Foundation

Stolas watched Fiametta while she climbed out of the water with him and shaking off his sudden aquatic assault as they went to settle in to let their coats dry. It appeared that she had a plan for them, since her raven reappeared only a moment later with some flint and steel for her. Fia bid him to make himself comfortable and he would be remiss to disobey her polite offer. Although he had been raised by his fathers to be a gentleman to all ladies, he also knew better than to disrespect one by assuming she was incapable of caring for herself. Ashen was founded and led by powerful women, after all. So while Fia gathered up some dead brush and kindling to make them a fire, Stolas cleared out an area of any sticks and branches so they would have space to make their campfire. Then he settled in and laid down while his friend built their fire and with the strike of the steel on the flint, flames began to rise. The surge of warmth was instantaneous, and Stolas was grateful for it while it helped to dry out their damp fur.

Fiametta came back over to him after making sure the fire was rising nicely and settled in alongside him without a beat of hesitation. Stolas paid no mind to it, of course; why would she hesitate when they were friends? Everything was as normal as he expected a typical friendship would be. Granted, he didn't have the greatest point of reference for what a normal friendship was supposed to be like, but this felt much more like what it was meant to be than the whirlwind he had been caught up in with Widow. Stolas was quite fond of physical affections, especially cuddling, though his quiet outward demeanor would never reveal that. So when Fia snuggled in closer with her side resting against his, he didn't rebuke her or find it awkward. He quite enjoyed the moment they were sharing while they watched the fire burn and crackle. They would be dry in no time at this rate. While they basked in the sun and warmth, Fia began to give him little glimpses into her life, just snippets of parts of her that Stolas made sure to pay close attention to. Her brother had taught her to swim in their pack's lake. It made him think of how his father had taught them all how to swim in the shallows just off the coast that Ashen owned.

"That's cool. My father taught my litter how to swim," he said back, giving Fia a glimpse into his history in return. But the fire-marked girl wasn't done yet. Her next words took his smile away a little, and Stolas fixed graphite gray eyes on the Mendacium princess while she described how her generational solitude made her feel. She had been the only pup in her litter. Two older siblings, two younger ones... Stolas pursed his lips while he considered what she was revealing to him. He couldn't imagine being the only pup in a litter. Sure, he often kept to himself away from his littermates, but at the end of the day he still had them in his life. Fiametta didn't have anyone. "Do you wish you had other siblings from your litter?" he asked. It would be one thing if she didn't care to have any—it would be another if she felt a degree of loneliness from her situation. "There were four of us in my litter. I have a brother and two sisters. And cousins—lots of cousins." He paused for a moment, looking back to the fire before glancing her way once more and adding, "I can spend more time hanging out with you if that'd help. I know it's not the same as having a brother or sister your age, but maybe it would help?"

"Stolas"