Your Solace or Mine? (Treason)

[Deleted]

Setting: Dusk
Weather: Clear, cold and crisp

The redwood forest was one of the only places in the entirety of the continent where Perthein felt... small. The massive, ancient trees towered over the area, so imposing that there was very little vegetation on the ground. It was odd, how he could feel so small and yet so exposed at the same time. Nothing to be obscured by except the bare bones of the tree bases. Not that it could cow him. He still walked as assured as ever, standing tall without flaunting anything - he was confident, confident enough to keep most would-be ruffians at bay. That, and the big male looked like he could rip apart a small deer with a single bite. He couldn't, of course, but it was all in the perception.

Perth hadn't seen hide nor hair of another wolf in close to a month. The winter had been harsh, likely driving most of them into the comfort and safety of a pack to ride out the worst of it. Perthein did well enough for himself - while pickings had been lean, he had dealt with worse. He was hungry as the rest, but he'd survived and was not too much the worse for wear. Spring had rolled around, as it always did, and though piles of snow still littered the ground around him, things were looking up. Figuratively, anyway. If he didn't get a bit of companionship soon, he was likely to waste away in boredom. He could only hope that the warmer weather would bring hidden wolves out of the woodwork.

With a sigh, the massive man stopped his leisurely stroll, bowing into a long, slow stretch. Gold eyes, like fire slowly burning, looked out into the darkening woods - watching, waiting, for entertainment that would likely never come.

[Gyllbane]

Being an alpha meant that work was never truly done, and Treason knew this better than anyone. Not only did she have herself to watch over in the cold winter months, but the innumerable winter tasks fell to her shoulders to designate and carry out. Of them, perhaps the most intensive were maintaining their ties with Frigid Plague, and it was for that very reason that Treason traversed these forests today. It was familiar territory by now - she'd made the journey between the bluffs and the sequoias innumerable times. Rarely did she ever come across another wolf - the high northern path carried little prey, especially in the winter months, and most wolves tended to stay east. Not that she blamed them, of course. The heathlands were an unforgiving place in winter.

But it was winter no more. She trotted the familiar path, on alert despite the temptation to lose herself in her thoughts and keenly aware of the first muted signs of the seasons' change. Ruddy ears flick this way and that as she scans her surroundings. Something's different, this time, and it's not just the weather - it only takes a moment for her to realize it's another wolf. She quells the brief surprise that wells in her mind; best acknowledge him and avoid some sort of confrontation later, and so she turns to step in his direction.

"Greetings. I didn't expect to see anyone here." She dips her head in a brief nod of welcome - polite, but certainly not submissive. "Are you searching for something, perhaps?"

[Deleted]

He could hardly believe his nose - then his ears, then finally his eyes - when it told him that another wolf was nearby and gaining ever closer. A half-grin formed on his lips, unbidden but unrepressed. If she had not turned her attention to him, he would have approached her just to alleviate his boredom regardless of the possible consequences. But then gold met gold and she altered her course, walking toward him. A roguish grin lit his face now, for a number of reasons. Firstly, that she had decided to approach him without fear or prejudice. He wasn't sure yet if it was naivety or confidence on her part. Secondly, that she had just reason to do so - if he was larger than the female, it wasn't by much. Very rarely did he find anyone, much less a wolf of the opposite sex, equal to him in stature. She spoke to him, polite but a little distant. His interest piqued just a little. She wasn't some desperate chit, begging at the heels of any male to walk by. Perhaps she was just as bored as he.

"Mmmm, you could say that." His voice was deep, but far from solemn, and he looked at her in the dying light. "Nothing in specific, mind you. Tell me," he diverted suddenly, pleasant as could be. "What brings you here? It's perhaps not uncommon, but I very rarely see anyone traveling through here." One could wonder why he was there searching for company if he knew that to be true, but alas, he was sentimental. Something about the trees just called him in, regardless of his own desires.

[Gyllbane]

The grin is noted, though it brings no strong feelings one way or another about the wolf before her - now that she's closer she realizes just how large he is. She'd come to expect towering over others, even males of her own age. There were no craning of necks or downward-cast gazes here, though - they stood eye to eye, and that in and of itself was enough to rekindle that slight curiosity in her.

