Fia did have Stolas on her mind from time to time, not all the time but more often than anyone else had been. Usually her mind was filled with what she would make herself do that day, or maybe what kind of neat thing Avacyn could show her. But occasionally he would sneak his way in there and the times they had shared at The Stone Steppe under the stars. She was definitely feeling some kind of yearning for this sparked relationship they had started, but she'd never see too deeply into it. It was really just her finding interest in a friend, and someone outside of the pack borders.

She had sent her raven out towards Ashen to give him a message to meet her here at the thicket by the river that ran south through Elysium and out, this time during the day so he wouldn't have to travel so late at night. Considerate she thought. Not that she thought he was soft or incapable especially after sharing his similar interests in fighting.

She wasn't much interested in the thicket that was behind her, it was the water that drew her here specifically. Unfortunately with the dropping temperatures of the coming winter they couldn't go for a swim. She didn't know much about the lands more south of here, she barely knew this land just off of Elysium, but she at least knew not to push her limits with how far she could go. As much as she would have been willing to try. She wasn't doubtful about him accepting the offer, and for now she sat by the bank of the river and waited for him to show.

"Fiametta"

It hadn't been too long after their secret midnight meeting to watch the stars and read their prophecies that Stolas found a strange raven coming to seek him out. After some translation help from his owl, the message he had received from Fiametta asking him to meet her out at the Rustling Thicket had been a delight to receive. The young princeling wanted to spend as much time with his new friend as possible before Ashen made its move even farther away and it became more difficult for these day outings to occur. Gods, how was he going to break that news to Fia? He certainly wanted to keep seeing his new friend, especially since she was one of his only friends outside of Ashen. Maybe they could start meeting halfway once the pack had relocated? Or maybe he could invite her over for sleepovers sometime? Ashen and Elysium were allies after all, the notion wasn't astoundingly farfetched.

Deciding easily to make the most of his time, Stolas set out to the eastern territory as soon as he could. He didn't bring his satchel or his grimoire this time, just himself to make traveling lighter, and arrived shortly after midday. The rushing river that cut through the northeastern territories was quite picturesque, and the changing colors of the autumnal trees made for a beautiful backsplash to the sunny day. However, the decreasing temperatures were a herald for the coming winter, and soon everything would be cold and icy once more. Time to squeeze the most out of these nice days while they lasted. Stolas traipsed his way upstream, following the river bank until he got closer to Elysium territory, where he spotted the familiar form of the flame-marked woman sitting on the opposite bank from him.

"Fia!" shouted Stolas above the sound of flowing water. He waited until she looked his way before greeting her with a smile and a wave. "Wait there, I'll be right over!" Fortunately, this part of the river wasn't as dangerous as the rapids to the south was, so with a running start, the Abraxas lord charged and dove into the cool water. Strong, lean muscles paddled his way across with ease, a benefit from doing so much swimming amongst the archipelago, until his paws hit the loamy sediment on the other side. His fur, soaked and damp, clung to him until he shook it dry and trotted his way over to his friend with a grin. "Lovely day for a swim," he joked with a chuckle, tail wagging in a slow sway behind him. "So, what're the plans for today, Lady Scorpio?"

"Stolas"

Almost lost in her own world when Stolas arrived, it was  like that concentration was broken when he was across the way of the river and hollering her name. Not the biggest, cheeriest of smiles, but for her, came across her maw as her eyes nearly fluttered in response and she rose as if they could somehow meet in the middle or find a way south of the river that would be easier for crossing. He seemed to have other ideas, not that it was disappointing. Before she could really even say anything he was bounding into the soft rapids of the river and making his way to her side. She'd start to take casual steps in his direction.

They'd finally meet face to face, Stolas not dripping but certainly not dry though she didn't mind. Her delicate paws didn't stop in front of him, instead going to move around him as she looked him up and down with keen, dark eyes. "You look much different in the daylight." She commented, her gaze looking maybe more admiring than she had intended. Emotions that were purely her own, not that she put any meaning behind them. A sideways smirk as he asked what she had planned, and gave her that little pet name as she had for him the last they saw each other. "Well I was just thinking about how if it were the summer time we could have gone for a swim. But you seem to have taken the chance for me." She joked waiting just a few seconds before raising up and pushing him backwards with her paws until he splashed back into the gentle rush of the waters. She wouldn't linger long until she was leaping in after him, not just pushing him in to be a bully. He was at least more capable to stop her from doing so, so maybe he was playing along.

