Tate's second birthday had come, what a weird thought. Two whole years, though it would be some time before he actually grew into himself. That was fine, actually. He'd be able to rely on his baby face and boyish good looks for probably a while longer. Two years old, still in firm possession of a babyface and some puppy fat. A chubby boy, but that's fine. Tate considered his reflection for a long moment in the still water ahead of the dam. Looking at himself, considering the angles of his jaw and the way his large eyes set into his head. Was he more handsome than cute? Not yet. Soon, he could hope. But not yet.

If he was going to be rugged and handsome, then he'd need a few more scars too. Tate thought about the raid, thought about the stupid girl that had come at him with her antlers. Thought about the stupid boy who thought he could take him. Thought about how fucking good it felt to crack some skulls. Eagerly, Tate was waiting for the next time. Maybe they could even go on the offense, the next time. Now that Tate knew that going for blood, going for real blood was an option, there was no telling what he'd do.

Well, there was some telling what he'd do, in general. Tate had acquired a fondness for cannabis, and a fondness for wandering. Getting stoned and taking long walks, trying to see what he could see. Prone to wandering as he was, it wasn't a surprise that he'd chosen a path that would incentivize that. The young man is a watcher, of sorts. An observer. Taking in what he could, and trying to learn what he could about the other packs that called this place home. Today had been a wandering sort of day. Shifting power, shifting tides, shifting sands. There was always something. After a long day of tracking down those somethings, Tate figured he should set up camp.

Starting a small campfire, starting to make dinner, and smoking a bowl for himself out of a little rough hewn pipe. Beginning to relax by the water, and starting to settle in as the sun hung low on the horizon. Just a boy and his dog, what more could they ask for?

     
   

 

Bramble stood upon a precipice. Not literally, but metaphorically. While she knew the direction she wanted to take in life, she also had this strange feeling that she was meant to do something more. The Hallows, her family, her friends, everything was great. Yet, as her new siblings began to grow and bud into smart lil' beans, Bramle wondered if she were good enough. That poking feeling of doubt blossomed in her chest once more. It had reared its ugly head once upon a time but had been quickly squashed by the confidence and strength of her father. Gone and now sweeping back in, Bramble wandered.

She did not keep track of her path as she went through the brush, wading through chilly waters, and between the trees. Bramble knew these areas well but hadn't been out to the dam for some time now. In a way, she was allowing her companions to lead her. Bristle fluttered over the canopy, swooping down every so often to alert her to different animals in the area. Nestled amongst her fur, Berry watched atop her head and would tug on an ear when he wanted her to go a different direction. Of course, the fisher would want her to end up at the rushing rivers of the dam. Plenty of fish made their way upstream as spring bloomed around her.

Distracted by her thoughts and the quiet Carpathian tune she hummed beneath her breath, she was soon alerted by Bristle of someone nearby. Pausing quickly, she turns her teal gaze to the flicker of a fire and a rather odd scent. Her brow scrunched as her ears tilted back and then forward. "Let's go check it out," she whispered to Berry as she picks up her paws and headed toward the fire. Through the brush, she spies a splotchy brown boy and what appears to be his own companion. Lately, Bramble had taken on a more social and fearless approach to strangers as she one day wanted to be on the High Council. Whichever pack this boy belonged to, she would find out. His scent was familiar so that was a good thing!

"Evening," Bramble calls out as she steps from behind a tree. Her tail hangs between her ankles but swishes slowly. She smiles softly as she closes the distance between them. Dog or not, she would take a seat on the other side of the fire. "I was feeling rather chilly and saw your fire. Hope you don't mind if I join you," There is a twinkle in her eye as she watches the boy. She can't tell what about him looked different or why his gaze appears glassy, but he doesn't seem terrifying or mean so she was willing to take her chances.

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A girl, bold as brass. As she came closer, Tate could feel his companion bristle. "Settle, Kaiju... she seems okay." The words come in their mother tongue instead of the common one. The boy's speech in Japanese is crisper, more businesslike than any of the casual common speech that usually fills his mouth. The words still feel stilted and strange, but it was easier this way. Better to play his cards close to his chest, at least for the moment.

