a little bit stronger {open}

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

There was something about winter that was always eerie and chilling. It was usually quiet; the only sounds to accompany any wanderer would be the sound of their breathing. No birds would add to the chorus of the wind and rustling leaves. No squirrels chattering to yell at whoever had snatched away their acorns. Everything was dormant as creatures took to their places to hibernate and wait until winter passed over. The occasional hare would burst from its hiding place to take a risk, but sometimes finding itself dead minutes later. This silence was odd and out of place, but winter was often something that certain wolves embraced. A breeze picked up from the north, rushing past the bare limbs of trees that moaned in their ancient language. The fingers of the wind arousing the soft, white fur that blended into the ivory landscape. There a three year old wolf lay on the ground at the base of a tree. The loner looked peaceful and tranquil as if she had passed on in her sleep. She was hardly noticeable and did look like she had passed away, but if one were to look closely they could see her sides rise and fall. They could somewhat hear the heart that stubbornly pushed blood through her veins, circulating around and around through every portion of her petite body.

As the winds persistence dragged onward, Azaria’s head dug further between her limbs. The cold that had once been far off now slamming her head on, and with a soft grumble she gave into the demands of the wind. She lifted her head from its position, and struggled to open her eyelids. After a few seconds of combating herself, her eyelids lifted and revealed stunning golden eyes that pierced through the white of the scenery, adding vitality to the world that seemed desolate and barren. Her alluring colored eyes squinted at the dazzling snow that remained untouched by freshly fallen snow. She gazed to her body where snow had collected upon her, making her seem like she too had been a snowflake that had fallen from the skies. She sat upright, feeling the snow roll off her back and onto the earth, rejoining their once separated counterparts in a silent reunion. The lively color within her vision broke from Azaria’s coat, and though her eyes seemed to float, it told others that she wasn’t exactly a paranormal being. She gazed at the snow that had attempted to cover up where her paw falls once had collided, but Azaria faintly saw the prints. Not like anyone would be dumb enough to leave the warmth of their dens to go further into the mountains she had climbed with ease. She had a lithe body, and the ability to launch herself from platform to platform where the path had crumbled and worn away due to landslides or other sorts of Mother Nature’s rage.

A soft yawn escaped the female, and though the grogginess still permeated off her visage, she was alert for this time of day. As Azaria’s eyes adjusted to the bright rays that beamed down upon the earth, she spotted no other sets of footprints. No other paw prints to signal the passing wolf. Her heart sunk slightly. The life of a loner was fairly harder than joining with a pack. She thirsted for any conversation, but had been frustrated that the bitter winds and dropping temperatures kept most away from the mountains. It was for good reason Azaria wagered, and even she had to admit she had trekked up the steep rocky surface to seek out protection more than anything else. Still her need for sanity had not been saturated, and though she enjoyed the companionship of others she doubted she would ever give up her freedoms. Azaria had been a loner all her life, and her parents were loners themselves. She was used to no limitations and boundaries, but suddenly strip that away from the whitened female, and one might find themselves with a problem on their hands. Azaria had no issue with authority even if she did think that the hierarchies of packs were corrupt, and there was no problem with adjusting to anything quickly, it was the matter of only speaking when spoken to. No one would want to listen to an omega or subordinate’s thoughts or ideas no matter how good they were because to Alphas she was a loner her entire life… What did she know?

Hell, packs had the easy way of life. Loners like her had to fight to get by. Azaria had never complained about the hard way of getting to certain things or places, but when a snobby pack member came around who was asking for an attitude adjustment, Azaria was there to guide them on the right path. Sure Azaria looked like a fragile female that even with the slightest of movement she could shatter, but press all the wrong buttons, and those golden eyes would ignite with such passion and fire that most found themselves being told off by a wolf that was shorter than they were. She may not have had the upper-hand in battles, but she could sure do a whole lot of damage verbally. She could tell off males twice her size with such fluent ease that they appeared stunned that this very female – despite what may or may not be running through their minds – could leave them stunned and frozen in confusion. A snort was forcefully exhaled through Azaria’s nostrils as she affirmed that there would be no way possible she would join forces with a pack. She was too independent and head strong and she felt that a pack would only try to stifle what she truly was. Of course, this wouldn’t sit well with Azaria, and she would up and leave without missing a heart beat.

She exhaled into the air, feeling the warmth of her breath pass through the crevices of her teeth before being exposed into the atmosphere. She watched as the vapor of her breath swirled in intricate patterns before her, dipping and twirling before dissipating altogether. Hauling herself to her dainty paws, Azaria stretched out before shaking out her coat. She moved forwards, leaving behind paw prints in the ground. To any unsuspecting wolf that wasn’t paying full attention, the increase of paw falls and no visible owner to them would arise some skepticism. They might even think that as each newly created print would lead them to believe that a restless spirit was gracing them with its presence. Naturally, if they squinted hard enough they would be able to see the floating golden eyes through the vast expanse, and maybe their worries would be whisked away. Azaria moved into a swift jog, listening to the silence that still crowded around her, but focusing on the sound of the snow crunching beneath her paws. Her tail flicked out behind her, revealing the boredom that threatened to encroach on her expressive and exploding golden gaze that was captivating. Strands of sinew flexed and rippled beneath her coat as she overworked the lands with ease. Azaria approached the spring swiftly, still stunned that it had not frozen over. The liquid moved fluidly over small twigs and branches that threatened to cease its movements but to no avail. Inclining her head, Azaria lapped up the freezing water before looking around at her new surroundings with the guiding light of the sun.

She had arrived late at night, the moon hidden behind the menacing gray clouds that had conquered the skies. Azaria had no time to investigate this place, and collapsed to her paws out of sheer exhaustion; however it was now a different story. She was refreshed and excited to explore but what good was exploring if she was alone? Azaria sighed heavily, sitting beside the pool of liquid, her gaze fixated upon the horizon, silently wishing for some movement or a figure to materialize in the distance. She would keep her hopes up. Someone would eventually have to pass by and they were bound to see her… Right?

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[AVAK]

Winters passed slowly in the lands that seemed to stay forever frozen in time. This muscular male knew that well... all too well, considering the endless months that he had spent alone. Sure, there was something comforting about the icy months. There was the silence that one heard as can only come from fresh falling snow, and the lack of the annoying chatterings of some bird species. At the moment, there was a breeze from the north that stirred dark fur atop relaxed hackles, bringing the scent of nothing along with it. A pair of gray eyes looked out from under a brow of white spectacles and dark fur. His ears enjoyed the quiet, and he stood stock-still, soaking it in, even the cold. It seemed to stick to the males veins, turning them to ice. 'Keep on pumping heart of mine... keep on pumping.' At times like this, the male immediately thought of his sister. Small, quiet, with an out-of-the-way disposition. You know, he really did miss her, although he used to be the toughest one out of his family... he missed her.

Ears flicked against a gray head as he looked back into the wind, letting it caress - well... slam - his face as he glanced behind him. Snow drifts piled up and up against tree trunks, leading down from the higher mountains toward the spring that never seemed to freeze. Maybe he would head down later, say around sunset. But, who was he kidding. He couldn't tell what time of day it was in the winter. Hardly anybody could. Clouds were a constant factor. He turned his head back. It was getting harder to breathe. Staring into the wind, especially in the northern parts of the mountains, could very well freeze your eyeballs out of your head. Avak wanted to keep those. He wanted to describe things to his sister when he saw her again. If he ever did. Quite honestly, Avak wasn't very spiritual. He felt that believing in spirits set one up with rules and limitations. At least most beliefs did that.

