Meddling Fate {Nimue}

[Micah]

Micah was far too distracted to be able to track his pack mates effectively. It had been way too long since he had made contact with anyone from Valyn and Rumor had it that they had relocated somewhere near where he was. He remembered what the pack scent was so he hoped that eventually he would be able to search it out. That had been before he had been caught up with the wolfess named Valkea. She had been a rude little thing with her crown on much too tight, but he had spent some time will her nevertheless. After disentangling himself from that distraction it seemed there had been countless others that kept him from reaching his destination. When he arrived he knew he would need a damn good explanation for Valeria, since it had been a few months since he had been home. He knew that his behavior would be a disappointment to his mother but he couldn't help things. Besides she was gone from this world as far as he knew. Amara, Harper, and Octavia were all gone. He was an orphan so it made sense why he was desperate to make it home to some semblance of familiarity. He had the motivation to make it to his pack, but it was as if fate was tarrying his journey home.

Nose to the ground he began his search again trying to pick up some trace of something familiar. With his strength renewed he was determined to find Valyn, even if it took him a lifetime of trying. Sniffing about he picked up on some kind of scent that was definitely wolf in origin. In fact from the quantity of it Micah assumed that it was another pack. It was faint enough for him to know he hadn't crossed into their territory yet, but he was close enough for him to make him nervous. He didn't need to be making any enemies when he was all alone out here. Big as he was it would make no difference if an angry pack descended on him. It was obvious that the pack wasn't Valyn but it wasn't Kairos either. He knew that Anikira was littered with packs, but he had no idea which one this one was and where their alliances laid. His loyalty was to Valyn especially considering that they were the only family that he knew. It would be a shame for him to turn away from them now. No he wouldn't trespass and risk pissing off a seemingly neutral pack. He did tarry at the border however trying to figure out where their markers ended so he would know where to cross. He needed to make it home and he couldn't go back the way he had come, he could only move forward.

The longer he searched for a way around this pack's obvious 'stay out' scent markers he allowed himself to become distracted again. It was a beautiful landscape that Micah supposed he would enjoy looking at. The old Valyn lands had been spectacular and he only hoped that their new ones would be just as nice. His imagination ran wild as he thought about what he wanted to have within his new pack lands. He thought about the lake where he had met Lethe and she had taught him how to fish. Her little owl had been so sweet and he had been glad to make a new friend. He didn't have any friends now. Everyone he could remember was gone now. His ears drooped a little as he thought about all of the people who had been lost during the Kairosi conquest. so much fighting and death for the sake of glory and power. He supposed he would never understand what led these great big wolves to thirst for so much blood. He couldn't imagine causing so much tragedy and pain by taking a life. It just wasn't in his nature to cause intentional harm. He supposed that if it came to defending his pack he would do his best to keep his loved ones safe. Sighing he kept up his pace until he heard a noise to his left. Apparently his pacing around the border had become noticed by someone on the other side of it.

Nimue

[Nimue]

The winds were something fierce that day, lashing at the branches of the trees and howling in the silence. So strong were they that even Nimue, who was no small fae by anyone’s measure, found herself buffeted by the gusts as she carefully picked her way around the Eye of Fenris. It did not help that the frigid winter air was coupled with the wind, making the day feel colder than any that Aveline had experienced thus-far…but Nimue had been blessed with the thick coat of her father, and so while the femme still felt the effects of the brutal cold, it did not bother her as fiercely as it might have another.

As she picked her way towards the vast stretch of land belonging to the plains, pale blue eyes watched the long stalks of golden grass as they swayed precariously in the wind, the sound of their stalks brushing against one another rustling in her ears. They were deep into the winter season now, and still somehow Ananke thrived. It was heartening to see how well they’d learned to function together, supporting one another in times of need. Truly, they’d managed to build a family together.

