Someone he hasn't met yet would be great!
The frost was thick that morning, and Artyom was greeting by the pale haze of mist as he roamed through the forest's edge where the firs grew more sparse. It hung over the meadow and the ranger paused to look out over the frozen fields, testing how far he might see but finding himself unable to find much beyond his own nose.
Salmon pink tongue traced his lower lip briefly as he dipped his head and carried on, venturing into the fog and finding the crunch beneath his heavy paws to be quite satisfying. He wasn't sure how much longer Winter would remain in these lands, so he was content to make the most of it while he could.
the onset of her symptoms had been sudden and unexpected. bhediya grumbled as she rose lazily from her half-dug den to seek out an afternoon snack. her body ached with the pain being centralized in the back of her head. she wondered what'd happened to give her such a bad headache but thought that if this was the replacement for the nausea and dizziness, she'd happily accept.
there was an unfamiliar male in the distance. her hackles pricked on instinct — pygmalion? — but she was quick to relax. he wasn't here because he wasn't anywhere; this was just one of her packmates that she'd had yet to meet.
walking slowly to greet him, bhediya offered a friendly chuff.
He heard the approach of another, though the fog made it hard for him to see clearly. When at last a dark stranger materialised with a friendly chuff, Artyom lifted his warm gaze to better study her. Taking note of slim shoulders and sharp features, he was quick to decipher that her bloodline was not entirely wolf. There was something doggish about the angles of her face and, even more oddly, her pelage was made of silken obsidian waves.
A curious thing, though despite her differences he would treat her no differently. To the ebony hybrid he pricks his ears forward, attentive, and shot her a kind smile. "Good morning to you," he announced, content to welcome her into his space should she choose to investigate a new comrade.
bhediya grumbled a reply, something like, yeah, good morning.
the pain in her head continued to grow and radiate, the light reflecting on the snow only aggravating her symptoms. settling into a seat, she lifted her head as high as she could manage and used the least sensitive eye to look him over.
friendships and all that. right.
am i bothering you?
she asked, half-hoping that he would say yes, i don't want to interrupt whatever you're doing.
bhe thought that it was obvious he was doing...nothing, but maybe she was wrong.
The raven she-wolf settled nearby, haunches lowering her into a seated position. Artyom followed this movement with his eyes only, remaining upright - at least for the time being.
She did not seem particularly comfortable, and he wondered inwardly if it was he who roused such a feeling. It wasn't something he would take personally if his suspicion were true; he did not even know her by name, therefor felt no responsibility for whatever mood she had woken up to.
"Not at all," the ranger answered smoothly, a hint of a smile on his muzzle as he canted a golden lobe. "I suppose i could ask you the same question."
bhediya looked up and noted the stranger's stature. she didn't like to be challenged, even in ways as subtle as this. giving him a one-eyed glare, she contracted the muscles in her abdomen and mustered up as much vomit as she could before—
sorry
, she told him, balancing herself from the display. it wasn't the prettiest or classiest way to assert one's dominance, but she figured it would work. pregnancy is hard
, she said, then getting up and turning to walk back to her den.
@Bhediya I'm confused because he didn't challenge her at all. xD
She looked up at him, though her expression momorphed swiftly into something else entirely. The wolfess glowered in his direction, a bitterness for him clear in the scowl she revealed, and Artyom blinked right back at her - utterly lost as to what changed.
Perhaps she hadn't appreciated his question, though he failed to understand why. He spoke it with a smile and light humour, having bounced her own enquiry right back at her. The golden ranger parted his jaws to apologise, even though he felt it unnecessary, when his newest acquaintance retched on the ground between them.
He took a hurried step backward, eager to avoid splashback (which was inevitable, he realised too late) and so surprised at the display, out loud he uttered: "Ебена мать!"
Artyom gawked at his puke-smattered forelimbs, earthen eyes wide with horror even as the dark wolfess announced an explanation, and looked up as she made her retreat without another word.
Gaze flitted between her departing figure and the steaming puddle of bile and stomach contents on the ground, his thoughts along the lines of what the fuck just happened!?