Movement came to his large frame with a bit of a chilly pain. He was too young for arthritis, but he still felt like he was a millennium old when icicles clung to his pelt and any fluids from his nostrils or eyes froze almost immediately. Sometimes, he thought about moving south, toward a warmer and more forgiving climate. But he always chose to stay because it was the harshness that he was born into. Also, his thick fur would probably make it more painful than helpful in the end. One step after another, and all the while the wind seemed to sweep away the pawprints behind him, leaving him with no "bread-crumb trail". But, the pawprints he could see belonged to one animal, and one alone. Himself. Avak sighed, his breathe leaving behind a vapor trail as he moved through the drifts and the thin-trunked trees of the higher elevations. He was moving in a descending pattern, heading to the spring that would keep him alive. At the pace he had set - a walk - he would be there when the moon rose, if not later. He had all the time in the world. His glances from left to right revealed nothing but white. One day, he would go snow blind. He was sure of it. Having no interrupting pattern whatsoever except for gray, the snow made him feel lonely. Depressed. As if he were the only wolf on the planet. The life of a loner was... well... a lonely one. Even though there were plenty of others who shared his limitation free lifestyle, one rarely saw another face.

But he would never join a pack for company. One, he would probably be thrown in as an Omega. He didn't like the prospect of being somebody's punching bag. Two, he would get antsy about seeing the same things every day. Three, well... he didn't much care for a leader. He was his own boss. Though these were his views, a little sparkling conversation here and there would be nice. A good look at a girl could be nice too. What could he say? It was the testosterone talking. As Avak moved farther down, he could hear small noises. Rabbits, mice, moles. They were all underground. What sport they would make for a fox! He rather enjoyed their hunting tactic, even going so far as watching them for a bit of fun as they leaped into the air and then slammed into the ground, normally retreating with a mouse or two under their belt. But, there would be no enjoyment today. All of the bears were in hibernation as well. One female that roamed not too far away had already settled down with cubs for a long winter. Now, wolves were the only things that dominated the countryside, and he was one such animal.

The sun was going down. He could tell now. Though it was already dark, it was getting to be a deeper color than before. And the sun had stained some of the clouds with a rosette color. The snow was still deep, but it had lessened in volume from the higher elevations. More animal noises, but all muffled as before. And still, occasionally, the silence. His paws scraped along the packed snow and sank into the soft fluff, making his way a bit of a challenge, but he wouldn't stop until he drank a little bit at least. He slipped a bit on icy snow, regaining his footing before he face-planted. He saw how his white fur contrasted perfectly with the snow. 'You know, I bet if I flipped over, I would be just as stealthy as my arctic brethren.' See... Avak had some really strange ideas. This one, he would try later.

The clouds grew ever darker as Avak's tongue disturbed the quiet waters of the spring, lapping at them hungrily as the cold water hit his stomach. He shivered. It felt good, but still... it was so cold, just like the rest of the world. And he didn't just mean that literally. Avak's gray gaze swept the circlet of the spring, looking for some hint of another. This was one place that wolves were guaranteed to meet other wolves. The only thing that stuck out was some kind of weird snow drift on the other side. He padded around the spring, slowly picking his way along the edge of the dark pool without accidentally throwing himself in. Once he got there, he threw himself down along the snow drift, at the base. His paws were thrown into the air as he stretched. He pushed his face into the snow... 'Wait... that's not snow.' He opened his eyes to fur, and jumped back about three or four feet. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you there!" he exclaimed in his deep husky voice, waiting for some kind of angry response that he was sure would come.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria’s hope was beginning to descend as her golden eyes greedily swept across the landscape repeatedly, and every time it all looked the same. The trees would still be topped with snow that encased them entirely. No movement from living creatures, and the wind seemed to be her only companion. It blew softly past her, allowing her coat to sway with its breeze before departing. Every now and again the distinct sound of falling snow collided with the earth, allowing the thud to be heard. Then there would be just silence from then on in. As her hope was still feigning, she gazed to her left at the ever moving surface of the liquid. Her reflection was distorted, and even she had to squint into the waters to depict herself out from the snowy area. She traced along her face, her eyes moving through the depths of the pool at her paws. Azaria’s heart lingered deep within her chest, but it too was losing the hope that usually overflowed Azaria’s face. Today she felt as though her hope was becoming some sort of lie. It hit Azaria fairly hard that something else had decided to walk out on her. Her face sobered and as she observed the change in her reflection, her nose crinkled up. Such an expression made her look out of place. Her heated gaze lost its warmth, lacking the luster of melted gold. Her face creased with disappointment and indecision as she debated on leaving. All this made Azaria look as though she was some sort of familiar stranger. She knew in the back of her mind who she was, but with this very expression she struggled to figure out when was the last time she had felt this way.

Azaria’s gaze locked upon her very own, and watched as the emotion was drowned within the pool, dragged down to its depths to be brought to its death. She reminded herself briskly that even the dead had their ways to return. She cleared her throat to distract herself as her face looked normal again, well as close to normal as was physically possible. The disappointment was still lingering dangerously close-by, but Azaria paid it no heed. Her gaze took its post from one edge of the mountain side to the next to ensure that nothing had gone unnoticed. To her dismay, everything had been seen at least seven times within the past fifteen minutes. She huffed to herself, narrowing her gaze as if this would prove to give her something spectacular… Maybe even a miracle of life that was still thriving much like her own soul. As her eyes once more swept along the same horizon, there was something different. Her eyes passed it by before back tracking immediately, and she locked her sight upon the approaching figure. Due to where it was, it was still blurry. She squinted and strained her vision, mentally hurrying the creature to hurry its approach. With every step the blurred shadow soon became more defined. Triangular ears were seen first, and then colors were revealed. Soon afterwards Azaria spotted the massive frame of a lonesome male. His grayed eyes focusing upon the pool and hadn’t even glanced up in her direction.

Instead of approaching the male, Azaria remained stiff in her position. She had only just realized that the sun was starting to fall away from its once high point in the sky. The moon would take its place, but even so night was fast approaching. The snow that once blinded her was now turning into a dull tone of white. Even Azaria had done the same as the caress of light was now in the process of shifting. She watched the burly male with a studious gaze as she openly let her metallic eyes follow the contours of his body. She inhaled the air softly, and had found no other scent but his own. Azaria’s eyes lit with pleasant surprise, and her heart was rising within her chest. Her hope rising at long last and Azaria wanted to howl out of pure euphoria. She had to stifle all that down. The male would be sure to think of her mad if she had reacted to his presence in such a way. The waters rippled with the movement of his tongue along its surface, causing Azaria’s reflection to be fragmented and more distorted. Her heart was reaching out to him. Azaria could level with him far more than even he might have realized. Just like him, she might have seen identical hardships. She yearned to start a conversation with him. Maybe she would make his day if she did. Azaria opened her maw to speak, but all the words had been caught and snagged at the back of her throat. He was approaching her now.

Tilting her head to the side, Azaria watched with anticipation as he neared her. She was stunned that he hadn’t even noticed her or acknowledged her presence. Did she need to leap around like a doe to capture his attention? Azaria mused over the very thought before shoving it aside. Sometimes winter got on her nerves for various reasons. She often went under most wolves’ radar, and the want to start a conversation would be passed by. It did offer her an extreme good cover. She could almost perfectly camouflage herself within any mound of snow. She could frighten others out of their wits if she truly even wanted to mess with their minds, but Azaria wasn’t much for mind games. It was rare when she would do such immature things. She watched his cautious approach, minding where he stepped so he wouldn’t fall into the icy chamber of the water. Her eyes widened with surprise as he was inches away, and then his hefty body was thrown upon her. His limbs splayed out over her form. Azaria collapsed to the earth, taken aback and not readying herself for his sudden weight upon her. She slammed into the snow, her face becoming squished within the surface. The cold seeping through her body at that very instant, and she couldn’t find her voice to tell him that he was laying atop a female and not some snow bank or whatever he thought she was.

