Walk | Talk | Think

After some careful consideration, Miksa had finally chosen his preferred place of residence. He considered himself lucky as he stood back and admired his handiwork, the freshly dug den both roomy and comfortable and well suited toward his likes. Located only a short walk from the lake, he thought it nicely placed though knew he would need to have a care when meetings were called on the Vericona Plains - he would need to be sure not to drag his feet. But he had wanted something a little secluded, a little out of the way, and this place seemed right. So far the lake was the quieter of the two locations, and the introverted wolf hoped it would remain that way.

With a gentle sigh, the tall white wolf turned and walked in the direction of the Wolfpaw Lake, considering his move here and, as his thoughts jumped, his friend's. Since joining Celestial, he had seen less of the Destruction girl, but that was to be expected. She had surprised him by seeming eager to situate herself within the pack, which surely meant she was up and about trying to be as helpful and active as he was. And with his own interests in fighting drawing him in a different direction he had yet to properly see how she was adjusting to her new life.

Of the opinion that there was really no excuse for his lack of communication with her, especially given that she had shown a great deal of interest in his comfort when he had joined her pack, Miksa was determined to set that to rights today. He had already secured himself a den, and now he hoped to make sure Varda had done the same. Only...how did he find her? He felt awfully silly calling out to her, howling and possibly drawing the attention of any of the other pack members who might have been about. At least they only had two territories - maybe he could simply search for her until she was found.

Hoping that he might be lucky this way, the Legionary-in-training decided to begin his search by the lake and walked unhurried in its direction.

MIKSA

ooc: set before encounter with Esarosa

Unlike Miksa, she hadn't yet decided on a suitable area to make her den. Up until now she had resided in the plains, sleeping upon the grass beside a small bush for cover. Originally the openness had bothered her, though she had grown used to the feeling of the warm night air buffeting her fur. Sometimes when she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, she focused on the faint melodies in the wind's gentle howls until they would sing her to slumber. But the stars were the most remarkable thing. At sundown she could begin to see them twinkle through the fiery sky, growing brighter as the world darkened. During the night they were at their most magnificent state. So many of them littered the black sky, stretching as far as the eye could see. They were all bunched up into large clusters, like someone had spilled shimmering sand onto an ebony cape. Occasionally she could spot soft smears of violet or magneta among the stars, or a star that flew across the sky like an arrow. She had never seen as much of the cosmic world as she could now. Her eyes had glimpsed a star or two from within the trees back at the falls, but the plains' sky was truly glorious. Perhaps she didn't need a den; the stars could never bore her; there was always a new section for her eyes to explore and study. Then again, she would be needing a den for the winter months. For now the air was warm, sure to grow more humid as summer approached though that warmth wouldn't last forever. So where was she to put this winter den for hers? The plains were too open; she was bound to get cold. Well, there was always the neighbouring territory - perhaps that offered some secluded areas that could block out the cold. She hadn't yet explored the other territory, and hadn't intended to until now. Sooner or later she had to, so now was the perfect opportunity to do just that. As she begun to make her way over, a howl belonging to a familiar canine came to her ears. Miksa had never called for her; had something happened? Was he alright? Well, she didn't hear any urgency in his call, though wouldn't waste any time arriving. After all, he was her friend, and she had to see him as quickly as possible. Am I being overly attached to him? A thought crossed her mind, making her hesitate her paw steps. She shook it aside. Of course she wasn't being overly attached! She just...wanted to see him. Yeah, that was it. It turned out he was waiting for her in the next territory near a medium-sized lake, his alabaster pelt stained with what she thought was dirt. What had he been doing? Had he been digging? "Hi Miksa," she greeted in her usual, cheerful manner with a smile. Strangely, she felt her heart flutter against her chest in a way she hadn't yet experienced. It wasn't like the fast beating she got after a run. She hadn't ran at all today, just travelled at a casual walk. I must be imagining things, she told herself. "Have you been digging?" she inquired with a giggle, inspecting his brownish legs. "Speech"

