Starglow Basin Ash Tray

At times Leto felt rather out of place. A shiny, white pearl in an ash tray. What was she to do? Allow herself to be dirtied by her surroundings? Sit idly by whilst her value decreased? The simple answer, was yes.

Maybe she was stupid, or maybe she simply did not understand the extremities of the situation. At the very least, she was happy. Verapaz was exciting, full of interesting characters.

When she was not away from the pack, she seemed to only laze about. Grooming her plush fur, meticulously eliminating each grain of sand and speck of dirt so as to keep her white coat from staining. She had settled into a routine akin to that of a wealthy man's wife.

saya moved with slow, deliberate grace, her form adorned with the faint scent of dried herbs, masking both her pain and the countless miles she’d traveled. her golden hair, falling soft as spun silk, brushed at her thighs with each step, as if a gentle reminder of her own delicate resilience. she found the white woman—unknowing of her name, a figure both striking and out of place, gleaming like a pearl cast in the grays of verapaz.

ay, she spoke, her voice low and soft, holding a solemn edge. i am saya.

she paused, her gaze tracing the carefully maintained coat, pristine as freshly fallen snow, unmarred and pristine. a faint, almost knowing smile touched her lips. we are two of a kind, maybe, she murmured, letting the words linger in the air. i find myself here, too, unsure if this place will polish me… or wear me down.

A woman approached, offering her name. She was pretty, well-spoken. The sort of wolf Leto couldn't help but smile at.

Leto. She returned, gesturing for Saya to settle herself next to her.

She was not quite sure what the other intended to suggest. Leto was quite happy, she carried no worries with her.

But, maybe Saya was feeling troubled. She recalled seeing her some time ago, beaten and bruised. Has your recovery gone well?

saya settled in gracefully beside leto, her gaze sweeping over the pristine white fur that the other carried with such pride. there was a warmth in her eyes as she listened, a flicker of something sharper beneath her smile.

oh, i’m better than well, she answered, a touch of mischief in her voice. verapaz is exactly what i needed—keeps me sharp, keeps me moving. i like a place that doesn’t make things easy. her smile grew, soft but unyielding, as though she could already see the paths opening before her.

she looked thoughtfully at leto. what brought you here, swan?

I suppose we are alike then! She laughed, her tail gently thumping against the ground. Carefully, she looked of Saya as she settled down. Checking her for wounds, confirming that she was in good health.

I came following a man I thought I loved. She responded with a hum, reflecting back on the decision. It had been made in pure impulse. He's gone now, of course. I suppose I stayed for the excitement.

She did miss Juarez, of course. But she had long since moved on.

saya hummed softly, a low, velvet sound that lingered in the quiet. she listened, her pale eyes half-lidded, watching leto with an unreadable gaze. love—the word settled somewhere in her mind, but it was not a thing that stirred her heart or set her thoughts aflame. no, she longed for something else entirely, something more elusive than affection and far more thrilling than the gentle comforts of devotion.

as leto spoke, saya's lips curled faintly, her tail brushing the ground in a lazy rhythm. the excitement, she echoed, the hint of a smirk ghosting over her features. she understood that part, at least. chasing excitement, reveling in the pull of something wild, untamed—that was where her heart lay. not in the promise of love, but in the allure of what lay just beyond it, something dangerous and undefined.

she offered leto a knowing look, her hum deepening, an answer without words, an agreement whispered in the spaces between them.

what was he like, then?

Leto smiled lightly, Saya's question allowing her to reminisce. But after a moment, she shook her head. I'd rather keep that to myself. They were her memories to savour. Sharing would only spoil them.

Maybe it was selfish.

Carefully, gently, her eyes grazed over Saya for Leto too, had a love for beautiful woman. It was the one thing she shared with the men in Verapaz; almost. She did not quite carry the same hunger with her.

saya’s grey eyes sparkled with a mixture of intrigue and amusement as she took in leto’s words, watching the delicate play of emotions across her face. she tilted her head, her expression as smooth as honey yet tinged with just a hint of mischief.

ah, secrets, are they? she purred, her voice a low, silky melody. well, i can respect a woman who guards her memories. they’re precious things, after all. and sometimes, saya leaned just a bit closer, her gaze roving over leto in a manner that was both brazen and soft, it’s the mystery that makes someone all the more alluring.

a coy smile lifted the corners of her mouth. though, if you ever change your mind, i’m an excellent keeper of secrets.

The woman seemed to enjoy playing with her words, Leto thought that many of the wolves here did. To her, Saya was no different than them. Maybe she was not so different either.

Maybe some day. She giggled at her comments, leaning into the other momentarily.

Leto let out a yawn, shaking it off after a moment. Tell me about yourself, Saya.

saya tilted her head slightly, a sly smile playing on her lips. there isn’t much to tell, she said softly, her voice like silk, smooth and inviting yet giving away little. but i’m no stranger to this life, leto. her amber eyes flicked to the other, catching her gaze for just a moment before looking away.

it's addicting. i fear, above all, of living mundane. she murmured, almost to herself, the hint of a laugh beneath her words. do you feel that way, too?

As Saya spoke, she could only stare with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile. It's a waste to spend all that time thinking out it, don't you think?

Leto could be perfectly happy with a simple life - she knew that. I just take whatever life throws at me - let things run their course.

After all, if all you did was chase adrenaline, wouldn't that get boring too?

saya’s smile softened, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. you’re right, she said, her tone lighter than usual. spending too much time overthinking things is a waste. better to just face life head-on. she inclined her head slightly, acknowledging leto’s perspective, the simplicity of her approach refreshing in a way.

maybe we balance each other, then, she added, a playful edge creeping into her voice. you, letting life take its course. me, chasing what keeps it interesting. her gaze lingered on leto for a moment, weighing the honesty in her words. friends? she said finally, a rare note of warmth breaking through. women like us—we need to stick together.

her tail flicked, a subtle invitation to walk beside her, to let their camaraderie grow naturally. besides, she added with a smirk, life’s more fun when you’ve got someone watching your back.

fade in your next?

Her tail was quick to begin waving as the question was asked. She smiled, gently bumping her head into Saya's shoulder.

Friends.

A friend would surely make things easier. Another woman to confide in, and simply someone to spend time with.

She looked forward to seeing how they would blossom together.