Secluded Spring it's everything I wish I didn't know

Set after <a href='http://relic-lore.net/index.php?showtopic=1065' target='_blank'>this</a> thread, so the two can still be together?

Secluded Spring was just that: secluded. It was this very reason why Ruiko found himself revelling in the land he currently stood in, his hefty figure strewn lazily across a large rock that was warmed from the sun. He hadn’t seen Ranger in a few days – his worry for her grew slightly, but he allowed her the space she seemingly needed. In turn, Kinis had also been scarce from his presence, which worried him even more so. The boy had grown in to a bolder and more adventurous state, and while Ruiko pretended to allow the youth his space, often he spent a good portion of his days trailing the fresh scents of his younger sibling just to reassure himself that Kinis was fine.

Smoothing his tongue across his lips, the male bent down to one cream paw and cleaned off the small bits of blood that had dried there from a previous hunt; his catch lay not even a foot from him now, the limp pheasant stirring his gaze from the silent waters to hungrily glance at every so often. He held off on eating the meal for now, hopeful that Kinis would join him and the two could dine together. Their catches were smaller with less numbers, and the regal tawny male found himself far more antsy with the desire to claim land now more than ever. Spring was here, and it was time.

For a sparse moment, the sun faded behind a greying cloud, and the wolf lifted his broad muzzle to the sky. The wind shifted ever so delicately to the east, and the Tainn briefly wondered if they were going to get a shower on this May afternoon.

After having pointed out the nearest source of water, Vlarindara followed Daedalus quietly, still not quite comfortable with allowing someone to come in at her flank. Despite the fact that he did help her clean out her wounds. The white female yawned softly as they approached the springs, finding with interest that they'd stumbled on something that... wasn't where she'd intended to go. Their destination had originally been farther - but not having traveled this way before, she'd not realized there was water here already.

"It ..appears I was mistaken about our traveling distance." The white female chuckled, but moved towards the springs, doing her best to make sure he wouldn't be getting her back - unfortunately, she'd not paid as much attention as she should have and instead gave the larger male Ruiko her back. Though, the injured wolf wasn't exactly.. prone to paying attention to her surroundings at the moment - she was hoping to actually continue her trip towards the Mountain of Dire..once he had cleaned his face..

They hadn’t travelled far when Vlarindara suddenly paused and turned to him with a soft chuckle. "It ..appears I was mistaken about our travelling distance." Daedalus’ ears flickered with amusement as he canted his chin softly, his lips parting into a surprised ‘o’ upon his face. Amber eyes glanced back to the white female as she encouraged him forwards out towards the open water – she had been a little wary on the way there, always keeping him in front and never allowing him to follow from behind, which slightly irritating given that he didn’t know were he was going and had to keep waiting for the female to catch up to him and point him in the right direction. It made the male feel a little awkward at first, concerned that Vlarindara was having second thoughts on whether she could trust him or not. But he soon learnt to just accept it and so now when she paused; waiting for him to approach the lake first, Daedalus didn’t hesitate to breeze right past her.

As Vlarindara lingered behind Daedalus swiftly made his way towards the water’s edge. The reflection that looked back at him when he gazed into its shadowy depths caused the timber wolf’s hackles to rise and nostrils to flare momentarily. It was then he caught the scent on the wind: they were not alone. Twisting sharply back around to face the white female, the bridge of his muzzle wrinkled in agitation as he spotted another male sprawled on a rock directly behind Vlarindara. His tail lashed aggressively, silently threatening the other male should he choose to move or even approach the white female. Daedalus still felt protective over her, in much the same way he had felt about Borlla that time on the mountain. The male doubted that Vlarindara was in good enough shape to defend herself from another assault. Muscles tensed and his legs stiffened ready to move should he feel the need to. <b style="color:#8a321c">"Watch your back, Vlarindara." He called across to her defensively, his voice lingering on a growl.

Ruiko's afternoon could have been happily spent with him splayed across a rock, little to no cares drifting on his mind for the moment. Family and their well-being was consistent on his mind, but he also trusted and believed they could handle themselves, so until Ranger or Kinis made themselves scarce for a day or so, the tawny regal would allow them that time and still keep peace of mind.

As for peace, his was soon interrupted as two wolves emerged from the bits of green foliage that shielded the springs from the other lands. Lifting his muzzle up slightly, the Tainn propped his hefty figure as he regarded the strangers; an ivory she-wolf with her back facing him as she seemed completely oblivious to his presence, and another silver male who rounded straight to the water.

Blinking with what could have been considered an owlish expression has the regal wolf not kept a stoical mask upon his facade, the large male shifted slightly, his pelt bristling lightly as his eyes darted to the meal he had caught not long ago. Ruiko would have perhaps tolerated the others sudden presence despite the threat of his meal being stolen had the other male not suddenly jerked about to face him. No sooner did the strange grey male's hackles bristle did a sneer break through the large Tainn's features, his paws pushing him up swiftly to a stand. "I'd stand down if I were you," he growled lowly, his tail lifting at the sudden challenge of dominance this other wolf displayed to him as his hackles bristled with warning. The white she-wolf was already forgotten.

It was the snarling that caught her attention first, causing the fur along her spine to raise up, her hackles to bristle - but from no display of dominance. The white she-wolf whirled around to face what Daedalus was telling her, amber eyes focusing on Ruiko's form. She knew from just looking at him that he'd be larger than Daedalus - most likely larger than she was... and in her condition she wouldn't be able to assist the other male who had helped her clean her wounds. "There's no reason to fight...I apologize for encroaching on your lunch..We...We'll go..." The scent of blood was obvious - and she knew better than most that a kill was defended jealously.

Vlarindara backed away towards the direction they'd come in, her tail tucked firmly beneath her legs - ears folded over her head and her head low in a sign of submission to the large creature. She couldn't tell from here if he had a pack or not - but she didn't want to chance a fight with him...or getting Daedalus into one either. The fur that had previously bristled in fear had flattened back down, but her eyes never left the large wolf who sat upon his rock - she knew danger when she saw it.

(This post was last modified: May 25, 2011, 07:49 PM by Vlarindara.)

The other male was adamant in his posture, and only when the pale she-wolf spoke did Ruiko spare her the briefest of glances. It occurred to him that the other male was more intent on protecting this female than snatching his lunch, and with another warning growl, the tawny wolf leapt from the rock he had been upon. Bending down to snatch his lunch up in one swift movement, the male cast one more stoical glance to the couple before making his exit, his own large figure trailing lazily as if to rile up the stranger that had threatened him; just to show him that he was by no means being chased off in fear.