It had felt like a life time ago that he had been so far north, a nightmare better left forgotten. He still couldn’t bring himself to venture as far as the pines, the memory of which was enough to make him glance over his shoulder, expecting to find the albino monster stalking towards him. So it was instead that his wandering paws moved Soren towards the peak, water tumbling down its side.

The boy lounged beside the pool of water, surrounded by foliage that made the area feel more like the southern parts of the continent than the north, which helped with his anxiety. He sighed, lids sliding closed over hazel eyes. When was the last time he had made contact with another wolf? It had been at least a season and though he could remember the celestial pair perfectly everything else about them was fuzzy.

He would never admit it but a part of him missed his brother, missed knowing that there was a wolf out there who had his back. Kismet had chosen a stranger and Soren had chosen isolation… was he really any happier for it? Paws pillowed his head as he forced himself to push those thoughts from his mind. He had made his bed, and he would lie in it; even if it hurt.

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She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing. She was Sonticus, now, and yet she found herself wandering in lands several days away from her new home. Perhaps the restlessness was still in her? It felt like it was, at least. She adored her new home - well, as much as she could - but she also couldn't resist the urge to wander. And with Sonticus still setting up, she figured a couple of days would go unnoticed. If need be, she could run back in about a day. She'd be exhausted and ready to collapse, but she'd be there. Just cut up through the red forest, cross the river and trace the coastline back to the ship. That, or through the red forest and cut across the marble wash. Either would work. And yet, that didn't erase the fact that she was far away from the ship. And... oh, half-way up a damn mountain.

So distracted she was, she almost didn't notice the wolf lying at the edge of the waterfall-made pool. It was still warm here, unlike other parts of the North. Hell, it felt like she wasn't even in the North. True, she was on the edge... but still. Warmth was not what she expected. Then again, she hadn't expected to see this half-cream, half-black wolf lounging where she had expected only solitude as a companion. Maybe this wolf had the same idea.

She hesitated, torn between approaching and quietly sliding away. In the end, though, she couldn't quench the curiosity that burned within her. She approached, scuffing the fallen leaves a bit to warn of her approach, just in case he didn't notice her scent. She figured he did, but still. "Greetings," she murmured, head tilted at the stranger. She then stood there awkwardly, small talk never really being her strong suit.


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