Firefly Glen we will walk together until it disappears

With ease, Antares picked up a night prowl tonight. By the time full dark had set in, he was feeling warmed up enough to cruise for hours more. A late afternoon nap (after uneasy sleeps the night prior) had served him well to recharge.

The glen itself, the trees and its creeks, seemed quieter than he had seen of them over the summer just after the rains had ended. He had begun to get acquainted back then, all too eager to stretch his legs into the foothills of Moonspear and then beyond. Yet here now, it was the new increase in Moonspearian traffic that was bringing a low thrum of energy into the scene at hand. This, even if it was still unfamiliar to do so in a formal working manner, seemed like a natural next step now--one that definitely came easily as he glided through the shade of the canopied trees.

He had no qualms as the moon hung low and heavy in a clear sky. The shadows of the woods gave him more than enough to work with as he headed towards their northern fringe to lurk there. Best keep it minded most up that way, closest to Neverwinter.

all welc

Veering south from Neverwinter, Scorpion moved through the night at the pace of a brisk jog. She covered the most ground in twilit hours, finding that she felt least impeded when there was an option for her to disappear quickly into the dark. Something in the back of her mind knew it was imperative that she find allies, and form the familial bonds that the very essence of her craved, but the reedy waif was also overrun with abhorrence for the prospect. The mere idea of trusting an unfamiliar wolf was enough to make the fur along her spine stand on end. Wary as ever, on her own, she could not afford to be cornered by any superior predators.
 
And this innate fear was reignited as she came across the blossoming border of another pack; not as ingrained in the earth as the previous packland she had skirted.
 
The duskfox paused briefly – looking to and fro, and over her shoulder – as if trying to discern how safe it would be to proceed. Keeping back from the scents that made a curb around the shadowgloom glen, Scorpion started prowling for a way around the claim.

oooou

On the fringes, he traced over signs of his brother, his mother, Bronco, and others. There were no mentions of Mira yet, or the unfamiliar scent she had last been found tangled with--which was something else in the back of his mind a lot lately. He wanted to range further after her soon, truthfully. He did not know what to think about his misplaced sister, besides rage for what had taken her from them, and trust that she would get back to the Spear.

That wasn't for tonight, however. He set out first to affirm the claim so they could further protect the mountain and its glen, but interest was swift to wander just enough beyond to find the stranger. Their boundaries were hazy enough still in a few spots, up for interpretation as they were carving their paths as they spoke. Wind seemed to play in his favor now, and if he was not mistaken, they were getting closer. His eyes narrowed and he slowed gradually. Neverwinter? Maybe, but.. he wasn't thinking so. It didn't give him very long to make great opportunity out of it, but he was interested in pressing the matter some.

From the dark he went striding on to meet, and potentially intercept the traveler's way. Though not directly head on, he managed to get pretty close, and when he finally caught a glimpse of the motion, he honed in the rest of the way to hopefully warrant reaction--bold, tail arcing halfway, and poised to lord over this swatch of land their mother set them to work on.

;)

She heard the pawsteps first, and in the dark this was instantly unwelcome. Scorpion’s limbs seized reflexively, and she swirled to face her interceptor with teeth bared blindly in a silent warning; the sound of her surprise piercing the whispering void. Her bluesilver gaze found the other wolf’s outline among the shadows, angling towards her. She eyed the toothy jet fur along his lean spine, watching for a rise in aggression, but could not convince herself to wait and let him get close enough to deceive her.
 
The she-wolf turned and skittered away, putting several tree-lengths between them, before slowing to brave a cautiously curious look over her shoulder. She kept her chin and tail tucked, hoping only to convey defensiveness – rather than any true aggression – for she could feel an imminent, hellish descension upon her reedy frame, should this become a scene.
 
Though not quite sure of the reason for her pause, part of her was aware of the way her eyes darted in the darkness, trying desperately to pinpoint his own stare.

Their eyes met, and (depending on what she saw there) Scorpion made the split-second decision to chance a closer look or continue fleeing.

While he was frequent company on the glen before, this was one of the first time he could rise to defend it so earnestly, knowing there was more than just Moonspear's proximity that said so. It was on a fine line still, one very much made to learn, and adjust accordingly. Curious, lurking, though not far from pushing it given just the right bit of sway. But.. he knew as well that given the right kind of potential, if there was any here to be seen, they could inflate their claim here more--their mother had opened the opportunity, right? So, best not to rush right to the natural urge to become only a barrier.. not without due cause, at least. 

