He was growing bigger every day, and as he developed came the warmth. It had been true, the weather was actually becoming comfortable. He could feel his puppy fur, along with his winter coat, start to peel off. It was incredibly itchy and he hated it, no one had told him about this part. He would waddle away from the barn, since he had gotten lost that day and Lady Silent had rescued him, he had made it a point to learn the territory. He had made himself to be brave, he had to mostly do it alone, but Nizhoni had been helping him. Today he wasn't quite sure where his brother had gotten off to, so now he was walking along the border by himself. Half looking for the perfect tree to scratch his back on, and half learning where everything was. Dusty paws would carry him through grass and shrubbery, he could feel the burs start to collect on his patchy coat. He had to be rid of it as soon as possible, the itch would spread from his back quickly to the rest of his body. It was practically agony, and he had to stop and sit so he could scratch a bit before continuing the search. He would round another bend, and with his blue gaze searching he would come across the pinnacle of scratching trees. His puppy paws would speed towards it, his eyes alight with the prospect of relief. Reaching it he would not hesitate at rubbing himself all over its rough bark. It was incredibly round and perfect for him to be rid of his pesky winter coat. He would start by acting as though her were a house cat rubbing upon its master's legs. Fur would stay caught upon the bark as he ran around the tree with his side leaning upon it. After the itch on his sides was relieved the boy would take up an act of a bear and push his back against the bark, and would rub up and down. He had his front paws brought close to his chest with eyes closed in pure bliss. Speech,

The woman spotted the pup scratching up against a tree as she was going carefully around the border of a pack. She didn't want to intrude. But no one can give me into trouble for holding a conversation with a little boy She padded over to the little one and smiled. Hello there She smiled at him. She assumed that he was with this pack. If he wasn't, she wondered where his parents were. Kind eyes would crinkle as she smiled. I'm Nymeria, you can call me Nym She winked, that was probably the first time she had told someone her nickname. But he was only young. She had always had a soft spot for pups. But she could never have any. Another thing she had never told anyone. It always made her sad. She'd tried and tried with a previous mate, whom she had now left. But she never got pregnant, they had come to the conclusion that she was unable to. She had thought of adopting before. But she had never found anyone to adopt. But it was unlikely that this boy was an orphan so close to pack territory. Speech,

He would see a pale form come from father away, her looks were not any that he recognized, and for a moment he would contemplate running for his mother. She would bring herself closer, and smile would sit upon her features. The boy was quite timid around strangers, and it was rather obvious that she was not a part of his pack. His dusty ears would fall as he pulled them back uncertainly. "Hello there. I'm Nymeria, you can call me Nym" she would let herself wink at him and he would gulp. He'd never met anyone outside of his pack before. He knew he wasn't supposed to leave the territory because there were mean wolves outside of it, but she seemed so nice. He would tilt his head slightly as he took in her name and scent, retiring them to memory. He would gently lower his front paws back to the ground, thankfully he felt mostly soothed. Partially he still wanted to go and search for his mother, but she brought to the table that bit of curiosity he needed to stay. "Hello, miss Nym." he would nod to her politely before giving her his name, "My name's Elias, but sometimes my brothers and sisters like to call me Eli." he would be sure to give her a nick name as well, "Are you a stranger?" he meant a loner, or not included in his pack, but stranger worked quite well. "I've never met a stranger before." He would look at her with interested sapphire stare. Speech,

The little boy was so adorable, he was clearly a little distressed by her presence. Hello, miss Nym. My name's Elias, but sometimes my brothers and sisters like to call me Eli She would smile, And hello to you Elias, if Eli is your brother's and sister's special name for you, I'll leave it to them. She would sit herself down, a little distance away from the pup, as he seemed rather nervous. Are you a stranger? I've never met a stranger before. A quiet, tinkling chuckle would escape her ebony lips. Yes Elias, I suppose I am a stranger, but don't worry, you're safe with me. I won't hurt you. She smiled kindly, she didn't want him to be nervous around her, he could relax with her. The little pup looked to be about six months old. Looking at him filled her with a joy, but also a sadness. Speech,

He would grow more comfortable with each smile she would offer him, but never the less the tug of wanting family beside him would pull. He was certainly not as brave as his brother Nizhoni, but he still wanted to adventure. He would have to tell his brother about this one. Though he had not voluntarily gone out seeking a stranger to meet, he had certainly found one and he knew that the other boy would want to know about her. And hello to you Elias, if Eli is your brother's and sister's special name for you, I'll leave it to them. He had never thought that the name was all too special. It seemed like they called him that more than his full name was used. Loccian only called him that when he got into trouble. Yes Elias, I suppose I am a stranger, but don't worry, you're safe with me. I won't hurt you. She would continue her attempt to soothe him. He wanted to chill out and be friends with her, but the scared little pup inside would not let him. She was not family and she did not belong in her pack, so he would just keep his distance and talk to her. He would let a shy smile come over his features as she told him that she would not hurt him. He couldn't help but to not quite trust her, unsure of all who were not approved by his parents. "You seem... nice. Momma said be careful around strangers though, and to come and get her if they come to the territory." He wouldn't go get her right now of course, Nym was not in Seracia, she was a few feet away. He wasn't supposed to leave, but if he only went over a little she wouldn't know would she? "D'you wanna.. play?" he would ask sheepishly as he looked to her curiously. Speech,