"Searching for company, then?" She muses, offering a similar grin in his direction - she is nothing if not cordial. "And if you spend as much time in these woods as it sounds like you have, then it truly is a surprise that I haven't met you yet." She pauses in front of him, close enough to be social but far enough away to maintain her personal boundaries.

"I travel this road regularly; I am the alpha of the Honovi, and we maintain ties with Frigid Plague. No doubt you're aware of their presence in this forest as well."

[Deleted]

"Company would be among the better options, yes," he conceded, looking at her like a pleased cat. Not for any reason in particular - perhaps he was just in a good mood because his unwanted isolation was finally broken. As she drew near and stopped he sat back on his haunches, dark tail sprawled back over the mixture of snow and dirt and decaying leaves. "I do frequent this area, but not all the time. I travel quite a bit, so I suppose it's not too surprising that we've missed each other." He said it in an almost conspiratorial fashion, drawing out certain words long enough to add a flirtatious sort of air to the simple sentence.

The news of her, er, occupation set his ears to press forward with interest, head slightly tilted. "I'm not unaware, but I tend to make myself scarce when they announce themselves as such. I'd hate to be, ah, accused of poaching their territory. More importantly, though..." He looked her over again, quickly and briefly but obviously as well. "How did you end up leading a pack?" He didn't mean for it to be insulting, but given his blunt speech, it wouldn't be the first time.

[Gyllbane]

His expression had her interested, though she maintained a respectful distance - some part of her wondered who in the Valley this wolf could be, that he could be so large and imposing, yet not have made a name for himself anywhere. He's charming, that much is certain, but little else is.

She notes his interest in her position, though she gives him a bit of a questioning look at the rather blunt question. "It is my birthright. I like to believe I'm as capable an alpha as any." She keeps her stance firm, tail held at half-mast - though she doesn't seem too interested in either getting closer or moving further away. "And who are you, to be asking such bold questions when I don't even know who you are?" She tips her head in his direction, ears flicking forward. "A name would be nice, at least." The question is amiable; there had been a time and a place where such questions might have bothered her - now was not one of them, and he showed no signs of ill will besides.

[Deleted]

"I'm sure you are. No offense meant." He really didn't like the thought of most ladies fighting and putting themselves in danger, but he also wasn't naive enough to think they weren't capable. It just didn't... sit easily with him. But anyway. He had some thought of teasing her instead of just answering her questions, dragging it out just for the fun of it, but that would be discourteous to her. "I'm no one of any real import, I assure you. But you may call me Perthein." He paused for a moment, then rose to his great height again. He took a step forward, casually, looking at her with good-natured appraisal. "I suppose I should know your name, but I've neglected to keep up on the things one should." He kept the sentence open-ended, never actually asking. It would be her choice to give.

[Gyllbane]

Treason nodded quietly at his introduction, glad to at least have a name to commit to memory along with the face. She'd always prided herself in her ability to remember such things - any less, of course, would not be appropriate for her position.

At the open ended sentence, she gave a slight tilt of her head; she's not opposed to answering, though. "No harm done. I am Treason. It is good to make your acquaintance, Perthein." She paused, unsure of where to bring the conversation next - trying to think of recent conversations with non-packmembers drew a blank; it had been far too long since she'd had a casual conversation with one that didn't share her affiliation, and the momentary blank she drew roused a bit of embarrassment within her.

It's gone as quickly as it had come on, though, and she spared a glance back toward her path. "The day grows long. You're welcome to accompany me to my packland's borders, if company is what you wish for."

[Deleted]

"Treason." He drew out the word, letting it roll of the tongue in a manner that was perhaps overly friendly. She was a little reserved, a little more polite than he could often bring himself to be, but he didn't dislike her. Quite to the contrary. He sensed depths to her that drew his attention and didn't quite let it go. Plus there was that whole feminine grace in a warrior's body - drawing his eyes as well as his mind.

A slow smile spread over his lips at her offer. "I could be anyone," he said, though he wasn't sure why. He did want to go with her, to explore those depths, and yet he couldn't quite help himself. "Are you always so trusting with those you just meet?" He stood, taking a few steps down the path in the direction she'd indicated before pausing and turning back, fire-laden eyes quite steadily on hers. Perhaps a bad habit, when addressing an alpha, but he never had been one for submission.

(I swear he's not trying to be a jerk xD He just has no filter :I)