As he traveled golden eyes looked out of the shadows at him and he snarled at a few, but mostly he just continued on, no destination in mind, just a mindless need to walk until his paws were bleeding and the pain was gone. Maybe he'd just curl up here and let the fates take him, yea that might work. But then his mind went back to Ferdie and Vienna and curse his good heart, but he couldn't leave them all alone, so with a sigh he just sat down and lowered his head and finally let the tears fall that he had been keeping to himself for so long, and he did cry he sobbed for everything, there in the quiet of the forest where he didn't think anyone would find him. And then he threw his head back and he howled for all he was worth, every single pain filled memory, every single ache he let it loose and he cried to the heavens and the moon until his voice was hoarse and his eyes were gritty and he slumped the ground then, not moving.
The forest was far from charming. Kipling's usual way of trudging through the wilderness, released from any feminine elegance in her march, was reduce to tiptoeing among the shrubs. The summer night was thick on her tongue, she could practically sip the forming dew from the air, and yet a chill shot through her back. There was something not quite right about this place that she just couldn't pinpoint. It was fitting then, that while she silently mulled about why she was being such a puss over nothing, she was jolted from her thoughts.
Hairs pricked along her back, Kipling froze at the sound of the haggard howl piercing the still air. It's pain stricken tone and ferocity left her fumbling for some course of action. It sounded like some sort of... death cry? She had told many ghost stories, but she'd never think to find herself in one. Scraping the ground with her forepaw, akin to nervous horse, she scolded herself for being so naive. The dark trees were spookyville sure, but she doubted they were haunted.
Pulling herself back to her senses with more caution than before she edged towards the source of the wicked cry. Kipling though caught the wolf's scent trail long before she saw him, confirming to herself he wasn't a ghoul--but then why all the fuss? Curiosity got the better of her, perhaps a pinch of loneliness as well. But either way, suspicious, she was left peeking over the edge of a log as she caught sight of him in the distance.
He was hard to see, in fact she might have crept over the lump his figure made on the shadowed floor, if it wasn't for the fact Kipling had paused when she caught sight of the lump breathing. Tilting her head from her watching place she observed silently. She couldn't smell blood and he didn't appear quite so mangled, more like tired. What was wrong then? Perhaps he was just mad. In which case, with wide eyes Kipling froze once more. No sudden movements around crazies seemed like good advice to follow for now.
Jace heard a silent foot pad and he lifted his large head, realizing he wasn't alone he stood slowly to his full height. If one were far enough away, it would almost look as if a very shadow was coming to life larger than one would like to meet in the forest of death. He tilted his head and piercing blue eyes looked towards the sound as he sniffed once and twice to try and get a bearing on where the creature was and what it was, before he made a movement.
His eyes narrowed and a growl worked it's way up from his throat as he looked towards the shadows. Who hides in the shadows? he studied them trying to pinpoint exactly where the other wolf was, and it was another wolf he could smell her. He wasn't one to want to get attacked in the middle of a moonless night when it was dark and he felt crappy anyway.
She wasn't sure what it was that had given her away, but after being addressed she blamed it on the pounding of her heart. Crouching lower Kipling quickly surveyed her options, she didn't have to answer him and could just turned tail now; after all she'd pretty much seen all that she needed to. But tossing a glance to the direction from which she had come, she knew she'd cause a commotion, and her agility was hindered by the setting. It was so dark, and although she'd been gifted with keen eyesight she doubted her ability to run at top speed without slamming into a tree at some point.
If that was a no-go, then that meant confronting him. His growling fueled Kipling's sudden hesitance to pop her head back up, but slowly she lifted herself, ears poking out and then a face struggling to find a suitable expression. Should she look concerned? Friendly? Fierce so he knew to back off just in case she'd walked in on something she shouldn't have? All this thinking left her looking less than intimidating, one ear cocked forward in a quizzical expression.
What?
It should have been an introduction, or some type of explanation for spying on him, but she'd already forgotten the question. Something about shadows?
Jace chuckled as a head popped up and the expression on her face was full of question. The bark of a laugh that he had let loose was a bit strangled given his current mindset, but it was a smile all the same. Realizing she wasn’t growling he quieted his growl and just stood staring at her with sky blue eyes, wondering what to say or do. I asked who was hiding in the shadows? Clearly it’s you? So tell me what are you skulking about for? Just exploring?
He waited silently for her to answer, while at the same time wondering why in the world she was out here all alone. He had been out here looking for solace, but what was her excuse?
Taken back by his quick change in attitude, Kipling froze, not quite sure how to consider it. It unnerved her, but she definitely preferred it rather than being nipped and chased or worse, seeing as he was more muscle to her lank. Still, it came as a surprising twist, and she awkwardly attempted to mimic the good nature, tugging at her muzzle into some semblance of a grin; it wasn't very genuine though and showed plainly on her face. There were some things even a practiced liar could not lie about.
Well, yeah, I guess. I mean the way you're putting it, it sounds kinda bad, I'm just trying to, you know...
