You know that I could use somebody;

[webby]

Without the rest of his group, Kinaki felt rather free. In a broken way; like a kite without it’s ribbon, or perhaps a crow without it’s wings. He wasn’t sad, to be precise, or even lost. In his mind, it was more like he’d because that younger wolf he was before he met the other wolves who’d decided to follow him. Back then, he’d wandered like a nomad, looking for territory but not really wanting it or needing it. Back then, when he’d just tried to find something to push the pain of being called a traitor by his brother, and then finding him dead without ever having shown Kinaki forgiveness, out of his mind.

As Kinaki wandered through the Sunlit Clearing, dappled rays of light fell upon him. He was sure he would have found it beautiful but he didn’t have the heart for that sort of appreciation of nature’s bounty any longer. Not when nature threw things like Earthquakes at you after you’ve just become settled and possibly happy. Don’t go there, warned Kinaki bitterly to himself, forcing his thoughts back from where they were trying to drift.

As far as Kinaki knew, he was the first wolf to find this valley. And, as far as he was concerned, it’d be better if it stayed that way. Then he wouldn’t have a chance of accidentally meeting anyone else. A frown appeared across his brow at this point; he didn’t like the thought of having to talk to other wolves, or of having to explain himself to them. No, he’d rather be thoroughly alone.

[Paint]

It seemed that Esmerelda was never moving in the same direction for too long. Still, having found this valley, she felt that there was enough in here to keep her amused for quite a while. She didn't know if she'd stay.

She'd heard somewhere, a rumour floating on the wind, that there was a Dancing Stars pack here too. The words felt empty to her, like she knew there should be a deep significant meaning but there was none. She'd been a Dancing Star for a few weeks, maybe months, before she became a loner. Loner suited her better, by far.

She darted this way and that, constantly changing speed. One moment trotting to inspect this rabbit hole, the next running flat-out down a sloping hill, until she skidded to a halt and turned a sharp right, entering into one of the most beautiful clearings she'd ever seen. It literally took her breath away, although perhaps she was panting from running. So serene, so empty, except-

Esmerelda stopped, a rare occurance on any day, and narrowed her bright green eyes in concentration on the wolf across from her. She let her eyes fall over his dark pelt, his expression, his dark blue eyes. Was it... could it be-
"Kinaki?" she called in disbelief. He may not recognise her. After all, she'd left before she was fully grown, stopped annoying him before he made her stop. She wasn't stupid. She'd tagged along with him to survive, to learn how to live alone, she was thankful to him for not sending her away when she was just a few months old.

How strange they'd end up in the same valley. The same clearing. She moved forwards very slowly, peering at him as if to make sure, feeling the long grasses tickling the side of her multitoned brown pelt. A small smile was appearing on her black lips as she walked.

[wolfstar]

ooc// Is this a private post?

[Paint]

ooc. Nope, join away. I keep trying to bully Webby into replying but she gets distracted easily -.-

[webby]

ooc; -wince- Too true. Go ahead and join (:

bic;

Was that a voice? Honestly? At this time? He could always just ignore it. That was the easiest option, the safest option..... Why would he want to talk to others? No good could ever come of it. He'd tried talking, once, (well, at one time at his life) and we all know now that talking never leads to anything positive, don't we? Yes, he thought absentmindedly, vaguely, Ignoring the voice would be the best option.

However, at the back of his mind, an irritating thought was niggling it's way forward. We don't want to listen to you, whether you recognise that voice or not, said the other thoughts, angrily, but still the little bugger kept pushing it's way forward. Swimming up to the surface like a revolting jellyfish that was ugly and would only ever end up hurting people. Still, when you see a jellyfish, you can't ignore it...

"Hello," Kinaki said pathetically, as he turned to face Esmerelda. It was a feeble attempt at a turn, more of a slight movement of the lazy half of his body. Even his eyes couldn't quite be bothered, or didn't want to (either way) look at this wolf from his past life, who he knew would remind him of things he'd rather not think about. The direction of his gaze slid past Esmerelda's eyes to look over her shoulder. It was if Kinaki had had an accident and couldn't quite function properly any more.

[Paint]

Esmerelda tipped her head to one side, a notion which would've looked puppyish and adorable had she been a year younger but instead looked simply bewildered and a little amused. Kinaki had always been a little odd.

Still, he showed no signs of recognising her, and she wasn't hurt. She was beginning if she could feel upset by things, she was ridiculously resilient.

"Kinaki, you lunatic," she rolled her brilliant green eyes and sat down promptly to show she wasn't leaving until she got a decent conversation out of him. "Don't remember me? Esmerelda? We did travel together for a good few months, if I remember rightly, you taught me to hunt." She raised her brows, wondering if he'd continue to play this numb-expression charade he was pulling.

