Perfume (Calantha)

[Deleted]

Small, barely-there squeals and squeaks permeated the small hole where several rabbit babies were rooting around, born only a few days ago and yet full of life and ready to leave the nest. Mother hovered nearby, chewing on the tender grass shoots that grew several feet away from her den, beady eyes and tall ears moving every which way as she restlessly ate her fill while making sure there was no danger. She did not hear the delicate paws of her coming doom, padding softly on quiet grass, nor did she see the crouched shadow that crept her way with deliberation and patience.

His grey eyes were watching the mother, jaw slightly agape as he tasted the air with his tongue as well as his nose, counting the number of slightly different scents. There was a strong scent of the mother, and ten smaller, individual scents made up of the young ones. He would have to choose between one bite or many; the mother would be faster, and she did not make up as much as her ten babies, but there was no guarantee that he would be able to keep all of the babies from running off before he disabled them. Making a snap decision, Auron leapt forward, hitting the ground with his chest above the den and smashing his body down.

Mother bun darted off, and cries and screams came from below him, but he had covered the opening of the shallow den with his bulk and effectively trapped the small ones, their kicks and flails hardly noticeable on his thick skin. He scooted backwards, slowly, until the tiniest of openings was present at the top of his chest, and with a speed he had never known before, he scooted backwards, lowered his head, closed his jaws on a single furry body, straightened his neck, and was back into place before any of the other captives could escape.

The baby in his mouth screamed bloody murder before he fell silent, needing only a slight pressure to break his neck and go limp. Auron felt a little sad as he chewed what was mostly fur with a few bites of meat, knowing that he would be killing several more helpless creatures, but his place in life made him a predator; he was made to kill, and the pickings when he was alone were fairly slim. Not many deer went down easily even with a partner, and he was better at catching and killing small game anyway. Though his skills, by and large, had improved threefold from what he was capable of several weeks ago, thanks to a little help. As he snatched up another morsel, Auron glanced around the quiet meadow, surrounded by trees, and sighed. He was living a good life, pack or not, and it was nice to finally relax after two years of battling to survive.

Words || 481
Tags || Calantha
Notes || For when you have time.< 3

[Calantha]

Slender legs worked furiously, tiny paws pattering softly against the earth as the diminutive form of the fae streaked across the horizon. Long, honey-gold stalks of grass gently caressed her pelt as she moved, swaying gently with the breeze as the femme swiftly made her way across the vast meadow. It was early morning, the sweltering summer sun blessedly concealed by thick ivory clouds that drifted lazily across the azure sky, and there was a certain sense of bliss that settled upon Calantha’s delicate shoulder blades as she moved. Large triangular ears tipped forward atop her narrow cranium, tail held downwards even as she ran, which was a stark reminder of her breed – as if her narrow visage and bouncing gait wasn’t obvious enough. The fact of the matter was that many moons ago Calantha had washed ashore this strange land, and she’d found that it was largely and heavily populated by wolves. She’d seen nary another coyote since she’d set paws upon Anikira, and while initially she’d longed for the familiarity and closeness of her own kind, Calantha had quickly come to the conclusion that she was not so different from wolves after all. Naturally they begged to differ; while she could recall stories her mother had once told her of wolves and coyotes who mingled their genes and lived in harmony, Calantha was inevitably different, and there was no changing that despite the closeness of their species.

She’d mulled over it in her time spent alone. It had become quickly apparent that there was much for her to learn, and it was her determination that had given her strength. She’d skirted pack lands and learned their names through careful prodding and gentle inquiries; Airila and Eden to the north, Descai and Ultoris nestled east, fierce Kairos in the west, and femme-dominant Valyn just off the mainland. She’d learned them, and she’d avoided them since. She knew little of how warmly she’d be welcomed in a wolf pack, and she wasn’t eager to find out in case of worst case scenario. She was fierce but she was small – smaller than the wolves, lighter, dainty and soft. To underestimate her would be a mistake, but she was no fool either, and Calantha would not walk blindly into danger.

Almost as if her thoughts had summoned one, the scent of a wolf wafted towards her at the same moment that a sharp chorus of squeals demolished the silence. A moment later silence descended once more, but Calantha’s step faltered, head whipping around as vivid saffron orbs came to rest upon a shape she’d previously missed in the grass. The wolf was dark and distinctly male, judging by scent; Calantha slowed to a hesitant trot, wavering. From her vantage point he didn’t appear to be much larger than her in height, although surely double her weight at the least, but it was difficult to tell when he was laying down. The scent of blood drifted across the meadow to her, her stomach giving a swift but prominent cramp. She’d been on her way to find something to eat, and she wasn’t the only one; this stranger, judging by the muffled whimpers of fear coming from beneath him, had hit the jackpot.