Kipling trailed off, not yet sure how she wanted to convey current situation. The she-wolf didn't feel very confident, stating she was alone and lost and trying to find some way over the mountains that didn't require too much climbing. Spilling the beans about all of that seemed like the worse possible option when the male was so quick to change his demeanor, she already felt like she was tiptoeing around broken glass.
So she changed the subject, Are you okay? Because I heard some stuff over this way, and you're the only wolf I've seen so far...
Not to mention is voice was strained, so it must have been him. Was this his still daily breakdown routine? What exactly had happened, or was happening? Kipling was still trying to decipher whether walking into this was something she'd eventually regret.
Jace tilted his head and realizing that yet again his white knight syndrome was revving in overdrive, he spoke even though he told himself not too. Do you need help finding your way out of here? I can help you, I know this wood pretty well, and the foxes aren’t exactly nice in here, especially if you show a little bit of fear, and they have many to our few. he shrugged then waiting for the girl to speak again, and wondering why he tortured himself all the time, having to save everyone he wasn’t a hero, far from it, but he acted like he was.
Jace shrugged and spoke softly with a defensive tone, I was looking for a place to be alone so I could deal with a situation in my own way is all. he fell silent then and shifted from foot to foot.
Strange, sort of being given the go-ahead not to smile, but Kipling took it up anyway, her the edges of her muzzle dropping neutrally. She blamed herself for perhaps being too nit-picky, not sure how she should take him reiterating her current situation and accenting it with 'I won't hurt you' at the end, could've been stretchy and she had no reason to trust him; but she wasn't beyond giving him the benefit of the doubt, so she did, her tense shoulders releasing somewhat.
Her tension was relieved completely a moment after, laughing at next piece of his advice, Dude, I'm not afraid of foxes.
She might have been, had she been confronted by a several at a time, but she'd never experienced such a thing and so thought little of the creatures. They were yappy, they stank, and they sometimes got in the way, but if one were to pop out of these woods she'd have no issue bowling it over in a heartbeat. It's not really that though. I mean, yeah, in a sense I guess I am looking to get out of here, but I'm actually going West.
And as far she knew, this was West not that she had the stars to double-check anymore seeing at the forest canopy did a great job of blanketing out the sky.
She didn't spare much time doubting her own direction, instead her doubt switched to the rather vague explanation he gave for his behavior. Right.
Kipling remained inquisitive rather than empathetic. Sorry for interrupting you then.
And then she simply hovered, uncertain if at this point she should simply walk away.
Jace shook his head and spoke softly “I’m not afraid of them either, but they can certain leave you with some scars when there are so many of them. he knew that from personal experience. He wore the scars and the heart ache now on top of it. Leaf he had saved her only to be tossed aside, when he finally realized he was developing more than just friendly feelings for the imp.
Jace had no idea about directions, he just followed his instincts where that was a concern, so he couldn’t help her in that aspect even if he wanted too. Jace spoke softly I’m sorry I’m so cranky and I didn’t mean to sound so rudely. It’s okay that you interrupted me, feeling sorry for myself isn’t going to get anything done anyway, so I supposed I owe you a word of thanks. So thankyou for interrupting me and snapping me out of my stupor.
Kipling continued to shrug it off, he could spend all night talking up about foxes, she simply couldn't imagine them as a threat. To her own ignorance she pushed it aside, instead finding herself staring rather curiously back at the male who now seemed apologetic. And now she found herself feeling guilty for making him such a way, her ear fluttering down against her head. It was obvious he hadn't been feeling too hot before she'd come, and now she felt as though she'd somehow made it worse.
Look, you don't... have to apologize about it. I'm the one who was... kinda... okay--okay yeah I was spying on you.
She admitted sheepishly with a shrug, and then continued, But seriously don't feel bad for, well, feeling bad. It's okay, I mean the whole macho 24/7 thing? Totally overrated and fake, it's like the fastest track to becoming an asshole.
Shaking her head, she wasn't sure how to comfort him, and instead blurted out, I'm Kipling, if you were wondering.
He dipped his head and spoke softly Well Met Kipling I am Jace. And I agree being macho all the time is wearing and I do not want to be an asshole. He chuckled again and shifted his weight moving softly closer to what little light could be seen coming down from the sky and the foliage.
A single brow lifted at him, as if to say definitely interesting, but Kipling didn't realize in that moment that Jace probably couldn't see the expression on her face, the shadows of the wood much too deep to barely make out his smile much less her face in the dark. Her eyes were able to follow him as he shifted with his introduction, pleasantly surprised to see how he had taken to her rambling.
We're all assholes sometimes.
Kipling concedes with a lowering of her head, but there's amusement curling the corners of her muzzle. Like how I'm going to be an asshole right now, and take you up on that escort offer. Hope you don't mind company for a little while longer?
Lifting her paw, she gives a small rueful shrug at her change of heart. She didn't suddenly fear the foxes of the wood, butthe immense darkness was starting to wear on her, and she didn't want to face it alone.