soft grunts slip free from aching jaws as the boy prowls along, wincing each time he has to endure the unpleasant feeling of saliva trickling around pearly fangs and dripping down onto his chest. nevertheless he endures it, eyes hard with determination for no matter how much of a hindrance it had become; he would not abandon stick. the engraved tree limb is held tenderly and although it's not particularly heavy and had certainly decresed in size as reif grew; it was thick and anything would start to strain your neck if you had to carry it and walk. 

the fact that he'd made it this far with how unfit he was, was a miracle in itself. yet here he stood, very far from home. it made him uneasy. dropping his load, sage eyes scan the area before letting loose a sharp sigh. skinny limbs fall gratefully back so that he sits, ears seeking refuge against his skull as shivers run lightly up his spine and dull aches radiate from whatever spot's they choose to inhabit. this sucked. the only upside to his situation was that with the earth lashing out in anger, death was a much more common thing to come across and alongside fellow savengers reif would slink about stealing fuel from the bodies left behind by departed souls. it wasn't much and ribs still pushed stubbornly through dull fur but he'd evaded the startling possibility of something as mundane as hunger shutting down a brain as magnificent as his. the fact that that could happen still had him swallowing uneasily. 

shutting eyes momentarily; the boy sways lightly before shaking his head and looking about once more. it's grossly wet here but for now he's safe on a little dry mound and he likes the abudance of nature. crouching, he leans forward to peer curiously at the little cricket clinging desperately to a swaying blade of grass only to jump slightly as it sprang with an energy he could only imagine having. tilting his head he scoots forward as far as he can with his tail still resting lightly over his beloved stick, curiosity propelling him after the little critters at the realisation that they were all around him; chirping out curious songs that lifted his ears and had them twitching to catch each tone.

there's a moment where he mistakes the boyish voice for that of @Atwood or @Sundance and is left rattled at both the way his heart had lifted at the initial hope that it was one of his brothers followed by the aching thud of it falling back down and causing his pelt to bristle lightly. willowy limbs straighten up as he spins around warily for after his initial slip-up he'd noted that this voice was not as softly spoken as his siblings and was in fact, a complete stranger. reif didn't like strangers. he didn't really like anyone for that matter but especially strangers. shifty eyes of soft sage glance towards the dark boy that had descended upon his peace but reif holds his tongue for a moment; mind still focused on picking away at how he'd felt when mistaking his company. the festering obsession over the earth's rumblings that had taken over his brain and driven him mindlessly into dangerous situations like some sort of parasite, had left little room for remorse or regret for his losing elysium. all he'd really felt was the occasional frustration at how much harder and inconveniant life was by yourself. yet now that so much time had passed with the earth remaining still he was perhaps beginning to miss his home, and especially his siblings. it's confusing and tiring so he shakes his head roughly as if it'll help dislodge the thoughts and focuses back on the boy.

so, what was he doing?

reif frowns at this, looking around him for some sort of cue that he'd been doing anything to bring on such a question but comes back empty pawed and so simply glances quizzically at the shadowy wolf. "uh, standing?" he attempts, although technically he supposed he was also breathing, thinking, shifting position every now and then...oh! "oh i was also looking at the little hopping bugs" he announces, soft lilting tones holding hints of pride at the statement. "i like their song" he murmurs quietly, gaze hopping lightly from the new presence to the distant horizon and back again, averting direct eye contact as his wispy fail flicks uneasily at his haunches. strangers were stressful beings.

eyes narrow as his brain trips over the boy's sudden change of tone, grasping desperately for an answer as to why, or perhaps even what. he doesn't like it, evident by the leaning back of pale ears but he doesn't understand it either having lived such a sheltered life previously. no one had ever addressed him in such a disdainful manner and although the tone has him freezing up with the dreaded trails of confusion; the words to accompany it help him somewhat. dumb. frowning, his long tail twitches with distress as sage eyes widen at the giggle to slip forth from the predator before him. yet, there was a glee within those shards of ice that struck away his softer pastels but he's vaguely aware of how wrong it was...."twisted" he breathes, having stored the word away before upon realising that it had more than one meaning. he liked to do that, find words that had a clear physical definition, like the way ivy twisted around the unsuspecting trunk of a tree yet had another, confusing meaning to it...it seemed to fit here?

he leans back as the muddy boy prowls forward, breath hitching lightly as nimble paws drag stick beneath him despite eyes not once leaving his deranged company. he really wished atwood or sundance would appear just about now. brows furrow at the final statement, running his tongue over dry lips as he falls deep into thought. having pondered it for a few moments, slender shoulders lift into an effortless shrug; fear seeming to have faded like fog in the morning sun the moment his brain grew occupied. "well technically it could be considered either...yeah their noise is continuous and i suppose could grow annoying over time but it could be argued that their differing tones and symphonies could be referred to as song, much like the chirping of birds. there really is not right or wrong answer just...matter of..opinion?" a soft, tentative step guides him back to his initial standing point; it was driest there. he simply takes to observing the boy dubiously then, frankly confused as to why he'd needed him to explain something as simple as that.

