Cedar Sweep Plus One

      It was strange, Nico thought as he wandered through yet another forest, green eyes scanning his surroundings with a wariness that one could only obtain from a long time as a loner. It was strange that for a long time, he'd yearned for peace and freedom, away from shouting sergeants and colonels, away from blood and fangs and death but now, now he wanted back in. It was almost as if, as if he missed being a soldier. Never, in his entire life, did he think that there was even a chance he wanted back in. But now, as he wandered a forest, all alone, all he could think of was his former comrades and wished that he didn't leave.

      But he did leave. So he couldn't do anything about it now, could he?

      A scowl adorned the wolf's features and for a moment, he was tempted to stomp around like a bad tempered child but resisted the temptation, instead, he lifted a paw and kicked at some bushes. It did little to help him vent, however, so he sighed and lifted his head up to the thick canopies above, his green gaze seeking out the small gaps between the leaves in which he could see the sky and breathe freely. And that was when the howl came, asking for any loners. The deWinter paused, frowning slightly, wondering if this was an ambush of sorts before shrugging, it wasn't like he had anything to lose now, did he? His soldiers were dead, his friends were dead, it was like he was living with the dead.

      Might as well join the living now.

      So he located the howl and approached, silently. Nico found the man who howled and observed quietly from safety of the shadows of the trees, watched his movements, analysing him slowly. The soldier in him never died, and the training, he didn't think it would ever go away. 

      Finally, when Nicolas decided that the guy was not a threat, he emerged, still as silent as a panther and chuffed quietly, softly, yet loud enough for the stranger to hear. He stood there, his posture neutral but nevertheless held the pride of soldier. But where was the surprise in that? After all, he stood like a soldier too.

      A slow smile made it's way to his lips and he tilted his head slightly, the words leaving his tongue in a lilting tone, "You rang?"