Moonspear nightcrawler

continued from our previous thread, so backdated! @Rian

 

The duo had played well into the eve, and only when the sky began to dark and the moon broke white against the black did Hydra cease their games, her ecstatic grin turning into one of worry. Oh, no, she said aloud, and looking to Rian, she was unable to hide the panic: I... I've never traveled alone in the dark before—and I've never been so far from home, and though she was no damsel in distress, Hydra was not a fool and had been warned by her father of the foolishness of traveling by ones lonesome when not knowing the way. Normally she would have Lyra, Alya—but now she had no one. 

But it appeared she was wrong. 

Rian offered to bring her to Moonspear. Her heart lifted at the prospect of more time with him, but she was apologetic. Are you sure? but she did not need much convincing. He was a good scout, and was able to provide her with insight on future trips she might take, how to not get lost. Her path had been zig-zagging, all over the place—this was something she had carried with her from her childhood, from not wanting to get caught by her parents. Funny how now it worked against her when she wished it to work for her. It was subconscious and unintentional, but it made their journey that much harder. Still, Rian evidently knew what he was doing. 

There did come a moment where Hydra began to recognize the terrain. We're almost there! She hollered, her tail waving, peering at him. You're good at this, she complimented in earnest, her sharp eyes full of wonder.

With Rian's guidance leading them, the pair made their way over the snowy terrain to the foothills that served as the threshold for the mountain peak. It took some time but eventually Hydra began to recognize her surroundings which, of course, thrilled him, but also reminded him of his precarious position as an outsider—stark and unfamiliar against the warmth and love that Hydra would bring about upon her return. The selfish ideal that she might chose not to go home, and leave him, was a far flung and, admittedly, ridiculous thought. But he did hope that this was not a one-time thing; that he might be allowed to see her again, and again after that.

He plodded dutifully along in her shadow as she sprang forward and exclaimed that they were nearing the borders, though his ears cupped and a dazed smile whisked carelessly across his lips. "Well, I can see your mountain from my place, so it wasn't too hard to find the right direction..." Rian hedged as he glanced away, suddenly bashful. The compliments came so easily from her, and each one was pegged with such honesty that he couldn't doubt their legitimacy. Her optimism was infectious; he only wished he could someday understand just how she managed it. 

And then he remembered: "...you're dad isn't gonna rip my head off for showing up with you, right?"

Hydra grinned at his words, her tail waving slowly as he bashfully regarded her compliment. His humbleness appealed to her; he certainly was good at what he did, and that he did not crow about it somehow caused Hydra to like him all the more. Still, she wanted him to know it. To believe it. Selfishly it made her feel good, to make him feel good. 

No, he won't, she assured, you're my hero, after all—why would he rip off the head of someone who made sure his daughter got home safe? Her tail waved at that, her blue eyes seeking his own. She drew alongside him and nosed at his shoulder. And in one piece, at that, she nodded her head, grinning. Do... you wanna stay here, tonight? It's late, and it's dark, and I know you're a good scout but... she worried.

The reassurance she offered did wonders for his anxiety, but he still worried a bit about how her father (or mother) would react to some stranger showing up at the borders with their daughter. Some packs, he'd learned, were extremely territorial and, good intentions or not, wouldn't hesitate to teach outsiders a lesson about treading on claimed land. He knew, realistically, it wouldn't happen if Hydra was there to protect him—the picture of that was a bit funny to him, but he didn't dwell too long.

Rian was taken by surprise when her breath kissed his shoulder, and her nose brushed against his skin. She offered a place for him to stay and he felt the heat rise to his cheeks again. The skies had long since darkened, and the featureless gray of the clouds was promising some sort of weather though the temperature was not quite freezing. He wasn't overfond of having to travel all the way back to Neverwinter on his own in the dead of night, but the idea of spending the night in Moonspear was also utterly terrifying. He hadn't spent a single night away from Neverwinter his entire life.

"I, um," he stammered. Rian slicked his ears back against his skull and nodded, "if it isn't too much trouble for ye. I don't wanna wear out my welcome..." 

He accepted her invitation, and her eyes glittered. No trouble at all, she insisted, and when she crossed the threshold of wild to border she bid him wait a moment with a quick gesture. She wanted her parents to like him, and she recalled the treatment of the wolf who had crossed the borders the other day. Though circumstances were entirely different, Hydra would not allow even the chance of that to occur. She tipped her head back and called for @Amekaze, and looked back to him. Mrs. Ostrega will be here soon, her tail waved, and her bright blue eyes flashed.