It took a while before the male staggered backwards, leaping away from her small bodice with sudden surprise. His words reverberating within her skull as his apology rang clear and deep through the still night atmosphere. The sincerity in his words was digested and Azaria gathered herself. She lifted from the snow, the cold swirling around her. She observed him once again in silence, and then it was broken by a sweet sound. Laughter exploded from her vocal box, transferring into the air. Her golden eyes brimming with its own laughter as she gazed at him with no anger found within her face. The breath that her laughter took with it drifted into the air. The vapor had been suspended before being drawn away by an unnoticed wind. Her laughter decreased slowly, and she met his gaze once again. Her heated vision still danced and moved with the laughter that she was successfully controlling. ”It’s alright.” Azaria’s soft voice was drawn out of her throat. It was free flowing and expressive. It was far off being a boring monotone voice. She smiled at him, shaking her coat out before sitting once more. Her tail entwined itself around her front paws. ”I can honestly say you’re the first wolf that’s done that to me.” She remarked in a light-hearted way. How interesting she meet some one this way, and it could certainly not be duplicated that was for sure.

Azaria was also not going to pass up the opportunity to chat with this male for a while. She could honestly say that she was not going to forget him by the unique way they crossed paths. A soft laugh escaped her again as she re-lived the recent experience. ”I think it’s only fair you let me know your name… After all you did crush me.” She spoke again, her voice clearly defining the teasing tones that rolled beneath her gentle voice. Her eyes danced with amusement, but she held back another comment she wanted to make. She could just very well tackle him to the ground to get even, but even her small weight would hardly even faze him. He wouldn’t collapse to the earth with the force of impact. He might just even stagger to the side and then laugh at her pitiful attempt to knock him off his paws. So, she opted for his name to be exchanged for fairness, but one never knew with Azaria. She could just very well tackle him anyway whether it is now or in the distant future if they were to cross paths once more just to remind him that she was the one he mistook for some comfy piece of ground. Her smile broadened and within her eyes it now gained a mischievous glint as if she were plotting something disastrous, but if the male looked hard enough that glint was the opposite. It was teasing and playful, matching her previous tones. Azaria gazed at him expectantly, waiting for his tones to expose themselves once more.

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[AVAK]

Now that Avak thought about it, how could he not have smelled her? Probably because of the cold. The winter always made his nose a little fuzzy because it normally turned raw from breathing in the chilled air. That always brought a sharp pang to his lungs. His eyes half shut, and his ears pinned back, he waited. He didn't like yelling, and only then (when he thought about it) did he notice that his apology rang across the mountain range, louder than he had intended. But the wave of anger never came, nor the smell, nor a tongue lashing. His gray eyes opened, and his ears pricked at the following sound. A sweet burble issued from the throat of the pristine white wolf. That laugh could only belong to a female. Her voice alone seemed to melt the snow around them. The sound continued for a short while longer, and for that he was glad. It was good to hear another voice, one that did not sound at all like the continuous and venomous howling of the wind.

"It's alright." Not only did her laugh sound like honey, but her voice did too. He was slightly astonished, tilting his head to the side to regard her. He sniffed a bit, staying stationary and not coming any closer. Now he smelled her, and she, of course, had her own scent just like others did. If Avak wasn't a spiritual wolf before, he was now. If he had seen her walking in broad daylight amid the snow, he would have thought her to be a ghost, or some disembodied spirit come down from the heavens to walk with the living. Even in the moonlight she looked that way. The silver light that shed the snow-laden ground with blue-silver reflected off of her melting gold eyes to reveal an odd sheen. She looked fragile, being small in weight and short in stature. She wasn't underfed though. She was just slender. A pretty little thing to the eye, but no doubt a fireball inside, considering her sense of humor, which Avak found quite inspiring.

"I can honestly say you're the first wolf that's done that to me," she said, light-heartedly. 'A great way to make a first impression then,' Avak thought, almost laughing himself. With her white pelt, he was a bit surprised that nobody had just pushed her over while walking and then passed her by without a word. But who would be so discourteous? He stayed silent, doing everything he could do without sniveling to the ground to show that he meant no threat. He set his ears to a relaxed manner and lowered any body posture, including his tail (but he did not put it between his legs). He had always been good, if not boastful, to females. But, he had nearly crushed her. What was his problem? He truly had made a bungle of a first impression. He chuckled a bit to himself. She was so small - he hoped he hadn't hurt her.

"I do hope you're alright. I meant no harm if I caused any. Just me throwing my weight around in unnecessary places," he said. He hoped to speak to her a bit. He would love a conversation with a fellow wolf, male or female. She sat, her dainty form perfectly pillowed on the snow. She looked like somebody had even crafted her out of the very stuff she sat upon. ”I think it’s only fair you let me know your name… After all you did crush me.” Her voice came to him on the air. Her breathe discharged in steam, as did his in a vapor that was carried away to the clouds. He shook out his neck fur, laughing again as he did so. "Of course, miss. My name is Avak, and once again I apologize for crushing you as I did," he stated in his deep voice. He gave her a toothy grin, hoping that the gesture didn't look odd, as most of his smiles did. His large frame shifted to one side. He felt like approaching her, but felt unsure about what she would do, even though he smile looked inviting. He had learned not to trust those smiles. So he sat, letting his haunches sink into the snow gently and then he moved his tail around his legs, covering them in an attempt to keep them somewhat warm as she had moments before.

Avak looked into the female's eyes. They were somewhat warm, but there was something beneath them that indicated something playful. She was cute, who could lie? "And what might your name be?" Avak asked coolly, giving off the impression that he was now more comfortable with the female being there. The conversation ahead was what he wanted most. He sat his ears at a swivel upon his head, listening to both her and the silence encircling them both. The moonlight shone on the snow and reflected off of his eyes with a silver light. "Where are you from anyway? I've never seen you around before. Then again, I never see anybody that I used to know much anymore." Who was he kidding? He had nobody. Save for the company of the new female, he had seemed (at least to himself) alone in the world. He hoped her background wasn't too personal either. He did wish to know more about the mysterious white she-wolf in front of him.

The moonlight seemed to move along the ground because of the drifting snow. It shimmered at odd angles, and sometimes it threw light off of the tiny diamonds of frozen water. And the light shimmered off of her coat as well. Avak's ear flicked at a sound far off. Another wolf howl. From the packs in the valleys no doubt. But his attention quickly turned back to the female. He didn't want her to get the impression that she was boring him. Quite the opposite, and his eyes reflected his wish to speak more than anything else in the world. Or at least he hoped they did.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

If there was anything Azaria had the most it was certainly her good sense of humor. She had to admit that the previous situation that occurred was hysterical. If she were to explain it to another wolf, they might not have thought it would be so. Azaria might have been a spitfire, but this didn’t require her to lash out at the male. She could level with him that she even had a hard time pinpointing where wolves were, but lately she was getting accustomed to it. The winter months always tossed her sense of smell of its rocker, and she couldn’t blame him for not having smelt her in the first place. He still seemed fairly tense, still not having fully recovered from the shock of what he had done. Azaria had to admit it was something sort of charming that he knew he had done something wrong. Bring along the former encounters she had with rather perverse males and they would certainly worsen the situation. Then Azaria would speak her mind, putting them back in their place, scolding them like they were young pups rather than their true age. The male at least had some sense of courtesy and a bit of manners to apologize for what he had done. It was new and foreign to her, but she was pretty grateful for this new outlook. It was refreshing to say the least.

