Derg took to this territory like a slug to salt.
It was a hot basin that you'd expect to have more water on a mountain than it did, but no. He was wrong. This place was barren, wide and barren.
He wanted trees and closeness, places to stalk and hide in.
Alas, here he was, and alas didn't feel like leaving Donovan now.
A new recruit ahead was easy to spot - at least it would be easy to spot trespassers.
He barked, because he was too far away for a simple chuff to be sufficient, and started on a quicker pace towards his dark packmate, who he'd briefly met.
He slowed on approach, panting softly.
It was pretty toasty, but his thin fur kept him cool enough.
He brushed through the flowers, head slightly dipped to show he wasn't going to be a threat.
"Renard, right?" He went on to confirm. It'd be no good if he didn't get it right now.
however much renard might have preferred trees and thick brush, the cliffs gave off a deal of much-needed shade. trapped on this flat plain of sun and dehydrated dirt, it was becoming apparent that their thick black and brown fur – even shed of their winter coat – was not meant to deal with all the heat reflected off the ground and sand. they were already panting just to keep from overheating.
but it was important to know all of this territory. even if it was absolutely miserable to walk through. building character, though renard didn’t like to apply the phrase to themselves as much as to children for fun.
a bark somewhere behind their shoulder startled them from their steady walk towards the single rocky outcrop in the distance. one ear flicking back, renard turned, very much not expecting that an intruder would be this far into the saints’ lands, this region in particular.
the man walking towards them, likewise panting, was not entirely unfamiliar. they had been briefly acquainted during their arrival to the canyon. briefly. renard knew no more of him than they knew of the rest of the saints, with donovan’s possible exception.
they were not, of course, under the impression they had learned anything special about him. he had the air of someone who knew exactly what he was doing no matter how he acted while doing it, which they could respect.
“renard, yes.” smiling pleasantly, they inclined their head. “and you’re…” they hummed, “derg, correct?” they gestured towards his muzzle with their own, to his tongue hanging from between his teeth. “how are you enjoying the weather?”
Derg waved his tail lightly, and gave a small smile through panting lips and lolling tongue.
He might look goofy if it weren't for his face really.
Ge gave the confirmed Renard a nod, confirming himself as Derg.
"It's too hot," he replied, swallowing to soothe his dry throat. "I miss trees," he chuckled.
Ah, if only they hadn't had to move.
He could try and make it out here though. He'd probably stick to the softer sands and watered areas, but he'd still have to patrol and wouldn't neglect that duty for some discomfort.
"What 'bout yourself?" Perhaps some liked it here. Donovan certainly did even if his coat did make him a bit overheated.
Ty for the heads up
Indeed, there was little for them here.
He noted that some cracks may be large enough to wedge a small child in them.
Or for caches. Nah, not unless he wanted what he stored to dry up.
"Aye, well it's a good job for spotting intruders." He replied cheerily. A complete contrast to the wolf Donovan found.
Renard noted that intruders too will suffer, which was confirmed with a soft grunt.
Yeah, they would suffer on a hot day.
He looked to the spire, nodding. "Yeah, if there isn't shade we'll think of something else,"
but alas when they arrived they found something better than shade.
A pool of water, nestled under the tower, a glittering jewel in the starved land.
Derg entered the water, soothing his sore pads and chomping on water to help him cool off.
Derg soon followed Renard's suit, slipping his body under the cool water too, though emerged again soon after as the cold dug into his skin.
He stood in the shallows and shook his fur free of water, humidity already warming him again.
"We will have to make this a patrol route." He commented, looking around the trees. It wouldn't be a bad route and would be fairly easy enough.
The question made his curious and inclined to answer.
"He found me sniveling in the woods, and made me see that I shouldn't be crying about it, but doing something like him. Rebuilding."
He looked to the man in the water, approaching it again to sip at it more.
Perhaps Donovan was manipulative. Perhaps not.
Derg felt like he owed it to him, and seeing as many disliked him, he wanted to look after him.
To help lick his wounds to keep them clean, to help share the burden of leading a pack.
Perhaps Derg had manipulated the brindle man, with sweet nothings, sultry looks and playful teasing.
He hummed low, now laying down in the shallows, letting soft ripples seep up and down his sides.
"Not on that day," nor the days after that, but he couldn't be bothered to say as much.
"Though I have since. And made him throw up," a soft, regretful smile pulled at his features.
A good way to gauge people indeed.
To see if they were headstrong, or proud, or full of fury and hate. Or if they were calm, calculating, or rather fearful and softer in nature, not wanting to cause real harm.
"Sure, I'll spar," he replied breezily, standing and shaking the water from himself again, stepping from the shallows.
Renard started asking questions, and Derg offered him a wry smile before explaining.
"He had me on my back, straddling over me. So I double-barreled him in the gut."
He really did feel bad, but it was over and done now. He wasn't hated and Donovan didn't suffer after.
He faced Renard, quickly soothing over some of his fur before they started their war dance.
He knew it was likely the other would remember the technique Derg had briefly explained.
Who wouldn't? It was a last resort move he wished he hadn't used in that situation and won't again.
His tail waved softly, keeping his body only slightly curved to follow the stalking man.
This position helped him for the first expected move.
The shoulder.
A testing move that was often used to test reactions, speed. Derg sidestepped, though he was set to miss anyway. That was fine for Derg, no harm in being cautious.
He swung towards the man, his sights set on catching his scruff. What he'd do next he didn't know, but he'd figure it.
But, alas, Derg needed to figure something else as his hind leg gave way and he slipped down, short of his attack and on one knee already.
He tensed, waiting for teeth as he gathered himself.
But none came.
Mercy?
He rose, wary.
Why did he not come down on him?
Though his words came and Derg just muttered incomprehensibly.
He was truly an old grump after all.
He mirrored Renard again, but wasn't quick enough to deflect an attack on his scruff.
He had the bright idea of trying to flip him over by pulling him, but Renard stood fast and Derg was held tightly.
Damn.
Sorry for the short posts
He couldn't free himself from them teeth.
He tried to pull this way, and Renard tried to push him that way and they stood like a pair of swaying oaks.
He didn't know what to try next except brute force.
So that's what he did.
Derg reared up, twisting his scruff out of the man's grasp and dove down onto the man, aiming to push his head down with teeth and paws.
Renard practically crumpled under him but didn't give up, which was admirable.
He felt their head make contact with him, but it didn't do much to deter him.
Derg could feel the blood in his nape, but it didn't sting much; more like a dull throb.
Renard still struggled beneath him, so Derg lurched to the side, detaching them from combat for a moment. He wondered if that would be it, but wouldn't be sure until Renard either declared it to be or not to be.
Either way, Derg was ready to get back into the water for another soak.
I'll end here if that's ok
And their spar came to an end.
He could gauge that Renard was a reasonable man and respected that.
Perhaps if war came, they would be formidable together.
Alongside the rest of the pack.
And their allies.
He smirked slightly, tail waving softly.
Their fight had been hard work, but now it was time to be settled, and Derg followed the man into the water, cooling off once more.
"Don't worry 'bout it," he replied, the cool water soothing the throb. It didn't bother him, only grounded him really.
He was still mortal, even after what he'd survived.
And soon after they were content with their break, the pair continued on their way to mark borders and talk more about the prospects of the pack.