Totoka River One fish, two fish, new fish, no fish

[size=x-small]ooc: @ypres location is just outside ravensblood forest on the edge of totoka river. [/size]

Fang had spent the better part of his day wandering along the forests edge. The sun had reached its zenith high overhead, the halfbreed doing his best to stay near the forgiving shade of the forests edge. It wasn't long before the sound of moving water gained his attention, his idle wandering having a new direction.

No sooner had he come across the gentle river he took himself into its edge letting the cool water run over his paws. After taking a steady drink a quick splash in the river caught his golden eyes. Fish. That's something I haven't had in a while. His life alone had taught him many survival skills, unfortunately fishing wasn't one of them. He was however one to try.

He moved further into the river, the water rising to near his underside, he watched, waiting to see something under the water move close enough for him to snap up.
Waiting for a fish to swim by, seemed a sensible way to catch fish.
To him at least.
Concentrating on the water, he became almost entirely oblivious to the rest of his surroundings.

Ok sounds great! I'm going to have Ypres already there fishing if that's cool.

She had spent a few hours at the rushing river that morning catching fresh fish. She had never fished before until she had reached Gull Island, and being on that island taught her new skills on just that. It wasn't easy living as an island wolf where prey was crab, fish, and very small prey where one had to adjust to the harsh realities from the lack of real meat. But Ypres was just fine with that. She didn't desire salt water fish that morning, so therefore she departed the isle to catch some of the local fresh fish. She had a small pile of three fish resting upon the bank as she waded skull and paw snapping and attempting to catch whatever swam by her face. She'd come up for air every few seconds, then dive her face back into the water to make further attempts. She caught another one, and it wiggled within her jaws. Her fourth fish, and she squeezed it killing it, then tossing it with the pile of others.

Just as she were about to plant her face back into the water, her eyes scanned the area and from across the way she spotted Fang. She tilted her skull watching the fellow for a few minutes. The male was obviously new to the sport, and she had never seen Fang around these parts before. He must have been a traveler? New wolves were always good for new beginnings. She backed out of the water slowly, still observing him, keeping her eye on the brute from across the river. She shook out the remaining water dripping from her face, then barked over to him feeling empathetic that he seemed to be having a hard time catching anything. Ypres wondered how he didn't see her from across the way, or maybe perhaps he had?

Hello there!

She watched for a response.

Why don't you come on over, I'm willing to share mine if you like!

Ypres was always the generous type whether it was sharing with her pack, strangers, or wild fauna even... She waited to see what his response would be like.

Fang was lost in his own world, so busy concentrating on the small indication that something edible swam by he didn't even notice the other wolf nearby.
Suddenly a target appeared, his rapid reflexes moving in as his head dove to strike. No sooner had he begun a voice carried over.

Hello there!

Instantly he tried to react, halfway through his strike he tried to stop resulting in nothing so much as a fumble, the targeted prey touching his leg causing a full flinch, suddenly he found himself dunked, water rushing over his whole frame. A quick splash and he managed to correct himself and stand, dripping and disoriented he looked about for the interrupting voice.

Why don't you come on over, I'm willing to share mine if you like

A quick shake to remove as much water from his now soaked body, his golden eyes fixed on the the creature.
He wasn't sure what to make of the other wolf, his own embarrassment at falling along with his pride at accepting random offers caused his words to follow, weakly and uncertain.
"uhh, no, I think I've got this. .." he made his way back to dry land, he simply turned to look back towards Ypres.
Standing on the edge of the river he observed the other wolf, obviously they had a better idea at this fishing thing.

As the male declined, Ypres almost felt a smirk form across her chops knowing the male simply did not get the gist of the fishing game just yet.

Very well then...

She spoke n a soft cheery voice. It was adorable seeing him work at it and dunk in and out of the water though. She offered him a genuine warmed smile. Ypres knew males were full of pride, but wasn't any wolf? She was never good at hunting down bigger prey despite being from other regions where prey was abundant. She just sought and found other talents for smaller game, and fishing. Seeing the male pull himself back onto shore forced a frown onto her face..


No no.. Don't give up.. You can do it!

Her mind spoke as she tilted her skull a little to the left observing him as she sat down. They seemed to share a long glance from across the way, and she decided to break the glance by padding back into the water dipping her face fully into the water, and started fishing once more. She missed her first few, but managed to catch another, and tossed it behind her. She looked over to see if the handsome stranger was still across the way. She offered a teasing smile in attempts to coax him over, she plucked her face back into the water..

He watched in an attempt to discern how this skill was done. It seemed simple enough, dunk, bite, don't breath in under water. With a soft huff he made his way back into the running water. Fang had no illusions in his abilities, but he was not one to like trying and failing in front of others. Especially those he didn't know.

As he approached a comfortable depth he posed himself once more waiting for the right opportunity to strike. The occasional splash from the nearby wolf a slight distraction.
As a flash appeared under water his head dived, snapping at the fish his mouth closing on nothing but water. Opening his eyes his head still underwater he saw movement to his side and another snap of his maw this time grabbing on to something. Yanking his head out of the water a triumphant, muffled hah escaped.
It took him a moment to realise what he held wasn't flailing, or even moving, the texture and taste weren't right either.

He managed to hunt himself a piece of driftwood. Dropping it back into the water a low growl escaped "Dammit." his attention moved back to the other hunter. Hoping they hadn't noticed his triumphant victory of floating debris.