He still appeared shocked as she laughed heartily. Had he truly been expecting her to verbally lash out at him? If he hadn’t gotten off of her in the first place, she would have found her voice and gave him a thing or two about the incident but it wasn’t the case. He seemed truly apologetic and maybe even wishing that he hadn’t done such a thing. Whatever it was, Azaria’s curiosity that had once lain dormant had now spiked. This could be a very interesting encounter if he permitted to drag on. It wasn’t every day that Azaria was graced with a presence of another. She’d grasp any opportunity that came around, and he was her lucky winner for the night. She could feel his eyes scan her body, tracing her form as if to remember what she looked like. Azaria was unfazed, sitting calmly before him as she had before. There was only a slight tension in the air from his end as though he had no clue how to react her laughter. It only solidified that he was really expecting for Azaria chide him. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t even know her in the least, and so he couldn’t have known her personality. Well, he just got quite a few glimpses of it.

Azaria absorbed his form, comparing his height to her own. So he was a tad taller than she, which wasn’t out of the normal life of Azaria. She came across wolves that were normally larger her in both aspects of weight and height. In fact, she had only met a handful that was close enough to her height. Height and weight didn’t daunt her at all. It could be a potential threat if Azaria provoked anyone the wrong way, but with the bulk of their weight and height they couldn’t do many of the things that Azaria could. Azaria could run off and within seconds be out of sight and maybe out of mind. She could hide beneath anything if she put her mind to it. If one were to decide that Azaria hadn’t fought a day in her life they would be partially right. She had play fought with her older siblings like most litters do, but other than that she had never encountered any sort of physical violence. She hardly ever felt threatened, but she only told herself it was because she was so charming. She had more friends than enemies, but that could very well change here in this strange place. She sure hoped not, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath.

Azaria’s metallic gaze swept up his body to gaze at his face when he spoke, apologizing if he had harmed her in any way. She shook her head as if dismissing the apology away. She smiled at him again, and to ensure that he had caused no harm, she spoke. ”I may be small and look fragile, but I’m not so easily broken.” Her voice was still light and she nodded towards him as if to tell him he didn’t have to worry about it. Azaria wasn’t going to hold it against him, but if they departed and reunited again, she might bring it up to playfully tease him. That was just how Azaria was. She wanted others to laugh and remember the positives. The negatives she would do her best to push them aside and lift the spirits of any wolf that was disheartened. She was pleased that he was laughing. The low sound appreciated and deep like any masculine male’s voice should be. Her ears pricked forwards and she captured his statements. Azaria had caught onto the formality of ‘miss.’ She had never been called that. He did introduce himself in a quaint way, and it was somewhat casual but still lingering with respect. She was still stuck on that ‘miss.’ She almost cringed at the word as though she had been dealt some sort of card that she didn’t want. It made her sound like a wolf with rank. She looked at Avak evenly. He was her equal for choosing the path that held no rank or any duties to go along with it. She noted that he apologized again and she laughed softly. He apologized three times by now, and a grin accompanied it. It was rather fitting and Azaria’s response was immediate. Her smile widened towards the grin, and it didn’t appear out of place but rather looked as though it was underused. Azaria would certainly take care of that if he stuck around. She was known for her occasional entertaining conversations if she was having a good day.

She caught on that he wanted to approach but was weary of doing so. Azaria knew full well of the internal battle he was going through. It was so hard to know who one could trust these days. Avak’s inquiry reached her and she smiled at him. He was now more comfortable with her, and his voice instructed her. She was glad with this, and now the tension from his end had dissipated almost entirely. ”Azaria. It’s nice to meet you, Avak.” She spoke fluidly, ending her comment with a smile once again. She had seen him recline onto the ground, slightly sinking into the powdery substance around them. She just rested upon the top as if she could wield the power of snow storms, but with the purity of her coat that melted into the scenery she looked like some sort of deity. She almost laughed aloud at the thought, but she held it in. Her mother would often fill her head with such nonsense when she was a pup, but back then Azaria would linger upon every word, begging for more. She decided to address something that might make Avak feel more at ease. ”Do I honestly look like the type of wolf that would eat you?” She inquired jokingly, gazing up at him from her position. She shook her head at the absurd thought. Avak could just run full force into Azaria and she would be the most effected by the force of impact, whereas if she turned around and ran full speed at him, he would hardly even move or topple over. ”You could go ahead and eat me, but that would be a great task. You’d have to catch me first.” Azaria added on, smirking at him. It seemed like some sort of challenge that he could take up later on, but Azaria was a fairly good at judging character. Avak certainly didn’t seem like the wolf to munch on other wolves’ insides.

Azaria chanced to glance upwards at the sky that had now turned a dark black. The moon rested in its spot, replacing the moon that had been there minutes ago. Everything was now caressed by an unearthly sheen of white and silver. Apparitions and the like could come out of nowhere if one believed in such things, but even Azaria appeared to be some restless spirit that had not crossed over. If one were to caress her, they’d find she was very real, but some loners were too jumpy and panicky. They would flinch at every noise and sound, and would soon stress themselves out so much they might just drop dead from the constant questioning of everything. It was quite a pity to come across some loners that were like that, but Azaria was classified differently. She took everything in stride and welcomed in any new experiences to come her way. She could adapt and adjust in a rapid way under certain circumstances, which proved itself worthy on numerous occasions. Her golden eyes fell and met Avak’s steady gaze, and took in his question. She had certainly not been expecting that to come from his mouth, but every good questioned deserved a well thought out answer that would soothe his curiosity. Rather big on honesty, Azaria looked at him squarely. ”I come from the very far north-west or east… I was never really good at my navigational skills.” She smiled at him in almost a bashful way. ”I just arrived here late last night.” Azaria added onto her explanation. She wasn’t one for vague responses to inquires; she found that if she didn’t answer a question to any wolf’s liking, it only caused more questions.

”How about you? Have you wandered these lands all your life, or have you just arrived here as well?” Azaria shot back at him, wishing to know more about Avak. She might as well ask it to soothe her own curiosity. She wanted good conversation, and Avak seemed just the male who was willing. Well, if he wasn’t, Azaria just may have followed him to strike up some sort of chat before drifting away. Regardless, he seemed eager to converse with someone rather than hearing his own thoughts and voice for a change. Azaria was fine with offering up her services for no charge. Her ears pricked forwards, capturing the distinct sound of a wolf’s howl. She sighed at the sound, listening to it echo around the sparse foliage surrounding them. Her eyes however had still been attached to the male. She didn’t want to seem ill-mannered or rude if she looked away from him, and as she studied his eyes she saw that want to carry on a conversation. Azaria smiled at this, and allowed her body to relax fully before him, but she was still on guard just in case some unidentified threat was lingering in their midst or even if Avak himself charged at her. Other than that, she appeared content, and her eyes strengthened this emotion, magnifying it and bringing it to his attention that she was at ease and calm with his presence.

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[AVAK]

To tell the truth, Avak now felt a bit dumb. He was sure he sounded idiotic to the snowy female, having apologized three times. He was just a bit overly cautious. A bit out of character really, but he was always expecting a chide or two from somebody because of his childhood. His mother would always scold him for being away too much or staying at home too much. Not hunting enough. Not taking care of his siblings when she could not. But then, there were many things that she could not do. She couldn't keep his wild spirit contained. She utterly failed at teaching him about life in general. Hell, he was surprised that he could carry on a coherent conversation with another considering how he had grown up. But, his eyes and ears stayed riveted to the female, hanging on her every motion and word, becoming more and more comfortable as the moon continued to run its course. But again, he felt idiocy. He had been told, multiple times, that he had no common sense. Of course he did. He just didn't use it often. He had been told that he was a hulking beast. The female could see that. He was much larger than her, able to bring down game much larger than himself or inflict injury and pain if he wished. But he wasn't really inclined to violence. No, his heart normally stayed dormant... detached. Unless he was sorry for something, he normally had a no-account-don't-care-about-the-world outlook on life. But now, he felt involved. It was new, strange, but pleasant. And it felt good to speak to another who had been alone for some time. It felt good to be looked upon and remembered. He was beginning to worry that nobody would remember him in this world. Or the next...

