The water was his favorite place to be and was where he could usually be found when he wasn't busy, which was most of the time. Although, that was about to change. He was thinking about heading down the coast tomorrow to scout it out and see if he could find anything of use to report back to Rosalyn.
Today, though, he was swimming. He had moved out in the water until it reached his chest. He dunked his head under and brought it back up, grinning and shaking the water from his face. He did that a couple more times before he was done entertaining himself. He then moved farther out into the water until most of his body was submerged and started swimming parallel to the coast line. He planned to do this until he was tired or hungry; whichever came first.
Engelhard went out to see whom he could meet up with as, lately he had been doing so much venturing about that he had not even thought to visit some others of the group of Ironsea. And one such, he met to have found swimming. And he did not recognize them, either so he sat back while watching them swim.
It wasn't until a big of watching them did he chuff out to them, to catch their attention and at least let them know someone was there.
Zig heard the chuff from the water, and he stopped swimming to see where it had come from. He saw an unfamiliar packmate sitting on the beach watching him. Excited to meet someone new, he made his way from the water, making sure to stay a little distance from the male as he shook the water from his coat. Once that was done, he trotted up to the reddish-brown male.
Ahoy!
Zig said with a lopsided grin. I don't think we've met yet,
he added as he stopped in front of his packmate. I'm Zigzag, but you can call me Zig,
he offered with a friendly twinkle in his ocean blue gaze.
Engel remained seated as the other came out of the water, smirking as the other shook off. No doubt he would have made a bad joke had they done so near him. "Engel, Engelhard. You can call me Engel, but really I accept any name" he said, keeping the smirk about him. "I've been out a lot, not much time to meet new faces."
Zig gave a nod when the other male offered his name. At his second comment, Zig perked up and wagged his tail. A fellow scout?
Zig asked with a raised eyebrow. He did most of his traveling solo, but it might be fun to have a fellow packmate to keep him company in the future if he turned out to be a scout as well. If not, maybe he just liked to roam. Zig understood that need; had had done it for most of his life.
He nodded along. "Why, yes. A fellow scout you could say. It's fun, is it not?" he asked, tipping his head a bit. To him, it came with benefits. Meeting new wolves, and new places. "I've been up and down this coast, as well as a few times inland" he added. He hoped to explore everywhere before time caught up on him.
I enjoy it for sure,
Zig answered, excitement in his expression. He hadn't been inland yet, but he was heading that way after he checked out some of the areas further down the coast. Fixing his ocean gaze on his packmate, he asked, What has been your favorite place so far?
If the other male recommended a spot, maybe he could check it out while he was out. Zig was always game for exploring new places, especially those recommended by others.
Engelhard stretched out on the sand before laying himself down with his forelegs out forwards. Zig asked what place Engel found was his favorite, and he shrugged. "A guy like me? I don't pick favorites" he said with a subtle grin. "I've been up and down the coast, and it seems pretty much the same. I did visit a mountain called Moonspear, pretty nice."
Zig wasn't familiar with that particular mountain, but he would be sure to visit it while he was out since his new packmate seemed to think it was worth mentioning. Have you been a part of this pack for a while?
Zig asked curiously. Since he was new, he was interested to know how the others felt about the pack, especially now that smoke was gone indefinitely.
Engelhard nodded back to Zig, he had been here for quite a bit. "Yeah, I have. I know a few of them too" the older male said. His tail wagging behind him. "You been getting treated right, here Zig?" he asked, taking a pace forward with a wide smile across his muzzle.
Good, Zig thought. The fact that he felt compelled to stay with the pack for a long period time must mean there was something to stick around for. He returned his packmate's smile and gave a nod before saying, So far, things have been good.
Zig took a seat in front of Engel, still wagging his tail a little. I'm getting a little stir crazy, though, so I thought I'd head out soon and explore,
Zig added shortly after his answer.
Engelhard nodded along. He was always feeling the need for adventure, if he was to be honest to himself he never could stick around on one spot for long. How he managed here was a mystery. "I go out every once in a bit, rather regularly. The call for adventure...it is there."
I know the call well,
Zig answered with a grin. He felt it often; it was the reason he had spent most of his adult life as a wanderer. He had a hard time being in one place for long. He supposed that was a characteristic all good scouts shared. He looked out over the water briefly before turning his cerulean gaze back to his packmate. Anything I should watch out for while I'm out there?
