This place was an interesting place to visit at the least. He was enjoying his new found freedom with his age - after things had settled down of course. Rivaxorus had to invite Zephyra out on a day like this, though it was up to her if she showed up or not. He certainly hoped that she was not mad at him for the incident with Xephyris. It was bad on his part for not notifying her of his presence. She was just as important as the rest of them. He made a promise to her mother at that. If anything at all - he was fascinated by the green lady that reached up to his height. Pulling himself up onto a rock he took in a deep breath, before letting it out acting like it was the best thing in the world. "Denki I hope you're watching." He whispered for a moment before shutting his eyes. He knew his brother was studying things about the gods - he was happy for that. Riv himself was learning towards everything he could. Fighting and his diplomacy. Before he had no desire to run the pack his mother had, however it did seem royal blood ran through his veins. He wanted nothing more than to be able to protect his friends. Ensure a life and a future for them, he would become strong. "Talk" "You" Think

ooc: navigation - stone steppe

She followed the boy's scent trail out of Fiori, which she found a bit odd for she hadn't finished exploring the pack's territories. It was a bit of a trek - plenty of time for her to get lost in her thoughts. It felt weird not seeing her mother for so long, not that she wanted to go back though it would be selfish of her to say she didn't miss the woman. Then there was the strange feeling she started to get now that she was travelling through foreign lands. A sense of freedom and responsibility blossomed within her, making her take each stride with confidence and her chin held high. Yeah, she liked this new life. Eventually she found herself stepping through a field of crumbled rocks, careful not to jab a small stone into her paw. It was an interesting place, quite unlike what her eyes had gazed upon in the south. The ancient ruins seemed to emit a calming and serene aura onto her mind, and perhaps onto her friend as well, who she found upon a rock appearing peaceful indeed. "Hey," she softly greeted with a genuine smile, hopping up onto his rock to join him. The girl settled back onto her haunches, her crimson gaze seeking his bicoloured eyes. "Speech"

The male would be met with the familiar pelt of his friend. It instantly scrapped any other sour mood he may have been having. Smiling as he tried to conceal the steady wagging of his tail. Slightly nudging her shoulder with his nose in a friendly gesture. "Sorry to drag you all the way out here." he would apologize at first. The weather was at least nice today - and that made it all the more easier to live. However his tail curled around his haunches then, he wouldn't bring it up just yet. For now he wanted to focus on her. "How have you been feeling?" his gaze would meet hers like she requested. For a moment feeling his heart flutter - almost like he had finished running. He controlled his breathing, not questioning the feeling. After all he wanted to know how she was feeling. Rivaxorus wanted to know everything about her and all the things she thought. He was slightly confused why - but that's how he felt. "Talk" "You" Think

The girl had to admit, she quite enjoyed his little friendly touches. Perhaps that was the attention-seeking side of her shining through. Though to be honest the boy did apologise a lot, usually over unnecessary things. "It's alright," she assured him, scanning the surroundings with fascination. "I think this place is worth the walk." She flashed him a small grin before continuing her visual observation of the ruins. Her eyes trailed through every crack and crevice in the stone as she examined the faded colours and markings upon the rock. Strange indeed. Where did this all come from? Of course he would ask how she was feeling - she kind of expected that inquiry. After all, it hadn't been long since they had arrived in Fiori and she was the one who had left her family behind as a result of it. Sometimes she wondered what was happening in the gulley, if everything was how she left it. "Fine, I guess," she answered with a shrug, wanting to put more words in her response. There wasn't much more she could add. Occasionally she felt a bit homesick, but those feelings didn't bother her and would surely pass as she adjusted herself. "How have you been feeling?" She couldn't but to chuckle as she turned the question back on him. "Speech"

Perhaps it was the fear of losing people was the reason why he apologized so much. He didn't even notice it himself, as he let his breathing become calm and collective. She would give simple answers to his simple questions. There was nothing wrong with that, Rivaxorus was no expert on handling anyone but he was well aware of his own surroundings. His tail flicked behind him as she threw the question back at his face. A smile growing when she chuckled. "Better, and I've been doing a lot of thinking." his head turned towards the lands again as he looked at each and every stone. "After my training in fiori... I want to start a pack." Rivaxorus wouldn't share this with just anyone. For now it would just be Zephyra. They didn't know each other too well - but he believed that their friendship meant something special. "I want you to follow me, but that's up to you. It'll be a hard road, sometimes I'll even have to throw myself into bloodshed." he shut his eyes. At first he was hesitant, but if it was something he could gain he wanted to work hard. "Talk" "You" Think

