He had come this far for a hunt, or what he thought he could hunt. The boy was thin and fragile. He was getting by but he hadn't learned any survival skills. He wished he was as tough as... no. Toxin and Ganja were the past, he didn't need to think of them. All he wanted to remember was mother; no one else mattered. He made his way from the west, passing just north of the swamp lands and stopped once he reached the river. He was looking down each way trying to spot a shallow area he could cross but he didn't want to trek too far north and get lost again. So he picked a spot that would have been at an average sized wolves knees, to him it gently grazed his stomach hairs. The current was strong so he was able to cross without a fault, just weak from the pull. He watched as the fish avoided his movement and wished he was able to catch one. He wasn't entirely sure how, he had tried a couple times before but they were always too fast for him. He crossed into the Alabastrine Shrine and took a seat not too far from the bank. His breath was fine but his muscles ached. He would have to wait before heading off and finding a bird or something simple to catch for dinner. But for now he would sit and water the grass. Walk "Talk" Think

alabastrine shrine She had crossed the river from the north, past the Rio Grande. This territory she was now in, it was a land she hadn't been in before - she would look, explore, immerse herself in the land as she had done with all other lands she had visited. Slowly, she was making her way through Alacritis. Slowly, she would know all the lands, be able to navigate them, know their secrets. One at a time, day by day, but it would be done. No hesitation, no second thoughts. This all slipped from her mind as she laid her eyes upon the shrine; awe filled her widened green eyes. It was... magnificent, stunning, unbelievably beautiful. She could, as she rounded the shrine, even see the river from here; she could hear it too. And smell it. And also smell something else, something that made her tense. It was a wolf, a male; she could not tell ought but that from there. Regardless, she found herself heading towards the faint scent, wanting to see if this male was hostile. Instead, she found something she hadn't expected. For one, the wolf was green. and blue. Green eyes blinked at the yearling. Blue and green? Well, regardless of the oddity, it was still pretty. Or would be, if she could not see the bones jutting from his starved form. Sympathy, understanding lit in her eyes - she knew what that was like. That had been her not that long ago, before Abaven took her in and Motif started feeding her. He was also smaller than her; that alone was completely unexpected. There were not many more tiny than she was, Vail being first and foremost. Regardless, she approached slowly, deliberately, in a manner that was not hostile nor would turn to hostility. She said nothing; she had no clue what to say. Instead, she just stood there, studying the yearling and wondering how he'd convince her to go home with him to Abaven. "Speech"

The boy would sit there for a long while. His energy building back up before he could even rise to all four paws again. Ruby optics would close as he paused for a few more deep breaths and then he would continue on. His eyes looking up at the clouds as he walked to see how much time he had left before returning to the caverns. He entered the trees before taking even another moment to listen. Everything he learned was self taught at this point, and his only regret was that he couldn't have superpowers to grow bigger so he could take down something worth eating. He was listening for the birds, the ones that held themselves in the trees he obviously couldn't get to. His nose lifted a little and his eyes began to gently search the area. And eventually, he would spot a couple birds hopping around in the grass. He would lower his body and circle around so they wouldn't spot him coming straight toward them. Hiding behind each tree he came across he eventually would get close enough for the pounce, and he was successful. Sadly, the bird wasn't even fully grown. But it was enough for him to make it through the the next couple of days without keeling over. He would drop it to reposition it again in his mouth before turning back toward the river to go back to the caverns. And little did he know that someone was watching his every move. He never paid mind to new scents in the area anyway. Walk "Talk" Think

Lillianna blinked. He hadn't even noticed her. That was, in itself, rather bad - she could tell he was alone; how else would he be so starved? But to be unaware - that was bad. It would get you killed. Lillie frowned, she moved with him, circling but quietly. It was good the birds didn't notice her - and equally good that he caught one. The moment the bird was in his mouth, she took off, speeding past him, low to the ground, confident she would remain hidden until she popped in front of the river, in front of where he was heading. He'd not be able to not notice her if she was right in front of him, after all. Despite that, her eyes grew round as she stared at the river, and a grin formed on her lips. Salmon. Her mouth watered at the thought; she was taught to fish in the salmon runs. Her adoptive parents had learned by watching bear, and copied their technique. They were actually better at it than the bears in the area. There wasn't much salmon here, in this, but... well, she could see the massive fish. It had been a while since she had fished - the last being at six months, with her adoptive parents watching as the last stragglers of the salmon ran through. Still, she was confident even as she dove headfirst into the river, onto the salmon that were oblivious to her presence. Water splashed wildly, even as her jaws sought the fish; to her luck, she managed to grab one, popping out of the water with a flapping fish in her jaws, paws churning water as she stretched for the shore. It took effort, and her muscles were protesting when she emerged, but she did have that huge, mouth-watering salmon. She also had a green and blue wolf to feed. And she had no doubt that he had seen her little stunt there. A stunt she wasn't entirely sure she could repeat, but one she was proud of nevertheless. "Speech"