She did not move closer to him, but neither did she flee. She was perfectly aware that she was visible now, and yet Calantha waited, yellow gaze sharp and keen as she watched him for a reaction to her presence.

WORDS: 579
TAG: @auron
NOTES: Muse explosion <3

[Deleted]

As Auron crunched down and swallowed his third small snack of ten, he heard a soft sound, the rustling of leaves as a body walked past them. His whole body tensed and froze except his ears, which flicked backwards in an attempt to recognize more sounds. None were made; whatever had alerted him was now still, whether preparing to attack or flee, though he knew not which. A growl rumbled low in his chest and bubbled from his throat, a warning but not an immediate threat--he wanted to continue his meal, not lose it.

When no attack came, Auron's anger melted away into curiosity, and his body began to turn very slowly, staying aware of the den he was blocking as it prepared for... well, he didn't know what. Dark gray eyes found the female shortly before her delicate scent wafted by on an unseen breeze, and the two combined confused him more than they would have separately. A light frown crossed his features, brow furrowing as he took in the still form of this stranger, lupine but distinctly different from a wolf. She had massive ears and a tiny frame, not as small as Rita but nearly as thin, and her pointed nose was nearly as long as his despite how much he outweighed her. Minuscule paws supported her, though he did not know how, and he met her amber eyes with his own as he decided he had never seen a creature such as this.

"What... what type of wolf are you?" he asked, voice deep but surprisingly gentle as his curiosity took over. While he made no motion to stand up, neither did he show any submission--his tail was neutral, but the fur along his back stood slightly on end, giving him a bulkier appearance, and he eyes and ears were trained on her alone, determined not to be caught off guard by an intriguing mystery. "You can't be a wolf. But I'm not familiar with the type of animal you are." The second statement was even nicer, and he scowled, aware that he was not using the kindest words.

"Forgive my manners," he added hastily, shaking his head to replace his focused look with one of polite interest. He had not stopped observing her, and was still prepared for the unexpected, but he smiled warmly and attempted to make up for his rudeness. "I'm new here, and there are unfortunately still things I do not understand. But my name is Auron. What may I call you?"

Words || 435
Tags || Calantha
Notes || Werp kinda short but

[Calantha]

When it was curiosity that filled his gaze as opposed to malice, Calantha relaxed a fraction, noticing the way that his eyes roamed across her more eccentric features. The first words out of his muzzle formed a halting question, and unable to help herself, Calantha smiled, listening with perked ears as he continued to speculate over her appearance before finally offering an apology…and a name. Auron. He certainly seemed friendly enough, and it was his plea for forgiveness that softened her further until the majority of the hesitance melted from her form. She slipped closer to him, stopping far enough away to be courteous, but not so far as to offer insult.

”No forgiveness needed,” she assured him, firmly but not at all unkindly. ”I’ve only been here for a few short months myself, and I’ve yet to see another of my kind. It’s no surprise that you don’t recognize me.” Many wolves she’d encountered had been immediately insulting, although not always meaning to, but this one had not. ”My name is Calantha, and I’m a coyote. I crossed the sea to come here some time ago, and I’ve been wandering ever since.” She took a moment then to observe Auron more closely, yellow eyes flickering across his face and frame, taking in the details. ”You don’t smell like any of the packs around here; none that I’ve scented, anyways. I’m assuming you’re a wanderer, too?”

Her own curiosity was evident now, for even though Calantha knew his species well enough, she did not know much more of him. He could have been from anywhere, an idea that piqued her interest even further. She was an adventurer, and she enjoyed learning of the origins of others, always so different from her own. She’d long ago come to terms with the circumstances of her past – or close enough. In truth she’d buried them behind a wall of confusion and built strength, inner and outer. She could now think of her home, the vastness of the volcano, the towering crags, without feeling a pang in her narrow chest.

A tiny whimper drew her gaze once more to the hole he’d been guarding, a rabbit den that had been quite the clever find. ”I think I’m the one who should be offering my apologies now for interrupting your meal,” she added wryly, bushy tail swaying gently around her haunches. She was fortunate that she’d stumbled across him, who seemed well on the amiable side, as opposed to a different wolf. Food was a touchy subject for many, and although from what she’d seen it wasn’t scarce upon Anikira, she did not doubt that another wolf might have attacked a strange thing like her on sight with such a succulent meal in the picture.

