Val was... misbehaving again. Once again she had ventured out beyond her territory. It was just so tempting. Honestly, who could stand on a borderline and smell the breeze and just stay? She shook her head sadly. She would never forget her duty again, not ever. It was her purpose in life to take care of her pack, her family's pack. Hopefully the pack that would continue to support her family for generations to come. She thought back to the stories her mother had once told her, how the Queen would reign terror upon surrounding packs, destroy them, take them into the fold like some sort of cannibalistic beast. It sounded terrifying and exhilarating, and it was a concept Valeriya could scarcely imagine. Wolves in this realm simply behaved differently, or so it seemed. And what was worse, Val was of this realm. She had never seen her homeland, yet the young fae was always led to believe she must emulate their customs, foster what was lost, bring the Xanilov line back to greatness... She glared down at the soil beneath her paws, ashen and charred, and she scuffed at it. Well, she had at least a day or so more to wander before she might be missed. That would do just fine. "Talk" "You" Think

As always, an ache is what drove him to roam. As far as he could remember, the brute had never been to this stretch of Alacritia before. Here in the mountains everything was thin, bare in some spots, even, the trees gnarled and rugged, and at face value, the terra was not unlike the plains he was used to. Digging deeper, the comparison didn't quite hold true. There was life in the plains, greenery and a wide variety of creatures. In this regard, the mountains were different. Everything up here had evolved to survive in unforgiving circumstances. From the scraggly bushes to the nimble-footed goats, every last bit of the land was tough. Movement ahead captured the brute's attention. He slowed to a halt, eying the figure before him. A she wolf, he could tell. Perhaps the native wolves were as tough as the terra? It was worth finding out. Valentine trotted forward, exuding nonchalance as he attempted to approach the fae. "Tell me, what kind of wolf decides to wander in such desolate place?" "Speaking" "Thinking"

A gust of wind sent ash scuttling across the ground before her. It was probably some lonely poetic metaphor but Valeriya hardly cared. It was interesting at least. Something new. A voice broke her into her thought and she cast an easy glance over her shoulder. Well hello there, she thought wryly. A smirk wormed it's way onto her features and a mercurial fire kindled in the pit of her stomach. "The excruciatingly bored kind," she answered quickly. Gods above, but he was massive. He had a striking charcoal pelt and eyes as bright and blue as her own. Her smile widened. "So what kind of wolf does that make you?" If he was as miserable as she was, they'd make quite the pair. Maybe they could bitch to one another, that could be fun. Or, ya know, go kill something. Anything to take her mind off of the monotony of duty and responsibility. She had tried, alright? And she'd keep at it until the moment came to pass Ebony along to the next in line, but heaven and hell, she was praying this male could give her respite. Guilty pleasure seemed to spark in the sharp lines of his build, and she could imagine it hiding behind his gaze. She turned to face him head on and quirked a brow. Would he read her intentions, see the hellion poorly concealed between this farce of a Queen? Where was Lox when she needed her, that dour wolverine might have been able to talk some sense into her thick skull... "Talk" "You" Think

The fae was quick to retort, her words bringing a smirk to the brute's lips. He took her in, subtly studying her features. Her height surprised him; it was unusual to find someone so tall. Most wolves hit him mid shoulder at the most and because of that he was accustomed to looking someone in the ears instead of the eyes. Looking into the cerulean eyes of the fae, Valentine decided it was change he could readily accept. "So what kind of wolf does that make you?" A corner of his mouth lifted further in a lopsided smile. He should have seen that one coming. Amusement painted his features, brightening them considerably. Perhaps his time would be well spent here. Valentine deadpanned his response, "The excruciatingly bored kind." He was being silly and he knew it. Really though, was there anything wrong with that? He was tired of pointless aggression and violence. For once it would be nice to take a lighter tone. She was bored, he was bored, they made a fitting couple, did they not? Surely together they could come up with a way to alleviate the crushing monotony they'd found themselves in. "I've searched all over Alacritia for a remedy and have yet to find one," he sighed in mock resignation, eyes rolling heavenward in a facade that lasted for a second before he flicked a sly look in the fae's direction. "I don't suppose you know the cure for such a condition?" "Speaking" "Thinking"

He seemed as braced for banter as she was, and Val's smirk became a full-blown grin. Oh, a witty one then, hmm? Truly the gods were merciful. A small titter of laughter escaped her lungs. "Well, nothing cures good, wholesome boredom like bad company." She eyed him appreciatively, hoping he wasn't just some one-line sucker. "I'm Valeriya." And somewhere around here is a cranky old wolverine who really ought to be chaperoning, she thought with a bite. Part of her knew that a handsome male with mischief in his eyes was the last thing she needed, but just then it was being smothered into submission. A wild spirit began kicking up a fuss and Val shifted her paws. "I'm also up for just about anything." She skittered a few paces forwards before tossing her jaw up towards the volcanic peak. "Race ya to the top?" Gods above, she wanted to run and fight and hit somebody. Maybe she could just work this energetic poltergeist out of her system and go back to being content with all that was waiting for her at home. A girl could dream anyways, right? But the bigger question was would this male take the bait. Maybe it would turn out that he was just a smooth talker with a giant stick up his ass. If he was all talk and no play Val decided she wouldn't be oh so interested in his company after all. Honestly, wit was nice but she wasn't exactly roving the borderlands looking for conversation... "Talk" "You" Think