He replied that he was feeling better, which brought relief to her mind. Was it because he had moved to be with his family? It seemed likely. She couldn't be more happy for him nonetheless. Although her own kin were many lands away, it wasn't like she missed them terribly. Sometimes it felt good not to have any sisters to bicker with. Perhaps with the time she was spending away from them she could turn her attitude and personality around, even if she laughed at the possibility. The boy also stated that he had been thinking as of lately, which made her tilt her head in interest. What could he be thinking about? Surely he wasn't considering leaving Fiori, especially when he remarked on how well he was feeling. With intent eyes and ears, she listened as he went on to say he wanted to start his own pack, after he had finished his training. My, wasn't he ambitious? And of course he wanted her to join him, which she definitely would. "I'll follow you," she said softly, nudging his shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Speech"

A shifty grin grew on the boy's face as she nudged him. He still had a lot to know about Zephyra but he could tell that he enjoyed her company. Even if she wasn't the closest, perhaps that's where she was getting to. He was unsure if she was much of a player but he nipped at the side of her shoulder before jumping off the rock and weaving through them. He stopped a few feet away, turning around to stand tall as he smirked. "Tag... you're it." he would give her a moment to respond before turning back to the steppe. Rivaxorus was quick despite how large he was, jumping on the rocks he slid down some before twisting left and right. Though one wrong move could land him with his face in the dirt. Making him stop to turn, then again this was also his way of testing Zephyra herself. A fun way, exercise was needed. He never wanted to think of himself weak, but in order to get strong you could not be complacent. The prince knew that clearly. "Talk" "You" Think

She couldn't help but to narrow her scarlet gaze as he beamed an odd grin. He was thinking of something, planning something, wasn't he? If only she could read his mind, uncover what was going on inside his head. He nipped her shoulder and scampered down from the rock, tagging her. The girl rolled her eyes playfully, leaping from the stone to pursue the boy. She should have known he'd start a game, specifically a game of chasey. Unlike him, she wasn't so graceful on her green paws. Running wasn't her strongest skill, for she tired out quickly, however she wouldn't let that interfere. She thundered after him, dodging stones that jutted out from the ground. There were a few times she narrowly missed a fall, especially around the sharp turns, though persevered nonetheless. She recalled the times she had raced her mother and aunt, and put that experience into now. "I'm catching up!" she called breathlessly in a singsong voice, her eyes locked on his grey tail. Closer and closer it grew. She just had to go faster and hope the boy wasn't hiding a boost of energy sure to outmatch her. "Speech"

It seemed that she wasn't fast, but he knew that energy could outrun speed. She was the same height as he was, he just had a habit of training his body every day. Keeping in shape was important if he wanted to protect the things he loved. Rivaxorus smiled when he heard her, then suddenly he stopped on his paws. Shifting towards his left so that his body faced her. That meaning if she didn't stop fast enough she probably would go tumbling into him. Not that he minded bracing himself mildly, all was fun in games. Hopefully she wouldn't get too angry at him for stopping so suddenly. His gray tail continued to stay steady and his paws spread out onto the dirt. His body and reflexes staying true to his form - he felt strong. Even if he knew that there was much more to learn. "Talk" "You" Think

Her eyes never strayed from her target, and though she appeared alert and wary, she never saw his sudden halt coming. What was he doing? Had something happened? He just stopped, and it took her a moment to register before stopping herself, claws digging into the earth to ensure all the momentum she had built up wouldn't fling her forward. She stopped mere centimetres away from him, close enough to feel their fur faintly intermingle. If something was wrong, he would tell her, right? For now she thought he had done that just as a playful trick, which she didn't mind to be honest. It meant less running for her. "Gotcha," she murmured with a smile, seeking to tag him gently on the nose with her own. "Speech"

He wasn't sure what it was, but his heart was pounding against his chest. Probably because of the running but he felt as if butterflies were stuck in his stomach. Not in a bad way but the feeling was still new and interesting to him. As her nose tagged his own, he smiled taking a step back as he tried to regain his breath. Now at least he knew her reflexes were fast, it meant quiet a number of things when it came to being with him. To make a pack, he wanted it to be strong, the bonds and the members themselves. "So you're better at fighting then running?" he asked curiously. His gray tail waved behind him. He sat down on his rump and tried to relax his muscles. Riv had gotten into the habit of making sure he could stay calm easily. So perhaps then he wouldn't end up hot headed into a situation he didn't understand at the time. Not that it was a bad thing, but he had wolves to lead in the back of his mind. "Talk" "You" Think

