Sorrel hadn't taken part in the recent raid on Threar, though to be fair the boy's fighting prowess was probably ranked just as highly as some of the plants that he sought out. For that very reason chose not to give himself a death sentence and instead continue focus upon that one skill he did possess instead, in the aftermath of the fights he had been ready to administer any first aid to the fighters, a collection of herbs waiting with him and now of course he set about on his usual task of finding more plants to replenish his stocks and of course that added bonus of some time alone as he travelled.
Typically Ellingham was never far away, it meant of course that he never really got the peaceful time he sought but today was one of the rare occasions that the wolf and owl duo had parted ways. Ellingham had flown off in one direction, hoping that his flight would cover a little more ground and allow him to bring back some of the rarer, harder to find plants leaving Sorrel to plod around doing his own thing for once. His travels had brought him to Firefly Lake, a place he couldn't say he'd ever actually ventured to before though looking around suspected he would find at least a few useful plants here to take back with him.
She'd found her way back east vut she hadn't found her sister again. Of course she hadn't even tried looking into the other packs, and little did she know she'd almost stolen a kill from her alpha. That was gong to bite her in the butt later. For now she'd enjoy her freedom to wait until the very last minute to look for her sister. For now she took to her usual ways. Roaming from one place to another, searching for food and a little bit of fun. Or in this instance water. Her dark paws would carry her silver marked form to the lake, ignoring pretty much all of the plant life in favor of this pool of water. She didn't notice the scents of other living beings, especially that of a male wolf near by.
First she'd get her drink, drawing near to the surface she'd bend down to lap at it's clear surface. It was a beautiful scene, and she could see herself lingering here for more than a few days depending on how good the prey species might be. For now though, she'd just enjoy the cool refreshing drink that flowed down her throat.
The world was filled with many other wolves and from time to time even Sorrel would find that he couldn't help but run into them though matter how hard he tried to avoid them all. Ellingham was no help at all when it came to trying to steer clear of them, often the pesky owl would try to coerce him into a socialisation situation. With Ellingham nowhere in sight though, Sorrel was free to avoid whoever he liked.
That was his plan right now as he caught sight of another wolf lingering around the lake. Hastily Sorrel changed his direction, hoping not to draw attention to himself in the manoeuvre and prevent himself from going in the girl's general vicinity.
Once her thirst had been quenched her senses would return to her, as the other wolf made a sound her focus would be drawn to him. She'd lift her head and perk her ears in his direction as she watched him avoid her. He was about her size so she had to doubt he would turn tail and run out of fear. Now she was curious, and eagerly would make her way towards his retreating form. She wouldn't guess the most basic of answers, just that he didn't wish to be in her presence.
She'd make her way after him, putting effort in actually catching up to him. She was often alone for days, and unlike him she did enjoy the company of other wolves. If they welcomed her or not. She found more than enough amusement in her sporadic encounters. "Hey! Where are you going so quickly?" Maybe she'd even missed something she should have been avoiding. What if they lake was poisoned?
Sorrel thought that he had gotten away, but of course thoughts weren't always correct as was the case now. He hadn't gotten far, certainly not out of ear or eye shot just yet and then he suddenly heard her voice calling out to him and following him. Now if Ellingham had been here, Sorrel was sure the owl would have made him stop, perhaps even replied on behalf of him, though Sorrel opted to abuse the fact that his companion was not around.
He chose to carry on, pretending that he hadn't heard her. This was a feat that was perhaps only aided by the fact that he hadn't turned back around to acknowledge her as she initially called after him. He was not stopping to talk to strangers today, he didn't have to and he didn't want to!
He was silent as she called out, but that didn't deter her any. Putting on more speed she'd eventually catch up with him. She hadn't called out again for fear of losing her breath, and the possibility that he might be hard of hearing. Eager to see what he was up to she'd speak again once she was more properly within earshot. "Hey!" She'd try and get where their shoulders would be parallel, "What are you doing?" Her curiosity would not be sated until he answered her, the more he ran the more she was going to bug him. Her silver tipped tail would wag the whole time to, no matter the reaction she got she looked forward to it.
Unfortunately for Sorrel it appeared that ignoring her wasn't about to make her think twice about trying to stop him. The stranger continued, running after him now and although he attempted to quicken his pace as well, he'd misjudged her speed and soon enough the dark woman had caught up to him falling into step as she attempted once more to speak with him. What was wrong with her? He continued, altering his direction now to veer away from her in hopes of making his point a little clearer still, though he had thought he'd been perfectly clear before hand anyway. "Walking." He would respond this time, though his curt words and distancing techniques were hardly a friendly invitation to stop and have a chat.
