Life was pretty strange as of late. Life within Abaven was quiet, almost unnervingly so, and while timid Spirit generally enjoyed when things were so calm lately he simply felt uneasy. The only person he spent much time with lately was Gloom, and though he knew that was simply how life went - he knew Void was married now and had his own life to tend to beyond himself and Gloom - he couldn't help but feel somber about it all. They'd left Abaven for so long too and still hadn't found their mother, and it was hard to not be too hard on himself about all that. Things were just hard, and on top of that he'd been neglecting his training for far too long, or maybe his luck had simply run out. He'd gotten fortunate in meeting a few good wolves who'd taught him most of what he knew now, but then again he hadn't been going out much lately..

Today Strawberry, his little finch companion, seemed unusually insistent on bothering him. She rarely was bothersome at all but every time he turned a corner it seemed like she was alternating between calling to him and pecking annoyingly at his nose when he glumly ignored her. Finally he pulled himself a bit taller and made to follow her, wherever she was taking him. His slender paws carried him north of Abaven's lands. Maybe Strawberry just wanted to take advantage of an unusually dry day. The autumn had been a wet one so far and today seemed like a break from that. The ground was still damp with dew from the sun just barely rising in the sky but its warmth promised a temperate day, and Spirit hoped that he was right about that as he headed toward Firefly Lake, not far off from the water's edge now.

There was a lightness to the steps of the Aracari as they brought her to the Eastern tip of Boreas lands. The early morning sun warm against her light-to-dark tones, and the faint breeze brought the scent of fading greenery and earthy decay. She loved Autumn, for its rich scents and brilliant colors.

The brilliantly toned woman had heard of this lake, and the way the dancing shapes of fireflies cast an eerie glow against the star-lit lake. Who would not wish to see such a thing for themselves? The only thing missing was someone to enjoy the sights with. But, she had time. Keetie never struggled to find some beautiful arms to enjoy the evening with.

Her slow, elegant steps brought her to the edge of the lake, and she lifted her head to cast her gaze across it - and found the tawny, silver creature arriving at the opposite edge. She tilted her head, a warm, inviting smile already rolling across her lips.

"Speech"

Somewhere up ahead he heard Strawberry's quiet voice, encouraging him to go further. It was likely she just wanted him to cheer up, and seem more like himself again.. not that Spirit was by any means a wolf people would call cheerful. He was far too skittish for that. He squinted as he neared the lake, hoping he'd spot her brown and red feathers against the nearby trees, but it was proving difficult. It was possible she was lingering in one of the nearby trees, and as soon as he went back to sulking she'd show up to check on him. Often he thought life would be easier if he were a bird; how easily he could fly away and escape from the worries and fears that plagued him. These daydreams came often to him, and he sunk so quickly into his thoughts he barely noticed when someone across the lake was trying to get his attention.

Even from a distance he could tell her coat was unique, and Spirit was intrigued. Though he was painfully shy, it'd been a long time since he'd met someone who caught his interest, and part of him hoped she might be a reprieve from his tumultuous thoughts. Slowly he veered around the lake's edge, marveling at how thick the grass here was despite the rough few seasons these lands had experienced. The reeds sprouted tall beside him, and he nearly disappeared from view until he rounded a bend in the shore, only a few yards from her now. Spirit forced a faint smile - her expression was warm and had a way of soothing the worst of his worries, though they would never fully disappear. "H-h-hello," he stammered slowly, taking a few steps closer. His posture was timid and jerky, as if ready to flee at a moment's notice.

The stranger caught sight of her, and began to skirt around the lake. She grinned, watching his form move through the foliage. She rested back on her haunches, and waited for the other wolf to reach her. She just about lost him in the gently blowing reeds, before he appeared again, close enough not to speak.

His word was a cautious stammer, and she realised he must have been a shy thing. He held himself cautiously, as though afraid of her. She got to her paws, and took a step closer, eyes grazing lightly across his white markings. He was rather a pretty thing, really. “Hello yourself, sweetheart. I’m Keetie. Are you here to see the fireflies?” she asked gently, wondering if he would find his courage and keep her company.

"Speech"

Calling Spirit shy was an understatement. He was a constant bundle of worries and anxiety, his mind a constant flurry of thoughts that never seemed to cease. When he was living in the present moment, not lost in some daydream, he was perpetually worried about what everyone thought of him. He was fearful of overstepping, of coming across as precisely what he felt he was - inept, weak, and skittish. It was hard to push that mindset aside and speak to anyone properly, but he somehow managed to try, his weak smile growing a bit brighter as the stranger greeted him, not seeing at all bothered by his presence.

"H-hi Keetie. I'm Spirit," he introduced himself timidly. His question made him pause, head tilting slightly. "F-fireflies? Do you think they'll be out this early?" Admittedly he'd been lost in his own thoughts when heading here, and distracted by her, so if there were any in the nearby area he hadn't noticed them yet. "Y-you're from around here? Or m-m-maybe just visiting too?" He stammered slightly as he shifted his weight from one side of his body to the other, hoping that she overlooked his nervousness, certain that she wouldn't miss it entirely. No one could ever completely ignore it.

His shy little smile grew, bless him. He was an adorable thing, reminded her more of a younger wolf then someone of equal age to the Aracari. He asked if she thought the fireflies would be out, but it was still early morning yet. Even if they did start to show, it wouldn’t be the same experience as the light show at night. At least, that's what Keetie reckoned.

“Do I think any wonderful, glowing creatures will be out this early? I think i've seen one…” she teased him lightly. As she spoke, she stretched out her front paws, lengthening her back, before flopping over onto the ground. Rolling her belly towards the sky and leaning her head against a clump of grass. It was a position that definitely made a wolf vulnerable, and Spirit was a stranger. But… Keetie was Keetie. Everyone loved her too much to be a danger.

She looked up at him from her disadvantaged position, and grinned. “I’m just visiting, there's not really any set place I call home. So… home is wherever I decide it is” she explained.

"Speech"

Keetie explained that she didn't think the fireflies would be out this early, that she'd only seen one. If he recognized any hint of flirtatiousness - and he definitely did not - he made no sign of it, brows furrowing slightly as he cast a glance around the two of them to see if he could spot the lone firefly. Of course his efforts were futile, but he could only assume he'd just missed it. With his head in the clouds so often, it wasn't exactly a surprise that Spirit not notice something that might be obvious to others. He watched curiously, head tilting slightly to the side, as she sprawled out on the ground and flipped onto her back. The position was definitely a vulnerable one though spoke of comfort and trust rather than submission. Slowly and reluctantly he sunk down beside her, lying on his belly instead. He wasn't that trusting of strangers, and still maintained some distance between them, ever-fearful. Her whole demeanor was friendly enough though that it was hard to not relax, at least a bit. He felt a faint smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "M-my home is just south of here," Spirit admitted quietly. "T-today I just wanted to see something new." And here he was, wandering aimlessly as if somehow he might find purpose and meaning, though he knew those things weren't quite that easy. Not as easy as stumbling into a kind stranger like Keetie, that was for sure.