Hideaway Strath aint going back to barton hollow

Hoping for AG someones, thread date is flexible- lmk what works for your toon and I'll edit.

Ruenna had been following the river south for the better part of the afternoon, comforted by the protection of the water to her left and the towering evergreens overhead. Now the cedar trees fell away, revealing an open valley bathed in the glow of the retreating sun. 

Rue's nose twitched, picking up the taletale scents marking wolf territory. She emitted a low woof to alert any nearby to her presence, and her watchful, amber gaze swept the landscape. After a short pause, Rue turned to make her departure.

Oh hoh hoh hohhhh, no summons was necessary at this point since Rue was so close to the 'strath, and good ol' Dingo was on the prowl! He had no use for the maiden's siren call at this point, although hearing the soft boof among the trees was thrilling when he lost sight of her. She'd come traipsing along the waterway while he had been scouting out some part of the forest or whatever, and being the utter creep that he was, Dingo thought he'd take a shot at charming her. The fact that she was drifting closer and closer to Phox's turf wasn't something he missed but he hoped to intercept her before she could take a step in to the claimed land -- er, nearly claimed land, he should be calling it. They'd been doing a great job pissin' all over it.

Ahoy! He called to her through a wall of trees, falling back on a greeting that had become more of a habit than he really would've liked; then, he came swaggering out from behind the copse, climbing along an old moss-hewn log that was at least three times his width shoulder-to-shoulder. He hoped to make a spontaneous entrance, to help those panties drop. Instead, as he scrambled along the gnarled bark, he tripped on his own feet mid-stride and slid, scrambling, off the forgotten tree's trunk and in to a pile of ferns.

Within moments he'd righted himself, but was covered in a mess of fiddlehead bits, pollen, and whatever else you'd find scattered on the floor of a forest. Dingo grinned up at her from the small gulley where he'd landed and called - utterly free of shame - Oi, you knocked me right off my feet, pretty lady.

Just as Rue turned, her greeting was answered by disembodied voice from the treeline ahead. Rue's head tilted curiously as the man emerged, strutting toward her upon a mighty fallen log. His appearance from the woods through which she had arrived was odd-- had he been following her? The hyper-vigilant Rue was not typically caught unaware, but these new southern smells had thrown her off her game a bit. 

Before she could respond, the man had tipped from his perch. Rue's amber eyes widened, and she moved forward to peer into the shallow gulch. A bed of ferns had conveniently-- almost too conveniently-- cushioned the man's fall. Almost as if the whole thing had been on purpose.

"That's a pretty good line," Rue commented, seeing the compliment immediately for what it was. She wasn't pretty enough to be called "pretty lady," obviously he was just practicing his pickup technique. A half-smile creeped across her features. He was funny, all right. This routine was gold-- it would definitely work on one of the many pretty ladies of the Teekon Wilds.

She didn't fall for him quite like he'd imagined, but that was fine. Dingo had a way with the ladies and he knew it; whether or not they were equally invested in a good time didn't particularly matter to him, so long as he got what he wanted. This particular girl was briefly concerned for him and as she rushed to investigate where he'd fallen the man couldn't contain his good cheer — it was quite an ego boost to have women falling all over themselves for him and even when the tables were turned, they always worried their pretty little heads on his behalf. It was so sweet, and so easy, just how he liked things.

Mm, I thought so, he drawled as he carefully stepped out from among the ferns. He strut a little bit like a rooster, and the beat of his steps helped to fluff the fur around his collarbone, clearing some of the yellow dust that had collected there. While he stood before her he looked her up and down, not shy at all as his eyes roamed across her (albeit somewhat lackluster now that he's paying attention) coat and trim figure. She looked young; not too young thankfully, but reminded him of the wolves who once gave him harbor along the coast. A bit ragged from travel, a bit wild.

What's a damsel like you doin' in a place like this? You smell like the river -- so I presume you came from north'a here, maybe the coast? Dingo had a good head on his shoulders when it came to navigation, and considering all the places he'd visited and ladies he'd bedded, it made sense. Plus he had been stalking this particular girl as soon as he'd found her by the river, hours ago; there weren't many places she could've come from. Ah, but you don't look like much of a pirate to me — certainly no wench, much more proper. What's your name?

