Two Rivers Isle they don't rattle windows or write letters in blood.

maybe somebody new? or somebody wanting to hunt? either or!

The winter stayed still.

Makan busied himself often with the rivers. When the rivers proved devoid of work for the day, he often kept an eye on caches. There was a contentment in knowing that he provided for the claim of the Isle.

That life may continue because of him!

Perhaps (most certainly) that was too bold of a claim to make, but still he held it close. For it gave purpose — and he carried that purpose with him as he headed off to the northern river. Nestled tightly against a forest beyond them.

greedily steals because im obsessed with makan

iseul was in desperate need to know this land better. her issue was not with the terrain or the unique layout of the isle, but instead with the animals and plants. the girl had mistaken one snake for another, and thankfully on her life, it was not something venomous! if she has any intention to prove herself useful and smart enough to get by on her own and serve as useful for the isle, she'd need to prove her skills in some way, shape, or form.

the large girl trudged through the snow, self-conscious of the ways she continued to present herself to the others of the isle. her home was so much different from this land, how would she ever learn to truly adapt to it?

perhaps it didn't matter in this little moment, a blurb in her hopefully long life. a tired sigh leaves her as she travels up the river, unsure of what she may find [as she didn't really tell herself what to be looking for]. though, the sight of a shadow catches her eyes, and for a moment the girl stops in her tracks and looks towards the other who she came upon form the opposite direction.

and almost too uneasy from recent activities to even speak, all she can do is cock her head from one side to the next as if silently asking "who are you?"

<333

It took him a moment too long to realize she was there.

If she had been a predator greater than their kind, or more malicious even, this might have ended poorly! Instead he merely found himself a bit...jolted. Then unnerved further by the beauty of her and how it made his gut do odd little twists and turns.

Large and strong, very much unlike himself.

He realized far too late that he had teetered into the staring zone.

So he crooned (poorly, muffled and off pitch, mind you) out to her. A welcoming sound — and one that might be asking for some social forgiveness too!

he would rather call than speak?

this surely interested the girl, considering the fact that this was perhaps one of only a few interactions she's held where she was not immediately thrown into the conversation in a tongue she was still learning. and perhaps unknown to makan, iseul greatly appreciated this. her conversations with Ulrich and Ady have proven to be relatively successful, though still strained in a way where she couldn't remember words and their meanings.

but the primal growls or calls, it was the native language that was born within every wolf. it was something she had always known and taken comfort in. though the staring was a bit... much at first until she heard him.

her tail wags behind her now, quite excitedly honestly. and she offers her own warble and takes a few steps forward, hoping to invite the other to come closer. her own nose reaches out to sniff him out, nostrils flaring for a moment and head still tilting in a curious manner.

Oh!

But this was so good! Ideal, even! If she did not wish to speak, they could communicate in these other ways. Better ways.

He welcomed her into his space at once. Posture held a bit lower than hers for a dose of respect to her kindness. His nostrils flared to take in the breadth of her scent. To find all the little notes in it that might tell him the important things about her.

His tail continued it's sway behind himself. Pleased greatly more than he might ever be able to convey to her!

Another note crooned. This one warmer and vibrant than the last.

His front end dropped slightly.

they were different, as differences were meant to be. but iseul paid little attention to his smaller stature or more willowy build in comparison to her own body of muscle and fur. instead, she listens to his melody and watches his body with a flickering gaze, wondering what he may do next.

and when he begins to slide his front end down, iseul feels as if a firecracker was lit underneath her. she has not played in some time since the separation between her and her sister. those days were dark and often it was hard to find the right time and setting to even think about light-hearted and childish things like play.

but times have changed, and perhaps for the better. iseul comes to her own play position, front paws tapping about excitedly as she returns the invitation to makan. her heart felt as if it may lift off to soar. a playful and light growl is offered to him, wavering in pitch as she wiggles about with a wagging plume.

He thought his heart might burst from his chest!