Avak could feel the female looking at him, as if her gaze was earnest, somewhat penetrating, but calm. He was quite large compared to her, but she had advantages that he did not. He was not as fast, and his stamina would decrease much faster than her own. While he was probably stronger and could take hits and deal them equally, she could probably outsmart faster than physically outmatch. That tied into weight as well. If he wished, Avak could plow right through her and the tree trunks behind... in his own mind at least. Not very likely. She was probably far better off than he was. With his huge stature, most tended to steer clear of him, causing him to make more enemies than friends or just make others scared rather than enemies... But she was not one of those others. She seemed to have a good, strong will. No doubt she could probably put him in his place if she wanted to. But one so small could have her own issues. Other males would probably try to take advantage of her. She was lucky she had met Avak instead of this one male he met a some number of months prior. Now that was a bad experience. He was a nervous wreck and latched onto him like a leech. He finally shook him off, but he seemed strange. You know the type. The immediate thought: 'Rapist.'

But enough of that. Avak's thoughts went back to the female. He appreciated the way she looked him straight in the face. Not many loners would do that. Some were too timid, and some were just insane. Some just wanted a fight, and some were just way too stupid to notice. But not her. She shook her head at him after he apologized yet again. ”I may be small and look fragile, but I’m not so easily broken.” Another sign that she was much stronger than she looked. A good will and a strong sense of self. Avak admired that a lot in wolves actually, especially wolves that followed no one other than themselves. He could tell that she didn't want him to worry about her with the subtle nod of her head and her light tone. Then all was forgiven? He hoped so. But it might come back to haunt him one day. Most of this conversation, he knew, would be very good for his mental state.

Now that he thought back on his own introduction, had 'miss' been too much? He hoped not. He was just being himself. Trying to seem harmless. Not wanting trouble. The tension between them seemed to float up to the silver disk in the sky and moved on with the clouds, leaving the sparkling world behind it in a trail of ease. 'Good,' he thought. He breath still swirled in vapory wisps, and the trees at the edge of the clearing remained stationary. No danger could be seen or heard on his end, and he was sure that the female was also listening for something or looking for something that might threaten them. He had asked her name, yes? She answered. ”Azaria. It’s nice to meet you, Avak.” She was so fluid with her voice and speech, so sure of what she would say next. Yes, Avak was enjoying this, and there she was, looking like some snow goddess in the moonlight, while he probably looked like one mess of a loner. 'Azaria. A pretty name.'

"Azaria. Nice to meet you. The name suits you well." A bit awkward maybe, but something. A compliment. He noted the space between them. ”Do I honestly look like the type of wolf that would eat you?” She shook her head, probably thinking the thought was absurd. It was possible. Wolves were crazy, especially from stories he heard about where the old packs came from. Cannibalism might be a last resort to anything or just to be plain cruel. He smiled at the statement. Of course not. Not this one. ”You could go ahead and eat me, but that would be a great task. You’d have to catch me first.” Avak really got a kick out of that. He laughed as she had, though not as long. "Even if I did catch you, I find the small ones to be a bit game-y." He stopped. "Just kidding," he finished with a smile. And he moved a little bit closer, closing the distance to about two feet rather than about four.

The sky darkened, the moon disappeared, and the world was still white, gray, and black, but not as bright or silver as before. The world still have an eerie, otherworldly glow to it. Serene. Avak could probably die and thought he had gone to Heaven when he had really stayed on Earth as a restless spirit. Azaria's gaze met his again, gold against silver, and he was assured again that she was really in for a conversation, not some kind of prattle that normally went on between some loners. She was, like he, a force to be reckoned with, even if it was in a different way. She was more like a fox; swift, beguiling, and of course she had brains. He was more like a bear; large, powerful, and maybe not too smart at times, but he could pull his own mental weight. He had been worried that she would not be inclined to answer. No need of that worry now. ”I come from the very far north-west or east… I was never really good at my navigational skills.” She smiled a certain smile... a bashful smile, and an honest one. It was appealing in that way. ”I just arrived here late last night.” A new arrival? Really? Hmm... he would never have guessed.

He had asked his question. It was her turn to ask hers. ”How about you? Have you wandered these lands all your life, or have you just arrived here as well?” Avak nodded his head. A befitting question. He was a veteran of the lands that were the mountains. It was his snow, his trees. He knew it all. The cold, some warmth here and there, the streams, the spring, the caves. Everything. He willingly answered her question. "I've lived here all my life, in these very mountains. They are, and always will be, my home. I don't go down into the valleys past the foothills. That's on either side of the mountains. That's pack territory. Anyway, I digress. I grew up a bit south of here, but not far." He pushed his muzzle in a southward direction, for her benefit. She had said she wasn't too good with direction, hadn't she? Azaria looked content, although she did sigh when the howl was lifted. She was a loner, and naturally, she was unfazed by such a thing. "So, how are you liking the piles upon piles upon piles of snow? Not too much now I suppose," he said, referring to his actions earlier. She had looked like a snow drift. She had so many advantages, but she had her disadvantages as well. Her being mistaken for a snow drift was one of them.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria was truly enjoying Avak’s company thus far. There was something about him. Perhaps that subtle aloofness or even the cautious way he kept apologizing like she was going to beat him up for having mistaken her for something she most definitely was not. It made for quite the impression on Azaria. His face, scent, and appearance were surely something she would not forget. He seemed like some adorable being she would want to take home, but Azaria smiled inwardly at that. How funny would it be to have a hulking figure get dragged off by her petite stature? She inhaled the laughter that threatened to spill over from her maw. She caged it in for if the laughter was to expose itself he might have looked at her oddly. Maybe even think that she was saying things about him in her mind. Which wasn’t even close to the truth, and so she had opted for remaining silent. She was rather a straight-forward being now that she thought about it. She would directly approach anyone, no matter if they appeared gruesome or mean, she would strike up a conversation with them. Normally looks were deceiving. These “mean” creatures truly just held up a mask to ward others off and away. Azaria could penetrate through their shell, breaking past all walls, and then exposing their true selves that lurked under the surface. On a few accounts it did prove her wrong, but never the less, Azaria still approached those who were alone for one specific reason…

They reminded her of herself. Azaria had been accustomed to wandering around multiple lands for an entire year. That year had dragged along beside her, threatening to pull her down from the burden it seemed to carry. Anytime she saw a wolf alone, her face would soften. Her eyes would sympathize with them. She knew what it was like to be alone. She would saunter up to them, and offer up her companionship even if after their small talk of a conversation was over that they would never see one another again. She could live with that to a degree. She missed seeing familiar faces, instead of the blurred faces that caused her restless nights of sleep. Her brother’s face seemed to be more predominant before she drifted off to a hopefully peaceful slumber, but that peace and tranquility would be shot and killed. It wasn’t every night she had to deal with this. Normally she just passed out from exhaustion like she had the night before. Azaria had to admit the only reason why she had trekked so far up a mountainside was that she knew it would tucker her out. She had no recollection of finding a spot to sleep, but when she awoke this morning, she was covered with snow and at the base of a tree. That was all she knew. She had little to no memory of her journey up the steep slope, but her mind was only piecing together fragments of it all. Maybe I should learn from my mistakes. She thought to herself, and mentally nodded to affirm it.

