Turtleback Lake Siren Calls

For Enera, set in the evening.

After a day of unsuccessful hunting Luca sought out the familiar comfort of Turtleback Lake. He hoped unwinding by the waterfront to watch the sunset would brighten his spirits. His mind was busy with self-doubt. He wanted to be a contributing member to his new pack and pull his weight. While not an overly ambitious wolf, the man still desired to ensure they could rely on him. The idea of being a freeloader left an uncomfortable weight in his stomach.

The small male huffed and found a spot to curl up on the bank. His brown eyes stared up into the broken clouds. "You miss every shot you don't take, and those you still miss, be proud for someone else wouldn't bother to try." He mumbled out to himself, thinking back to a simpler time when Inari had said those words to him. He'd been but a whelp, fallen on the ice, crying. The boy had been trying to keep up with his larger littermates in a game of tag. His big sister, per usual, had been there to put him right back on his paws. In times he felt insecure, it was Inari he missed most.

"HE SPEAKS"

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

It had been building these last two weeks, but it hasn't really hit her until now. She wondered if it would get worse. At first she's thought it was the weather, the seasons finally turning them over into spring. It meant the prey could move faster but also meant more prey in general. It meant more hope for her, raising her little sister on her own.

Maybe leaving the Chasm was a mistake.

But the burning under her skin grew worse and then Enera thought she'd gotten sick, even though she didn't particularly feel sick beyond the itching and the heat. @Sovanya began to complain that she was stinky, and not wanting to get her sister sick - and tentatively trusting Haunt to look after her - Enera promised to be back when she gets as better and wandered east.

She didn't know what she was looking for, just that she was looking for something. The ground itself did not begin to look particularly familiar until she reached the water and stopped. Enera hadn't been to this shore, but she recognizes the distant islands. She'd seen them often enough over the summer on her many trips to collect water for Woya.

She was so terribly close to home; just two days' journey - but home was empty, and Sova lay five days the other direction. Enera's heart ached, and her skin burned, and she stood at the shore contemplating walking out into the ice and breaking through into cold water just to see if she could just stop itching.

(This post was last modified: Mar 10, 2023, 03:07 AM by Enera.)

A sweet fragrance wafted into the male's nostrils, causing them to flare. He almost choked at first. In the back of his mind, he knew what it was, from his mother and sisters, but his hormonal-influenced brain didn't connect the dots. He drew his gaze down to the horizon, eyes scanning the area. He rose up to go investigate the alluring scent and trotted around the lake without a wiser thought.

His stride slowed as another wolf entered his field of vision. He woofed out to her gently, coming a few steps closer before stopping approximately two wolf lengths away. The stranger had a pale petite face framed black. Her pelt was creamy colored, her body dainty but not overly so. She was taller than him, with captivating green eyes, and...and that scent. He hadn't thought it through thoroughly, what was occurring to the woman in front of him. He smiled at her, head low, and tail wagging in a neutral position. She's really pretty he thought cluelessly.

"Hey, everything alright miss?" He couldn't help but notice she seemed a little frazzled. He dared to shorten the distance between them. Normally Luca wouldn't have been so straightforward in approaching an unknown wolf, but there was something about her. His eyes lingered down her body for longer than what was respectful.

"Hungry? I could help you hunt." He asked her coming to stand oh so close but fighting his urge in order to be polite. What was wrong with him? Why did he want to stand next to a stranger? To brush his fur into hers? He couldn't help but take in her perfume and notice the stale scent of other wolves. A loner. For a moment he contemplated asking her if she was looking for a home but thought better about it. He didn't know this woman nor her intentions and he was merely a subordinate.

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

The evening was growing late. Enera really should go find somewhere to sleep, somewhere safe, but she was just so uncomfortable. Was it safe to wander back to Sova yet? She didn't think so. What if-

A soft voice broke her wandering thoughts and Enera all but jumped. She looked over and saw a small man, grey but with gentle eyes. She didn't recognize the clear gawking, so lost in her own discomfort as she is as. She blinked at him. "I'm okay," she said slowly, almost a question itself. He smelled... Really good. Was that normal, for someone to smell good like that?

