She was... happy for once in her life. Not because of anything special. Okay, maybe a little special something. Unlike her dumb siblings, she had managed to sneak off of the island and out into the mangroves north of the isle. After wading her way in that rickety raft, half-drenched, and feeling rather rebellious, the pup splashed down into the shallows. Time had passed quickly and she was growing even quicker. Her already too-long legs and too-large paws carried her through the sand into the groves. Hopping up onto the thick roots, she bounced along, wobbling and doing her best to keep her balance as she made her way deeper into the territory. Stopping when her bright-colored eyes spotted a decent-sized pond with rather large fish in it. The sadistic nature of Calliope felt almost... eager to inflict pain upon fish. Carefully she slipped from the large roots into the shallows once more. Though cold, she ignored it. She was focused. The instinctual prey drive reared its head as she stared at the shimmering shadows beneath the surface. Licking her lips as she waited patiently, Calliope waited for the right moment. Calliope

Maybe he was a bit farther from mom's side than she would have liked. Maybe a bit. That was alright, though. Though Halo tried to put him in a bubble, Warden had become rather adept at slipping off. What he probably didn't know, though, were the watchful eyes of the raccoon on his back. Though usually just out of sight, Mr. Raccoon really did seem to have eyes absolutely everywhere.

As he crossed deeper through the Mangrove, Warden's gaze was gentle on the world around him. He's taking it all in, breathing something strange and wonderful through his chest. Winter had faded into spring, and he'd... well, he'd made it this far. Really, he's probably out of the metaphorical woods, though Halo would continue to fret and worry. Such is her way, after all.

Drawn in by the glimmer of dappled sunlight across the top of a pond, Warden nears it. It was rather large, and he could see the flickering shadows of fish as they flit about in the water. That wasn't all, though. A girl was in the shadowy shallows, watching the surface of the water. Warden couldn't help himself, hovering there for a long moment. "I dunno if that's how fishing works." A charming grin slips over his features. There was no malice in his tone, and he's relaxed as he steps over the foliage and close the gap between them.
"Speech"

The boy's voice breaks her concentration. Looking up from the surface of the glimmering pond, she stares at him. Not quite maliciously, but piercing enough that it might startle him. His words cause her to smirk. An idea forms. A forceful impulse that she must act on. "Oh, it's not?" Calliope says, almost sickly sweet as her expression turns from piercing to soft and puppy-like. "Care to show me?" She croons, her ears perking and tail sweeping idly behind her. Turning carefully, cautious enough to not allow her paws to disturb the water too much, Calliope moves toward Warden. "You sure it's not like this?" Calliope's voice, oh how sticky and sweet it is as her lips curl farther up. In the next split second, she leaps. Closing the gap between them, she reaches her paws outward toward the boy. Reaching out to aim and grab him around the shoulders, if she can reach him, she twists and pulls her body so that they will both go crashing down into the shallows of the pond. Calliope

Warden catches her gaze and oh-- it's startling. Something that makes his pulse pick up just a little bit. It draws him in, a siren song. Really, he can't tell if it's attraction or danger drawing him in, but both things seem to have the same effect on boys about his age. She was cute, bro. Her voice was so sweet and pretty, and it drew Warden towards her. His steps were long over the soft ground of the mangrove, finally coming to the side of the pond to speak with the girl.

But before he can put the words together, she sprung upon him. Warden yelped, unable to get out of her way. Toppling over, they both go crashing into the pond. The boy thrashed and flailed wildly, his heart pounding in his chest. Shit! Shit, shit, shit-- had she done that on purpose? Warden fought to get his bearings in the water, fought to come up. When he finally found the surface again he was coughing and sputtering, his hackles going up. Stomping in the shallows, he splashed at the girl. "That was mean!" Tone accusatory, ears flickering backwards.