She had a good idea which of the dark three was missing as dusk deepened and night descended on the mountainside, so hearing her voice rise up to the winds steered her that way readily. Amekaze had still been on moonlit patrol anyway (having left the day shift to Charon and others), just lurking on a different stretch of the borderland when her daughter and plus-one had come to their base.

The dark alpha arrived in silence with long strides and arced tail, though her sights were quick between the two already. On him, she recognized the pine-laden scent of Neverwinter, and accordingly, she slid in close to greet the girl with a rough nudge to the shoulder — mainly because she was glad she was back home.  Amekaze had less and less doubt by the day that they could hold their own even beyond her claim, though, but all of that fell by the wayside for now. Her attention was very pointedly on the boy next as her muzzle lifted subtly. "Who are you?"

Rian wasn't convinced. Typically, leaders were more focused on their actual job than their children's whims when it came to strangers on the borders, and the only defense he had to speak of was Hydra herself. But the brilliance of her gaze, and the way it lit up whenever she looked upon him, was enough to tempt him into staying. Her howl cut through the air and Rian shivered despite himself, knowing that her mother would be here promptly. 

And, sure enough, she came. The inky shadows dispersed thickly amongst the trees coalesqued into a sleek figure with bladed fur and confidence in her step. She stopped to greet her daughter before directing her full attention to him. A pair of sharp green eyes shown from her dark face and Rian balked, visibly, before ducking low against the snow. His sternum kissed the chilly grass, and his tail tucked up and under his hindquarters as he issued a soft, submissive, whine from behind his clenched teeth. "R-Rian O'Malley, from Neverwinter." He wanted to explain that he was just escorting her home, and he would gladly take his leave now ma'am, but he reckoned it was best to let Hydra take care of it.

Her mother came, and when she did Hydra adjusted her own posture accordingly. She noted Rian's reaction with mute approval and as Rian introduced himself, Hydra sidled alongside her mother and kissed her chin, both excited to be home and submissive to her mothers role in the pack. When Rian finished speaking, Hydra looked to Rian with a warm smile: He made sure I got home safe and sound—I'm not as good a scout as Lyra, her ears flattened atop her head, feigning meekness—perhaps her mother might think she was Alya instead, as Hydra was wholly proud in all that she did. Not only this, but she was becoming better and better at tracking... though, like any child who was no pro-hunter, she was susceptible to distraction. I was hoping we could host him, just for tonight—it's cold and it's late and... he helped me, Alya indeed—Hydra was no giver, and protective as she was of Moonspear she might not have even asked the question. Her tail waved and she added, for good measure, Please?

He bent so easily before her, and Hydra was minding her manners—so curious suspicion rose accordingly, all wondering just what this could even be. Knowing what she did of Neverwinter, and a long history intent to barely intertwining with his lot, she wondered briefly if the male was Scimitar's. However the surname didn't ring as his familiar Frostfur and the story detailing his pathway to here and now untangled steadily, within it why he had come with her daughter.

She made her case, though, and while not entirely unfounded.. the mother's body language suggested her vague prickliness about it, unable to pinpoint exactly where she got it. "I see," she exhaled, still leading up to the judgement she would pass with a new look over the boy, Rian; this seemed like exactly the sort of thing her father would stamp a big fat no to immediately. But Neverwinter's alpha female had been hospitable to Charon in the past, too. Amekaze was grateful Rian had helped her daughter out and his mannered respectfulness worked in his favor, but it was difficult to give in all the way—even if please.  "Because it is late, and he did help you," she eyed the dark girl back before she spoke on. "He may stay, but keep to the lower slopes, alright?" Although it went unsaid, Ame had tasked her with ensuring him a comfortable spot for the eve. There were enough around, so it should not be difficult.

She, too, would keep an eye on it all just in case, and make sure there would be no unnecessary loitering beyond what her hospitality allowed.

As Amekaze passed judgement, Rian was not ignorant of the struggle it took for her to reach the conclusion. The tension in her shoulders that spread across her frame read clearly as day to the young man and, in response, he somehow managed to bow even lower beneath the commanding reflection of her gaze. "No problem." He breathed softly, not wanting to be the source of any additional discourse between Hydra and her mother. Though he was quite fond of his new friend and didn't really want their night to end, Rian knew there was a limit to how much the Moonspear leader (and mother) would tolerate. 

