he had departed the plateau for a plethora of reasons, for tension and happiness had reigned in a luxuriant chaos for far too long, and it wreaked havoc upon the man. and so lasher slid into the swift trot that consumed the miles, and at length found himself in an opulent vale, with scarce but the fallen, moss-covered boulders to ever say that there had been a disaster here.
taltos paused to drink from the crystal of the stream. it was early dawn, and he felt the bite of quick-coming autumn through his earth-hued coat. settling himself upon the bank, the servant awaited the coming of the day, eyelids fallen to half-mast and body relaxed.
It wasn't for his shape or colour - or even his scent. Their last (very peculiar) meeting had been shrouded in darkness, and it was only now that Bazi could make out the handsomely etched face and sleek lines of Peregrine's lover.
She didn't bother hiding - the direction of the wind could change in an instant in the Vale, and the pale girl wasn't exactly difficult to spot. In a forest of densely populated birch trees, she might stand a chance, but not here - certainly not as the sun began to rise, dappling the forest floor with flecks of golden light.
"I'm not a real spirit," she announced, stepping out from behind a tree a few meters away. He probably knew that already. Probably. The wolves of the Teekon Wilds were varied and unpredictable to stay the least. "Are you a witch?"
she stepped lightly, ethereal despite the denial of her words, and lasher smiled, recognizing the girl also. i know you are not, he murmured. it was a game that got quickly out of hand.
dawn came quickly now, and he paused to lean into the thin warmth cast by the early sun before he turned his eyes upon the girl. i am not a witch, though i have served wolves who called themselves thus, taltos answered truthfully, wondering if his honesty would send her fleeing him once more. but she seemed changed since they had spoken — older, and somehow with some of her youthful gaiety muffled.
"I remember," she replied, taking a few slow steps forward. After a moment's hesitation, she sank down near the bank of the same stream, tail curling around her hind quarters. They had no reason to converse, really. Lasher carried the scent of other wolves on him - his family, whoever they were; presumably Blacktail Deer Plateau or some other nearby pack. He was not ripe for recruitment.
Still, Bazi found herself transfixed.
"Who do you follow now, then? I don't know of any witches around these parts.." Bitches, sure - loads of them, but none that compared to Lecter's spookiness.
he was charmed by her, the dainty movements of her paws and head, and her pointed, curious questions. peregrine, and blue willow, and our new beta, dante, and fox, who i believe ruled in swiftcurrent before she came to us at the plateau. despite their differences, taltos was not one to speak ill of his rulers, and the ruby was no exception.
and you? you carry the creek's scent thickly enough to be in the upper tier, if not a member of its leadership, the gamma observed gently, casting his gaze out over the water. they spoke for some time before parting ways, lasher gently full of apology for the words that had so frightened her before.