His own paws began a sort of rhythmic thump against the earth. Then — then! He dared to spin. A little circle in place.

All before he decides to dart off! A yard back towards where he had come from. He is not sure if he wishes for her to chase him, or if he merely on wishes to continue to bring such happiness from her.

Both, perhaps?

me while watching this thread unfold 

a spin, and then he was off like a wild lightning strike! her excitement continues its exponential growth as she watches him, and soon she kicks up her heels after the silent shadow. she bounds, but perhaps not with ease with her heavier build. 

but she persists, breath billowing out in a plume from her dark lips. she would come close to him, head low as if she may nip at his own heel, though pulling away at the last second in a gleeful jump, frolicking like the doe she had seen in the slough across the river. 

a merry bark leaves her throat, who was this man who brought her so much joy in such little time?

but literally same tho ;; <3

Her breath is at his heels and he offers a garbled yap of glee! Constricted against torn vocal chords.

Yet his joy is evident in all ways, even if his voice failed him often. So he continued their little game, allowing his lean limbs to eat up ground underneath him.

Then he spun once more!

This time to face her head on — and yet he did not consider what would happen if she still chased him. If they might collide, or if she might have the strength to stop so quickly!

did a dice roll for spontaneity to see if she'd stop; dice gods are in her favor and help her stop (despite the fact i wanted them to collide haha) 

he put a lot of faith in her brakes for spinning to face her so quickly!

one stride she's chasing after a shadow like peter pan. the next she's digging her rump into the snow and doing her very best to slow her roll before she takes out his legs (or worse!). her front paws reach out to try and counter-step to slow herself down, which does provide some help with slowing her down.

but her saving grace was the deep patch of snow she managed to hit a few feet in front of her new friend. she tried to ready herself for impact, though when she stops, she does not feel another body slamming into her own. instead, she looks up to see that makan's face is just a few centimeters away from her

breathless for a moment, yet laughing next. and a bit cheekily, she brushes her nose against his for a mere second before pulling away.

She was graceful too for all that strength!

Or that was what Makan saw, in the way she so quickly halted. A mere breath away from his face. Then she was —

Oh.

The skin beneath his dark face heated to a boil. He had not expected that! It shows in the enchanted look that settled upon his gaze. He could not look away from her now! Not after that!

he looks at her, bewildered by her actions. yet he does not look away or bare his teeth as a sign of disliking her actions. maybe it was childish to have done such a thing, though iseul cannot deny the addicting feeling of freedom she has within the isle.

her home was much more conservative about these sorts of things. the focus was always on presenting oneself in a respectable way, and despite the fact that things may feel difficult or overwhelming, it was always a matter of showing that you were still able to compose yourself. it was certainly emotionally taxing for iseul and often she struggled with her feelings at home.

yet she felt as if she flourished in the isle. she was allowed to feel what she was feeling and embrace the good things and bad things that came with it. and she held no fear of her parents knowing and judging her. perhaps that was the greatest freedom of all here.

the girl tilts her head and wonders what he may do besides just look at her. but perhaps that's all he could think to do after such a forward movement. perhaps a bit too forward? instead of trying to seemingly ensnare him, she'd rather he do things on his own terms. so, she sits still with her head cocked to see if he may return the favor or do something else.

He felt something that he had not felt in a very long time. Last time had been the first time. He had learned what the early stirrings of those feelings often blossomed into. Or, well, rather what they had blossomed into.

That one time.

There was a soft worry that began to bubble in his stomach.

That she might leave if he did not act fast enough — or maybe she would leave if he acted too fast!

But this was, at very best, a crush. The start of it. A soft beginning that he did not wish to fumble. Not in this beautiful new paradise he had found!

He dared to reach out, to offer her the same touch she had with him.

