Wolf RPG

neverwinter. if starling had an inkling of the forest's name she would have found it highly appropriate. as it was, she found the foggy forest possessed of an ethereal quality. it reminded her a lot of winterheart -- and after that, wintersun.

starling sat in the pale wash of a gentle strand of soft sunlight, her eyes closed as the feeble winter light draped across her like a warm shawl. here and there small pylons of sunshine pierced the gloom -- the light seemed to be the only thing that dared disturb the tranquil forest. the songbird was content to reminisce, her features pulled into a nostalgic smile as she thought back on the highlights of her youth.

FitzDutiful was scoping out the forest now that Spring had come to the Teekon Wilds. It was hard going still, the snows still lay on the ground in most directions, but in some places the ground was beginning to thaw. In Neverwinter Forest, the trees had stood the test of time. They had never seemed to be affected by the winter and yet, as FitzDutiful walked through the shadows that their tall frames cast, he saw signs that spring was coming to this forest too.

New plants were coming to the surface, new flowers pushing their way through the snows to say "we're here, we're back". It was refreshing. With the naturalist, his recent trade in mind, he had looked to the clouds and been told to go on a great adventure into the forest. That was why he was here now.

His paws padded softly as he came across a female sat, basking in a small stream of sunlight. Her eyes were closed, her muzzle in a smile as she seemed to enjoy the warmth. "Winter seems to be finally on its way out." he said, softly as to not alarm her unnecessarily.

starling was rapt by her nostalgic reprieve, but like all thought-encounters, she was reminded sharply of the real world as a gentle voice steered her back to the present.

she opened a singular wintergreen eye slowly, the catlike pupil landing upon the winsome features of a strange male. how stupid of her to be caught in the open again by another male -- starling was still smarting from her encounter with crescendo. her second eye opened and she focused her attention upon the agouti figure.

something about this male was much more fortuitous -- much more affable than crescendo had been. she offered a threadbare smile to him, one that suggested she had been caught a little off-guard by his approach. "the winters here are milder than back home." a statement that likely would reveal she was a foreigner to the wilds. "i will take your word for it. i'm starling." she took in a breath: "starling saturnin takanaami endore."

There were winters worse than the one he had just been through? FitzDutiful was floored by the thought. Winter had been so bad for them with the lack of food and the dogs that he couldn't imagine anything worse. So out of it, he was, that he barely caught the ladies name. "FitzDutiful," he replied in turn. "FitzDutiful Silvertip, Alpha of Silvertip Mountain just over yonder." That was the first time he had ever used his new surname and it felt good to say.

"What brings you to this forest?" he asked. He secretly wanted to ask how a lone wolf had managed to survive the winter but it felt very impolite. After all, he had chosen winter to set out and create his new pack. It had been fortunate that other wolves had been willing to band together during the cold weather and fight it off, but it could have also gone the other way and the pack could have died of starvation.

the pale wolf soon revealed his alignment, endowing starling with the impressive title of 'alpha'. the fact that he bore power was a source of immediate attraction for the songbird; her demeanor shifted almost instantly into one of coquettish interest.

"that sounds lovely, sir." she prattled expertly, in the proper manner in which she had been taught to address those of higher class. his inquiry caused her to pause for a moment and inspect an answer suitable for one of such prestige: "oh, i was just taken aback by its beauty. it's not unlike my childhood home." she sighed wistfully and batted her misty eyes at fitzdutiful coyly, pulling closer to him with vested earnest.

The lone wolf seemed to change attitude once he had introduced himself and it was rather, strange. FitzDutiful didn't have a clue that the female was effectively flirting with him he just thought that, for some reason, being an alpha was causing her to feel uncomfortable and brought about the change in her body language. Maybe it was better to just ignore it for now.

"Ah, I see." he started, unsure of how to continue with this conversation. "I, personally, prefer the heights of the mountain to the density of the trees. There's less chance of an unsuspecting attack." Defence was high on his mind since the encounter with the dogs. He had partially wondered if he would find them here since he had told them that it was free land open for the taking.

He studied the lone wolf, wondering if she was going to make a home here. "Are you planning on making this forest your new home?" It wouldn't be good if she was. Any more packs around this area and the entire valley was going to start feeling crowded.

If FitzDuitful was at a loss before, now he was completely tongue tied. What with his mate-ship to Raissa, his affection to Bindi, and now this stranger throwing herself at him, he didn't have a clue which way was up. Was he dosed in some kind of "come get me" scent? "I, um..." he stumbled. He backpedalled as she entered his space, uncomfortable at being so close to another lady.

"I have pups coming soon." he blathered as a way of saying he was taken, trying not to think about what on earth she wanted him to throw down. He didn't know for sure that the pups were living in Raissa yet but he seriously hoped so. He was in that one hundred percent and didn't have a clue what he would do if she turned out to not be pregnant.

"I um.. there's lots of packs around here. I might be able to offer you a home with us, at the mountain, if you have something to share with the pack too." Please stop this unnecessary flirting, he prayed.

stop? that was not a word in starling's diction.

she watched him intently, those seashard-green eyes hungrily upon him as he stammered. he seemed uncomfortable by her forwardness -- something that most girls who knew what they wanted could easily take advantage of.

she pressed her shoulder against him, embracing the warmth that emanated from their pelt. but the touch was not for long before she stirred about him like a swirl of fog settling around the lowlands. "so?" she queried -- as if puppies had ever stopped anyone from committing a little adultery.

she sensed somehow not to push him, though she offered an extremely open smile. "your mate is lucky i am not feeling more ambitious today." the songbird crooned, pulling away with a sultry sneer.

She just... she said... what?! FitzDutiful felt terribly confused as these thoughts filtered through his head. Terribly confused and guilty. He felt like he had led this lady on, done something to encourage the affections. He was ninety-five percent sure he had done nothing.

No, wait. Make that fifty percent, or maybe fifteen percent.

Maybe it was his fault.

Without saying another word he turned and fled the scene of the crime. He fled the forest without another look back. He didn't care about the dogs that might be prowling around or about any other dangers that may exist. FitzDutiful carried on running until he reached home's outer borders. Then he slowed to a walk, found a hidden cave, and hibernated.

It took a good two or three hours of recap until he realised that nothing had happened, but still that guilty feeling wouldn't go. It was another few hours again until he had the presence of mind to return home and try to face Raissa. He wouldn't tell her unless he had to. He hadn't done anything wrong, had he?