Walk | Talk | Think

His trek to the lake ended uneventfully, and there was no sign of the white wolf with the mismatched eyes that he sought. It made him a little disappointed, though he had honestly held very slim hopes of finding her there at all. The Vericona Plains made the most sense as the suitable hangout for the newly ranked Celestial Hunter, but...maybe he could coax her this way. On a whim - before his natural insecurities and self-consciousness could talk him out of it - Miksa tipped his head back and howled, surprising himself by the action that felt awkward for him and surely sounded that way to anyone within earshot. No sooner had he cut off the sound quickly, his thoughts tumbled. I hope she heard that. It would have embarrassed him more if she missed it.

For a short while he hesitated. If he howled for her, then he ought to stay put. But what if she had not heard? What if she was so far away in their pack's other territory that the sound had not reached her? He ought to head straight over that way right that moment if that was to case, but how was he to know? Fidgeting on his paws, he waited only a few seconds more before his need to move won out and he began to step away from the lake, only to spot his friend coming his way. Oh. She had heard after all.

Ears perked, Miksa smiled as Varda walked over to him, happy to spot a smile upon her face too. That was a good sign. She seemed to be in good spirits, and he could only assume it meant that she was comfortable here, possibly even happy. After being alone for as long as she had been - and especially given how rooted her life had been in her last pack - this was a big milestone in his book.

His smile drew just a fraction brighter as she spoke his name in greeting, and was followed immediately by a touch of embarrassment as she brought attention to the state of his being. Forgetting what he had been up to just before seeking her out, he glanced in puzzlement down at his own paws before he laughed and self-consciously shifted his weight from one side to the other. "Ah, yeah," he answered, not quite laughing but gratefully seeing the humor in the situation. "I was working on a den for myself. Found something not too far from the lake here." Absently, he gestured over one shoulder in the direction he assumed the den to be in; he was still gaining his bearings too. Once more his gaze lowered to his paws and he lifted one as if inspecting it, muttering thoughtfully, "I should maybe clean this up." He was by no means a vain wolf, but he did want to present his best self for his new pack.

Returning to his dirtied paw to the ground, he looked back toward Varda again, thoughts still upon the subject of dens, and asked, "Have you found a place? For a den?"

MIKSA

It seemed the digging had been put to good use, making a den for the male. He even specified where, which made the selection of her den's location a lot easier. So his was by the lake? Then hers would be...close the lake as well...but more specifically, close to his. Not too close in case he thought of her as a bit of a stalker but not too far away to ensure she could at least see him once a day. They didn't have to properly talk; she just wanted to peer from the entrance and see him walk by. Besides, she couldn't imagine not being that close to him, even if she had spent the past few nights on her own out in the open. It'd be nice if we shared the same den, she thought almost dreamily to herself, though shoved those thoughts aside when she realised what she was imagining. Embarrassment melted over that bliss. Let's...not think about that. Inspecting his muddied image, he suggested to go wash it off. She wouldn't mind accompanying him, if anything, she wanted to come with him. After all, she hadn't seen the lake before this day and hadn't gotten around to exploring it, though she knew that wasn't the actual reason. "I'll come with you," she added with a smile, lifting her chin in the direction of the lake. She began to walk over to it, hoping he would join her. When they were walking, she would answer his inquiry of her own den. "I still don't have one," she confessed, staring down at her paws. Should she tell him about the bush she slept under in the plains and how she stared up at the stars at night? Better not. He might think it was weird and just tell her to dig a den instead. It wasn't like he was going to join her so they'd stargaze together, although now that she thought about it, it did leave a few nice fantasies in her mind. Off-topic, again, she inwardly groaned in annoyance, scolding herself to even dare think such thoughts. Looking back up, she offered another smile as she gazed into his yellow eyes. They were like stars themselves, and like stars, she could stare into them all day. "But I've decided where to put it." Hopefully he wouldn't ask where, or that would be just...awkward. She planned to dig it out on a day he wasn't around to see, and when he did notice it was hers she would just laugh and remark what a coincidence it was. He wouldn't mind, would he? After all, she was entitled to put her den wherever she wished, and as mentioned before, it wouldn't be too close to his. "Speech"