As the wind continued to rustle the fur of her pelt, Nimue paused in the midst of her journey across the meadow, head lifting and nostrils flaring. It was difficult to detect with the gale as fierce as it was, but if she was not mistaken, Nimue had caught the scent of a stranger. For a long moment she stood still, eyes narrowing as again and again she caught wafts of a masculine wolf somewhere very near to her borders. Perhaps whoever it was had called to her, and their voice had simply been carried away by the wind. Both curious and cautious, the Ananke Chieftain started off at a trot towards her nearest border.

A dark shape materialized in the distance, growing larger with each step that Nimue took towards it until it revealed itself to be a large, dark brute, similar in size to Nimue. No, she thought, correcting herself as she came to a slow halt on her side of the border where he’d apparently been pacing. He’s a bit larger. It was a strange sight to see when the majority of the wolves in Ananke were smaller than she was. And stranger still when she considered that this wolf was not at all familiar to her – and therefore not related to her, suggesting that giants existed outside her home pack. There was something about him that reminded her of the twins, Othrys and Olympus, with his striking ebony fur and deep sapphire orbs. But this male was entirely foreign to her, and she straightened as she gazed at him.

”Hello, stranger,” she said, tilting her head just slightly as she gazed at him. ”My name is Nimue – Chieftain of Ananke. What brings you so very near to my borders?”

Micah

[Micah]

The wind and the cold didn't bother Micah as he continued to explore the boundary of the mystery pack. He made sure that he didn't cross it, looking for someway to get through it. He didn't want to trespass on another's territory, but he was so hopelessly lost. His mission had been to find his pack mates, but he still had no idea how he was going to get there. When he was younger he had never gotten to explore the territory surrounding his pack's lands. His mother had gone before he had ever gotten the chance to ask her to show him around. His father had always been absent so he had no exposure to life outside of Valyn. He had been surviving pretty well on his own, but he still wanted to make it back to the only family he had. It wasn't long until he smelled the newcomer's scent on the wind. Her scent carried the same one that covered the boundary so he assumed she was a part of whatever pack resided there. He waited until he caught sight of her, making sure that he hadn't accidentally crossed the carefully placed markers.

She was so tall, almost as tall as he was. He had heard of the giants that lived in Kairos, but he had never seen one who was as tall as he was. Her pelt was so colorful, a mixture of browns, blacks, and whites. Her eyes were almost glowing with their blueness. He felt the heat of a blush creep under the fur of his face and ears. "She is so beautiful." His own words echoing his thoughts made him blush even hotter. He supposed it was a good thing no one could see past his black coat. He took a step back hoping that she hadn't heard his blurted statement. She introduced herself and he couldn't help his wandering eyes as he looked her over. He cleared his throat trying to maintain his composure. "Hello. My name is Micah. I am a little lost at the moment, sorry if I am lingering a little too close to your border." He felt like he was lost in her blue eyes, as he tried to make sense of his reason for being there. He shook his head trying to put his thoughts to rights. The first girl he had met had been Lethe and he had instantly been charmed by his childhood friend. They had played in the water together, trying to fish, but this was very different to that. He was old enough to understand pack dynamics, and she was not from the same pack as him. He was no better than a loner pushing at her borders.

Valyn was a pack lead by a female and so was this pack it seemed. He had heard there were packs out there that were lead by males, but he didn't have an aspirations of seeing it in his lifetime. He had been raised in a society where it was expected of him to submit to the females set above him, but he was curious how males ruled. He focused his attention back on Nimue trying to gauge her reaction to him. He didn't want her to be angered by his lack of knowledge about pack etiquette. He didn't know if he was supposed to ask her permission to be here or if she would be able to help him find his way home. Whatever he was doing here it was another distraction to his lingering journey home. Ananke? I don't think I have ever heard of that pack. As long as they aren't Kairos.

Nimue

[Nimue]

The moment the large ebony brute turned to face her, he paused, a strange starstruck look appearing in his deep blue eyes. For some reason the fur beneath Nimue’s pelt heated as a blush crept along her form, but she was unsure as to why; perhaps it was the way he stared at her, as if he’d suddenly been struck by lightning, awed by her presence. She’d seen the look before when she was much younger. It had flickered in Messoria’s eyes each time she had glanced towards Goliath, Nimue’s father, and it was this knowledge that made a smile flicker at the corner of Nimue’s maw.

