since her little…misadventure, El has been trying her best to stay out of trouble. Daddy had been really mad - he’d even grounded her! - and both he and Mama had been very adamant that she stay within Ashen borders. so she’s been staying home and doing (mostly) as she’s told, all the while trying to stifle any and all urges to explore beyond the confines of pack territory. but sometimes, when she grows so restless she finds it difficult to sit still, the Klein girl can’t help but wander the length of the border, impatience thrumming beneath her pelt. she knows better than to cross it again, though - especially with her new mastiff companion, Princess, trailing after her. when she approaches it again this morning, the dog makes a low sound of warning in the back of her throat, as if to say ‘don’t even think about it!’ El, of course, pokes her tongue out right back, because she isn’t actually going to do it, duh. she’s just looking! it’s not forbidden to look. "Speech"

It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

As the morning sun painted the landscape with its golden hues, Redrum bounded through the underbrush, his senses alive with the crisp scents of the forest. He moved with a youthful vigor, his red fur shimmering in the light as he traversed the new trails of the territory he explored. His mother had allowed him permission to leave Insomnia borders, if only for the cougar that followed him some distance back. It was something of a confidence boost, and a greatly needed one at that. He could not be his mother’s son and act like a craven. Just as he was sniffing about, looking to try his hand at a small hunt there suddenly came a familiar scent that tickled his nose, causing his ears to perk up in excitement. He knew that one! He could never have forgotten his first friend so soon. Elara's scent, unmistakable and sweet, danced on the breeze, drawing him like a magnet.

With a burst of energy, Redrum quickened his pace, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew he shouldn't cross into Ashen territory, not after what happened last time. His mother had made it clear that he was only allowed to explore neutral grounds, or if he had explicit permission, and he intended to honor that rule. But Elara's scent drifting tantalizingly close egged him on, to the very outskirts of what he assumed was Ashen’s border.

Redrum skidded to a halt, his golden eyes sparkling with excitement as he caught sight of Elara. She stood on the other side, her fur aglow in the sunlight, with a stranger canine by her side. A mischievous grin tugged at Redrum's lips as he called out to her, his head cocking to the side as those elongated ears stood atop his head straight and sharp.

"E-lara!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine delight. "Red is. happy. to see you!" Despite the distance between them, his enthusiasm was palpable, his tail wagging eagerly behind him. He even forgot to fix his manner of addressing himself. "Red was. given permission. to come out, from Insomnia borders." As he spoke, Redrum's gaze flickered to the border between them, a silent acknowledgment of the boundary he dared not cross. Memories of their first encounter flashed through his mind, the tension thick in the air as Elara had unwittingly trespassed into Insomnia territory. But now, with both of them safely separated by the border, he felt a sense of relief mingled with excitement at the prospect of finally getting to know her better.

"Still, in trouble?" He added with a playful wag of his tail, his tone still mechanical, but somewhat light and teasing.

murder

Code by TR

the undergrowth rustles around her, and El whips her head back and forth, trying to track the movement. is it prey? an intruder? there’s a flash of fur, a familiar scent, and then…Red! the tension seeps from the girl’s frame, replaced with open joy. her insomnia friend, here, right across from her with only a border between them! El’s tail starts up a happy pace, waving back and forth as her gaze roves over the red-hued boy, drinking in her fill. his striped pelt and tall tufted ears are a welcome sight, lifting her mood instantaneously. a broad smile breaks across her face, practically bouncing on her paws with excitement. if only she wasn’t confined to this stupid border! “Red!! hi!!~” the words are practically a squeal, infused with childish delight. her friend has come to visit! and, more importantly, they can have this time together without the interruption of busy-body adults. ’still in trouble?’ some of that enthusiasm deflates from her, and she huffs an exasperated breath. “yeah…you could say that.” but as is common of children, the disappointment is short-lived; she perks back up almost instantly. “it’s so cool you’re allowed to wander around! i wish i could do that.” Princess growls low in warning, and El shoots her an irritated glance. “this spoilsport here is Princess,” she mutters, lowering her voice as though confiding a secret. “Daddy gave her to me for protection, but all she does is boss me around.” a pout settles over her mouth, curling along her bottom lip. why can’t she ever just have Red completely to herself? "Speech"

It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

Redrum is relieved to see she hasn’t forgotten him, that she even seems happy to see him!. With a boyish grin stretching across his face, he edges a little closer, mindful of the boundary. She chirps his name in greeting, her demeanor cheerful. Yet, as he probes further, her mood seems to darken momentarily, obvious as she responds with a frustrated huff. His smile wavers, a pang of concern flickering within him as he ponders the strictness of her father's rules. His mother wasn’t really like that. She trusted him to be careful, to be smart about going out on his own. Though he did have a ‘shadow’, somewhere in the area. But his mother’s Umbra was not the breathing-down-your-neck sort.