Zig asked. It would be nice to now if he should avoid any particular area.
Engel reached up with a rear paw, itching a quick scratch as Zig threw a question his way. He sighed after the good scratching, then answered. "Black...something. Black something. A pack with that in it's name, heard they are unfriendly" he said, not remembering the full name.
Zig considered his statement for a minute. It didn't sound familiar, but then he hadn't been here very long either. Regardless, he would keep an ear out for anything that sounded similar. Any idea where they might be located, so I can avoid it?
Zig asked. He wasn't trying to get into a fight; he was more of a lover, saving fighting for times when it was the only option. Otherwise, he always tried to charm his way out of any tough situation.
Engel opened his mouth to answer and then....had his mouth held open for a rather long moment as he thought it over. "Uhhh....I forget that too" he said, chuckling nervously. "Wish I had recalled that" he added, glancing away with a bit of embarassment from having forgotten something as important as that.
Zig grinned. Don't worry about it, man,
he replied with a shrug. He would just have to remember to be careful around pack territories. He wouldn't stay away from them all together, though; that was the best way to find out important information. If he came across a pack that was named 'black something,' as Engel had put it, he would just have charm his way out of the situation if needed--or high-tail it out of there. He had no shame in running to save his ass.
Engelhard grinned back. "Well, you have luck out there...would hate for a pret- a good friend to be lost" he corrected, almost saying something else entirely. And that would have looked very odd, had he said that. Every now and there, accidental flirts always ended badly on his end, and the others too.
Zig offered him another, much wider grin. Will do,
he replied with a twinkle in his ocean gaze. This guy was alright. Zig was glad to have met him. I'm serious about scouting together. It gets lonely out there, and it would be nice to have a travel buddy sometimes,
he added a second later. He was sure they would have all kinds of fun scouting together. After all, having fun was half of scouting, at least, it was in Zig's book. He got his business done, too, but there had to be a balance.
Engel smiled. It did get lonely, but he tended to find company most of the time. And he could do so again, the next time he went out scouting. "Just know with me, I tend to find lots of company....and awkward situations" he glanced aside upon saying that. "But it'll be nice to have someone along my side as well."
Zig chuckled at his packmates response. I've yet to find a situation too awkward for me,
he replied with a devilish grin. Zig was the epitome of laid back; no matter the situation, he could usually just go with the flow. It seemed like maybe the two of them could cause some trouble, which made the prospect of scouting with Engel even better. And I never mind company,
Zig added with a mischievous raise of one eyebrow. Meeting other wolves was one of the reasons he went exploring, it just didn't always happen, which was why he liked the idea of having a partner.
Engel was unsure if Zigzag caught onto his meaning, but he didn't press it. Unlike he usually did, where he would keep being forward. "Almost every meeting is awkward, I just can't help it most of the time." It was a rare case where it wasn't his fault and rather the other's. After that, he kind of remained there as he thought of what to say next. "So...where you planning next? East? North?"
Well, you don't seem awkward to me,
he offered with a smile. He seemed like someone who could be his friend. Engel inquired next about his travel plans. I plan on heading west down the coast and then going south before making my way back home,
Zig replied. He had a general idea of where he would go, but, as always, he left room for deviation depending on what he encountered while out and about.
Engel nervously chuckled at that. Maybe he was not awkward just now. But no doubt, he would be sometime. "Oh yeah...for now." He always seemed to ruin friendships. They either died, tried to kill him or just cut him out. Engel did not want to ruin another relationship to another, friendship or otherwise.
"Right, down the coast. Then south...well I have gone down the coast but I don't think that way." Had he? Or had it been east?
I'm excited to see what's down there,
he answered. Zig enjoyed learning about the land surrounding wherever he called home. Previously, he hadn't really had a home, but now, he did and he wanted to make sure he knew everything about it.
Well, it was nice to meet, Engel,
Zig said with a grin. [/q]Let me know if you want to go scouting in the future. I think we'd have a lot of fun, [/q] he added a second later. Getting to his feet, he gave the other male a nod and said, See you around,
before turning to make his way down the coast.