Kichi had taken Torch from the borders of the pack land back to the berry grove with a warning they’d leave if he did that again.  The deer had settled well enough once he munching on all the available food there.  Kichi let out a slow sigh, sometimes his deer just wasn’t overly bright but maybe that wasn’t his fault, the species did have its limits he imagined.  Still, it was happy now and so Kichi was content.  But still…

“We aren’t staying here much longer.  It’s about time to go home.  Get your fill, I think tomorrow we’ll leave.” Kichi told the little dear neutrally.  It wouldn’t be winter forever, at least he didn’t think so.  The little deer could handle snow for a bit longer up north and then spring would come.

Torch for his part just barked a non-committal response.  Kichi glanced about the area, soon enough he’d want to find a bite to eat as well. Letting out a slow exhale he looked up to the bright large moon, it felt peaceful tonight which was nice.  It left him searching the moon as if he could find something meaningful in it, some life goal or dream to chase but all he saw was a lonely moon watching them.

Talk

Lae was beginning to familiarize herself with the lands of Auster, and with each passing day, she began to notice certain spots she’d favored. This grove of wild berries, for sure, was at the top of her list. Its bountiful harvest, despite the fact that it was winter in Boreas, made it even better. While bitter cold up north, it was pleasantly warm (and sometimes quite hot) in Auster. The monochromatic woman didn’t mind, of course — after four years of aimless wandering upon the larger continent, she’d had enough of it. She’d never leave this island, she was sure. Padding at a leisurly pace in the moonlit woodlands, the femme’s ruby gaze settled upon the figure of a wolf. And a..deer? Instinctively, she flinched, as if her muscles were bracing themselves for a hunt. She fought against it, of course, as by first glance, the deer was oddly close to the wolf. She blinked in confusion. Where on this land would you find a carnivore and a large meal together as mere comlanions? She supposed such a friendship wasn’t entirely beyond her comprehension, but it was complex. She’d offer this stranger the benefit of the doubt. Despite her nervousness towards strangers, and that this male smelled nothing of the Hallows, she approached with caution, but with an air of grace upon her. "Hello?" She called out, squinting to get a closer look at the two. She maintained a good distance, but was close enough to decipher their features. "Who might you be?" "Speech"

The moon was forgotten the moment he recognized there was a potential threat in their space.  Kichi strode purposely to be between the deer and stranger in a defined move that spoke volumes of ‘mine’.  The gaze he gave her was guarded and at the same time searching, soaking up whatever information he could through his eyes.  His time with other wolves was limited which made for always being a little curious but even more edgy.

She was from the pack nearby, at least he assumed so, which meant he had to be careful.  If she called for help would others hear and join her?  “Hello,” the response cooly formal, “I’m Kichi, that’s Torch.  He’s with me.” Kichi was nothing if not upfront on things.  Torch was all Kichi had left in this world and his first thought in any hint of trouble.

The boy certainly had no trouble with all the strange things about the season the turn of events that had come about in winter.  He ignored the crystals and mushrooms as much as he could, even the fireflies got little of his interest.  That said the voices that floated in his mind at point had him all the more on edge, nothing was to be trusted, including a wolf he had never met.

Talk

As the wolf introduced himself and his friend, Lae tilted her head softly. She was most intrigued about how a deer became his friend, and that he had a name of his own, apparently. Didn’t prey creatures nit have names? Then again, Lae’s ability to socialize wasn’t that far off from Kichi’s — after also being isolated from other wolves for the sake of survival, to converse with another would take a cinsiderable amount of practice. No time like the present, she supposed. With a brief pause as those stupid fireflies whispered about them, in an effort to drown them out along with the disturbing pulsing of crystals and mushrooms, she inquired, "Forgive me, Kichi, but how did a deer, er, Torch, become your companion?" It wasn’t just a distraction from the near overwhelming surge of blue and the pulsing fireflies about them, but also a question of genuine curiosity. She also made sure to use the deer’s name, too - out of respect for this stranger. She didn’t want to appear condescending in the least. Perhaps he had his reasons. "Speech"

Kichi kept a cautious gaze on the stranger.  Trust was a thing earned and it was questionable if anyone could ever earn it from him at t his point.  Still, when you don’t spend much time around others guarded talking wasn’t a terrible thing.  So long as she minded the distance between them and didn’t dare look wrong at Torch.

“I had him since I was young, and he was young.” Kichi shrugged remembering back to those days.  He hadn’t wanted to hunt back then, he had been a fool.  “We got along.”  It was a pretty short explanation but the grey wolf had no desire to remember the details too cleanly.  A moment of happiness surrounded by pain and fear.

He could have pointed out his little deer could be useful in its own way but that meant offering more information.  Kichi looked at the female wolf unsure of what to say to her or why she really wanted to know about Torch.  Did she want to use this against him in some way or was she just that friendly sort that wanted to talk to anyone they came across?  Those were the type that died young he imagined. “Why the interest?  You’re part of that pack aren’t you?”