Then again, Azaria knew that eventually she would do it all over again. It was only inevitable. Her tail that had been entwined around her front paws had drifted off of them, leaving them exposed to the chill. Azaria’s glanced downwards and had noticed this. Narrowing her gaze slightly, she flicked her tail back onto her paws, savoring the little bit of warmth it provided. Sometimes she hated winter because of the blustering temperatures that made her teeth chatter. It was a pain, but winter had to come before the renewal of spring would take its place. She was looking forward to the warmer climate that spring usually brought along with it. Her fur tingled with the memory of spring. How far it off it now seemed that winter had just begun, which was just her luck. Ah well... Can’t have it all, Azaria. She told herself, and Azaria knew that well enough. If she had it all, whatever ‘it’ was going to be, she might not be here right now. She didn’t even know where she would possibly be. The thought of that made an involuntary shiver run through her, and Azaria’s tiny sculpture of her body trembled with the idea. Even when the winter snow would melt, and spring would take its place, Azaria would lose her cover. She would stick out sorely in every place. In the blooming flowers, her whitened form would be easily depicted from the vibrant colors that boasted their life. It was like their colors were saying that they were still here, providing some species of animals hope and promise for the next season.

Avak’s voice slammed into her ears, immediately drawing her attention away from her thoughts. She felt bad now having been lured in by the thoughts that often got her in trouble. He probably had been staring at her weirdly if her eyes had held that distant and far off glaze they usually did when she was deep in thought. She wanted to apologize for it, but it he even asked why she was apologizing she would feel incredibly stupid… Maybe even beyond stupid if there was such a thing. The compliment was brought to her attention, and Azaria smiled up at him. It seemed like he wasn’t quite used to making compliments, but Azaria was used to hearing them. If that made her sound egotistical, that wasn’t the point. His compliment seemed to be sincere like he wasn’t expecting anything in return from it. Other males were normally always yearning for something in return, which Azaria had more class than that. She gazed at Avak with a gentle smile. She was pleased that he was proving himself to be the exact opposite of those pesky males. ”Thank you, Avak. Your name suits you as well. Makes you sound rather manly but…” She paused, her golden eyes sparking with a teasing mischievous glint. ”You seem to be like a cuddly wolf than anything else.” Azaria grinned at him, her eyes smiling back at him with laughter mixing in. That was her compliment for him, and it was a sincere one. She wondered if he would try and defend his masculinity. Either way, Azaria viewed him as such a wolf that meant no harm unless otherwise provoked.

Avak’s rumbling laughter made her smile brilliantly grow upon her face. Such a sound was like a pure symphony to her ears. A smile here and there could make her heart bound with joy. So she easily got excited over the small things in life, but she always saw the larger picture. She enjoyed the tiniest of gestures. It gave her hope and made her at ease with a world that seemed to want to bring everyone of its inhabitants down. At his remark, Azaria’s delicate laugh escaped from her, breaking into the air effortlessly. Her heated gaze danced with delight and the laughter that was animated upon her face. His smile seemed to be more comfortable upon his lips, and glanced at him with her eyes still laughing even though she had ceased her own laughter. ”I should be on my guard then.” She commented, pretending to straighten up and glare at him if he was capable of perceiving her in such a way. She mimicked the look of a stern female, but her eyes betrayed her. Underneath the smoldering gaze was the laughter and playful glint to them. She gave a soft laugh before allowing her body to return to its normal posture. Her back having a slight arch to it, certainly having less regality than most Alpha Females was sure to possess. Good thing she wasn’t one. She’d probably overthrown herself before any pack member would. She did muse over the thought that if she did claim lands that her pack would be rather… Different or maybe unique was the better word. Either way, her pack would have fewer limitations, but of course, that could lead into corruption that most packs usually obtained. She was never going to be an Alpha Female, and she was never going to belong to a pack. It was just nice to let her thoughts take her away to wherever they so pleased.

Azaria watched with pleasant surprise that Avak had moved closer, still minding any personal boundaries that she might have had. Instead of the four feet that separated them it was now reduced to two. She glanced at the ground for a fleeting moment, spotting that his shadow engulfed her own. His shadow overlapped her own, making it appear nonexistent. She had no problem with it, but watched as his blackened figure was cast upon her chest, making her slightly more visible. Her golden eyes still shone vividly, snagged onto the silvery colored eyes that belonged to Avak. She had barely even noticed that the sun had vanished from the skies, and that the heavens were darkening malevolently. She would have to find someplace that offered warmth and protection instead of just crashing into the ground without thinking. She was out in the open and exposed, but anywhere else she would be hidden away from the naked eye. She would figure it out later. It wasn’t a major worry to her as of now. Avak explained himself, and how he had lived here all his life. She turned her head in the southward direction he was pointing in, grateful that he was guiding her. Her lack of poor navigational skills often got the better of her. She did have a tendency to just walk where she so pleased, taking any turns when she wanted to, or just following visible tracks to see where other wolves or creatures had gone. So the entire mountain was surrounded by pack territories. Azaria must have not noticed, but luckily she got out to the territories unscathed.

She permitted her gaze to turn back onto his burly form and she smiled at him gently. ”One day you’ll have to show me around.” Azaria stated it as if she knew the possibility of that ever happening was incredibly slim to none. She could hope about it, couldn’t she? It wasn’t like she had her heart set on it. She could very well tour the lands on her own, and evade any angry creatures she came across. Then again, she would be alone… There was nothing new about that but company would be nice. It was always welcomed but it often never came along when she wanted it to. Company always came when she didn’t want it to… Well most of the time. She wanted company when she had awoken, uncaring for the gender of the wolf, but Avak had come along to assist her to remove the loneliness even if it were to be for a couple of hours before they departed. Avak’s remark made her laugh quietly. The sound coming through in a pristine way, seething with purity as her laugh was blown away by a chilling wind. She felt her coat sway sideways, rippling with the gust of the wind before it settled upon her once more, slightly out of place. She met his gaze again before she answered him. ”I still enjoy the snow… Even if you had decided that I was a comfy pile of snow before you realized I wasn’t.” She answered, nodding her head. Her eyes sparkled with her unvoiced laughter. Oh, he’ll never live this down. The joking remark flipped through her mind and she gave a soft laugh that accompanied it. She hadn’t fully realized she had laughed aloud until it left her lips.

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[AVAK]

As the night drifted on, the two continued their conversation. Would they pass the night this way? He hoped so. Azaria was so fiery; he could tell by her eyes. How dull his must have seemed. She was so tiny; he hadn't come across too many wolves that were her size. Maybe one or two? He couldn't tell. Meetings seemed to run together. Most individuals didn't stick out in his mind. They were all too focused on one thing or another. Mostly they were just mindless, or too aloof to notice anything. He was such a hypocrite, but who wasn't? Nobody was perfect. He himself was just like those other wolves. If Azaria had just been another "what's-her-name", he would have been colder, more detached. He wondered how she took to being alone. Surely, not too eagerly, for she was gladly carrying on a conversation with somebody who had sat on her. But she wasn't starved for conversing. No. She was just accepting, a bit like himself at times. 'Face value,' he thought. The way her face value had revealed itself was absolutely welcomed. And he wondered how he himself appeared to her. Maybe a bit clumsy? 'Eh, a bit.' And when he noticed, he hadn't really boasted to her. Normally, ya' know, to all those "what's-her-names", he would ham it up. What was the point in not doing it? He would never see them again anyway. By the way she talking to him though, Avak could tell that Azaria would stay in his memory for a long time. She wasn't like the rest...

There were times when Avak thought himself no different. Times when he thought that he wouldn't stand out for anything other than size or brute strength. That was a depressing thought. To be feared rather than adored or enjoyed. 'Ughhh...' He would shudder at the thought. Maybe a bit of it slipped through, but he wasn't really sure. His exterior was only planted against the snow. The moon continued to move. It looked to be waning, just a bit. But it wasn't all that close to a new moon. He hated those nights. He was least active then. Full moons were his favorite. And a full moon mixed with a snowy winter made for a silver landscape that really showed the beauty of the world. Avak threw a quick glance at Azaria's white cloak. She might sparkle like the landscape too. She already did. But on a full moon night, she might just go super nova. Avak looked Azaria in the face again, taking in the position of her ears, eyes, fur. She was relaxed. So was he, sitting only about two feet away. Once again, he would go snow-blind. And not just from the fluff that cushioned his being from the ground beneath.

