Phoenix Maplewood Necrodancer

63F°, currently it is clear and set during the afternoon. Located in Snowforest Taiga, Phoenix Maplewood | ooc notes: here we go, finally! | tagging: @Taikon

Prickly bushes poked and prodded through her pelt as she dug through the brush to try and gather as many of the berries she could find here. The liquids of the more ripe ones stained her coat while she thrust herself through the tangled branches, miniature scratches lined her nose and muzzle, all very well worth it for the tasty treats and more items to brew into potions or hexes for whomever she desired to either bless or curse. Thankfully with such a dark coat as she has, it was hard to tell the paintings of red and violet upon her, but the sweet-smelling perfume that wafted from her was enough to indicate her sticky bath. 

One by one she was careful to place them all in a large leaf she could find, something that could help her carry them back to the marsh to mash up into a pile later for use, it was better than in her moist and hungry mouth for multiple reasons. Even if they couldn't be used in a spell, the tantalizing idea of making treats of meat by sweetening prey with berries was a delicious thought. No, these would not go to waste. 

Trying to reach the final few, her tail lashed out like a snake from the bush as her bum stuck out of the leaves, while her head was rammed deep into it while seeking the final fruit.

Woot!

The day had thus far been pleasant to the prince. Having nothing on his agenda, Taikon had decided that the best thing to do on a day like this was avoid others and find a decent spot to hunt rabbits and sunbathe. To do this, he headed toward the forest, knowing that the delightful clearings within would give him both better hunting cover and prime bathing areas. The oxygen from the trees let his breath feel free as he moved.
Taikon had tried over the last half hour unsuccessfully to catch rabbits in the undergrowth of the wood. They were faster than his lazy self was feeling, and so he had taken to merely chasing the beasts for fun like a pup. With no one watching, he felt relaxed doing so, and relished in this chance to let go.
After growing bored of this, he continued, and then stopped at something most peculiar.
A creature that he immediately assumed was a pup had its head stuck in a bush. Taikon realized at once that it must be a Whitebark Stream pup that he was unfamiliar with, perhaps one of Juniper's siblings. He could see nothing of the animal other than its rump as he walked closer. Excuse me, he waited for a moment, what do you think you're doing? The air was so thick with berry juice, he couldn't tell that this was not a wolf at all.
As the white wolf grew closer, he noticed something odd about the animal that he couldn't quite place. Something...dangerous?

In mid picking off a few berries, carefully letting them rest on her tongue while she continued to try and pick them off gingerly with her teeth and guide them into the cavernous maw where they would rest before being brought to the pile, guided by lips - it was then that a voice caught her off guard and squish! The sweet nectar of the berries ran down her throat and instinctively she swallowed the delicious things. 

What a waste. She thought, despite how satisfying it was to eat some after being teased for so long while gathering the little precious, colourful, jewels. Pulling herself out of the brush, rump first, once free from its grasp she turned to eye the obvious-wolf. Dual violets of their own hues washing over him with great scrutiny before parting her blackened and berry painted lips to speak. 

Gathering berries. her voice smoky, sultry, too aged for a young pup but one of a woman ready for the pleasantries of adult fun. To think of her as a puppy was almost humourous should she know what he was thinking, perverted even for her! (her mind not mind, she's weird okay?) What is thy purpose? Immediately she turned the question back onto him, why did she bother him so randomly? With a flick of her tail, she waited almost impatiently.

The little thing backed up, then stared directly at him.
His mind crumbled. The white wolf stood there, looking stupidly at her, gawking openly. Everything about her, from her amethyst eyes to her dark and ruddy-with-berries fur, her thin waist, surprised him. He didn't know what to do or what to say. He blinked repeatedly. The thought of her being a pup was long gone.
Her voice enveloped him like a warm chocolate silk. His breathing quickened without him noticing. Apologies, said Taikon, the word escaping faster than he'd meant it to sound. The little creature was tiny, even for her species' standards. He dared not take a step forward, for doing so would surely feel intimidating for her as he would be forced to look down to maintain eye contact.
I was just taking a walk, I didn't expect you to be here, so close to pack borders, he explained. I mean— of course you can be here, I just.. He fumbled. Badly. Didn't expect..you.

Instinctively she could tell he was rattled - why, she wasn't certain. The witch wasn't much of one to understand others and the way they thought, it was all a matter of how she felt in the moment in their presence. If she liked them or not. There was no neutral grounds, only the grounds that she hasn't decided yet, and she hasn't with this one within the seconds they met.

Time was ticking for him however, which side of the coin would he fall on?

As he thought of something internally, apologizing, well that was good enough she supposed to not hate him right away. It was more than she would get from many wolves in this area. For a moment her eyes narrowed onto him as she mulled it all over, thoughtfully they bore into him as if trying to read his soul. 

As he mentions pack borders, for a moment the furs along her spine rose. Ready to defend herself, feeling her slender limbs growing stiff, only for a moment. There was no lunging, growling, or choice words exchanged - she was on neutral lands and certain of that, and he seemed to accept that. 

Relaxing, the woman allowed the words to flow freely once more. A what? what am I? Of course she knew what she was, but what was she to him? A coyote? A woman? A witch? Something else? She was intrigued. As he fumbled, she was the image of dignity, sure of herself - well, as sure of herself as a mentally sick and delusional individual could be.

A what? What am I?
Taikon was sure the swallow that followed was so loud that she would be able to hear it; his heartbeat was deafening in his ears. He searched for an answer, looking about him for anything that was not her. Uhh, he paused. She stood there, and despite her size it was him who appeared as demure and soft while she was hardened and fierce. His eyes found hers, and their amethyst core shocked him into utter submission. The wolf cleared his throat. His lizard brain had all of the words for her. Gorgeous, lovely, beautiful, delicious. He shook his head.
Small, he said finally, and frowned, dipping his head apologetically. Idiot! I mean, you're just smaller than... His knees were bent, as though to make himself smaller. Other people?
Taikon wasn't wrong, of course. He knew that she was indeed a coyote, but was unwilling to present this to her, embarrassed by his own behaviour. He, unlike many wolves, held nothing against coyotes. He licked his nose nervously, like a boy being thrown into a snake pit. Desperately, he tried to change the subject. You were picking berries? This was of course a yes or no question, but he meant to ask why she was covered in the juice.