After traveling west from the sea's plain, Esarosa had found herself following along the edge of an expansive river. She'd eaten heartily for many days at the river's shore. Several species of ocean fish were making the journey far inland to spawn, and it was easy to make a meal of the fish that didn't make it. Despite the cold of winter, she was enjoying these lands far more than the northern territories she'd explored the previous year. She was keeping a healthy weight on her bones, and she didn't feel so lost. She confidently followed a smaller river that broke off from the Rio Grande, away from the south and into the west. As she made her way farther west, the climate became much more arid - the cold didn't seep into her bones the way it did in more temperate lands, but the dry, frigid wind bit sharply at her nose, ear tips and paw pads. The snow was lighter, fluffy, and blew around wildly in the slightest breeze. When her paws led her to the lush Emerald Valley, it felt as though she had stepped into a memory. It was a glimpse into her past. Nostalgia gripped her tightly, causing her to smile - with a lump in her throat - as she slowly settled her haunches onto the snow. A blanket of white lay in front of her, parted only by the river and a scarce few trees standing near the water, drooping from the weight of snow upon them. It looked just like her birth-land, the very way Tirisfal Valley had looked in the season she'd left it behind. Not even a yearling, she'd left in the dead of winter to chase her wild dreams. Who knew she would find herself in a place so far away that somehow felt so familiar. If only there were a familiar face to break the loneliness that crept upon her as she gazed wistfully down on the valley. I am so homesick for some place I will never be. "Speak" "Listen" Think

Walk | Talk | Think The west did not feel like home yet, but that was to be expected. It always seemed to take forever for Miksa to feel at home somewhere, until he finally felt he belonged, and not enough time had passed yet since he had agreed to join Miss Surreal and her family while they worked toward establishing a pack. He tried to keep up appearances - showing himself even if he was not altogether sure what services he could provide to help out their group - but still managed to remain apart from them. Not because he wished to separate himself from them, but mostly because of his own timidity. He should have grown out of it by now, should have been bold enough to face new wolves without worrying what they would think of him, but old habits were hard to break. It possibly made him lonelier though. The wolves who would eventually form Surreal's pack were related somehow, much the same way that Threar had been predominantly inhabited by the Destruction line. He felt apart from these wolves the same way he had that family, but it was a familiar feeling at least, one he knew would diminish with time. He just needed to wait it out, and in the meantime try not to think too much about it. Which meant keeping busy. Having lived in the east, north, and south, the lands Miksa now found himself in were new to him, and it was important to him that he begin to understand them better. He had plans to ask Surreal - or maybe even one of her family members if he ever became bold enough - for a tour, or just some helpful insight into the territories they inhabited, but for the time being he wandered, more or less aimlessly, trying to get a feel for the place. His breath fogged in the cold air, and his snowy white coat blended in rather well with the fluffy layer of snow that coated the region. Cold, though not quite as cold as he knew winter could get in the northern territories. His bright, yellow eyes skimmed the scenery, making a list of mental notes, and did a double take when he spotted a dark shape seated amid the snow. Stopping, he gazed for a moment at the individual, recognizing the form of another wolf and immediately scenting at the air. Was this part of Surreal's bunch, or..? Unsure whether the wolf was a potential packmate or just a resting wanderer, Miksa began to creep closer, attempting to do so quietly. As he drew nearer, the scent of the stranger finally reached him, and he paused with a start. The scent was familiar, not consistent like the wolves that would make up his future pack, but recognizable nonetheless. Is it really..? "Esarosa?" the white wolf called out, nervous now that he had spoken that he had gotten her name wrong or had misidentified whoever the wolf was.

A light dusting of snow had begun to catch on her plain ebony coat as she stared out across the empty valley. She was startled slightly when she heard her name called out, wondering if it was a fragment of her memories - who was calling to her? Reason quickly reminded her that the voice she heard did not belong to any wolf she'd known as a child. It took her only a second or two to realize who it was. That quiet tone, the pause of nervous paw steps behind her. She grinned to herself. Without moving her feet, her neck craned around so that she could look at him, emerald gaze blinking away snowflakes as she caught sight of his dark-rimmed, electric yellow eyes. She offered him a smile, then without warning rose to her paws and bounded toward him through the snow. "Miksa!" she called out cheerfully, her paws throwing up a cloud of snow toward the man as she approached, caution thrown to the wind. She'd meant to stop in front of him, but she had, of course, misjudged how much distance she would need in order to come to a halt. Her paws slid through the snow and she lost her balance, sliding the rest of the way to Miksa on her belly and landing at his feet. Sheepishly, Esa rolled her shoulders in the snow and turned to look up at him, heat flushing her cheeks. She grinned awkwardly as a flustered giggle escaped her. She had no desire to even try to stand up as hot embarrassment washed over her. "Well, uhm, I guess I'm just glad to see you," she stammered, and then at last she flopped onto her side and placed her paws beneath her, pushing herself to stand on all fours again. Esa shook the snow from her pelt and tried to look him in the eye, although she felt more foolish than ever and couldn't quite hold his gaze. "It's been a while," she stated the obvious, going on to add, "How do the seasons slip by so quickly?" She wanted to go on, as always she had a million and one questions ready at the tip of her tongue, but she'd try not to overwhelm him. After all, she'd already made a fool of herself, there'd be no point flooding him with an question after question. She didn't want to make herself look like a careless blabber-mouth. Besides that, she knew he was most likely on his own again, for she had heard what'd happened to Threar. She felt badly for her friend, who always seemed to become displaced the moment he got comfortable calling someplace 'home'. "Speak" "Listen" Think