He introduced himself as Micah as she looked him over once more, noting again how very handsome he was – and for the first time in ages, she had to look up to meet the gaze of another wolf, as opposed to down, even if their height difference was not very significant. He was nothing short of polite, his explanation calming the nerves that had begun to stir in Nimue’s belly. Micah, it seemed, was lost.

”Lost, you say?” She asked with a tilt of her head, her pale gaze flickering in the direction he had come from and then back to the brute. ”I would be glad to escort you through Aveline and point you in the right direction, if you wouldn’t mind telling me where you’re going,” she offered. While she was certainly glad for the opportunity to help him, she was also admittedly curious about the male, and Nimue was in no hurry to depart just yet.

”There is Kairos on one side, and Valyn territory on the other, if you were searching for one of the packs. And I believe another pack has formed over the mountains, in the Oriens.” Here she paused, assessing him once more. Though he was clearly not originally from Kairos, she supposed it would not be out of the ordinary if it was where he was headed due to his considerable size. Or perhaps he wished to wander further into loner lands; I’queyer was still untouched. Regardless, Nimue waited patiently for his answer, her gaze flickering with genuine kindness and curiosity as she watched him.

Micah

[Micah]

He felt like an awe struck little pup, unable to pull his attention from her. His purpose would be better served if he had never lingered for so long here, but his search was becoming hopeless. The longer he took to make his way home the worse his punishment would be. Valyn was his home, but he resented it sometimes. The fact that he never got the same opportunities as his sisters had never sat very well with him. He had the same potential as they did and yet he was treated very differently. Instead of rushing to take Nimue up on her on her offer to escort him through her lands, he was content to sit here and stare at her. He knew he was being ridiculous just standing there like a fool, but she was worth it. Sooner than later he would have to leave and go back to his family so it was alright for him to spend some time trying to memorize what she looked like. It would be a happy memory for him to save for when he was back in Valyn. At her mention of Kairos and Valyn his ears pricked forward. She knew where his pack was which meant that he was actually heading in the right direction.

"I would really appreciate it if you could escort me. I need to find my way to Valyn's territories." He took a tentative step over the edge of the border hoping that he wasn't pushing his luck. He didn't want to trespass, but he wanted her to show him how to get home. Getting closer to her was just a bonus. He gave her a smile trying to puff up his chest and look as big and strong as he possibly could. He noticed her eyes on him and it made his chest swell even more with pride. He liked that she was taking notice of him, just as he was taking notice of her. She was a cheiftan, strong and important to her pack mates. Perhaps she had a lover back where she loved. That idea didn't sit very well with him. He knew it wasn't any of his business, but he still didn't like it. Besides her life was here and he was going home to Valyn. A place where he had no family left, where he couldn't even take a mate without the permission of his alphess. Females were allowed to breed with whomever they wanted, but he could not. That was the way it was in his world. "You seem very young to be a leader. Is it a hard job?" His curiosity was winning out. He wanted to get to know her before they inevitably parted ways.
Nimue

[Nimue]

To hear that it was Valyn he sought was surprising, and Nimue’s ears twitched atop her skull as she nodded. She’d been under the impression that Valyn was not exactly a comfortable place for males to reside, and after her time spent growing up in Kairos, she’d heard her fair share of nasty rumors passed from wolf to wolf concerning the alphess and her family. She was unsure of what had been fact and what had simply been cruel fiction, but she had thought little of the Valyn wolves for some time, until rumor of their loss to Typhon had reached her auds. Not long afterwards the new Emperor himself had appeared, filling Nimue in on the situation and offering her an alliance, which she had accepted. And so it was that Nimue wisely decided not to comment on Micah’s destination, for she was certain that the Valyn wolves likely would not have taken kindly to her due to her ties to Kairos. Would he have turned away in disgust if he’d known?

