Wapun Meadow two lovers, entwined, pass me by

all welcome but specifically searching for @Milan !!

It had been a week. The sun had risen and set seven times now, and his so-called pining only grew harder and harder to bear. As if driven by something subconscious—something deep within him—he dared closer towards the valley than he had before, breaching the center of the meadow and marching towards its edge.

He'd tilt his head back, calling for the deeresque woman. The necklace, though somewhat darker, dirtier than what it had been when she'd bestowed it upon him, still hung against his neck. Some of the petals had fallen, others browning slowly. But he would wear it until it could no longer be prepared. A testament.

Frederick had yet to realise the potential consequences for getting too close, should it be a stranger that approached rather than Milan. But for now, his mind was occupied by her and her alone as he sat back on his haunches, tail swaying behind him.

cameo! he's spying lol

ancelin did not like visitors. he liked even less when he knew already the scent of this man from another foray in their meadow.
did swiftcurrent mean to spy? protective of their kith and again, quite annoyed, ancelin watched from shadowcover.
he was calling for milan.
there were multiple ways to handle this, and his own first instinct would not be the one to follow. instead, the rex fell back into the forest, waiting for the bearclaw woman to show herself to this creek man. what was going on? ancelin had more than a little idea; his desire was to be certain.

A familiar call sounded out, instantly filling Milan with joy. Paws lifting off the ground nearly subconsciously, the woman bounded towards the meadow.

She was excited, overjoyed, ecstatic that he had been the one to call her. It was a simple reassurrance that he cared for her.

Spotting the ivory figure sat at the edge of the meadow a clear smile crossed her face.

"Frederick!" She spoke his name in greeting, quick to press her cheek to his as she approached. "How have you been?"

And it was the sight of her that almost seemed to make time slow down. Watching her bound towards him, that smile upon her face, so joyful to see him. He was the object of such enthusiasm, such care—and it was that reassurance was worth more than anything he could ever be gifted.

Milan, his voice was soft when she approached. He'd crane his neck to reach her cheek, nudging against her, taking comfort in her. I'm okay. But... was he, though? When it came to his brother and the creek, he supposed it was as 'okay' as it could be. But when it came to Milan... I missed you.

He pulled away from her for a moment, studying her face. She seemed healthy, well-fed. And the pack-scent on her had grown exponentially. How have you been? Bearclaw Valley seems to be treating you well, yes? And if they weren't, he may just go have a personal word with them.

She let out a gentle breath at his words - one she had not known she was holding. "I've missed you too." It felt good to say, and even better to know that he had felt the same way.

He asked about her time and Bearclaw, and Milan found herself eager to share. "Oh Bearclaw has been just lovely." She responded, sitting herself down. "They returned from the hunt only recently, and it's such a relief."

"They brought back a man named Cole as well - he's quite the nice fellow." Milan smiled. It had been fun teaching the man to weave - returned a sense of belonging to her. One she had missed dearly.

Her words were sweet, a reassurance that made a warmth flood within his chest. She'd missed him, too. An honour, he felt. And he was glad to hear that the Valley had, indeed, been treating her well. They had returned from the hunt, she said. A good thing at that: it meant she'd have some company.

But then she spoke of a man, Cole, and a strange feeling budded within the goliath. A twinge of, almost... envy. He blinked for a moment. What was he like? Is he good to you? He pushed out, a strange expression upon his face—one he couldn't name. He studied her face, though, blue-green eyes moving between her own sapphire ones.

He wondered, maybe, if she'd taken a liking to Cole. Suddenly his throat felt very dry.

The question Frederick asked felt almost odd, but Milan could see that the intentions were good. "I'd say so, yes." She responded. "I gave him some advice, and he allowed me to teach him to weave."

She then wondered about Frederick. "Have you made any more friends in the creek?" She asked, her head tilting ever-so slightly. While it killed her to know that she could not be there with him, she did hope that he had friends of his own to keep him company.

They were in a complicated situation, for they nearly lived in two different worlds.

Eyes squinted for a moment. Some advice, some weaving. The deer hide? He wondered if she noticed that the necklace continued to thump around his neck. She'd given him advice, too. And he'd promised her that he'd come to the Valley in a moons time, when they had laid within the Fox's Glade. He nodded somewhat gingerly.

Yes, I've made some friends, he said, tone a little odd, but otherwise 'back to normal'. Three men, so far: Etienne, Arric and Lestan, Frederick begun. A pup, Leonore, and a woman, Morwenna. For a moment, part of him wondered if the mention of the navy lass would stir similar feelings within Milan. But that would be cruel, he knew.