TAG: @auron
WORDS: 460
NOTES: <3

[Deleted]

Calantha's smile was met with a smile of his own as Auron noticed her relaxing, becoming comfortable with him after he spoke. That had been the point, after all, and as she ambled closer, he continued to observe her familiar and yet strange appearance, intrigued by the similarities she held to wolves. When she spoke of what she was, the word was foreign to his ears, but an easy one--Coyote Calantha. Why there were no other coyotes here was probably because the island was so populated by wolves; this female seemed as though she were no stranger to harsher greetings than he had given her.

"Calantha. What a beautiful name," he said kindly, his smile turning a little toothy as he spoke but offering no threat. As comfortable as he may have seemed himself, Auron's muscles were ready to work, and he would happily give up his catch to defend himself, despite it not seeming necessary. Minds could change without a second's hesitation. The conversation turned quickly into questions, and the wolf sighed softly, not in exasperation but realization--his meal, interrupted, would not be continued. After thinking for a moment, he lifted his body fully from the rabbit den, allowing the young to dart free, though he stopped one deftly with a single paw, holding it down to squeal and whine as its fellows dashed to freedom. Compassion flowed through him and caused the paw to step harder, until the creature was broken and silent.

Glancing back up at Calantha, he nodded, not removing his paw from the rabbit carcass. "I have not yet interacted with any packs, it is true. I may well do so in the future, but for now..." he trailed off for a moment, shrugged his shoulders, and continued. "For now, yes, a wanderer I shall be. Though I daresay I will have less trouble should I encounter a pack than you. I assume the reception is usually not as amiable as this one?" Cocking his head to the side, Auron awaited her answer patiently, though he did lift his paw finally from his dead quarry and think for a moment.

When she spoke of interrupting his meal, the male scoffed and gave her a smirk, glancing down at the rabbit near his foot. With an extended neck his lowered his head and grabbed the bite in his jaws, turned, and released it to fly in her direction, landing in front of her and gently colliding with her paws. "No need to apologize. In fact, have a bite. It's not a meal, but they are tender," Auron said with a wolfy grin, settling his rump onto the ground, curious as to how she would react to his offering.

Words || 466
Tags || Calantha
Notes || She is such a sweetie pie.< 3 I love Calantha!

[Calantha]

Auron was not only kind, it seemed, but generous as well. His previous compliment had prompted a smile to her muzzle, and she was in the middle of gathering her wits for a response to his inquiry when a shape sailing through the air caught her attention. The body of the rabbit landed gently at her feet, his offering punctuated by his words as her saffron eyes flicked upwards to land upon Auron once more. If possible her smile grew, and she bobbed her head gratefully and she settled down in front of the little rabbit. All of her previous reservations had disappeared as if they’d been smoke, tenuous and easily forgotten. It was clear that Auron had no intentions of harming her. ”Thank you,” she said softly, her tail swaying back and forth in the grass as she dipped her head to take her first bite of her donated meal. Just as he’d promised, the meat was rich and tender.

After a moment she licked the small droplets of blood from her maw, considering once more how to answer his question. ”I find that most wolves are confused by me…and usually they don’t appreciate things they can’t entirely understand,” she said wryly, taking another bite of her meal before continuing. ”There were wolves where I come from, too, but there were also many coyotes. I’ve yet to see anyone like myself since I arrived here.” Originally she’d searched for other coyotes, but it had ended in vain, and she’d concluded that reconciling with her kind was simply not meant to be. She wondered what it was like to be a part of the dominant species such as Auron was; everywhere she looked there were wolves.

She finished her meal quietly and pushed the remaining bones to the side, stretching her slender frame out in the grass, head rested upon small paws as she observed him. ”I think you have the right idea by staying a loner for a while. I’ve been alone for some time now, and it’s…freeing.” This was accompanied by a serene smile, paws kneading the soft dirt beneath them absently. ”I’m not sure if any packs would take me though, if I did wish to join. They probably wouldn’t know what to think of me.” She’d long ago come to terms with being the odd one out here upon Anikira; it was a source of amusement for her more than anything now.

”Have you seen very much of this land?” She asked him, ever-curious. She was always interested to know where others had traveled, and what sights they’d seen along the way. Her paws had itched and longed for freedom ever since the fateful day she’d fled from her pursuers and crossed the ocean, but she knew that it was not the same for everyone. Some wolves were content to settle down in one place for extended periods – sometimes their entire lives, and she was curious which way Auron leaned.

