Lysander was terribly, terribly lost. That was the first thing he noticed as he neared the treeline. He’d been faring well through the woods because who the hell knows where you’re going if there’s a bunch of trees waving their sticky branches at you every which way you turn. Nevertheless, he’d just about got used to being alone. It was quite fun, almost relieving actually, not having to be your siblings’s babysitter 24/7. Not that he didn’t like his sisters, or his younger brother...they were just, well, siblings. Anyway. 

How he managed out get so far south still remained a mystery (his sense of direction was probably not the best), but as he emerged from the coolness of the forest the second thing he noticed was the heat. Thanks for the thick coat dad. He paused and deliberated for a moment, wondering whether it would be worth heading back the way he came. But all the woods had to offer were squirrels. Boring old squirrels and tasteless rabbits. Stuff it. He was bored of trees anyway.

Wetting his lips, Lysander began to trot down the gentle green slopes towards the shore of the lake he saw in the distance. At least there he could cool off and perhaps bed down for the night, alone, as far as he knew.

He could see it clearly now; clear fresh water surrounded by pockets of reeds and brilliant gold reflections of the sun. Though the name of the lake was still unknown to him, Lysander could only guess it would be something fitting. That is, if it even had a name. He had no idea if wolves even inhabited this neck of the woods, let alone if they named their landmarks. The thought of encountering new faces made his stomach churn. Or perhaps that was just his stomach’s way of saying feed me feed me, because there was a lot of prey here, he observed as he neared the far side of the lake and- 

He froze. Nope. That wasn’t a reflection at all. Reflections don’t move, or have legs, or walk like a fucking wolf.

After the initial surprise had quelled, Lysander stood there’s for a few dumb moments with his tail still. This surely wasn’t claimed territory, was it? He’d done well to avoid those so far and he hadn’t noticed any markers, but heck if he knew. Walking more slowly this time, he wagged his tail as his paws arrived at the edge of the water. The strange wolf didn’t seem threatening - and perhaps if he kept quiet and out of its way - but it surely would’ve noticed him by now.

Not liking the thought of being watched, Lysander waded into the shallows and began to explore the reeds.

Honestly, for the sake of avoiding some minor interaction, leaving the lakeside to 'fuck around in the corner' was totally not worth it. With every step his paws sank deeper into some sort of squelchy thing - mud? - and oh boy did it stink. Plus, the stranger had found him anyway.

Lysander listened to the approaching splashes, and then the curious bark that followed their silence. Turning his head, could just about see her through the intrusive stems, her pelt a drop of literal fire (haha) in comparison to the clear, slightly blue tinted water. He didn't answer at first, and then - "H-hi!" He barked back, hoping he could be heard above the rustling of leaves and the lapping of waves and the loud croaking of various amphibians that crisscrossed the myriad of watery pathways. He'd tried a frog once. Hadn't been his finest moment.

Curiosity and a growing awkward atmosphere finally got the better of him and he pushed through the last of the reeds until he was visible, but still a comfortable distance away. "Uhh, not much. Mud - not good," Lysander mused sheepishly in answer to her query and feeling his pelt grow hot from embarrassment or the sun which now shone directly onto his spine...or both. Motioning his tail, he added "I"m Lysander," and gazed inquisitively back at the flame-branded woman, not nervous yet not quite relaxed either.