How I Met My Mother [open]

[Ryker]

It had been far too long since Ryker had last eaten, slept, or felt as if his world were not collapsing around him. This was the life he was living, and he would be damned before asking for help. Perhaps it was unwise, the decision he had made. But that was before they came back. It still came to him in flashes during the night. There was no way he could explain what he was seeing, and there was no one around to ask to help him. He was alone.

Ryker was quick to fight back against that strange band of wolves. To this day, he was not sure how or what had happened. All he could see was those eyes: blood red, staring him down in the night. Like hyenas, they circled him, their laughs echoing endlessly in his ears at night. He dared not rest for long stretches or they would haunt him once again. And the worst thing was, he had no idea who they were or why they were after him. All he could recall was darkness.

It was that day that the black and golden male awoke alone. Sure, there were scents of other wolves all around him, his own scent mingled in about them. But his fight or flight instinct kicked in at that moment. With a dazed feeling surrounding him and saturating him all the way to the bone, Ryker took off into the night, never to see those who might have been able to figure out who he was. The male could only remember a single name. His name was Ryker, but who was he really? Some beat up male that could clearly be left for dead in the woods and no one would come looking for him? Why would he want to stick around wolves who would allow such a thing to happen? He was through with whatever life that was. He could not get over the nagging fear that consumed him at every turn. This place was no home to him, and he would not allow whatever ghosts were haunting him to keep control.

And so he ran. Day after day, the male strode further and further away from Acerbus. While his head was still plagued with nightmares and occasional terrifying flashes of what he believed to be his past, for the most part the last three years remained in the dark for the young male. He was Ryker, but who was Ryker? It would take months for him to truly get a grasp of what it meant to be himself.

While it was difficult, the midnight male grew confident in himself. He was young, strong, and far larger than anyone he had encountered in his travels. His downfall clearly laid somewhere in his past. Those red eyes struck fear in the male, yet he could not pinpoint exactly why he was afraid. This was his existence, and perhaps one day, he would truly conquer all his demons.

Word Count: 498 words
Tags: Open to all.
Notes: Well considering I just adopted this here fool, not a bad post at all XD

[Ryker]

Time had not been kind to Ryker. The caked dirt in his fur and the untended mats that graced his back were evidence of the poor living conditions the male suffered in. With no one to care for the male, he was simply a shell of his former self. Who that might have been, however, was still a mystery. Over the past months the flashbacks grew more and more intense. First, it had started with just the eyes. Those blood red eyes haunted him both day and night for weeks. Then, they started to change. The eyes became more muted... A sickly orange color, and the black coat that accompanied the wolf came into focus. Then there were two, then three. Each time, new details manifested in the dreams. But the end was always the same. He was always beaten, left for dead. Perhaps he had angered someone in his past life, and this was retribution for his misdeeds. He simply could not know. Living a life without memory of the past was both painful and disconcerting. How could he possibly continue on as if what was in the past had never happened?

Last night, though.... That was the most vivid dream of all.

The soft pounding of dark paws against the forest floor echoed in the male's gold-trimmed ears, the scent trail fresh in his nostrils. His father was out searching for his mate, while Ryker was busy searching for his mother. Father had never truly taken the time to search for an answer to her death, and he was set on resolving the matter once and for all. It was not fair that they continued to live while her killer wandered free. The scent trail took him to the north eastern corner of the territory, nearly into the northern loner lands in pursuit of the scent. It was then that they struck.

Four large males, one with orange eyes that seemed to glow in the night. They circled him dangerously, their laughs making his skin crawl. There was no escape. One wolf was no match for four, and it was only by a stroke of luck that the alpha male was not killed. He was lucky, but that luck came at a price...

More details came into focus each day. Clearly he had a father, he was once a part of a pack, but the details before that were still foggy. He could not remember his mother or her name. He did not know why he was out searching for her or what this all meant. It had been easier to run away than to try to face the past once he awoke. Maybe that was his body's way of telling him that the past was not worth it. He would have a fresh start, and there was nothing hovering over his head to stop him from doing so. Maybe this was truly a blessing in disguise.

