Wolf RPG

@Ibis

tegan had stopped trudging a few days ago. he’d been trudging for like… a dumb stupid long time and he was sort of running out of angst. he was way too tired to devote energy to being angry. was he angry? darn tootin’… but he couldn’t actively do angry things anymore — life was too short. 

so… what was he doing, you might ask — good question. i’m mostly just along for the ride, tegan doesn’t give me much insight into what he’s doing, so why don’t you just keep reading — we’ll figure it out together.

currently — as i can at least read that much into the future — tegan was walking along a territory he was pretty sure he’d never been to before. i mean, it wouldn’t be surprising. it wasn’t like he had many opportunities to traverse the globe. he was also thinking of sick new names, because tegan blackthorn seemed to have lost it’s meaning — i mean, if you had an identity crisis i’m guessing you would probably consider changing names. but tegan follows through — sometimes — so he was just trying to make the best time of it.

where to begin… what did he know? well. blackthorn. redhawk... keep going tegan you’ve seen more of the world than that — blackfeather — we’re still on colors buddy — moonspear — that ones not a name — demonte? — you do not have an interesting enough heritage to get a foreign name like that —  okay well now we’re out of names. that was a terrible brainstorming session. the only think tegan got out of that was the name blueberry and it was so unimpressive he actually snorted aloud at the thought of tegan blueberry. yeah, woo, really blazing some paths for yourself there pal. 

he was trying to think of really dope things too. like, what if he just started going by puma? or like, thorn. oh, shit, thorn was low-key high-key skraight fire tho… but there’s already a toon named that so tegan nixed it for unknown reasons. spike? rebel? how about pitbull? AKA mr. worldwide? he was kinda into mr. worldwide, it suggested he had ladies all over the globe. what about meteor? ... no that didn’t make much sense. fang? scar? ugh this was way too hard. tegan contemplated just going by buddy, but he was fairly certain that no woman would wanna fuck a guy named buddy — that’s like, instant friend zone? like... you’re in the friend zone the second you introduce yourself. yeah, no thanks. 

well, having no name and no ideas besides maybe tegan blueberry, he merely continued on his way.

Ibis wasn't often alone, especially now that she'd departed from the Hollow with @Okeanos, but the meadow was a massive space to explore and she was thrilled to be given some space to do that. It was a humid summer day — hotter than anything she'd experienced before and doomed to increase as the season progressed to its height — but Ibis didn't notice, didn't care. She was flitting between running laps and stopping to smell the roses; there were so many new buds and blossoms she had never seen before, and Ibis wanted to sample all of them. She was like a hummingbird. Sniffing one cluster of tiny flowers, zooming to another, sniffing that, zooooming, plucking, sniffing, tasting, sneezing.

Sneezing again. And again — three, four, five times, with the last being the loudest squeak that she spooked herself. With a shake of her head and some sniffling Ibis' sinuses stopped spasming. It was at this point she noticed a scent on the wind that wasn't familiar - but was definitely canine, definitely wolf. The doe-eyed girl took a deep breath and looked around from her vantage point among the green, and even stood up to try and get some height as an advantage, but -- being so small, it didn't amount to much. The grass still towered above her shoulders.

Hello? Okeanos --? She called out. Ibis didn't think it was her brother that was roaming nearby, it sounded like someone smaller (but not quite as small as herself) and she wanted to make sure her brother was at least within shouting distance if the stranger wasn't so kind-hearted; then again, Ibis didn't really suspect anything negative from the presence, she had no reason to think that a rogue wolf might be a threat because she was, to some degree, an idiot.

tegan didn't see the little wolf. much less smell -- he was way to focused on coming up with names and there were way too many floral smells for him to be paying much attention. dumbass. but he heard her, and paused to take it in.

okeanos -- well, no, but that was certainly a cool ass name. tegan called out in response, looking around until he spotted the indent in the tall grass. no -- not okeanos, he said, sounding pretty confidently like he even knew who the dude was, who're you? and then he took a few steps forwards to push through the grass and flowers to find a tiny little thing, but pretty. tegan liked her eyes, they were kind of like his but bluer. despite the fact that the scar on his cheek was actually healing really well, tegan still looked a little beat up. he hadn't really gotten any medical attention for his ear, so it was still pretty scabbed up around the edges. not infected, though -- not that tegan cared. 

either way, forgetting his appearance, tegan flashed a handsome smile her way -- quite happy to run into someone who looked as good as she did.

