All You Have Is Your Fire...

Pyralis eased her way down into the gorge, taking it slow and steady. Alkali soared above her before diving farther down into the gorge in order to scout ahead. Her son, Ashiel, had opted to head back to the old homeland to give Amon the news. He'd said he'd stay there with his daughter as there was no clearer sign that the Abraxas weren't meant to conquer this new land. Pyralis couldn't decide what to do with herself. She supposed she really should either join Risen full time or go back to her brother. Still, she could not fully make the decision. She'd never been terribly great at committment and in these tumultuous times or any such times she'd always taken to wandering. Sooner or later a solution would strike her but at the moment she just needed to take her mind off life.

A shift in the air caught her attention. Well, well, did she smell the scent of coyotes? And did her ears detect the sound of young? Though, she didn't really have anyone to play coyote ball with. Alkali did not find the past time all that amusing. Perhaps it was best she just worked her way down into the canyon.

Valentine had been a bit sulky - okay maybe just more sulky than usual - since losing Rhythm to Abaven. As he was wont to do he was torn on the subject. Some days he thought of her absence bitterly but others with a sense of relief. Today his thoughts were mixed. Bittersweet, if you will. On the one hand he couldn't worry about her too much with so much distance between them. If she relapsed it couldn't possibility be his fault, could it? And if his eye wandered...well...there was no old lady at his side to give him pause. On the other hand, however, his mind, without constant input from her, was left to its own devises. He was his own worst enemy in this regard; wondering just what she was up to and how she might be struggling.

Okay he needed to do something because this mope around and be pissy(er) stuff was garbage. But what was an old man to do? His wiles, like his balls, sank more each year and he wasn't as (overly) confident about his ability to woo pretty young things anymore. And old people were rarely fun enough for him so he didn't feel like shmoozing anyone his age.

He got up with a huff and began to wander. Without really planning it Valentine soon found himself in the canyon. He wove around jutting rocks and peered into caves looking, perhaps a little too hard, for fun or trouble or fun trouble. He just wanted something to do and he didn't care what he found.

Pyralis started to work her way down into the canyon, purposely following the scent of coyote. Even if she didn't have anyone to play coyote ball it might still be worth it to pick a fight with the coyote mother. She was over the hill now but that was no reason to let her health just slip. A nice fight would put a little pep in her step. She glanced up at Alkali who was soaring through the air above her, humoring he wolven companion. However, when they reached the bottom Alkali was content to settle on a nearby rock and preen, leaving Pyralis to do as she wished.

Nose set to tracking she soon found the coyote den. She moved boldly forward and as she was about to stick her head in a coyote lunged and snapped at her. Far enough out to make a point but not far enough to actually score a hit. Pyralis chuckled as she looked at the coyote growling at her with ears flat and wild eyes. Pyralis lunged forward, jaws wide as the pair sparred fangs against fangs until Pyralis managed to get the coyote under the throat and with a mighty pull she dragged the flailing creature out into the sunlight.

The commotion of course drew Valentine in. He was a sucker for kerfuffles and whatever was going on up ahead sounded juicy. If there was a fight to be had he would be remiss for at the very least not spectating. As he trotted towards the corner that separated him from the noise Valentine tried to guess at what was happening. For him this was akin to shaking presents on Christmas Day. It was a fight - that much was clear to his well trained ears - but he was having trouble visualizing the combatants. And the motivators of course wouldn't be clear until he could eyeball them, but he was guessing it started with one of the classic F's: food, family or fucking.

He rounded the corner and paused to take it all in. It didn't appear to be the first or the last F as he could see neither a kill nor anything indecent, but if the sagging teats of the coyote were any indicator there was family afoot. The woman managed to grab the coyote by the throat and drag it all the way out of the den.

Intrigued by the woman's failure to immediately deliver a killing blow, Valentine cocked his head and said, "They make terrible pets, I'm afraid. And even worse food."

Pyralis worked her way backwards with the coyote in her jaws when a voice called out. She smirked but found she could not make a sassy retort with her mouth full of coyote. What a conundrum. The creature was still flailing, it's forepaws striking her chest but it had grown much weaker and was soon hanging limp. She dropped the coyote then quickly pounced on it and pinned the little beast in case it revived. She looked up at the older, distinguished looking gentleman and licked her lips.

"Oh, not to worry, I had something else in mind…. fun."

She frowned a bit though and poked at the coyote which had passed out. "Granted I was hoping for more of a fight but she was never my main objective. Say, would a handsome gentleman like yourself be interested in joining me for a rousing game of coyote ball?"

Valentine watched dispassionately as Pyralis choked out the coyote. The little beast flailed around, its wide eyes rolling as it fought to be free, and then it was gone. He had just enough time to wonder if the woman was going to kill it before she pounced on its limp body as though there was  chance it might jump up again. So not dead. Interesting. The old king's hatred of coyotes ran deep enough that if in Pyralis' place he most certainly would have killed the little pest.

His ears pricked at the mention of the word "fun". "Oh?" That sounded promising when paired with a downed coyote and a den full of mewling babes. He didn't know what kind of game this woman intended to play, but it was already shaping up to be interesting.