She should be inching backwards as he approached but his presence tickled something just right and she stood rooted to the spot, staring at him. He stopped just before touching her and she longed for him to brush her side. She almost leaned into him, this man she didn't know.

His offer to hunt was kind, and she was... Kind of hungry, but that wasn't what she wanted right now. She shook her head. "I would really just like some company," she admitted. She wanted company other than her sister. Maybe someone who could relate to her.

Luca's ears fell to the side apologetically when the woman jumped, and briefly, he thought fondly of his friend @Isomne. He was making a bad habit of scaring women, wasn't he?

She claimed to be fine, causing him to frown, noting the way she'd spoken. He wanted to ask if she was sure, but didn't want to pry on a stranger's private life. There was no need to be rude and force a truthful answer out of her.

He wanted to be closer to this woman, so bad. She was right there and still, he refrained from the urge. His mother had raised him to be a gentleman, well, at least had tried. He lifted a single paw to move one step closer, basically next to the she-wolf now. His pelt nearly touched her. His exhale was shaky, Luca still not understanding this overwhelming desire to display affection to a stranger. Her scent was intoxicating.

At first his frown deepened when she shook her head no, but her words caused his ears to perk. His heart skipped a beat staring into her green eyes. They were mesmerizing, reminding him of summer grass dotted with wildflowers. She's a flower.... He smiled warmly, "I'd be happy to keep you company...but what's your name, or should I keep calling you Snowdrop in my head?" Was he...flirting? Luca felt his cheeks warm up in embarrassment. That was dumb, wasn't it? He thought giving her a toothy, sheepish, smile. His incisors showed and his lips were pulled back cheekily.

"Something on your mind?" He asked her inquisitively, cocking his head. He wagged his tail more vigorously. If she needed an ear to listen, he had no problem shutting his trap for a pretty lady. The grey-pelted man sat his rump on the snow-laden ground. He would have rather drawn closer to her, standing with his side resting into hers...grooming her nape...The man realized he was daydreaming and the heat returned to his fluffy face. "I'm Luca Denahi." He didn't usually offer his last name, but for some reason, he wanted to share everything with her. His personal space, his stories, his embrace. It'd been so long since he'd snuggled up close to someone.

"HE SPEAKS"

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

She used to be someone who was quick to share their name, who wanted to make friends. That had changed when her ma died, when she hadn't cared about anything but keeping her sisters alive. Maybe that was part of why Marrah left, too. She should start being friendly again, like her ma wanted her to be. She longed to go back to that simple time, where everything was perfect. Couldn't she take herself there again?

Her ears twitched in surprise but her eyes lit up at the nickname. Something in her chest curled with a warmth different to the heat purring under her skin. She even smiled at him, a genuine smile like she hadn't shared with anyone other than Sova in a long time. "I'm Enera Rayvne," she said, also offering up her last name, "but you can call me snowdrop if you'd like." Her ma's nickname for her echoed in her ears, the last precious nickname she'd been called other than a variation of her name. Little Dove, she heard, almost like an affectionate whisper in her ear, her ma reaching out to her.

Sometimes it was the little things she missed the most.

Luca sat and Enera had to suppress a tinge of disappointment that he wasn't closer. His presence soothed the fire in her skin somehow. It was... Intoxicating. She swallowed and shuffled over to sit beside him, finally allowing their pelts to brush. It took everything in her not to fully lean against him.

"I have so much to worry about all the time," she said. "I just... Want to get away from it, even for a little while." Was that what she was doing? Getting away?

Luca watched as her eyes lit up as if life had been breathed back into her features. It was only then that he noticed just how sad she'd looked. Not thinking twice, he leaned forward to nudge the underside of her muzzle reassuringly. She deserved to be happy, everyone did, right? He'd yet to meet a wolf who hadn't been merely acting in survival if unkind. This world could pull good individuals to do bad things, but that didn't make them less worthy of happiness. His tail thumped behind him in response to the bright smile.