As the young lady comes fully into view, Tate relaxes. Not looking like a threat, especially with that tone of voice. Bold as she is, taking a seat by the fire, inviting herself in closer. The boy gives her an appraising look before taking a long drag off of his pipe. Humming softly to himself as he continues to fix dinner. "Make yer'self at home," a glimmer rest in his amber eyes. Sizing the strange girl up out of the corner of his eye, finally setting a few large, fresh caught fish to roast on the heat of the fire.

"D'you make a habit of walkin' up t'strangers and helping yourself?" Tate let go a brassy chuckle. He offered his pipe lazily, a peace offering. The boy meant no harm by it. Relaxing on his side of the fire, taking a long moment to study the strange girl. Seemed harmless. Seemed fine. That, and Kaiju always seemed to be pretty alert (if not a bit on edge.) He'd probably be able to handle things if they went truly awry. Comfortable in his skin, comfortable before his fire, Tate would stay relaxed.

     
   

 

She spies the rough pipe that he pulls from. The smell is unknown to her. It is stinky, but she is curious. Life within the castle walls is... not sheltered, but definitely sheltered. Her parents wanted her safe, and the few times she had managed to escape the confines of Hallows territory had actually gone awry. Their worries had been proven so it was no wonder the young Bramble was both hesitant and inquisitive. Yet, she wouldn't show it! No! She had to be brave and confident and forward. She insisted on wearing the skin of her siblings who weren't such worry warts, who were carefree and bold. Not that she wasn't those things, but she was on the softer side, the bouncier sibling who was energy and fun and full of wonder.

Bramble continues to sit as he allows her to stay. A smile wraps around her lips as she sits up a bit straighter for a moment. "Don't mind if I do!" She chirps happily as she watches him place a few fish upon the fire. Her fisher, Berry, watches hungrily from his perch upon her crown. It is then that she begins to relax as he makes no sudden moves that appear aggressive. No, he also appears relaxed and laid back and casual. Her racing heart begins to slow as he questions if she makes a habit of this. His paw reaches out toward her with the pipe laying in it. Her head tilts to the side momentarily. She hesitates. Whatever is in that... would it upset her father and mother? How bad could it be?

Her lips open and then close. Her paw lifts and then is set back down. "Actually, yes, I have been making it a habit recently. I have to get to know others if I want to be a part of the council one day," Bramble's perfected speech is put together and clean. She annunciates each syllable as it rolls off her tongue. Still, she hesitates a moment longer until she wonders if refusing his peace offering would mean bad things... "Uh, if I'm being honest, I've never... done that before," her smile turns sheepish as she reaches out a paw to point at the pipe. "Would you show me first?" Her brow scrunches as she worries again if she is doing the right thing.

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Bold was perhaps the only thing Tate knew how to be. Bold, relaxed, comfortable in his own skin. Hell, even at two, he's just barely starting to shed away the exterior of the chubby puppy he'd always been. It would take longer, still, for him to truly look like the younger, more rugged version of his father. Something about good looks and charm, for Tate, they'd go hand in hand. They had to, for him. They were his primary redeeming qualities, after all.

Tate listens as she talks, feeling the buzz start to settle in. "Go catch a couple more, yeah?" Tate quietly spoke his father's tongue to Kaiju, gesturing off toward the river. If they were going to share, then they'd need at least a little more fish to go around. Still paying attention well enough to the girl, poking at the fish to turn it over the fire. He had the time to do a nice job, so he'd do a nice job. Simple as that. "What sorta council? Sounds important." It's a casual question, not looking up from preparing the meal.

Tate settled back to watch how she handled the pipe, and satisfied at how the fish settled near the flames. Her question is an earnest one, and the boy nodded, lifting the pipe in his own grasp. "'Ere, cover this hole 'n breathe in slow. Uncover the hole after a sec 'n finish breathin' in." Tate slid closer to the girl, though he'd try not to come too close. He demonstrated slowly, though he took a smaller hit than he'd typically enjoy. Trying to set a good example... a good example of doing something questionable, but a good enough example indeed. "Y'want to try it?" An offer, giving her the chance to back out if it didn't seem like something she'd enjoy. Tate would be a gentleman, after all.

Shit, speaking of being a gentleman and having manners, he only realized now that he'd fallen short of introducing himself. "'m Tate, by th'way." A confident, relaxed smile. He's a bit hazy but well, that's the weed.
     