Then he held his breath! Unwilling to even engage in another chase just yet. He must know!

she had kissed a boy once.

in secret of course. past her territory lines and beyond his own. in a place of neutrality, where only the stars whispered their secrets above them. she remembered his face, how rounded and gentle it was, seemingly sculpted by perfect hands with an intent on making something beautiful. and she remembered the warmth that fluttered in her chest after.

she never saw him again after their kiss. perhaps for the better. but sometimes, she still wonders what happened to him.

makan was not like the boy. his features were not as soft and airbrushed, and his bones seem jagged and jut from his cloak of blackest black. but beauty was not always in such shallow features, iseul knew better than to judge off of appearance anyways. 

his touch was gentle. that is what mattered most to her. 

when he reached to touch her, her eyes had fluttered shut to focus on just what she felt. everything felt in order, correct even. it was something her body welcomed, despite not even knowing his name. young love falls hard, but iseul knows how to get back up and keep trying.

he would know her answer, as now her muzzle comes to brush against his cheek. gentle, soft, slow. it was all the things she liked.

And she is there! At his cheek!

He felt glad he had stayed still, that he had decided not to move until she had. He wanted to rush things, out of fear. Perhaps it was for the best that he had no voice in those moments. So that he could not blurt clumsy words to attempt to make her like him more.

It is better like this, he knows.

That they may like one another (for he now assumes that she likes him!) through their actions. More so than any kind of fabricated words for one another.

Softly, sheepishly, he leaned into her touch. As if he might convince her to linger with him a little bit longer.

he leans into her.

and for a moment she allows herself to lean against him. she had always heard how her parents fell in love and often saw as a child how magical a strong marriage was. of course, these two were perhaps not even close to such an idea. but together? it felt like a step in the right direction.

she brushes her own cheek against his as if to only say to him "I am here." 

it could be for a few hours, perhaps weeks. maybe even a year! or only just a day. time was fickle for some, but for iseul, she had plenty of it. and for now, she had the ability to spend it with someone she enjoyed.

a small rumble in her throat, something pleasant and quiet for only his ears. when she pulls away, she would pause to look into him and search for something within his ocean eyes, just for a moment. and when she comes to stand from her snow pile, her nose would reach out to brush against his shoulder and see if he would mirror her, or perhaps, follow her.

He wonders if she knows what she has done to him these soft, silent moments.

The sudden bond he feels to her. That he might very well follow her to the end of the earth! Wrapped around her claw.

He now wished to spend plenty of waking moments with her. To show her how he might fish for her, to see what things she wanted to do. What interested her? What things made her her?

A muffled, deep sound is somewhere in the back of his throat. Just for her, he has decided. Let this run its course and see where they might end up!

Yet she is standing now and he is still awestruck by her. A willow tree of beauty in all ways. Although he is also prepared, like he had felt, to follow her. Wherever she may lead!

He stood a bit more proper now too and his tail wiggled softly behind him.

He'd be here for her, wherever she wished to go now.

this seems like a lovely place to fade (and i will try my very best to not immediately make another thread for them aha) thank you for such a wholesome thread <333 

she was not much of a leader, but they did get a little... sidetracked from seeing the northern part of the river during their little rendevous. perhaps they could return there, see what there is to see, and just enjoy themselves on a little stroll.

sadly wolves can't walk while holding hands, but iseul had other ideas. she presses herself up against makan so that she may feel him when she walks. perhaps that would be enough of a sentiment for her and for him. she looks towards the direction they came for a moment, with her own plume swaying behind her.

now, she looks at her company with a head tilt, gauging to see if he was interested in moving in that general direction.

i may end up doing it in the morning then oops <3 love them too much!!
fading <33

His side along hers.

Very quickly he had realized that she did indeed seem to feel the same! Some part of him worried that he projected too much. That it may not be so but —

He leaned into her tall frame softly.

His blue eyes looked to her green ones with a radiant warmth. He would continue to be content to follow wherever, whenever. To the Northern River, to the Southern River.

It mattered not, as long as they went together.