Spectral Woods adventure to neverland

Southern-most corner of Spectral Woods. @Revon

Being a loner all of his life did have perks surprisingly. Caelean was free to wander wherever he wanted without the consequences of a pack wolf. Not that he openly knew that. He did understand that being a loner seemed to offer more freedom than a pack. Their borders always seemed to circle around a certain area rather than flowing freely like he did.

Yet there were the many obvious downfalls of being alone. His hunger and coldness often wayed the greatness on a list of cons. Loneliness following close after but he was usually quick to replace that feeling with the company for nature. Now was no exception as he stumbled through the blue-misted forest, a soft humming sound filling the air around him as it escaped his lips.

The scarlet fox wasn’t fond of venturing away from the mountain, for she preferred the comfort of stone rather than the suffocating canopy of branches overhead. Yet her curiosity continued to beckon her away from the heights, coaxing her to the bottom of the mountain range and propelling her into the strange forests below. The west was home to her relatives—familiarity—but the east remained a mystery. Which was why she frequented the dark forests so often, even if she was not fond of the abundance of trees.

A soft hum echoed through the trees, earning a deep frown from the brave little Archer. Sort of brave little Archer. She swallowed, her tail swinging like a sword behind her. A low growl escaped her instead of words, to warn the stranger that she was a force to reckoned with. And that she was not afraid of him.

He halted as a sound came back from the forest that was not his own. The small male halted, his breath catching in his chest and tail seeking his underside. He ceased all sounds he was making. What had growled at him? Who? Did he dare to be as social and outgoing as he had in his last social setting? Last time he had been able to see the petite female. This time he couldn't spot anyone through the fog and close-knit trees.

Caelean was truly a sitting duck, panicked and worried about what to do. Without much thought, he barraged forward in hopes he could escape this place. Unknowingly he was walking right towards the creature who had startled him terribly.

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

The sound stopped almost immediately, resulting in a cocky half-grin to replace her previous scowl. Whoever was lurking in the trees the girl had successfully startled, which meant that she had the upper-paw. Precisely the way she liked things to be.

The triumph, however, was short lived.

Movement started up once more, causing the tip of her tail to twitch in frustration as the stranger began moving toward her. That certainly was not on the agenda for the day. She did not allow others to bombarde her—no, Revon Archer was as observant as her father; a scout in the making. Nothing could startle her… not possible! She stamped her forepaws in frustration as the loner continued toward her, a flash of pale fur in the distance.

What’re you doin’ out here, y’creep! She called out, more of an accusation than an actual question. Her frown continued to deepen, creating dark lines in the corners of her mouth. Lurking around the trees… in the mist… how absurd. And completely different from what Revon was doing.

"..y'creep!"

The words stung the gentle boy, his eyes blinking in disbelief as he stopped any of his previous movements. He...he wasn't a creep, was he? He had just been walking along - trying to avoid whoever had growled at him. But now he was being a creep? It didn't make any sense and he had to shake his head. Without mother here to explain the situation he was forced to handle it himself.

"I..." His voice faltered as he felt unsure how to answer. "I'm just trying to go away." The small child whispered back softly. It was nothing but the honest truth.

Oops. Perhaps she shouldn’t been so brash. She shrugged to herself as her fiery gaze continued to search through the clumped trees. The scent belonged to someone young, which excited her, as she was the only child born on the heights this year. Which meant she was a little awkward when it came to meeting others her own age. When she wasn’t shadowing her packmates (or her parents), who were all older than her, Revon was alone. But she didn’t mind. She didn’t like the adults pestering her all the time. If she wanted to spend time with them she would seek them out.

This stranger, however, had peeked her interest. Even if she had called them a creep. The voice had intrigued her even further, earning a few steps forward from the scarlet girl. Go away? She frowned. I might be able to help with that, she offered as she struggled to make out the stranger among the trees. Why you goin’ away? 

His face fell flat for a moment as she explained she might be able to help him get away. Before he could even ask how she might be able to do that, the hidden girl flipped a question on him. While thinking of an answer he settled onto his rear to make himself seem more relaxed and less of a possible threat (not that Caelean would ever really be a threat). Little did he know just how small he was compared to the female.

"I've always been going away. Kind of my thing." His shoulders gave a soft shrug. As a loner through and though he had always been going away from one place and on to another. Granted before he had parted from his mother he had had someone to explore the varying lands with. Now it was just him. A lonely ghost floating about looking for a purpose.

Following a faceless voice through trees engulfed by mist wasn’t one of her best ideas but the scarlet Archer knew it was too late to turn back. A conversation had already been started and she couldn’t walk away without finishing it.

I’ve always been going away. She blinked, her creamy brows pinching together as her nimble, deer-like legs continued through the forest. He spoke again—she was getting closer. The stranger had stopped moving but she wasn’t sure he’d accepted her help. Hell, she didn’t even understand what it was that he wanted. But curiosity had gotten her by the nose and pulled her forward. Why? She asked as the pale boy came into view, her tone much softer than it had been before.

"Why?"

He fell silent again. Her questions were pressing. He could feel an actual pressure building up against his chest. For a brief moment, he was pretty damn sure it was either going to burst outward or cave in. Yet he took in a few deep breaths as he recalled his mother's joyous tones. He remembered her optimism about how they were just almost to a lovely sounding place, Renegade's Reach. With the memory as fresh as an open wound, he mumbled his thoughts softly.

"We never made it home."

Or perhaps his mother had. Maybe she had made it once he had toddled off to find his own place to haunt. It was a sting of selfishness that made him have to bite back tears. Foolish boy. He scorned himself mentally.