He spared a glance towards Hydra, then returned it to the ground as his ears flattened further, allowing the two to finish their conversation without further interjection from the Neverwinter son.

The very minute her mother said yes, Hydra's tail waved wildly behind her. Alright, Hydra echoed in her mothers stoic voice, darting to place one last placating and thankful kiss beneath her chin before whirling around and yelling, come on, Rian! After all, he had verbally agreed to her mothers condition. Hydra knew every inch of this mountain, and already had a place in mind for them to stay. In no time at all they would be scouted by Alya and Lyra, but Hydra would let Alya decide when as she was the scout of the bunch. 

Hydra moved to lead the way, adjusting her pace to be more mindful of the fact that she was traveling with someone who wasn't a mountaineer. She peered over her shoulder and grinned warmly toward him. That wasn't so bad, was it?

And with that, his fate was decided. Hydra prompted him to follow and the pair departed Amekaze's company with Rian carefully picking his way over the uneven terrain while she darted ahead, only to cut back and proceed at a much more casual clip. He'd never been this high up before, even though they were hardly close to the tallest reaches of the territroy. It was honestly a bit intimidating, but he didn't really want to admit that to either himself or his dusky friend. Mostly because it was her mother who he had more to fear from than the mountain.

She shot a comment back over her shoulder and he swallowed, exhaled, and laughed nervously. "Um, yeah, if being faced with an actual real life shadow monster wolf isn't bad." Rian joked, clearly not intending to insult Hydra or her family. It was phrased as a compliment anyway. He splayed his ears further, "But I'm alive so I guess not."

His response made her laugh, and her eyes lit up as she wound around in his direction with a grin. By the good grace of Hydra, she hummed playfully, her eyes twinkling. Our dragons were scarier. Hydra moved toward a plateau on the lower reaches of Moonspear, and reclined onto her haunches. Even from here you could see much of the Great Beyond, a plethora of nameless places to her. Can you see your home from here? She asked, interested in where he had come from.

He smiled, despite himself, and felt the  tension ease from his spine. They were far enough from Amekaze now that he felt he could speak and act a bit more freely, though not nearly to the degree he had out at the lake. Rian followed his friend until she led him to a place where the trees parted and the sky opened up to reveal sweeping views of the valley below, illuminated by the silvern light of the moon above. He sucked in a breath. Rian had never seen anything like this before; he had no idea sights like this even existed until now. 

"I..." He started from where he hovered uncertainly somewhere behind her. Realizing it was foolish to stand there like a dope, he plodded forward and sat beside her. Slowly he looked over the valley, spotting a great many forests, but unable to pinpoint the exact location of Neverwinter. "I think it's there." He said, motioning to it with a lifted ankle.

He gestured toward a forested area toward the horizon, and Hydra beamed. Cool. Now I can come find you, she said, tail waving. And she certainly would. Her own confidence was great enough that she did not think that her forwardness might be taken any type of way at all. Of course she would want to visit Rian's home; he had helped her return to her own and on top of that was with her now. Hydra enjoyed his company immensely, and still was enjoying it. She slid to her belly, getting more comfortable. At this point in her life Hydra had never felt unsafe (having never been in harms way), and felt additionally secure within her homestead. 

She pondered where her sisters were, and then glanced at Rian. I'm sorry, if I kept you away from your family or anything... I just... she sucked in a breath, wondering how best to word it. Though she could be witty and eloquent, sharing her true feelings and caring were the opposite of her forte. She went on, licking her chops, explaining to him that my parents tell me to be careful at night alone on account of predators, and wolves with bad intentions, she did not want him caught up in that. Though she was sure he could take care of himself, it was not a risk she desired to take.

Rian very much liked the idea of Hydra visiting him... until he realized that Neverwinter was not near as grand as Moonspear, and that it was a rather depressing place. He splayed his ears, but thumped his tail so she wouldn't catch on to how uncertain he was about the whole thing. He wanted to see her again, and in different places, but not really at the source of all the problems in his life. Hydra deserved better than to bear witness to his physical pit of despair.