Walk | Talk | Think

Varda surprised him by agreeing to accompany him to the lake, and then again as she took the initiative and began to walk in that direction. It all happened so fast that the Legionary-in-training was left staring for a second after her and muttered in sudden answer, "Okay." Given little option but to follow, Miksa quickly fell into step with her, happy despite his surprise to have the blue- and amber-eyed wolf coming along with him. He had thought only to take care of his paws after he had gotten a chance to catch up with Varda, but this appealed to him possibly more.

His ears perked as his friend answered the question he had posed regarding a potential den, and it seemed she had yet to find a place just yet. Miksa glanced at her, trying to gauge whether this was a troubling fact for her or not. It was kind of a big decision since it would make her move to Celestial official, not to mention choosing a location was hard. Did she just need to take her time about it, or would she be open to suggestions if he could find any? Before he could begin to make plans to assist her, she stopped him by remarking that she had a location picked already. His lips curved into a small, gentle smile, glad to hear that her search was going somewhere at least. "Well, if...if you need any help with that," he offered, "I'd be happy to assist." After all, he had done a halfway decent job with his own den. Surely he could do a little remodeling for Varda if she needed it.

Letting his attention slide forward again, he wondered still how well she was adapting to a new life in Celestial. For all appearances, the answer looked positive, but because he was a worrier and could not put his concerns to rest, he knew he was going to need to ask in order to know for certain. "You're settling in okay otherwise?" he asked, glancing sidelong but watching his friend closely. It was important to him that she feel comfortable here, that she adjust as easily and swiftly as possible to her new surroundings and pack. And, because he felt partly responsible for her comfort given his role guiding her here, he was looking for any opportunity to make the transition easier on her.

MIKSA

He didn't seem too enthusiastic for her to join him, but then again, for a reserved male of little words, she rarely saw him jumping up and down with joy. Sometimes she wished he would speak more so she wouldn't have to guess his feelings for most of the time. Perhaps his quiet, almost mysterious self was what she had taken a liking to. If only he could feel the same way about her, but that was as likely as her finding her long-lost family. Me? Like him? No no no, I must have eaten something weird, she told herself, mentally shaking her head for the millionth time. What was with these thoughts? Her mind always seemed to wander into its own world, its own fantasy. Surely it wasn't because her friend was around. No, it had to be this heat of hers. She noticed a small smile creep to the male's features as he offered his help his assistance in making her den. It was rather generous of him to say so, and a part of her wanted to accept his help gratefully, but she needed to do it on her own. Besides, she didn't want to him to waste his time making a den - that was just silly. She didn't want him to think she was needy or lazy either, nor did she want him to think she was selfish or not grateful enough to accept his help. What was she to say? "Thanks," she commented with a smile, feeling a little colour blossom to her cheeks. "I'll call you if I need any help." That didn't sound too clingy, did it? It wasn't like she always howled for him whenever she needed every tiny possible solved. Oh, why was she so self-conscious all of a sudden? Why did she worry over how her words would affect him and what he would think of her? She hardly took notice of her friend's worrier side; she just thought it was nice of him asking her how she was doing, how she was feeling, and in this case, if she was settling in alright. It showed that he cared, and although that was nowhere near to him "liking" her, it was better than him taking no interest in her at all. "Yes," she answered with a nod, about to end the subject there before quickly adding, "And you? Are you settling in alright?" Because of her now self-conscious self, he'd think of her as rude for not returning the inquiry, and that wouldn't help her getting him to "notice" her. The lake grew closer with each step she took by his side. Sometimes she found herself staring down at the ground, completely mesmerised with every detail of his paws - the way he placed them, lifted them, everything. Hopefully he wouldn't notice, and before he could, she sought to gently tap him on the shoulder with a paw. Flashing a toothy grin, she chirped, "Tag, you're it." and bolted off towards the lake, hoping to close the final few metres before he caught up with her. "Speech"