[Deleted]

Aaliyah had always lived the life of a nomad. Growing up she had been taught to always keep moving; if you changed your position it was harder for others to kill you, her father used to claim. Her parents had been loners and had met by chance. It was as if their fate was sealed on that very day. At first they started off as friends, but soon a relationship blossomed between them. It wasn't until her mother gave birth to her only litter of pups that their relationship became strained. They tried to hide their emotions in front of herself and her older brother, but there were times when she and her brother still saw the fights. They did not last long and they were quick to kiss and makeup, but it made it difficult to understand at times. It was months down the line that her mother's health began to deteriorate, and in that time she had imprinted multiple thoughts on Aaliyah. Never settle. Was one of the more common phrases and at the time she hadn't understood, but now she did. Aaliyah could still clearly remember the last night she had seen her father and brother. It had been the very day her mother had passed away, her frail body finally seeming at peace. But where Aaliyah saw peace her father and brother saw other things. Weeks of pent up anger was released between the two and instead of finding her voice she merely let them go at it. She did her best to stay out of the way of the gnashing teeth and flailing limbs. It was then that Aaliyah knew she would not be a part of this broken family any longer. And so she had done what she knew how to do best - she ran. She had never stopped running, staying on the far corners of Anikira for the entirety of a year. That year hadn't been too pleasant. The life of a nomad would always be harder then one of living within a pack. She was a petite femme, but her frame had thinned out considerably over the winter. Her subtle curves becoming even more subtle with each passing day.

Aaliyah had drawn comfort in the meadow with crimson hued wild flowers. There the grass was high and it provided a temporary safe haven. It was not only safe but it was warm. She had done her best when it came to hunting but pickings were rare. She was used to her stomach growling constantly and soon it became background noise for the female. It was when her throat started to become parched that she was torn away from her comfort zone. She moved with ease, her lithe body keeping her within the shadows of the land; weaving in and out of trees and being careful to remain quiet. It was dark when she finally heard the sounds of rushing water. Her auds perked curiously, her nostrils flaring as she scented the air for it's exact location. She jogged forward then, following the beaten trail towards the rushing river. It was as she got closer that a new scent reached her nose. This was that of a male and Aaliyah froze instantly. She slunk back, using the trees in front of her as coverage. Unfortunately the light cream tones of her pelt caused her to stick out like a sore thumb, so she attempted to lower herself to the ground until her underbelly was lying against it. For a moment she barely breathed, holding her breath until the stranger was a mere couple of feet ahead of her. His pelt was darker then the night itself and she probably would not have even noticed him had it not been for his scent on the breeze. The only other thing that caused him to stand out were the unusual gold markings that blended perfectly with his ebony fur. Her icy blue occuli remained glued to his frame, too scared to move. She pinned her auds flat against her head and her hackles raised merely out of defense. Hopefully he would continue on without noticing her, but there was still a chance that he would find her.

notes: hope it's okay I brought her in, she's brand new and I'm getting the hang of her
tagged: Ryker
muse: decent
word count: 867
status: complete.

[Ryker]

It was such an odd thing, being alone. Although Ryker could not figure out why it felt so strange out here. On one hand, he felt at peace knowing that he could care for himself. But he could not quite escape the demons that haunted him at night, and that led him to wonder what exactly his mind was blocking out. Surely there was something that he should remember, but with those devilish nightmares, Ryker was not sure his old life was one that he would want to go back to. Being out and alone was not the worst thing, after all. Perhaps he could start over a life somewhere else where no one knew him. That way, he would be able to escape whatever demons lurked in his past. They would stay locked away, and he would be none the wiser.

But it was becoming increasingly obvious that those memories were yearning to peek through. Flashes of the little red wolf, covered in blood plagued his mind. Who was this wolf, and why did his heart break every time those images flashed through his mind? There was some part of him that truly wanted to understand these things. But there was so much hurt and darkness in his past, that much he had come to understand.

It was while the male sat deep in thought that he got the feeling of eyes upon him. It was nothing concrete; there were no rustling leaves or breaking sticks. There was simply the nagging feeling that eyes were watching his every move. The red eyes... have they come back for me? he muses silently, his hackles raising in alarm. Surely if they had intended to kill him they would have done so the first time. No, this felt like something else, but he could not quite put a paw on it. So the male did the most juvenile thing he could have done.