It seemed their game had ended just there, as she inferred when he stepped away. Though it had been a quick chase, she didn't mind. That short burst of speed had tired her out more than she expected. Her heart was still fluttering and pounding against her green chest, and somehow she couldn't look away from his bicoloured gaze. Was it because of their chase? She couldn't tell. He then asked if she preferred fighting over running. She hadn't ever tried fighting, though she could recall her brother mentioning it somewhere along the lines. She would have given it a go, though experimenting on her sibling when she raged out at them wouldn't have ended so well. "I've never tried it before," she responded with a shrug. "But I want to try it. Fighting sounds cool." She tilted her head as she inquired curiously, "Have you fought before?" "Speech"

It dearly surprised him that she hadn't fought before. Maybe he had forgotten not everyone had a family such as his. Constantly running, trying to protect themselves and learn how to get out of their hole they had dug. Well Rivaxorus had a few lessons and his first real fight he had emerged the victor. He had yet to taste defeat even if he knew it would come to him, not everyone could win forever. "I've trained since I was young to fight, and my first real life fight on the battlefield I ended up as the victor." it as a nice and a scary memory. It meant that he was ready to be a target if that was a possibility. "Fighting is essential even if not everyone is good at it, but I want to be the best at it. Because if someone gets in my way, I'm striking them down." he narrowed his two different colored orbs. He was serious, and not in a way a fun loving wolf would ever be. This world was full of darkness - but he didn't care what light or dark side someone was on. A wolf was a wolf, it mattered not who they were as long as his own life and family was protected with his own four paws. "Talk" "You" Think

Indeed her family was a bit different. She had grown up with a more relaxed childhood, her mother never seeing the need to teach them self-defence. Not that she didn't want to learn how to fight anyway. Her sisters were what got in the way. They couldn't even harm a fly, let alone another wolf. And to be honest, she was more of a free-spirit. With nothing else to do throughout the day - no lessons in fighting, hunting or healing - the girl would set off on her own to explore other regions. All of her explorations had been interesting, if not dangerous. That was when she discovered her love for dangerous adventures. He obviously had more experience than her in fighting, even emerging victorious in a fight. What had he fought against - a leaf? "Wow," she commented with awe, listening as he continued to explain in a more serious tone the importance of being proficient in fighting. If only her mother had taught her about it, even if it was just the basics. Now she had to compete with someone who was way smarter than her. "Mum never taught me anything about it," she said with sigh. "I wish she did." "Speech"

Riv sort of wished too, but he was one who wasn't into what if's. If Zephya's mother never taught her, he was not one to judge how she raised her own children. The boy would carefully observe his friend. She was strong, her muscles despite being a female - were strong. While he could build up speed it was only due to his own training, with size came the add on of weight. They weighed much more then smaller opponents and while it could be an advantage it was also a disadvantage at that. You had to be smart in a fight, not just rely on brute strength. A smaller opponent could snake their way into your stomach. A small smile appeared on his previously harsh face, back to normal if it could be described in such a way. "It is never too late to learn. How about we meet at dawn - and I could give you a lesson." he suggested with a flick of his tail. If he was going to be an alpha, he needed to connect with his people. Honing their skills, and teaching, would only make his stronger. A wise wolf once told him that he should make his goals. He would take it to heart the lessoned he was taught by others even if they were not aware of it. Rivaxorus would remain curious, to the world and its wonders. "Talk" "You" Think

At least she could still learn; at her age it wasn't too late. She was young with a flexible body, one large and naturally muscular. It would be a shame to waste those physical traits, why, they could be advantages in fighting. Unlike him, she lacked speed, and she guessed that could be another benefit. A smaller canine could easily outwit her and nimbly attack without her noticing. She wasn't observant either, though with some training and practice, she could improve. And what a surprise it was to hear that he offered to teach her...tomorrow! Well, she had delayed her training long enough; it was time she started working. "Really? You'll do that for me?" she clarified, disbelief in her scarlet eyes. His generosity always seemed to amaze her. "Then dawn it is." She rose to her green paws, stretching her spine and neck, preparing to head back to the mangrove. Already she was feeling jittery with excitement as she hopped from foot-to-foot. It looked like she wouldn't even be able to fall asleep tonight. "I'll see you then." With a smile and a flick of her tail, she began to walk, looking back over her shoulder until he was out of sight. -exit Zeph- "Speech"