happens after AG is disbanded.
Aneira ran, not once looking back. Everything came back in a flash; all the emotional pain she endured; the feeling of being trapped made her uneasy. It felt as if the rocks were following her, to trap her again and never let her go. Her azure gaze was blurry from the tears, and in an attempt to run around a tree branch, she fell right on it, like a stone thrown in the water.
She tried to get up, and slightly managed to with the last strength she had, then she collapsed a few steps away from her fall. Aneira was exhausted; after the wall fell and the Grove was free, she immediately ran away, and hasn’t stopped since. Now, she had to support the consequences. The ivory female stood there, filthier than ever, waiting, hoping someone would come.
Penn had been hunting beyond the borders again that day and for once, he'd been mildly successful. The vole he carried in his jaws was nearly as starved as he was, but it was more than he'd managed to catch in days. It took a good deal of willpower to resist eating the critter himself. Were it not for his family at home, he would have. But Penn fully intended to bring his catch home and give it to his mother. That would definitely win him the praise from his father he so very much craved, but that's a secret shh.
So it goes without saying that Penn was feeling mighty full of himself as he trotted through the Glade on his way home. When he spotted the female ahead, he quickly decided it was best if he didn't engage at all. He would just waltz straight past her instead of wasting time with meaningless conversation. He was on a mission after all.
But then he got closer, and something weirdly instinctive caused him to slow. He dropped the vole at his paws and took a protective step over it, eyeing her warily for a moment before calling out to her in a very thoughful and chivalrous move--"What's up with you?"
i'm so sorry for so late response !!
The ivory female thought she was alone, that she was going to die here, in an unknown world. Her eyes closed then her ears twitched at the sound of a strange voice. Aneira was in too much pain to even rise her head to see the stranger, so she sighed and tried to move a little to see a.. pup.
“If you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of busy here,” she spoke in an annoyed tone, even if she appreciated his question. The female was grateful for another here, even if it was just a kid. Azure gaze turned to face the stranger, an eyebrow rose in annoyance, eyes half closed. She sighed, and turned back to her initial position.
The white wolf didn't seem to be interested in his company, which drove a single brow higher up his forehead. What the crap had he done? He was being all concerned for her. Weren't girls supposed to like shit like that?
"Busy with what?" he asked, frowning at her. It didn't look like she was doing anything. Just sitting there, moping. He glanced down at the kill beside his paws thoughtfully. Maybe he ought to... Eh, no. That was for him, and rude girls didn't deserve treats anyway.
As it seems, this kid was not going to leave her side any time soon. A heavy sigh escaped her soft, ice-cold lips as she turned her head back to him. Her azure gaze met the silver boy’s brown one. “Living my amazing and beautiful life,” she almost spitted, pissed by her current situation, pissed by the fact she allowed the boy to see her as she truly is: filthy. Trying to fake a smile, she hoped the boy wouldn’t ask further questions about whatever happened before this moment.
Aneira attempted to roll around to a more comfortable position while still watching the boy. “Tell me, what does a strong male such as you doing here?” Kids liked to receive compliments, especially boys. So if she wanted to get answers, she needed to play nice. Maybe he was from a nearby pack, or maybe she trespassed.. again. Aneira prayed this wasn’t the case, and continued to watch the boy.
Penn quirked a brow at her comment. It didn't look to him like her life was all that amazing or beautiful. He was about to tell her so, but he was distracted by her shift in demeanor as she turned to smile at him. Her words were complimentary, which pleased him. Her attention more fully on him, though, made him pull the vole a little closer to himself.
"Hunting," he answered, smiling past his instinctive suspicion, "My family lives near here. Gotta keep everyone fed, y'know." He grinned, lifting his chin a bit at his boasting. The kill he'd managed clearly wasn't about to feed even one wolf let alone the whole pack, but still. He took pride over the thought that the pack was his sole responsibility to care for.
“Yes yes, of course,” she almost rushed, watching as he pulled his prey closer to him. Ah, how much time has it been since she last felt the beautiful taste of flesh in her mouth? It had been indeed a long time, for she was thinner now, she could count the ribs on her ivory body. Still, Aneira did not give up; will not give up.
“If you don’t mind, what is your name?” Thinking again, she remembered of another pack close to the Grove; Firebirds, if she remembered correctly. Maybe he was from there? No, he can’t be, it is way too far from where she met Wraen the first time. And what if.. she goes there, and asks for help? Or should she leave these lands after the latest events? “Are you related to the... Firebirds?”
Penn watched her eyes linger on his kill. His hackles raised the tiniest bit, though she didn't really look like she was going to make a grab at it so he stayed still. She did look hungry, which caused a twinge of guilt to press at his insides. But he needed only to think about his family at home to stave off any desire he had to be charitable here. After all, if no one was here to witness his kindness, how would his parents know he'd actually done it and praise him accordingly?
"Penn Blackthorn," he answered without hesitation when prompted, a charming smile alighting his face. He was intrigued to hear her ask after the Firebirds, but not too surprised. They were an awesome pack, after all. It only made sense that their name was getting out there.
"Yeah, that's my pack," he claimed, giving her an encouraging glance that was meant to prompt her to go ahead and fangirl at will.
Penn Blackthorn, of course he was related to the Firebirds. After all he confirmed it himself; she remembered how Wraen told her of Blackthorns and Redhawks, of the more liberal agreement between Firebirds and the late Asterism Grove. Aneira thought perhaps the members of the Grove took refuge within the Firebirds ranks, and that’s why she was not able to find anyone she knew.
“I met your Sovereign,” she let the words out as she tried to get on her feet. Heavily breathing, she almost fell back to the ground, but in the end managed to sit. Azure gaze turned back to Penn, “Wraen,” maybe he was related to her to some extent? She then realized she hasn’t introduced herself. “I apologize, I am Aneira.”
She didn't quite fangirl the way he'd anticipated. Instead, she just spoke of having met Wraen, but without great detail. Penn suppressed a frown at this. Wraen was pretty cool, so he supposed it was alright that she was all the stranger had mentioned. At least she hadn't met Sugar Glider or some other loser in the pack.
"S'all good," Penn said dismissively at her apology. "Wraen was my sitter growing up. She's cool. Taught me everything I know about being a bad ass," he said with nonchalant pride.
last!
“I see,” she was satisfied with how the conversation was going, but she needed to go now. It would soon be night, and she had to find a place to rest. “Well, it was a pleasure talking to you, badass Penn,” she repeated his lovely description of himself. If this wasn’t the most arrogant whelp she had ever met, she did not know what it was.
“But I must get going.” Aneira struggled to lift herself entirely from the ground; her body was frail and it still hurt from the fall she experienced before he made his appearance. “Take care.” And she gave Penn a last glance before she turned away; it will soon be the time to begin her long journey home.
Instead of sticking around to compliment him or bask in his awesome, the female excused herself with a kind word and prompt farewell. Penn quirked a brow at her as she left, but didn't try to coerce her into staying. It didn't matter much to him that she'd decided to leave, other than he would've preferred she stay and stroke his ego a little longer.
"See ya," was his only offering as she left, and he was quick to drop the encounter from his mind after she was gone. Stooping, he snatched up his kill between his teeth before continuing on home, his mind switching back to his original task of bringing it back to his pack like the good little hunter he was.