this land

For @Bane... @Mirren can hop if you see fit whenever, AllieCAT

The hours felt like nothing to her. The achromic night was seen in more hues than the shadows offered. Sleep had difficulty finding her, but she was exhausted from her travels. Kite could not feel it then, in the time where she could only feel sparks... but when she rested, she realized just how sore she had been. Kite only now allowed it to come to her, but it took its time. For the first time in a long time, she slept fitfully. She had the protection of someone else, someone who she would go through great lengths to protect as well. And it would seem old habits died hard; an ear caught on to the sound of rustling in the near distance. Kite blinked slowly, the exhaustion she felt hard on her in that moment, but as the rustling continued Kite hoisted herself upward. She and Mirren were indistinguishable from one another, their furs intermingling and the warmth they shared difficult to move away from. But Kite felt a new protectiveness in her that caused her adrenaline to surge through her. She would not let anything touch him.

I'll be right back, she hums in his ear softly, not wanting to disturb him. Looking over him, and around them to assure herself that there was no threat nearby, Kite then turned to follow her ears. The rustling continued, and she bristled. Her nose did not detect cougar or bear, but she did smell wolf. That was the most she could detect, and the rustling only grew louder as she drew closer. Kite's eyes turned green from the light of the moon, and her tail lashed in a predatory fashion. Her ears swiveled atop her head again before thrusting aggressively forward, her body language speaking volumes toward the potential threat should they see her first. Kite did not bare her fangs or make a sound, poising herself in a defensive manner. Kite had never before acted as an aggressor, but if this wolf meant ill to the sleeping duo, then there would be another first for Kite in her life.

He had been here before or at least, north of here. The first time he had broke away from the tangling confines of the Thicket of Secrets was straight to the east, out into the Blackberry Fields where he had sat atop the Luna Hill and the large tree which rest there. Another time had he pushed himself further beyond this, finding another forest all around - darker, yet not as dense. Within these lands was a Secluded Spring where he had met a very sweet woman that to this day he still longed to see again. Though this time his thoughts did not turn to @Inali, but to the south. Once more he ventured east into the familiar landscape of blackberries, yet to have arrived once more due to the Winter. He arched to the south, crossing a thick ring of trees before coming into yet another clearing within the vast, various forests that made up Relic Lore.

A wild crazy orchard. Of course, Bane would have never been able to tell that this is what it was, having never seen cherries before and at the moment there being no cherries to actually see. He huffs at a certain disappointment of a bland landscape, just another clearing of grasses and shrubbery yet to have fully revived from the cruelty of winter passed. He was glad winter was gone, eager to see green and life within the lands of Relic Lore once again. He craving as a puppy for warmth never left him and even how he takes a shiver in the chilly air. Ready to take his leave, the sound of another startles him. He does not see her at first so merely stiffens, his eyes of bright burning orange searching in the darkness. Finally, he sees her, off to his left. Aggressive, dominant, dangerous... Though he was nearly at his full adult height by now, in the distance she seemed larger then himself and her display only helped with this appeal. In truth, he was the larger one (by about twenty pounds and five inches taller of mostly legs) and perhaps was seen as a threat to the woman. Still, he felt a obvious weariness of her, skittish in his fear of the unknown woman. He remains placed, however, with the intensity of his gaze set upon her. After all, he had long ago promised himself to be brave - to not run in fear.

BANE Aranna

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

There. The wolf stood, and Kite caught sight of him, ears that had once been flat upon her head lifting, one leaning toward him, the other to the side. Kite did not yet catch his scent (if she had, she would have calmed, for he was of the same pack Mirren was) but the furs of her nape stood on end. He was a large wolf, she noted at her distance, and he stood there stiffly. Perhaps he was frazzled, too. Kite assessed the threat and took another step forward, nostrils flaring as her tail stiffened and lifted, the display meant to intimidate. None were dominant on free land, but her instinct demanded that she stand a little bit taller than she might have otherwise. Kite was not one to glib, and so she was swift in getting to the point.

Are you a threat? Kite immediately puts it out there, wanting to know if the other had any desire at all to bring chaos into the picture. Kite would not stand for that, and her typically warm gaze was many degrees colder than it had ever been. Kite was still after that, her eyes never once leaving his figure lest he decide to make a rush. Perhaps he would not be honest with her, but Kite thought herself a decent judge of character. Still, any wolf with a dose of anxiousness could seem off... and she was certain that she herself might be perceived a specific way in this moment, too. That did not matter to her, if it meant keeping Mirren safe.

His ears were perked, ready, listening for anything and everything she might offer him. Though the hairs on his spine remained down, hers were up and with it, she took a step forward, lifting her tail like a banner in dominance. His own tail frazzled out, once fully lowered, now lifting in a mild arch downward behind him. His ears fell back and his head lowered, but not far in a show of submission. No, his head scrunched back and his shoulders easing forth in a defensive manner, ready for a fight. But that single step was all she took before speaking and in order to keep from a fray, he spoke quickly. "No." He spoke lightly, the man of little words pausing a moment before adding, "I will not harm you." He felt the 'No' had perhaps not been enough for her. He wanted to reassure her if he could at all try too.

Although of course he did not allow himself to quite submit to the woman, his head lifted, his tail falling fully from it's otherwise uplifted, arousal display. His ears perk yet again, flickering. He, of course, remained tensed however, ready to jump out of harm's way if she took any more steps closer into her direction. The male in his slim, leggy figure, had been blessed with excelling reflexes and an agility that would no doubt put many to shame. He might not have beaten her if it came down to a fight, but if needed, he would do his best to show he was not one to be bullied.

