Wildflower Glade don't you remember

Their travels were far and wide. Ranger's wound was now healed and only ached after a long day's travel, at which point she would fall asleep almost immediately, only taking a moment to eat something before slipping into a stupor. This only happened rarely, as the pair often stayed in the same area for two or three nights at a time, moving on whenever they felt it necessary. Ranger usually let Ruiko decide when they left, while she often guided him toward another area. She had been a lone wolf in these parts for many weeks and knew the territories decently well.

Living with Ruiko had been a dream of hers since they first met, but propriety called for her own den, and she had happily obliged. Now that they were on the road and loners without anyone judging their behavior, they shared a den and often slept curled up together for warmth. Ranger's admiration and respect for Ruiko had grown tenfold since their departure from Swift River; it was not easy leaving your family for something you believed in. Ranger had done that and understood all too well the conflicted feelings within Ruiko's heart and mind.

Yesterday they had arrived in Wildflower Glade, a beautiful little corner of the Thicket of Secrets. This had been her favorite haunt as a lone wolf, and to return to the Thicket helped her feel secure in their journey. She wasn't sure where they would eventually settle, but she was waiting for Ruiko to decide when he found the right place. She also had a feeling that they would not be starting a pack of their own (as Ruiko deserved to be king) until they had more members on their side. Perhaps they would have to start networking soon.

Today they were lounging in the sun near a small creek, a pile of fish bones not too far from them. Ranger's belly was full and the warmer day made her feel lazy. Smiling at Ruiko, she planted a kiss on his cheek and then replaced her head on her paws, feeling drowsier with every passing moment. <b>"It's a beautiful day,"</b> she commented softly, enjoying the warm sun on her back. She opened one eye to look at him, a small grin on her face. <b>"I'm glad to be spending it with you, but sometimes I miss your family."</b>

Ruiko kept careful watch on his companion, feeling more relieved, as each day that passed she seemed stronger than the last. In retrospect, after they had left Swift River, the regal tawny wolf had often worried that taking her away from a pack when she was injured had been a reckless and poor decision, but Ranger had proven to him that she was a survivor. If anything, she seemed to flourish even more since their time together.

The day found them in leisure by a small creek, and the sun hinted at the promise of warmth to come to the lands. The time of year had come more startling to him than most, and Ruiko could sense the she-wolf’s oncoming heat and it made him antsy. Any scent of a strange male wolf that the two crossed was enough to bristle the regal wolf’s hackles and crowd closer to Ranger in a protective and silent claim, yet they were packless, and he was not willing to bring pups in to the world unless they settled themselves fully. The ebony she-wolf planted a kiss upon him, and casting a glance down to the girl by his side, the Tainn wolf shifted closer to her side, his tongue smoothing out across the back of her neck as he groomed her with a low growl of contentment. “I miss them too,” he spoke gently, though made no further comment on the subject. They would be fine – Indru would keep them safe.

She was enjoying the feeling of his rough tongue gently grooming her. She felt him move closer to her, and she smiled, shifting to curve into his body. They were not mated, and yet every time they came across another male's scent, Ruiko would become very protective of her. Ranger thought it was endearing, but was also unsure of what it meant. Would they settle down soon? She had no qualms with their traveling, but sometimes she missed having a den to come home to at night. Sure, they had make-shift dens, but nothing was permanent.

They were transient vagabonds. If they mated (as she felt her body being to change and felt the urge to procreate), the odds of survival for her and the pups were dramatically decreased because they were lone wolves. If they settled into their own pack and gathered others around them, then perhaps she would consider it. No matter how much she desired to have his children, she knew that to even attempt it would be suicide. Even if the elements didn't kill them, she was sure the other packs wouldn't appreciate the idea of lone wolves breeding.

<b>"Maybe once we've found a home, we can invite them to visit us."</b> It was a simple idea, but Ranger had thought a lot about it. She was sure that Ruiko would want to start his own pack and invite others to join. She knew he missed his friends in Swift River, especially Avalloc and Damascus. They had discussed this over and over these past weeks, though each conversation ended with indecision. She had learned to stop bringing it up. <b>"Ruiko?"</b> she asked softly, turning her head toward him, opening her eyes to stare into his gold eyes. She wanted to make sure he was listening before continuing.

He continued his ministrations, moving from the graceful arch of the back of her nape to the blades of her shoulders. They had both thinned a bit since their travels – game had been harder to come by with only two noses, and it was certainly more challenging to capture. For now the two wolves fared fine, though Ruiko knew they could not stay like this for much longer, even with winter coming to an end.

Ruiko did not respond to her response of inviting his family to a home they would find, but he did nod in reassurance. In truth, he was uncertain if any of them would be interested in having anything to do with the two wolves who had in their eyes abandoned the pack, but he was hopeful that they would. Indru, he knew, would be content with whatever Ruiko decided.

Ranger spoke his name, a question hidden in her voice. “Hm?” His tone was a mere grunt, his creamy muzzle finally pulling away from the she-wolf to glance briefly in to her features as he showed her she had captivated his full attention.

