Cause we're counting on stars They had decided to make their home in the nearby lands, somewhere called the Range. The broken down barn made for the perfect shelter from the elements, but otherwise him and Cedar just slept outside under the stars. The winter was mild enough to allow it, and it was nice to stay by the plants. Oleander spoke to them often, his usual habit that he picked up when he was just a child. It didn't even bother his jackal companion like it used to, to him it was simply the norm for his brother. Sometimes he rolled his eyes, but otherwise Cedar left it alone. He was generally busy keeping pests away from the crops anyways. Just because they had found a home though, that didn't mean that they were going to stay there forever. This land was still so new to them, with many places to explore. They decided to start with the nearby lands, walking into a large forest. Or, what he thought was a forest. Ollie looked with surprise as the trees grew in nearly straight lines, strange paths cutting between the trees. Sniffing the air, there was still a faint scent of rotting fruit. Oh, so these were fruit trees? Maybe he could find some seeds and store them away for planting in the spring. Excited, he bounded down the line of leafless trees, looking for any fallen seeds. Cedar trailed behind, the smaller canine kept his eye on the horizon. He was more unsure about these lands, there could be a lot of danger here that they had no idea how to handle. Their home had been a peaceful one, full of traders, farmers, and nomads. The jackal huffed, trotting behind his brother. "Utinam fias cautior," He hissed, but Oleander payed no mind to his constant companion. If Cedar wanted to be the cautious one, he could. Ollie was just excited to find some seeds for his store, he hadn't even started one here. Nose to the ground, his dark teal eyes scanned the ground. Finding the pit of a peach, he yipped and picked it up in his jaws, careful not to puncture the outer shell. He could plant this in their new home! It would take a long time to bare fruit, but it would be able to cross pollinate with these ones here. It would grow fruit, but not for a number of years. His gray tail wagged, and he started to look for more. Oleander would grow a garden that would put his parent's to shame! "SPEAK" -- "CEDAR SPEAKS"

The cold of winter had become mild in this landscape. He had been trying to come back to where Maria resided, only to be side-tracked and walking right into a land he had not seen before. The place happened to appear like an orchard as many fruit trees happened to come across his orbs. However, though they not bore any fruit, he could tell they were some kind of fruit tree by some of the bark that happened to be around them. There was even a peach tree as a small sigh vibrated from his vocal cords. The land did happen to resemble a bit of his home, but, much more peaceful than where he was born. As he approached the area a bit more, he happened to come across another wolf. He looked to be the same age as Shadow, but, looks can sometimes be deceiving. His crimson orbs stayed focused on him for a couple more seconds before walking across the small layer of snow. He did not wish to bother someone if they did not talk to him first, he will be quiet and mind his own business. Though he was kinder than he used to be, this habit was something he was used to like from his old home. You were not to speak unless spoken to, and that was what he did as the brute set his haunches on the ground and focused on the sky above, keeping a good couple yards distance away from the other. Speech Thought Others

Cause we're counting on stars Oleander wasn't paying attention, he was far too focused on growing his garden. That had always been his number one focus, which is why he was thankful for Cedar. He was his constant look out while he was distracted with these things. Like at this very moment, the jackal's head shot up as he narrowed his eyes at the stranger, taking in his odd coloured coat. Back home, there were not many wolves who had abnormal colours on them, it was a rarity. This brute had both a red and a yellow that he had only ever seen on plants before. The smaller canine's ears drew back as the other male looked over, his lips twitching somewhat. "Societatem habemus, Oleander," Cedar woofed, causing the wolf's head to snap up, slowly he looked over his shoulder at the company that the jackal was referring too. Sure enough, there he was. His dark teal eyes opened wide at the strange colouration of the beast, his curiosity getting the best of him. He took a few steps towards him, before Cedar's growl made him stop. "Numquid ingressus quadam phantasia mundi?" Ollie asked his brother, who just shrugged his shoulders. Cedar stayed at Oleander's side as they both took cautious steps towards the wolf, acting as if it were some mythical beast that would vanish before their eyes. In the more common tongue of these lands, the wolf asked his burning question. "Your fur... is it natural?" he asked. They had both seen wolves that painted themselves with berries, could this be what this wolf did? His head tilted to the side, further inspecting the male. Ollie knew that it was rude to stare, but he couldn't help it. He was so utterly fascinated, and wanted to know more. Were there other wolves who were this bright and colourful? Maybe all over their bodies instead of in only a few places? "SPEAK" -- "CEDAR SPEAKS"