Her reply drew a surprised snort from him, the sound quickly followed by a ringing laugh. Alright, alright. He walked right into that one. Valeriya, huh? Still chuckling, the brute introduced himself. "I'm Valentine." Val and Val, eh? Valeriya's next statement sent his browspots heavenward in mock shock. "Anything??" A little risky for someone he'd just met, but payback for the 'company' comment was necessary. The brute's features settled into mild amusement as the white masked fae suggested a race. Oh, what the hell? The only thing he could possibly hurt was his dignity. "Alright, you're on." Bending his knees and readying himself for a leap forward, Valentine prepared for the challenge like he would any battle. His pride was on the line. "How do you want to do this?" The gauntlet was laid and he couldn't lose. Even if that meant tripping her. "On three?" "Speaking" "Thinking"

Valeriya mused. Valentine, hmm? The coincidence was utterly adorable. For the sake of his dignity she restrained a laugh, less he misconstrue her meaning. "A pleasure to meet you," she declared with mirth and a playful bow. He would tease her, bringing her thoughtlessly spoken words into question, but she could only roll her eyes. Innuendo and the art of double entendre was, as she liked to think, a specialty of hers. After all, she could hardly express them while pretending to be a Queen, so this was a breath of fresh air in of itself. His willingness to muck about with her was simply a cherry on top. He agreed to the race and a quiver of excitement raced through her from head to heel. "On three?" he asked. Well, if he insisted... She spun on her heels and called out, "Three!" After all, all was fair in love and war. Her muscles strained against the up hill climb as she raced for the peak, breath pumping in and out of her lungs. She wanted to look over her shoulder, see if she had left him standing stunned of if he was on her heels. Her labored breathing was interspersed with bouts of laughter, which stole away bits of her precious oxygen. Her shoulders burned with sweet exhaustion, but the Queen would not allow herself to flag. But why on earth was the peak still so far away? At last she allowed herself a backwards glance, seeking out her competitor. "Talk" "You" Think

Readying himself, seconds ticked by as the brute readied himself for the countdown. He could take her, he was sure of it. His legs were longer, his lungs had to be bigger and he was built like a friggin-"THREE!" she bellowed, catching the brute off guard. Just like that she was gone, flying towards the peak before he'd even had the chance to kick off. Damn it all! Several seconds too late, Valentine pushed off, sending dirt and pebbles flying up behind him. Long legs carried him swiftly after her, easily slicing through the feet that separated them. As fast as he was, she was faster, easily keeping ahead of him even though he managed to close the distance. By no means was he built for long distance running. No, he may have been quick for his size, but his speed came in short bursts. This was not a short burst. Finally her heels were within reach and the brute, recognizing the usefulness of this position, surged forward. He focused on her back paws, trying to copy the rhythm with which she moved. It took him several strides to acquire her pace, but when he did Valentine grew daring. Timing it just right, the brute lifted his left forepaw and swiped it out in front of him in an attempt to hook one of her heels. "Speaking" "Thinking"

Her lungs begged for respite, but that was all part of the fun. She gasped, panted out, desperate for oxygen even as her head began to swim. Sweet exertion, that which she craved but had been denying herself for so long it now felt criminal. The young girl was so lost in her revelries that she did not notice Valentine's approach until it was far too late. She gasped once more, and it had nothing to do with her blitzkrieg charge up the slope. He was right there, her peripheral vision caught his hulking size, and she turned just in time to see his paw dart outwards. In her haste she would over correct, trying to leap sideways and away from his assault... and tangle up her own paws. With a blazing curse she stumbled, crashed, rolled. Sharp stones dug into her pelt and dirt filled her mouth. It choked her nose, stung her eyes, and filled her mouth with a bitter taste. Over and over she rolled before managing to right herself, head spinning and pounding as if her mind and skull were dancing with one another. Everything ached, but she had lost enough time as it was. Even if she had no hopes of beating the man to the summit, she would have had to hit her head much harder to just give up. With gritted teeth and blurry vision she leaped into her charge once more, wincing with every lunge as a sharp pain flared up her right flank. She could not see Valentine, could not pick his distinct blur out from the landscape that must have surrounded him. "Talk" "You" Think