Avak again glanced down. He followed Azaria's gaze. Her tail had drifted. His was still in its fluffy place, covering his paws that were sure to freeze at some time or another. He lifted his eyes to her, keeping his head slightly inclined downward. He'd been told he looked like a bit of a pup when he did this. By all the females he'd ever met. He mentally shook his head. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. A slight look of irritation from the white female inspired a bit of a smile to cross his lips. A flick of the tail postitioned it back over her pristine paws, giving them a little bit of warmth, though it wasn't much. Avak had to admit that his paws were still cold as well. Why couldn't they just become immune. On bad days, Avak was too cold to move, and when he did, all of his young bones creaked and his teeth jittered in his mouth, making the loudest clacking noise that seemed to cut the air around him. Prey was already scarce in the winter, and the mountain heights didn't help that fact. Whatever he could find would probably scatter before the creaky, chattery, irritating noises that he always attempted to stifle. He epically failed much of the time.

Avak pulled his head back up, squishing it down as the night air pricked a bit at his back. His thick ruff pushed up around his muzzle. Now he might have looked like a beakless owl... a cold, beakless owl that was freezing its tailfeathers off. But the wind stopped as suddenly as it had started, leaving him to wish for sunlight. Any sunlight would do, whether it was the cold sun of winter or the slightly warmer sun of summer. Either way, the terrain was still brutal. When he stretched back out, he noticed that Azaria shivered slightly, whether from anticipation of sun or from cold, he didn't know. "Cold isn't it?" he asked with a smile. "And sometimes it stays that way for too long." His previous comments seemed to rouse her from thought, a deep thought at that. Even though he was a bit troubled about interrupting something, Avak was happy that his compliment brought a smile to somebody's face, especially her's. He hadn't expected anything back from it. Not even a smile. But he was glad that she wasn't troubled by the comment. He gave her a crooked smile back, only quirking one side of his mouth. Had she expected him to be expecting something? Nah, he wasn't like that. Not a womanizer, not a perv. Just Avak. ”Thank you, Avak. Your name suits you as well. Makes you sound rather manly but… You seem to be like a cuddly wolf than anything else.” A mishevious glint of the eye that Avak had already seen appeared in the golden orbs. And he felt bricked. He had been called cuddly, but only in kidding. Never was it sincere like her's was. He smiled wider, and even wider still when she grinned at his laughter. The comment about her size seemed to have no negative effect on her. It only glided over her and disappeared into the darkness, and she found it funny.

”I should be on my guard then,” she said. He could see her straighten, and he percieved her failure to impersonate a stern expression. Her eyes betrayed it all. Her posture returned to normal with a slight bend in her back. She still looked regal to him. She could pull off a powerful leader any day. Having moved closer, he notcied how his shadow all but ungulfed her face. He was sure that he looked odd to the irregular passer-by. From a distance, he could be talking to a snow statuette. But, upon closer inspection, one could see that she was made of the living, breathing flesh that they all consisted of. He was glad she didn't move away either. She glanced down while he looked behind, making sure that they were still alone and that they had no unwanted (and strange) guests. The black spring was dormant, darker than before because of the cloud cover that shielded the moon's view of the Earth. As he pointed, she had turned her head in that direction, making no sound. She turned her gaze again in his direction. ”One day you’ll have to show me around.” Maybe they would see each other again. Maybe not. But he hoped they would see each other some more. She laughed again at his comments. Laughter was the best medicine for lonliness in his opinion, and her's was probably better than his own would ever be. ”I still enjoy the snow… Even if you had decided that I was a comfy pile of snow before you realized I wasn’t.” Oh yeah, he wouldn't live it down. Not if they met again. It would be the constant. He grinned. "That would be a good reunion. 'Hey, I remember you! You made one hell of a first impression.'" He shivered against the breeze and then yawned, showing his teeth. He shook himself. Oh, sorry. I'm just a bit tired. I haven't slept for a bit," he said, hoping that she had not taken the yawn as a symbol of boredom.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria’s emotions were always compared to being readable no matter if she wanted them to appear or not. She could never really do anything about it. She had tried to muffle them, push them down, but somehow they always surfaced, revealing their true identity to anyone that was focused upon her face. They would flicker across her visage, poking through every crevice to ensure that they were seen. Her eyes were the most deceiving of all. No matter what, the emotions flooded through those expressive golden eyes. Everything from hurt to pure euphoria, and everything else in between drifted to her eyes without her knowing. Most of the time, Azaria knew that her eyes would be filled to the brim of any emotion that lingered within her, and she knew that they betrayed her more often than naught. And she was sure that Avak was grasping this very advantage to use. She was clearly readable, but Azaria was having somewhat of a hard time seeing what was going through his face. It wasn’t frustrating to her, but it did lure her in almost unrightfully so.

Azaria just wanted to know what would be going through anyone’s head at any given moment in time. She liked picking at others’ brains to see what made them tick, and to see what made them explode. She wanted to know every detail possible until she didn’t even have to stare upon anyone’s face to know if they were lying or not. Avak seemed to be one of those wolves that were on their guard almost every day, but when given the chance to loosen up they eagerly did so. She had watched that guard drop when he noticed that Azaria wasn’t some bitter loner angry at the world for what she had chosen. If anything, she would be mad at herself, but she wasn’t. Being a loner was all she knew. It was named for the lonesome feeling that often trickled through her soul, threatening to take away her sanity if she didn’t have company. The company was usually temporary, and it often left Azaria thirsting for more. She wondered if Avak would just be the temporary company she had been accustomed to. She wouldn’t forget him, not after the first impression that had made her laugh heartily. When was the last time she had laughed that hard? It was certainly too far back that even she couldn’t remember.

In all honesty, Azaria wanted to make a pocket-sized Avak to carry around with her. His company and presence was refreshing. He wasn’t like every other wolf that had lost their sanity to their loneliness. He was content with his path that he had chosen, but she was sure that he wanted something to fill the emptiness around him. Azaria pushed all thoughts aside. She couldn’t make a pocket-sized Avak… She was for sure going to lose in the bounties of snow around her. She couldn’t just come out of the blue and say ‘Hey! Let’s travel together!’ No, Azaria was too independent for that… Too strong-willed to have a traveling companion, but she did occasionally walk with other loners if they were going the same way as she was. Mostly it was just because she didn’t have a clue where the hell she was going, and so she would listen to their ramblings that would be silently responded to with a nod or a smile. She would listen, and absorb every word they said even if she hadn’t even asked for their names, or they didn’t introduce themselves. What did it matter? Once they would arrive to their similar destinations, Azaria would be off to float from place to place without have a definitive spot where she would finally stop and stay. That won’t happen for a while.

She glanced back at him, and instead of having her gaze rest on him for a fleeting moment, it lingered. Avak was like her opposite in terms of well… Everything. Azaria was compact and tiny, having the ability to dodge low-hanging branches and fit into peculiar places where no one else truly could fit. Avak could ward others off with the intimidation of his hulking body, but Azaria found it comforting. He could just flex a muscle and she was sure everyone would flee out of fear and nervousness that Avak would lunge at them to end their lives. She smiled at the thought. He didn’t look capable to killing wolves. His heart was set in the right place, and Azaria could see that. Her eyes softened at him briefly as she observed him close up now. Where she was dawned in pure white, he was covered with different shades. She stopped gazing at him, and let her eyes flick to his face as he smiled and his head was inclined downward. He looked somewhat like a pup, but the silvery gaze upon her tail made Azaria smile almost shyly like she had been caught going in for the kill before other wolves were supposed to. Azaria watched the transition of his face, and she smiled at how his head now moved downwards. She laughed quietly at the sight; just the mere sight of how he looked made the laughter rise once more.