Pushing the thoughts away, she simply smiled, watching as he crossed the border towards her, tentative and careful. ”This way,” she told him, gesturing with her muzzle towards the distant border as she began to walk. Her pace was slower than usual, her steps drawn out and short, and while she might not have admitted it out loud, it was simply so that she could spend more time in the presence of the strapping young brute whom she’d found along her border.

"You seem very young to be a leader. Is it a hard job?”

She shrugged, but did not respond immediately, instead taking a moment to gather her thoughts. When at last her bell-like voice split the silence, it was with the faintest touch of sadness. ”Some days it’s difficult, but still very rewarding. Originally, my sister led alongside me, and it was much easier then. But…I haven’t seen her in some time now.” After a moment her smile returned, and she glanced sideways at him from beneath her lids. ”Still, I enjoy it.”

She paused then, considering whether or not to continue with the question plaguing her, before eventually deciding to try. ”Micah…I hope that this doesn’t offend you, for it’s not my intention…but what is it like, being a part of Valyn? I’ve always heard that they do not think highly of males.”

TAG: Micah
WORDS: 399
NOTES: So cute < 3

[Micah]

Micah followed behind her at first, trying to bolster his confidence enough to walk beside her. She was leader of a pack and he was simply a young male who couldn't even find his way home. He wanted to impress her, to make her notice him, the way he so obviously noticed her. How could he not? She was beautiful and strong and kind, offering a lone wolf help. Gods above he was smitten. Her steps were short and slow, making it obvious that he wasn't the only one who wanted more time together. He would have until they reached the other hedge of her territory for him to try and charm her. Unfortunately for Micah he had no practice at interactions with females, at least none that he liked. It seemed as if she needed time to think about an answer to his question and when she finally spoke he could see why. He understood her loss of a sister, his own two siblings and his mother long dead, his father too he suspected. "I am sorry to hear about your sister. I lost both of mine too." At least he had some closure knowing that his sisters were gone, it sounded as if Nimue had no idea what had happened to her sister. He could only think about how hard it must be for her to have lost her sister and not know what had happened. It had almost driven him crazy until he accepted the fact that they were simply gone. Acknowledging that they were dead, was easier than clutching on to hope that all three of them would walk back into his life one day.

He shook his head trying to banish thoughts of them. The fact of the matter was that he had resented them growing up, hating the fact that he was not treated the same because he was a male. As if that was a choice he made. When they had disappeared he had felt an overwhelming sense of guilt for hating them so. Now he would never have a choice to redeem himself. "I am sure that you are a great leader." He didn't know why he said it, but it felt good to give her a compliment. He had been wandering alone for so long, a nice conversation with a beautiful female was a welcome one. When she mentioned Valyn he could help that his ears pinned and his muzzle drew up tight. They were his pack, his family, all that he had left. All the same he didn't like it there. He had no idea what kind of pack he was returning to. All he knew was that they had been driven away and he was duty bound to follow them. He was still a Valyn wolf and until that changed he owed his allegiance to Valeria. "I am not offended." He offered with an easy smile. No doubt others were curious about Valyn and the way that pack run. The female hierarchy had always male Micah wonder. "Males are not well thought of. I was raised very differently from my sisters, set apart because I was male. Most of the wolves of Valyn have their reasons for despising the male sex, but I was a pup. I hadn't done any of those things and yet I was treated as less than my potential because of my gender."

He had never really thought about leaving Valyn because I was where his family was. His mother and sisters had been everything to him and now they were gone. "What is your pack like?" He couldn't help but blurt the words out, desperate to know about her home. Curiosity burned dark beneath his pelt as he wondered what it would be like to abandon his quest for Valyn and remain here with her. Surely he would find happiness here since it didn't seem that males were mistreated. It was a silly thought, born out of his crush, but he still gave it some serious consideration. What would it be like to stay here with her? The view wouldn't be bad. Getting to look at her would be enough to make the change worth it. That is if she would even have me. That thought almost had him stumbling over his feet. What if she didn't want him to remain? What if her generosity was a simple way for her to get him off of her land? His ears drooped the smallest bit before he realized that he didn't have to face rejection if he just continued on to Valyn as planned. Then all of his memories of Nimue would be nothing but the happiest of ones. That would be better than having to leave her side in defeat.


