Redsand Canyon It's simple, you jab, I parry

@katniss

Reyson patrolled the lands of his new home, ice blue eyes on the horizon. Claws tearing up the ground. He scratched at the borders, lifted a leg and added his own scent. He was crazy about it. He had found kind wolves here, but also unkind ones. And he didn't want anyone to get through the borders. 

He would not fight and possibly die because of misplaced trust again. He couldn't, he was not an emotional man, but he knew that would kill him, if it didn't well actually kill him.

Reyson stop acting this way. You are being foolish. His brain danced around what was truly bothering him and in the voice of Renaud no less.

Katniss noticed her packmate Reyson again. He seemed to be anxious, by the way he was clawing the ground and looking around. Padding up to him, Katniss dipped her head in greeting. "You alright? Something bothering you?" She asked. She hoped he didn't mind, because she was stating the obvious. Any wolf would've noticed his behavior.

Reyson turned to stare at the she wolf that spoke to him. Eyes of blue, assessing, taking her in. He tilted his head and then dipped his muzzle, keeping his stance neutral. She was newer than him, possibly lower than him, he wasn't certain.

I'm fine, marking the borders. Too many wolves, don't like it. He scratched at the border again and moved a few steps forward, before he stopped. You wish to join me? I'm Reyson.

Katniss nodded. "Sure, I'll join." She replied. She followed in behind Reyson, knowing she was the lowest-ranking wolf of the pack other than the pups. She let him hold the more dominant stance and made sure she was clearly showing her place in her semi-submissive pose. "How did you come to find Mereo?" She asked, curious about other wolves stories.

Reyson dipped his muzzle and continued on. The she wolf stepped into position with him. His eyes ahead and then back to her. He didn't need to be dominant for any reason, there was no need. If there was an issue that he had to be, then yes he would do it, but for now he was fine.

Walking, and then i found out. It was defensible, and had strong warriors. I being a warrior fell right back into it. Yourself?

"Germanicus was ready to kill me for interacting with a wolf named Crowfeather, a loner that apparently the pack was taking care of for some time, because I accidentally trespassed. But then after apologising and explaining myself, on how I only wanted to chat with Crowfeather, he quickly changed personalities and offered to allow me to join the pack. It was kind of interesting, and I could tell Crowfeather was taken aback by the whole thing too." Katniss told Reyson.

"Do you have any family that you know of? Were you born in a pack?" Katniss asked.

Reyson listened to the girls words, but said nothing at first. She was a talker, and though Reyson didn't mind he didn't know waht to say at first he was not a talker. 

You shouldn't trespass on other's lands, could get you killed.  You are young, so such mistakes are okay, once. He grew quiet as he continued to mark the ground and listen to the girl.

He shook his head. I have no one. All dead. Parents died as a child. The others died in battle. He did not voice that it was the others who killed his parents for him, nor did he voice the one he cared about more than anyone else.

Katniss nodded. "Crowfeather was a loner though, so I didn't expect him to have been on pack territory. Germanicus understood that though and spared me my life. I will be more careful now though." Katniss told Reyson.

"Thats sad, at least you knew your parents though..." Katniss had no recolection of her parents. She assumed they were dead, but they abandoned her when she was so young she didn't remember them.

Reyson stared at the femme, for a moment. You did not smell the pack lands? He was a little confused. How did this she wolf mistakenly enter pack lands. He himself had been part of a few upheavals, but if the pack was strong, and they had good wardens, the smell would be strong, it would be clear. See that you are, it is dangerous, recklessness.

Reyson scoffed. I knew my parents for all but 4 months, so yes I knew them, but not for long.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." Katniss told Reyson. "I guess it didn't occur to me that there would be boundaries there."

"I knew mine for maybe two minutes. My older sister told me that they took one look at me, being the runt, and kicked me out. She was only 1 year 6 months old herself, but she raised me until I was a year old. Then she left, because she deemed me old enough to care for myself." Katniss told Reyson. She'd never opened up to another wolf with all this.

Reyson looked at her again and shook his head. This little wolfess needed to learn. But did he want to teach, he hadn't taught in so long. The soldiers that had followed him, had been his own for years, they worked well together to start over from scratch, well. He just wasn't sure.

At least she cared enough to do that. It was a harsh lesson, but one you learned. Sometimes, it is better to be self-sufficient, than to rely. Not all the time, but sometimes. Especially when those you rely on, betray your trust.

Katniss nodded. "I'm glad to not be alone now though. Thats why I wanted a pack, and why I still eventually want a family. I don't want to be alone." She told Reyson. "Can we be friends?" She asked, knowing it was childish of her to ask that, but she truly liked the man and she wanted to hang out with him if she could, despite him being a higher rank than her.

Reyson flicked an ear back, listening to her. She was naïve in a quiet way. In a way, he was glad that the world had not marked her more cruelly, than it had.  As it had done with him, as it had done with Renaud, who could not ask a certain way with his peers, but could in private. 

Reyson froze at her next words and turned to stare at her, ears erect. I have not had friends for a long time. Most of them die.

He tilted his head, a frown tugging at his lips. I will try, but I am not an ideal friend.

"You seem like a good wolf." Katniss told him. "At least to me." She knew he was a little more than 2 years older than her and their friendship may be a little awkward because of that, and how he was much quieter than her, but she had a good feeling about him. "I know I don't know you much, but I can just feel that you have a good heart." She told him.

Reyson almost scoffed, but he held his tongue. This young one had no idea what she was talking about. He was set in his ways, and he was quiet and blunt. A soldier, a tool, nothing more nothing less. His heart was not good, it was simply a heart, something of flesh inside his chest. Nothing that could change the world.

Thank you. That was all he said, he wasn't sure what else to say. Was there really anything else to say at that.

Katniss could sense the tenseness so she tried to change the subject. "Have you been in a serious fight before? One you thought may go to the death?" She asked, knowing again it may be a childish question. "Personally I haven't, only small skirmishes over borders or a piece of prey." She told him.

Reyson stopped and turned around, ice blue eyes met her own eyes a frown on his face. I will allow this question, because I don't mind. But bear in mind Katniss, that some wolves are not as open about those types of situations as I am. A fight like that it leaves a wound, wounds you don't see.

Reyson moved closer, but not to dominate or harm, to express the seriousness of the question she was asking him. I have been in many serious fights, the last I lost my entire pack, and those I didn't lose ran off, to broken to be much use. So yes I have.

Reyson took a fortifying breath. You should be glad you haven't.

Katniss had not realized what she was asking. "Oh..." She said, but couldn't continue as Reyson jumped into his story. Her blood went cold. His entire pack was wiped out?! "Oh... wow. I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I was asking..." She told him. In case he needed it, she brushed his shoulder lightly with her tail, as comfort. She hoped he wouldn't mind.

"I am glad. And thank you, thank you for telling me your story, and for warning me to not ask this question to others. I wasn't aware of the seriousness behind it, and what it may mean to other wolves.." She told him.

"Is there anything you want to ask? I feel like I've been leading the conversation here. And if there isn't, maybe we could head back and do some training? I'm not that skilled in any areas other than running, as I'm self-taught." She told Reyson.

Reyson dipped his head. No you didn't which is why I allowed it. Just be mindful in the future. Reyson shifted back around to continue, his ears laid back to hear what she was saying.

It is alright.

Reyson took his head. I am not a wolf of many questions youngling. But we can train if you would like. He turned back towards the center of the pack ground.

Fade here?

yep

Katniss followed him to the training area