Shy Deer Steppes i'm walking, i'm a southern stream

aw but feel free to toss damsel in xe!!

old man had been a few days late. rounding up the last of the yearlings, of the dogs, and sending them after his dear old girl, @Damsel. sauntered along with a sort of confidence that you wouldn't see in smaller men. paws skimming across the dry grass intermingled with snow. mountain lions would've been here, once, but as the temperatures plummeted they would go to hide. now, he'd work his way through and find his doll.

a bark, an echoing shout, left his scruffy maw, calling for other dogs, or perhaps his wife. he kept moving. never enough time to stop. he'd hum as he went, skinny tail flicking behind him as he did. a hulking mass of grey, wandering through such barren lands.

smell of wolf was thick. wet. he was out of place, here, wasn't he?

Damsel had been on the hunt when the call reached her ears, sending her running.

She was more than happy to see her scruffy prince charming stood in the distance, returning his call with a bark-howl of her own. She had waited, been patient for him, and now it had paid off.

Bounding paws reached him in time, Damsel quick to press her head to the crook of his neck. How were your travels? The others are doing well? Her questions came as a flurry, excitement clear in the wave of her tail.

pale scenthound came dashing towards him ; ragged man gave a smile, bloodstone eyes twinkling with an almost amusement, though what could have been humour was clouded by something much stronger ; love, deep within his chest. a care that could not be replicated by any other that did not have a lass such as damsel within their life.

he brought her in close when she pressed her head to his neck. a low rumble echoed from his chest, deep and throaty - full of affection. sent the last of the kiddos your way, he huffed. should be comin' soon. got 'ere first, apparently, a chuckle left his black lips, then, as he pressed a kiss to damsel's forehead, nosing the space between her ears.

how, eh, this place been treatin' you? pulling away, the barrel of a man looked around them, then, brows rising. hopefully this ain't where we're settlin', a smile.

She holds onto his embrace a moment longer. With their love forbidden for so long, it was torture to be seperated now.

He assured her that the rest were coming, Damsel hoped that the promise would allow her mind to relax. T.K beat you here, came running at me the other day. She snorted, still finding the sight of the falling canine rather amusing.

I've been making it my own. There's more wolves than we thought, though. The heathens don't even speak common. Though really, it was more that Damsel did not speak the wolves common. She hums, looking back to the landcape behind them. There's a meadow a ways back that I've decided to settle us into.

nose wrinkled at the mention of wolves, roll of his blood-orange eyes and a huff. stinkin' up the place, he murmured. nudged back into his lass, then. change of pace as she announced that she'd found a place to settle. an incentive to get walking.

tail would whip gently behind him, flicking against her form. why don't ya show me the place hun? goofy grin upon his maw, single brow was raised. a silent challenge ; a call for a race! who would be the winner? he knew it would likely be her.

but really, he just wanted to see his wife happy.

A challenge; one she is sure that he knows she cannot resist. Don't fall behind again, huh? Teasing words accompanied by a snicker. She gives his front left leg a playful nip, and then she is off.

Sighthounds are meant to be built for speed, so a part of Damsel wonders if Barley is lets her win on purpose when they do this. It is a victory all the same, so she doesn't mind.

fade after your next?

and he does. letting her win on purpose is the whole point of the race.

yeah, yeah, i'll beat ya this time, love, he lumbers, trotting on after her, occasionally speeding up so it may seem that he'll win, but ultimately slowing so that it'll be her.

a warm affection clouds his gaze every step of the way.

he is only glad to be with her again.

fade ;;