She didn't have time to look around for long. Her brother didn't appear, but the sounds of someone approaching did reach her ears and Ibis felt like she should duck and hide, but... That would only confirm what so many people thought of her. That she was too small and weak and airheaded --- no, she'd be strong like Okee, confident like Ira. The girl channeled them as she looked around and out of the grass came a new face.

He looked young, but rough too. His coat was pale like her's but with less warmth to it, kind of like snow but not quite as pure, and -- he had scars. Obvious ones, and wounds, which had her gasping softly while he spoke. Who're you? He asked with a big smile and Ibis felt a small one tug at her cheeks. It was hard not to smile back.

My name is Ibis. I'm from -- Lost Creek, she was about to say, and stopped herself. It was a habit she had to break. The east.. I'm travelling. Who're you?

well i don't have a name ibis from the east, he told her with a flick of a scarred ear before correcting himself, well, i do, but i'm getting rid of it. turning a new leaf. i left home and i'm trying to start new -- so i need to find a new name. tegan was convinced that ibis from the east could help him out... or maybe she couldn't, but he was down to try anyway. 

i'm traveling west, he added before sitting down before her, still grinning a stupid grin. it was tegan, after all.

He was amusing. Charming, like Breccan, but more of a conversationalist. She decided she liked the sound of his voice despite how speedily he seemed to speak — and was shocked when he didn't give a name in return, an oddity on its own. But if he was starting over then that made sense. It was curious.

I'm travelling west, explained the nameless boy through his grin, and Ibis couldn't help but giggle softly at the predicament he was in. Well, so am I, she confirmed, so you could join me if you want? Oh - and my brother. He's around here somewhere -- she gave a cursory look around but didn't try too hard to find him; she was much too interested in this odd fellow.

Have you been this way before? We um -- we've only ever lived in this valley, but if you've seen anything cool I'd love to hear about it --- Her voice faltered, because she would've said his name there but he didn't apparently have one, and it wasn't something she was used to. Maybe if he could be of help as a guide or something, she could get to know him a little and return the favor by giving him a new name? It sounded like an awfully important responsibility in her mind, though.

tegan paused at the comment, as if confused, and then shook his head with a gentle chuckle. did i say west? he asked, still with a grin, i'm headed east, sorry... i must've been too distracted by your pretty face. he corrected himself smoothly, feeling rather proud of that line. he was glad it had gone according to plan -- though he was surprised the little cutie w the booty (to be determined if this was a true statement) was already offering him a place among their travel plans. 

oh, i know nothing over here, tegan said with a flick of his tail, i once met a lady who lived on that mountain over there-- he pointed towards sunspire -- but i've never been over here before. i know plenty about the hitherlands and the valley thadda way, though. i mean, he grew up there. of course he did. tegan was also wildly unaware of the fact that this was seabreeze's daughter... though if he had any observation skills at all whatsoever he might've noticed they looked alike. 

listen, ibis, i gotta business proposition for you. you game? he asked with a quirk of his brow, thinking about the same thing she was -- honestly.

She was a bit disheartened when he made his correction. Ibis would've loved to have another travel buddy. At the very least she'd have someone to talk to and learn from, and Ibis had briefly entertained the thought that she could pick his brain as they went — but there was no point to getting invested when he was already changing his plans. A tiny frown slipped over her face but he might've missed it, because he was motioning at the Sunspire and talking about places Ibis had never heard of.

The girl opened her mouth to make a comment about the Sunspire - because her mother and father had lived there once, and from the stories she grew up on, she had been born there too but had no memories of it. Before she could say anything he was offering her a proposition so — she shut her mouth a second or two, tilting her head just a bit as she adjusted her ears forward. I'm -- game, yes, okay, what is it? Boy, he certainly had a strange way of speaking.

HA! she was game! sucked in. too late to say no now. well, tegan supposed she could decide she didn’t want to participate... but usually people who said yes to favors to ransom strangers didn’t like to disappoint — so he figured he was in the clear. 

you help me come up with a name — something badass and memorable, first and last, and i’ll show you the safest way through the mountains, tegan offered with a quirk or his brow. or... maybe she’s wasn’t trying to go through these mountains. at that point he was at a loss. i was actually voted worlds best scout this time last year, so i know wassup.

he paused, giving her time to comprehend, and then continued on. if that doesn’t work for you then you name your own terms, i got plenty of talent to offer up.