Walk | Talk | Think

Miksa nodded his head as Varda agreed to seek him out should she need any help, though the more he thought about it as they walked the more it seemed unnecessary. She was a strong, capable wolf all on her own and, he suspected, would be able to handle the process of finding and securing a den for herself without him, no problem. But it did feel good to offer his assistance, even if it was not needed. They were all they had, really. He did not know for certain if Varda knew of any of her other family members still living in the region, or if she was close with the family that still remained in packs surrounding their old home, but Miksa considered her an important part of his whether he had put it into those terms or not. Combined with his sense of responsibility, he was looking out for her best interests, even if that meant making sure something as basic as her living arrangements were satisfactory.

She answered his concern succinctly, offering no details or insights that could be used to better determine for himself whether she spoke true or not. But what reason did she have to lie to him? He trusted her word and hoped it would be enough to settle the worrying voice that nagged him in quiet moments of thought. It surprised him when she quickly turned the question around on him, but not enough to trip up the answer he had. Miksa blinked his bright eyes and dropped his gaze to his dirt stained forelegs, smiling a little. "I guess I must be," the wolf observed, his voice earnest and touched softly by good-natured humor. He had a den now; that was a good sign, right?

He thought, trying to think of something to say that had nothing to do with settling in or adjusting to a new style of pack life, but under pressure everything felt jumbled. He could not think quick enough, and before anything could come to him Varda acted. It was quite quick, at least to him. One second they were strolling along, nearing the lake, and the next she was pressing her paw to his shoulder with a grin and initiating a game of tag. The unexpectedness of it made the white wolf stop in his tracks, his thoughtful look blanking, but as Varda bounded ahead, gaining a head start, Miksa smiled again. "Hey," he called after her, laughing below his breath as he gave chase. When was the last time he had participated in a game? Could he even remember? He felt awkward and unsure about the whole thing, but still he ran, not fast enough to close in on her but just fast enough to follow as he tried to decide how to react.

MIKSA

OOC: Ack! So sorry for super long delay. >.<

A small smile danced on her features as the male replied with a similar response, hearing more humour and life in his words. They had both settled in, and that was better than one lagging behind. Even if he had still been feeling a bit unsure with the change, trying to accustom himself to the new pack, she would have been more than willing to help him out in whatever way he wished. If he sought her company or wanted a few days to himself, she'd do whatever it took to comfort him. She would have expected the same in return, if the roles had been reversed. They were friends, after all. Of course they would go out of their way to ensure the other was okay. However, that wasn't the case; they both had planted their roots in Celestial and were blossoming finely. She thought she would have found it hard to adapt to the pack's surroundings and ways, seeing as her friend had been a part of Celestial before it had been officially created. Yet she managed to cope through her yucky feelings of abandonment and stress to finally call Celestial home. Sometimes she led herself to believe that nothing had ever changed. Sometimes it felt like she was still back in Threar, hanging out with her one most trusted and admired friend, doing what she loved. For a few moments it sure felt like that, until she became aware of her surroundings and realised she was somewhere else, in a different pack. There was one thing that hadn't changed, and never did she want that canine leaving her. Not when she was starting to enjoy her new life. Looking back over her shoulder as she ran, bicoloured eyes frantically searched for a familiar ivory pelt to chase after her. He was hesitant to follow, and a million questions raced through her mind. Had she tagged him too hard? Had she not spoken loud enough? What if he didn't want to play? Distracted by all these worries, she hadn't noticed the masculine figure approaching her steadily until he was a few metres away. His thundering paws jolted her back to reality - a wake-up call to pick up her pace. A light chuckle cascaded from her lips as the chase continued, eyes narrowed on the lake ahead. There was an even distance between them, not by much, but a few more seconds of their chase and he would have certainly tagged her. Without thinking, she plunged herself into the lake in a not-so-graceful manner, creating plenty of splash. The water only reached her ankles, to her surprise, though almost her entire form was drenched with the cool liquid. She didn't care, to be honest. She never thought having fun would be so...fun! Even the most regal and mild-mannered of women had to have their share of fun. "Speech"

