Golden Glade The Colour Red

This area suited him quite well, he decided.

The ground covered in fallen leaves in the shades of reds and oranges, Arslan felt right at home. Tail high and waving, he inhaled the pleasant scent of autumn.

Such peace did not suit him however, and he found himself growing rather bored. He had not had company for some time now - though such a fate was likely his own fault. 'Woe is me!' He wished to cry, but such a thing would look rather silly, would it not? What was the fun if nobody was here to laugh?

Laying down in the leaves he at once began to roll.

The breeze from the beginning autumn ruffled through her fur as she blazed through the forest floor, her tongue stuck out one side of her mouth. An old habit. One she got from a friend. It had been a while since she’d be free to run like this. How exhilarating.

The scent of something new filled the air as she neared a part of the forest that was covered in clay-colored leaves. She came to a halt, tilting her head. The sound of rustling caused her ears to twitch slightly. Fresh hunt? No. It sounded much larger than just some rabbit or fox. Larger than herself, as well. 'No point in guessing. The only way to find out is to move forward.' She thought to herself.

"Anyone there?"

A voice sounded out, and he rolled over to flatten himself to the ground. A dark-pelted woman spotted in the distance he smiled, but did not answer her.

He would wait for her to approach - yes, it would be much more fun that way. Much easier to scare. He questioned where she may have come from; admittedly relieved that her scent did not speak of a pack.

Pack wolves were much less fun, they always had someone to cry to.

She kept her eyes on the ground, walking closer towards the noise she was sure she’d heard. If someone was in fact here .. they were darn good at hiding.

Furrowing a brow, she stuck her nose into the leaves, shuffling around in order to get a better feel. She had no problem with living wolves, but wasn’t all that fond of the idea that there was a ghost floating around. Bump. She snorted, glancing up from the ground. She was positive she’d bumped into something — and it felt an awful lot like a wet nose.

Her gaze shifted back down, her pelt frizzing up in surprise. She leaped back and stared at the sight before her in awe. A wolf. A red one, at that! So that’s why she couldn’t see him.

"Woah!"

He let out a huff as he was bumped into, but did not move. "Watch where you're going, yeah?" He grunted, glaring up at the startled she-wolf.

He understood that he would be hard to see, but to that extent? She would have to be stupid, he thought.

"How about you watch where you lay that lousy hind of yours! You totally scared me witless." She’d never been one to pay much attention, and it most certainly was her fault. She wasn’t going to admit that, though. 

"What’re you doing here anyhow? Is there something worth looking at in this bundle of leaves?" She glanced around. Clearly she’d already moved past their extremely brief quarrel. "Doesn’t seem like it."

He wrinkled his nose at her words, lurching up to snap at her though it was quite clear that there was no intention of making contact. He stood, shaking out his fur.

"It's the height of autumn - practically the best weather of the year." He said, speaking as though such a thing should have been obvious. "I felt I should enjoy the leaves before they're covered by the snow."

Turning his head to lap at his long legs, he only hoped that his coat was clean of bugs.

She listened to him speak, nosing. Unfazed by his lack is hostility, she blinked at the sudden playful lunge. Where she came from if hardly ever did anything but snow. It made her wonder if she should appreciate autumn more too. "Well was it any fun?" She questioned, the sight of him grooming her fur making her want to start grooming her own. She drew her tongue over her paw, dragging it over her ear lightly.

"Perhaps I oughta try it sometime." She said. Whether she was making a note to self or talking to him was unclear. 

"Sure, until I was so rudely interrupted." He seemed to only be halfway paying attention to her now, eyes scanning the surrounding foliage.

His stance remained strong, but not tense. He felt no fear, the girl was no threat.

He saw something ruffling through the leaves, and he wished to exit the conversation to go after it. Not yet.

"Right." She nodded in response. 'Wait.' She thought to herself. "Rude? I’m hardly ever rude. I take great pride in my mannerisms, thank you." Her head shook. How bizarre was that? She’d never been called rude in her life! —Well .. perhaps once or twice, but that wasn’t the point.

Her ear twitched once more at the sound. Autumn wasn’t a favorite season of hers, that was for sure. Much to noisy — with the whole dead leaf thing going on. 

She’d always perfected quiet. Which was ironic, because her soft-spoken tone didn’t seem to make her any less loud.

"What's it about me that makes you so cruel then?" His gaze briefly shifted back to her as she spoke.

Now he began towards the rustling creature, steps careful and light. As quiet as he could manage. He hoped for a mouse, or maybe a mole.

Rodents were fun, though not necessarily for the most moral reasons.

She stayed beside him, not a sound following after her as she tread through the leaves. "Maybe it’s that sour attitude." She remarked, a complete lack of malice in her tone. "You know, I was always praised for my impeccable way of speech. My charms, too." Her head shifted up and down in a nodding motion as she spoke. A proud sir surrounded her.

Whatever it was he was chasing, she had absolutely no interest in. She was much more keen on chatter. More-so the self praise part. Though that seemed to go without saying. 

He glanced back to her with a wrinkled nose. "I don't see it."

Catching up with the rustling creature he slammed his paw down, pulling up a wriggling mouse in his claws. Arslan grinned, clearly pleased with himself as he laid down to play with the poor creature.

"Humility is a virtue you know, maybe you should look into it."

She scoffed. "Humility, Shmulity." Her eyes rolled back in annoyance. "What are you, my grandmother? You sure preach like one." Her tail flicked. There was always something satisfactory about landing one of her petty insults successfully. She took a moment to gaze at his catch before speeding up a bit and joining him shoulder-to-shoulder. 

'Silly man.' She thought. Perhaps she’d honestly meant to say it out loud, though, because she smirked slyly at him in silence after. Maybe, maybe not. Nobody was ever truly sure.

"I sympathize with the old coot if she had to deal with a bitch like you." He spoke under his breath, much more focused on the rodent he batted between his paws. This woman was bothersome, he was not willing to allow her to talk his ear off.

He would be cruel with his words, aggressive with his actions. He did not care so long as it would chase her away.

He feared that she would be the type to cling and follow.

She shook her head. Unfazed, but bitter nonetheless. His demeanor reminded her of Oren’s when he grew tired of her endless banter. She’d had her fun. Better scram before she lost a tuft of fur.

"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" She taunted, springing up ahead of him and kicking dust in his face with her back paw. "I’m sure you’d love for me to stick around, but I’ve got other priorities. Try not to miss me too much." That was all she said before turning tail and booking it out of there. Better safe than sorry. A silent prayer was sent that she didn’t run into the red wolf again. She’d probably end up with a paw-ful of pain if she did. Ugh.