in my generation have a countershaded coat." She didn't expect him to understand, and so expounded further, "As my grandfather and his brother had found, it is useful for fishing and for blending in with the night. I ran with my pack's Night Watchers, developed hunting tactics with my team each evening, and patrolled the borders 'til dawn."

She pushed herself back up into a sitting position, "I got bored of it for a while, but I still find that I miss it - the darkness and the quiet - sometimes." There was a slight pause as she stole a few more glances towards the sky, easily picking out the Northern star. "If you require extra security, I'm willing to be of service," she offered, noting now with a twitch of her nose that the man was no loner by the scents that clung to his pelt. If he didn't need her, there would be no offense taken, but if there was anything crucial Kieron knew, it was that there was safety in numbers and, in a pack, a chance for her purpose to be rediscovered. "If I watch these woods for you, you could be sleeping right about now."

Askan hadn't asked for a long winded explanation, but that's what he got. He rolled his eyes as she cast her sight elsewhere, still nattering on about fishing and blending in. A topic he had quite possibly the least interest in. Sure, fish were nice to eat but the process of getting them-in his experience at least- was wholly unpleasant. His gaze flitted back to her once more as the loner pushed herself upright, her gaze moving back to the sky once more. She could scarce keep her eyes off it, what did she see that Askan didn't?

The next words that left her mouth were of far more interest to the Edge Lord. He found his ears tipping forward without his permission as he considered her offer. She was willing to be of service. Did she peg him as the leader sort, or was it just a stab in the dark?

He shifted his weight from one paw to the other as he eyed her up, judged her worth. She claimed to have experience and clearly wasn't a yearling who'd just flown the coop, perhaps she was what the Edge needed, a new perspective.

"I lead a pack not far from here, Shallows Edge." He began after a little while of consideration. He was a cautious man, but what was life without a little risk every now and then? "There might be room for you, if you're not all talk." He quirked his brow then, curious to see if she'd take the bait.

Askan & Reyes

(This post was last modified: Jun 08, 2018, 01:28 AM by Askan.)

A stab in the dark, indeed... His status of being a pack Leader was confirmed. All caution aside, her assumptions had all ridden on how the brute had carried himself. His all too high-and-mighty attitude paired with his subtle disinterest (which she had gracefully shrugged off) had been her first clue. If she had an affinity for annoying others, she might have not stopped talking or shifted the conversation at all.... just to see the man roil beneath his dark pelt.

"There might be room for you," he offered, "if you're not all talk."

Not at all desperate or dying for companionship, Kieron gave a slight dip of her muzzle in thought. Her modest smile still lingered as she looked him over again as he remained standing. Right where I wanted you. "Grand," she hummed, standing now and turning to face him fully, "Shall I prove my worth tonight? Walk you to your sleeping quarters and report to you first thing in the morning?"

Her smirk reappeared and she took a step over to stand at his shoulder, eagerly awaiting his next move.

(This post was last modified: Jun 08, 2018, 01:03 AM by Kieron.)

Cool as a cucumber this one.

Askan didn't know what to make of it but saw no reason to dwell on the issue, not at that moment anyway. Rather than respond to her right away Askan padded to the side of the rock and peered down, his eyes narrowing in focus. If he went down that route he might slip on the moss and tumble down, but that way looked rather jagged, he might damage his paws. Hmm. Raising his head he looked to her once more, just as side-glance as though she wasn't deserving of his full attention. She was, probably, but Askan did like to put on a bit of a show.

"You do that." He shrugged. It wasn't as if he needed an escort, he was more than capable of looking after himself- but whatever, he'd let it slide for now. It was getting late, there were other, comfier places he'd rather be. Not everyone could be night owls.

"Try not to break your legs. I'm not dragging you back." He grumbled, then hoped down off the side and began his careful descend down to firmer ground.

Fade

Askan & Reyes