Deepwood Weald The way of the tramp

Amaguq pressed further West, striding into the unknown. After avoiding some stinky sulphuric springs, the white wolf dived into the depths of Neverwinter Forest. That lush place reminded him of the taiga during summer: the air was sweet and filled with the screams of the deers, echoing from every direction.
The white wolf strayed around the pinewoods for days, scavenging what he could and taking advantage of the bushes heavy with berries to complement his diet. Since ravens weren't as abundant in those woods, Amaguq had to observe other creatures' behavior to take some advantage in his scavenging quests. For instance, weasels typically hunt and store their prey for later consumption. When he found that out, he began to keep an eye out for those slender, hyperactive carnivores. Whenever he managed to discover the location of a weasel's den, all he had to do was to wait for it to go hunt again and then raid its pantry.
And the forest had more to taught him: bullsnakes are tasty (lizards, too); spiders are fucking scary; eat the honey, not the bees; never approach a skunk; black bears were the only ones he found tolerable. It might have been a very didactic staying, but the wolf soon felt like leaving: that place had an uncanny resemblance with Snowforest Taiga, but it was warmer, thus making the pine scent even more pungent. The good news was that he managed to regain some of his lost weight, which was a good sign.

Eventually, Amagug got out into the Honeyed Pasture, where the tall grass hid pheasants and other fat birds, notorious for their ridiculous flight. Maybe because of that, the birds tend to lay low when approached. Which was even more stupid, as a wolf hunts primarily by scent. But he had to admit those birds portrayed the funniest hunts he ever had:
The first step was to find the spot where the bird lies hidden: a fool's play for a wolf's nose; then, the approach, step by step; the wolf would then lunge towards the bird: the feathered creature would flap its wings frenetically to get off the ground; but with some quick reflexes and a good jump, Amaguq could catch them as they take off. The meat was good, too: the only inconvenience was the number of feathers he has to tear out before he could take a mouthful of pheasant breast. And, of course, where there are birds, there are eggs: another of Nature's delicacies!

The wolf spent some time in those fields, where he sharpened his pheasant hunting skills. It was a good place to stay, but Amaguq's spirit was still unbound. His journey kept on, taking him to Deepwood Weald.
It was a forest of ancient trees: their canopy stood so high that Amaguq couldn't visualize it. As far as his eye could see, the trees were nothing but gigantic, endless trunks, stretching towards the skies.
Amaguq felt safe in the weald's embrace. It was shadowy and secluded; the light beamed from the breaches in the canopy, forming blazes of light across thick underbrush. After all that traveling, it seemed the ideal place to rest his worn-out paws. 
Amaguq didn't take long to realize he was going to be stuck in there for a while: the huge territory had messed up with his sense of direction, but he didn't care: after all, he walks the way of a tramp - always seeking, never finding.

Zane had known it was too good to be true. Lane had either been setting him up all along or changed her mind, but either way, hadn't taken long for her to disappear. You could say a lot about his history but at least he was straight about this kind of shit. He didn't lie.

Not that he was overly upset. Sure he was a little miffed, but only that he'd been taken for a ride. He'd known he wasn't built for all that husband crap.

He'd wandered out from Moonglow and, as the day grew late, he just kept going. He wasn't planning on ditching but it was nice to get a little space for a bit.

Space from packmates, but apparently not strangers. There was some white dude up ahead, impressive lookin. Zane's ears pricked with interest. Ay you, hey!! Can I ask you somethin? This guy didn't know him from the tree next to him and Zane was more than ready to take advantage of that.

Amaguq was enjoying the quietude of the weald when he hears a bark. The sound bounced playfully between the trees before filling his sensitive ears. It was the voice of an unknown male wolf. Another male. Why not a lady for a change? Amaguq stuck his tongue out with the thought, even though he wasn't picky when it comes to carnal needs.
But the stranger had a weird scent, different from the one of the weald, and yet he doesn't seem to be lost. Besides, the guy had a rather... sinister look. Not a good mix for Amaguq's spirit, still in tune with the aphrodisiac vibe of the season.
Amaguq frowned, keeping alert to the stranger's moves.
"Speak if you have aught to say worth the listening." He demanded, preferring the words loud and clear, his regal posture showing signs of impatience.

Ffff, alright. Zane drew back, shooting the guy an amused look. He didn't seem like the friendliest of sorts but hey, who was he to judge what was 'worth sayin'? An invitation was an invitation.

You look like a dude who probably doesn't come short on offers. He continued, eyeing the guy with just a little bit of jealousy. Look, Zane knew he was a looker, okay? But he had more of a... athletic build, ya feel? And this guy had the standard 'oh shit' look that some chicks went wild over.

If a chick says she wants to try something with a guy, then bails, what do you think that means? You think she'd lookin to get chased, or you think she'd lookin to bounce? Well shit. That actually wasn't the initial question he'd thought of, but as he was asking, it was the one that came to mind.

Amaguq frowned. Really? Is that even a question?
Amaguq's experience with females couldn't be more troublesome: females are as alluring as they are complicated. At least in his point of view. And that guy's question was just one more proof of that.
"I'd say she's playing hard to get." He grinned. "Probably to test just how far are you willing to go for her."  He looked at the other wolf, transpiring his insecurities. His scent told Amaguq he was from a different land. Maybe bound to a pack. Why would such a wolf entrust a stranger with such delicate issues was something Amaguq struggled to comprehend. Still, Amaguq was flattered. 
"Either that or you did or said something you shouldn't on your last date." Or she's shy. Who knows? The possibilities are endless regarding a female's psyche. And that's precisely what makes them fascinating!
The white wolf grew distracted. Talking of femmes made his mind wander...
But he came back to his senses almost as soon as he went off. Blinking his golden eye languidly, Amaguq realized that he probably had added even more questions to the poor fella's mind than answers. So he cleared out his throat, choosing his words with care.
"Look, I'm in no position to speak for any dame. I can only guess... But I can tell you this: if you care about her, go after her! Show her you're the best wolf she could ever be with! Protect her from harm, and always listen to her, either when she needs counseling, consolation, or attention!" Amaguq learned this the hard way when he met one lone huntress a couple of years back. The beautiful she-wolf had unparalleled agility and cunning, but she loved to brag about her hunting prowesses. Amaguq was too high in his hormones to listen to a single word, and she saw through his intents: she left him to sleep alone, and to line up her displease, she even presented him with animal guts the next day: well stuffed, still warm, and reeking as hell. They were carefully placed right in front of his nose. The pungent scent and the horrid sight were enough for Amaguq to threw up all the contents of his stomach. By the time he finished, with a teary eye, a numb nose, and a sore belly, the female was long gone.

Hmm. He had a point. Pretty fuckin funny if that was the case though, because if he'd told her he wasn't interested in marriage, why'd she even begin to think he'd chase her down for it? Maybe she was a little off her rocker, or maybe she'd been lying just to reel him in and test whether he was telling the truth.

Well shit, either way, he'd dodged a fuckin bullet man.

The man's last statement had Zane outright laughing by the end of it. It took him a couple beats to stop long enough to reply. Look, dude, that might be your way of workin but it definitely isn't mine. He shook his head. You're probably right, in which case I'm better off. I don't need any chick who wants attention that bad. I ain't the marriage kind and I got no use lyin.

Funny, talking to this stranger had helped, in the end. Zane eyed him another moment. Was this guy for real, though? You got a real chivalry-type thing goin on there, don't you? That for real? Or was it just bullshit he used to drum up interest?