TAG: @auron
WORDS: 494
NOTES: wow this sucked so bad, I'm sorry ;-; *snuggles Auron*

[Deleted]

Appreciation colored Calantha's face just before she dug into the donated rabbit, and Auron's grin widened slightly, pleased that she took so well to his kindness. It would appear that she was becoming comfortable with him, which he was happy about himself; he had never been a vicious one, never threatened anything but prey in his life, and very seldom was he ever rude. The fact that he had practically raised himself and had needed to get things done for him when he was younger probably helped, for he had never really learned to hunt until Rita had generously offered her services to teach him. It had been a life of solitude after that, and so Auron simply had never learned to be mean.

When Calantha chose to lie down, however, Auron cocked his head to the side and lost his smile, confused by her behavior. Even if he had proven himself to be one who would not harm her, how could she so blatantly throw herself into such a vulnerable position? Shrugging his shoulders, he replaced the smile on his face, lest she become uncomfortable once more. Whether she was over-trusting or not was no concern of his, as he did not plan to take advantage of that trust. As she lay there, she spoke of her kind again, then went on to agree with his loner status. Though he had an advantage over her--it being that he could easily join a pack, if it interested him--she too was enjoying the life of a free creature, and for that he admired her.

"There's nothing wrong with traveling to your heart's content," he countered with a laugh. "But I'm sure there are more wolves around here who would be happy to add a coyote to their ranks, pack-wise. Besides, you're gentle and kind, and I'm sure it would not take long for a pack to realize that. You would only have to prove yourself useful." Nodding accompanied his words, for they applied to both Calantha as well as himself--and since he knew that he himself would be useful to a pack, he assumed that she would as well.

Another question was posed, and Auron pondered for a moment, settling himself down sternally upon his belly to mimic his companion, though he did not lie his head upon his paws. Curling his tail up around his flank, the wolf answer. "Well, I haven't seen much. Mostly these lands that you see, and perhaps a bit to the west. I've been wondering if I shouldn't head south and see what is there, as well... the wolves I've met here are kind enough, but I'm not so sure this is where I belong."

Truly, Auron did not know if he belonged anywhere, but he knew that he would find his place when he needed it. His longing to have a purpose was small as of now, but like all things it would grow to the point where he knew settling down with a pack was his only option. Until that time came, he supposed, he would do as he had always done. "What about you, Calantha? Have you found a place you would like to call home? Better yet, do you have a reason to settle anywhere? Any great yearning for a life filled with purpose and certainty?" Auron's questions came all at once, but slowly, and he spoke deliberately to get his coyote companion to reveal more of herself. She was, after all, the most interesting being he had found in his travels, and the chance of finding another was slim; therefore, he wanted to be sure he knew everything she would tell him, in order to become a more well-rounded wolf himself. Besides, curiosity was something everyone indulged in.

Words || 655
Tags || Calantha
Notes || n/a

[Calantha]

Full and content, Calantha lay quietly between the stalks of grass, ears twitching lazily atop her skull as she listened to Auron speak. There was something positively soothing about his presence, his gentleness a welcome respite from the usual wolves she encountered. She was aware deep within her that there was a possibility of danger still – she had only met him moments ago, and while he’d shared both his food and time with her, she could not be too cautious. She was light and quick on her feet, and should any danger appear she would be swift to rise and flee, and yet she hoped in her heart that she was not wrong about someone who could potentially become…a friend? She’d hardly dared to believe that she would find anyone who could tolerate her odd presence, and yet perhaps unknowingly she had. Only time would tell.

When he moved to settle in the grass as well, she relaxed a smidgeon more, her gaze trained on him as he continued, his statements eventually morphing into questions. Home. Was it possible for her to find a home again after being chased from her original one? She mulled over his previous statement regarding making herself useful, shrugging her diminutive shoulders. She could simply continue to travel for the rest of her life, satisfying the phantom itch in her paws, perhaps even visit the southern portion of the land as Auron had mentioned…

”I’ve been running for so long that it’s difficult to imagine stopping,” she admitted quietly. ”But in a way, I do miss having somewhere to rest my bones. Somewhere that makes me feel safe, and welcome.” She glanced to the side, her gaze resting absently on the swaying stalks of golden grass in the distance, tracking the gentle movement of the blades in the wind. ”My mother was High Priestess of my tribe. She was very talented, and very gentle. She taught me all that she knew of healing. It’s not something that you ever forget, once you’ve learned it. I suppose it might be a valuable trait to one of the packs, should I ever wish to join.” Healing, she knew, was a sacred art, and each pack needed someone capable of caring for their sick, injured, young, and elderly. Perhaps it would make up for the disadvantage that would potentially come from being a coyote among wolves.