"Enera is a lovely name." He complimented her, slightly leaning forward in his seated position. He chuckled, "Whatever it is that you wish." He spoke warmly, still offering her a toothy grin. She was turning out to be a pleasant stranger. His eyes followed her body as she moved next to him, growing wide as she sat. His spine tingled at her touch, heart pounding. He leaned into her, his breath hitching, her fragrance overwhelming him.

The male risked a few licks to her cheek with a gentle touch while she spoke of her troubles. "Lay it on me," He offered her the opportunity to rant. He continued to groom his new companion, moving from her cheek to the fur on her neck. It made him squirm in an unfamiliar way. He wanted to be even closer to her. All thoughts of ensuring he wasn't encroaching on her personal space faded away.

"HE SPEAKS"

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

His words were like honey, sweet and smooth and they spoke. This caring stranger named Luca was soothing in a way Enera hadn't known she'd needed. His touch to the underside of her chin was electric, zinging through her and yet bringing a balm for the burning.

She was trying to think of what to say; what could she tell him that wouldn't bring everything swirling about in her mind? She opened her mouth to respond when he began grooming her and with a deep sigh she fully relaxed into his side, all reservations gone. Luca was so kind.

She twisted and began to offer a few grooming licks in return; she hadn't had this kind of closeness in... Well, almost a year.

She wasn't going to think about that. She wanted to enjoy this moment, enjoy Luca's company before she went back to Sova. Went back to survival. Obeying a sudden overwhelming urge, Enera turned on Luca and playfully slapped a paw down around his shoulders before dancing away, a grin wide on her face as she bowed, inviting him to play with her.

Luca's worries about self-doubt were long gone next to the sweet-smelling woman. Her company soothing any troubles he might've had. He dragged his tongue down her neck several times, smoothing and cleaning the fur. His touch was light and thoughtful. When the woman leaned in closer he let out a rumble, softly growling into her ear. It was not aggressive in nature. "You're beautiful, Snowdrop." He commented as he drooped a paw over her shoulder affectionately.

He'd been so touch-deprived that the embrace of a stranger was more than welcomed. For a moment though, he thought of Golden eyes and the white-grey pelt of @Insomne . His mind drifted off to thoughts of her and how he wished he was this close to the other woman, but he didn't stray too long. He shivered at Enera's touch, closing his eyes and enjoying the returned affection. He pressed himself further into her side, and with his other paw, gave the woman a makeshift hug.

His eyes flashed open, the man taken by surprise, and he laughed. Bounding after the woman as she moved away from him. His tail was arched over his back, wagging, in a position it didn't often take. When she bowed the man smirked, rushing forth in an attempt to playfully tackle her to the ground. Then he darted off from her, moving deeper into the trees and letting out a string of mischievous barks. It was an exhilarating game to Luca, the male soaking up their time. Yet, despite enjoying it, he rather had been curled close to the she wolf still grooming her. Suddenly he doubled back through the trees and offered his own bow before slinking up to her side and kissing her crown. Grey fur mingled into her cream. His whole body was teased by the touch, his heart beating away within his chest, and his nostrils flaring once more at her fragrance.

"HE SPEAKS"

had a dream so big and loud

JUMPED SO HIGH I TOUCHED THE CLOUDS

She enjoyed the company, the warmth, but a coyness had risen within her and she suddenly felt free enough to act on it. Maybe tomorrow she would be back to herself. Maybe she would no longer burn and itch and she could go back to her sister. Maybe.

She could deal with 'maybes' tomorrow. For now she wanted to play and be close with this strange man who was being so kind. She bounced after him, returning his barks and once again bowing, her tail flagging up over her back. He came back beside her and with a playful nip she backed away, waiting for him to return again before repeating the dance.

Enera obeyed as instinct spoke, and Luca followed.

FADE