Kaija had definitely been here before but that didn't mean she couldn't explore this forest some more. For seasons now she'd been in the north, gravitating around the Armada's lands like she was a planet in orbit - giving Ophie her distance but feeling a strong pull, always toward her. She couldn't spend all her time pining and waiting though, and on a day as nice as today it didn't make sense not to go exploring. Without much care about where she ended up, she found herself strolling through the redwood forest, head tipped back nearly constantly as she marveled at their size. Certain things never ceased to amaze her, no matter how many times she encountered them.

Breathing a sigh she trudged on. She knew winter was just ahead and she hadn't yet decided if she'd stake out another long season here or if she ought to head back south. Maybe this place would give her some kind of sign - it was the sort of dreary autumn day that was good for reflection, but she'd never really been the type to sit around and think. Every time she tried to focus she was drawn toward something. A squirrel skittering up just ahead, no doubt foraging before winter - or the ominous sound of the forest floor shifting as a slight breeze whisked by. Her head was held high, swiveling every so often as she searched for signs of life, anything to entertain herself with.

Calico Jack walks slowly through the huge trees, neck craned back as his eyes trace the length of the thick red woods. His puppy mind bogles as he tries to comprehend how old these giants must be. While autumn has caused the leaves to change color and fall, the thick moss and mulch that carpets the floor deadens the normal snap that would have come when his passing pup’s paws press into them. This place has a strange beauty to it and even the canopy darkens the sun, causing Jack to feel as if he is in another world.

The boy is so enthralled by the place that he almost misses the form of a wolf appearing from behind a massive trunk. In fact, he would have missed her if his neck hadn’t suddenly cramped and forced the calico pup to lower his head. Pale blue eyes catch sight of the tusked lady and Jack gives a bark of greeting, happily trotting up to the huge adult. Maybe mom wouldn’t be so mad at him exploring if he sticks with an adult! Sure, he doesn’t know her but that is about to change. With a charming grin, the pup says, “Heya! Mind if I walk with you?” Surely, she won’t say no… surely.


"Calico Jack"

There are few instances in which she'd rather be left to her own devices than be in the company of another wolf, and today is no exception. Though the boy's approach is quiet, still she heard him just before he got too close, and any idle thoughts she was having disappeared instantaneously. A distraction was very welcome, especially one with a good attitude. She mirrored the pup's grin with a wide one of her own, tusked head swinging around as she rotated to face him properly, damp leaves crushed beneath her paws as she moved.

"Hey! Don't see why not," she answered him, her tone friendly despite her somewhat noncommital words. Experiencing the world untethered was important to her, but she didn't care whether she was alone or not most of the time. Her ears flicked toward him as she moved to continue ambling along, her pace lazy as she moved along, winding around one of the giant redwood trees with ease. "You from around here? Or just passing through?" She didn't think it that strange that a kid would be traveling on his own. She'd had similar experiences in her youth, so she wouldn't question him on it.

The tusked lady is nice and Jack falls into step beside her, the grin she gives helping the boy relax in her presence. This strange land holds so much beauty and the pup is glad he gets to experience with someone else… even if she is a stranger. His paws are light as they go, the soft moss making the ground feel like a ton of wet sponges are lining the ground. For a moment, he wonders what it would like after it rains; would the moss make squelching sounds and push out water as he passed?

As the woman speaks, Calico’s ear swivels toward her, his head following close behind as he looks up at her. Another grin is given as he says, “I’m just passing through. Mom and the adults of my pack raided another pack close to here and I wanted to see what that pack looked like since I will be going on raids with my mom soon!” It is an exciting prospect and the boy cannot wait to be out there, fighting. Still, he has heard that some adults aren’t fond of the fun the pirates like to have but that doesn’t matter.