She felt his tongue lick along her shoulders, grooming her silver-tipped fur as he went. She was glad that he was so near. Ranger knew that her time was upon her, and that her scent would soon drive him, and any male within range, wild. She didn't want any other male, however, to be her mate; she wanted Ruiko. But to bring children into this world they would need a pack to keep them alive. She turned her head toward him and licked his chin softly, caressing his jawline and kissing his ear gently.

<b>"As much as I love spending my days doing almost nothing with you, I think it's time we settle down."</b> Her voice had dropped a few notes and was now a raspy, deep-throated noise. She was coming into heat, and while she knew that a pack was necessary for any children to survive, she also knew that her body would not let her rest until it got what it wanted. <b>"I love this place more than anything and I will live wherever you want. I think, though, that it's time. Come Spring, nobody will want to harbor us and it will be impossible to bring down deer with just two of us."</b> Her tongue and nose had begun to wander down his neck, to his shoulder, where she rested her chin upon his back. <b>"Just think about it, okay?"</b>

He waited patiently for her to speak; a trait he had only discovered recently. Patience had never been a virtue of his, yet during the weeks they had spent as lone wolves with little to no responsibility but each other, he had learned to simply wait. Right now, they were waiting for the time to settle down and claim lands, and for reasons unknown to him, he was waiting to claim her completely as his.

Her words came, and the tawny regal had expected them for some time now. His ebony companion was beginning the cycle of her heat, and Ruiko knew she would want to settle down, for it was only instinct. The Tainn male could feel the pull of breeding season as well, but with no pack to help their potential young, he felt little need to procreate just yet. At the ministrations of her tongue and request, the golden male remained quiet for a moment, contemplating her request. There was little land left to claim in Relic Lore that he desired, for he did not want to settle too close to the current packs. Casting another glance her way, the male tilted his muzzle slightly. “We need others to form a pack,” he gently reminded her, for their party of two would find hardship whether they called themselves lone wolves or pack wolves.

His words were not unexpected, but they still caused her to frown slightly. She knew that finding at least three other wolves to live with them would be a priority, especially to survive well as a pack. Ranger also knew that Ruiko's desire to settle down was far outweighed by his desire to be an alpha. He would only settle where he could reign as king, and with followers loyal only to him. Ranger was one of those wolves and already he held sway in her heart.

She hoped that Ruiko's friends would not <span class='word'>eschew</span> him just because he had left Swift River. Avalloc had been his long time friend and almost a brother of sorts, and it was easy to imagine Kinis following them. That left them with one other wolf to find, at least, to form a new pack. <b>"Avalloc would follow you, I'm almost certain,"</b> she said quietly. He might not feel the need to leave Swift River without cause, but if they asked him, he might join their new pack. <b>"And your brother Kinis, he's a lone wolf. We could ask him."</b> These were somewhat sore subjects, but she was simply thinking aloud.

Ranger fell silent for a moment, as if mulling over his words. Ruiko took that small lull in conversation as an opportunity to continue his grooming, his tongue sliding gently over the back of her nape before his teeth teased the sensitive fur and skin just below her ear. It was almost a cruel gesture for them both for they would not copulate their burning emotions in fear of bringing pups in to a world where they would not survive, but all the same, the ebony temptress before him was a she-wolf to indulge in.

The mention of Avalloc stirred a blink from the stoical male, and he pulled back slightly to regard her. The thought of his adopted cousin was a myriad of emotions; he was uncertain whether to be angered at the male’s lack of loyalty to initially following him, but that did not change his love for him. Despite such, Ruiko would not disturb his long time friend. “No, we will leave Swift River and it’s members to their own will,” he decided, not willing to tempt Indru’s loyal followers away. After all, they served the pack that kept his younger siblings safe. “And Kinis is still young. He has much to learn,” he commented, though the tawny male would not bear having his brother stay as a lone wolf. Ruiko would be insistant that the youth join them, but it was not enough to claim as a pack. "In time we will find others," he soothed, a small smirk pressing to the corner of his inked lips.

Ruiko continued to ministrations to her back and neck as he thought over what she said, and Ranger relished the feel of his hot tongue against her fur. She closed her eyes against the world for a moment, bathing in the feel of his affection, and only replied after a moment of silence. She knew it would be hard for Ruiko to ask Avalloc to join them, or even Borlla, his younger sister. Indru would certainly not appreciate the disloyalty. It was perhaps her destiny, a sort of <span class='word'>kismet</span>, to remain a lone wolf for the rest of her days. With Ruiko by her side, however, she didn't care where she laid her head at night, as long as it was near his.

<b>"I know we will,"</b> she said softly, burying her nose into the fur at his neck and inhaling his deep, earthy scent. <b>"I am just anxious, that's all."</b> It was not like her to be anxious over anything, but living on their own while the other packs flourished around them caused her to worry about their safety. They had agreed separately not to mate until they found a pack, but the yearning deep within her belly would not go away, and it made her more anxious and nervous for her safety as well Ruiko's, as he would challenge any male who tried to claim her.