Sun Mote Copse close your eyes, you’ll leave this dream

he's a little ways from the border

Where, oh where could his dearest sister be? Not in the forest and not in the bog, no no. But she must be somewhere nearby! How could she resist being so close to someone's lovely little home? Imagine how delightful these wolves could be! Imagine all that food they had! Parasite's lips quivered. Being so close made him so so hungry. Eating must wait. It'd be rude to have a feast without his sister.

Parasite bit his lip and chuckled to himself. I'll wait. I'll wait, he reminded himself before lifting his head up and howling.

The energy of the pack had picked up, what with the warming temperatures, and the arrival of the first pup- and an unexpected one at that. He knew more pups would come when his mother gave birth, and while he felt a bit unsettled, he was coming to terms with that fact, and felt more and more like an adult the more he simply accepted it. He wasn't a pup anymore, anyway- he was in the adult ranks, and had two trades to focus on. So when a howl came from beyond the borders, he howled in response- more a courtesy than anything, to tell the stranger he was on his way, before he trotted off in that direction. 

The stranger, even from a distance, looked unkempt, and the closer he got, the more Bronco noticed the poor condition of his pelt and body. Though winter had just passed, the male was missing chunks of fur that definitely weren't from Spring shedding; and he looked thin. There was something ravenous in his dark eyes, and a sort of sway about him, even while he was still, that Bronco couldn't really pinpoint to being and illusion created by the soft wind and his missing fur, or if he wasn't standing perfectly still. Bronco came to a stop, and his hesitance showed as he licked his lips, flicking his ears back, and then forward again before he gave the stranger a nod. "You called?" He asked redundantly. Unlike others- others who appeared a bit more...clear and healthy, he didn't feel inclined to be as unguarded as he might normally be. This guy put him on edge, though he did his best not to show it too much.

An answer! Yes, yes yes! Soon someone would arrive. A poster boy, a glimpse, a taste of what the locals are like. How would they act? Agressive? Welcoming?

Ah, a tentative one.

It's nothing he isn't used to by now. Most wolves he came across act this way. He's surprised the juvenile hasn't ran by now, or at least call for more friends. "Come quickly! A strange beast is on our borders!" He expected the boy to say something along those lines. Parasite frowned. The boy came closer, asked him a question. Parasite smiles. Tentative he may be, but a runner? No.

Good!

I did! He nodded his head and took a step closer. Your home is so nice! My sister loves places like this. Places filled to the brim with food. So much food... how many wolves lived here? He parted his lips to taste the air, to attempt to differentiate one scent from another. He hoped there were dozens.

Has she passed by recently?

He was greeted eagerly, and there was a fascination in the male's eyes that Bronco didn't like. He'd seen the same look before- but that look wasn't generally directed toward other wolves. No, that was the look a wolf got the first moment they caught sight of a potential next meal. Then again- maybe he was just an upbeat kind of guy who had been down on his luck. He took a step forward and Bronco hastily gave the male a flash of his teeth, warning him to stay back and respect his space. Though they were past the borders, he still felt the obligation to be defensive. 

He referenced his sister, but Bronco couldn't help himself but snort at his description. "Places like this? You mean a forest?" He asked skeptically, his tone inferring that he thought that idea might be ridiculous, given the fact that there were forests everywhere. He asked if she'd passed by, and Bronco blinked at the male. How was he supposed to know? "H'ain't seen any roughed up, scraggly-assed-lookin' wolves skulkin' around this area, so unless you can tell me a bit about her, so I know what yer sister looks like, Imma say no."

One step forward earns a brief warning from their poster boy. The grin on his face turns to a quivering smile. He took a step back. Parasite had learned the sight of him breeds fear, and fear breeds violence. Wouldn't want to lose his skin over something so small now would he? The creature would respect his space, for now that is.

The boy thought a regular old forest was enough to lure in his sister. Parasite couldn't stifle his laughter. Hesitant and naive this one! The laughter fades into a bubbly giggle. 

Her name is Maggot. She looks just like me only less,—what did he call it?—scraggly. Well kept, more mature, more trustworthy. Wolves didn't flash their teeth at her.

The creature stepped back, persuaded by his subtle warning, which led Bronco to feel a bit more assured that his boundaries would be respected. There was something unnerving about the male's smile, though, and Bronco felt himself wishing that his mother might come along, or Wraen, or just...Someone, so that he didn't have to face this guy alone. He was fairly certain that a sickly looking wolf wasn't what they wanted- not one as creepy as this. He had siblings that would be born soon, and he wanted nothing to do with any sketchbags that could potentially harm them. 

He didn't answer Bronco's question, but a pitchy giggle came unbidden from the male's lips, as though there was something secretive going on inside the male's mind. It was unnerving; though apparently his sister was less torn up than him. Part of him simply detested the thought of this guy's sibling coming by simply because their parents had seen fit to give her the name Maggot. He shook his head. "H'ain't had anyone pass by with that name. If she does pass this way, who should I say is looking for her?" He asked, hoping that he might possibly lead the creepy male toward a departure with the promise of sending his sister his way, should she pass by.

last post for me! trying to clear threadlogs

No sight of her? What a shame. What. A. Shame! He kneaded his paws in the dirt, slowly at first. The movement became faster, more jittery as he thought of what to do next.

If Maggot was not here, then why stay. There's nothing for him here. Nothing but the boy. Food. A pang of hunger gnawed at his stomach. He wanted to step closer. He wanted to eat but

Wait. Wait. Wait.
Wait for your sister now!

Parasite. Straighten up. Shake off the fur. Get yourself together. The creature grinned again (it had slowly vanished in the moment of silence).

I better keep looking then. He turned around, started heading from where he came. Goodbye now!

Bronco's attention drifted from the male's mealy face to the ground, where he kneaded the ground, flexing and lifting his paws the way a cat might upon stepping onto a comfortable bed...But this wasn't a sign of comfrt, this was an anxiety-ridden tick, and Bronco sensed the male's discomfort immediately. He lowered his head and narrowed his gaze as the fur at the back of his neck bristled. A few wrinkles appeared along the bridge of his nose, though he avoided baring his teeth by clenching his jaws together and forcing himself to remain stationary. He couldn't force a calm upon himself, but he could at least hold his ground. 

The male snapped out of his trance and sputtered out his name with a sudden jerk that caused Bronco to flinch and bare his teeth reflexively, his he calmed himself, and flicked his tongue across his lips a couple times, trying still to relieve the pressure this strange male was creating with his odd behaviors. Thankfully, he turned to go, and Bronco snorted. "Good riddance," He called out, albeit somewhat snarkily. He didn't leave- and didn't even move. Bronco would hold his ground until the male was well out of sight.