The girl would bolt in front of him, leaping into the water causing him to stop and look at her. His eyes showed fear but his body hadn't changed as he didn't have the energy to run if the wolf wanted to hurt him. But as he watched her, he eased. If anything she looked like she was playing, but once that fish appeared in her mouth, he would look down at it with desperation. He knew fish was food, which was why he wanted to catch them, but he had never had one before. He would stand there a moment just looking at her, and then he would turn to go around her, not thinking the fish was for them to share. He assumed she was just here for herself just as he was. Not that a wolf would just jump in front of another and flaunt their skills at them. Though he didn't think she was showing off either. He started to turn towards the bank to get back into the water, but just as he went to take a couple steps in he would slip and fall to his knees right down into the rocks, causing him to drop his bird. He was able to get back up to watch it disappear down the stream but it sure wasn't the most pleasing thing to watch disappear. He would sit down right in the water and look straight down to the bottom. Now what would he do? Walk "Talk" Think

As she started paddling towards the shore, green eyes met red ones: and she saw the look. The desperation, the wish, the longing. It gripped her heart; she understood. Oh, did she understand. She renewed her efforts - It took more effort hauling herself out of the water than it did to catch the fish. The current was strong, and it took all her fight to maintain a mostly steady course to the shore, where she hauled herself out of the water, jaws still clamped tight on the fish that by now had ceased its struggles.

By the time she got out of the water, the stranger yearling was already turning away. Lillie lunged forward; frustration in her eyes as her jaws ground the fish in her mouth. She needn't to, though, because the male sat down... without the bird in his mouth. Well, that reassured her that he was alright, but... the prey was gone. More sympathy flashed through her, and she approached the green and blue boy, nudging his shoulder. When she would have his attention - if - she would drop the fish next to him, nudging it towards him silently. As she would look back up at him, there was no pity in her eyes: only sheer understanding.

"Speech"

As Necro watched his dinner disappear into the river, he would feel a light touch on his shoulder to which he felt rather uncomfortable but didn't show it. His head turned gently toward the girl, her eyes making him feel at ease even though he was still terrified this normal-looking creature was trying to get his attention. But he would look down at the fish, and once more at the girl finally understanding that she wanted to offer him this meal. He would stand up out of the water, his rump soaked in dripping water and join her on the bank where he started to sniff this new food he had never tried before. He started to nip at it, having a hard time actually getting a bite until he held one side with his paw. Swallowing it, he would look back at the girl with a straight face, but his eyes were full of thanks. He looked back down at the fish and nudged it just a little bit towards her and looked back at her in offering. Had a friendship started here? Or was the wolf just being generous? Walk "Talk" Think

Lillianna also kept a neutral face, albeit with much effort. However... she wasn't able to keep the soft thump thump of her tail from occurring, at all. She tried. And failed. When the fish was nudged back over to her, that beating sped up just a little, and her eyes sparkled happily as she slapped a paw on the fish, holding it down, and bending her head to take her own bite, one smaller than the one Necrosis took, but big enough it wouldn't be seen as charity. As she arose, tongue flicking out to lick her bloody jaws, she nudged it back over to Necrosis, encouragement in her eyes.

Inside, she couldn't be more pleased. She loved helping; she loved this in general. Being able to help this small yearling... it lit a fire in her, a fire that burned pleasantly, kept her eyes sparkling, and just... made her want to wiggle in happiness. She was able to stop herself from the wiggling, thankfully. She just hoped the boy would continue this trade-off of fish, because... well, she did want a new friend.

"Speech"

Necro felt pleased that she would take her own bite, but his face still unfazed. Once it was pushed back to him, he wouldn't hesitate to finish it. After he was done quickly eating the peace offering, he would look up to this generous woman with a wondering eye and a lick to his lips. How did you have conversations? Necro had to think a minute, not wanting to mess up or freak the girl out. It had been some time... "N-necrosis." He spoke hesitantly. Most of his words came out in stutters anyway. He was shy and quiet. He actually enjoyed that this girl wasn't trying to ooze all the information she could out of him. The silence was nice. He would look back at her with a question in his eyes. He would wait for her to say something too. Whether it be her name, if she even understood that he was introducing himself, or if she questioned him. Walk "Talk" Think

There wasn't a trade off, he ate the rest of it, but that was fine with her. She now sort of understood what her bite meant; it was... a permission thing? She couldn't even word it in her own mind. But she understood. She looked down at this boy; so tiny, so... much more fragile than she was used to seeing. She was generally shorter. Well. She wasn't tall, but she wasn't short. She was average.