Her fleeting glumness dissipates quickly, leaving him speechless as she reveals her desire for freedom in light of his own wanderlust. His gaze drifts over her petite frame, thoughts swirling with the potential risks she might face. And oh, how soft she appears... so small. His neck tenses, jaw clenching and releasing in rapid succession as he struggles to find the right words through twitchy tics. Those musings of what little woodland creature she reminds him of are interrupted by the introduction of Princess, the canine presence he noted briefly that stood beside Elara. So, that's its name? "Prin-cess. Just. li-ke you," He quips with a conspiratorial whisper in return, a playful gleam in his eyes directed at the pouting Elara. Still, there's a reassurance in knowing she's well-protected. Safety is important, after all! Even if the two butted heads. He imagined it’s the same way Medusa felt about him taking along the smoky colored cougar when he went out. Peace of mind.

With a renewed grin, he chuckles lightly, his laughter carrying a charming quality. "Cheer. Up! Red. will- take you. out when- you are. allowed!” His reassuring speech is disjointed, but his confidence shines through. Despite the slight embarrassment he feels at the delivery of his words, it's the best he can manage at the moment so he tries not to dwell on it.

murder

Code by TR

El giggles, an odd flush working it’s way across her face. he’s right, of course; she is a princess now. but there’s something pleasing about hearing Red say it. “and you’re a prince,” she points out, a tad sly. “that makes our friendship destiny, doesn’t it?” of course, her siblings are also royalty…but she met Red first, not them! surreptitiously, El glances over her shoulder to make sure none of her annoying littermates are out and about. Red is her friend, and she’s never been good at sharing. of course, she’s swiftly distracted by Red’s promise to take her exploring. “really??” she demands, leaning forward to get as close to Red as possible without crossing the border. she fidgets with excitement, weight shifting from foot to foot. “you swear?” already her mind is spinning with all the possible adventures they could go on together, all the sights they can see and monsters they can battle. they’ll go down in history as the most legendary team ever! “will you protect me, too?” she sing-songs, batting her eyes up at him. she likes gently teasing him, likes it when he gets flustered and likes it even more when he teases her back. besides, his large size definitely makes her feel safer, even if she’s just standing near him. "Speech"

It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

The crimson boy chuckles, his lips pulling upwards to reveal ivory teeth. He watches as she stealthily looks over her shoulder, golden eyes twinkling with amusement at her behavior. What was she doing? He played along, peeking over his own shoulder to see behind him, only catching a flash of smoky fur as a sign that Umbra was checking in. He cocked a brow, unsure of what he was looking for and so he returned his attention back to El. "Prince, h-uh?" He repeated, having never really felt what the implication of his princehood meant. His mother had not ever asked him for more than growth and practicing his skills, afterall. “Redrum- thinks so too.” He finally replies with a grin, enjoying her lively demeanor quite a bit. Besides, he hadn’t had the chance to really interact with other pups, save for Cavader and the occasional run in with the boy’s siblings. The thought of destiny and the like was silly to him, but if she liked the word he would agree regardless of his skepticism.