"Speech"

Her paws grasp his shoulders and suddenly they are crashing into the pond. Between the flailing of his legs and her own, there is a chaotic mess of puppies. She chokes on water, but manages to surface with a fit of giggles. Even as he splashes her, Calliope topples over onto her bum and can't stop laughing. Her eyes are closed and tears are soaking her already drenched face. His fit of temper sets her off even more. What had been the harm for a little swim? A few seconds ago go by until her ribs begin to hurt and her laughter sputters to a stop. When she can pull herself together, Calliope spreads out in the shallows and smirks back at the boy. "Mean? I just wanted to learn how to fish," she practically coos the words as she bats her lashes at him. "Isn't that how one fishes?" Calliope asks, her sadistic grin growing as she lets her tail slap at the surface of the pond. Calliope

Warden scowled at the girl, then watched her dissolve into giggles. What was her problem anyway! He'd been trying to help and now they were both soggy. Was she laughing at him? Warden was indignant, pale eyes displaying a whole range of emotions. Hurt feelings, anger, indignance. All of them washing over the boy as he stands, stiff, gaze fixed on the girl. Trying to figure her out, but Warden doesn't even know where to start. Brightly colored, near every bit as tall as him, but she's probably stronger.

There's something in her gaze, something Warden isn't sure he likes. Something dark and shifting, and he swallowed hard. He's not sure he liked that. Still, Warden sizes her up, scowl spreading through his features. "I'm not dumb, y'know." The words are grumbled. He's played enough with Spider to know that others aren't always friendly... at least Spider had never tried to drown him. Maybe that was a little dramatic, but then, maybe he has a little flair for it anyway.

"Speech"

His behavior, his expression, everything about the way he stares at her with those pale eyes makes her insides squeal with delight. No, she hadn't been trying to drown him, but pissing him off was more than delightful. Her replying snort to his words was quickly followed with a roll of her eyes. "Didn' say ye were dumb," Cal retorts as she rolls over onto her back in the water. Rinsing her muddy pelt clean so that the colors of her coat shone a little better, she moves to roll over and stand back up. Giving her body a big shake so that water went flying, she smirks back at the boy as she moves toward land near him. "I was jus' playin' y'know," her tone is sassy, sarcastic, and rather rude but that was Cal. She was callous, abrasive, everything that would deter anyone from trying to like her. It was how she preferred it. She didn't need anyone or their help. Moving to sit beside him, she lets her front legs push forward until she is laying down again. Turning her chin to look up at him with a beaming and malicious smile, she studies him. His pale coat, pale eyes, interesting markings. Of course, Cal thought herself the prettiest in all of the land, but he was something to look at too. "So, what're ya doin' down here? Haven' seen ya round here before," as much as Cal didn't care to be friendly, she also wondered what the boy's objective was. He was a little too close to home for her liking.

Ears crumpling back against his head, Warden isn't sure if he believes her entirely. Distrustful, though he was more curious than anything else. Outright abrasiveness isn't new to him, but she... she was something else. Usually it's someone a lot smaller than him squawking and carrying on-- you get used to it. This is different. This... makes his insides feel a little weird, actually.

She rinsed herself out, and Warden did the same. Reminding himself not to stare, breath catching in his chest... whew. What is it about that tone? Frustrating. A little boy on the playground. Splashing at the surface of the water once more, not necessarily at her but... well sorta. Warden was going to be sore about this thanks very much.

Distracted by her question, Warden at least... focuses. For a minute. "My mum came down this way for some herbs, I came for the walk." His mood shifts easily, pulling away from the stormy feelings that had been brewing only a moment ago. "I'm Warden. Who're you and why are you out here?" There's no reason for him to give his family name, at least in his his own mind. Instead he just... maybe he's looking a little too long okay shut up.

Warden. She'll have to commit that to memory. "Calliope," her head dips, her lips pulling up in that devious smirk. All he needs to know, for now. As if they'd ever meet again. One ear flicks, her weight shifting, she can hear the swoop of wings in the air. In a tree not far behind her, an owl lights upon a tree. Erish's gentle coo alerts Calliope. Beckoning her home, she turns to look back at the boy. "Til next time, War," Cal says, suddenly reaching forward, her muzzle planting firmly on his cheek before twirling away. A cackle emitting from her pale lips as she runs off after Erish who is once more in the air and leading her way back to Daager Isle. -exit Calliope- Calliope