She looked back to Auron then, her easy smile returning to her muzzle. She hadn’t told him much of her past at all, and yet it was more than she’d divulged in months. It had been quite some time since she’d been able to sit peacefully alongside another and share her thoughts. ”And what about you?” She asked him. ”What skills do you claim? And do you have any longing to settle down?” As far as she knew, he could have been anything, although he seemed far too gentle to be a warrior. A sentry, maybe, or a hunter. Her mind ran wild with the possibilities as she waited for his response.

TAG: @auron
WORDS: 510
NOTES: ~

[Deleted]

As the two lupine creatures conversed lightly, Auron felt contentment sneak into his body and mind; Calantha was an easy companion, she spoke just enough to be interesting, and she was incredibly kind. Those traits were what he tried to accomplish himself, now that he was interacting so much with wolves--and apparently coyotes as well. It was strange, going from zero to sixty this way, but the male was quickly adjusting to the life of a social creature. In fact, these good interactions were what kept his mind going back to pack life, and if it turned out to be anything like these past few weeks with Rita, Malachi, and Calantha, he felt he would certainly enjoy it.

When she began to speak again, Auron turned his attention back to the small creature in front of him, cocking his head to the side to better hear her delicate and gentle voice. Her words resonated within him, that contentment growing, and he felt an instant kinship with this female. Different species though she was, the dark male was already certain that it would be no trouble at all for her to work her way into a pack, should she choose to leave the life of a wanderer behind. "Ooh, healing hmm?" Auron rumbled, his tone impressed. "I can't say I've ever met a healer before. I suppose that means I haven't ever injured myself badly enough to need one. Which could be a good thing or a bad thing, I suppose."

His grey eyes had caught upon her again, the unsocialized part of his brain still reeling over the fact that she was wolf-like in appearance and nature, yet still so fundamentally different. She was small-framed (though Rita would have been dwarfed by her), her features were pointy, and her ears were absolutely ridiculous, towering over her head like antlers. All of those factors came together in a neat little package, however, and the end result was not a motley of strangeness but rather an adorable and sweet little creature. Auron felt she could be akin to a little sister, in terms of how well he assumed they would continue to get along.

"Me? Well I dunno," the wolf replied initially, shrugging his shoulders. "Don't laugh, but I just recently learned to hunt like a proper predator, but I by no means am a good hunter. Proficient, I guess, but I still go hungry some days. Other than that... I'm not so sure I have anything to really offer a pack. I'd likely just be another mouth to feed." Though his words were not kind to him, Auron was not feeling down or depressed from his words. In fact, Calantha asking him what he excelled at was getting him to think of what he would like to do.

Ideally, if he had a place in a pack, it would be something mentally demanding rather than physical. He knew very little of pack structure due to his less-than-ideal upbringing, but he had a feeling that most wolves sent their time moving and hunting and patrolling and not sitting around thinking--and those who did most of the thinking were highly-ranked and often had several jobs. Unless he decided to start his own pack (which he would never have the patience for), that would be an unlikely seat for him, and so whatever was left probably wouldn't be well suited to his nature. "If I found a pack, it would be one in need of planning and thought, and I'd be the one doing all the thinking and not much else," he joked, flashing a wolfish grin in Calantha's direction.

Auron's ear flicked backwards as a bird flitted overhead, and he glanced upwards at it, wondering briefly what it must be like to fly. "Do you think flying is easy? It looks so... effortless," he asked suddenly, his eyes still trained on the sky as his mind left thoughts of packhood and went to a lighter place. "I don't usually spend much time thinking about birds but today seems like a good day to start something new." As he glanced back at his coyote companion, Auron smiled genuinely as he started to think of her in terms of friend, rather than stranger.

Words || 740
Tags || Calantha
Notes || i'm so sorry this is awful Auron is like the MOST BORING WOLF UGH but it got cute at the end so pfft.

[Calantha]

That Auron was a hunter did not surprise her, but rather the fact he’d only recently learned to catch prey. Calantha tilted her head as she listened, her eyes flicking to the den Auron had laid across when she’d first came upon him. ”Well you could have fooled me,” she said with a devious smile, before falling silent to hear the rest of his admission. ”Being able to think and plan efficiently are both valuable skills,” she said lightly, although the look in her eyes was unquestionably serious. ”Hunters and warriors and healers…they’re all essential and useful, but one who can use logic and knowledge…those are the ones you really want.” It was not said for pure flattery; Calantha had always been one to see the positive in others attributes, and intelligence was always something to be valued. There were warriors aplenty, enough brawn to protect legions of wolves – in Calantha’s eyes, at least, for she was significantly smaller than many others. But intellect…that was something one didn’t find scores of.

