Great Bear Wilderness amore es tu

@Marlow — Tags for reference.

Having asked @Fengmian to accompany her, she wandered confidently toward a nearby watering hole. She had asked that they remain in the wilderness for the time being; after her heat ended, the pair would return to the coast. 

And what would be, would be.

Ying, tail tucked and head low, reached toward the water and began to drink. Her anxieties were quieted for the time being, and strangely, she felt content.

Why did he linger in the wilderness as often as he did? The world was so vast, there were many other faces he could meet and places to explore, and yet, everything simply lured him deeper into the wilds. Maybe it was the females who seemed insatiable lately - well two at least. It was such a simple and boyish answer, but who could he deny the simple facts?

Nearing a small pool of water, the figure of yet another female came into his crosshairs. There was a serious lack of males, at least older ones, as far as he was concerned, the ones he crossed as of late. There was the scent of a male somewhere nearby so unfortunately for the vampire... he had to behave. Padding up next to her, he leaned down and began to drink the cool, bland, liquid silently. Waiting for her reaction with a calm, expressionless facade.

Unfamiliar males were rarely greeted with suspicion, except for during her season. She watched the male approach through attentive side-eye and consequently moved downstream, uncomfortable with how close he had come.

Ying knew that her scent was indicative of her condition. She didn't doubt that it was the reason for his approach, but felt confident with her caretaker somewhere nearby. The guardian chuffed a low note and settled once more.

As he came nearer, her condition was more apparent. Another bitch in heat huh? Did they all just decide to bloom at the same time on purpose? Nevertheless, the way she moved away from him was amusing. So much so he had to stifle a grin and just keep on his makeshift business by drinking water. 

Oh how he would have preferred to bite right into that neck of hers. He didn't get to taste that last one, too busy satisfying other needs - but did their blood taste any different during this season he wondered? 

Sigh a satisfied sigh, he rolled himself into a sit on the edge of the water's edge. Her scent also carried the same notes of the boy he met not too long ago too. Just as he thought, so far, they were all females except for him. Did he try to mate with any of them yet using his 'advice'? I met one of your boys a few weeks ago.

Maybe that will draw in her curiosity.

Unfortunately, Abaddon's reference — one of your boys — wasn't cleat at all. Ying had a number of men who could have fit the description, and none of them happened to be Orochi. Still, she was curious, and so turned to him with lifted brow.

Who? Ying asked. Her voice was level, not cold, but held no invitation in its tone. He had started a conversation which she truly held no interest in, but did cause wonder as to what information he might hold...

Ah! There it was, she nibbled at the bait. Now, how could he become more enticing? Even if it was not today, but maybe another day he could lure her in for a little nibble of his own. Hunting had its graces, not all was brutal and artless. 

With a curious look, brows raising in a downward arch as he thought back to the meeting he had with the boy he spoke in a genuine thoughtful tone. I don't know his name, he wouldn't tell me. He started, a smile tickling his lips before continuing as if what would come next was amusing to him - which it was to a degree. 

He wasn't very friendly. Light and dark brown with two different coloured eyes, know him? He smelled just like you do.

She shrugged her shoulders and continued drinking in silence. The description could only fit one wolf — Orochi, of course — but Ying didn't think that any benefit could come from confirming their acquaintanceship. 

After lifting her head and blowing a drawn out sigh, Ying turned to the man and asked, How was the meeting? Further feigning her interest, the guardian settled neatly into a seat to await his reply.

I think I managed to ease his nerves. He said with a shrug. Damn it all, she was so aloof. How boring. Normally his skull-like face would draw in some kind of interest, some questions, instead of this cold air that was as dull as the water tasted upon his tongue.

Shit, his back was starting to hurt with all the carrying he was doing in this conversation.

Had a pleasant lil chat. Much like this one, more so one-sided, but at least he had more pleasure out of that meeting than this teeth pulling. How do you deal with a little landshark like him in your pack?

Do I say, 'I know him?' Abaddon's assumption was correct, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction just yet. She lifted a paw and brushed it against her eye, as though communicating a growing boredom. And maybe, my scent is not because I am that pack.

Thus far, Ying had not shared any details about her being. Their conversation had been guided by her counterpart's surprisingly accurate guesses, for which he did deserve credit. You guess too much.

if she didn't have that fucking male lurking around Abaddon would have a hay day by now. Man he hated playing nice with boring chicks. It was much more fun when they were receptive or squirming. Normally one with pack scent like that, it indicates you are. She was toying with him, thinking he was stupid and believe he was wrong in his assumptions. 

It was also apparent that English was not her primary language. So many he was not making any ground between them was not because of him, but maybe because she didn't understand everything he said. Yeah, that made sense. Educated guesses.

Although dissatisfied with his response, Ying wasn't interested enough to push the topic any further. However, she did wonder, How many do you know smell like this? Her mind bounced back to her conversation with Hua, and she wondered if it held any correlation.

Not a lot of wolves are by the sea. If he had met her sister, then he should have made the same connection, right?

Oh if that man could just go fuck right off a cliff sometime now would be nice. His scent along hovering in the air was enough to keep Abaddon grounded and not lunging at the woman to try and make this a lot more interesting than it was. 

Even just a taste for that season of hers. 

Did it make a difference to her blood in any way? —

Just two. He would keep vague, did he mean who as in her and that other two, or two not including her? What would she assume?

— He liked to think it tasted sweeter. 

Like berries in late summer, warmed by the sun.

Oh how it made his mouth water.

Made his mouth tingle with anticipation of something delicious.

But that fucking man nearby.

Fengmian might not have known it, but his primary purpose was reinforcement; while lucid, Ying would handle situations on her own. She noted the hunger in the strange man's gaze and lifted her hackles, raised her lip, both as silent warning.

Try it.

Then, to continue her conversation, she asked, Who? Unlike Abaddon, Ying was too aware of her current situation to assume anything. Aside from the problematic fluidity of her emotions, the heat had given her a very useful hyper vigilance.

What are you trying to get out of me? He eyed her curiously, wondering why in the world she was being so defensive. She had a protector nearby, and now she was being all kinds of weird by issuing a challenge in her gaze and defensive raised hackles. What a strange bunch these sirens were. 

Her questions were obviously trying to milk something out of him, and he would choose the less precarious path he saw for the time being. You, and him. Isn't that obvious? With a shrug, he got up from his position near the water and began to pad away. Despite his desires, it was too risky if she was just going to be all defensive - and that man, that fucking man that plagued his senses. 

Anyway, I'll see you around. With every intent on heading out, unless she chose to keep the conversation going - he would abandon his little hunt for now and move onto more interesting things than being questioned with nothing in return.

Abaddon couldn't have been Abaddon, if he claimed to not know Hua. She saw no reason to question him, and was quite pleased with this discovery; the man was too strange, too unattractive to have bred into her family.

Ying shrugged her shoulders and dropped the defenses, shrugging as he made his exit. Bye, bye, she teased, then turning to head back toward Feng.