He continued within a breaths moment. But I'm still fairly new to the creek, I'd say. So I'm sure there are more that I have yet to meet. Then, he looked over the woman once again, curious. What are your leaders like? He had heard of his: Akavir. But he had yet to meet him face-to-face.

She was glad to hear that the creek had provided him with community, her tail thumping against the ground. "Oh! So the creek has pups?" She smiled, "It must be nice to have young one's scampering about."

To her the creek sounded as though it was rather busy - it held her content with the peaceful nature of the valley.

"Ameline seems kind, but I have yet to properly meet Ancelin." She noted the fact to herself - she should speak to the man soon. It was only right. She of course had a right to be intimidated, but she trusted Ameline's taste.

small cameo where cole and @Ancelin can giggle perhaps

Cole had been trailing the foreign scent for a while, one eyebrow raised as it mingled with Milana’s. His suspicions were confirmed when he crested a small ridge and spotted her just ahead—her familiar figure engaged in quiet conversation with a stark white, well-built male. They were talking with one another. Conversation. Looking happy. It brought a chuckle to his throat.

Boyfriend, he muttered under his breath, amused by the thought as he scanned the area. Catching sight of Ancelin crouched nearby, also watching, Cole padded over to his side. Leaning close, he whispered with a grin, That’s her lover, I reckon.

He waited for Ancelin’s reaction, barely holding back another laugh, finding an odd enjoyment in this new little discovery.

It is, he nodded. Thinking back to the snippy pup, he smiled. Perhaps he'd take a liking to pups in their entirety. A thought he wondered if Milan shared. She doesn't seem to appreciate me taking up all the space, though, Fred hummed. Leonore was quite eager to hate on my size. And he chuckled at that.

Ameline, she said. And apparently her leader was kind, though she had yet to meet the second one, Anceline. I still haven't seen Akavir, yet, he sighed. Now, as they further spoke, Frederick pushed the thought of Cole further from his mind, focusing his attention, now, on the doe in front of her. I just hope to find him soon, in case he knows of my brother. He sighed, then.

With a soft shake of his head, his eyes softened again when he looked at her. Do you have any family, hm? Brothers, sisters? He wondered whether they'd be like her. Or if they'd be any different. Curious.

She giggled at the mention of the pups disdain for Frederick's size. "Well, I suppose it can be healthy to be so outspoken." She said with a smile. "I have always loved puppies in that sense - they can be so sweet, but so brutal."

At the mention that he was still yet to meet his leader, she frowned. After all hadn't that been the primary reason for him joining them? To gain the information he carried? It felt cruel to keep him waiting, but she chose not to speak on it.

"I left my family behind when I departed." She said, her tone rather comfortable. Milan did not feel particularly upset about it. "As far as I am aware I should have none here - well, unless my cousin ended up here. He's the only one I know to have left."

Milan sighed, furrowing her brow. Frustrated. "Though I've seen no farms, so I doubt the reckless moron is here." She added through her teeth.

Brutal. A fitting term for the pup. Frederick chuckled. She gave no reply to the mention of Akavir, which he would note but not address. And he listened with visible intent as she spoke of her family. He was glad that she wasn't upset about them, even though he knew very little. A mention of a cousin, but it seemed that was it.

It was Milan's tone, next, that made Fred's brows raise, humour glittering behind his typical expression. Listen to you, he teased, nudging a paw towards her foreleg. I don't think I've ever heard you sound so frustrated before. His voice was jesterly, though the behaviour made him curious as to the feelings she held towards her cousin.

And a 'reckless moron'? Milan— He shook his head, now, grinning. —I don't think I could've ever imagined you saying such a thing. His words said 'scolding', but his face said 'adoring'.

She blinked, feeling somewhat flustered as Frederick pointed out her cruel words. "Well of course not! I would never speak of another in such a way." She insisted, a frown crossing her muzzle.

"You would understand if you ever met Beau - I only say it because it's true." The very thought of the boy, who by know would be a man, frustrated her to this day. She simply could not understand him. Milan could not understand many of the men who had once been in her life.

But Frederick was good. He was different. Not cruel, selfish, or demanding - he was gentle, and he took care when it came to her feelings. He knew how to treat her with respect.

Fred smiled once more. I know, I know, I'm teasing. His gaze was warm as he'd lean forwards to brush his nose against her cheek, an action both affectionate and somewhat apologetic. She continued, then, mentioning a name: Beau. A single brow quirked curiously.