When he pressed closer, she took more distance back into the darkness. He narrowed his eyes for a glimpse, pursuing into a small arc. He got a whiff of her, better than before (enough to nearly confirm she didn't belong to the pine forest), but he did not want to see her avoid him so easily, so soon. He'd press further on, bold, but not yet aggressive.

Stranger, he spoke, addressing where he saw the motion go with the barest hint of a question. He followed best he was able to.

Even with the oppressive dark surrounding them, Scorpion could detect no aura of malice emanating from the steadily approaching interloper. The shadow moved in a manner that bespoke of his comfort in the knowledge that this was his dominion. They both knew that he would be the one with support at his back, should she need ejecting, and the wayward wraith was not one to argue this fact. If their roles had been reversed, she would have been just as fearless, just as forward, and radiating the same unwavering confidence.

She realized that she missed her packmates, her siblings, her family. And she hated how powerless she felt without them. It forced her to act more delicate than she was, or felt.

The cagey Eyjolfur continued to be wary, should the blue-eyed shade prove duplicitous, and she danced out of his reach two or three more times, before deciding to stand still long enough to allow him a proper sniff. She stood tensely as she offered him her side and hip to explore – careful to keep her face and throat well away from his untrustworthy teeth. Scorpion, she corrected him in a firm voice, keeping his sharp visage in the corner of her pale gaze.

Her guard was up, he observed--as well as he could tell, but he did get a reply despite the pressure he subtly applied. It came with an edge he wasn't exactly anticipating to that extent, though is served the situation well. Antares decided to try to take it in stride because he still found he was in a place not needing to worry. After a pause, he assumed what he could. You're close, he said, vague, though it was he who pushed just a little closer--a half-step, maybe, while he veiled the warning the scents gave away. Close to what was theirs, and his, by extension. While Osiris was the figurehead for this venture, and likely the catalyst to get it moving, he considered it all very much theirs.

I'm Antares, he offered back. Where the skies were concerned, the brightest star in scorpius, the scorpion. He had never seen one such creature in the flesh, though--well, not until now, technically. Only through the myths, the stories and explanations his older generation fed him.. and simply visualizing them as distant spots in the deep, dark night instead.

Nevertheless, he took the opportunity to sniff towards her, more openly than ever before. Traveling? he asked. She didn't smell like much of note. Not to him.

You’re close, the shade said, drawing closer still.

Scorpion mimicked his half-step in the opposite direction, attempting to control the elasticity of her bubble. She held still once more, the tip of her tail wriggling as she fixed him with a tucked, impish stare. There was no trust between them, but curiosity seemed to be gathering in swells beneath her feet; Stimulating in a way that made her feel charged and uneasy, yet not so much that she wanted to escape from him.

Quite the opposite, actually.

The cologne of others wafted through his night-rippled coat, Antares’ coat, and the toothy mink dared to lean in so that she might glean of him what he had of her. There was much more there for her to discover, than it had been for him, making it only right that he was first to break the silence.

The Eyjolfur recoiled slightly at his question, regarding the allied stranger with mild suspicion. Not by choice, she answered, slower this time and without the same note of aggression in her tone as before, though no less hard-laced for it. She did not seem sure of how much she wanted to say to him. It’s how I survive.

i love that their names are connected thru astronomy omg i didn't even realize!! lmaoo, IT IS FATE

yess! had me all awkwardly trying to make a mention of some sort while still tiptoeing around the fact that he's never seen a scorpion so LMAO

Their distance remained leveled, or at least, she did not let him make any unsolicited decisions about it. He was not sure if he should be thankful she didn't dart out of here entirely, or otherwise. Something seemed to give that impression. By the second, though, he liked to think he saw more than just that. 