Ypres was too busy buried into the depths of the water to ever see such an ordeal happen. Just missing the embarrassing moment, she plucked another fish from the water and shook it vigorously. She slowly padded towards the male seeing he had not caught anything yet. The fish wiggled in her jaws as she clamped hard holding it firmly. She shook it once more and squeezed as hard as possible as she padded within the swift moving water. The water wasn't deep enough for her to be taken by the currant, but she did almost lose her footing because of it. She was a smaller wolf, therefore a lighter build, and could easily have been dragged into an under tow currant and then taken away if the water was a foot deeper. She padded to the other side with careful ambition as she locked eyes with the other wolf from across the way. She held the fish in her jaws and smiled at him as she extended out her neck, and slowly placed the fish gingerly at his paws.

Rome wasn't built in one day, it takes time to learn this type of skill.

She imagined his embarrassment and frowned as she stepped back.

I can't hunt worth crap when it comes to big prey if that helps..

Now that was an embarrassing thing to admit. She sheepishly smiled and turned cheek to show her discomfort of the subject. She looked at him once more in hopes he;d accept her offering of the free fish. Perhaps she could teach him the trade? But wouldn't he be embarrassed? Ypres declined in mentioning it due to the possible fact the man could be ashamed... She wagged her tail and slowly backed away in case the male decided to strike out for her bold move in offering him a free meal. Despite being an Alpha, she dared not show it, only because she was not on her turf.

Fang stood still, watching as the female approached. His golden eyes observed, despite his embarrassment, whether she didn't see or chose to ignore it, he took note of her offering and admission of their own difficulty in hunting larger game. He took stock of what was before him, despite her stature, she moved with an air of certainty, her ice blue eyes gave the male pause. There was certainly something beyond just a lone stranger here.

Fang was always the opportunist, the offered food was picked up in quick order, not even moving away he quickly made light work of the snack. As the fish was quickly devoured his attention returned to the female.
"Thanks. I uhh, I'm not really used to the water."

He lowered his head in a slight bow before lifting up once more, his eyes once more going over the female.
"I'm Fang by the way, and you are?"

Ypres watched as the male swiftly scooped up the prize into his jaws and ate it. He must have been too famished to be able to concentrate. Poor fella. Ypres knew that feeling all too well, if her assumption was true. The female looked him over too just as he looked her over. She took in his scent from where she stood, not scenting any packs upon him so therefore it was safe to assume that he was lone. She dipped her skull gently with a content blink as he thanked her for the snack. She looked over her shoulders making sure her fish were still planted where she left them hoping a bear or any wild fauna didn't steal her lunch. Ypres may have made it look easy, but it wasn't easy catching those slippery little fish, but Ypres managed to master how to snag her teeth deeply into it right away to prevent a slip of the fish.
She turned her face to look at him once more and flicked an ear as he spoke.

Hello Fang. Pleasure to meet you. I am Ypres, Alpha of Wheeling Gull.

She admitted who she was, and sat upon her haunches after her introduction as she pointed her muzzle to the direction of home. Why conceal who she was any longer? It pained her to think about her pack back home, as she felt that she was failing them as an Alpha. The pack was dying off, and she knew it. It almost sounded painful to admit she was actually an Alpha! But only because her members were slowly fading. ...

Where are you from Fang?

Ypres, he repeated the name mentally to let it sink in, his expression turned to one of old amusement as soon as she spoke of her pack. It took quite a bit of self control not to make comment on both the fact he had not heard of said pack, or that this creature was alpha. This however was over-run by the basic instinct of 'don't bite the hand that feeds.'


"Where am I From?" dipping his head, has brow furrowed as he thought about the question.
"Far away, I guess. he followed suit, sitting on his haunches as he thought about his bags answer, it wasn't a simple question to answer for him.

"So, how is it that an alpha comes to be at a river feeding a random stranger in unclaimed territory? Or do you claim this land."
He made a slightly exaggerated show at sniffing the air, he was certain this area wasn't claimed by anyone.

Fang had answered her her questions and then in return, he had inquired a few of his own. She offered a dull smile in his direction upon thinking about what to answer to him.

" I don't claim this part of the shores, but I do claim that area over yonder. "

She directed with her snout.

" Random kindness of strangers goes a long way son. Why possess selfish nature in order to survive when you can offer a sharing and gain more? "

Selfishness was a necessity to survive indeed, but Ypres knew that offering or sacrificing just a little could go a long mile in the long run. Ypres offered the handsome male a ginger smile.

"Besides, I am searching to expand my land too by the way. "

She told him with a wag of her tail. She looked over her shoulders to see if her meal was still sitting there.

" Mind joining me, or are you going to keep trying for dinner?"

She half teased with a smile and another wag.

edited to finalise, pm me If you wanted another thread

Though he hadn't come across many alphas in his time, the ones he did come across were usually a little more impersonal than this. He nodded at her explanation, he couldn't find any reason or citation to argue her point of view.

Despite her offer of a free meal, he didn't feel the need to deprive someone else of their hard earned food due to his own incompetence. As she wandered towards her stockpile he let out a soft sigh. Fishing just wasn't his thing apparently. Heading in the opposite direction he moved towards the nearby woodlands, hopefully having better luck with the small game within.