Nimue

[Nimue]

At the admittance that he had lost his sisters as well, Nimue felt something in her heart stir; it was not quite pity, for she had never wanted the pity of others, and she would not have done the same to another. But it was something akin to understanding, to companionship, and silently she nodded her head in understanding. It was a terrible thing to lose family – and from the sounds of it, this brute had lost multiple loved ones. It served as a reminder to Nimue that one day soon, she would need to visit Ina’mos to see her remaining family. She missed Fawn dearly, even moreso now that Morrigan had gone; she even missed her brothers, her mother…and her father, though she would not see him again if rumors proved true that he had gone. But now was not the time for her to think of such things.

His compliment regarding her leadership made her beam; Nimue turned her lovely smile upon him, her eyes glistened with gratitude as she murmured a soft, ”Thank you, Micah.” For some reason it felt as if butterflies were fluttering within her chest, a feeling that the she-wolf had never experienced before, but that was undoubtedly tied to the handsome blue-eyed brute who strolled along beside her.

As he spoke of Valyn she listened raptly, feeling her muzzle pull into a frown. His seclusion sounded nothing short of terrible, and Nimue allowed herself to drift slightly closer to him, her side just barely brushing his, offering comfort. She could not imagine secluding one simply for their gender, and when he asked after Ananke’s ideals, she could not help informing him of such. ”I always say that Ananke is a place for family – and I mean it. We work as a unit here, trusting each other, helping each other. We do not scorn others for their gender, their size, their parentage…none of that matters here,” she told him softly. ”We allow others to choose their own paths, their own ranks, because we believe that they know best what it is they like to do. What they excel at. And above all else…we simply offer a home for those that desire it.” Once more her gaze slid towards his, her smile radiant and slightly hopeful. ”It’s a shame that you must return to Valyn,” she told him, a hint of seriousness in her tone. ”It’s not often that I get to chat with brutes like…you.” She trailed off here, embarrassed that she’d said as much, before continuing. ”I must admit, I was surprised to see you on my borders. I’ve seen very few wolves who matched my size, much less stood taller than me. The majority of them are related to me, somehow. But there you were.”

Micah

[Micah]

The moment she turned her smile onto him Micah almost tripped over his own feet, her beauty momentarily dazing him. It took him a moment to compose himself before he continued on next to her. Her voice was so melodic he wanted to listen to her talk all the time. Her pack seemed like a far more decent place than Valyn was, but that was the only place that he had that was home. It was were he had been born and raised, where his sisters and mother had died, and where his place was now. The time he was spending here only made him want for something that was so obviously out of his reach. Nimue was so beautiful and generous and kind and he was just a goof ball. He still thought of himself as an adolescent, not even worth being called an adult yet. There seemed to be some invisible line that defined the transition to adulthood, one that he didn't think he had crossed yet. When she mentioned his return to Valyn he couldn't help but slip up. "Yes I guess it is a shame. There is no one as pretty as you there." His eyes widened a little realizing that he had just said that thought out loud.

Micah wondered what she meant by brutes like him, perhaps talking about his size. He had never met anyone like her before either, but he had already said too much. A part of him knew that he wanted to stay here with her, for as long as he could. The other part was afraid to take the risk of asking to stay here. "I don't really know why I have to return to Valyn." She had mentioned that her pack offered a home to anyone who wanted a place there. Did that hospitality extend to him as well? "There I was and here I am." Micah's voice had begun to take on a gruff tone as he looked deeper into Nimue's eyes. The male in him couldn't ignore her obvious physical appeal, the graceful way she walked, the gentle swish of her tail behind her. Everything about her appealed to him. He paused where he stood waiting for her to stop next to him. They were moving too fast, the border approaching in the distance. His voice deepened and a rumble seemed to come from somewhere deep in his chest. "Nimue, give me a reason to stay." A reason anything would be enough for him to stay, the reward of being near her for an eternity was all he wanted.