Talk

Noticing that the grey wolf seemed quite protective of his deer friend, Lae sought to make her expression as neutral as possible. She had no interest in consuming the herbivore, anyways, lest she release the unknown wrath from this fellow. She had enough experience as an ex-loner to know not to mess with things that weren't hers. Or travel companions, for that matter. “I had him since I was young, and he was young...we got along," Kichi had said. The woman nodded softly in understanding. She knew life worked in mysterious ways, in more ways than one could attempt to predict. Like a wolf befriending a deer. Or the pulsating fungi, crystals, and near infinite fireflies that came out of some oblivion. Strange, indeed. But she made no judgements, and her honesty was clear in her body language. She had no interest in harming Torch in the least. "I see," The older woman replied, plainly but thoughtfully. She left it at that -- the loner need not speak anymore of his own life than he wished. Another question arose from the younger male, "Why the interest? You’re part of that pack aren’t you?” Lae shrugged softly, the slight night breeze tickling her ears as it whispered off into the distance. The Hallows became a sanctuary for her, a beacon of hope when she was at her most downtrodden and desperate. Four years of roaming the world, utterly alone, was painful and torturous. Perhaps not for everyone -- Kichi seemed comfortable with his friend without a need for a pack, but Lae had had nothing in her previous lifestyle. Now, she had a place to stay and call home for as long as she lived. It suited her. After a pause to digest the male's question, the femme responded, "I don't know. Nobody in the pack has a deer for a friend, so I was curious." "Speech"

Sure, Kichi could imagine a deer was a weird pet.  Certainly, it meant having to fight a bit more and be more observant for the sake of Torch.  How much more could an animal possibly have a target stuck to it than a tiny deer.  Kichi hesitated but then grudgingly offered, “He’s useful enough.  He isn’t prone to the same level of fear most deer are.  He can play live bait if needed, he’s pretty good at crushing snakes.” They were little things but it took a lot of boldness in a deer to not run from everything.

Those weren’t the main roles of Torch though.  Torch was the only one he trusted.  Everyone else he had trusted was dead or gone.  He’d had hope once and that had been snuffed out.  Perhaps as he’d grown older the fondness for a deer would have faded if he had others who cared for him?  Now he’d never know.

“No pets of your own I see,” Kichi offered.  The comment sounded more statement than a question.  Kichi wasn’t for casual conversation but he could share a few words with this one when their pack was so close, at least for a minute or two.  That said he really had no interest in her.  She probably had this great life and maybe she didn’t think it was great.  She probably had family whether it was parents or mates or both.  She probably had friends considering she lived in a pack.  Perhaps she had hopes and dreams for a future.  Kichi didn’t even know what he wanted from life other than survival and caring for Torch.  So, his best bet was mention of her own lack of companion.

Talk

Laeta watched, and listened patiently as the male spoke. “He’s useful enough. He isn’t prone to the same level of fear most deer are. He can play live bait if needed, he’s pretty good at crushing snakes,” He elsborated. The older woman nodded softly. She could see how the deer could be of use to him, even as just s friend. It would be quite helpful to have a companion by one’s side to help in such clever ways. Clever to her, anyways — she’d never heard of a deer brave enough to crish snakes before. Then again, she hadn’t met this certain deer before either, one that became a wolf’s friend and not food. ”No pets of your own, I see.” Lae glanced next to her, as if in a metaphorical observation of the empty space beside her compared to his filled one. "Oh, uh..I guess I haven’t put much thought into pets, really." She paused as she briefly glanced at Kichi and Torch. "Though, I suppose life works in mysterious ways. Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to befriend a little creature myself." She hadn’t really considered the thought of having a pet. Most of the time, she had been too busy fighting to survive another brutal day as a loner, before her Hallows life, to even think of such things. To her, having a pet seemed a luxury she couldn’t afford. Even here, in a pack. She felt that the male’s mannerisms and the way he spoke were detached, distant. She was used to such talk from her loner days, which, compared to her new pack life, were much more familiar. You could say she had a good life, and that wasn’t far from the truth. She had a pack that knew she existed, cared for her, looked out for her as one of their own. And yet..she couldn’t help but frown the slightest bit. They all had their own families, and many of them were related by blood. Not that it mattered to them, they treated her with a respect and kindness she’d never has before. But still..to be related by blood made them a bit closer knit, and she was still a stranger. In some ways, she was still a loner in a strange land. Though, perhaps Kichi felt this life suited him. Lae appreciated the pack life, and having a urpose through it, all the same. Even if it was all new to her. She had a chance to hone her skills and live her dreams, but she often wondered if it was too late, considering the mental damage dealt upon her. "Speech"