Quote: That hardcore clever title, though. @Lasher

he was unused to the manner of speaking proffered by the golden boy; it took a moment for him to understand, but presently he brightened and smirked at the youth's question, looking down at the quickly darting fish. i do not think i would be able to, either! he exclaimed amusedly.

as if to demonstrate the point, taltos pushed aside the sorrow and anger that had formed a sort of canker-sore within him, and snapped halfheartedly at the swarming minnows. for his efforts he received only a mouthful of water and a soaked muzzle.

lasher chuckled. larger fish i could perhaps catch. do not be envious of such a shoddy method! he jested. to the other's title, he drew himself up; the scent of fox's lands no longer perturbed him, for the moment. i am lasher, also called taltos, destroyer of very few things, intended counselor and perhaps healer, if time permits. i am from blacktail deer plateau.

he grinned joyously at his companion. did you come all this way to hunt silver fishes in a pond, ashton?

he chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm, lifting a foreleg to ward off the worst of the splash. licking the cool liquid from one shoulder, he returned his attention to the younger wolf, returning the large, open grin upon the playful face.

ears pricked forward with curiosity as his companion spoke of the fishes' healing properties. giving a low hum of contemplation, lasher's gaze alighted upon a wide piece of bark peeling from the bole of a nearby oak, and he moved to tear it from its base.

perhaps we could trap them again the bank with this, he suggested, cocking his head to one side as he awaited ashton's reply.

the gamma's eyes danced delightedly, and without hesitation he moved quietly into the water, as not to disturb the minnows unduly. after he had turned several times, seeking the best angle for the bark's position, the man lowered it into the water, lifting one forepaw to press upon its top and thus ensnare it loosely in the muddy underbed.

he gestured with pointed muzzle to ashton, so that the golden youth might herd the fishes into place, and then taltos would pull the bark forward, and so hope to beach their small, flashing bodies upon the near bank.

as was assumed, the trick worked well, and taltos watched with interest as ashton secured a tiny pool for the ones who had flipped gasping onto the bank. assuming that these were the ones the gilded healer would use for his remedies, he gave a modest smirk at the boy's praise.

your company is pleasing. i would not be opposed to ... hanging out again, lasher answered, the syllables of the odd vernacular awkward in his mouth.

peregrine. fox. the names provoked a reaction in lasher that he could not hide from ashton's bright eyes; his lips trembled in their smile, and his expression tightened somewhat, though in the next moment he had composed himself. peregrine was my lover, taltos answered softly. fox he did not comment upon. he did not wish her ill, but neither did he wish to speak her name. perhaps the panther had told the youngster of their shared histories.

taltos drew in his breath sharply as ashton pushed muzzle to shoulder; ears slid back and he sought the boy's touch for a fleeting moment. the emerald eyes of the other were brilliant with sadness and worry as he spoke, and lasher felt his soul slip dangerously from its moorings at the mention of peregrine.

no, he whispered in a voice that broke upon the shores of the redhawk's compassion. i believe we have said all that is to be said to one another. and yet there were so many more words to span the space betwixt them.

turning his glance to the silvered fish swimming in their tiny pool, taltos mustered a smile. but thank you, ashton. how will you extract the medicine from their bodies?

he could sense ashton's empathy, radiating hotly from the boy's green eyes, but he did not address the emotion. rather, he listened to the informative chatter that reached his ears, hmming in a polite sort of way once the medic had finished.

this was the youth who would be helping aid fox in childbirth, if the fireflame allowed such a thing, and taltos did not think that she would. yet, on a whim, he tilted his head and asked, are you versed with the delivery of children?

there was a tale behind the jovial language and green eyes. lasher settled himself upon the bank. ashton was quite young to have helped deliver a great lot of children; he wondered how long the boy had been practicing the art of herbalism. he was an interesting sort, and had not the caldera and the plateau's strife separated them, lasher would have been happy to spend more time with the golden child.

will fox let this happen, your aid? taltos inquired, not bothering to hide the wry twist of his lips. he had known the ruby; she did not take lightly to things she did not understand.

as he knew the story of pied, the mother of pura and saena, and so his heart wrenched within him at the idea. despite his dislike of fox, he could not bring himself to wish upon her the death of her children — for they were peregine's also, and his panther's heart had already been beset with sadness. i am sure with you at her side that she will fare quite well.

a glance heavenward brought him a glimpse of the heavens and the sun's position. it is a trek back to the plateau, my friend. i must return. but he did not depart; not yet. i hope to see you again, ashton. you have lifted my spirits immensely.

he returned the odd gesture, an odd smile flitting to his lips. ashton was refreshing, his language interesting, and the gentle light of his green eyes was at once both intriguing and alluring. with an amused smile to himself as he turned, lasher wondered if he was doomed to a lust for emerald gazes, and he mused upon this as he set the quick trot for home.