Hoshor Plains I don't see how

@Holland!

Here she was, in the gold-swept plains again, though it had been at least two moon cycles since she'd met the man with the sun-like fur. Since then, she had not returned to this place, though not because of any particular reason; she was simply drawn here today, silver sentinel standing amongst the chest-high grass for the moment, as if she were a colorless statue amongst the riches of this land. It was pleasant to just feel the sun on her fur, eyes closed as she stood, basking in the warmth that the day provided as the winds of winter nipped on the heels of the Teekons.

She only moved when she heard a sound, a brush of grass, ear rotating to listen though she did not yet peel her eyes open to see what moved near her.

He hated the sun.

It shone with no shame into his red eye, making him squint more than he'd enjoy. Light sensitivity was a thing for him, ever since he lost his other eye. Ever since he left his underground kingdom and exposed himself to the sun's rays. His people lived near the earth, under it in caves. They kept themselves a secret to the world, going out and raiding it when resources were dim.

But that was behind him now. Yet some things never changed. Like the light. It's accusing glare at him. A reminder of past deeds. He stumbled almost blindly, having been stuck out in the open with no darkness to swarm around him. No black but his coat to comfort him. So when he brushed against the tall grass, alerting someone of his presence... well, either way he was a stark difference to the ground. Point was, he stood still. His one good eye trained on the woman before him.

But he said nothing. He was unable to make out her distinctive features, squinting as he was. He didn't want to rile her up. Didn't want to say something stupid and get her aggressive. He waited.

Only when there was no further sound did Keres find herself curious enough to look for the culprit, eyelids fluttering open to reveal the bright blue-green of her irises. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, squinting against the harsh light that felt so pleasant across her furs. Funny that it could be so painful and yet so comfortable at the same time.

Even through the squinting though, she found a dark form standing tall before her, golden blades of grass tickling his undersides instead of flourishing about his chest as it did her. Ears thrust forward as the Glen woman peered up at him, his distance close but not close enough to be threatening; the silvered valkyrie smiled and gave a slow, pleasant wag of her tail, a display of her open friendliness unless he gave her reason to react differently.

Hello, She started, voice warm like the sun the shone down upon them. Can I help you with something? HE was, after all, standing there in front of her, seemingly waiting for something.

"Hm." 

It was a short and unhelpful word, but it was a start. He eyed the woman best he could, remarking she was too friendly. Any wolf probably could fake niceness, but hide a dagger under their sleeve. He didn't know if he was likening her to that statement or being quietly concerned she may display that to the wrong person. Whatever. He glanced away from her to remark the area.

"Do you know where shelter is?" he would ask, figuring if this woman was comfortable with the place she would know. His deep baritone was masked by quietness. He did not raise his voice. He never really did. He left out the part that he was sensitive to the sun and wanted to get away from it. The man didn't need concern from others. "a cave... a den... anything?" he also wasn't going to get his hopes up.

The question, while odd and unexpected, was not too far out of the realm of normality, and certainly not far enough that she declined him the knowledge he sought. She had offered him help after all, or rather asked him if she could help. There's the Hollow a bit south of here. It's a forest, but there may be an old cave or den lingering behind. Closer to the Glen, but not close enough to be of any particular alarm. While he didn't look harmless, there was no outward aggression, not yet.

I can show you to it, if you like. Another offer of assistance, though she was unsure if he'd take her up on it.

"Please" he would say now, moving slightly closer. Holland was always mindful of another's space, especially since sometimes they didn't mind his own. But the gesture was enough to accept her offer. He'd be a fool not to seek someone's help for something he knew nothing about. Falling back into silence, he allowed the woman to lead the way.

Her coat reminded him of ground pepper plant - despite having no browns attributed to it. Most assumed pepper was black or dark gray. But there was a lush foliage of greenery - like her eyes almost. Strange, to attribute wolves to plants but he chose to do it sometimes. If he didn't accept he couldn't control a wolf like he could a plant, he'd go mad. The attribution only reminded him that they were like plants. Not entirely the same.

She did not give her name though. He did not care if she chose not to either. Speaking only when spoken to, Holland merely waited for her to get going.

A smile curled her lips as he closed the distance between them with but a single word before he fell into a silence. Turning, the silver-cloaked female moved a few steps ahead, checked to see if he was following, and then continued on with a relaxed gait in a position where she was not directly in front of him but to the side a bit, so that she could watch him from the corner of her eyes. Not so foolish as to give a complete stranger her back entirely, Keres would stay a touch on edge, even if she didn't look it.

As for chatter? She made no effort to break their silence, comfortable in the lack of words where some might not have been.

The woman took a stance beside him, instead of in front and her back to him. He silently applauded her good sense. If she had done any differently, Holland would have been tempted to rush up beside her. Temptation was a fleeting thing though; that thought quickly vanished, replaced with compliance. He walked beside her, idly noting how smaller she was compared to him. He was a tall beast, and she was at most average or smaller than that.

He may not be a fighter, but he could overpower her with bulk alone. Of course, the thought was only fleeting again. Because why? If she led him into a trap, for instance... "What are you called?" he broke the silence, perhaps uncomfortable with the fact she was so willing to help and he gave her nothing. Until proven wrong, he remained on edge himself. His one good eye focused on the woman, awaiting her answer now. If it came at all, or if she chose to remain silent. Either way, he would adapt. Holland always did.

An ear flickered his way as he asked his question, her head swinging his way to look upon his larger form. His colors wer striking, she noticed now, vibrant and stark against the dark tones of the majority. In her memory, she could not recall seeing a wolf that looked like him, though it was possible (if unlikely) that her recollection was muddy. Add that to the stark red of his eye, and he already was a very memorable creature.

