Firefly Glen [PHE]Soldiers were once and still men

Reyson had managed to geth through the night. He had a few nightmares, but @Meadow had been there to calm him immediately. And he hadn't been as rough as he usually was. He had been about to agree to go home when the first rays of the sun rose. And he took a deep breath of the morning air. And realized he had made it another day. Another day earth side. And for that he was pleased.

He stared out into the early morning light. Eyes falling on the packs that had begun to stir. He shook his broad shoulders and licked a few pieces of fur down. Then slowly began a preamble along the small borders of their current encampment. Working out the kinks and the joints that had locked up. The scars on his face showing up stark in teh early light.

It seemed this wolf had the same idea. Early morning, no others around. 

Pepper enjoyed the sense of community, but he was near-ready to be back home. He enjoyed his den shared only by one other. 

The wolf seemed worse-off than he was. Older, too. 

His pace quickened until he was beside him, now seeing the scarring. He'd seen the wolf the day before, but hadn't spoken to him. 

"Was beginnin' to think I was the oldest here," he jabbed, though his tone was friendly.

Reyson did better in the morning. Granted he had learned long ago to survive on very little sleep, but as he had aged. He'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it just a little more. And the pain in his limbs was hard in the early morning.

Reyson tilted his ear forward. Naw there's a few of us old ones here.

The scarring upon his body, born from years of conflict and soldiering. And he was not ashamed. I'm Reyson Ebonywood of Sun Mote Copse.

It felt odd to be on the other side. Like only last week he was young. Too young to enjoy the company of the older wolves. But now he was beginning to feel the opposite. He liked the slower pace. 

The wolf, up close, carried many more scars than he could initially see. Scars one wouldn't just happen upon while living life unless they were sought out.  

"Pepper." he stated. "From Sapphique," he added, after a moment. 

He kept pace with the man as they walked. 

"That one's west o' here, yeah?" 

He'd heard of packs in the area by now, but knew little more than names.

Reyson could not boast a feeling of youngness. It had been far too long since he had fit in a child's fur. He wasn't even sure if he had ever been a child before the ideas of protect and serve came into his mind. Or were forced more so.

Well met Pepper.

A nod. Yes nice little place. Well built and cozy. My wife likes that type of thing. I am fine with trees. And there are many there.

"Wife, eh?" he said. He'd expected the wolf to have a mate, probably a few litters, too. 

"I hear ya. It's nice deep in the woods. Quiet," he agreed. Unless the wolf was simply talking about having an affinity for trees specifically.

Reyson's stern countenance gentled and he nodded.

Yes her name is Meadow. She is a healer. Her and two of our children are still resting.

Reyson tilted his head and gave a nod. It is. Feels safe. Warm. I never much liked open space and underground. So forest for me. The sea makes too much noise.

He kept pace with the older wolf. Meadow and two children. That was a respectable family, and Pepper almost found himself wishing he'd led a life that allowed for that. A litter would be...complicated, but surrogates were an option. 

"It's a little loud, but ya get used to it. Helps me sleep, now," he added. 

He debated asking the wolf about the scars. He was sure they all had stories, but knew sometimes those stories carried a lot of weight. 

"Yer life sounds pretty peaceful now. I'm bettin' you earned that?" Maybe that was a good way to ask..

Reyson loved his family. Loved his mate. Loved his children. Part of him wondered after two of his children. Were they safe? Were they happy? Were they okay?

Reyson chuckled. I could never sleep with noise.

Reyson looked over. You could say that. I've fought many battles and won just as many.

A fighter indeed. And one that left Pepper feeling slightly intimidated. 

Pepper had battle scars, but nothing quite like this wolf’s. And something told him it wasn’t because Reyson couldn’t avoid an attack. Rather, his fight count way outnumbered Pepper’s own. 

”You got that look about you,” he replied. Sure, the scars were part of the mentioned look, but there was a lot more to it than that.

Never one for smalltalk, Pepper found it hard to come up with more to say on the topic. But he didn’t mind silently walking with the wolf.

There was a quiet watchful aura to Reyson there always had been. He had never been a child or even a young man. Merely a soldier, conditioned and honed and he had been a perfect one. If nothing else he was a damn good soldier.

Reyson motioned with his head. We always called this the quiet before the storm. When everything was peaceful amd beautiful. You could breathe in silence and blow it back out. And it didn't disturb it.

A soft smile. Good thing about this silence here, there's nothing waiting to rip out your throat when the silence breaks.

I was a soldier for damn near my entire life and a commander for more than half. That's something that digs into your chest and settles there.:

Pepper couldn't know if he was correct. That silence may not last, but right now, it sure felt like it would. 

All things considered, it appeared like the older wolf had managed to find comfort. And, despite being older, was still out and about. Maybe he had insight into how to stay that way. As it stood now, Pepper felt he'd be confined to his den this time next year.

"How do ya deal with soreness from all those fights?"

Silence always lasted until it didn't. That was a hard lesson Reyson had learned one too many times. But it was what it was. If there ever came a time when his silence was broken and he had to take the mantle he had worn again. He would to protect those he loved.

I stay busy. Always active. I run I excercise. Cold water, hot springs. Some herbs if the pain gets too bad, but I Try and stay away from that. But I have a healer for a wife. So she keeps me pretty healthy.

Did all fighters just magically end up with healing mates? His tail wagged momentarily. It was a little disheartening, however, to hear that the wolf was largely doing what Pepper had already been trying. It felt as if his degradation was outpacing his efforts substantially. 

”Certainly looks like it,” he agreed. He was pretty sure this wolf would win if they fought. He had no intention of testing that out. 

”I should let ya get back to your walk. It was good to meet ya. If yer ever up near Sapphique, drop by. Got plenty of food.”