When she lay down, he followed, and crossed his paws in front of him as he often did. It made him look stately, though he was unaware of it. One ear twitched when she commented on his overnight stay, and the dangers that lurked in the night. "Oh." He breathed, only to shake his head. "it's fine they... probably don't miss me much, really." the boy admitted with a frown. "I don't see them much. They're busy with life I guess." 

His admittance caused Hydra a heckin confusion to look at him with wonder written on her features. She did not expect to hear him say those words—for although her own parents could be busy, they always made time to see her when she did not look for them, and when she did look for them they ensured she remain in their presence for a good amount of time (to her pleasure, as she liked to learn from them nowadays). Well, she stated, looking thoughtful and noting the frown on his face, I would miss you. Even when you leave I'll probably miss you. That's why I'll just have to visit you, Hydra shrugged nonchalantly, again thinking little of her directness. She wanted him to feel better! She could not believe his family might be too busy for him... family, she had been taught, was always there for you when you needed them. Hydra had little room to miss her family at all, truth be told, given she was nearly always with them. But Hydra had no desire to get away from them, so there was that.

Literally Rian tbh.

Rian flushed at her admittance, and curled his paws a bit to expend the sudden influx of nervous energy that zinged through his muscles. He rolled his tongue inside his closed mouth, trying to find words, only to come up empty. Hydra, unfortunately, had shown him the most kindness and wholesome sincerity he'd experienced in months. Rian wasn't entirely sure how to even cope with it, but he knew that he wanted more somehow. He exhaled heavily and offered her a tired smile, "I would like that, but I think I'd much rather come here. It's nice here..." Not that it wasn't nice in Neverwinter, but his tour would consist of: this is where I would have my happy family... IF I HAD ONE.

Hydra thought nothing of his words as he mentioned returning here, instead. Moonspear was amazing, why shouldn't he want that? And if that's what he wanted, she was fine with it. She would not argue what he had said he would rather. It'd just be rude to... that, and she did not want to. Okay, Hydra accepted, beaming. Just don't forget, okay? About me! You can see a lot now, and the nighttime is my favorite time to look at things from here... but it's totally different, seeing everything in the sunlight from here. Her head rest upon her paws as she peered at him, wondering if he really would want to come back. And when! But she was getting ahead of herself. She moved an inch closer as a breeze rolled over her, loosing a sleepy yawn after a moment.

Rian, of course, would never forget. It was the first moments of happiness he'd felt in many months, and Hydra was imprinted upon his mind. Even when later he would abandon Neverwinter, and join his cousins on what many would claim to be a fool's errand, Rian would not ever forget her. 

He struggled to restrain a yawn when she did, but quickly lost that fight. His jaws gaped wide as his tongue curled and a quiet little exhale of breath steamed from his mouth. "Mm, yeah. I won't forget. I promise." Unlike his father, he was good at promises. Promises were important. Rian slowly lowered his head to his paws and squished his cheek against one as he turned to look at her. "Thanks, Hydra... you're a real good wolf."

He promised, and Hydra beamed. And as he spoke of her being a good wolf, she quipped, I'm okay, and then, but I think you're a real good wolf, too, and she shifted nearer to him. She sensed it was time to sleep, tired herself, but Hydra—not one who thought of personal space—moved to mosey right alongside him and (attempt to) rest her head atop his shoulders, as she would with her sisters. Should she land the prized spot, she would come to realize how very different these shoulders were to the narrow ones of her twins... strong and broad with ample head-space to utilize, warm and incredibly comfortable—a place she could get used to.

Rian, on the other hand, was not at all used to having his personal space so easily invaded. He often slept alone at their den site, unless Eimear or Szabala felt a need for security. He tensed, briefly, when her chin brushed across the wirey guardhairs sticking up between his shoulders and his heart, once more, began to pound loudly in his ears. But he didn't dare move, not with her so close—the crisp, fresh, almost fragrant smell of her scent overpowered his nostrils and calmed his agitated nerves. Rian quietly relaxed again once she found a proper spot, and rumbled a noise deep in his throat that bordered on contentment in response to her previous comment.

He'd forgotten all about the terrifying shadow wraith that was her mother, Amekaze, and her father whom he hadn't yet met but was surely lurking somewhere upon the mountain now that he was lost in the moment. Instinct bade him stay, protect, and nurture whatever feeling was forming in his heart. But the weariness soon caught back up with him, and he allowed his eyes to flutter closed as his first night of peaceful sleep in many months claimed him.