It was awkward going to carry the cage outside of the Armada territory. He went through the woods, and kept going. Knowing his friend's aversion to packs. He settled in the red forest and looked at the bird in the cage. The creature fluttered its dark tail feathers at him but otherwise refrained from squawking. His own falcon watched the caged bird with great fascination.

He lifted his head up and howled for Wren, hoping his friend was nearby. The boy had spent the last week working odd jobs for his grandfather, paying off his debt for what Sirius had paid the trader for the bird. He just hoped that Wren hadn’t left the area in the meanwhile.


"Basilisk Fatalis"

Since hunting in the north, she had stuck to it. It was different from the ocean, but it was still pretty. Maybe when summer and spring got here, it wouldn't change. Wouldn't that be something? To never have to change. She almost hoped for the cold weather to remain forever, if only she could justify hunting and eating. Wren wasn't a glutton, but she had improved her skills somewhat since coming here.

"Basilisk?"

He was calling for her. Lifting herself from the makeshift den, she followed the sound of his howl. There was something else in the wind too, the smell of birds. Walking closer, she spotted the larger male holding a cage and a peregrine falcon in it. His own companion was peering at the caged one. She lifted a brow as she neared, stopping a short distance between them.

"What's this, then?" she asked, curious. Of course she knew what it was, but why was he carrying a bird around? What possible reason?

"Speech"

It wasn’t long before she appeared. He had been listening out for her, and turned at the sound of her approach. Her question made him grin, and he waved a paw, indicating that she should come closer. “My grandfather knows a trader that specialises in companions” He explained, and then paused. He hadn’t considered if she would appreciate the gift until that moment. He frowned, but pushed it aside. If she didn’t, then he’d figure it out.

“I know you aren’t a fan of packs, so I figured if you had a winged companion, it would be easier to find me any time you wanted a hunting partner” He explained, and gestured towards the falcon. “She’s yours, if you want her.”


"Basilisk Fatalis"

The more she listened, the more flustered she got. Heat soaked her cheeks and she felt somewhat uncomfortable at his words. Wren shifted her weight and moved closer, locking eyes with the falcon that turned to look at her. Any smart-ass comments seemed to die in her chest and mind. Maybe if she was smooth she'd have something witty to say. Alas.

Not only was Basilisk doing something simple, it also meant a lot in other ways. He said the falcon would find him, indicating he'd like to continue seeing and hunting with her. She hasn't had that since... the last land she was in. With her former friends. Her alpha and who she had considered to be her best friend, a man she joined the pack with. Wren lifted her eyes to Basilisk.

There was only a question at first. "Why?"

She swallowed a bit before continuing. "I mean, thanks a lot. I mean it. But... nobody's given me anything before. I don't... really know?" How does one accept such a thing? A big thing like this? "I mean, you surely must want something in return?" She frowned openly, not angry or sad just confused at his actions.

"Speech"

Basilisk took in her confusion, and wasn’t entirely sure what to think. He only knew one story of her past, and he tried to think what it would feel like. To devote all of himself to someone, and have them turn from him. He felt his heart beat pick up, just a little. Azure he thought. It was almost hardwired into him, do his dad proud.

“Because you're my friend, Wren. Because I wanted to do this for you.” He squirmed a little himself, feeling this was maybe a bigger gift than he thought it was. “You don’t have to say anything. Maybe open the cage, and see what she thinks of you?” he suggested, trying to deflect the attention off the gift giving and onto the gift itself.


"Basilisk Fatalis"

"I'm sorry."

She felt the awkwardness leave her, confusion remaining along with annoyance. At herself. Wolves gave each other gifts all the time, surely? She was just the odd duckling out. She scrunched her face at the bird before leaning down to let it out. Seemed like a big deal to her, maybe, to give another living being a... living being. Strange almost. The peregrine falcon hopped out, having been trained by the infamous trader.

"It's... a wonderful gift, thank you" she said, attention returning to Basilisk. She stepped forward, and if allowed, she planted a wet nose against his own before stepping back. "I don't mean to sound indifferent to it" she added with a fluster "I seriously haven't ever gotten anything from anyone. I meant that." The falcon squawked once, and her oceanic gaze dropped.