Not by choice? Antares left his tail to hang and offered a slow, subtle head-tilt to that first. Interesting enough to try to pry, he decided. So what would your choice be? he asked back, knowing good and well that it could be pushing it. So, he went there not expecting much return, a glint in his navy eyes. There was no doubt that she had survived this far, he wasn't about to pick on that. It worked, obviously.. but was it ideal? Lonely? Boring? Privileged by his plentiful family, he had never known less than this. In an official sense, it is still.. newly ours, but this is Firefly Glen. he offered as he swept his dark muzzle forward, maybe to see what else she would say about it--proximity and all considered, with him still not sure if she was only wanting to pass by undisturbed.

Scorpion, small and venomous, peered up at the roguish haunter with an expression pinched by mistrust. Not this, came her steely, predictably obtuse, answer.  

His nosiness made her uncomfortable, and she concluded that it was a worse feeling than simply being chased off. At least in those times she knew where she stood. Here, between uncertain heartbeats, the fatalistic girl could not be sure. What is it you want from me? her eyes half asked, half accused.

What is it I want from him?  

At this nearness, even with only a thin bit of moonlight to help her, she could tell he was young — her age, more accurately. Had this made her pause? She glanced over his darkly shining eyes, which she thought might have been bluish, but could not quite ascertain. Was it the gaze that had pinned her? His voice enveloped her like warm smoke, as he named the area Firefly Glen; Theirs. Did the sounds he made urge her to stay?

She turned her body slowly to face him now, tentatively losing the need to keep her back half as a buffer for any suspected attacks. Despite this, she kept her chin tightly tucked, and remained slightly at an angle — ever prepared to bolt. Scorpion’s glowering persisted. Are you the leader? she investigated, at last expressing her own interests. If you are, my choice would be to try and stay.

Fair, fair. Not this. Not this with his looming scrutiny either, a little like pressing on a bruise. Then what, if not this? He considered searching for it, but that was enough for him to know so far. She still felt like one move too fast would send her away. Or on the flip side of that, maybe at him--stinger teeth first. He left that alone, for now (wondering if she might ease off any now), but the temptation to push it and chance the outcome just to see what it might look like lingered pointedly.

Antares had begun to shake his head to reply, no, not the leader but stopped short about there. If you are. If he was? And that warranted her attempted stay? This interested him, however, he wasn't intending to be a leader. He only supposed in any absence of his brother, like a temporary matter somehow, he might act as such in some capacity--or at the very least, adjacent to one. He could represent his clan's claim all the same if necessary. Circumstance would have to say for sure and it wasn't like Osiris was going anywhere any time soon. Not to disappoint, but no. Not the leader, not today. Perhaps close. In the end of it they all were still Moonspear's though. My brother is. he provided.

Did that change her thought to stay? He shifted his weight, anticipating what she'd say to that a little more than he had planned to. Finding someone new to stay with them was new turf.

Sorry for the flightiness, but I figured we could wrap this, chuck it in finished founding threads, and have another :D

Pity, the duskfox replied, her voice scarcely a whisper. This meant that Antares’ opinion, at the end of the day, was not tantamount. His word was not law. She could not immediately decide how she felt about his answer, and was either unable or unwilling to hide the crinkling of disappointment from appearing across her muzzle. His further explanation made Scorpion take a step back.

Brother?  

She could taste bitterness on her tongue as she realized that this place, on the fringes of formality, was a family pack — oh, came her disheartened voice — and not some band of unwanted misfits as she had hoped. As she felt she deserved. She had already managed to lose one family; There was no need to act like she was good enough for another.

Abruptly, she turned and started to scurry away, which turned into a breathless sprint, darting away from shadowy glen and the blue-eyed djinn that guarded its porch.

i think it works out super well so thx :D

Antares had never put the thought into it before, or had the very notion questioned upon him--but it had been a few weeks of several firsts given what was going on around them. Largely, he could get the sense that it probably wasn't the most ideal answer, or maybe not what she wanted him to say (it'd make it very easy here if he was the lead after all). He was justified yet, he believed though. Maybe he might not be the same wolf if he was.

Nevertheless, before he could open his mouth to say anything more, she was gone. So suddenly, and definitely sparking that want to chase, he bit it back with a huff of a sigh. He'd take his flick of disappointment instead of treating her like just some prey. Maybe after a short loiter, he'd follow her trail a ways--just to see which way she went. But that was as far as it would go. He'd brew on it elsewhere as the night spanned, and maybe come up with a proper thought on it all.

Back to himself, he stalked off into the dark of the glen.