Nimue

[Nimue]

Pretty. Had she not heard it herself only moments ago, Nimue might have never dared believe that Micah thought she was…appealing. It was a foreign concept to her, one she had never dared considered; after all, she had spent the majority of her childhood watching as large, handsome brutes such as himself fawned over small, delicate, dainty she-wolves – not large femmes such as herself, and certainly not females who placed themselves in positions of leadership. There had been Datura, and now her mother as Typhon had informed her, in the high-ranking position of Matriarch…but that had been a position that entailed dominance over lower-ranking members of the same gender only. Nimue had broken the mold when she’d left with her sister to lead a pack of all genders, all sizes, all origins. She had accepted that Kairos was different from other places, but somehow she’d never dared to believe that she could be thought of as a source of beauty.

Her skin was warm beneath her pelt, a tiny smile upon her maw, but then it faded as her pale eyes came to rest on the telltale sight of the border in the distance. Soon this kind male who’d so effortlessly enthralled her would be gone, and she would only have a memory of him. Perhaps, since Aveline now shared a border with Kamari, which had been taken over by Valyn when the feminine pack’s alphess had been bested by Typhon in a battle, she would see him lingering there across the border from time to time. But it was a farfetched hope…which was why she was sure she’d heard wrong when Micah spoke again, hinting that perhaps he would not return.

She stopped when he did, eyes wide as her head swiveled towards him. Surely he was not suggesting what she thought…but yes, his final words made it perfectly clear that he was, her name sweet upon his tongue as he spoke it. A reason to stay. She could have thought of a million, but in the end, she forced herself to pause long enough to gather her thoughts, to ensure that the reason she provided him with was perfect.

”Stay so that I may get to know you better. Stay for the possibility that there may be something amazing between us,” she said, her voice low as she glanced up at him, feeling suddenly shy but forcing herself to continue. She may have been an alpha now, but she was young still, and Nimue found herself fascinated with the girlish feeling blooming in her chest. ”If you wish to return to Valyn, I will understand. But…I would very much like it if you stayed here. With me.”

TAG: Micah
WORDS: 449
NOTES: AWW < 3

[Micah]

It was almost as if his words were confusing the alphess, his obvious attraction to her disconcerting. She was beautiful in his eyes, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, even if she didn't yet believe it. He had spent his whole childhood around different females, all big and small, different from everything that she was. She was he nicest female he had ever met, a leader in her own right willing to help him find his home. She didn't demean him for his gender, instead talking and sharing part of herself with him. He felt so hopeful for the first time since his mother and sisters disappeared. Nimue made him want things that he knew were out of his reach. If he decided to remain here he knew that it would be in the hope of something between them. Ananke could be the start of a new life for him with her. She was the only thing that mattered to him as he tried to weigh his decisions. He could stay here and be happy with her, at least for the time that they spent together, getting to know each other. He knew that after awhile they would know each other well enough to decide if there was a future between them. Micah knew in his heart that this was something he needed to do, something that he wanted. Valyn was not his home anymore, his family gone and his loyalty washed away for good. No this female sitting in front of him made him want to forge a new path for his life.

When she spoke of his remaining in Valyn he couldn't help but want her words to be true. He knew that whatever initial attraction they felt for each other would only grow with time. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything. His male pride was pleased when she offered for him to stay with her. It only prove that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Making sure that he wasn't moving too fast he took a step closer to her, then another. Soon he was close enough to rub his muzzle against her neck, needing to mark her with a part of his scent no matter how small. He was a complete stranger, now finding himself on the precipice of joining a new pack. He would be the odd male out for the time until he gained the trust of everyone else there. No matter what he would discover in this new pack he knew that his instincts wouldn't be content until he had established to everyone else that he was her male. "It is settled than. I will be staying right here with you." His grin was broad and genuine, his tail wagging behind him in obvious joy. The decision had been obvious and now that it had been made he felt a weight lift from his chest. A weight he hadn't even realized was there.


