On any other day, Portia would have heeded her Heda's advice and brought along a friend. Lucia was a prime candidate, considering the girl was likable and did a swell job listening to her ramble on about everything-- plants and rocks, mostly. And then Dio, of course, but lately she just felt bad pulling him away from his job. And besides, she needed time to herself, so she did what free spirits did best-- wander.
She fully intended just to cross the border and walk a bit, then turn around, but her paws brought her further and further forward, green eyes trailing the landscape as she went. It was too gorgeous to leave, she wanted more-- to find more, to see more... and so she kept going forwards. And besides, the further she went, the less she thought about Dio, who was placing too many feelings into the young Skayona for her to properly comprehend. He left thoughts of children, and old age, and all the things that Portia was positive she would never want-- until now. She was afraid of that thought, afraid that her happiness would break apart in time
And soon, she was in Phoenix Maplewood. She recognized it from Thuringwethil's descriptions, knowing something about a quarrel that had occurred a short period of time before she had arrived. But it was truly gorgeous-- all those oranges and reds and yellows... She found herself sitting, at one point, marveling at the beauty of the area, Dio far from mind.
He felt compelled to explore the lands around the pack, looking for any loners, looking to bulk up his numbers as they approached winter. It would be mutually beneficial to bring more members on - he'd even pay special attention to anyone with knowledge of healing. He felt between the older wolves - himself, Banner, and Buchanan - they had the borders well defending. He knew Silas kept hunting, kept himself focused. He hadn't seen Tambourine really latch onto any particular skillset, but he was young, he had time to explore.
Stark had made his way out towards the Maplewood, aimless, but eager at the same time. He could smell someone nearby although he hadn't seen them, the winds favoring him for stealth. Still, somewhere, Octavia's reminder about the pack wars was in his head but he didn't feel like there was any issues there. He, and his pack, were outside the petty wars and scrabbles of others. They'd been secluded, and Stark no longer banned talk of the Keep, but, he wouldn't abide with any sort of petty fights between his wolves and others.
The dark wolf lifted his head, calling out to anyone who might be in the area.
Her sitting and marveling was interrupted, though she wasn't put off right away. She recognized the call, even from just a howl, and let out a light and peppy bark in return, hoping the wolf would stay where he was so she could find him. She followed the voice, her short legs moving quickly to give her a decent pace. The sound led her to a dark man, tall and with piercing blue eyes. She gave him a soft smirk, sitting down and letting her tail swish around her paws.
"I'd be lying," she began, green eyes studying him, "If I said I remembered your name."
There was an answer that was familiar and Stark's tail gave a couple low sways behind him. He felt relaxed enough and he'd not forget the figure of the woman. She was still the most unique thing he'd seen, a coat on her like none other. She was made of moonlight and shadows, the very image of the moon battling the heavens for dominance. He offered her a little smirk, genuinely pleased to see her. "I'm not sure we stayed long enough to give them, sweetheart." He said honestly. If they'd exchanged many words Stark honestly couldn't remember them.
He did know they'd spent time together and he'd enjoyed it, but, he couldn't remember anything more than just the feeling of her company. "I'm pleased to see you around still." He offered with a nod, inviting her closer to him, if she wanted to be.
She smiled, tilting her head upward lightly. "Portia," she offered, tail swishing. She didn't have much use for her last name anymore-- this man was the first she'd met outside her pack in months. She was Portia, her family had become the wolves of Drageda, and she didn't need a name to herself to them. "Likewise, hun," she added, studying his expression. His stance invited her nearer, but she was a competitive sort when it came to games, and this was her favorite game.
Instead, she continued to eye him, deciding whether or not she'd prefer him in broad daylight, or in the dark night like she had their meeting before. He certainly wasn't hard on the eyes, but the inner hopeless romantic felt such a mysterious and handsome man should be met in the night under the moon-- such a better story.
"What brings you here?"
It was almost a disappointment that neither remembered the other's name - but Stark had been more enraptured by just the ease around her and the night sky above them to worry about anything so trivial as what to call her. "The same thing I would imagine that called to you," He answered smoothly, even as she stood there watching him. There was a brief wag of his tail, a slow motion, and Stark eyed the beauty curiously.
"A taste of something different, a chance to step outside of the normal." He offered his own reasoning, though he could not imagine what had truly driven her from her home and from what was normal for her. It was a chance encounter and one that he was actually pleased for.
"Normal," Portia repeated, her tail flicking, "I havent had normal in a while." And it was true. Dio was new and almost terrifying, in a way, she left to explore-- just for a little bit-- that was far more normal.
She eyed him for a moment, tail waving. "I merely wanted to stretch my legs," she explained, giving a gentle sniff and tilting her crown back slightly.
Stark grinned when she spoke, his eyes trailing her figure again before returning to her vibrant eyes. "And are you stretched properly?" He asked, the words a purr that he didn't truly mean. "Could push you a bit more, if you want." He said, nodding out towards the expanse of the Taiga - there was much more that they could do if she wanted to.
"I've walked plenty," Portia replied with a flick of her ears. And she had, too-- she hadn't meant to wander this far from Drageda to begin with, and she knew she couldn't go much further. The glint in her eyes suggested another reason for not wanting to travel further, but she did no clarifying. Instead she stood, tail flicking quietly.
Stark's lips curled into a smirk as she spoke, the boyish grin on his face. "Walking not interesting?" He teased. Of course of there were lots of options. Plenty of things that weren't just walking. "So what are you hoping for then, sweetheart?" Stark asked, closing the distance between them. He'd met her leader before, the scent was vaguely familiar to him, but it wasn't about the pack. It was about them right then. She'd made him curious the last time they'd met, and now, he just wanted to know what else she'd inspire in him.
Portia eyed him, shrugging. "What do you have to offer, hun?" she asked, the distance between them growing shorter as he made his way closer. She waved her tail behind her, but made no movements toward him. Her green eyes continued to look over him, ears pricked upwards and cupped in his direction, curiously awaiting a response.
Stark gave a low rumble of a laugh, leaning closer to brush his snout against a pale shoulder. "There's plenty we could entertain ourselves with." Stark hummed out, tongue flashing over his lips for a moment. "All depends on your interests, really." Stark was after all a gentleman - he'd do whatever the lady requested, if that would make her happy.
"My interests," Portia echoed, a bit softer and with more thought. she tilted her head to the side as he brushed against her shoulder, pondering a response briefly before finding his gaze again. "You yourself have certainly grabbed my attention," she replied, tail swishing once to the side. she paused briefly, holding her green eyes on his ice-blue ones still. "If you'd count that," Portia added with a shrug and a break in eye-contact, her lashes fluttering as her gaze fell elsewhere-- on a particularly red tree.
"Pretty thing," He hummed out, voice near a coo. If he was being honest he'd been interested in Portia the first time he'd met her. However, he'd never made any mention of it and never acted on the attraction because Octavia was curled around their boy sleeping at the time. Now, life was different. Things couldn't be more different to him. "You did that months ago for me." He promised as he reached out to tease a strand of fur along her shoulder.
"really?" Portia asked, feigning shock, "i don't believe i've ever had that effect on someone before." her tail swished behind her, and as he teased a strand of fur on her shoulder she turned her head slightly to the side. she soaked in his attention-- though small-- for a moment before leaning closer to him, her gaze falling back on him. she found his blue one, looking to hold it for a few heartbeats before leaning in even closer and finding a bit of fur just below his jawline to fascinate herself with, her teeth combing gently through it.
the rest, was history. and she returned to the dragon-- though she did not feel as satisfied as the thought she would've. instead, guilt set in deeper.