Oh. Maybe a name? She bowed her head before lifting it. "Euryale." She wanted something close to Basilisk, to remind her that he had gifted her this bird.

"Speech"

He paused at her words, and looked at his friend. That she would feel the need to apologise for a gift. Her alpha really had done a number on her, hadn’t he? But he didn’t say anything. Giving her room as she opened the cage and watched the bird hop out.

When she returned her attention to him and tapped her nose against his, he smiled, and patted her paw gently. Not completely sure himself how to deal with sentimental moments. He wasn’t sure exactly what he envisioned would happen when he gifted her the bird.

“Euryale, a good name” he said, and shuffled his paws a little. Wanting to shake off any lingering awkwardness from the gift. “I’m sure you guys will get along great”


"Basilisk Fatalis"

There was silence before she dramatically groaned.

"Oh gods, Basilisk" Wren began, rolling her blue depths at him "don't make this any more awkward. I'm going to turn into a peach with all this fluster!" He seemed to want any reason not to make a big deal out of this, so she was giving him one! "like, seriously. The bird is great, but next time maybe a hunk of meat? I'm starved out here, alone and by myself. I'm going to fatten myself up before spring so I don't ever have to hunt again."

Wren smirked, sneering at the lad. "So then you can't hunt with me as punishment for this surprise. Train Euryale to fetch me food and get fatter and fatter!" She winked playfully before the falcon shrieked in protest. The woman stuck her tongue out at it, rolling her eyes again. The bird cawed again, ruffling her feathers and hopping closer to its new master. It turned owlishly at Basilisk and his companion before looking back at Wren. She ruffled her own neck fur, trying to make the embarrassment leave her.

"Speech"

He startled and turned back to her at the change in her tone. He found his brow rising at her dramatic declaration. She wanted a hunk of meat, eh? He caught on when she smirked at him and he gave a dramatic sigh of his own. “If you're that starving I mean, I suppose you could eat her” he said, eyeing the bird dubiously. “It’ll be a bit of work getting into the meat under all those feathers.” He said regretfully. Then he looked up at Wren and gave a smirk of his own.

He bit down the urge to offer for her to come back to the Armada with him again, knowing it hadn’t gone down that well the first time. She had made her stance clear, and he respected that. He just hoped she wasn’t serious about staring out here.


"Basilisk Fatalis"

She snorted softly at his own jests. It took a bit, but he was at least able to joke with her. Basilisk seemed a bit startled by her dramatics, well... He'd have to learn how to handle it if he was so determined to be her friend. She almost needlessly thanked him again, too worried and concerned she hadn't made a big thing about it. He didn't want it to be, but it seemed like a huge deal to her.

"Seriously though" she managed to say calmly and seriously after a good chuckle "thanks, for being my friend." It had been too long since she could call another wolf a friend. She lowered herself to the ground so the bird could hop onto her back. Euryale complied and dug her talons into the thick scruff.

Wren shot him a fleeting smile. "Now that the feels are out of the way, let's hang out for a bit, yeah? Before you gotta go back."

"Speech"

Basilisk gave her a genuine smile at her declaration, but there was a hint of smugness in it too. “I’m just glad you finally accepted it.” He teased. He’d been considering her a friend for some time now, but it was the first time he had heard her resign herself to it. She was something different, a break from his norm. She could be frank and amusing both, and he had known they would be friends from day one.

When Euryale hopped on her back, his own falcon hopped off a branch and came gliding down. Landing on the broad dire wolfs back. “Sure. I’ve got some free time. What did you want to do?” he asked. So far, when they’d run into each other it had always been about hunt work.


"Basilisk Fatalis"

Euryale shifted slightly with her movements. Wren bent down, trying to hide herself and her actions before she threw a pile of snow at Basilisk. It barely reached his skull, and it was more or less shoved toward him because what was scooping with paws? Not for wolves, that's for sure! She chuckled with good humour before darting a short distance, tail wagging.

"Play, of course!"

It had nothing to do with Basilisk's age either. She knew it could be seen as such, but she honestly just wanted to fool around for a bit. Wren felt a bit comfortable around him, all things considered. She faced him low, lowering her front body to the earth with her rear up. Her tail swayed like a banner in the wind.

Well he had indeed asked what she wanted to do. She gave her answer clear enough!

"Speech"