Nimue

[Nimue]

After the admission had fallen from Nimue’s tongue, she’d felt as if she were aflame, her entire body red and flustered beneath her pelt. She was embarrassed for what she’d blurted, but the fae was careful not to allow it to show on her features, instead arranging them into one of graceful patience. In the past few months since she’d left Kairos, Nimue had grown. She’d become something she’d never expected: a kind, forgiving, respectful adult, and while she still sometimes struggled with how very much she resembled her infamous father, she was content with herself. But suddenly Micah had waltzed into her life, turning her into a shy, giggling young girl again. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She’d had crushes, to be sure; she’d imagined herself quite enamored with the inky brute, Othyrs, when she was younger. But it was nothing compared to the happiness that flowed through her when Micah glanced up at her with those deep sapphire eyes, moving to brush his muzzle against her flank.

"It is settled than. I will be staying right here with you."

His words caused her maw to pull into a wide grin of pure elation, her eyes squeezing closed as she slid forward to briefly bury her nose in the thick fur of his scruff. He smelled so different from her, all masculine tones, like the crisp smell of autumn in the morning, like sunshine and earth. She inhaled the scent of him before stepping back, lifting her head to stare into his eyes. ”I’m so happy that you will,”[/b she said softly, her tail swaying at her hips. She no longer needed to glance towards the border she shared with Kamari; he would not be returning there, and so there was no need to stare regretfully towards it. ”For now, I will grant you a Warrior position. But in the future, if you do not tire of me…” she trailed off, laughing softly at the jest.

And then for a moment she was silent, simply studying the planes of his handsome face. Though she had met him only perhaps an hour before, she was enraptured by the sight of him, caught up in what could be. He stared at her as if she were the most beautiful creature on the planet, something that no one had ever done before. And briefly all the worries and stresses than undeniably came with the position of Chieftain melted away, leaving only a gentle, caring she-wolf in its wake. ”So, Micah,” she said at last, his name pure and sweet upon her tongue, ”Tell me about you. Have you always been a part of Valyn?” She was genuinely curious to learn more about the brute, to hear anything that he would offer, his deep voice like a melody meant only for her auds.

TAG: Micah

[Micah]

As soon as the words had left Nimue's mouth, Micah had felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash over him. Waiting for her to invite him to stay had left him feeling very vulnerable. Wondering if she would allow him to remain here in her pack, by her side. Even if nothing even happened between the two of them he would be here at her side for as long as she allowed him to be. He had never seen a functional relationship in his whole life, his mother raising them on her own. Amara had been a good mother, firm, but good. Her need for her pups to be strong had pushed her to make her litter one she could be proud of. He had never even met his father, his mother explaining that they were not in love. Micah had not understood until he had met the rest of the litters in Valyn. It seemed like the majority of Valyn youth would never get to know their fathers. That was something that had never sat well with him. There were little to no male role models within Valyn that could teach the male youth to be strong independent adults. Instead they had been raised to be subservient. Micah knew that within himself was a dominance that would not lie dormant forever. At least here in Ananke he would not have to pretend to be content to be subservient.

Nimue offered him the position of warrior within her pack and that was fine with him. Amara had taught him to hunt, fight, and be strong. He would take whatever rank she offered him and he would be grateful. She was giving him the chance to be rid of his old pack, one that he didn't entirely agree with. Nimue was also giving him a chance to woo her to him. If he really wanted something with her he would have to rely on more than his looks to gain her affection. Them together was something that he did want however and he was determined to make things between them work. Even if it was only for a short time. Taking half a step closer to her he could feel the warmth of her body against his. He was being bold and he knew it, but now that he had her in his sights he was not going to let go of her than easily. Taking a deep breath he tried to calm his nerves. Being pushy would get him nowhere, he would have to keep his cool and pray that no male within Ananke caught Nimue's eye. No male but him.