If not for the burning in his lungs and the rate with which his breath was coming and going, the brute would have cackled at the fae's trip up. Instead he simply wheezed through parted lips while his tongue flopped comically against the corner of his mouth. As she rolled towards him, Valentine leaped over the auburn fae. He stumbled, having over extended himself, but recovered quickly. Hehehehehe. Now he was sure to win. Allowing himself to slow to give his burning lungs a rest, Valentine continued at a gentler pace towards the summit. He was still running, but not at the all out pace he'd been keeping before Valeriya crashed and burned. Part of him felt a little bad about what he had done, but she'd started it with her shriek of 'three!' with no warning whatsoever. It was only fair, right? Nonetheless, Valentine couldn't resist the urge to look over his shoulder and see how she'd fared. "Speaking" "Thinking"

Her body was alive with a very real pain that had nothing to do with exertion, and for all that she felt like cursing Valentine's every step she also had the strong inclination to laugh. He'd certainly paid her back, fair was fair and all that. Only now she knew that when this brute retaliated he certainly gave it his all. tripping a fae while they were in a helter-skelter dash up a craggy mountains slope? No shame in this one, no sir. Good to know, she mused. Ahead of her, it would appear that Valentine was beginning to flag. Was he tired, or did he simply think his victory was a certainty? The summit was not far off now. Fifty strides, a century at most... This was her chance. The young Queen knew she would regret it the next day. She would curse herself for impulsivity, for foolishness on a grand scale. This is it, she thought. My heart will burst and I will fall by the wayside, as dead as the basalt that will make up my grave. A chuckle burst from her lips, and there Valentine was, looking over his shoulder in time to see the lithe young fae pass him by. She thought of calling out some obscenity, some jape or mockery but gods above, she did not have the breath for it. The crater that was this dormant furnace's summit called to her, it's great maw a beacon of rest and sweet victory. She dug in her hind paws, skidding to a stop so that she did not tumble headlong over it's precipice. Clawing for breath she turned, trying to locate Valentine through the bleary wreckage that was her eyesight. "Talk" Think "You"

Zoom. The auburn fae was around him in a heartbeat, leaving the brute behind in a rolling puff of dust. ...what? For a second he continued gazing over his shoulder, too stunned to react appropriately. What. She was down! He'd jumped over her, seen her go rolling! What, what, WHAT? There was no way he was going to lose! ...He lost. Fortunately, Valentine was too focused on breathing to offer much of a tantrum. Having lost and seeing no point in killing himself for a faster finish, the brute reached the summit at a lackluster jog. He approached Valeriya with a mock scowl painted across his face, ready to make a sarcastic self-deprecating comment, when the disheveled appearance of the she wolf caught his attention. Sucking in a deep breath in the hopes of quelling the fire in his lungs, the brute let it out in a huff before quirking a brow at the equally beat looking fae. "You gonna make it? Cuz I just raced this crazy fast chick up the mountain and I doubt I could carry you down it right now." Behind the tart words was a genuine concern. It hadn't been his intention to wound Valeriya, no matter how much he'd wanted to win. "Speaking" "Thinking"

Okay. So... Maybe that hadn't been the best idea. In fact the young fae felt so shitty that she couldn't help but laugh. It was a weak, slightly hysterical thing, nestled between ragged breaths. Valentine approached her slowly, with a concern she didn't really expect to find written into his features. "Never better," she rasped out. "I've had worse." Well... maybe. Had she ever felt worse than this? ...Battered and bruised but not beaten had to be worth something! His respect, if nothing more. She rolled so that her legs were underneath her weary frame and tried to force herself upwards. Her legs shook, and gave out. "Fuck," she mumbled, before gritting her teeth and trying again. No, she wasn't just gonna lay there in the dirt! Screw that noise. With limbs shaking and a low, stubborn growl rumbling in the back of her throat Valeriya picked herself up. She raised her jaw and looked Valentine dead in the eye. She lifted a brow. There she was, small and lean and flithy dirty, bleeding in more than a few places, but she had won. A shit-eating grin split her lips and she laughed again. "Good race, right? Now what?" So she was proud of herself, it wasn't a crime. Even if it meant she was pushing herself well beyond her limits... She lifted an ankle, rolling in and stifling a wince. Oh, it was going to be a long walk home. "Talk" "You" Think

She'd had worse? So, what, last time this happened she'd rolled all the way down the mountain? Amused marred the concern etched into his face. The auburn fae couldn't be too bad if she could still crack a joke. Unmoving, he watched her attempts to rise. Something told him that she wouldn't accept an offer to help or even receive it well. At last she stood before him, a dorky grin stretching from ear to ear. Valentine returned her gesture with a smirk. "Good race, right? Now what?" He shrugged, studying Valeriya's face as she tested one of her paws. She hid the discomfort well, but pain was something that was hard to mask completely. Her features tightened subtly, the pain beneath the expression pulling an amused grunt from the brute. "I guess it depends..." His brow spots rose, eyes briefly darting to her painful limb suggestively. "Do we need to amputate?" "Speaking" "Thinking"