"Is there someone out there?"

Tags: @aaliyah
Notes: Sorry, I totally didn't see that you posted. I suck D:

[Deleted]

She remained flat against the ground, holding her breath as she watched the much larger brute. Her gaze was unwavering and she felt that if she let out a single breath he would find her. Light tremors shook her frame, her tail tucked between her legs as she laid on her belly. Her heart raced in her chest, thudding furiously. It was loud enough that she could hear the beating in her ears as she laid there watching him. Although she was as quiet as can be she knew that he had detected her presence. And yet he seemed distraught? She cocked her head lightly to the side as she surveyed him, but what could he possibly be so distraught about? Even from this distance she could smell others on him. Perhaps he had a home of his own. He must certainly not have much to worry about. At least he did not have to live the life of a loner- but then again she chose to live this way. Aaliyah briefly felt sorry for the male. She could see the look on his facade and it pulled at her heart strings. But she didn't trust him enough to ask him if there was something wrong. Every instinct in her body told her to flee. And so she would. She turned quietly, her back facing the brute when suddenly his vocals reached her pinned ears. Is there someone out there? She froze then, her steps halted with the sound of his voice. She contemplated on what to do. Should she stay and speak to him? Or should she leave without a trace. Surely he must know of her presence if he asked if she was out here.. Ugh I hate myself for this. She thought before finally turning around.

Aaliyah hesitantly peaked out from her hiding place, her icy blue chasms locking with the green eyes of the stranger. Hello.. She spoke quietly meanwhile she inched closer to him. Hesitantly she sat, though her muscles remained tense. She watched him wearily, not moving and keeping a hefty distance between them. Sitting before him it seemed like the moonlight illuminated her. When she had been hiding behind the trees she had blended in, but now it was as if she were acting like a night light. Her creamy tones and ivory patches almost sparkling in the moonlight. Her darker tans not even providing an ounce of camouflage for the female. Aaliyah tried not to fidget before him but she was truly uncomfortable. Her ears plastered against her petite skull as she occasionally glanced away from him. Finally she decided to break the silence as neither of them had moved or talked for a good couple of minutes. My name is Aaliyah.. Who are you? She asked softly. Part of her was truly curious to find out who the brute was, but the other half of her was terrified. She had never had this type of encounter before, especially with a stranger nonetheless. So far she was handling things quite well though, and she knew that her mother would be proud. Deep down Aaliyah knew that she would never be able to find a home if she didn't open up more. Perhaps this mystery brute would be able to assist her in locating some pack lands. Even though she had visited most of them, maybe she was missing a couple yet. She tried to remain positive and give him the benefit of the doubt. But for now she wanted to maintain a safe distance between them in case he should try anything uncalled for with her.

notes: yay now we can get this moving lol
tagged: Ryker
muse: decent
word count: 762
status: complete.

[Ryker]

Part of Ryker expected company. He was in tune with the world around him enough to recognize that someone was watching him. What he did not expect was for such a lovely female to emerge, her soft voice gracing his gold-trimmed ears as she spoke to him. A soft smile graced the male's golden lips as he dipped his head in greeting to the female. He was nothing but respectful in the presence of females; they deserved nothing less. "Hello," he responded in turn, his green eyes twinkling at the thought of actually interacting with another wolf.

Truth be told, Ryker often grew lonely. He could not really pin down the source of the feeling. As long as he could remember, he had been alone. But memories tended to be fallible, yet emotions were far more honestly. There was a lingering absence in his heart that he had yet to pin down. Perhaps some day he would figure it out, but currently he was burdened with the task of surviving day to day life. "I'm Ryker," he offered, his tail wagging slightly as he dropped his rump to the earth. He could not help but have grown mildly defensive. After all, who knew what was lurking in the shadows waiting for him? But at the sight of the femme, he was put far more at ease. She seemed pleasant enough, and it did not appear that she was looking for any trouble. Maybe some casual conversation would be what he needed to get his head on straight. From there, he could figure out what he was doing and maybe, just maybe, get his life on track.

