Let’s see.. where did we leave Belharra off last?
Oh, right. Flouncing off with Asmodeous like a school girl hussy. That fling had its merits. A full belly, a traveling companion on the road, the occasional pleasant shag - but Belharra did as Belharra was wont to, and one day she pulled a Tony Twoface and up and left her country boy beau in the reeds.
Yeah, long days and pleasant nights to you, motherflipper.
Back to the coast she went, having no idea she was back in the Teekon’s pitiful province. Something something about food and shelter was what motivated her to seek out refuge on an island pleasantly away from the mainland.
Only to discover after her trek to the coastal seclusion, that it was unpleasantly occupied.
Well, fuck. Belharra had just walked all that way for nothing, and no way no how was she about to turn around without subjecting someone to her quaint form of bitchin’.
Plopping her arse firmly on the sand, Belharra scowled against the balmy wind and pondered her next move.
It wasn't like her to wander like this, without aim or reason. This wasn't like tracking Broken Antler for the good of the pack. This was simply straying. Despite her misgivings about the ocean, she remained close to the coastline the whole way, so at least she wouldn't get lost. She could turn back at any moment and run right straight back to Sapphique.
For the moment, she intended to keep walking indefinitely, though something brought her to a sudden halt. Haunt stared at the chunk of land out in the middle of the ocean. She saw a dark speck on the beach but could hardly take note of it, as she was too busy marveling. How was it possible for a piece of land to float on the water like that?
The southern coast line was more and more active as of late, from visiting neighboring packs to a whole pack of it's own. Pups had arrived too, despite their circumstances and Aiolos found himself missing the company of his Empress at his side more and more each day. He'd manage, he knew and just hoped the little woman was finding her way through this trying time.
Along the coast he moved as he often did and today, crossed over the sandbar connecting them to the mainland was a stranger to him. He looked to her direction with a tilt of crown and as he moved closer he would take note of the snowy woman looking over from the mainland. She with you?
He inquired, jutting his muzzle towards the white wolf before then turning to the black.
You’d expect that the moment someone greeted Belharra that she’d crack a smile and be polite.
Frankly, you’d expect wrong. By the time Aiolos made his way to Belharra she was fuming mad and needed an outlet: who better than this gent who sauntered up to her like he owned the place?
Ye mean to tell me ye owns this whole ass piece of land? Who EVEN has the audacity t’do that?! A whole island to yeself?!? Jus’ plain selfish is what that is.
By the time her tirade was over she realized she’d been asked a question. Belharra tilted her head back and peered behind her at the speck of marshmallowy white on the beach. Huh? No. Who t’hell is that?
Furthermore, there were wolves on the chunk of land out at sea! Haunt stared at the figures on the distant beach across the waters, wondering how the hell they even got out there. She thought she saw them look in her direction but they were too far away for her to be sure, nor could she hear their exchange from the mainland.
Remembering it was rude to stare, Haunt eventually tore her gaze away and began moving on, though she couldn't quite stop herself from glancing over her shoulder in wonder several times until the island disappeared into the distance behind her.
And there she went. A full on explosion of words and rant that caused Aiolos' gingered ears to turn back and quite a puzzled look to form over his features. He surely wasnt expecting all that and though he didnt exactly consider himself alone to own this place, Yuelong as a whole did at least for the time being and as so it had been for some time now.
There wasn't really any need to find out who the hell the stranger was over on the mainland, for the snowy wolf made way off and Aiolos was stuck here once more alone with this loud woman.
Well...
He went off to begin, pausing just in case Belharra felt the need to throw more at him before he could explain. Some claim a whole forest, others claim a whole mountain. We claim a whole island. What's the difference?
And what would it have mattered to her, either? Maybe it was just an internal thought, an opinion which she felt she needed to get out. Maybe she released all her thoughts and views out her mouth so freely.
And with an added shrug, My Empress decided this land for herself and her family and I've it no reason to question it.
One should not be surprised, not when Belharra's singular talent in life was being delightfully offensive. Aiolos was afforded a rare silence and that was it.
A silence that lasted maybe two seconds. Long enough for him to get his words out, but no longer.
"The diff'rence is, ye's squattin' on the only known freshwater source for miles. Ye expect us passerbys to drink the brackish waters of yonder river?" Belharra gestured behind her with a flourish. "It tastes like shit."
Mouthy as she could be Belharra wasn't about to keep prodding at this bloke. For one, you got more flowers with honey than vinegar.. or something like that. Belharra didn't really remember specifics. Just that people tended to not be nice to you if you were an outlandish dick. "Tell ye wot - ye let me take a drink over yon, and I'll excuse my pleasant self from your comp'ny in no time flat. Mebbe even tell you a story 'bout bog rats. Fair deal?"
A silence. Only a moment. And then when she continued on it was with more ranting about how selfish and rude their claim had been upon any other passersby in the area. Aiolos couldnt remember a woman in command thinking about the needs of loners over her own flock. His body stiffened with unease and a growing irritation.
Most wolves wouldnt even have what it takes swim to the island for a hope they might find water unless they come when the sandbar is passable.
Which it seemed unfortunately for him now that he had come across the likes of Belharra. Water sources inland are much easier to access, less energy, lest risk of drowning.
But, why was he bothering to explain this to her anyhow? Of course because Aiolos always did his best to be respectful and patient with the ladies. Even this one.
I know plenty about bog rats.
He smirks then. He had been born in a bayou, after all. They taste like shit-don't interest me. So unless you have something else to spout about, you should probably work on getting to that drink of yours elsewhere.