Fox's Glade and an arid wind brought him the sound of voices calling his name

@Paladin - <33333333333333333333333

the fight with the wolves of the hollow had left him aching.
 
early that morning he had woken from his den in the valley and had plodded out into the free territories to seek a dark and quiet place to rest. there was something about remaining within ursus that left him feeling uneasy and at odds with his own mind. he did not wish to share these uncertainties with the dark witch, as he was grateful to her for her kindness and hospitality. since his acceptance, he had not been ordered to do anything for her.
 
so, he did everything he could to make sure her life was easier.
 
stepping into the glade and beneath the shade of the trees, illidan cast a tired glance to his surroundings. the scent of wolf was faint there, but he could tell that there were foxes in many parts of the wood. the sneaky beasts did not dissuade him; the ghost stepped through the glade like a spirit passing to the next realm.

At the pace of a strong trot, and brimming with dissatisfaction, Paladin cut through the glade of foxes with all the compassion of that one boulder from Raiders of the Lost Ark. The sparse, heavily dappled canopy of this woodland for ants, was far from her ideal choice of home; not to mention the pervading scent of lesser canines. She would loathe to die in a place like this, knowing that her soul would never rest among the pitiful screeches of rat-wolves.

It would not even be worth hunting here, she thought, although she could not help the way her nose twitched, or the rumble of her stomach, at even the slightest whiff of prey. The she-wolf was almost glad when the silhouette of another wolf began to materialize, effectively distracting her from the litany of disdain and refusals cycling through her inner monologue.

The other’s stature was nothing to scoff at, bringing the ironwhite to a standstill. She could not feel safe putting such a creature at her back, and she was not foolish enough to approach without first gauging the wolf’s response to her. Paladin stood back, tail swaying to lightly dust at her hocks, and wordlessly hailed the hooded specter, inviting the executioner nearer.

the hooded beast might have passed her without realizing she had been there. if she had not motioned to show herself, but the ghost’s golden gaze latched tightly to the wavering of her tail and followed that movement up her frame with a glint of inspection. her offer was clear; she seemed to be offering body language that suggested she did not mind if he were to approach. this drew the weary young wolf to a stop in his trek and he lifted his inky crown upward curiously. had he not known better; he might have thought the pallid creature was a ghost luring him to his fate.
 
it would have been fitting.
 
illidan drew closer to the woman and lowered his skull so that he might appear marginally less intimidating upon approach. the ghost’s eyes trailed her frame and noted the prowess that she had – the way that she carried the weight of her body. it was an admirable figure, he wouldn’t be fooled into thinking anything else. as some of the space between them was closed, his pace slowed, and he breathed into the chilly autumn air.
 
“not seeking trouble,” illidan assured her in a haggard voice.