The cold of the winter forced Rava to reevaluate the way she lived out here in the desert. The cloaked woman didn’t often see others of her kind, unless you knew how to live in this desolate place it could be dangerous. That was one reason she was out here, Rava owned the sand. No one wanted to fight her for it. She was comfortable here, with the cold weather it was easier to travel during the morning and the evening.

Sunset was on its way and as the sun approached the horizon Rava emerged from the den she was using. The galaxy marked woman was a nomad, she moved along the desert never staying in one place for more than a night as she drifted from one oasis to the next. All she owned was the cloak on her back, but Rava had devolved into a simplistic lifestyle. She was a scavenger, yes, but she was a survivor. Her paws hardened after so much time on the sand, her body had developed into a sleek but well muscled form.

Rava was thankful for her cloak, it protected from the sun’s harsh rays but also kept her warm during the bitter cold nights. It waved gently at her legs as she strode forward, confident in every step as she retraced her trail to bring her back to the tiny oasis. One palm tree, luckily enough it looked like it had coconuts in its branches, and a bit of dried grass concealed the tiny spring. Rava approached and eagerly lowered her lips to the water to quench her thirst.

Valentine was taking a vacation. He had skillfully abandoned his skunk somewhere far away and then booked it across Boreas as fast as his legs could carry him. And, properly motivated, his old legs could still get up and go just fine. It had been about a week since he'd seen Lefty and the solitude felt nice. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to wake up breathing fresh air. Even his trek across the desert was proving pleasant considering the fact that it was, ya know, a desert. Basically, what he'd learned so far was that life was better when it was skunk-free. He made a note to double his efforts to kill her in her sleep when he got home.

His eyes lit on a dark blob ghosting across the dunes and swiftly heading towards him. Under the oasis' lone palm tree was a scraggly patch of scrubby grass. Valentine had taken refuge among them for the night. Laying down they covered him in shadow. It wasn't much but honestly he was just happy he didn't have to spoon that little black and white gas bag. He'd take whatever scorpion was sure to cozy up to him in the night over Lefty any day.

Valentine's ears pricked forward as the dark shape bent to get a drink. The hood slid back to reveal the unmistakable slender lines of a beautifully feminine face. As he was wont to do Valentine was immediately smitten. He could see a dusting of red across her face like freckles and that was what made him decide to dust off his manners and poke at this novel, beautiful thing in the hopes she'd bite. He would take any sort of bite from her. Literally. She could probably actually bite and he'd find a way to make it work for him. "Funny how in a wide open barren desert an oasis just brings wolves together." He stretched so that his forelegs and nose poked out from between the grasses and the woman could get a look at him.

The cool water touched her tongue and she felt the relief of the life giving water. This resource was the most valuable here in the desert, and had she not memorized the dottings of springs throughout the land she would have long perished. Obviously she was losing her touch though. After the encounter with the man making camp near the redwater rocks she had been blessedly alone. She should have had her guard up and should have been paying more attention. By the time she heard his voice he could have overwhelmed and subdued her.

She still visibly startled as he shifted to peek from behind the grasses. Rava backstepped, her eyes flashing in fright as her body assumed a stance to flee. Silver eyes glued to his features as she assessed her situation. He hadn’t stood up and as Rava looked at him she couldn’t ignore the age of him. Nor his familiarity. He reminded her very much of the man who’d managed to capture her for a night. That massive gathering of wolves on the beach before she’d escaped to the desert…

Rava’s heart beat erratically in her chest as she stood frozen for a long moment, debating about fleeing now. She ‘d barely had a sip of water and wouldn’t likely make it to the next oasis without fully replenishing herself. She was stuck. ”Water is life.” She whispered, her fight lingering in her voice as she hesitated in stepping forward to finish her drink.

Valentine watched with open curiosity as the woman started and pulled back. It had been awhile since he'd given anyone a fright and while that usually amused him outright he couldn't decide if it was a plus or a minus here. He settled for quirking a brow at her as if to say 'really?' but aside from that opted not to acknowledge that brief interaction. In a round about way it was an offer of harmlessness and how she handled that would settle how he decided to handle her. When it came to cute, helpless things there was a fine line between adoration and manipulation in Valentine's mind. Sometimes he wanted to take care of such creatures and others, to exploit them.

He nodded. "It is. I bet there isn't any other water source for miles." Valentine had picked his answer deliberately. He was genuinely curious as to what she would do. Would she run? Be brave? Freeze? This was a mild test on his part; he was hardly pushing at all. But she had his full attention now. Not that she hadn't had it before. Any creature as lovely as she was guaranteed to pique his interest. It was just a little harmless fun.

Men made her much more nervous than women did, especially impressive giants like this one. She tried to keep her head, the most dangerous thing she could do was panic. One of the more important rules she lived by, but taking on the elements was the easier path to confronting a man like this. His dark blue gaze peered into her, but he didn’t make any swift movements or come after her. He had the added benefit of looking a little like Jupiter, one of the few men she’d been almost comfortable with. She certainly didn’t relax but Rava didn’t act rashly. She needed a drink and she needed to stay out of his reach, both objectives were simple but potentially difficult. She didn’t know what he wanted but she wouldn’t forget what she did.

His words were carefully chosen and didn’t win him any favors with Rava, he knew as well as she did she wouldn’t be going anywhere until she quenched her thirst. He was playing with her, and unlike the last man that gave her his fish and ignored her. She would have almost liked him had he not set up camp at the oasis. ”There’s not.” Rava answered quietly as she debated stealing another sip, but she couldn’t risk his long reach. She'd been caught too many times and now that she truly felt freedom the thought of being nabbed again made her feel sick.

Absently Valentine whirled a claw through the sand at his paws. Having been lapped by the spring waters at one point the sand had formed into a crust at the top so the first few scratches by his claws did little more than crease the surface. After a beat a crack appeared and then chunks of the stubborn crust started to pop up as his claw swirled around it. It was simple and satisfying, and good background action to think to while he decided on his next move. His eyes stayed fixed on the woman all the while with an unreadable expression. To play or not to play. This was a desert and like water, entertainment was scarce. Oh, but so too was company. Valentine gave the woman a significant look and then lazily rolled to his paws. He stretched, unhurried, and then wandered a few short yards away and flopped down. There he crossed his front paws and kicked out one hind leg; clearly he wasn't going anywhere quickly stretched out like that. Once settled his eyes went to hers again and he gestured to the water. ""

Rava couldn’t relax, she could never relax really. Life in the desert demanded that she always be alert, she slept with one eye open and her muscles were forever tensed. The man seemed to realize without much vocalization, his current power over her. The star spangled she wolf was at his mercy even if he had not laid a paw upon her. Her glittering gaze lingered on his sharp eyes as his expression changed. Rava bent at her joints as he rolled to his paws, but otherwise she remained still as she watched him warily.

His slow movement built her trust in him, however insignificant, she could allow herself to drink as he made himself comfortable and purposefully positioned himself so she might feel safe enough to quench her thirst. Like she was an open book his motions were made to put her at ease. Rava’s mind continued to work in overdrive, trying to comprehend his motives.

At the least she knew she could skitter out of his reach if he was about to try something funny, but she barely hesitated in lowering her lips to the fresh clear water her body needed. Rava didn’t take her silvery eyes from him, but there was much less suspicion than there had been. She wasn’t sure if kind would be the correct word to describe him, but his perception was highest tier. He’d been around the block a time or two and that fact alone would lead her to be cautious around him despite every other instinct screaming to stay away.