Walk | Talk | Think

Though Varda had a head start, she did not immediately take advantage of it. Even at his easy pace, the white wolf realized fairly quickly that he was gaining ground on her, slowly catching up with each stride that he made. It had not originally been his intention to fully give in to the game of chase, only to follow at the very least, but seeing the distance between them shrinking incited a rare and small sense of competitiveness inside of him. If he could just go a little bit faster, he might actually reach her before she realized he was catching up. Spurred by those thoughts, Miksa stretched his gait just a bit wider, hoping to cover more ground.

It was poorly timed. The typically poised female ahead of him chanced a look his way almost as soon as he started to make progress, and noticing the difference she wasted no time in putting more speed to her stride. Miksa felt his chances of success begin to dwindle again, and his competitive edge with it. It was only a game, after all. The fact she had thought to initiate it with him at all was startlingly fun, and he still had every intention of keeping up at the very least, which he was able to do.

As the lake came within sight and their course ran right toward it, the dirt-stained wolf began to slow and stop. His friend, however, had very different ideas. His brows rose over bright eyes as Varda raced and all but leaped into the water of the lake, landing in the shallows with a very impressive splash. Surprised and greatly amused, Miksa laughed outright with a few sweeping waves of his tail. The thrill of the whole race had his heart beating faster in his chest, and an unfamiliar giddiness had him within its grasp. "I think you win," he remarked, chuckling softly as he strolled much more calmly to the water's edge and began to wade in himself to wet his dirtied forelegs.

MIKSA

Was this what it felt like to have fun, to have those silly moments when you returned to your elder days as a child? Well, she had never played games as a pup, to be honest, and when she had decided to frolic through the mud after the storm, she only hated it. She had spent almost her entire puphood trying to be perfect and only looking forward to becoming an adult that all the normal things that pups did just slipped from her mind. Perhaps today was making up for all the enjoyment she had missed out when she was younger. It sure looked peculiar seeing two grown wolves acting so immature and childish, but out of all the times she worried over her own appearance and how others would view her, she just didn't care today. She was wet. She didn't care. She probably looked stupid. She didn't care. She had just spoiled her appearance, yet she still didn't care. That was where their chase seemed to end, with him by the lake's edge and her literally bathing herself. He was the one who needed the bath; she had just followed him. Oh well, it was worth it. She was alright with that; it had been a satisfying run. The exercise was good; it's not so common for her to be found running nowadays. Almost immediately, her endorphins began to kick in as she stood in the shallow water, feeling her chest heave and heart pound against it, gradually returning to its normal, slow rhythm. Seeing where his running abilities had also been interesting; why hadn't the thought of racing him occurred to her in the first place? She hadn't thought he would be able to catch up with her; a few more metres and he would have had she not hesitated. Then there was the absolute joy in it all. As he announced her victory, she turned her upper body around to face him, a dopey grin upon her alabaster features. With her tongue lolling out, she slowly padded through the lake back to him, feeling the water swirl the fur around her ankles. Water dripped from her cheeks, lashes and snout, and she could almost feel her pelt matted in some areas and sticking out in others. The exhaustion was evident in her steps. My, was she tired; she could only hope he wouldn't start another game for revenge's sake. Making it over to his side, she gave him a friendly nudge to the shoulder with her forepaw, quickly rinsing the dirt that had suspiciously rubbed into her fur. "Speech"