In a single breath the woman gave him a compliment and an invitation to play so of course Valentine was a bit smitten. "Coyote ball! With a name like that, how could I possibly refuse?" He slipped closer eying the pinned coyote all the while. "So how does one play this game, hm?"

"Excellent!" Pyralis chirped as the man agreed to plan with her. She shot a smirk at Alkali but the hawk only rolled her eyes.

"Well, first we're going to need a ball. One second." Pyralis jammed her head into the opening of the coyote's den but couldn't quite reach her quarry so she slowly worked her shoulders in, praying she wouldn't get stuck. That was the last thing she needed, to be stuck with her ass out in the air right in front of a stranger. What would the neighbors think!

Thankfully, she'd only needed a few more inches before he jaws seized around one of the coyote puppies. It immediately began to squeal and cry but she ignored it as she worked herself back out of the den opening with a pop. She pranced back over to the stranger and dropped the pop at her feet, resting her right paw over it to prevent it from squirming away. "Ok, here are the rules. We each start out with 5 points. And we start the game standing eight feet apart." Pyralis moved back a bit to what she gauged to be the correct distance, rolling the pup along with her as she moved and making sure the coyote mom was evenly spaced between them.

"We then toss the coyote 'ball' back and forth til one of us drops it. Whoever drops it loses a point. We then need to put ten feet of distance between ourselves, then twelve, etc. First one to 0 loses or whoever has the most points left by the time the mother coyote wakes up, wins." Assuming she did wake up. They didn't always regain consciousness. "Sound good? Oh, and my name is Pyralis by the way."

After the particulars of the game were laid out before him Valentine blinked once, twice, three times, as he processed it. Where had this woman been when Cascade had been alive? She would have made the perfect addition to their games. Slowly a smile began to build at the corners of Valentine's mouth. At its crescendo he couldn't help but laugh. Oh this was too perfect. He felt the need to wish for something else - a frisky young babe, maybe - since the powers-that-be seemed to granting wishes today.

"Pyralis," he purred appreciatively, "Where have you been all of my life? It's a fantastic game." Readying himself to catch the first pup, Valentine widened his stance and lowered his head so he was looking straight on at Pyralis. This was going to be good. "I'm Valentine. Do we lose points for anything else? Crushing them, perhaps?" He wasn't exactly a light touch so he needed to know now how much trouble - if any - he'd get into for mangling one.

Pyralis was eager to get started. She was practically dancing on her paws at the thought of finally getting a willing playmate. She could guilt Amon and Alkali into playing with her but most seemed to dismiss her eccentric games and that poor boy Iroh certainly didn't seem amused when she'd tried to teach him. If anything he'd been rather mortified.

Where have you been all of my life? It's a fantastic game.

Pyralis responded with a sultry grin. "Your dreams maybe? And thank you!" The man introduced himself as Valentine and asked a pertinent question. She thought for a moment. "Not really. Obviously half the fun is the squeals but we can still play even if they expire. Ok, ready? Let's go!" She reached down and grab the pup which immediately began to cry loudly. Sizing up the distance Pyralis tossed her head, sending the pup flying toward Valentine.

"Ah," he purred. "That's where I know you from." It was rare to find an old wolf who appeared as feisty as he felt. Most of the time whenever he came across someone in the same age range as himself, they were the 'sleep all day, shaky when they walked' type of old. And that wasn't just boring, that was sad. If he ever got to that stage he hoped someone would have the sense to brain him with a rock while he slept. Put an end to his obvious misery unless he could take care of it himself.

Alright, let the games begin.

Pyralis let a pup fly and Valentine's first thought, even though he'd known this was coming, was 'oh fuck.' The babe squealed as it arced towards him seemingly in slow motion. Valentine might have laughed had he not been so focused on catching the damn thing. His eyes widened as it got close to him...and then he snatched it out of the air. The act of getting caught in a pair of two tight jaws caused the pup to fall silent and for a second Valentine wondered if he'd killed it. It seemed to get over its shock quickly and began to squirm again. Not dead. Good.

He widened his stance, lowered his head, and then raised it quickly to send the pup flying back to Pyralis. His toss was less practiced, however, and pup ended up tumbling end over end through the air.

All You Have Is Your Fire...

Pyralis let out a cheer as Valentine caught the pup. "Good form!" Not only did she find someone who actually wanted to play, it seemed like he'd be quite good at it. The pup went limp for a moment before it suddenly started squirming. She heard Alkali stirring on a branch nearby but her sight never left the pup. She knew Alkali didn't think much of this game. Valentine tossed the pup who was tumbling end over end. Oh, shit! Pyralis stretched her neck clear out jaws grasping and she just managed to catch the pup by a hind leg, its face hovering inches above the ground. Whew, that was close!

"I just want to say I don't think this is a good idea. That squealing creature is going to call every predator within several miles here. Can't you two do something constructive with your energy?"

Pyralis rolled her eyes and shot Valentine a look that clearly lamented what a spoil sport her companion could be. Pyralis carefully worked her jaws up to the pups lower back so she had a better grip on it. She turned so her side was facing Valentine. She eyed him for a moment and then whipped her head to the side sending the pup flying back at him.