Neith wasn't one to be easily distracted, she'd follow after the man like it was no ones' business. And really it was none of her business, if he'd wanted anything to do with her he would have continued walking towards her in the first place instead of making his retreat. He'd shift again, and she'd follow quite unperturbed at his sudden change of direction as he gave her a gruff one word answer to the question she'd repeated twice. Not what she wanted at all. "It looks more like a run to me." She was quite tempted to stick her tongue out at him, but with all the jarred waking she thought it better to keep it in her mouth. She continue on his trail, hopeful to get another ride from him.
She was a stubborn one then apparently. That sounded a little familiar actually for she certainly wasn't the only one acting a little headstrong at the moment. She would continue to move with him, altering her direction as Sorrel did and making yet another unwanted comment. Had she stuck her tongue out though chances were that the pale man wouldn't have seen, his own eyes focussing ahead as he titled away from her once more, choosing this time that he would completely give her the cold shoulder and outright ignore her words again. Perhaps he shouldn't have even replied the first, or rather second time, simply continue on as he tried to do now.
He did not answer her snippy comment, but instead turned again and completely ignored her. She huffed, feeling more than snubbed by now. Maybe she was rude for interrupting him in the first place, but fully ignoring her was just as if not more inconsiderate. She wouldn't quit though. Now that she knew he was intentionally ignoring her she wasn't about to just give up. "Come on grumpy gills, live it up a little say Hi to a stranger. We're not all bad." Her voice slipped into something more sweet instead of the almost sarcastic tone it had held earlier. Now he was a challenge, a egg she was going to crack. Be it in rage or something else was yet to be seen. He certainly didn't seem like one that would suddenly explode on her, but she could never be sure.
Was she stubborn or was she just plain stupid? Sorrel couldn't really tell, perhaps it was a little bit of both. Again she insisted on following him, his point of ignoring her and trying to turn away from her seemingly completely lost upon her. How hadn't she gotten herself killed yet, bugging and ignoring strangers wishes like this?
She would continue trying to get him to speak, her pleas practically acknowledging the very fact he was trying to prove; he didn't want to. A part of him was tempted to simply say 'hi' and then try to continue onwards, he'd have done what she wanted then after all. The grumpy gills comment and her sheer annoying factor however meant that his own stubbornness would continue and instead once more Sorrel would remain completely silent. Surely she had to get bored at some point. Meanwhile his thoughts lingered on how she was completely ruining his hunt for plants; it wasn't the easiest task after all with some idiot stalking and bugging you.
She might have noticed slightly the second time he ignored her as he turned and went another direction, but now as he tried to avoid her one last time he was just proving too much of a challenge for her to just leave him alone. Now she really knew he didn't want her, and well if he didn't want her around that was the best time to be there right? A dark smile would play on her lips as she kept following him, she had no real purpose in life. Annoying random wolves was one of the better past times. "Well, I'm Neith." She'd add, just because she wanted to get more words in. The more she said the more infuriating she knew she must be getting. "Do you live around here?" She'd keep up with his pace and question him curiously as she thought about what he might do to get him to confront her.
Even without Ellingham there throwing him into conversations and situations he truly didn't want to be in, it seemed that Sorrel had found himself in one of those very annoying moments anyway. Silently he wondered whether the owl would have made things better or worse and honestly he couldn't be entirely sure.
Actually, he knew; it would be worse. It appeared that this wolf didn't need any encouragement to be annoying. She continued following and trying to talk, even introducing herself now though Sorrel wouldn't offer any such formalities himself in return. Ellingham likely would have done, he was definitely feeling thankful that the owl wasn't here.
Still very much determined not to sit and chat with this irritating Neith wolf, Sorrel kept quiet and kept walking. She wasn't there, at least he pretended as such anyway, rather difficult thing to do of course with her chattering away and trotting along right at his heels. Really, what was her problem?
She couldn't tell if she was getting on his nerves, but by the way he walked she had to guess that she was. The dark she wolf wouldn't hesitate to wear a more than amused smile as she followed after him, still he remained quiet and wouldn't say a word. He was very much focused on his corse and she was bound and determined to disrupt him. Keeping up his pace, but making sure to keep behind him she wouldn't let up even if he didn't answer. "You kind of smell like my sister. I'll bet you're from Threar." Come to think of it that one brute she'd tried to steal the deer from smelled similar too.
