Swiftcurrent Creek You're here with me, Dr. Death-Defying

For @Hiro but all welcome <3

It was a rare occasion when Mae parted from her father's side for longer than a few minutes. But she was determined to learn, at least, how to walk the borders by herself. She wouldn't be entirely useless.

Desiring and doing, however, were two very different things, as Mae was learning. She'd tripped over a rock and a log already, and was now sporting a slight limp as she slowly traced a path along the borders. She thought she was making progress, though. She'd managed to avoid the last rock in her path. That was something, right?

Sometimes she just wanted to say fuck it and give up.

Nature had granted him kindness within the past few days. Kind within the grand scheme of the harsh month anyhow.

Well-off folk had no need for the scraps of their meals. Hiro made a feast of what little was left behind. It gave him a few hours worth of satisfaction, only to be hit with the reality of their rib-crushing skin as that time passed.

Hiro had become feverish within these days. And an unsound mind brought him to the border of claimed lands. He failed to realize his slow moving approach in this state.

Mae didn't really expect to come across anyone else. Swiftcurrent Creek was well-guarded, its borders filled with mercenaries who defended their home tirelessly. There was no reason for her to fear a stranger's presence here.

And she didn't. The loner was a sickly creature, she could tell by the scent, and no true threat. Mae halted when she heard the footsteps, squinting as if that might unblur the world. It didn't, but it kind of stung, so she promptly stopped doing that.

All she saw was a dark shape just ahead, and a faint glint of cool blue. The stranger's eyes, she thought. A pretty color. You lost or somethin'? Mae called out, hackles lifting slightly. For now she remained calm. This was her place, her pack; she wouldn't cower from anyone while she stood on her own land.

Trouble was bound to find them, and Hiro hadn't realized until it was far too late. 

They were met with a woman, scars both old and new. He fought the urge to stare, forcing his eyes slightly elsewhere after a quick look.

No. One was not truly lost if there was nothing to look for. My apologies.

Despite the will to leave then, to right this foolish wrong, they stayed put. How could he turn tail now? Leave himself vulnurable this girl and whoever had her aid? No, they'd wait for leave. That or teeth. So long as they came towards his frontside, he'd accept the concequence.

No.

With nothing but the stranger's voice to judge them by, Mae found herself oddly struck by the sound of it. Almost familiar, in a way. She imagined a warrior behind that voice, though she had no other evidence to support it.

Nonetheless, she was intrigued. She took a single step forward. Well then, Her voice was slightly lower when she spoke next, but no less demanding. What gives? Why are you here?

A step forward was cause for a subtle switch of his lip, but nothing more. No action came of it from either party, not yet, and they'd intend to keep it that way.

I'm in search of prey. They realized how bad that sounded in the moment, being a hair away from trespassing on her territory. Well, if they hadn't already.

Not here. Elsewhere— Hiro shook their head. Frustration boiled in the struggle to find the correct words. 

And within the struggle came their admission. I'm not well. They couldn't find the energy to regret the slip of their tongue in that second. Out of sorts. I didn't realize how -- how close I'd come to your land until— Until now. 

Ah, there came the flush of shame.

Apologies, I can leave.

Wait, no, The words slipped from her before she could stop them. Mae blinked, unsure how to continue for a moment. She wasn't even sure why she wanted the stranger to stay. But she did.

I can getcha somethin', She continued. But ya gotta come with me. Make sure I don't trip over nothin'. Kinda blind over here. Mae invited the stranger closer with a gesture. Ya got a name?

Hiro is not turned to the door as he expected to be, as he hopes.

No, he was faced with an invitation. Fleeting kindness, nearly forgotten but not a foreign concept. Though these gestures turned to be tools more often than not. Ruses they were taught to look out for and bend in their favor.

Though these promises usually came from the whispers of men. Though they held the same guard they'd grown accustomed to, there were cracks that formed in the wall in this instance.

Alright, Hiro murmured, taking to the girl's side with hestiant step.

With new information came new oppotrunity. They found themselves observing her clouded eyes longer than they usually would. Briefly they wondered if her blindness originated from birth, or the scars that raked across her face.

His gaze turned forward then. Chihiro. The name was tentatively given. You?

Chihiro. She'd never heard a name like that before. Mae indicated their path forward with a tilt of her muzzle, starting slowly toward the nearest cache to give Chihiro ample time to warn her of any obstacles. It was easier to travel like this with her father; they'd had plenty of time to establish a routine.

But if she wanted any of her independence back, she knew she would need to learn to adapt. Mae, She said, and after a moment added: Mae Frostfur-Mayfair.

An' this is Swiftcurrent Creek. Land of the free, home of the dicks. Ya like fish or rabbit?

Mae Frostfur-Mayfair. They'd spare themselves the embaressment of repeating it aloud, keeping the tongue-twister of a name within their mind.

A rather odd introduction caused brief distraction from their task. Dicks? Going deeper into the heart of her territory, it was too late to worry about how dickish these wolves were. Hiro was left to the mercy of how kind this Mae Mayfair was, and how willing she would be to stick up for him should they attract unsavory company. Not the most comfortable postion to be in.

Either is ok... Their voice trailed off as they nudged the girl away from a particulary jarring rock. I'm not a picky eater.

Yup. Dicks.

What else could she say?

Mae allowed herself to be guided easily, and soon they came to the cache. She sniffed the air and announced, Fish it is, then!

She pulled the fish from the cache and tossed it in Chihiro's general direction.