Walk | Talk | Think For a heartbeat, Miksa convinced himself that he had called out to a total stranger. What would Esarosa be doing out this way anyway? In his haste to move - yet again - he had forgotten to tell her where he was going, that his pack had disbanded and that he was off to find new living arrangements elsewhere. It made the most sense that she be somewhere in the south, likely around the willow trees that she had spoken to him about once before. Surely the wintry months were mildest there in that region, more so than they were here with snow and cold. Before he could duck his head and retreat for his folly, however, the snow-speckled individual turned, glancing over one shoulder through a verdant stare with a smile that stretched familiar and knowing across a face that he recognized. Esa! It was her! Relieved, Miksa smiled in answer immediately, and his tail wagged a few beats of greeting. What luck that she would be here too. They must have been destined to meet no matter where his personal travels brought him, and despite the strangeness of it it was oddly comforting. If it was true, it meant he would have a friend no matter where he ended up. A very eager, energetic friend he was reminded as she called out his name animatedly and leaped forward to dash his way. Smile brightening, Miksa chuckled to himself as he watched her visible enthusiasm, unable to recall anyone being so happy to see him before, and had the feeling replaced by a sudden wash of concern as she lost her balance and toppled forward to slide across the snow. His brows knitting with worry, he stepped forward and made a quick glance over her, noting nothing to suggest injury in her body or even her demeanor. If anything looked bruised, it might only have been her pride, and as he recognized the embarrassment in her expression, a feeling that was nothing unfamiliar to him, he gentled his smile and bit his tongue to stop himself from chuckling again. "I'm glad to see you, too," he confessed when he was certain he would not make any amused sounds against his will, and taking a step back he let her find her feet. Embarrassment seemed to remain, but the typically timid boy knew better than to bring attention to it. He let her direct their conversation with a casual observance, and shook his head slightly as he considered. "I don't know, but they go by too fast." As he spoke it dawned on him how long he had been reduced to a loner's status, how long Threar had been gone. Could it really have been so many months since he had had a pack to call home? The thought sobered him, and once more guilt rushed up to bring his bright eyes downward, away from Esarosa's. "I'm sorry. Again. The pack I was in, Threar?" Did she remember him mentioning it? "It disbanded. I got recruited to join another one out this way. It's not established yet, but I think it will be soon." He paused a beat, and added a bit more softly, "I feel like I should have told you this sooner. I could have shown you the bay there." Not that he was against making return trips, but he did feel guilty for not seeking her out and leaving his friend in the dark.

Esarosa saw the concern plain on his face when she looked up at him; he worried that she might have hurt herself. But within moments, they'd both had a quick laugh. No one was hurt and all was well. By chance, they'd met once again. She wasn't sure it got much better than that. He commented on the passage of time, just as uncertain as she was how the months had gone by so quickly. As she quirked a brow, looking up to meet his gaze, she noticed his eyes cast downward. An apology slipped from him, and she merely shook her head softly, smiling with a glimmer of understanding in her eyes when he mentioned Threar. Considering where her mind was at right now, thinking of the valley she'd come from as she stood in this beautiful place, she could imagine the pain he was in at losing yet another home. Still, he clung to hope bravely, another beacon of light shining for him in the west. "I heard about what happened to Threar," she stated simply, her tone low, "You don't have to apologize. There's no need. If anything, I'm sorry. I don't think you deserved to be passed around like this, to lose your home so many times... at least you will have somewhere to call home when the time comes." Esarosa... well, she had chosen to be alone, in exchange for personal freedom, adventure and the absence of lawfulness. If she ever felt lonely, afraid or sad, she knew it was the price to pay for everything else she had gained. For a young man who tried so hard, who had so much to offer, Miksa hadn't reaped the rewards of those personal virtues and efforts yet. It was a fate that Esa wished she could fight for him, with him, wished she could physically strike out against it, but fate simple was not a tangible thing. At least it was somewhat comforting to know that her friend still had hope, had been offered another home, though yet to be established. Trying to shake herself of deeper thoughts, she fluffed out her jet black coat, removing the last flakes of snow that clung to her. He'd spoken of the bay, the one she'd hoped to see with him; she knew exactly what he meant the moment he said it. She loved the ocean, and she'd wanted him to show it to her one day. Her heart both lifted and sunk at the mention of this. He remembered what they had intended to share together, but that opportunity had been lost. And she'd already seen it - she had gone not long after catching news of Threar's fate, hoping to find him there. Instead, she'd met a friendly stranger and watched the whales play in the warm waves. It had been a good experience, yet it still left her with a pang of disappointment. But to focus on all of that, everything that was lost and could not be retrieved, would be to sabotage the present moment. They were here in a beautiful valley, a new place, drawn together again by forces unknown. How they kept finding one another in this vast continent, Esa did not know, but she wouldn't question it. "It's okay, Miksa," she assured him, emerald gaze lifting to meet his eyes, "I can't even be angry, or sad, or anything... It's just great that you're here now." The smile that pulled at her lips reached her eyes, and her chest swelled slightly, full with glee. She had to share with him the reason she had stopped in this valley, and why she was so pleased to meet him here. "This valley is beautiful," she commented, her tone elated and a shimmer of delight in her green eyes, "It's just like the place where I was born... the only home I've ever known, where my family is." She'd not spoken of her past life with anyone. Perhaps she'd mentioned the name of her homeland once or twice in the many seasons of her travels. But she'd never mentioned her family, the mother that had adopted her, her sister, her brothers, and the fertile valley in which they'd been raised. Perhaps she'd speak of them now, and perhaps she wouldn't, but all that mattered to her in this very moment was that she almost felt at home for the first time in ages. "Speak" "Listen" Think