She blinked as he spoke; she wasn't expecting that... and her head tilted to the side. Necrosis? What was - oooooh. It clicked suddenly, and her eyes widened slightly. This time, she couldn't stop the smile that came to her face, nor the tail softly striking the ground every odd second or so. "Lillianna," she replied softly; her voice was not stuttering, but it was quiet. That was all she gave; she was waiting for Necrosis - she smiled again, briefly, as she thought the name - to continue, for he had initiated the conversation.

"Speech"

The boy would look down from her smile, was it a good smile? His interpretation to most things never came out right and he felt uncomfortable not knowing. Had he disturbed her? Should he have given her his name? But soon enough she would reply with her own name, a lot easier to claim as a name than his was. "You... Live here?" Still looking down at the water, he would wait to listen to her as well as listen to the rushing water, soothing his ears still wondering if he should be here. Would mother approve? Probably not... And he couldn't get that little thought out of his mind even though he hadn't seen his mother for a whole year. Walk "Talk" Think

Her head shook to his question. "No. I live in the east, in Abaven," she answered softly. Despite him looking away from her, she still watched him, this unique boy even smaller than her, his fur unnaturally beautiful, but dull on his emaciated form. She felt sympathy, and a strange desire: a desire to take this one back to Abaven, like she had with Elthia. But she had a feeling he would not easily trust, and likely would not come with her this time. But another time, maybe. "Where do you live?" she questioned, voice curious but still quiet. If he deigned not to answer, she'd be okay with that.

"Speech"

Abaven? Where ever that was. Necro knew little about the world he lived in. He just remembered the story of the gods his mother had promised him. He could be chosen to live up there as one of them. And did he believe it? Of course he did. It was mother's word. She would continue to ask him where he lived, and though he had made kind-of-a home, he would respond quietly, "I don't live anywhere." His voice was hard and still without emotion. He may have felt a pain inside that he couldn't find his mother, but there was no way his outer shell would let him show it. Well, at least emotionally. He would be willing to leave with this girl back to her home, she had helped him like he wouldn't have expected. His mother always thought that other wolves looked at her and her family as outcasts. Like they didn't belong anywhere. And though he didn't much believe that, it was still in the back of his mind that he was a freak. Who would want to help him? A boy that couldn't even take care of himself? Walk "Talk" Think

He answered... and it was sad. She did understand, truly. A sad smile crossed her maw at the stoic tone; what had happened to cause that permanent stoicness? True, there was... emotion hinted at the quiet way he answered, but that was inferred: there was nothing given in his actua words. It was saddening, maybe even pitying, but pity would only drive him away.

"Do you want a home?" she asked him softly, looking at him with the corner of her eyes. She was facing the river now, only barely looking at him. She hoped he said yes, but at the same time... she was afraid, afraid that in his state he would not be accepted. She had been, but she had been vouched for. She had been the daughter of a former member. This one... this one was as old as she, if not older. Elthia had been accepted due to her young age. A look of concern at the situation crossed her face; what to do?

ooc. It would, time line wise, be easier if there was another thread after this before Necro is taken to Abaven. That way there's no confusing retro thing that probably wouldn't work xD And that way Bass is there to accept.

"Speech"

"Yes." But mother won't be there... It's not home... He spoke looking at the girl and then back to the water. He was silently broken as to where he belonged. Without his mother he was lost, he didn't feel safe  anywhere. Whether there was a border around his paws or he found himself a nice little cave to crawl in, he would never feel the same as he did by Dione's side. "I don't know..." He quickly changed his response. Was there such a thing as a friend in his heart? Could he ever love someone or truly care deeply about another wolf? Could anyone replace mother... (OOC: trying to get this through so we can make our next thread ;3) Walk "Talk" Think

Her tail wagged at his response, though she said nothing yet. He seemed... hesitant, after he spoke. As if impulse made him speak and then he was thinking it through. Her waiting was the right deicion; he then retracted what he said prior. She felt disappointed, but she also saw that it wouldn't take long to convince him. Not today, but another day. She would not push. She nodded at his words. "Do you have a place you generally sleep?" she asked gently, head tipping to the side. "I could talk to you again, and show you how I hunt?" she questioned it, although she truly did hope he would tell her.

"Speech"