She turned the conversation again asking him about his time in Valyn and if he had always been apart of the feministic pack. "I have been there since I was born, my mother Amara was amongst their ranks. I suppose I was too young to think about leaving before now. Now enough about me. I want to hear about you." He knew little enough about her as it was and he knew that if he wanted to win her over he needed to know more about her, plus he just wanted to know her. The real her, not the leader that was proud and strong. He wanted to know her likes, her dislikes, her fears, her dreams. All of it. Smiling down at her he leaned in to nudge her side. "Come on now. Fair is fair, I shared with you." His voice took on a slightly teasing tone as he pressed her for more information.

Nimue

[Nimue]

As he spoke, detailing his past in Valyn, Nimue listened with a smile upon her muzzle. It would be some time before they truly knew each other well, but they were off to a good start, and for that she was grateful. And as he admitted that he had never ventured out of Valyn until very recently, Nimue could not help the fierce surge of happiness and pride that rose within her. For some reason, the sweet and handsome brute had decided to stay here, in Ananke with her. Her life had been difficult lately, with her sister’s disappearance and the surge of numbers within Ananke, but finally it seemed as if things were looking up. Her heart was lightly, her eyes glistening with mirth as he asked after her own past, nudging her with his shoulder.

But then she recalled that things were not well between Kairos and Valyn, and she found her brow furrowing slightly as the smile slipped from her muzzle. When he discovered that she was from Kairos – and a daughter of Goliath, no less – would he stop looking at her with that wonderful fondness in his eyes? Would he change his mind and decide that he no longer wished to reside in Ananke with her?

Still, she steeled herself as she glanced up at him, hoping that her voice was strong and confident as she spoke. ”I was born to Kairos, upon Ina’mos,” she told him, a tiny smile springing to her lips as her heart thudded heavily in her chest. ”My mother…her name is Messoria. She’s the Matriarch now, I’ve been told – the highest ranking female, who oversees birthing and the raising of the young. And my father…he is Goliath.” Here she stopped, peering up at him, waiting with baited breath to see if the look upon his face changed.

”I had two brothers, and two sisters; my brothers were determined from the start to make our parents proud, though Croix favored my father while Hyperion adored my mother. My sister, Morrigan, was the one who I left to start Ananke with. Until she disappeared. And then there was Fawn – she was tiny, but she had just as much spirit as any of us. But she didn’t come with Morrigan and I when we left.” Nimue shrugged her shoulders, her brow furrowing with worry as she gazed up into his deep blue eyes. ”I know that Kairos and Valyn have their problems, and do not think very highly of each other…but I hope that it doesn’t change the way you think of me, Micah. Because it hasn’t changed the way that I think of you.”

Micah

[Micah]

The way that she became tense beside him. Her eyes shifted to the ground instead of looking at him. Her words were slow and drawn out as if they were painful. Whatever was in her past obviously caused her more than a fair share of grief. He didn't understand why she receded from him until she mentioned her birth pack. Relations between Kairos and Valyn were not good. In fact they were very bad. Kairos had just driven Valyn from their home for no other reason than greed. Some of his pack mates had died in that conquest, so much death and pain all caused by Kairos. Their newest emperor Typhon had been the one to lead the attack, the blood was on his paws. Micah's eyes soften when she expressed her worry over how he would see her now that he knew of her family ties. It was almost as if she expected him to lash out at her for her past, for not telling him sooner that she was of Kairos. In reality she wasn't, just as he was not longer of Valyn. They were both of Ananke now. That was all that mattered. Leaning in to nudge her again he waited for her pale blue orbs to reach his deeper hues. "Nimue nothing from your past could ever change how I see you." In front of him was the same strong beautiful alphess as before. Nothing had changed and it never would.

When she mentioned her opinion of him it made Micah the smallest bit curious about just what she did think about him. "And just how do you think of me Nimue?" His chest was puffed out, his tone teasing and a little flirtatious. He doubted that he would tell him anything other than that he seemed nice but he hoped that she did. He was so smitten after just a few moments in her presence. He could only hope that she was just as effected as him. His smile was very charming, bright and cheery as he tried to use it against her. He had never flirted much and he really wanted to be doing it right. After all it would be much too embarrassing for her to see him as a fool. Especially when he was trying so very hard to impress her.

Nimue