Hotate wasn't quite sure how he made it into the western lands. Maybe it was to escape the cold just a bit, but he actually knew the colder environments most. Beaches and sand, they were kind of annoying. Lakes he could do though. And it seemed he came to the right place.

When he came across the slightly more lush areas of the west even with the blankets of snow over it, the lake made him decide he would start setting up camp. It wasn't much, but he'd go out on a quick hunt and set a fire. And then by morning he'd be gone again. Maybe this was some kind of extended vacation. That's what it felt like sometimes at least. How a vacation was without any visitors was just the way of Hotate. He usually tried to steer away from anyone on the road, though he was unlucky sometimes. He wasn't a great host of his presence though.

He ventured out into the bushier areas of the lake to see what kind of prey would be nearby. He was a big guy, but he could make do with something small he could get his paws on. A big hunt would be a nice drive though. He didn't get his hopes up.

"Hotate"

After returning home, Calliope was growing more accustomed to the territories surrounding Raider lands. One such area that she enjoyed was Wolfpaw Lake. Its smaller pools were the perfect size for her to take an icy dip in. There was also plenty of water fowl milling about, avoiding the colder temperatures of up north and seeking privacy from the nearby estuary.

Wolfpaw Lake is exactly where she goes that day. Her steps sounds extra crunchy as she moves with long strides through browned reeds and grass. Intent on catching herself a lunch before washing her pale and pastel fur, she is surprised to see another wolf stalking the lake’s shore. Okay, it’s not that surprising since wolves from here pack frequented here, but this one wasn’t a Raider.

Pastel blue and violet gaze lingers on him for a moment as she pauses to watch his movements. Hunting? Or passing by? Calliope questions this before approaching. Confidence exudes her very form with chin tilted up, ears perked, and tail kept at a relaxed position, waving gently behind her. Calliopes deepened tones purr with flirtatious notes as she very nearly gets within his personal space.

Tate wasn't fully aware that there was another in his presence, or he just simply did not care. He usually tried to avoid others to get out of conversation but he striked himself as the guy that people would get the hint and leave anyway. That was until this beautiful fae... yeah, beautiful? Sure. He wasn't the type to drop head over heels for some pretty lady. That's for sure.

He stopped in his venture to find something to eat as the witch slithered out from the trees and shrubbery, she wasn't hard to miss though neither was he really. He didn't say a word just as she did, and eyes watched as she approached him and came up with little limitations for his own personal space. What the fuck was he supposed to do with this sly woman? Dark eyes formed in a squint as his neck craned upwards, avoiding the woman but not fully jumping out of her way. It would only take a few seconds before he was picking up a paw to push against her chest in attempt to get her to back up off of him, despite the fact that she was actually bigger than him. "Do you mind?" He asked in a deep, slightly irritated tone. What kind of woman, or wolf for that matter, just exposed herself in the middle of nowhere and had the audacity to touch a stranger...

"Hotate"

His paw comes up suddenly just as her mouth opens to speak. Jostled by the movement, her paws moving her back a step or two as he very much in a grumbly manner asked if she minded. Calliope can’t help but smirk, her own paw reaching up to place over the spot where he had pushed her.

“Oh, but I do mind,” she says in return, batting her lashes as if she were some damsel and not some monster. “See, I was just wandering through when I saw that delectably handsome coat of yours,” Cal can’t help but purr as speaks, enticed by the grouchy nature of the boy. She really had no patience for the happy-go-lucky sort.

“I just had to get a closer look,” leaning back in toward him, unafraid to invade his personal space, she reaches out to try and nudge her nose against his neck. “I don’t see many wolves that look like you,” Cal mentions, a brow raised, flirtatious curiosity lacing her expression. Even if he rebuked her advance, she wouldn’t say no to a fight either.

Hotate squinted at the young woman as she complimented him, to which he wasn't used to. He and his siblings were at least good at bantering at each other, so this sweet talk wasn't much his style. More he hadn't really experienced it before. But certainly a woman wouldn't just slither in from the woods and be so kind and flirtatious. In his mind at least. He could see through her he supposed, not so much as "this girl is playing with me", but enough not to get all goo-goo eyed and drop his tongue. He wasn't good at the game.

He only pulled his head back an inch or two when she pushed forward more into him. Not much bothered by her abrasive nature than annoyed by it. Many would have pushed her straight away, some would have seen the opportunity to flirt back. Not Tate. He did lift a paw again to give her another slight push to her chest, just to stop her from touching him again after her nose moved into his scruff. Weird. He wasn't necessarily dense, just didn't understand the thought process of this girl and how she could be so open to him, a stranger in the woods. "Can't say I've seen many like you either." His tone was quite the opposite of hers. He wasn't big and offended, but he certainly was less than joking. He wasn't playing her game, maybe he didn't know how or it was just the lack of wanting the presence of others. Still, he wasn't running for the hills. He wasn't backing down. He wasn't a coward. The interaction may have interested him slightly, but not enough to get him to test out his manliness. He didn't need this to be a man in his eyes.

"Hotate"

As of late, Calliope had not been often turned down. Maybe it was the change of the season that brought out the ease of wolves. Or she truly was beautiful and irresistible. Either option was fine by her. She was confident in herself and often did not get discouraged. Even now as he presses a paw once more into her chest to push and put some space between them.

Again, Calliope steps back, her paw reaching up to grasp at her chest as well. A fake and dramatic gasp escapes her, lips still curled in that devious smirk. “Is that a compliment?” She purrs, flirtatious tone unrelenting as she bats her lashes at him. It was his defensive and dismissive posture and demeanor that draws her in. But perhaps, she is being a tad too forward. Maybe he would respond better to a different game.

“Oh, fine,” she clicks her tongue to the back of her teeth, shaking out the tension from her fur. “Males tend to drink up girls like me,” Calliope sighs, rolling her pastel gaze, a shoulder shrugging to dismiss the fact that he had undoubtedly turned down her aggressive advances. Sitting back on her haunches, she peers at him with a hard and curious stare.

“If you need time or whatever, I guess we can go through those motions,” again, her eyes role, this time her words ending in a laugh, obviously poking fun at him. “I’m Calliope and you are?” She inquires, head canting to the side.