Whistling willows. Why were they called... whistling? Dread isn't sure that he knows. His brow furrowed deeply as he thought on the idea, crossing into the shade that the trees created. It was a day so still he could barely take it. Halo had given him one assignment or another-- basically a shopping list. She'd sent the boy out looking for things now that he could range farther from home. While Dread wasn't sure how he felt about being an errand boy, he supposed it was better than having to do all the digging for the garden irrigation on his own. Yeah, pretty much anything was better than that.

She'd sent him after white willow bark, ladyslipper, and something else... what was it? Well, if he got that far, he'd ask Roan. It didn't matter much right now, probably. The bark was his quarry now, and the yearling scowled to himself as he examined each of the trees. Halo said the leaves would look different than the others, and she'd even sent him with one for reference. Each tree Dread passed, he carefully studied. However long it took, it looked like he'd be out here. At least the day was still fairly young, mid-morning sun shining down around him.

"Dread Fatalis"

Beru winced at every disgustingly squishy step his paws made into the damp spring earth.  It was unfortunate because on a normal occasion he probably wouldn't have many complaints for the location at hand.  In fact, he quite enjoyed the company of the draping willows and the mild cover they provided to the outside world when he used them carefully. He was sure come summer he wouldn't be nearly as unhappy as he was now if he ventured around these parts again, but right now he was miserable and desired nothing more than even a patch of dry land. "Soggy paws.." the crystalline  yearling grumbled to himself, hopping atop a rock barely large enough to contain all four of his massive paws. Spring was shit.

"Wari!" The boy snapped as he heard footsteps heading his way. He and his sister had parted sometime early in the morning. Something about she wanted to scout ahead, that she thought they were close to home or... Maybe that wasn't it at all, actually. Were they even trying to get back home? Admittedly Beru didn't often actually listen to his sister when she spoke.  Regardless, surely she was coming back at some point. She was too inept to get very far without him, after all.

Beru stiffened and fell silent the moment he realized that the approaching footfall hadn't come from his sister. This wolf.. they didn't smell like Wari. They didn't even really sound like Wari. Beru could have torn his own throat out for being so stupid.


”Speech”  ’Thought’

Gather 'round, we can all watch the throne fall.

As he passed each tree, Dread's scowl grew deeper. Would scowling turn these particular trees into the right ones? Hopefully, though he knew better than to expect it. Was he even looking in the right place? Halo said that they were out here, and here specifically. She'd had luck in the past, but had the trees gotten sick and died off since her last visit? Did trees get sick? Maybe that was a question for the healer when he returned. Dread would ask her, actually, that was a good question now that he considered it. He sighed deeply, turning to zero in on the next tree. The leaves on this one, too, were wrong. Maybe it was a wild goose chase.

It's only when he hears the call that the Fatalis boy realizes. He's not alone out here. The trees had done well to dampen the sound of footsteps, and the spring breezes hadn't been in his favor. What did the voice... say? Dread shoots a questioning look to Roan, who shrugs back. Neither of them knew, so Dread calls back simply. "What?" He stood still for a moment, trying to sort out the direction of the sound. A weird game of Marco Polo within the Willows, and he's... well, now he's interested. A stranger out here, among the marshy ground and the trees. A stranger, but who?

"Dread Fatalis"

The yearling slowly backed himself off of the his only salvation away from wet paws and back into the damp soil, flattening his body down a touch while he scanned the area for the unexpected company.  Beru thought to opt out of responding back, but if the male decided to come looking for him regardless then acting sneaky could be reason enough for the stranger to pick a fight with him.  It was probably better to respond.  Respond, but keep cautious.  

"Safari.  I said safari."  Beru spoke.  If his sister was anywhere in the area then he sure as hell didn't want a potential threat to know about her.  "I get really passionate about observing animals in their natural habitat.  I probably just scared them all of though, whoops."  His tone sounded bored and his eyes continued to comb through branches and weeds until they caught glimpse of what he'd so desperately desired to see.  Around his own age and size, maybe a wee bit taller, though Beru bet he could take the male if he had to.  "What about you, big guy, you here for a safari too?" the caramelized boy grinned.  

”Speech”  ’Thought’

Gather 'round, we can all watch the throne fall.

Dread couldn't help but move towards the source of the sound. While unwilling to give up his search for the bark entirely, he had to be curious about whatever was... whatever else was out here. Whoever else was out here. Strange as the voice in the willows was, Dread wanted to know that he wasn't in danger out here alone. With confident, curious steps over the marshy ground, he brought himself closer. Head tilting to one side and then the other, peering through the hanging branches of the willows.

The boy... lied? Lied about what he said? Dread was still well and properly confused. Maybe he was mentally unwell? That could always be it... or something else. Could be nefarious, but Dread wasn't even sure about that one. The young prince squinted at the stranger, trying to figure out exactly what to make of him. Big guy? What the hell was that about? When he finally answered, his tone was extremely careful neutrality. He was trying to get some sort of read on the other boy, even if it was a difficult thing to sort out. "I'm collecting herbs for my pack," it's a simple enough explanation. The words were spoken with clarity and measure, and he watched carefully for a reaction.

"What pack are you from?" It wasn't Ashen, and it wasn't the Hallows. Those were two things that Dread could say for certain, as he'd never seen or smelled anything like this boy. A stranger. Though these were not his woods, Dread felt like he should know these things.

"Dread Fatalis"

Beru calmly strode out from behind the blooming branches of the willow trees as soon as he deemed the stranger close enough.  If the male was collecting herbs did that mean he was some sort of healer back home?  Surprising considering his build.  Wolves like them made better fighters.  Had he stumbled upon one of those so-called 'gentle giant's'?  Pshh. Yuck.

"Not from a pack."  The amethyst lined male responded as he further closed the distance between the pair. This one wasn't really a lie.  He'd been away from home so long that Tojo-Kai didn't really feel like his pack anymore, and it would likely be up to Wari whether or not it ever became his pack again.  Beru stopped a few feet away from the male and eyed him up and down slowly, not once letting his grin falter.  "What herbs are you looking for?"

”Speech”  ’Thought’

Start carvin' darlin'