It was a lonely world out by himself, that much Ryker had already figured out. It seemed that his heart yearned for a pack, yet he could not even figure out where he came from. How was he supposed to find a home if he knew nothing of himself? It was this road block that had prevented him from moving forward in the first place. Each day, he told himself he would try to discover what his mind had blocked out. And each day, he realized that whatever was locked in the past was there for a reason, and perhaps he would be better off if he did not meddle in the ways of the mind.

"What brings a little lady such as yourself out here?" he smiled at the words, his eyes following the femme curiously as he tried his best to gauge her intentions. Was she simply another loner who had happened to stumble upon him? Or was there something different going on here? The black and golden male was nothing but cautious these days. Even the prettiest face could lead to trouble, and while he was far more relaxed than he had been at first, Ryker knew better than to completely put himself at the mercy of this wolf. The wilderness was a strange, cutthroat place. Perhaps she was here to finish the job of the red eyes. No one really knew.

Well, except perhaps Aaliyah herself.

But something about the she-wolf's nervous behavior led him to believe otherwise. She did not exude confidence and dominance. Instead, she appeared more frightened by the fact that he had noticed her in the first place. The large male was torn; should he hang around and find out what this little lass was up to, or should he move on? Something about the look in her eyes convinced him to hang around, if only for a little while.

Word Count: 599 words
Tags: @aaliyah
Notes: This was getting a little bit better than some of my other posts XD

[Deleted]

Aaliyah sat silently, her eyes wandering over the form of the stranger. It was uncanny how much he resembled the few bears she had seen in glancing. She felt intrigued by the gold markings that graced his ebony fur, it was a beautiful contrast. She did not speak but simply watched him, burning the image of him in the back of her mind. This stranger was the most unique one she had come across as of yet and she knew that he had to have some type of back story. It had to be interesting, one surely couldn't look the way he did without having decent bloodlines. Bloodlines that had a history to him. Aaliyah on the other hand had the most normal coloring you could come across. Her pelt shifted from a cream color to a light tan and darker tan mixed with white. The only markings she did have were the two dark brown tear stains in the corner of her eyes. Aside from that she did not have any qualities that made her stand out from others, which she enjoyed. Aaliyah didn't want to be noticed, she preferred to live her life unnoticed. Although she did yearn for a pack she had not found one that was satisfying to her needs. Each pack land she had come across had different ideals, none of which that correlated with her own. She wanted a pack that would treat one another as family. A good family. She didn't want a family like the one she had had. Of course they had lasted for quite some time, but when one thing breaks then everything hits the fan. Her mother's death had caused a domino affect of bad mojo. Even now she could clearly recall the images of her brother and father fighting one another. It was not something that she wanted to see again.

This was why she had moved on. She wanted a better life for herself, a better family. Hello. He responded and it was then that her auds perked forward. She graced him with a shy smile, surprised with how respectful he was even while just greeting her. I'm Ryker. What brings a little lady such as yourself out here? Aaliyah finally had a name to place to his face, but something about that name rang familiar in her mind. Wasn't that the name of an alpha in one of the packs she had surveyed? She could not remember clearly though and she wouldn't voice that question until knowing him better. She listened to his question and spoke to him in response. I travel a lot.. She offered something brief, unsure of what he would do with the information she had offered him. It was nothing short from the truth and she watched him closely for a reaction. Do you have a pack Ryker? She asked quietly, her curiosity clear in her light blue eyes as she waited for a response from him. This was the answer to her own question, perhaps he was a male of importance. For some reason there was a nagging voice in her mind swearing that she knew him, or at least have heard of him. Whether it was a good or bad thing she wasn't sure just yet. It was hard to remember something she had heard about so very long ago.

notes: I'm so glad I can help your muse if they hit it off and Ryker is looking for a new pack I would love for him to be a part of Eden with Aaliyah.. Just a thought <3
tagged: Ryker
muse: decent
word count: 754
status: complete.