As he spoke he said something she'd never expected - the sound of a cuss made her ears burn and her face feel flush, and she briefly averted her eyes to look around them as if a wolf who was more adult than herself would pop out of the grass to scold them both. It was a fleeting feeling, but strong while it lasted. Then he went on to explain the deal and Ibis was shocked again; she had never been given that much power over someone else before. What kind of name could she concoct for him? What if she tried to offer a bunch and they were all stupid, or -- what if she named him something that was utterly unsuitable? She didn't know him at all. Oh no, this wasn't -- this wasn't a good plan, this was terrifying!

Ibis was worried she'd screw up and it was plainly written on her face. Are -- are you sure? I mean, I'm a total stranger, you're a total stranger -- Then again, if she offered something he didn't like then he could just ignore it. He didn't have to take one of her suggestions. Ibis didn't want to cause upset or make him leave angry, so she relented by saying: I'll try.

She went with what she knew: which was mostly the names for birds and flowers she'd collected, or names she'd made-up on the spot for her studies, and gave him a discerning look as she tried to deduce which of these things was the most suitable. What about... Huckleberry? It was her only offering initially; the Hollow had a few huckleberry bushes mixed in among the forestry and that was the first thing to come to mind. After a pause Ibis tried others: Or -- what about Morton? But one glance at the boy's pretty eyes and the expression on his face, and Ibis knew it didn't really fit, no, wait.. hmm, What could she say? It was really hard to come up with names for a total stranger like this, and she didn't want to screw it up.

That's when she thought of something she'd not thought of since she was very, very tiny. So small that she probably should not be able to remember anything of the time period back when her parents were happy and together, and her father was teaching his kids -- something, or telling a story. Was it a story? It felt like it was on the edge of her knowing which frustrated Ibis a little bit. I once heard a story about a group of warriors -- knights, I think they were called -- and um, they were unbeatable. They fought for their king whenever he called, and saved princesses, and fought dragons, maybe Terance had told her a story when she was tiny, or maybe it was her aunt Wraen, or one of her mothers; whoever it was, it came to mind and Ibis hoped she could recall some aspect of it properly for this stranger.

I think there were... twelve? But um, I remember a couple of those names.. Gawain, and Tristan, and.. hm, no, I can't remember the others. She frowned, thoughtful and serious, before blurting, Or you could go by the dragon's name! Dragons are fierce creatures that nobody can defeat - not even a whole bunch of knights. I think this one was... Kilgharrah. There were too many avenues to explore when it came to names so she had to stop herself from rambling further, but hoped that the boy liked something that she'd offered; at the very least, Ibis hoped he wasn't offended or weirded-out by her commentary.

listen, babe, said tegan with a shake of his head, i'm a free spirit -- lone wolf kinda guy. you picking my name is exactly what i need. mostly because tegan was currently lacking the creativity to do it himself and he liked to drag other wolves into his mess. whoops. anyhoo. she swung into a whole ordeal about finding him a name -- hell yeah. granted, her first few options were a little... uhm. drab. but after hearing huckleberry tegan's writer was generally drawn to the name finn. right? kinda cute? idk if anyone has that though so like. let's keep listening to lil baby ibis. 

her story was also cute, but tegan was the first to admit he wasn't going anywhere near a god damn dragon -- whatever that was. sounded scary though and he was certainly a pussy. he kinda liked the name tristan, though. low-key. it was close enough to tegan that it didn't feel too foreign. i like tristan, he told her earnestly with a wave of his tail, that doesn't like -- make me bond to fight dragons though, right? between you and me, i'm not much of a fighter. he pointed to his snoz, that's why i'm all beat up in the face -- not too good at it. 

his tail flicked and he rocked side to side as he pondered. what else you got?

She wanted to be more useful. He seemed to like Tristan, and she drew back a half-step while he was talking so she could get a look at him properly, mentally applying the name to him over and over, reciting it - it seemed to fit. Then again, Ibis really had no idea what she was doing. And then he asked for more options and she huffed a little, feeling put-out by the ordeal but still eager to please and happy to help.