"Do you think flying is easy? It looks so... effortless. I don't usually spend much time thinking about birds but today seems like a good day to start something new."

Drawn out of her heavier thoughts, Calantha glanced upwards to trace the bird’s flight with her gaze, a gentle smile coming to her muzzle. ”It’s probably as easy to them as running is to us,” she speculated, momentarily entranced by the smoothness of the bird’s wings as they cut through the air, the way that the feathered body glided upon the draft… ”It seems like it would be frightening to fly, but that’s probably because I spend all of my time on the ground. My family lived in the mountains, you know.” This last bit was added as an afterthought, and her gaze flicked back to Auron as she continued. ”Well, it was a volcano, but it hadn’t erupted for many years. Sometimes when I was younger I’d climb as high as I could and look out across the island. It wasn’t very big; you could see all of it from near the peak, and I imagine that’s what it must be like to fly. You’d be able to see everything, and go anywhere you wanted.”

She rolled onto her side, no longer weary of Auron; she’d settled into an easy and comfortable companionship with him, and Calantha did not believe he would betray her trust under any circumstances, a thought that caused her small smile to widen.

TAGS: @auron
WORDS: 419
NOTES: I'm so sorry, this is short and horrible =( wanted to get something up for you though! 

[Deleted]

The compliment she bestowed on him caused Auron to smile sheepishly, almost embarrassing the wolf with how nice it was. "You are a kind companion, Calantha," he said gently, only briefly meeting her honey-colored eyes with his own, dull in comparison. "I'm not sure I deserve such words, but I do think you're right. Every species could use a little more brain and a little less brawn." Though he could not attest to this fact, it made sense; he had met more wolves who could be warriors than he had ones who could think clearly and precisly, wolves who acted on instinct rather than intel. There was nothing wrong with being a fighter, but he valued his knowledge more than his strength.

As talk rolled around to Calantha's childhood home, Auron gained a perplexed expression and glanced back at the coyote, confused. "A volcano? What in the world is a volcano?" he asked, even as he deduced that it was likely some form of mountain with a special trait. She spoke of peaks and height, trying to connect her life to a bird's, and her logic was sound enough. "Whatever it is, I think I would like to see one. It seems like it would be a nice place to stand and watch the world go by," he added idly, letting Calantha's description of what she thought flight was float through his mind.

Auron had never been on a mountain; at least not at the top, he realized, wondering why he had never bothered to keep climbing. The answer came swiftly and harshly, and his cheerful face fell slightly, becoming a neutral mask to hide what he was suddenly feeling. The male, despite his travels, felt as though he had only wasted time. It had been a hard journey, a long one, and he had made it through without any injuries, but what hade he accomplished? Nothing until recently, and even then it was only learning to hunt that he could boast about. His companion had swam across the sea and evaded a species much larger than her and not nearly as friendly, while he had simply walked along with zero purpose and ambition.

"I do believe I need to do something with my life," the wolf muttered softly, glancing off into the distance and wondering what lay out there for him to see. Pack life, it seemed, was something he was now destined for whether he wanted it or not; without a pack, he couldn't possibly have any purpose. The soft thud of Calantha's small body hitting the ground made him turn, and he smiled again briefly, pleased that she remained comfortable in his presence. Auron was not the type of creature to take advantage of a fellow lupine, different species though she was, and he was extraordinarily happy that she chose to showcase her comfort. "I'm sorry to be such a gloomy gus, Calantha. I am grateful you've chosen me as your company, despite how down I may seem," he added, nodding his head in thanks. It really was much nicer to have company than it was to be alone.

Words || 544
Tags || Calantha
Notes || UGH I'M SORRY EVIE<3333

[Calantha]

Calantha had not even considered when she’d spoken that Auron might not have encountered a volcano before. The one upon her homeland had been huge and sprawling, visible from every corner of the island, which was considerably small. She blinked up at him, taking a moment to gather her thoughts as she tried to explain. ”It’s like…like a mountain, really. And inside of it, there’s liquid fire.” She laughed at this, her ears flicking atop her head. ”It sounds silly, I know. But they’re known to erupt and the fire burns away everything in its path – unless they’re inactive. My mother told me that the one upon our island was. When I was young I was always terrified that she was wrong, and I’d worry that it would burn everything down one day. But it never did.” She paused to consider the rest of his statement then. The crags of the volcano had indeed been a wonderful, if not daring, place to stand. ”Some of my tribe believed that several of the gods themselves slumbered beneath the fire in the volcanos, and that should it ever erupt again, then it was a sign that they’d awakened.” She did not speak of her gods often in this strange land, but Calantha was comfortable enough with Auron.