[Ryker]

Ryker could not help but feel at ease around this stranger. There was something about her that was just so passive, it had a calming effect on him as well. He could not even perceive her as a threat. Part of that was because, quite frankly, she as tiny in comparison to him. It also helped that she seemed very mellow tempered; Ryker likely would have fled from a much more dominant personality. He had no idea what kind of wolf he was or what he had done in the past. For all he knew, he used to be a murderer and a terror to the continent. Maybe that was why the red eyes had come after him. Perhaps there was a hit out on him and he would never be able to live a normal life.

It was frightening living in fear of a past one could not remember. There were so many mysteries floating in his head just waiting to be unlocked, yet he could not access a single one of them. Instead, he just had to guess and who he was and where he had been. Most days it worked well for him, but on the off chance he encountered someone from his past, he would be at a severe disadvantage. However, as the little femme spoke, he nodded his head gently, a soft smile spread across his golden lips. "I, too, tend to travel a lot," he admitted, leaving out the part about running from his past. What exactly he was running from, now that was a mystery in and of itself. Her next question, though, struck him as a little odd.

"Erm, I don't think I do," he nearly stammered, caught off guard by the question as a splitting headache struck him. His mind was nearly thrown off tilt as flashes of other golden wolves rushed through his mind, but there were no names to put to the faces. Just other black and golden wolves, and some of them white and gold. Was that a memory, or was his mind just fighting back from any potential of retrieving his memories? He could not figure it out, but the wince was noticeable as he shrank back from Aaliyah slightly.

With a shake of his large head, he grimaced once more before looking back at the smaller wolf. "I'm sorry about that," he apologizes, his eyes begging her not to flee. "I occasionally get some really severe headaches... I can't seem to make them go away." The reverberating pain was still present, but it would be manageable and a lot easier to hide now that the sharp onset was over. The pain was getting worse each time though, and heaven only knew what would happen when he had an incapacitating one at an inopportune time. He was a ticking time bomb, ready to blow. But would whatever his mind was hiding really be so bad for him to recall?

That was the loaded question. On one hand, Ryker was itching to know what was buried away in his mind. Why had those wolves come after him in the first place? Yet there was also the possibility that he was better off without remembering. There was probably some reason those wolves had come after him, and remembering his old self might revert him. The black and golden male wanted nothing more than to be a good, upstanding character. Maybe he would not be able to do that if he remembered himself. One of these days, everything is going to burst through, he realized with a slight cringe. As the vivid dreams and headaches grew more frequent, so did Ryker realize that there was a possibility that the life he was living right now was drawing to an end. Hopefully, whatever wolf stood on the other side of that curtain would be someone he could stand to live with for the rest of his life.

Word Count: 659 words
Tags: @aaliyah
Notes: I really am not sure what is going to happen with him yet. Part of me thinks when he remembers he might head back to Descai but I really don't think Vor wants to see him XD So we'll see where this goes for now!

[Deleted]

It was surprising how at ease she felt around Ryker. Maybe it was because he was significantly larger then herself, or perhaps it was because he treated her with such respect. Respect she had never expected to receive from a brute before but something she had most definitely yearned for. Although it was darker then ink and the moon was their only light source she felt safe near him. After all two wolves were better then just one. It wasn't that she was afraid of the dark or of the night itself, it was just that she was more so uneasy of all the creatures that hid in the dark. It was much easier to be attacked at night time which made things a little nerve racking for the female. This was why she mostly traveled at night. If you kept constantly moving it was harder for someone to hit a moving target. She didn't want to be a sitting duck. So although part of her was worried about something happening another part of her reassured her that as long as she hung around with Ryker she would be okay. She had never been a fighter and didn't intend on becoming one, but if she had to defend herself she ultimately would. She wouldn't have a chance if she didn't. I, too, tend to travel a lot. He told her and this caused her ears to perk slightly. Your a traveler also? She questioned curiously. It was actually quite surprising to the female because Ryker had exuded the aura of an alpha. Some wolves carried that air about them, she had seen plenty. And Ryker had been added to the mix as soon as she had seen him.

