Firestone Hot Springs “but don’t take the ones that are close to me”

this boy is so full of himself smh hoping for a rusalty wolf but it's still AW :)
tags are for reference

How dare they? Orochi had been through hell to get to Moonspear: he had  to take on his captor not once but twice, gone days without food, got lost multiple times and when he gets to thsmountain he's pinned by the wolf that should be helping him. And he'd gone through all this with a broken ankle! All this just to free Revui from the Nightwalker's lair. And what do they tell him? Stay put. Who did they think he was? Some weak kid? No, he wasn't weak. He was stronger than any of those wolves up on that mountain! And they needed him. They wouldn't be able to get Revui without him, he'd prove that.

A day had barely passed when @Hydra and @Arcturus left and Orochi had already slipped away from the mountains. He'd retrace his steps back to the Nightwalkers and get Revui out of there once and for all. Well that was the plan at least. Orochi was never good at finding his way, so of course he got himself lost. 

God. Fucking. DAMNIT. Orochi paced across the hotsprings, kicking any loose rock that stood in the way. It was taxing on his ankle and he was forced to sit down after awhile. This- this stinks! His face scrunched up into a scowl. This place fucking stinks...

Rosalyn heard they shouts and that was what drew her to the boy.  She remembered these springs from a long while ago and had decided to make them a destination on her search.  They wouldn't make much of a home but they were a pleasant enough waypoint, especially in the chill of winter.

They may stink, but they are warm.  Good place for a nap, until someone comes along making noise.  She said, projecting so that he'd hear her over the short distance between them as she approached.

She hadn't actually been sleeping, but she'd been close to it.  If she had she might be annoyed, but right now there was only amusement at his own frustration.

It was just so terrible here. It reeked, it was too hot, it was so out in the open. If Orochi had known this place would stand between him and the Nightwalkers, he would have taken another path. Alas it was much too late for that and the boy was left to complain alone. Or at least that's what he thought.

That voice made him jump in surprise and Orochi was immediately embarrassed by it. He flattened his ears, spun towards the woman and growled. Did I ask?

Oh, this boy was sharp.  Rosalyn stopped, but she did not drop her small smile.  She was hardly worried about a single youngster, though she did keep her ears open in case he was not alone.  She turned her good eye towards him and lifted her brow questioningly.

Does it matter?  It was rhetorical, a bit, but she didn't care much about this boy or his feelings.  Not outside of a limited curiosity.  Why are you here, then?  He looked as though he were upset to be here, so Rosalyn wondered what forced him to remain.

His snarky response had no affect on the woman. She brushed him off just like that, smiling, continuing to question him. She reminded him of everyone he'd come to hate; they dismissed him just as she did. 

I'm looking for someone— It wasn't just Revui he was looking for anymore, it were his captors as well. When he got to them he'd leave them just as broken and humiliated just as he was. — and I'm gonna kill them.

He was young still to have so much hatred.  She was struck by the recollection of a similar conversation, one with Raleska, when the cliffs still stood strong.  She took a moments pause to thank everything that their own children had never needed to feel this.  She'd fight tooth and nail to keep that the case.

Is that right.  It came out a statement.  Well, don't let me stop you.  Word of advice, though.  Either make sure they have no friends, or make sure those friends don't find out.  Otherwise you will spend your life running.  Once you took this path, there was no turning back.  There was a reason she chose not to walk it herself.

Orochi raised a brow and snorted. They won't find out cause there won't be any left. A bold claim but one the boy was full heartedly ready to carry through with. At least that's how he felt in the moment. Just speaking about them now sent a rush of adrenaline through him. Having to look down at his mangled paw fueled him further. First he'd take down that girl, then the medic, then Valour, and finally he'd get to the beast. The one who arguably started this downward spiral. Imagining his face between his teeth gave him a slight smile.

She watched him and didn't react as he boasted his intentions.  With youth came stupidity, she thought wryly, but she wouldn't mock his wishes.  She had no reason to steer him from his path, no attachment to prevent him from destruction.

You think that, but there's always something left.  she replied instead.  Anger, fear, revenge, sorrow; something would result from his revenge and someone would suffer.  Likely him, or those he cared about, yes?  Just as the witch had brought ruin on them, so many times.

The only true way to make a wolf disappear is to forget them. She added almost carelessly.  She was curious, on some level, who it was he spoke of and what they'd done to gain his ire.  Did she know them?  Likely not, and it couldn't be any of hers, so it did not matter.

Clearly she did not know the weight of the situation. If she were in his shoes he doubted she would take such a passive route, or anyone for that matter. Who could just forget about someone who beat you, kept you trapped in a pit for weeks, tear your body apart, and harm the only company you had?

Orochi glared and shook his head. I could never forget them after what they did. Until they payed for what they did, the dragon would remain restless, forever on the hunt. He snorted again before turning to leave.

There was no way for her to know his situation.  If she had, she would have likely laughed for the parallels it drew with her own.  As it was, she simply shrugged.

Then you give them more than they are worth, she answered back, but made no move to stop him as he departed.  It was the same argument she'd thrown time and time again to Smokestep, to Caiaphas, to Raleska.  It never stuck, nor did it ever turn their heads from seeking what they felt they needed.

She turned to glance back the direction she came.  She wasn't ready to return home just yet... perhaps a walk a little ways further, to see what lay on the other side of this mire.