”I do believe I need to do something with my life.”

From her place in the grass Calantha glanced sympathetically towards him – not because she pitied him, but because she understood. ”You’ll figure it out, with time,” she said softly, words she’d told herself over and over when she’d faced her own doubts. As he continued she smiled, shaking her head to dismiss his words. ”You aren’t gloomy. Not in my eyes, anyways,” she said earnestly, not at all bothered by the questions he’d asked and the aspects of himself that he’d revealed. ”And I’m thankful for your company as well. You’re the first one to show me kindness since I’ve arrived here.” There was no sadness or anger in her tone as she said this; there was only frankness, for it was the truth, and she wanted Auron to know that she appreciated it.

It was growing later in the morning now, and it would soon be afternoon. She would have to find shelter eventually so that she would not be without when night fell, and from there she would scout for water and food. Such was the life of a loner. She hated to consider parting from her newfound friend, her smile turning swiftly into a frown. ”Will you stay in this area for a while, Auron, or will you wander?” She asked, selfishly hoping that she’d be able to spend more time with her friend before he found his way to one of the various packs that called Anikira home.

TAG: @auron
WORDS: 468
NOTES: IT SUCKS SO BAD but here you go bby <3

[Deleted]

"A mountain with liquid fire in it..." Auron muttered, shaking his head. "That would be truly awful to experience, I think, unless it was dormant as yours was." Auron stretched his legs out before him, trying to imagine what it would be to run away from what he imagined to be a burning river. The thought was rather terrifying, and so he pushed it out of his mind with a shake of his head. "Your family must have been incredibly brave to live in the shadow of such a dangerous mountain."

Calantha spoke then of gods, and the dark wolf's head turned slightly, his face confused but his eyes extremely curious. "What gods do you believe in, Calantha?" he asked politely, unsure of how she would answer. Auron himself believed in no gods, personally, but he had heard of a few, most of which he could not remember. Fenrir, of course, was one that his pack had mentioned, though he did not hear much. By the time he was old enough to understand spirituality, his pack was too busy cursing Fenrir for him to learn, and soon after the famine he left. Elohim was another that he had heard recently, but only by name; when it came to practices and policies, he knew nothing.

Kind words left the maw of his coyote companion again, as they had since their introduction, and Auron's smile returned just as warmly as before, his mood lifting easily. "I'm sorry to be the first one to treat you like an equal, but I'm very glad to have gotten the opportunity. I've found that the more you treat others with kindness, the easier your life becomes," he responded, tail thumping the ground once behind him before lying still again. "I'm sure I'll find my place, someday. Perhaps I should simply enjoy having no obligations for a little while longer. It's not all bad, really. Just lonely, most days."

Shrugging his shoulders, Auron glanced up at the sky, noticing how far along the sun had gone and making the same realization as Calantha--it would not be long before the sun began to sink again, and though he had spent the night under the stars most recently, there was an electricity in the air and a damp smell that spoke of coming rain. He was not afraid of storms, but he certainly prefered to slumber in a dry cave than a wet patch of grass. His companion spoke again, and he turned his head back toward her, sensing a hidden agenda to her words and caring not; if she wanted to have company for the night, he was certainly willing to oblige her. He had done the same for Rita not long ago, and he did not mind having company himself.

"I was planning to head east soon, but there's no reason to start now," Auron responded with a small smile, lifting his front from the ground and sitting up. "There seems to be a storm on the way, and I wouldn't get far before night fall. Luckily I know of a few caves near here, if you're looking for a place to spend the night." He left the sentence where it was, sensing that Calantha would have no trouble asking him to lead her there; she was not the type of female to dance around what she was looking for, though she was evidently the type to hint at something in order to get the answer she wanted.

Words || 609
Tags || Calantha
Notes || Oh man Auron thinks that Cala is a little skaaaaaank just kidding he doesn't I dunno what happened at the end there

[Calantha]

The notion that her family was brave brought a smile to Calantha’s maw. In a way they had been, she supposed, with fierce warriors and the females just as strong in their own ways. They’d been a family, all of them, even if the same blood hadn’t run through their veins. And Calantha supposed that was why it had been so easy to chase her away, her sole offense being living when her sickness should have left her dead. They’d banded together against her, one united force, with the exception of her own mother who had warned Calantha despite the dangers of it.