What was he like? His tone was careful, clearly not wanting to over-step, but still information-seeking. Frederick didn't want to even picture Milan getting hurt, but it was an unfortunate truth in life that everyone gets hurt at least once. The scar upon his left brow-bone and the one at the base of his tail were small reminders of that.

But with the way she had described him, it seemed that maybe he wasn't violent, just... hollow-skulled. Frederick took a breath, searching Milan's gaze. He sat up taller, straightened his posture. Ears perked; he listened intently.

Her expression brightened somewhat at the small sign of affection. If Frederick wished to know, she would tell. It could be nice to complain. "He just didn't think." She said, shaking her head. "We grew up separately but my aunt would bring him and her other pups to visit often. My father never liked him - said he was a sissy." There was the twinge of an accent as she spoke the word - unnatural leaving her mouth, the voice of another.

"I never minded him though, he grew up with five sisters, so he knew better than to be disrespectful." Her tail flicked upwards as she reflected on the memories. "Beau started going after cattle for fun when we were yearlings though - got into a fight with his mother about it."

"He ran off with his boyfriend after that."

He seemed to visibly relax when Milan begun explaining. So he was a fool, and it seemed he wasn't much more than that. A sissy, Milan had said. And Frederick could gather on his own that he was rather bull-headed. Oh, and homosexual, apparently. That's cool. He reminds me of my brother, he chuckled. Though he tacked on: Without the boyfriend part, though.

Frederick shuffled, then, his posture changing. A little bit slouched, with a slight dip of his neck so that he could be closer to eye-level with Milan, but still difficult due to their difference in size. Seaglass eyes blinked closed for half of a second, then open once more. I like hearing about your family, he hummed. Then, with a shake of his head and an almost self-deprecating smile, he speaks once more. I feel like I'm always talking about mine.

Though, in truth, the only time he talks about his family is when he mentions his brother. Having come from a place, though, where he didn't talk about his family at all, considering the only people he could talk to were people he was related to, it felt strange even thinking of them when they weren't around.

Tell me everything, he chuckled. Not that you have to—just that I'm curious about you, Milan. I want to know more. If that's alright with you. He wanted to learn what made her joyful, what made her smile. What made her cry. What made her mad. He wanted to figure out what made her tick.

Part of him wanted to know her as well as he knew himself, his demeanor shifting to be a representation of that. Warmth.

She blinked, surprised by the response. "Really? It isn't very interesting." She responded, standing to then settle down next to Frederick. She planned to stay for a while, after all.

"We lived in my father's natal pack - traditionalists. The men hunted, and the women well.." Milan frowned, her sentence trailing off. "There wasn't much for us."

It was clear from her expression that the fact bothered her. It had been her reason for leaving. The men of her home were unkind, and she did not wish to follow in the footsteps of her mother.

When Milan settled next to him, Frederick let their fur touch, wishing to sink into her. He sighed rather contentedly, just her presence being more than enough to satisfy him. You're interesting to me. he smiled, plastering a charming grin upon his face as he turned his head to look at her.

He listened as she spoke. He grew up in a similar way, he thought. Where the men were hunters and the women, due to there being so few of them, did what they wanted, for the most part. His mother had decided to be a stay-at-home mom. To focus her energy on raising her children. I get it, he nodded. I do, actually.

Frederick would nudge against Milan's body, hoping to be of comfort in the same way that she was for him. He'd wait a few moments before speaking, wanting to make sure Milan had fully concluded her sentence.

My family was like that, a bit, he'd start. Men hunted, tracking the caribou. Typically, the women could decide what they wanted to do on their own accord, because there was so few of them. The only ones that stayed around for long were my mother and aunt. Lottie, he remembered. The one who had helped him, who sent him after Adrian.

He cleared his throat. He wanted Milan to know him. To see inside of him in a vulnerability that he had yet to experience. And so he continued talking. My aunt, Lottie, was a spiritualist, actually. All, talking to the dead, and stuff. My mother, Genevieve, wanted to focus on raising her children—me and my brother. He smiled, then. But a twang of pain struck his heart. The two of them hadn't been the only pups squirming. There were others, but they hadn't made it.

Frederick blinked for a moment, then. Suddenly worried that he had over-stepped. Shared too much. He wasn't the type to be anxious, worried, but he didn't want to make a mistake when it came to Milan. Sorry—I didn't even ask if you wanted to hear about them. he chuckled, nervously, but an attempt was made to keep his voice even. Don't mind me.