There were many things that Neith could have said that Sorrel could have easily ignored, even insults he would have let slide over his head but the mention of Threar and the fact that she apparently had family within the pack would be enough to get through to the stubborn boy. He would come to a halt, mismatched eyes looking at Neith as his face crinkled into a frown. It was too good a guess for her to be lying about it he felt, but then who was this sister? Sometimes even Sorrel would be a little curious.
He wouldn't openly confirm that his home was Threar but perhaps his sudden stop would give away that fact or at least confirm that he knew the lands rather well. Truth be told he was still feeling a little unwilling to fully engage in any sort of conversation with this woman, but damn it he just couldn't help it now. "Who is she?" He enquired, his tone a little blunt.
Incredibly she would finally cause him to stop, though it was so quick she almost ran into him. Recovering quickly she would jump back a couple of paces from him. Success was finally hers and her tail would show her victory in the way it wagged eagerly behind her. Her dark ears perked forward as he turned to look at her, obviously the name Threar had struck some kind of chord with the wolf. He didn't tell her that he was part of the pack but he did ask about her sister. Would he even know her? "Kalliope Arevalo." It was a rather direct answer, and she had no doubt after he got his answer he'd be off again. That was okay though, Neith didn't have anything else to do and would happily follow him around annoyingly the rest of the day. Maybe he'd even lead her to where this mythical pack belonged.
So perhaps it would have been wise to give a little bit of warning before he stopped, but fortunately as well as having highly developed skills in irritation it seemed that Neith's reflexes weren't all that bad and she did manage to stop a collision between the pair. Too annoyed by her smug little reaction however he wouldn't acknowledge this fact at all, not that he would have praised her in the first place for stopping as quickly as he.
The name he recognised. He hadn't really spoken to her but then of course he never really spoken to anyone in the pack all that much. She was on the quiet side as well he thought, or at least it seemed that she preferred hanging around at the back of meetings just as much as he did anyway. It wasn't often that compassion was dished out to anyone beyond his family though in that moment he felt sorry for Kalliope, how did the poor girl cope with having a sister like Neith? He and Féli were of course rather different, though his twin was not annoying like this woman was.
She could read him rather well apparently, managing to correctly guess his next move. There was no sign of recognition in his features and no verbal confirmation that he knew her either. He simply took the information in and then turned away from Neith to continue with his walk.
She watched him carefully through her bright purple gaze as he remained still. She'd give him what he wanted but he wouldn't offer her absolutely anything in return. He'd talked to her briefly that was for certain but he wasn't about to go any further. And just as he guessed he was suddenly off again. Her features would fall but she wouldn't leave him be just yet. "oh, come on." She'd roll her eyes as she quietly made her way after him. "Now you're just being as rude as I am." She'd chuckle slightly. The aim was to get a rise, it didn't matter what it was she said about herself.
To be honest Sorrel couldn't be surprised as she opted to follow after him once again, he hadn't given her any response at all after all, just started off again without warning. She'd complain about his actions though the comment on his rudeness wouldn't phase him all that much. Truth be told Sorrel knew that he was no charmer and certainly didn't intend upon changing that fact either, he was perfectly happy continuing to lock himself in his isolation.
Her rudeness on the other hand he did mind a little more. She was bothering him and he didn't like that one bit. He wasn't sure whether it aided the situation that she acknowledged her bad behaviour or not. Innocently following him with no idea she was being annoying, whilst a little stupid could probably be forgiven. To purposefully go around being irritating however... actually there was no question, it was most definitely worse. Once again though he'd fall into his own rude behaviour and continue to ignore her, resisting the urge to add in a grumpy 'I don't care!'
He still wouldn't respond again, which really didn't surprise her. By this time though she really was beginning to grow bored of their meeting. She knew where he lived though, or at least in theory. If she followed him back to Threar at least she'd know where it was her sister was staying. Meh she'd find it eventually. Sighting heavily as she came to a stop she'd continue to watch him (as he probably just walked off into the sunset.) She'd get to meet him again someday she was sure, and pretty excited about that time. Smiling devilishly her silver tipped tail wagged behind her amusedly, she'd play with him again but for now on to the next adventure!