   

 

Not much is lost on Bramble. Her mind is hyper-aware of all things around her. Maybe it is the anxiety that eats at her brain. Or the insistence that she try to always do the right thing. No matter what it is, her ears hear the hushed whisper of the foreign language. Her eyes catch him rolling the fish over to near perfection. Even though he is doing other things, she can tell he is listening to her words. This doesn't cause her bravery to diminish. Instead, she bolsters and pushes away feelings of doubt and uncertainty. She would be bold. She would be brave. She was a Carpathius and she would be the best that there ever was! Whatever that really meant, she believed it.

Bramble does hesitate though when he asks her what the council was. Typically, she would have blabbered on about it by now, but a recent lesson from her father caused her to pause. Assess, determine, decide. Maybe she wouldn't tell him all of the details. No, she had to withhold some things. Not everything needed to be known. "The council is an important role in my pack," her voice lowers in volume as the fire crackles before her. Though she is bold, she can be quiet and reserved. It had to be a part of her new almost-adult self. She had to be adaptable and refined.

That was until he slid closer to her. She noticed it wasn't too close, but close enough that her breath caught for a moment. While she had had other boys near her, they had always been family. A strange boy, a strange cute boy, this close to her? Offering her... drugs? She could feel the warmth spreading over her cheeks as he showed her how to use the pipe. Maybe it was just the fire being stoked... Yeah, yeah, that would explain the warmth pooling on her fur. "Ohh seems simple enough," she says softly as he offers the pipe once more to her. There is a split second of hesitation. Once more questioning if it would be rude to turn down his peace offering... Bramble decides to take it. One time wouldn't hurt, right?

Bringing the pipe to her lips, she does as he instructs. Everything would have gone smoothly if what she inhaled had been anything close to smooth. Without even wanting to, she suddenly bursts out coughing. Eyes squeezed shut and paws pushing the pipe back in his direction. Her lungs are on fire as her head swims in circles. Attempting to calm her coughing fit, Bramble shows him a toothy grin. "D-does that always happen the first time?" She asks, her voice going back to a sheepish tone as she squints at him. Unsure if it was the pipe making her eyes water or the fire.

"I'm Bramble. Nice to meet you, Tate," she says through the end of her coughing fit. Her head was still swimming as her belly grumbled. Though the fire in her throat wasn't the best feeling in the world, she couldn't say she hated the feeling that swam inside of her.

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Kaiju returns shortly with more fish, which Tate shifts onto the fire. Careful not to burn himself, he pulls the first batch of fish off. Leaving it to rest and cool for a moment, meticulous as he does. If he's cooking, then he's going to eat damn well, after all. The girl before him says the council is important, and leaves it at that. Potato wouldn't push her, but his interest was piqued. Which pack was she even from? He wouldn't pry for more information, not yet. He'd play it cool, stay relaxed.

If she was refined, then Tate may as well be the opposite. A rough-hewn sort of boy, though that had its own appeal (or at least he'd tell himself that.) Though she hesitated, she did accept the offer. Tate watched as she pulled the pipe to her lips, as she took a long draw from it and-- yup, there it was. He wouldn't stare, no, just an appraising sort of watch. Relaxed and confident, he'd let her ride out the coughing. "Happens even after th'first time, don't worry." Tate's smile was rakish, but genuine. "Here, for yer throat." He offered a water skin, flavored with ginger and mint.

"Likewise," the smile didn't falter. "Are you hungry?" Tate sat beside her, now, pulling the pair of rested fish toward them.
     
   

 

What happened to her head was different. She had taken medicines before for pain and colds, but all it ever did was stop her runny nose, soothe her itchy throat, or relieve pain. This was... light, airy as if she were swimming through clouds. Her eyelids felt heavy and dry and her lips began to tingle. Butterflies fluttered in her belly, making her feel somewhere between hungry and delighted. Blinking slowly, she glanced down at her paws. Everything felt in slow motion. She couldn't hide the tiny smile on her lips as she giggled.

"Thanks," her voice is slightly slurred as she fights her tingling tongue. Lifting the skin to her lips, she takes a drink while also managing to have some of the refreshing and soothing water dribble down her chin. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly handed the skin back to Tate and wiped her mouth. Clearing her throat, Bramble nodded softly to him as she looked over to the fish he had expertly pulled from the fire. "D'you cook fish often?" Bramble asks as she leans back and not before glancing at the pipe. She wanted to ask more questions about what was in it, but was almost too afraid to do so.