So... Something that makes you sound, um, cool, she wouldn't let herself say the cuss that he'd used; mostly because she didn't know what it meant but also, it didn't feel appropriate. And you don't want to be roped in to dragon-fighting. Good, okay, with that understood she paused to think and—What about Caleb? You could pass as a Caleb. Or, if you liked Tristan, you could change it up from there to um, Triskellion, which is -- something from another story. You could shorten it to Kell? It sounded really cool to her, but, Ibis was more of an herbology nerd than anything and her first instinct was to list off more plant names... Aw well, she tried.

and badass, tegan reminded her, his tail waving. he also kinda liked caleb... but it was sort of a stretch, he didn't know why. he thought about it for a second, listening to the long ass name she suggested. mmm. no. getting way further. nah -- i think i like tristan, he decided with a flick of his ear, you think it fits? he stood, now, and did a lil turn around for her to get a good look at him (and maybe his goods, idk -- anatomy). he thought about it for a second on his own, squinting. 

this was the most thinking tegan had done in a while, i'll tell you that.

His comment made her cheeks flush with heat again, and she frowned a little bit, but he was already pirouetting and trying on his new name, and he seemed to be in good spirits. You think it fits? He asked, and she smiled easily. I do! Ibis wondered what his story was. What was he running from, and why? She didn't want to insert herself beyond what was appropriate so she kept most of her questions to herself, but on a whim she made a small conversational leap by asking, What -- what was your name before?

i do! sang the sweet little wolf, leaving tristan to beam brightly before her. then it's settled, my name is tristan, he paused, then, before repeating himself with a minor clarification, tristan b. 

to her question, tristan merely shook his head. well if i told you then there wouldn't be any point in me going and changing it, he told her, but felt a little bad because she was pretty helpful... he hesitated, and then said, my mom named me taoiseach when i was born. it's not what i went by, but that was my name. he hated that name. but no one knew him by it anyhoo.

It was odd to her that he'd go from Tristan to Tristanbee, it didn't sound as cool as the other options - but if he was happy then Ibis was happy. She smiled and fanned her tail, alert and interested in whatever answer she got for her little question. The name he presented was more of a sneeze and it made her squint for a second, tilt her head as if her ears weren't working. Tristanbee was certainly better than whatever that was he'd tried to say.

Oh, I see. Kind of like -- my brother is Okeanos, but I call him Okee... Her commentary was a bit more subdued, more like an observation she was making to herself as she turned a bit glassy-eyed and distracted. Her smile set back up on her little face afterwards though and she looked around, reminded of her brother and curious if he was nearby. You're sure you don't want to travel with us? We're looking for another kid around our age who we used to live with, um.. His name is Mali. Maybe if you run in to him you can tell him we're looking?

exactly! tristan chirped, except tegan and taoiseach were quite the uh... stretch. anyhoo. 

to her question, tristan nodded. yeah i'm sure -- i gotta get away from that side of the world, you know? i've lived there for like two years... i need to see more than that, he told her with a frown. but... well, he could maybe help. what's this mali guy look like, though? i can keep an eye out for him, he then agreed with a shrug. granted, tristan had met the guy once... and had scared the actual living hell out of him. but that's besides the point -- and tristan never got the kids name.

It was sad, but it was his choice and she wasn't going to force him to do anything. There was a brief moment of utter panic which came at her in a wave, a spasm of anxiety lifting from the pit of her stomach, because Ibis couldn't recall with any great certainty what he looked like. As a cub he'd been Small, gray, with pretty white markings you don't usually see, she mused aloud, trying to drum up an idea of what he'd looked like. I remember thinking he had a messy coat, but... Maybe it was his markings. They were all smudged, like he'd got bits of clouds stuck all over him in places. It was an imaginative description and she was lost in it for a few minutes, but as Ibis came out of the explanation she realized how silly she must be sounding and laughed softly - a giggle, childish, feminine, light. Sorry, I haven't seen him in a very long time.

tristam grinned at her explanation, a little lopsided (as his grins always were), and he gave her a quick once over. her explanation aired on the edge of flowery and also a little stupid -- like that description would really help anyone find anyone. but he thought it was cute, and her laugh was even cuter. tristan took a short step towards her. it's alright -- that'll do, i'll definitely keep an eye out for him, he said before adding with a tilt of his chin, you've got a pretty laugh... kinda like songbirds. that was the dumbest shit tristan had ever said in his life -- but he was pretty sure she liked corny shit like that... i mean, she had just described a wolf as 'looks like he's got clouds on him'... or something.