As he was focused on the sky before him, his ears would swivel to the side, happening to catch the cautious steps of the duo before him. It was obvious that it was them since it was only himself and those two when he had first arrived to this land. His crimson orbs would shift, his cranium doing the same as his crimson gaze met the teal one of the wolf in front of him. His eyes would look down to the other canine creature before him. He had not seen many of the creatures before, but his mother had told him that they were 'jackals' if his memory were correct. The brute would turn back to the brute as he asked a question to him. "Your fur...is it natural?" It was almost as if the brute was afraid of him. Normally, the ebony brute would ravage the chance of making someone afraid of him, but, Maria had helped him through the tough times in his life as a small chuckle rose in the brute's vocal region. Boy, would this male be in for a surprise. "Indeed it is natural, many of rather been shocked of it as I see you are." Shadow would explain, keeping his eyes focused on the duo in front of him. "What are your names anyway, and what were you doing when I entered this land? You seemed rather fascinated by something, so I just let you continue on with your business," Shadow spoke, his monotone voice echoing throughout the landscape as his ear flicked slightly, waiting for an answer. Thought Others

Cause we're counting on stars The male seemed to be put off by them, or at least had a far more standoffish attitude then them. Oleander's ears flickered back slightly, but he was too curious to just stop and walk away now. Apparently others had been surprised by the colour of his coat, as it was indeed natural. Cedar seemed to be irritated by the strangers actions, letting out a low growl. Oleander shot him a look over his shoulder, but the jackal didn't stand down. He narrowed his gaze, but his brother was not letting up. Trying to ignore the smaller canine, he turned back to the stranger when he spoke again, asking their names and what they were doing. "Et non indicavit ei verbum," Cedar warned. This caused Oleander to fully turn and face the jackal, his lips twitching slightly. "Quid tarn fidem? Scimus hic aliquid de terris vel lupos. Non enim nos offendit videtur spectare ad nos redire seminibus. Cur non dicamus nominibus?" He did not raise his voice at his brother, but he rarely spoke that much. Cedar fell silent, pressing against his side as he turned back to the odd coloured male. "Sorry. I am Oleander, this is my brother Cedar," he said, tipping his head towards the jackal. He huffed in return, and the wolf sighed. He didn't like to talk much, but it would seem that he needed to do it all this time. Usually Cedar did it for him, but it was clear that that wasn't going to happen right now. To explain what they were doing, he nosed the peach pit closer to the other male. "Hunting for seeds, I am going to plant them in my garden. Cedar here keeps all the pests from eating our crop," Ollie explained in a soft voice. Looking to the males markings again, his brows rose slightly. "Do all wolves here look like you?" "SPEAK" -- "CEDAR SPEAKS"

The male wolf before him was apparently named Oleander, and the jackal, or his brother as Oleander called him was Cedar. The brutes were as different as night and day in Shadow's eyes, but seemed to trust one another. He and Maria were like these two, but though he had been with Maria for some time he did want to get back to her incase something terrible were to happen to the maiden whom he resided with. Shadow would shift his gaze to the peach seed. So, a garden was what this male was planning to start. It was nothing that Shadow ever thought of doing, but we all like different things so the ebony brute was not going to judge the other male before him. "I have never thought of planting a garden myself. However, I have not witnessed many that looked like me. My friend, Maria, she had used berries on her pelt but nothing more. I guess if you look hard enough you shall see others like myself." Shadow explained, a small, barely noticeable smile spread across Shadow's features. My name is Shadow." The brute spoke, his voice staying monotone as his crimson gaze stayed focused on the two 'brothers'. Speech Thought Others

Cause we're counting on stars Cedar remained stubbornly silent, looking at Ollie out of the corner of his eye. The wolf ignored him, a bit uncomfortable to have to do all the talking himself. He shifted slightly, raising up when the male spoke of never planting a garden. He looked awestruck, amazed that this wasn't a normal thing for this wolf or any of the others that he had run into. It was such a common practice back home that it was extremely odd to him that no one else did the same. He supposed that not all lands were alike, and that where he and Cedar came from was nothing like Ardent. It took several moments for him to collect himself, a silence spreading between the three of them. Cedar decided that he had had enough, and left the gray wolf's side. He would continue to search for seeds, not straying too far from his brothers side. The black brute introduced himself as Shadow, a fitting name for the darkly coloured one. He said that there was a wolf he knew who dyed themselves with berries, which is what he was used to seeing. So perhaps this wolf had not been around for very long. He seemed to be around the same age as himself, and perhaps closed off. A wolf like that had no reason to be out and about. Realizing that it had been quite the time since he had said anything, he cleared his throat in an awkward manner. "Would you like to um.. help?" He asked, his paws shuffling in the light dusting of snow. "SPEAK" -- "CEDAR SPEAKS"