Deepwood Weald Beneath the dense trees

A wave of calmness washed over Memphis's face, his shoulders lowering slightly, his ruffled fur settling against his body as he paid attention to the female. Her presence was calming, despite not knowing her well, and it seemed that she had no intention to steal the hare. Memphis already appreciated the brief time she took to introduce herself. It was a rare occasion that he encountered such a respectful wolf. He still remembered the previous events when the other rogues were giving him an inimical attitude, most of them were chasing him and snitching his remaining meal. He didn't have a choice but to survive and protect himself against potential threats, and it was difficult for him to endure those moments. Not all vagabonds were accustomed to living on their own; they would hunt and fend for themselves and seek a shelter every night for survival. He had started his journey with a knack for it early on, having had to hunt most of his meals even when in the predator territories, and sometimes have to fight for them as well. Life was never meant to be easy – it was only meant to be lived, sometimes happy and other times rough, but with every up and down, Memphis had learned lessons that had made him stronger.

The grey wolf straightened his posture, preparing to make an introduction to the female. He found himself wondering if his previous tone wasn't friendly enough; he tended to remain rather placid and reserve at first introductions. He also had the habit of staying vigilant due to his rough childhood. Without lapsing too much into silence, he extended a greeting again, his jaws unhinging to speak. "My name is Memphis. It's a pleasure to meet you, Niamh. Thanks for the introduction." He said softly with a subtle flick of his delicate tail. Niamh, it was a beautiful name, he would be sure to use it eventually if he kept in contact with her. He approached between the birch trees to observe the details of the scenery, autumn leaves crackling and stirring beneath him, a slight curve of his average body in her direction, allowing him to face her again, his utmost hope to ensure she knew that she held his attention. He sat back slowly on his haunches, giving her a faint smile in an attempt to display more his friendly aura, his wispy fur dragging along the fallen leaves that littered upon it on the way. It was clear that the female had already noticed his torn ear, but it appeared that she didn't pay too much attention to it, she was seemingly inclined to exchange more words with him, which Memphis felt more at ease by her approach.

Firebirds? The male assumed that it was the name of Niamh's pack. Her main territories were likely not far from this vast forest. He had to admit that he never had the chance to live with a group of wolves, but he knew a bit how packs worked. His adoptive mother used to tell him fascinating stories about wolves who possessed ranks and roles. Pack-mates generally cooperated together as a family to keep the pack running smoothly, they all stuck together through thick and thin. They mostly remained dignified and loyal to their alphas, and more importantly, they bravely faced constant dangers and battles to protect their precious territories. Memphis had already thought about joining a pack, but he was unsure if he had enough skills to impress the alphas. Having lived in solitude for as long as he had, he didn't recall what it was like to have a superior and work together as a team, but he truly believed that he had the potential to perform any task and defend a pack if it were to come to the extreme. Perhaps he might have the chance to join the Firebirds if he interacted with Niamh, but for the time being, he would gradually learn to trust her.

"I'm just passing here to find food and shelter, mostly surviving in this insane maze." Once the words left his maw, Memphis took a few steps forward to inspect the ferns that were painted with the golds and rusty reds. He wasn't so sure where to find the exit of this giant maze. Most pathways were nearly indistinguishable from one another, and the leafy carpet seemed to stretch as far as a traveler could see in every direction. The distant trees that naturally formed repetitive patterns left Memphis perplexed, but he had no intention of giving up his travel. With a glance back at the blonde wolf, he wondered if she got lost in this tricky location. Maybe they could work together to solve the puzzle and get back on track. After all, two heads are better than one. Right? Mild excitement bubbled up to tickle his stomach at the reminder of the hare. He returned to his previous spot, where he managed to kill the prey at his first attempt. He nearly took another bite of his meal, but he stopped abruptly, allowing for a momentary pause. The average male craned his head before letting his cinnamon eyes to fall upon the athletic figure of the female. He silently mused for a moment, his left ear twitching atop his skull. It wasn't very long before he decided to offer Niamh his reward. It seemed that she had traveled a lot today, and perhaps she needed to regain some of her energy for her next travels. "Niamh, do you want to eat the rest of the hare?" He was willing to share if she gladly accepted the offer.