Again, surprise - pleasant enough, making her blush and smile and falter just a little bit. Nobody ever really complimented Ibis back in the Hollow, and in Elysium there was no need - she was too young at that point and everyone just sorta accepted the beauty that was around them. It was nice to hear, even from a stranger. A cute stranger with mysterious overtones.

Being compared to songbirds made her heart thump and belly flutter with a fresh batch of butterflies, and Ibis giggled again, unable to help it in her awkwardness. Thank-you, you're.. You're very sweet to say so. Blush blush blush, flutter flutter flutter, oh gosh, what was she supposed to say or — or do — or — ????!!

oo. tristan liked this girl -- if for any reason besides the fact that she was totally eating him up. he wondered how far he could push this -- or if he should even bother. tristan was pretty sure she was a bigger virg than him... which! wasn't even tru fax anymore. instead, he just kept smiling at her as she stumbled and fumbled and averted her gaze. i'm just statin' facts, he said nonchalantly, gaze still steady upon her, really -- i don't think i've ever met a wolf as pretty as you. you might be wondering where all this swagger was coming from... all this charm. well, truth be told tristan didn't think it was that hard to do. replace words like 'hot' and 'fuck' with words like 'pretty' and songbirds and... well, that seemed to be all it took. 

another step forwards, still small and cautious -- like he was nervous -- and tristan tilted his head to one side. i wish i could head back with you, ibis, he said with a small frown, brows knitting together, it's just bad timing i guess.

She liked this a lot. This game - er, it felt like a game anyway — of trying to stay composed while he spoke so smoothly and charmed so easily. Anyone else would've seen through his feigned confidence but Ibis was a simple girl with a simple enough life, and here was this sweet boy with a ruggedly handsome face, secrets, mysteries, stories she wanted to know - talking to her like she was worth something.

Then he dashed it all, giving her a look that she managed to meet for all of ten seconds; I wish I could head back with you, Ibis, he said. Bad timing. Fate pulling them apart. It was so romantic — and Ibis was eating it up, feeling her heartstrings tug at the thought of going back to her mission without him. Me too, she ventured shyly, swallowing those butterflies. I—I mean, I'd like to hear... More, about you. Sometime. If you're ever, you know, around...

She wasn't nearly as smooth as Tristan but she wanted to be, and shared with him a shy little smile.

his grin returned, tail swaying. i'd like that, he agreed with her, i'll keep an eye out for you -- and for your friend. that second part was... mildly a lie, but that's besides the point. he was glad she was playing along a little bit too, it meant he was certainly getting somewhere. getting... where, exactly? who knows. certainly not tristan. 

you're kind of unforgettable, tristan began with a final step, but i want something to remember you by. he wondered what this would equate to with her. he didn't want to push his luck or make her uncomfortable... because tristan was a consenting ass hoe >:( but he reached out with his muzzle to touch her cheek with his nose -- if she'd let him.

I'd like that, — his voice made her feel weak in the knees, she was falling so fast for this mysterious stranger and it was pathetic really, except it never occurred to Ibis that it was probably all a ploy; she genuinely believed that this boy was kind, sweet, and all manner of good, not just manipulating her for his own edification. He had praised her so much - and they got along so easily! It had to mean something.. Right? Right?

He used another line on her and she didn't know how to take it. Being unforgettable sounded like a positive - but then he was moving in close and Ibis wasn't sure what to do or to say and his nose touched her cheek, it felt so cold against the warmth of her heated, blushing face. Instinctively she moved to mirror him and pressed her nose agains this cheek too.

She could smell a musky pine scent in his coat. A warmth. They were so close to one another and Ibis didn't know if she should say something or... Do something, her mind had gone completely quiet but her heart was racing. What was this? Something like.. that? Ibis murmured softly while her skin hummed.

it seemed she was open to this -- whatever this would end up being. she didn't shy away or push him off or like, bite him lol, so tristan was pretty sure he was in a good place. she tried to reciprocate -- or something, tristan didn't blame her -- and he gave a soft chuckle. kind of, he purled, but he'd push his luck further if she'd let him. he could feel the heat through her fur, and he was almost certain she was quivering before him ... but maybe his ego imagined that. can i show you? he asked her, moving to trace his nose along her jaw towards the bulb of her ear.