thread title, if you're curious lmao

Dainty paws carried the woman towards the small stream the cut through the valley, eager to dip her tired paws in the cool water and take a moment to relax. Traveling had been rough on her, trimming some unnecessary weight but also causing ragged callouses to form on her once-soft pads. It wasn't her favorite thing in the world, but at least the ground had become less painful through it all. Regardless, the cool water on her aching and tired paws was more than enough of a reason to take a break. If she was lucky, maybe she could find a small meal.

As she approached the creek, she paused to examine the water before slowly dipping her forepaws in. With a sigh of relief, she slowly lowered herself at the edge of the creek and laid down to enjoy her break from traveling.

"Speech!"

For a moment after spotting the woman at the water, Eligos hesitated. He was tired, foot- and heart-sore, and feeling particularly jaded after his most recent encounters and had very little desire to be in company. But he had also been traveling the west for some time and was hot and thirsty, and didn't want to find another creek to slake his thirst in. So he quietly moved a polite distance upstream from where the stranger was dabbling her paws, and bent his head to the water. Though the autumn weather was cooler, and the water chilly from it, his dark coat soaked up the heat from the sun easily and his trek here had made him overwarm, so the cold water felt wonderful on a hoarse throat. Having grown used to the appearance of the glow and markings and horns he had not been born with, and having spent little time lately with anyone who hadn't known his appearance, he gave little thought to how it might appear from a stranger's perspective as brighter golden color rippled across his dark coat with his movement and - frankly - he'd have been even more embarrassed and uncomfortable if he'd thought about it.

Relaxing with her paws in the stream was simply wonderful, the ache leaving her and moving downstream. Her focus was centered on the water as it moved, envying it for the speed and fluidity but appreciating her own free will to go as she pleased. Water always took the easiest path and Jezebel couldn't say that she was the same. Shortcuts were nice, but not always effective, but she wasn't above using them.

A sound upstream caught her attention and she was quick to turn, noticing another massive wolf drinking from the stream. Not only were they the biggest wolf she'd ever seen, but he also had horns? And glowing fur?! She'd never seen anything like it before and soon she was standing and making her way over to the man at a slow pace, bi-colored eyes lost in the wonder that he was. Jezebel was smiling as she walked over, though it bordered on a smirk as she certainly wasn't being shy about looking him over.

"Well, hello Handsome." She almost purred after settling herself atop a rock, crossing her paws as they dangled off in front of her. She knew she was pretty, but he was more than that. The horns, the glowing, the size of him... All things she could never have believed possible, yet stood mere feet from her. Was she a little jealous of his beauty? Well...

"Speech!"

Eligos rose back to his full height in caution as the stranger took note of him and began to saunter his way. Blood-red eyes appraised her coolly, noting the way she appraised him in return was... definitely not the same. There was something of wonder and awe to it, which was as should be considering that he was an Abraxas though he had never seen that sort of reaction even at the height of the Abraxas empire's rule here, but there was a different quality to it as well, that he recognized though had never had directed at him. Something both predatory, and covetous, and sultry that reminded him of how he had seen his erstwhile sibling treat others. Eligos, who had neither approved nor understood Fel's rampant sexuality, was uncomfortable having similar directed his way. Eligos didn't move, but he shifted his weight nearly unperceptively away as he watched her settle on a rock. "Good afternoon," he returned with polite precision, choosing to ignore the 'handsome' and the way she looked at him. He tilted his head towards her inquiringly. "Is there something I could help you with, then?"

She felt his eyes on her, but she didn't feel his eyes roll over her the way he had to feel hers. She wasn't shy about this kind of thing, but still is was mostly just a game. The shifting he did that someone moved him away hadn't gone unnoticed by the girl as she settled on the rock, but there wasn't much she could do about it. He wasn't as receptive to her as she had hoped, but that would be fine. The best ones weren't easy, though she hardly minded the long game as she played it herself. He responded to her plainly, though when he tilted his head she smirked a bit. Cute.

"Tell me why you look so... different? Are you a God or something?" The last question was a tease, mismatched eyes rolling over his frame again and focusing on the areas of interest, mostly his horns and glowing fur.  

"Speech!"

Though his gaze remained warily studying the stranger, he kept his other senses alert. This was a classic setup for bandits and worse - a pretty, flirtatious woman (or a distressed woman or lost child) distracting the mark while the thugs moved into position to rob or kill them. He heard and scented nothing though, so perhaps it was nothing more than it had seemed, a random encounter between two strangers with no preplanned ulterior motive.

Perhaps her words should have provoked surprise or a sense of ego from him, but to Eligos his demigodhood was just a fact of his life. It had always been there for him, part of who he was and the outward appearance changes hadn't figured into it the way many regarded it, so when the stranger asked him with what was probably actually a joking remark he answered with a quiet, earnest simplicity. To Eligos what he was saying was completely true, no doubts, and that translated to his words and his voice. Not arrogance, just... truth. "Yes, I am. I am a descendent of the Fallen God, who in his wisdom saw fit to father my family to train here in the mortal world so that we may one day fight by his side in his war to reclaim his throne."