no, reif had most certainly not lived a violent-free puphood, but the thing that had brought such destruction into his home; torn a parent apart before his very eyes had been a monster. reif had never been subjected to any sort of cruelty coming from another wolf, he remained unaware to the fact that he had essentially grown up within a sheltered group of hippies. this harsh toned youngster was a whole different specimen to the soft toned youth bred in elysium, he was absolutely perplexed by the strange energy rolling from this boy and drowning reif in unease and a growing fear. the upturn of his mouth, it was used to express happiness, something that he had always associated with good. the smile of this boy was sharp...dangerously so and reif could not help but cringe away from it, grappling desperately for a logical explanation all the while but facing a never ending cycle of coming back empty handed.

then....THEN, those scorching eyes moved their heat from him and before he could even begin to feel any trickle of relief it's replaced by an increasing dread at the realisation that he has chosen to focus on stick. his whole form stiffens as he covers it as best as he can with his skinny body, becoming statue-esque as sage eyes are the only things left to dart haphazardly about; not even sure what exactly it was he sought. but as the boy continues to talk and taunt, each word hit reif harder than the last and no matter how hard he pressed ears against his head it couldn't block them out. 

his tail begins to twitch in agitation, heat trickling into his form as he breathes quickly; stop stop STOP. but he doesn't, he doesn't! he's like the bear, he's bad, bad, bad! he wants to run his paws over stick's familiar grooves, they itch but he cannot risk moving from his position lest the boy try and do something to it and so he has to opt to pushing them as deep into the earth as he can but then it's damp and they're damp and he doesn't want them damp but he can't move and-
and-

eyes widen at the last string of daggers to be released from this wolf's mouth, accompanied by another threat now as a paw reaches for his beloved companion and reif..he doesn't cry, he doesn't yell...he screeches. "STOPPPPPP STOPPPPP STOP STOP STOPPPPPPP!" his voice tears free with a shocking force, reaching an intensity that does not match the state of its host in the slightest. even the crickets fall silent as the world becomes victim to the screech to fall from his jaws like a waterfall, neverending and uncontrollable.

he fails to notice the boy's flinch as the sound tears haphazardly around the two; continuing to spill forth from open jaws like some sort of tidal wave. there's no end in sight and it seems pretty convincing that it could continue until the two were so engulfed in it that the noise itself would sweep them up and drown them in its chaos. yet the vessel could only support such a bout of passion for so long and with little to no warning, a soft gurgle announces its end and the pallid boy collapses down over his precious item. yet despite the want to give in to the shuddering exhaustion of frail limbs, he hoists himself up into a semi crouch, tail flicking at his haunches and sage eyes that had been squeezed shut in that bout of...well could words really even describe it? become visible once more as they fix blearily on the source of his distress. 

a shaky inhale is all he can manage in response to that shark like grin and he mentally curses the fact that such an ugly, twisted face would have to take up space in his mind for quite some time after this. he had so much better things to focus on than, than that creature he now refused to call a wolf. for even in his terror,  naive snobbery has him certain that there will be an after and the only true hindrance of this encounter will be having to remember this stupid, stupid child's horrible smile. 

so it's quite a shock when he is lunged at and all he has time to do is gape as the dark body...slams into him! the jarring contact shoots through his body like a knife, already slender and lacking muscle with the bruises and lack of food added on; such a hit has him gasping in shocked pain as he writhes frantically from where he topples gracelessly into the earth. ears slick back as he holds paws up in a desperate effort to protect himself whilst still trying to get over the inital shock as to what has just happened. he doesn't understand it and this continues to be his strongest issue with everything happening here, not being used to having any difficulty working something out; this whole perplexed feeling is wearing thin. breathing quickly , ribs press visibly against his thin pelt with each pass of oxygen as eyes dart over his company desperately. eventually all that can slip forth is a hoarsely exhaled; "why?"

soft breaths puff quickly from his jaws as ears press as flat against his head as earthly possible. the snake rears above him, terrible hisses slipping forth and chilling his bones as he makes a fruitless effort to writhe out from under the pressure of such a searing stare. yet as quick as he launched upon him, the predator suddenly drew back and reif could only stare on in absolute bafflement. what??? slowly the pallid creature rolls so that gangly limbs gather beneath him to help push him to his shaky stand; much like a doe in the presence of this fire breathing monster.

yet rather than fleeing at this given oppurtunity, reif is quick to note the absence of that stare upon him and sets his own sage orbs greedily upon what was not a snake or a fire breathing monster ready to kill him, just another wolf; a muddy wolf. ears slowly lift curiously as he peers at his tormenter, so desperate to discover some sort of answer written on his features but all he can detect is anger and he lacks the social graces to ponder over wether its presence is to hide something else. 

when the fire sets upon him once more the boy flinches back, ears falling at the daggers to spit from his jaws but frustration was starting to wriggle in reif's gut. a wolf used to getting things his way, the initial fear was starting to wear off and slinking in was a strong disliking to being spoken to in such a manner. he especially didn't like stick being called stupid and being told he couldn't be here, that made no sense! he'd been told what neutral land was, anyone could go here it didn't belong to him. pulling stick close and running a paw idly over the familiar grooves, sage eyes narrow despite retaining their inability to focus on any part of his company for more than a few consecutive seconds. "what is...wrong with you?" he finally exhales exasperatedly. and....easy on him?? that was EASY? he really made no sense and so; "and...why won't you be as easy on me i haven't done anything wrong?" his jaw juts with frustration, tail swishing at his hocks. it just...gah just help me understand.