B R A M B L E

 

   

At this point, Tate is pretty much always low-grade stoned. It's both more comfortable and more fun to travel this way. That, and easier to talk to others, too. Easier to forge connections, easier to talk to them all. Yeah, all of it was a lot easier for Tate. No one had given him a good reason not to, either. He is comfortably floating, trying not to watch Bramble too closely as she drinks, as she sits beside him. Companionable. He would be companionable.

Screwing the top back to his water skin, he digs in on his own fish, sliding the other one before Bramble. "I do, it's the easiest thing to hunt and make when I'm on the road." Lower effort, no waste, and it tasted pretty damn good. Being raised in Tojo-kai also meant his fish preparation was practiced and damn good, if he did say so himself. Carefully, Tate reached to flip the fish that was currently roasting. "What's your favorite food?" It's conversational, light. Tate would say that fish was actually probably his favorite, too, but he's trying to take an interest in his companion for the early-evening. Orange eyes flickering to her face curiously, studying between bites.

     
   

 

In all honesty, Bramble is impressed by his cooking skills. She has never once had to cook or prepare food or hell, even hunt. That was left to the hunters. Her duties were patrolling and practicing her skills. Not that hunting was beneath her, but harming animals wasn't exactly her thing either. Though she knew they relied on meat to live, she just... didn't like the idea of taking someone else's life. She was reminded of it every time she looked at Berry or Bristle. How could anyone want to harm them?

Refocusing herself back from her ramble of thoughts, she paused at his question. "Oh, hm," she brings a paw up to tap her chin and then glances back down at the fish he has pushed toward her. Bringing the fish up to eat some of it, she takes this time to think about what her favorite food is. It isn't until the taste of her fish touches her tongue does she realizes how delicious it actually is. Not often does she get fresh meat at the castle. They typically smoke or preserve it in some way since there were so many wolves to feed.

"Honestly? Your fish is pretty dang good!" Her ears even lift up as she finishes the fish and licks her lips clean. Once more, she is quickly feeling embarrassed as she wipes her mouth and shows him a sheepish grin. "I mean, we don't get to eat fresh fish often so I can't say I've had much better," Bramble admits, trying to shrug it off as if she wasn't giving him a really good compliment. "I'm not saying food at home sucks. It doesn't, but it's not this either," she lifts a paw to gesture at the fish as it sizzles over the fire. Her eyes are flickering between him, the food, and the sky, unsure of where to look as her cheeks begin to burn hot.

B R A M B L E

 

   

As she thinks, Tate digs in. Really, the boy's table manners are rough at best. Just enough to get by without incurring a judgmental squint from uncle Tori. He'd always been a good eater-- that coupled with the fact he'd been traveling so much? Listen, working up an appetite is really not that hard when you're a growing young man, okay? He's also taken a liking to cooking. Using spices and whatnot... it was kinda fun. Tate liked to eat, so it led him to enjoy the act of cooking, quite genuinely.

It seems that Bramble likes it too. Tate couldn't help but be a bit proud of himself there, for that reason exactly. His tail thumped heartily on the ground behind him at the compliment. It was a fantastic compliment, and he couldn't spin it any other way. "I live by the sea, down south. We smoke lotsa fish for storage, but it's the best when it's fresh." The boy picks the last of the fish bones clean, before dragging the finished second batch off the fire. He'd slide one towards Bramble, and drag the other towards himself. "Th'spices make a difference, even when it's dried." He says with a nod. Tate is relaxed, comfortable by the fire with his companion for the evening. A good evening, it was.

     
   

 

Her eyes glance down as he moves the fresh batch of fish around. She would have commented again about the fish, but his own comment about living down south has her interested. There was only one pack she knew of that currently lived south of the Hallows. Tojo-Kai. She had met their Kaicho once and even a healer girl by the name of Fuji. Did he know them? Or was he truly a wayward soul? The scent that lingered on him said otherwise and honestly, her curiosity got the better of her.

"Are the spices in Tojo-Kai different than up here?" Bramble asks gingerly as she takes a bite of the next fish. Her eyes linger on the food for another second before she looks up at him with hooded lids and a quirked brow. "D'you know a girl named Fuji?" She asks tentatively next, not wanting to give everything away. Maybe their splotchy coats meant they were related or that was just how all of the Tojo-Kai wolves appeared.

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