Posture relaxed, steps light, Jack doesn’t consider this tucked lady a threat (in fact he thinks she is really pleasant) so he tilts his head back to look up at the canopy above them. He poses a question to his traveling partner, asking “Do you think a lot of rain makes it to the ground? Seems like that canopy is pretty thick.”


"Calico Jack"

Kaija felt more at home in this forest than she did in most places. The tall, wide redwood trees that reached high to the sky made her feel small and insignificant in a way that was comforting rather than terrifying; she breathed a content sigh as they walked, making a wide loop around one of the massive tree trunks before coming back to Calico Jack's side once again.

"Raiding, huh?" Her interest was piqued. The whole pack lifestyle didn't really suit her personally but the thought of barging in on another pack and taking what you wanted… well, that was more her style. A single eyebrow rose as she studied him, noting he definitely seemed excited by the prospect. "That sounds pretty cool. You're a fighter then, huh?" Sure he was just a kid but she wouldn't underestimate him.

Her attention shot upward to the thick canopy above, musing over his question for a minute before answering. "I'm not sure. Doesn't seem like much finds its way down here,," Kaija speculated, pausing to study the ground. Not much grew here other than some patches of moss and light, sparse vegetation. "Kinda adds to the atmosphere though, dontcha thing?" It wasn't similar to a more lucious forest that might be found further south, but she quite liked exploring the more vacant forest floor.

The patchwork colored pup talks about his mother and the tusked lady’s interest seems peeked. Flashing a wide grin, the boy confidently answers her question, “Yep! I’ll be raiding with my mom soon. Say, you seem like you can fight. If you ever want to test your metal, you should come visit my home. We’re to the south on the obsidian sanded beach. Its pack land but the beach is open to anyone who wants to visit.” Talk turns to the canopy above them as he muses about the rain and the woman’s voice his head tilting back down so he can cast his eyes on the ground. There really isn’t much here, some moss and little to no vegetation.

However, there is tons of leaf litter that seems to deaden the sounds of the forest and their pawsteps, giving the forest an almost spooky atmosphere. The tusked wolf’s words have Jack looking up at her with a smirk, amusement flashing brightly in his pale blue eyes as he suddenly leans toward her. The pup pitches his voice down while speaking in a loud whisper, “You know… I bet this place would be perfect to tell ghosts stories at night.” Gaze turns to the huge, thick barked trees, imagining a roaring fire where wolves could huddle around and whisper scary stories in the late night hours.

After several moments of silence, he offers, “My name’s Calico Jack, by the way.” She might not have wanted to know his name but he sure wants to know hers… he cannot help but think that she is cool.


"Calico Jack"

The thought of raiding and fighting and all that sounded cool enough, but wasn't appealing enough for Kaija to consider pledging her loyalty to any one pack. It didn't sound like enough freedom for her. What if she just didn't feel like fighting one day? Kaija liked being like a leaf on the wind - carried wherever she ended up, doing whatever she wanted. She appreciated the kid's invitation anyway though, even if she wasn't sure she'd take him up on visiting. But hey, maybe if she ended up that way she'd considered it. "Yeah, sure thing kid," she replied, not in a dismissive sort of way really, just in her casual lazy drawl.

The conversation seemed to quiet for a moment before Calico Jack spoke up, suggesting that this place might be perfect for telling ghost stories. Now that piqued her interest. Her own silver eyes flashed with interest as they widened, wondering what he could possibly know about ghosts (the answer was: probably more than her, but she wasn't going to admit that). Kaija let out an amused little short, mulling over his words for a minute. "Ghost stories, huh? You know any good ones?" A childlike sense of playfulness seemed to wash over her. She was fully grown now by a lot, but that didn't mean she didn't want to play child's games and tell ghost stories like she was a kid again. She'd probably never really grow up, not like most wolves did - and why should she? Life was too short and too fun to take everything so seriously all the time.

"I'm Kaija," she introduced herself in return. "You must be pretty cool then, to have two first names." She allowed herself a grin, her words goofy but definitely genuine.