Erm, I don't think I do. He responded to her question and she watched as he visibly winced and shrunk away from her. Her ears laced back against her head then out of uncertainty. Had she said something wrong? Are you okay? She asked quietly before taking a hesitant step towards him. Instinct made her want to help him but she held back, unsure of how he would react to her coming closer to him. When he looked back up their eyes locked and she recognized the pleading found within his green eyes. I'm sorry about that. I occasionally get some really severe headaches... I can't seem to make them go away. A frown was plastered on her facade at his next words and it was then that she gained the confidence to move forward. They were only inches apart then and her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest. My mother used to get headaches. She offered to him quietly. It was the first time she had ever spoken about her family to another wolf and surprisingly she was not afraid to do so. Have you tried any herbs to help alleviate the pain? She asked curiously, wondering if he knew of the different herbs that could help with common ailments. If not she would be more then happy to assist him. For some reason she felt the urge to help Ryker. Maybe it was because he was so nice to her. Maybe it was because they just connected. She wasn't sure why but she felt like she could trust him and that was enough for her.

notes: I'm game for whatever hun, I just love these two together
tagged: Ryker
muse: decent
word count: 739
status: complete.

[Ryker]

It was strange to have someone show him any bit of kindness. Ryker had been on his own so long that it was an uncommon feeling, and he could not help but wince back in discomfort. "I will be okay," he grunted out, shaking his head loosely. "I just keep thinking that they will stop one of these days. I did not use to get them." He half smirked at the smaller wolf, attempting to show her that he was actually quite fine. The underlying pain was still there, but hopefully the worst of it was over. "Traveler? Not exactly, I guess," he admitted casually. The black and golden male was not completely sure what he was. He was Ryker, and that was about all that he knew these days. "I suppose I just go wherever it feels most natural. I am not sure what I will do from here," he confessed with a casual grin. "I guess I will just keep going wherever the world takes me until I figure it out."

As Aaliyah asked if he had ever looked into herbology, he shook his head in the negative. "I am really not familiar with plant life. I would most likely wind up eating something that would kill me," he chuckled lightly, thought it was a legitimate fear of his. He was not very trusting of the world around him; that much was obvious. It was only a matter of time before whatever his mind was running from caught up to him. There was little he could do to continue to ward it off, and he doubted that some herbs laying around would magically cure him of having a clearly troubled past. "I am not sure how much they would help, in reality," he stated bluntly, unsure how else to address it. He sincerely doubted the headaches were truly a physical ailment. It might have been a physical side effect, but the cause did not stem from an actual physical source. He was trying to protect himself.

At Aaliyah's mention of her mother, Ryker's gold-tipped ears involuntarily fell flat against his head. There was a sharp, stabbing pain that rushed through his chest. He was heartbroken... but why? It was something the male had not experienced before now, but why would mentioning Aaliyah's mother bring him pain? As if by instinct, the brute's emerald eyes searched wildly for some form of escape. How much longer could he really stay here? How long could he be in one place before they came for him?


Tags: @aaliyah
Notes: Sorry about the wait on this. My muse dropped off the face of the planet.

[Deleted]

Aaliyah sat quietly, watching Ryker carefully. Oddly enough she did not feel like she was in any sort of danger being close to the bear like brute. She took a small bit of comfort of being in his presence, it was better then being alone at night. There were plenty of other creatures out there, of other wolves that would more than likely try to take advantage of her. But not him. She was caught off guard when he seemed so docile. That was the last thing she had expected to come from the brute. I will be okay. I just keep thinking that they will stop one of these days. I did not use to get them. Traveler? Not exactly, I guess. I suppose I just go wherever it feels most natural. I am not sure what I will do from here. I guess I will just keep going wherever the world takes me until I figure it out. She offered a timid smile to Ryker then. Although he did not know it they were very similar. Aaliyah did not know where she was going in life she sort of just rolled with the punches. Each day that she survived was an accomplishment, an unspoken victory for the petite female. I am really not familiar with plant life. I would most likely wind up eating something that would kill me. Yet again she gave him a sympathetic smile. She too had once been clueless when it came to plant life, but over time she had learned, even if it meant surveying others. There were certain plants that needed to be avoided, but then there were others that could truly be helpful. Aaliyah wouldn't ever really admit it but she loved the plant life and was very fascinated by it. It was amazing how just one small berry could kill a wolf. The world was an interesting place. I am not sure how they would help, in reality.