The sudden hit of the cold water was surprising, but not anything she hadn't felt before. She adjusted quickly, seeming like there wasn't a problem at all. At least not all in good fun. Breaking the surface from the deeper waters she had landed in, she looked around for Stolas with that familiar grin until she spotted him and splashed at him a couple times while she padded towards him. He wouldn't know, but this was a new experience for her. Simply just the rambunctious actions that came out of her hidden personality. She was someone completely new from just a few months ago. It could have been for him, or maybe it was just the effort of leaving the confines of her both physical and mental shell.

She calmed just after a few splashes, a giggling dying down that she hadn't even noticed had escaped her. She wasn't embarrassed, just didn't really know what she was capable of she assumed. Floating on her back her paws paddled along skillfully around to his side, soft and intense gaze finding him easily before she rolled around placing her paw on his shoulder to say, "Come on." And starting to lead their way out of the river so they could pull some stuff from the thicket to start a fire. Maybe a little uneventful for the rest of the evening, but they could dry off and keep warm while they talked until it was about time for them to head back home.

"Fiametta"

Stolas would greet Fiametta with an easy, wide smile, something that didn't always grace the young lord's face as of late unless he was in her presence. She regarded him with interested eyes, her dark gaze roving over him while she began to look him over. A curious brow raised, the yearling uncertain what she was up to until she explained that he looked different in the daylight. That was when he realized that this was actually the first time either of them had seen the other in broad daylight. All of their rendezvous thus far had been at night—the bonfire festival during Samhain and their time stargazing earlier in the autumn. In the sunlight, Fia's dark coat suddenly shone with all manners of dark reds and burgundies, and Stolas took note that parts of her coat that he had initially thought were black were actually acutely dark red too. Just like her personality, there were many more facets to her coat than met the eye, and it just took the right light to bring them out in her.

Fia made a comment about how she had just been lamenting the loss of summer so they could go swimming when he had taken the plunge himself. Stolas chuckled, flashing another toothy smile to her despite his ears folding sheepishly back to his head. "Well, it's not too cold to go swimming still, and when you grow up around water..." Stolas had barely finished replying when he felt a pressure suddenly push him back, sending the dire wolf stumbling back over his own paws and careening back into the stream. He yelped in shock, clearly unharmed, but most definitely taken by surprise as the cool water once more slicked his already damp fur to the planes of his lean body. Raising his head from the water and peering through the droplets dripping from his brow, Stolas looked up with wide gray eyes to find Fia leaping into the water with a massive splash, sending water all over him again. The poor lad just couldn't stay dry!

A peel of laughter escaped the adolescent male while he returned fire on his waterlogged friend, the two wolves devolving into an all-out splash war with one another in the gentle stream. Stolas swam in closer range to Fia so his broad splashes could be more effective, flinching against the spray Fiametta sent his way in retaliation as the water war continued. Fia would never know how out of character for Stolas this was either. The yearling was usually the quiet studious type who kept to himself, pouring over his books and focusing on his own physical fitness training. A bit of a loner, but as an introvert Stolas never complained. As the great water war came to an end, Fia floated about on her back for a spell with Stolas slowly padding alongside her, content to just be present here with her. His fervid gray gaze met Fia's intense eyes, holding her stare for a moment while she drifted along his side. After a moment, she suggested they head for land to dry off. "Right behind you," he replied, paddling after her until his large paws hit the silty shore of the riverbank.

Once more, Stolas rose from the river like some sort of young aquatic god, clear water sluicing from his lean body like a waterfall. His dark coat clung to his taut, youthful form, revealing the growing muscles of his well kept body that were usually hidden beneath his plush coat. The sneaky lordling waited until he'd pulled himself up onto the shore and Fia was near him before beginning to shake off, maybe deliberately getting her caught in the spray of loose water for a little extra good measure. The splash war would be his to win! "Ah, that was refreshing!" Stolas remarked with a happy little grin to his friend. "What would you like to do now?"

"Stolas"

They escaped the water, Fia shaking one extra time from Stolas' last attempt of splashing her with his excess water but she wouldn't complain. She took it as it were which may have not been too surprising given her casual and maybe a little fun attitude with Stolas thus far. As she stepped up off the bank, one of her ravens flew in from overhead and landed on her shoulder handing her a flint and steel from somewhere nearby. She looked back at Stolas with that crooked grin as he asked and she moved forward without another word. Something in her knew he would follow.

She made her way towards the thicket and started to make a small area away from the highly flammable brush where they could have their little temporary camp for the rest of the day. It was easy to grab a handful of stuff to start the fire, and as she turned back around she noted to him, "Make yourself comfortable." With the right tools it was quick and easy to get everything set up, she certainly didn't need no man's help not that it was something she was flaunting. Her raven brought her what she needed so she wasn't going to hand it off to him to wait on her paw and foot.

She took a step back from the burning flames, just staying still for a few seconds before she looked over at Stolas where he was and didn't hesitate as she stepped up beside him. It did feel a little... different she had to admit. And while she wasn't completely open to those more mature feelings that came with age, she was confident in the way she pursued being around him. She'd go to lay down next to him with her shoulder and side up against his still finding her gaze forward into the fire. The clouds were still present but scarce, and they got bits of the warm sun's rays from time to time. Both of their dark coats roasting in every second that was offered to them. She wouldn't keep the silence for long as they laid there, "My brother taught me to swim, but with the lake I don't think it's really unfavored by the rest of my family." It was at least one thing about her, one favorite thing. Something that came with the lands of her home. She glanced back over her shoulder where he had been right there beside her, but maybe finding it a bit difficult to keep her eyes on him for just this second, "My older brother and sister grew up together, and now my younger ones will probably do the same. I feel like I'm just me." It was more in relation of just the little bit of physical contact between them. In no way was she ever deprived of attention from her parents and even her older siblings. But leaning up against Stolas did make her realize and wonder how things could have been different if she wasn't the only in her litter. Like maybe she had been missing something all along.

"Fiametta"

Stolas watched Fiametta while she climbed out of the water with him and shaking off his sudden aquatic assault as they went to settle in to let their coats dry. It appeared that she had a plan for them, since her raven reappeared only a moment later with some flint and steel for her. Fia bid him to make himself comfortable and he would be remiss to disobey her polite offer. Although he had been raised by his fathers to be a gentleman to all ladies, he also knew better than to disrespect one by assuming she was incapable of caring for herself. Ashen was founded and led by powerful women, after all. So while Fia gathered up some dead brush and kindling to make them a fire, Stolas cleared out an area of any sticks and branches so they would have space to make their campfire. Then he settled in and laid down while his friend built their fire and with the strike of the steel on the flint, flames began to rise. The surge of warmth was instantaneous, and Stolas was grateful for it while it helped to dry out their damp fur.

Fiametta came back over to him after making sure the fire was rising nicely and settled in alongside him without a beat of hesitation. Stolas paid no mind to it, of course; why would she hesitate when they were friends? Everything was as normal as he expected a typical friendship would be. Granted, he didn't have the greatest point of reference for what a normal friendship was supposed to be like, but this felt much more like what it was meant to be than the whirlwind he had been caught up in with Widow. Stolas was quite fond of physical affections, especially cuddling, though his quiet outward demeanor would never reveal that. So when Fia snuggled in closer with her side resting against his, he didn't rebuke her or find it awkward. He quite enjoyed the moment they were sharing while they watched the fire burn and crackle. They would be dry in no time at this rate. While they basked in the sun and warmth, Fia began to give him little glimpses into her life, just snippets of parts of her that Stolas made sure to pay close attention to. Her brother had taught her to swim in their pack's lake. It made him think of how his father had taught them all how to swim in the shallows just off the coast that Ashen owned.

"That's cool. My father taught my litter how to swim," he said back, giving Fia a glimpse into his history in return. But the fire-marked girl wasn't done yet. Her next words took his smile away a little, and Stolas fixed graphite gray eyes on the Mendacium princess while she described how her generational solitude made her feel. She had been the only pup in her litter. Two older siblings, two younger ones... Stolas pursed his lips while he considered what she was revealing to him. He couldn't imagine being the only pup in a litter. Sure, he often kept to himself away from his littermates, but at the end of the day he still had them in his life. Fiametta didn't have anyone. "Do you wish you had other siblings from your litter?" he asked. It would be one thing if she didn't care to have any—it would be another if she felt a degree of loneliness from her situation. "There were four of us in my litter. I have a brother and two sisters. And cousins—lots of cousins." He paused for a moment, looking back to the fire before glancing her way once more and adding, "I can spend more time hanging out with you if that'd help. I know it's not the same as having a brother or sister your age, but maybe it would help?"

"Stolas"

As much as Fia didn't care much for other wolves she liked to see how much her and Stolas had in common. Which seemed to be a lot honestly. Royal family, liking for the stars, a place to learn to swim. She couldn't really pinpoint exactly what had drawn her into him instead of refusing to give him the time of day like she usually would with any other. And he at least wouldn't know that now. How special he seemed to her. Maybe he'd have an opportunity one day.

He did make her smile a little as he talked about his siblings and many cousins. She gave a quiet chuckle in return, "Yeah, I have a big family too." She didn't necessarily feel close to all of them, but she knew they were the types that would be there anytime they needed each other. Honestly, she was probably that way too. "But I don't really know. I've always been able to do whatever I wanted so I guess I can't really complain, you know?" It was hard for her to really know what she was missing. She just knew she liked leaning up against him like this.

That bit of a bigger smile on her maw as her head turned to look at him when he offered to come see her a little more often. Obviously nothing she had been offered before. "Do you... think you could come stay in Elysium for a couple days sometime?" Maybe a little more excitement in her tone than she anticipated. The most emotion anyone could get out of her certainly. She'd have to ask her parents of course but who could say no to this face?

"Fiametta"

Fiametta empathized with having a large family; it turned out she came from a large cluster of wolves as well. Another tally under the "Things we have in common" category. Despite her sizable family, Fia explained how she had always been pretty free to do as she pleased. Stolas nodded his head assent. His life had never been strictly policed by his fathers, mother, or aunt. For the most part, he and his litter had been left to their own devices, so long as they didn't cause any trouble or bring dishonor to their family name. "I was raised the same. My parents put a lot of trust in me and my siblings to care for ourselves," he explained, looking away and back into the fire for a moment. "I suppose it made us all more independent—whether that's a good thing or not, I don't really know."

When he offered to make his trips to Elysium more frequent, the excitement on Fia's face was practically palpable! It made the young Abraxas lord smile just as widely, happy he was able to elicit such a positive reaction out of her. It seemed like after the massive implosion of his last friendship, Stolas was being exceedingly careful trying to make sure he did things right and made Fiametta happy. He didn't want to mess up again or do anything to give her a reason to hate him spontaneously, which was the only conclusion he'd been able to draw from Widow's disappearance after... that night. Fia asked if he might be able to stay in Elysium for a few days next time and the boy's bushy tail began to wag fervently, occasionally brushing her hip by accident or thumping on the ground. "I'd like that very much! If it's okay with out families, it would make it easier than having to commute all the way back home in the evening!" Realization dawned on Stolas' features. Oh, right... he still had to tell Fia the bad news. But hey, if he was allowed to stay overnights with her family, maybe it wouldn't be such bad news after all?

"Oh... Fia, I need to tell you something..." Stolas began, breathing a sad sigh, his usually erect ears falling flat to his head. A disappointment filled his graphite eyes as he spoke. "Ashen is moving. My pack is returning to its homelands back in western Boreas." He didn't feel the need to explain that it would put more distance between them; Fia was a smart wolf, she'd know what his statement meant for them. "But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna keep visiting you!" the adolescent boy was quick to interject with, looking back to his friend with a fiercely determined expression. "I still want to keep being friends and hanging out. It just means we might need to make our day trips more like extended trips instead. If you're okay with that." By the gods, did he hope Fia was okay with his compromise! He certainly didn't want to be moving farther away from his best friend! But as a yearling, he also had no say in the matter. Family was paramount, and wherever his family went, he went too. He just hoped and prayed that this wasn't about to be the end of their friendship like how his land one had broken apart. Stolas looked to Fia, waiting for her response with bated breath, while also preparing himself mentally and emotionally for the worst.

"Stolas"

Fia smiled at his own response, "Yeah, I get that too." It wasn't any negligence of their parents really, they just grew up to be strong and care for themselves and who they cared about. Stolas may have been a little more noble, a little more kind than Fia herself. Maybe. Fia certainly thought herself generally better than others, maybe not so much over Stolas with a respect she had grown for him. They were more equals than anything. But she had learned to be independent at a young age. Maybe it was the fact that she was the only in her litter, or perhaps because she didn't have any young wolves to grow up with around the pack. She may have never known. She didn't hate the trait about herself but she wouldn't dwell on the thought too much.

Stolas' eager reaction was contagious, making Fia blush a little with the same bit of wag in her tail. Physical touch with her had felt different, just overall. She did enjoy the closeness he didn't shy away from that she offered and the slight beat of his tail. She couldn't know his deeper insecurities in the moments they shared, not yet anyway. An entire experience she couldn't relate to. The thought of Stolas maybe deciding he didn't like her or simply disappearing was not even existent on her mind. Maybe not a full constant, but he was what brought her outside of the pack lands.

That all too familiar squint came back over her gaze as the mood seemed to drop and she could easily catch on to that bit of worry in his tone as he started and told her that his pack would be moving farther away. Honestly, she didn't see much of the problem. Well, she doubted she could convince her parents to stay a night or two outside of the pack lands by herself. Travelling nearby was one thing, but out in Boreas almost as if she was a loner for the night, that was a far stretch. She reached a soft paw out over his, turning to look at him with questioning eyes and maybe expecting the worst by the way her own ears pulled back just slightly, "Maybe... I could come stay in Ashen sometime too?" At least at this point in her life she thought that may have been asking too much of her parents. She was older, definitely capable of herself. But she was still the little girl. Or she supposed, she guessed things were different with her new siblings. One day that would change. She'd be grown and make her own choices and as much as she loved her mother or father there would be a point in her life where they wouldn't control her.

"Fiametta"

After he had spoken the words of Ashen’s move aloud, the worry took its hold on his heart, and Stolas waited with bated breath for the other shoe to drop. Would Fiametta take issue with the move? Would the greater distance be too much of a strain on their friendship and she’d decide to call it all off now before it got too difficult? All the worst possible outcomes played like dark demons in his head while he waited for her response, dreading that suspicious squint that came over her eyes again that she al2ays did when she was in critical thought. But much to Stolas’ surprise and relief, Fia didn’t kill their friendship on the spot. Instead, she asked if maybe she could stay over in Ashen sometimes too! The glee that came over Stolas’ face couldn’t be contained and once more his tail set to its excited wagging about like it had a life of its own.

"Oh, yes! That sounds great! I’m sure my aunt wouldn’t mind having you over for visits. Ashen and Elysium are allies, after all, so I can’t imagine she’d say no." Between his aunt and father, Stolas’ family reigned over Ashen in totality, and Venom had brokered the alliance between the Empire and Elysium herself. There was no reason Stolas could think of she might deny them their chance to have visits back and forth to each other’s homes. "I’d really like that, actually. It will be nice to have something familiar in all this change," he admitted with a sheepish smile. With how everything in his life had become so upended in recent seasons, having some comfortable stability with Fia felt like just the lifesaver he needed in amongst a turbulent ocean.

"Stolas"

Fia instantly felt the shift in Stolas' mood as she asked if she could come visit Ashen too. She couldn't know the background behind what made him so nervous, and she couldn't say she wasn't interested. But she wouldn't pester him about his feelings. Even though she had very few hardships in her young life she never felt the need to get down into anyone's business. She'd understand why he felt this way one day, or he'd just keep it to himself forever. She'd never hold it against him either way.

She waved her tail a few times again too as he had stated it was something he would actually really like for her to do. She could assume the change of the move is what he was referring to. That was easy to understand. "I can't wait to see it. I've never been real far from home." As she looked down between them, she noticed how one of her paws had been fiddling over the top of his own, just gently petting his in a way. She stopped for that second but didn't feel awkward or embarrassed by it. She'd continue on more, "I'd love to see where your home is now. I don't think I can convince my parents of that quite yet though." She felt it might have been another year or so before she could have full reign over the lands. It was one thing to be out here during the day or inside the safety of a pack overnight. It was only natural for parents to be a little protective over their children, she could see that. But she was having this big vision of going to see all kinds of stuff with Stolas. It would seem they would start just in their homes or nearby of Elysium for now.

"Fiametta"