[wolfstar]

Ritbant padded happily through the sunlight. His red pelt gleamed like flames, and his eyes were roving about the trees. He was not watching where he was going, absorbed as he was in the beauty of the land, so he was startled when he literally ran into a wolf sitting on the ground. "Whoops! Excuse me." He was cheerful, and nothing could put him out of a good mood. He nodded happily to the wolf he had run into. "I am Ritbant. I've smelled you around before." He looked at the blank looking wolf with slight confusion.

[webby]

At the word 'remember', Kinaki snapped.
"I won't, I won't, I won't!" he snarled, glaring daggers at Esmerelda, finally meeting her emerald gaze. "What are you doing here, Esmerelda?" It wasn't a question, more of an attack on the wolf he had once known. He didn't want to know anyone any longer, that just caused trouble and pain. Kinaki's response to that was to shut his mind down, with only the minimum thought being processed that was required to keep him alive. However, he was a fairly intellegent wolf, and fairly intellegent brains tended not to want to keep quiet - hence the outburst.

Kinaki was about to turn at storm away, when something fairly dense tumbled straight into him. That was just adding salt to the wound. Without even looking properly, or taking into account that the other wolf had just apologised, his voice turned to ice. No more outbursts for Kinaki, just cold-blooded anger.

"You can get the bloody hell out of here." he said venemously, controlling the level of his voice perfectly. "I don't care who you've smelt, you can both leave. Now."

ooc; sorry, Kinaki's a bitter old sod, don't be put off x)

[wolfstar]

ooc// all types.


bic// Ritbant looked in startlement at the wolf he had bumped into. No one was really that temperamental, and he looked in exasperation at the other wolf, a pretty dappled brown fae. "Well gee. Excuse me for being in a good mood. Next time I'll just attack you right off instead of apologizing." His mood had evaporated, and he was ready for a fight. Rit was one of the best fighters around, but he didn't boast. He looked pleadingly towards the female. He didn't mind fighting, but he tried to avoid it when he could. His green eyes turned back to the male he had bumped into.

[Paint]

ooc. Esmerelda's not a black fae ;] Dappled brown heh (:

Okayyy.... so Kinaki's snapped, Esmerelda thought, alarmed. But she couldn't bring herself to be truly scared. It was as if she knew his potential- he was an excellent fighter, and vastly intelligent. She was surprised he'd put up with her for as long as he had, and entirely grateful he had.

Plus, it was incredibly hard to put Esmerelda down.

"Hey, Ritbant," she called out, smiling sweetly. "No offense, of course, I'm sure you're a very good fighter. But you might want to back up. Fighting with Kinaki wouldn't be good for your health," she laughed, the sound echoing like chimes. "I'm Esmerelda, by the way- nice to meet you."

She half-turned back to Kinaki and tilted her head.
"I'm here because I live here now Kinaki. Maybe I might move on in a week or two. Maybe not. At the moment, though, I'm here and I'm requesting a civil conversation with you- no matter how insane you are," she stated, very matter-of-fact, bright green eyes burning into him.

[wolfstar]

Ritbant was happy to oblige. He didn't like fighting, and though he knew he could probably beat Kinaki, it would have been a close thing, and they both would have been half dead. "Hello Esmerelda. A pleasure to see you. Kinaki...not so much." His gaze shot acid at Kinaki, though he knew he probably wouldn't notice. It felt nice to let off steam.

[webby]

Kinaki rolled his eyes, impatiently. Had he, or had he not given that idiotic wolf an order? Then, the wolf realised that he didn't have any sort of power any more. Before the earthquake, he'd had a loyal, although small pack who listened to him.... And now? Nothing. It didn't put him in the best of moods. He raised his hackles threateningly at Ritbant, and was about to make a snide comment, when Esmerelda started to speak.

Her words seemed to cool his temper of a little. Perhaps it was that she was impossible to aggravate, or just that her familiar green gaze seemed to command him to calm down. He was still standing in a rather agressive manner, but his muscles seemed to untense a little. He looked at Ritbant for a moment, willing himself not to lose his temper again. There'd be no more of that from now on.

Turning back to Esmerelda, he said coldly, "And what is it you'd like to talk about? I suppose it includes our friend, here."

[Paint]

Esmerelda watched as Kinaki's muscles untensed slightly, and she could still read the tension in his eyes as he spoke to her again. She raised her brows at him as if scrutinizing him, smiling a little again. It felt nice to see someone familiar- someone who had given her so much safety in her early days.

"I don't mind Kinaki. Why don't we start with the basics. How was travelling alone after we went our separate ways?" she replied, smiling politely and conversationally at him in a way which showed he was in her full attention at the moment.

[wolfstar]

Ritbant settled in to listen. The male was obviously having a precarious temper, but Rit liked a good story. So he plonked himself down, ready to settle in and listen, whether or not the two wanted him. There weren't many things he would fight to do, but listening to a story was one of them.

[webby]

ooc; wolfstar, no one liners please, remember the 100+ word limit (: