Like every vow he'd ever made, Rowan had intentions of remaining true - and a strange ability to always fall flat. He had accepted the story of Grizzly Hollow's resurrection from Rook, believed it when the male told him how relations with Willow Ridge had gone sorrow. He'd sworn to himself in that moment to respect it, to receive advice and think on it before he went after any sorry attempt at diplomacy. That was of, course, how he ended up where he was now: under fire of rainfall weaving his way through finger-like branches on the way to the seat of the Archer-Lyall empire.
Paw by paw Rowan got closer to the heartland of willows, each step lighting his spine up with anxious tremors. He wanted to speak to Elettra, perhaps, about what had transpired with his "new&improved" family, perhaps say something about Skoll and how he had posed a danger to his beloved sisters, or just make any attempt to clear their names - Attaya, Lyall, or both. His gait, which had begun on a sturdy note, was waning quickly into a mere plod, uncertain about his self-provided mission.
The torrential downpour appeared to be punishment for his intrusion, each harsh droplet a smacking question of What do you think you're doing here? His dark lips pulled into a grimace, shaken in his mission. What did he think he would accomplish by coming here, anyway? The message had been clear: there would be no alliance of which to speak between Willow Ridge and Grizzly Hollow. He had no advice for Rook regarding the patching of an already shambled relationship, much less any advice for the leaders here to reconsider. Still frowning, his resolve dissolved in the constant rain.
He sought safety, dull gold eyes scanning the treetops for the one with least amount of breaks. Nothing more embarrassing than returning to the forest smelling like willows and burdened with a common cold. He spotted a treetop with thickly clustered branches, and followed its path from leaf to root. It had a sturdy trunk, plenty of room below - and an occupant already.
His ears flattened to his head, regarding the pale form through the blurring drops of rain. He'd certainly been spotted on his journey here, having paid no regard to his surroundings. Though far from the Ridge's borders, he could not rule out any allegiances yet. But the rain did not cease to fall, and the dark-furred male had to take a chance. Rowan loped toward the nearby wolf. His noise twitched as he hesitated, but he did not smell Elettra and Angier's mark upon the she-wolf. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, loud enough to be heard over all the rain.
Rowan was pleased to hear his offer accepted, though taken aback by her offer in return. Snuggles and hugs? He hesitated in his step, practically blushing beneath his dark fur. At once he did not know what to do and so remained in the rain, water dripping from his fur as he stood. Well, he didn't want to hurt this girl's feelings... but he wasn't exactly sure that he wanted to snuggle up with a stranger at the particular moment. The boy had never experienced intimacy of any kind with any one, and such a brazen invitation - even if it was a joke (was it a joke??) threw the Attaya further than he thought he could be thrown.
He cleared his throat and opted to say nothing, only trotting toward the space that she had opened up for him - a space which she noted was toasty from her cute body heat. On top of that she was giggling an awful lot. He could not tell exactly what was so funny. Maybe she was flirting with him as a joke? The thought put his ears close to his skull and let a sulky frown settle upon his coal covered face. It seeped into his attitude with a surliness that was not necessarily rare for the male, just often hidden. He almost plunked his butt on the ground, but the opportunity to be childish arose and before he knew, it he was taking it.
Planting his dark paws in the soft earth he gave a lofty shake of his wet hide, intentionally careless about the droplets that would go flying towards his company. Following that he pouted, "I don't get what's so funny." It was not his shining moment, a moment for which he really didn't have an excuse. The female was curious and he hadn't prepared a reaction for someone so open - and thus he could only slide to his haunches and lean slightly away, confused and brooding.