Shaking her head to dismiss the thoughts, Calantha paused for a moment as Auron inquired after her gods. There were so very many – where did she even begin? She’d been hesitant to speak to others about them since she’d arrived on Anikira, knowing without needing to ask that they had their own gods that differed from her own. But she saw no harm in telling Auron when he seemed to genuinely curious. But first, before she answered him, came shelter. The scent of rain was evident on the wind, the air becoming heavy as Calantha frowned up at the sky. Secretly she was relieved that Auron would be sticking around if only for one more night, and his offer of shelter was too good to resist. She didn’t much care for storms.

”That would be wonderful. Thank you,” she said with a swift wag of her tail. Thunder rolled far in the distance as she stood, shaking dirt from her fur as she trailed after Auron, grateful to have found someone so knowledgeable about the land with a storm near – and not to mention someone kind, as well. For a while she walked beside him in silence, tiny legs working hard to keep up with his own, large ears flicking atop her skull.

”You asked about the gods I believe in,” she said finally, figuring that it was a conversation they could have while they traveled. ”There are…many gods that my tribe believed in. One for everything, truly.” A breathy laugh escaped her, many of the tales her mother had once told her flicking through her mind. ”There is Izsyn, God of Thunder and Storms. Ordon, God of the Ocean. Jozhena, Goddess of Miracles. Valdea, Goddess Of The Hunt…” She trailed off, shrugging her slender shoulders as she glanced towards Auron. ”It comforted them, I think, to always have a specific deity to listen to their troubles or praises. With so many gods, we never ran out of stories to tell the pups late at night.” At this she grinned, pressing on despite the longing that bloomed in her chest. Some days she still missed her family – or what they once had been.

TAG: @auron
WORDS: 466
NOTES: I ghosted Auron a bit for him to start leading her to shelter, hope that's okay <3 

[Deleted]

Large paws had already begun carrying the dark wolf in the direction of shelter, and Calantha followed, quickly catching up to him despite his steps being much larger. Noticing the effort it took her to walk beside him, Auron halved his walking speed out of kindness. As they moved along, his coyote companion spoke gently of her family's beliefs, while he glanced at the surrounding trees, easily seeing over her head as he surveyed the area to be sure he was leading her in the right direction. The caverns in which he had dwelt before were not far from where they were, but a look upwards to the sky made Auron think that they might not quite beat the rain.

In fact, just as he was about to respond to Calantha's words, the heavens opened up and poured icy liquid upon them, soaking the wolf nearly to the bone in a matter of seconds. A laugh bubbled up in his throat and left his lips after a moment, and Auron shook his head, looking over at the female with a spark in his grey eyes. "I suppose Izsyn is unhappy with your explanation," he joked, nudging her shoulder gently with his leg in jest. As they were both already coated with water, he did not bother to increase their pace, as it would serve only to chill them further. The important thing would be to get to shelter and dry thoroughly before falling asleep, lest they compromise their health with a cold.

"The caverns are not far," he assured her, nodding ahead as though to say they would be there shortly. "I apologize for not getting us there more quickly." Truly, it had not been Auron's fault that the rain had fallen, but he felt responsible for them not finding shelter beforehand. It was silly, but something he could not help; it had been bred into him to apologize.

Into view the caves came, to Auron's relief, and he broke into a swift trot in response to a crack of thunder that, he was not ashamed to admit, startled him. Trusting that Calantha would not be far behind, he entered the largest of the caves set into the hillside and breathed a sigh of relief, feeling marginally better for not being underneath the hideously gray sky. Glancing back, he watched the coyote trailing after him and smiled, baring his teeth in a wolfish grin before padding to the side of the rocky crevice. Making sure Calantha was not within range, the wolf set all four paws steadily on the ground and shook out his pelt in one smooth, instinctive motion, the movement flowing down his body and to the very tip of his tail to rid him of the rain that had permeated his fur and nearly plastered it to his skin.

Though a good majority of his fur was still damp, Auron felt much lighter after shaking off and moved to a drier part of the cave to sit, where he promptly began to lick the rest of the moisture from his fur. It would take ages, but he was far from tired; the day was hardly half over, despite the darkness that the storm had brought, and he had done very little with it. Peering back at Calantha, the male paused in his grooming to revisit the subject they had started before the rain began to fall. "I can understand why they would want to believe in gods who control the things that happen in life. Comfort is simple but powerful, you know," he said wisely, knowing very much how true that statement was. Comfort came in all shapes and sizes--his comfort as of late had been in the shape of company, though he had found precious little of it. "Having something to believe in can be comforting in itself, even, without ever seeing any effects. It's all about attitude, and perspective."

Words || 670
Tags || Calantha
Notes || Do wolves even get colds