Keres Ostrega, She answered easily, almost adding "of Moonspear", though she mentally corrected herself. From Firefly Glen, a bit Southwest of here. You? He wasn't from a pack, not that she could tell, but she was curious about whatever he would offer her in reply.

"Holland" he would reply as they walked "from Nowhere" was that an attempt at humor? One did not know for sure - his face remained solemn. His eyes betrayed no humor. The man mentally stored her name away anyway. But what Keres said did spark some curiosity. "is Firefly Glen a pack?"

For all he knew, it was a location. It sounded like one. The grand kingdom he had come from originally had a name that he chose to forget. It did not sound like a land, that's for sure. Holly was guessing at this point, an ear twitching backward as he thought about what sort of pack it was if it was indeed one. Keres seemed quite eager to assist, friendly even... but...

Did he want to place himself in that sort of community? They would see him as isolated, and he would not be able to grow from it. His own fault, not their's.

Holland from Nowhere. She smiled a bit, glancing at him as she almost immediately quipped back: Sounds like an interesting place. An interesting place for an interesting man, the thought continued in her head, tail flicking idly behind her as they walked. The hollow was within sight now, close enough that she she could see each individual tree but not that she could see each individual leaf.

It is. You go past the Hollow, through the woods, and you'll be at the edge of the Glen. It can be a bit dark, especially at night, but in the summer and autumn months, it's lit by fireflies, hence the name. While she might have been rambling a bit, her words were calm, collected, and perhaps affectionate in a way. She did so love the Glen, though that might have been because it held a good portion of her family.

"Not really" he retorted calmly, a snort leaving his nose. His humor oft fell flat in the best of times, and even he wasn't aware if he was joking or not sometimes. His head lowered slightly, good eye glancing this way and that as if expecting it to really be a trap. Was she leading him to an unwanted situation, he wondered? 

His ears piqued up, his curiosity turning to interest. In his old realm, before he left his kingdom, there had been a glen with fireflies as well. How curious to have both realms have something in common. Especially since even then, he had trouble finding a pack. That particular glen had not been dark from what he remembered. It was mostly lit up all hours, especially with the fireflies.

"Does your pack... have need of a medic?" he asked quietly. Plying his knowledge and trade was the only thing he had going for him. He could hunt, yes, and fight, but healing is what he was interested in.

If she noticed his perpetual edginess, Keres did not make an outright display of it, simply watching him in her periphery when her attention was not directly upon him. Often, when it was pointed out that a wolf was uncomfortable, it exacerbated the issue more than was needed. Instead, she focused on what he asked, a gentle laugh leaving her though it was not directed at him.

Is not every pack in need of medic? Even multiples? In her experience, multiple healers was a boon for any pack rather than a disadvantage. Moonspear has a medic, and her young daughter apprentices under her, but the Glen does not. Your skills would be highly valued there.

In his experience, there was a high ranked medic in a pack that many went to instead of a new face. His continual learning, his already established experience... it meant nothing to those that already had someone they trusted. "I see" was all he said about that for the moment. He was more intrigued by the location and boon it would be to his own well-being.

"I will inquire after the Glen when I have time" because promising more than that would be insulting to Keres. His only concern was finding shelter and food for the winter - both things that could be given in a pack. He was a stubborn man though. All his time alone taught him that packs came and went. Lands rose. Kingdoms crubbled. "thank you." He would add to the woman.

Unperturbed as she was at his vague and noncommital reply, Keres would again smile with a tame wave of her lighter tipped tail, answering him with a warm You are very welcome. Here, is where the pair drew close to their destination, the valkyrie slowing her gait once they passed the threshold and darkness took over. Did you want help looking for a den as well? She offered, glancing at him; While he was quiet, Keres found his company pleasant and easy to be in.

There was no trap.

Holland was almost baffled. Almost. He was so used to watching his back when he had been a soldier - the paranoia did not easily leave. Especially around strangers. He peered, walking past Keres and looked around before a soft grunt echoed from his throat. "No" he shook his head "you have done more than most."

The den would be temporary until Holly left it anyway. He had no intention of placing herbs and other stuff inside of it; he'd just be moving again in a few days. The man sought the darkness before him, leaving the woman in the light of the sun. "You should go back to your pack" he ventured, glancing back at Keres "winter breeds desperation." Was that a... warning? Or an attempt at cautioning her?

Probably the latter.

His words now were collected and stored as neatly as all the others had been, not reading into his warning more than seeing it as a simple word of caution. Alright then, Holland. She looked to him with a slight smile, posture neutral and friendly as it had been the entire time. It was a pleasure. If you're in the area again and need some company, I'm usually around. She took a step backwards then, intending to turn and leave if he had nothing else to say.

Their time at an end, he had learned a bit more about the Teekons. Keres seemed pleasant enough, even offering to meet up again. He lifted a brow at her, wondering why she was so keen to offer that. He hadn't been the best conversationalist. He had been rude and quiet, piss-poor at best. Nonetheless, deep down in his thorny heart...

He was grateful. Truly. A nod was given to the woman as he turns away. Only his voice lingered in the air as he made his way deeper. Day was for sleeping. Night was for roaming. "Thank you, Keres." was his short little words before he vanished from sight. A flick of his tail to say 'goodbye' was all he needed to do. He did not want to keep her from her pack. He also needed nothing more of her. 

Time would tell if that would change.

exit!