Wide smile on his face, tail wagging behind him, the boy sits himself down and tries to calmly listen to Elara speak. She speaks quickly, chirping her excitement out at his words, and he is glad enough that she hasn’t bashed him for his speech pattern. He is surprised, gulping down a sharp breath of air as she leans towards him, his eyes going wide as she fidgets in anticipation. She’s doing that thing again, with her eyes that he doesn't understand, and it causes him to nearly bite his own tongue as he barks out, "Red swears!" He swiftly declares, his voice ringing with sincerity as he hopes to assure her with a flurry of words. "Redrum will protect- with everything Red’s got. Elara is a friend. From, uh, m-monsters to- mischief, Elara can count- on Red-!" He meets her gaze, the promise of his words shining in his eyes. He is a boy of his word, and one day a man of it too. The notion of being her protector really fills him with a sense of pride, so he was quite eager to prove it. But it would have to wait until she was able to leave the border.

murder

Code by TR

she’s not quite expecting such an enthusiastic response from Red, but it thoroughly pleases her. to know she has this boy by her side, can rely on him if ever she might need it…it twists something in her stomach, something fluttery and warm. huh, weird. “i trust you,” she murmurs, eyes bright where they’re glued to his face. an image unfurls in her mind: Red as a valiant knight holding aloft a sword, beating away monsters with a few powerful swings. oh, she can’t wait til she can leave Ashen territory! “oh, hang on!” El gasps suddenly, snapping to attention as though struck by a thought. “i have something for you! just…wait here!” she disappears through the undergrowth, moving briskly from the border with Princess at her heel. a mere handful of minutes pass before she returns again, this time holding a large pink flower aloft between her teeth. El sets it down at her feet, grinning expectantly up at Red. clearly, she expects him to be as excited by the flower as she is. “i found this a while ago and brought it back to my room because it’s so pretty,” she explains. “i’ve been saving it. and i…i thought you could have it. you know, to wear.” she waits anxiously for his response, uncharacteristically shy. it doesn’t occur to her that her gift might not be considered…appropriate by the standards of a young boy. this is her way, in constant pursuit of beautifying those she cares about by lavishing them in gifts and little makeovers. it’s how she shows affection. "Speech"

As Elara's words of trust wash over him, Redrum can feel a warmth blooming within his chest, a sense of purpose intertwining with a thrill he doesn’t quite understand. Her bright eyes, fixed upon him with unwavering trust, only serve to deepen his resolve to fulfill his promise.

A flicker of curiosity dances across Redrum's features as Elara suddenly gasps, her sudden energy contagious as she disappears into the undergrowth. Princess, ever loyal, follows at her heels, adding a touch of regality to their swift departure. She really is a princess... with a Princess. Minutes pass before Elara emerges once more, a vibrant pink flower delicately held between her teeth. Redrum's gaze softens as he watches her return, a grin spreading across his features at the sight of her eagerness. Setting the flower gently at his feet, Elara's excitement is palpable as she explains its origin and purpose. Redrum listens attentively, touched by her gesture of kindness. The simplicity of the gift, coupled with the earnestness behind it, strikes him.

With a gentle nod, Redrum leans down, carefully regarding the flower on the forest floor. Cradling it with his gaze, he marvels at the gift – understanding the significance though he knows not how to articulate it. "Thanks, Elara." He murmurs, his voice soft yet filled with gratitude as he controls the fluctuation. Sure, he’s a boy, but right now it’s only them here, and he doesn’t care – his brothers have probably done weirder stuff anyways. So he grabs it and tucks the flower behind his ear, a gesture of acceptance for the odd boy. Redrum's gaze meets Elara's once more, a promise echoing in the depths of his golden eyes. He'll treasure it.

""

to her relief, he accepts her gift, and El puffs out her chest with pride as he settles it behind his ear. she loves when others wear what she gives them, be it a flower or a shell or a makeover. it feels like a way of marking them as hers, like physical proof that their lives touched, if only for a moment. Elara Klein was here. a broad grin stretches across her face, eyes sparkling as she admires the pop of pink against those bright red stripes. “you look very pretty,” she says, completely earnest. why more people don’t wear flowers, she’ll never know. they’re one of nature’s best accessories, after all, and they’re free. still smiling, El lifts a paw with the intention of adjusting the flower - but somehow it ends up pressing into Red’s cheek. startled, her mouth opens on an apology, but no words come out. and, provided Red hasn’t moved away, her paw stays planted on his face, too. his fur is warm beneath her touch, and an answering flush rises in her own face. slowly, she lowers her paw and clears her throat. something heavy is setting in her chest, right beside her ribcage, and it isn’t shifting. in fact, the longer she stares at Red, the larger it seems to grow. “visit again soon,” she whispers. a command and a request. "Speech"