Aaliyah glanced away then, her eyes roaming the surrounding area. She knew that Ryker didn't believe that any type of herb would help but he would be surprised. She stood then, moving further from the brute. I'll be right back. She called over her shoulder before striding a little further through the forest. The particular plant she was looking for could not be easily found and would not be in the open. She however knew what to look for and lowered her muzzle to the ground. Her light blue orbs were darting from tree to tree. She still had no luck until she passed a fallen log. Instantly she halted her tracks to turn and walk around the opposite side of the log. There hidden out of view was Aghada leaves. She smiled, proud at the fact that she had found them. The leaves were a beautiful shade of yellow and green which was what made it clear to her that she had found the right ones. It was a fairly large clump and she didn't need much. Lowering her nose to the ground she picked a few leaves with her teeth. Being sure not to ingest anything herself she was only clamped lightly around the leaves, her teeth hardly even puncturing the leaves. Aaliyah bounded back down the path she had created, her tail raised high behind her. Soon enough Ryker came back into view and she went prancing up to him. Sitting down she gently dropped the three leaves she had carried in her mouth in front of him. Her tail wagged gently, she was happy with her find. These are Aghada leaves. You can distinguish them by their yellow and green leaves. They can be sort of hard to find but you just need to know what to look for. Her tail continued to wag as she smiled brightly at Ryker for the first time. I know you don't believe they will work but trust me.. They will help. The leaves are used for soreness, fevers, and any other common illness you can think of. So these little puppies will make that headache go away in no time.. Go ahead.. Try one. Lowering her nose she nudged one of the leaves closer to him. Don't be afraid. If the taste is bitter we do have the river right over there. She smiled to reassure him and her tail continued to wag, now it was the waiting process. Aaliyah wasn't even sure he would take the help but it was worth the try.

notes: sorry for the wait babe!
tagged: Ryker
muse: decent
word count: 945
status: complete.

[Ryker]

Why would a total stranger want to help him? Ryker just could not figure out what this little she-wolf had to gain by assisting him. He could not deny the fact that he was skeptical of her intentions, even more so when she darted off in search of some elusive plant. What if she was trying to poison him? What if she was working with the red eyes? The black and golden male watched warily as the small femme shuffled back toward him, some strange-looking plant life grasped between her teeth. The male found himself unconsciously backing away from Aaliyah. It would be ironic, after all, if a tiny she-wolf turned out to be his downfall. He could not risk his life on trusting her, could he?

Besides, the male knew that the headaches did not spawn from some sort of medical ailment that a leaf could cure. He found himself shaking his head, declining Aaliyah's offering. "I'm sorry, but I know that will not help. I know what is causing the headaches..." he trailed off, unsure if he should let her know what he was so afraid to admit. He was a nobody like this, and maybe that was for the best. Clearly Aaliyah did not know who he was, or at least he did not think she did. She could be a very skilled temptress, here to manipulate him into consuming something that would kill him. Or maybe, just maybe, she was a legitimately concerned female that just so happened to stumble upon him. Against his better judgment, he was more inclined to lean toward the second option.

"I'm not ill. I just can't remember who I am," he confessed suddenly, the words bursting from his golden muzzle before he could stop them. It was as if every fiber of his being wanted to confess it. He had gone so long without being able to talk to anyone that maybe this was what he needed. He needed someone to confide in. And maybe, just maybe, he would find someone to tell him that everything was going to be alright. "I haven't know for months... Every time I feel like I'm starting to remember something, I get these splitting headaches."

Perhaps if she was with whoever was hunting him, this would call them off. Maybe Ryker could live a normal life if they understood that he was no longer a threat to them, though he could not understand how he would have ever been a threat to anyone. Sure, he was a large male, but every fiber of his being felt innately good. He could not fathom laying a paw on another unless they acted first, yet somehow he managed to get himself into a mess that wound him up here. It was so confusing, but maybe one day, everything would make sense again.

He still was not sure he ever wanted to know who he really was.


Word Count: 498 words

Tags: @aaliyah

Notes: I feel like my muse was pretty good on this one. Sorry he's so distrustful.