The man paced in front of her like he owned the place, seemingly unaware (or uncaring) that the bits of debris and pollen dust still clinging to his pelt made the whole sight somewhat ridiculous. Perhaps he did own the place. Perhaps he didn't care in the slightest what a waif like Rue thought of him or the state of his coat. Hers probably looked just as bad, now that she thought about it... 

The man eyed her appraisingly, no doubt unimpressed by the scruffy, unassuming creature in front of him. That was one thing Rue had going for her as a lone wolf-- her appearance rarely provoked hostility or defensiveness. Rue nodded at the man's correct assumption. "The mountains, the northeast chain," she answered simply. 

He continued, going on about wenches and pirates. Rue's headed tilted once more. Although she was a much more reserved wolf herself, she appreciated this man's stream-of-consciousness manner of speaking. At least she didn't have to guess at what he was thinking. 

"Ruenna Redfern," she replied, a hint of her previous smile reemerging. "Not a pirate, or a wench, or really even a damsel. More like a... a stray, I suppose." Rue looked to the man expectantly, waiting to hear his name in return.

The mountains. Oof, they were horrible things, mountains. Dingo didn't understand what value they held besides their impressive views - it was too much work to scale them and oftentimes, too cold up at the top. The valley was much more his speed - or the beach in the summer, where he could bask in the sun and scavenge for his meals. An easy life was always his goal, which made his alliegance to Towhee and Co. a bit of an oddity. Then again he was always plotting, and schemed that he could be a little useful if it meant he could gorge himself later once the pack was established. All they needed were young, healthy, idealistic individuals to order around!

Well, Ruenna the Stray, m'name is Dingo! Dingo Crestwood, one of many lovely bachelors scattered throughout the wilderness. This here forest is soon to be home to a pack, his introduction led in to an explanation which could've been a warning had he not been so cheerful about everything. He motioned at the dense forest around them both and sighed softly, as if he'd been the one to plant all these trees and tend to them himself, content with his surroundings. If you're tired of livin' as a stray, you could stick around. Keep me company, and I'll show you all the secrets of these woods. Oh god did he just wink at her?

Ruenna the Stray. Rue quirked a brow in amusement. She had gone by several titles in her time in the Teekons, but none quite as humble as this one. A more ambitious wolf than Rue might lament the backwards progress, but it bothered her not a lick. 

Rue paused thoughtfully. She decided she was going to grant Dingo the favor of pretending she didn't see that god-awful wink. "These woods seem honest enough, but I'll take your word for it, Dingo Crestwood."  She matched his upbeat tone, though her voice was softer in volume. Whether these woods held any secrets or not, it never hurt to make a friend. Right? "You have a deal." 

Hopefully keeping Dingo company meant just that; Ruenna wasn't signing herself up for anything unseemly. There were plenty of pretty ladies out there to provide -ahem- the other type of company for Dingo. He should save his winks for them.

Fade here? :) Could meet them in a new thread or bts. Tagging for reference.

Did she just agree to go on a date with him? Was he actually successful at this recruitment thing? Was he gonna get laid later??? It sounds like "two truths and a lie" to be honest and Dingo didn't know which was which. He was briefly surprised by his own ability to charm and then grinned, backing off a couple steps so that she could follow after him.

He motioned with a tilt of his nose towards a gap in the trees that he knew would eventually funnel them towards the hiding space of the little family he had found. Sweet. C'mon then! I'll give you a tour and introduce you to the boss, if we can find her. He was talking about @Towhee although, come to think of it, Dingo had no idea if the butch woman was the leader of this merry little band. Oh well. She would be easier to find than her black as night brother.

Yep! :D My vote is new thread, I want Rue to meet allll the peeps.

Dingo appeared to be surprised by Rue's quick agreement. It was very unlike Rue to be complacent, but she felt just the tiniest bit smug that she was able to disarm the smooth-talking charmer, however briefly. 

Dingo shook off his surprise quickly, and in a matter of seconds he was all smiles and pep once more. Rue was not prone to easy smiles herself, but the man's mood was infectious. A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth as she trotted after Dingo. 

It had not escaped Rue that Dingo used the pronoun her to describe the boss. Rue's loyalty had belonged to Liri-- a her-- for so many moons, she wondered if following this new woman would feel somehow familiar. Like slipping into a snug, cozy, worn-down den. One could hope.