AW!
After a morning hunt, Slavik had spent the day traversing the higher areas of the Moonspear, where the inclines grew steeper and the earth more jagged. He’d been inspired by his meeting with Wraen to look at the stars, but from the closest he could get to them. They were always waving and winking at him, now it was his turn to acknowledge their beauty. The golden boy made it to a clearing, where the path up was no longer clear and the ground was still soft. This would be a good stopping place, and just in time to watch the sun set over the horizon.
Since he had been spending more time in recent weeks out roving around, trips towards the higher elevations of the mountain had been lacking. As the sun had started to set for the day, he had decided to remedy this--with half a motivation to look for his mother (knowing she tended to lurk the heights when not on patrols) and half for his own personal reasons that sounded a lot like just because. As he started to climb upwards past the usual points, he knew that he had missed it, even if he had not really been gone.. instead, simply preoccupied with other matters.
He pushed himself into the most ground-covering gait he could manage given the scenery's slopes, and it led him towards the meadow where he finally slowed up, panting and trying to regroup at the heights. The air's chill bit a little extra up here too.. so he fluffed up his coat and kept going until he noticed Slavik's bright hues in the day's last light. While not his dam, he was quick to glom onto the idea of any interaction he could run into.
Jarilo didn't know him exceptionally well but went jogging towards him to go investigate, still panting as he went--though he stopped it enough to chuff at him along the way, sometime before he got close enough to actually greet him.
Slavik's head swung around to see the company, a laidback smile on his face. It was one of Charon and Amekaze's sons, a dark boy with mint leaf eyes named Jarilo, if his memory didn't fail him. Slavik barked back as the darker male made his way towards him, not moving from his seated spot in the meadow. He didn't know this guy that well either, but he found it almost funny how he seemed to meet a new one of the alpha's children everyday. How many could there be?
The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him, Slavik's large figure shifted just a little so he could face the other when he got nearer. You wanna watch the sunset with me?
he asked, with a easygoing sweep of his tail.
As his strides brought him nearer, he slowed up more gradually the closer he came. When he seemed to be received in good enough spirits, Jarilo took that as a good sign, and felt himself easing up even more. His expression relaxed, too, and soon enough he found himself occupying a spot next to the golden-furred fellow. Yeah, sure,
his tail waved back and inwardly, he was grateful for the invite; meant less intrusion on his part, so doubts of that dispelled immediately. It is a good view,
he observed through a growing smirk as he turned to gesture his snout to the horizon spread wide and vast beyond them.
Do you skywatch often?
he asked, curious, or if it was just a side-effect of the heights. They were hard to miss, even to any who didn't make a particular hobby out of it. I'm Jarilo, by the way,
he added, toothy-grin matching the words, before his focus could skip on any further ahead of him and the skies above.
The other young male relaxed upon Slavik’s invite, and soon he had come to the blonde wolf’s side. Slavik returned his smile, his tail continuing to make snow angels on the ground. For sure,
he replied to the darker furred wolf, and followed his gesture out to the setting sun. The colors had begun to stripe the sky, in a cirrus and windswept pattern. Blue was paling to purple, pink and orange swirling together. The sunset in itself was glorious, but the stars were what he was after.
Slavik looked back to his companion when asked a question, Sometimes, most of the time I’m doing other stuff. You?
This specific sky-watching session was only inspired by Wraen, he wanted to see if he could find the Orion and Hydra constellations she’d told him about. Though sometimes he would wander up to the sky scraping areas of the Moonspear, just to be a little closer to the world. The other introduced himself as Jarilo, and with a toothy grin. Slavik gave a grin in response, I’m Slavik.
Of the ilk that comprised his family constellation, Jarilo could be one of the more easy-going sorts, but he definitely eased right on into comfortable in Slavik's company. He made it easy enough back, though, and not only thanks to subject matter that he could really get behind and wrap his head around so readily. The skies definitely pulled at the bulk of his attention, streaking in their vibrant hues as the edges of nighttime began to slip in, but he was interested in the golden-furred fellow who had come to them, and not only that, but stayed so far--so it was high time he know him better.
Kind of the same, sometimes.
he replied, filing the other's answer for later as well. He wasn't an overly avid skywatcher, but he appreciated it way more than average--probably. It's kind of hard not to with family like mine.. and winter makes it pretty easy to appreciate the stars too,
he replied, angling his snout towards where the stars would glimmer soon. The nights were long and there was plenty of time to kill watching them. I've helped teach my siblings a few things about it all up there, so I guess I know a bit, although I'm actually a bit more of a greenery-appreciating naturalist than a stars one, truthfully..
he smirked.. although he was more interested in just appreciating a nice view above anything else right now, not this over that. Which winter does not help at all, so.. here I am,
he snickered softly, trying not to fill all the space with his rambling that could get out of hand if he let it.
Slavik nodded at Jarilo's response, following his snout to the sky above where the sun was falling quickly now. His eyes remained there for a moment, pondering both the stars and his companions words. He decided to chime in after Jarilo said winter makes it easier to appreciate the stars. I'm from the plains, where there aren't a lot of trees always blocking the sky. Being up higher where there isn't much above me makes me think of home. That's why I come up here I think,
thoughts flowed from his mouth in a conversational manner, though they were more for his own whims then to inform the Ostrega.
Jarilo continued on, explaining how he teaches his siblings, and how he was a naturalist but a greenery one. Slavik smiled and nodded in agreement at his next words, tell me about it. I do a little bit of healing stuff with Speedy sometimes, ever since it got all cold we have to go looking for herbs way more often than we used to,
he said, tilting his head a bit as he looked back to the charcoal pelted male.
He blinked, and listened carefully.. keen to the note that he was from the plains, so maybe his overall golden-glow just made sense considering his roots. Jarilo didn't know for sure but an inkling of the thought definitely crossed his mind, and he was happy to agree--it was a good place to think, and he was happy Slavik was another fellow comfortable close to and in full view of the vast skies. Well it's a good spot, definitely,
he sighed contentedly, although his other mention did bring a hint of a frown--mainly thanks to the mention of Speedy.
He hadn't spent time in her company since before the Blackfeather nonsense, which rankled him more than he often let on. Thankfully Revui had been where he was to help intercept, but this didn't make him feel hopeful about future paths needing to cross with Blackfeather wolves out in the wilds when he wanted to freely range more once the weather warmed up better. How has she been lately..? Hope it's been good since what went down,
he finished his words with a lower edge. I told her I'd help collect stuff for healing too but it's been.. ugh, not the best for that,
he shook his head. Of course he had been busy with other stuff, not that any opportunities for had been very good recently either and he kind of felt bad about putting it off for so long--not that it was all his fault necessarily.