Summer swiftly transformed into a dry Autumn. Unlike the dewy mornings of yesterday, she was now met with red skies and crinkling leaves falling quickly from branches. Grasses dried, berries bushes shriveled, and everything appeared to slink away and back into the ground. Even the rivers had dropped down a few inches, leaving animals thirsty and parched. With the weeping branches tickling her fur, Gem searched for a clean pond to sip from. Maybe she would find something to keep as well. Her paint supplies were running low and she hadn't been able to hunt anything worthwhile to use for dried skin to paint on. And though her companion, Hematite, traveled at her side, she still felt a sense of loneliness. He would chat from time to time, but the mastiff preferred silence over conversation. Gem attempted to fill the silence, but with her mouth dry and belly empty, she found it hard to carry on. A wistful sigh leaves her as her dull gaze sweeps over the seemingly empty grove. Where were the animals? The birds? The deer? Everything felt off... Sticking close to Hem, Gem led them to a glimmering creek reflecting shafts of red light through the sparse canopy. Lowering her two-toned muzzle to sip from the waters, she notices something shimmering at the bottom of the creek bed. Were those minerals? Geodes? Curious, she steps further into the water, shivering at the sudden zap of chill that runs up her legs. Carefully, she begins to pry at the sparkling stone to get it loose. Gem Klein

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Atticus was out for a stroll, taking in all the sights and sounds. He was however glad that summer had come to a end, transforming into the autumn they would know and enjoy. Although the red sky still stuck around, everything was changed. Even the landscape it felt like. Attention was pulled as gaze turned to that of a little female whom appeared to be like a chimera ivory and obsidian a smile crossed the large brutes lips as he chuffed out in greeting.

A large brute traveled along side her, Atticus allowed his stance to be non threatening and relaxed. Sure he enjoyed life and the lessons he was helping his family build and reach. But sometimes he just needed time away. To gather his own train of thoughts. The animals were gone, which he found a little strange, but wouldn't come out and state it.

He chuckled, carefully making his way up to the duo. "They seem to be making an appearance." His vocals drift out towards the woman. "I hope you do not mind me interrupting your stroll. " He stated warmly out to the dog and the she-wolf. Hoping that she would be up for some company as well.

"Speech!"

Her dual-toned gaze is trained on the shimmering water as she investigates. Tiny fish and tadpoles swim around her legs, zipping back and forth as if she were nothing but a tree root. The tickle of their fins and little legs sends an odd sensation across her skin. An obsidian paw reaches forward to turn over a few rocks, moving closer to the glimmer of shine beneath the surface. Though the water is shallow, it's not shallow enough for her to stick her head under. Plus, it is rather chilly so she'd rather not get too wet and suffer hypothermia. Noticing that this particular glimmer is just a shiny rock, Gem moves a few feet farther down the creek in search of something worth keeping. When the stranger lets out a chuff, Hem's attention alerts Gem. Both of them look up, water drizzling from Gem's muzzle, ears perking and lips pulling up into a smile. His relaxed and nonthreatening posture was relieving. She was a social wolf and having her grumpy companion was not always enough for her. "I do not mind at all," she replies sweetly, her soft voice delicate and tinkling. "I was just searching the creek bed for geodes if you'd like to join," Gem offers, her tail swishing slowly through the water before her attention turns back to her task. Gem Klein

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His own gaze slipping over the girl and then her companion, a dip of his cranium was given out of respect to the butterfly of bleached and atramentous pigments. He couldn't help but chuckle as the droplets of water fall from her maw back into the liquid that wrapped around her legs. "If I might inquire what is so interesting of geodes?" He questioned softly.

Moving towards the waters, as eyes scanning the rock bed, it was crystal clear water for the most part so it'd make forth a easy task. Finding something, which would in turn be plain quartz he would try and grab it with his own maw. His tail still behind him. "Like is?" His own face lifts out of the water, revealing the quarts as his eyes look to her.

"Speech!"