BANE Aranna

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

Kite's instincts were in play here, not her nature. She had always been this way, but somehow with Mirren the protectiveness increased tenfold. The furs along her nape stood, looking like sharp blades in the hours light... but Bane's posture did much to sooth Kite. Perhaps she was naive, but Kite had never seen a wolf be able to lie about their nature through posture. Either a wolf was a threat by the way their ears aggressively tipped forward, or a wolf was not a threat as per their bodies natural response. Instinct made some things easy... and so when she noted his brief bout of submission, Kite's ears—once tipped forward—swiveled atop her head. She became a bit more affable in appearance (affability was in her nature), but still remained somewhat stiff in case he verbalized the contrary.

But he didn't. He would not harm her. Kite's eyes flashed, and a switch seemed to flip. Even as he stood taller (which Kite did not much care for, on open land), Kite's furs flattened and she let out a breath of relief. 'm sorry. I heard somethin' rustlin' in the brush, an' assumed the worst. Kite shrugged, as though to say no harm, no foul, and grinned goofily at him. Kite licked her chops and tilted her head at him. What were ya doin', if you don't mind my asking? Y'had me pretty anxious over there, she emits out a breathy heh, and to be fair, thinks to mention just what it was she was doing. After a pregnant pause, she admits, I was sleepin'.

Instantly with his confirmation to her it was like a 'switch' flipped inside of her. She eased and spoke easily with it, admitting that she had expected the worst, that he scared her, that she had been sleeping... Her goofy grin is appealing to him. He enjoyed smiles. Enjoyed laughter. It seemed as though he came by it less and less as he aged and so acknowledged him being pleased with a light waving of his tail. He was comfortable in the moment of silence they shared after she had explained herself. He had never been much of a talker, likely due to the fact that growing up he really had no siblings to talk to and with a mother rarely present. He had avoided the Leader's children. He was nervous around strangers and this much showed as he shifted on his footing. But the silence...the silence was something he was used to. When she questioned him, however, he would respond. Perhaps a 'speak only when spoken too' manner coming about him as he grew. "Just wandering really... I don't live far from here." He admits, his orange eyes shifting if only for a moment, looking out in the direction of west, back towards home. He took in a deep breath then, taking in her own scent. She did not smell of any region in particular - the Cedar forest, the damp foliage near the springs up north. However, she still could have been in a pack for all he knew. His extension of exploring Relic Lore thus far had not been much.

BANE Aranna

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

Perhaps Kite was naive to believe him, but believe him she did. He seemed like an honest wolf, and Kite couldn't tell just how young he was, only that he was young if only because of his facial features. But he did look fully grown, didn't he? Was it his scent or was it his face? Kite threw away her scrutiny. Doesn't matter. His admission that he didn't live far from here piqued her interest, and she tilts her head, one ear leaning forward. Oh, yeah? Whereabouts are you at? Kite realized how creepy she could sound right then. She shakes her head. Ah, I ask because I think I'll be setting up camp nearby. A pack called Secret Woodlands. I've been looking for a good pack and I met a wolf, Mirren, who talked the place up. She smiled, thinking of her recruiter for a moment before returning her attention to Bane.

Kite blinked, unsure of how many packs were immediately within the area. It could be a great many, she wasn't sure. She had honestly neglected to ask that, so distracted by her companion was she! They would be heading to the woodlands but first, Mirren had promised her an impromptu tour of a place he thought she might like to see. Kite wasn't the sort to deny an offer like that, and so she went for it. Kite wondered if she and this inky stranger could be pack mates. It was an offhanded thought, but Kite thought the wolf before her was an honest one... and so she liked the idea.

As the conversation continued on, he felt his body easing, the tension in his being flowing from his body. It felt good to relax and yet still, he did not come forth. There was plenty of space between the pair that would keep them feeling comfortable, that would supply enough time to run out of the way if for some reason things turned hairy, even though he expected no reason for them to do so. Then she mentioned joining a pack nearby, mentioned one of his pack members, mentioned Secret Woodlands... A slight smile touched his features, small and delicate as though trying to hide itself. She was no stranger to him then, but someone that was likely going to be his pack mate - an extension of family, or so Nina liked to think of her members as such.

Bane shifts on his footing, offering another small wave of his tail in the woman's direction. "Thats where I live." He admits to her then. "My mother-" Quickly he paused, and if possible his cheeks would have glowed a red of embarrassment. Saying 'his mother was Leader' there would have been a lie and though the boy cared for Nina as such it would never change the fact that his true mother had turned to madness and abandoned him, just as his true father had turned to madness and created him by force. "Nina is a great Leader." He would then say, bothering not to mention Koda, nor Hollow, who had both abandoned not only their thrones, but their pack and family.

BANE Aranna

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

Kite was swift in her judgment of things that most might take a long while to decide on. Who she liked to have as a friend, for instance. And as Bane transformed, his own transformation slower than her own, Kite decided relatively quickly that she would one day name him friend. Perhaps more, because whether Kite knew it or not yet, pack to her would always be family. That it once was legitimately biological was picayune in that translation... it was coincidence. Kite's own tail waved at his confession, and her eyes seemed to brighten all the more. Really? Her head tilting seemed to ask, though it was perfectly clear by the way she leaned forward that she believed him. It was starting. Her life here. The hour was late, very late, and although sleep was still in her eyes there was no denying the excitement she felt.

Kite caught his first two words and her ear leaned forward. The rest of what he said, he abruptly stopped... and she was left confused for a moment. But when he was able to continue, Kite understood in the only way that she could. She then believed that he was Nina, the leaders, son... and that he did not want that to be his name. Kite liked him all the better for it, really. I believe it! It's one of the reasons I hope to join. Mirren said so, too... Kite shifted her weight some, not wanting the meeting to end quite yet. I hope it works out, I really do. I'm Kite, by the way, she introduces, her tail waving left and right. It's nice to meet you!