Chimera Fields stay here, and there, and no

huojin seemed more reclusive as of lately, surprisingly staying with herself of his father, then interacting with others. she wanted him to create friends, something she didn't have, and actually feared a bit he may end up similar to her; a hermit. she didn't have much family to speak of, minus the lion, or friends really.

ruo was alone.

but she didn't mind. she embraced it.

being sick of the cluttered tree's, and desiring the open air once more, the siren told her son to stay back for a bit, maybe find his father, and she ventured out. not too far, as the floods were everywhere, but enough without trees. into, the plains she goes.

Finally giving in to a persistent, festering restlessness, Antares had ranged off the mountainside after patrol with this energy to a familiar place nearby: Deepwood Weald. He knew a good path along the quarry edge to get there quickly, and he was pleased to simply cover ground. Once there in the forest, he had waited out another rainshower beneath its tree-cover--mostly spent prowling to further understand the woodlot in particular in peace, at his own pace, but he did take some time to rest at the end of it all. He surfaced on the eastern side of the forest, and weighed his options there as open plains spread beyond. Something in him wanted to continue on before circling back on his circuit towards home.. at least for a little while, so he took this opportunity on with a slow cruise of a trot.

Critically, he scanned the horizon, feeling very in the open here compared to the woods, or the mountainside. Plus, how flat..! He navigated around the worst of a puddle, but kept slinking along, sniffing about when something managed to stand out to him. Antares largely carved a route at random through the field this way.

From previous ventures, he knew of Neverwinter, and came suspecting they might frequent this place, given the location. He also had to hope that he wouldn't run into any of their wandering kids, like the last time he had ventured out to the Weald. If he did have to see anyone of theirs, he wanted to see more than just sassy lost pups.

Nevertheless, he realized the forest easing closer, but still from his distance, he saw the silhouette of another. Dark, and a hard contrast to the late summer's de-saturating hues, he knew he would be hard to miss in return. But, so be it. He paused and lifted his head, wondering if they would come closer. To him, the further from the packlands, the better, honestly. And, depending on who they were, if anyone, in regards to Neverwinter... there was a part of him that was curious how they would handle him scoping awfully close to their doorstep.

"what are you doing." she called out to the black figure. he was definitely not yuelong, and he did not smell like neverwinter. generally, because this wasn't her pack, she cared little to who came around. while they may have an alliance, the alliance had nothing to do with ruo. she only desired to return to the isle of home, instead of sticking to these woods.

they had a lot of visitors compared to the coast. she saw many come through, and many seemed to leave. incompetent leaders, the siren judged. so what mattered with another roaming the sides?

Beneath his furs, his skin rippled with the sensation of being spotted. Maybe well more than that by now. He knew what this looked like and was not afraid to answer for it as innocently as intended.

Soon enough, he was addressed and this made him stop slowly. Passing through, he replied coolly, keeping his head level with his shoulders, and feet squaring out carefully; a subtle note of his preparation, just in case the stranger saw fit to turn teeth on him, or even answer him harshly. He frankly didn't know what Neverwinter would do without some of their lost whelps around to help guide and buffer the situation. Were they agreeable to Moonspearian presence still? Seeing what the rains have done, any herd activity... the dark Ostrega added to cover himself more by giving some purpose behind his lurk without simply saying he was "scouting".

He then skimmed a glance past her to the woods lining the horizon, then curiously back in the next breath. Are you from the forest? he asked, though he didn't dare assume more than that this soon.

"no. from yuelong." she did want to be associated with the forest-pack, as her home has always been, and always will be, the sea. they were only temporary visitors after all, and she still longed for the taste of the sea-salt, and the wind through her fur. at this point she was so wrapped in the neverwinter smell, it nearly disgusted the siren.

"what kind of herds are around here?" though she honestly did not know much about inland either. ruo wasn't sure what kind of herds were around these parts- usually when she thought of herds, she thought of the sea lions.

Her answer came without any doubt. Yuelong. A title he knew only spoken as such, associated with the seaside, though he had not met them himself. This, he mulled quietly for a second, deciding how to pry after the fact. Not that he knew the forest pack well, but the scents wreathed did remind him of the kids he had encountered--and she certainly lacked the peculiar markings that they all had carried to some degree. Ah. So do you know them? The forest pack, he asked, gesturing next to the strand of trees behind her; she smelled like she did and was close, though who knew.

As for herds, he supposed here was awfully standard. He hadn't combed the area at length to know more than that. Mostly deer. Sometimes elk, he replied, though through all this over-saturation, he had not had a good pursuit on any of them exactly. He wouldn't mention that he was technically, casually, on the lookout for a moose. Maybe they would be lured out of their usual haunts by all the sogginess everywhere, or at least.. that was what supposed could be true. Nothing he had seen backed this theory up yet.

taking ruo out of game, short but blessed!

"we are guests of Neverwinter." ruo said, as she turned her head to the forest. while a short welcome from the stranger, she knew not to talk to him for too long. she did not want to associate herself to the mainland wolves. the ambassador could be left to her cousin and lion, or otherwise any other member.

"goodbye night walker." not knowing the name, the siren developed a habit naming others. she gave her lion the infamous name and refused to refer him otherwise, unless the situation calls for him. now, she dubbed the dark man 'night walker.' ruo didn't know about the previous group, but as someone walking the night, it seemed approprioate.

she retreated back to the forest.

He deliberately reined in his reaction, but hearing they were termed as guests warranted a small head tilt from him. He thought it would be a little odd to be the guest of another, probably a bit misplaced feeling, but likely a good chance to find out a lot about the host pack... if he looked at that way. Well, if the arrangement worked for both parties, he ultimately decided it was whatever--even if feeling a little odd from his lofty Moonspearian point of view.

Then, before he could question it any further, she bid him farewell--which would leave it at that for now. Night walker. He had no reason to deny the title, so dipped his muzzle and watched her return to the woods. Once she was gone, he turned off and trotted away himself, vaguely routing home towards the mountain.. though likely, he would still take the long way back to see what else he could find there.