Finding boredom in this hobby of Gem's, her companion, Hem, wanders off to lay beneath a willow. Not too far, but not too close either. He didn't care enough for wolves to really be interested in their company, but he was protective of Gem so one eye would always be on her. Paying the mastiff no mind as she continued to search, she looks at the man when he inquires what was interesting about geodes. It would be hard to describe if she did not have an example. A lullaby soft hum vibrates her throat as she turns over a few more rocks before some reveals itself. Thankfully, it doesn't take long for her to find a rounded egg-shaped rock that surely would have a geode with it. Plucking it from the water, she quickly smacks it on a rock to crack it open, turning to him as he shows her the plain quartz that he found. Within her geode, she found a pretty rose quartz that glimmered with whites and pinks. "Yeth, lithe thath!" She exclaimed around the rock in her mouth, tail beginning to wag excitedly. Feeling funny with the rock in her mouth, she moves out of the creek and onto the grassy shore where she gently places the geode down. "They're pretty, that's all," Gem smiles, her petite shoulders shrugging as she looks over at him after taking a moment to admire her find. "Oh!" She says suddenly, remembering that she hadn't introduced herself yet. "I'm Gem! It's short for Gemma," Tail still wagging, the fae moves farther away from the water, giving her coat a shake before turning to him with her head canted slightly to the side. "Are you from around here?" Her question is genuine, eyes glittering with curiosity and kindness. Gem Klein

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The Dunamis brute was always there for those he cared about, not one to turn his back on those in need either. Especially with the strange events over taking his home lands of Boreas. Things were settling but still uneasy. He heard rumors of worms appearing all over the place but the masculine could not imagine something like that ever happening. Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he didn't want to seem like he was not right here with the pretty little butterfly and her companion. Because he was, as she brought out the rose quartz he smiled, her tail behind her small frame showing all the excitement as she spoke out, it warrented a chuckle.

Atticus moved out from the waters, placing the plain quartz he had found upon the shore. They were beautiful specimens for sure as he spoke out. "They are very pretty, if I must add myself." He offered her a smile as ears splay to the sides then perk as she offered her name. And if Atticus was going to be honest, the name matched her fairly well. "Well Gem, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Atticus." He dipped his skull to quench his thirst for only a second.

"I was not borrn here, but now I reside over there." Turning his skull in the direction of Insomnia. "These lands of Boreas seem to offer so much and such beauty if I must say. What about you Gem?" The large brute pulling himself from the waters, as he lowers his hindquarters, his pools noticing the light grey almost silver upon her side now. She truly was a Gem, the nickname fitting her almost perfectly.

"Speech!"

Atticus. She loved the name. Watching him move with sure steps, she feels intimidated by his certainty, but in a good way. It was as if he felt no insecurity. For a second, she wanted to bask in it. What did it feel like to feel so comfortable with yourself? Smiling in return as he drink, she moves to sit upon the grass and tilt her head up to admire the willows. "The pleasure is mine, Atticus," Gem murmurs gently, her cheeks flushing with warmth as she purposefully avoids his gaze. Her alabaster ear does turn to listen to him speak. So he wasn't from here? Interesting! She definitely wanted to know more! Once upon a time, she had heard of Insomnia, her gaze turning to look across the waters to where Medusa ruled. It was not often she heard bad things of the peculiar woman. Gem is lost in thought, wondering about different packs for a moment, when she hears him ask about where she's from. "I am from Boreas. To the south, there are tall red rocks, I was born there, but have traveled around to many places here," she answers easily, her tone friendly and only a tad shy as she turns her full attention to Atticus. "I love the adventure, but sometimes I think it would be nice to settle down," Gem lets out a wistful sigh. In truth, she could easily return to her family's pack and find peace there, but she wanted... something different. There was so much sorrow around her family, especially her siblings now, that it felt difficult for her to return. Gem Klein

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Gem was so pleasant to be around, shy but pleasant none the less. Listening to the song that played from her lips, speaking out his name. However the large brute wouldn't bask in the idea of her always speaking his name for who known if their paths would cross again. He sure hoped that they would though. He lifted his cranium to listen, water dripping from his maw. "A woman that has manners such a beautiful change. But know that the pleasure is all mine dear beautiful Gem." She was truly a gem, one that he hoped that he would see and have the pleasure to communicate with more.

She spoke once more, and he listened. Drawing his front paws to his chest. A smile crossing his dark lips. "Boreas is interesting and so much to learn from. Tell me Gem, what is the most interesting lands you've visited and wish to visit again." To say that he wasn't becoming interested in the girl would be a lie. She was gentle and soft spoken. "Adventures can be fun, and that time will come when you are able to settle down after you meet someone you can't picture your life with out."

She truly was something, as he offered a smile. He wanted to know everything about her that he could. Something was different with her. He picked up the shyness from the woman, his ivory tail curling against his frame once more.

"Speech!"