She looked to her paws as Frederick spoke. While she appreciated the effort to empathize, the situations simply were not the same. It was not something Milan wished to reflect on, however. It simply hurt her too much. It made her angry.

"No, I don't mind at all." She insisted, her words genuine. It was much easier to listen to Frederick speak of his situation than it was to consider her own. She had moved on from it, and in truth she wished to leave it in the past. No longer would it be a part of her identity.

She wondered about this spiritualist he spoke of. "I've never heard of a spiritualist, though." Milan looked up to him, blinking. She understood what it may have meant, however it was not something she had been exposed to in her home.

The man gave a breath of relief. Alright, he said, nodding. Milan met his gaze, speaking of his aunt's spiritualism. She was mostly self-taught, I believe. But there was a woman, once, long gone by now, who visited my aunt when I was a child. I think Lottie might've learnt it from her. He clicked his tongue absent-mindedly.

He hummed, then. Tail flicking against the doe while he thought. I think my mother has a new husband, now, he murmured quietly. He remember her swollen belly, pink, and then the mewls of another litter only a moon before he had left home. He wondered how they were. Hearst, I think his name was. He searched his memory for more, ignoring the implication of the words 'new husband'. But if Milan asked about it, he would answer.

I actually don't think a lot had happened in my life before I left home, he said. There were things that he believed wouldn't be appropriate to share just yet. Maybe in a few moons time, when, he hoped, they were closer. With a chuckle, he added: I hope you don't think I'm boring.

Milan was quick to shake her head, denying the statement. "Oh, no.. certainly not." She insisted, "You're the most interesting man I've met."

"Would I have asked you to join me in the valley otherwise?" She smiled, her expression softening. By now she had made up her mind; a life with Frederick was what she truly yearned for.

They had clicked instantly upon meeting, him quickly bringing her out of her shell. Most would have had much more of a struggle. As far as Milan was concerned, Frederick was hers. He wasn't going anywhere.

She would appreciate him for all he was - even the parts that she did not find particularly interesting. That was what it meant to love.

At the question she'd asked him, he felt his eyes widened, his heart thumping against his chest. A breath, two passed. No, he said. I suppose you wouldn't have. And that was when it had dawned on him. She truly wanted him around, enough to invite him to live with her. Frederick smiled—not one of charm, nor one plastered on his face to comfort. A fool's smile.

He'd nudge into her, then, resting his head upon hers only temporarily before he'd stand, padding around so that he was in front of her. Wordlessly, the grin still stupid upon his maw, he'd dipped onto the ground with the forefront of his body. A play-bow. And though they were both grown, he felt a joy that made him want to bound through the fields, roll through the grass. To savour the moment. This moment with Milan.

Fredericks' tail waved high above him, eyes shining with mischief. Internally, praying that she would join him. That he wasn't making a fool—the bad kind—of himself

She couldn't help but giggle as the man bowed in front of her. He looked quite silly, doing such a thing at his age and size.

And yet, she couldn't help but indulge him. Raising to her paws she mirrored his pose, a look of pure determination crossing her face before she batted a paw at the man, spinning around and running into the meadow barely a moment later.

It felt good to be carefree, to savour the last days of warmth before the winter coated the land in snow. Her tail held high behind her - a new confidence gifted to her by Frederick. Only he was permitted to see her this way, for he was the only one able to pull it out of her.

Now the organ within his chest thundered, beating like a hummingbird within a cage. He wondered, with a twinge of embarrassment, whether she could hear how hard his heart was beating. Whether she could feel the warmth radiating off of him as she bowed down in front of him, noses only centimeters apart.

He laughed a loud, boisterous laugh as she batted her paw at him before bounding away. He, too, stood, chasing after her. Get back here! Frederick called, the thrum of joy shaking his words as he went. 'Running' with small strides so that she could stay in front of him for just a little while longer.

He watched her tail flag behind her, taking longer steps as to pull up behind her. A shoulder nudged into the back of her thigh, hopefully toppling her over—gently, was his intent. Should she fall, he would pause in his movement, trotting to be standing over her, opposite to her on the ground. With his paws by the sides of his pelt, looking at her upside-down-face.

Hi. He'd smile, and, should she permit, he'd meet her nose with his own. A moment just for them. One he'd never forget. He thought back to the blue, five-petaled flower. His tail swayed behind him. Content. Happy.

happy to wrap this up soon <3