Avak commented on the weather and she nodded. ”Tell me about it.” She let her metallic eyes swiftly move away from him, gazing at the scenery that was composed with black and white working interchangeably throughout the landscape. The high contrast between them made her observe the area, her eyes attempting to find shadows that would move but none did. Everything was still and silent, but save for the low baritone notes of her counterpart could aid her in the salvation of life she was looking for. The crooked smile made her smile still. It was appreciated that he was enjoying her presence as much as she was enjoying his or so she hoped. She laughed once more at his comment, and she nodded. ”Or you’ll be tackled by someone less than your side to the ground to remind you.” She grinned. There was still a good possibility she would do that… If they met up once more that was. A yawn was seen, and her ears pricked at his voice. Was it their time to depart? She shifted her body slightly, turning herself to the side, leaning towards him to not seem like she was rudely cutting off the conversation so abruptly. She didn’t want to but by the sleepiness that was somewhat forming around his face she might have to. ”Then maybe you should sleep… I have to find somewhere slightly warm to sleep instead of the ground.” She remarked, her smile faltering slightly, but she attempted to drag it back up but to no avail. Who would think that Azaria would have such a hard time saying good-bye?

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[AVAK]

Avak was quite the hard individual to read. He had a complicated personality that seemd to vex many, especially other rouges and loners that were not important enough to mention. No doubt his difficult personality had gained him both mysterious respect and a few advantages over others of his kind. He let slip what he wished and showed most only what he wanted them to see. But he didn't have to worry about a stony front with Azaria. She had been good enough to grace him with her witty presence. He was glad for that, and thankful that he had even gotten the chance to talk to her. Fate works in mysterious ways doesn't it? Azaria's open behaviour did refresh Avak's mind most wholeheartedly. Her appearance, though white, was a nice reprieve from the cold world around him. Most of the time, and to most other wolves, Avak was private. He never let his guard down unless he was at fault or if he was turly comfortable. But he found himself opening up to Azaria so quickly, because he was comfortable. He did owe her a lot though, having nearly crushed her, and she seemed to have that affect on others.

He could see that she caused others to open up fully, or she could waltz in to their consciousness by herself, whether they wished it or not. Avak had just been glad that he had wished it so. She could use this to her own advantage, but to Avak, it was a way to get to know him as an individual better. This, at least, mentally proved to him that she did enjoy his company. And to think that he thought that she would be an angered loner that would sooner have lunged at his throat than made conversation. When had he been so happy around another? Or when had he laughed so often? He didn't deny that he needed that. All thoughts of the negative in his life, like thoughts of his family and his own history, had vanished, just like the moon over the horizon. And he wanted to ask her to travel with him for his own company, because a memory would not hardly be enough to contain all that he saw in her. A parallel to himself at times, a companion in humor, and a good conversationalist. Just what he needed to escape the dull life he had. She was his escape was she not? But would he be able to ask her, or would his pride intervene? He knew the area well. He could show her around. And she could stay with him for a little while longer. He wouldn't have to drift without a familiar face. And he might not get antsy around her as he did if he were in long term company with others. He almost never joined a group with others, and he didn't know how he would handle it. So what was the purpose for his experimental wanting? Companionship? He had never had it, not even with his family, and the little voice in his head kept saying, 'Why now?'

He snapped his own thoughts to rove his eyes over the small female again, and then over their lonely surroundings that seemed to get lighter and lighter as dawn drew nearer and nearer. Had they been in the same spot for that long? Though the sun would rise, the world would stay dormant. Animals would be found lower and lower, but the foothills could be dangerous territory, depending on what pack you intruded on. And the hills and mountains would only be wracked by a howling wind. His eyes changed in the coming half-light, silvery and metallic, once again an opposite to her own. And he looked back, and out of the corner of his own eye, he saw her melting gaze linger. She seemed to be taking him all in again, painting a mental picture... like she was getting a final look. And for once Avak's eyes betrayed him. He knew they had. A flash of discomfort, coming from somewhere within his own mind and flesh. She had smiled almsot shyly when he had noticed her tail. Her laugh was again crystal clear in the air. He had made her laugh with a look, a rather juvenile look, but a look nonetheless.

”Tell me about it,” Azaria replied to his weather related comment. Her eyes moved away, and he let his eyes rove in every direction that she let hers. There was still a black and white contrast to the world. But soon, the land would be stained with the colors of sunrise that would reflect upon the snow in pinks, reds, and oranges. His crooked smile made her beam, and he smiled even wider, revealing a few teeth in the process, but nothing could be altered about his happy feeling. ”Or you’ll be tackled by someone less than your side to the ground to remind you.” He laughed as she had before. Heartily. Like she could tackle him to the ground. He nearly collapsed. He could just see her small form rocket through the air to land on top of him, but he would just stand there and ask himself 'What in the world just happened?' while she gnawed on his ear. A playful gesture, and he felt like a pup for thinking it, but he never had to play with his siblings that way. She had pricked her ears when he yawned. She had a look about her, like the one he had given out moments before. Was it really time to leave each other? ”Then maybe you should sleep… I have to find somewhere slightly warm to sleep instead of the ground.” Avak could tell that she was not happy in the least about leaving.

His smile immediately faltered as well. It was childish, but he really didn't want to leave her company just as much as she didn't. What was he to do about that though? But what had she said? She needed a warm place to sleep. Perhaps a hint that she didn't really want to leave. He glanced up. The sun was indeed rising. "I am a bit of a nocturnal animal after all," he said with a grin. But then he became serious and bowed his head a bit. Yeah, he was going to slap his pride of a loner around a bit. "Would you... perhaps... like to travel together with me for a little while at least? It would really please me to be around you a bit more. And I do know of somewhere else besides the open to sleep if you would like me to show you." He knew of a place, but he wasn't insinuating anything. He would let her have the warmth. He would probably sleep outside if she wished it.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria had that pup hood innocence that most had departed with. Even wit the brutality of the world, she remained bright and cheerful. Her endless curiosity fueled her to go further and beyond to exceed even her own expectations. The positivism that would shed its light to others often drew them in, ensnared by the golden eyed female. Her upbeat personality could literally knock one sideways as she approached others with open ease, greeting them or acknowledging them with a nod. Conversations had always been her strong suit. Laughter was her remedy that she had seemingly perfect, and the medicine that she frequently handed out with no charge. Even the most ferocious of the bunch would find their hardened shells cracking whenever the wolf in white graced them with her presence. In a rather childish way, Azaria was sort of like a superhero. It was in her nature to help other wolves before tending to her own needs and wants. Being too nice often entrapped her, but Azaria was a strong-minded wolf. She could say no, and often did. No one was going to take advantage of her in any way possible. She would see to that, but her pup-like ways seemed to keep others captivated and refresh them from the day to day life that never seemed to change.

Azaria tossed the thoughts away, thinking them ridiculous. Her mind was just in a different mind-set, piecing together such nonsense. It was amusing though, just picturing herself as someone’s saving grace. Without a doubt, Azaria could lay her life on the line for someone or something worth fighting for, but she never had to. Every chat was fleeting and meaningless. No worth while friendship had been forged together, and fabricated by ever lasting material. All her interactions were frayed at the edges, and their memories and faces blurred together. Their voices garbled and undecipherable as Azaria slowly would forget about them and what they shared. It hadn’t been like Azaria to wish for companionship that would last for much longer than the others had. She was so set in her ways that it almost made her reel about. It was like she had lost touch with herself. She was still the same, but something was different as she gazed upon the silvery-eyed male across from her. He was filling an emptiness that silence had conquered. His presence was light and easy and didn’t feel forced. His posture was relaxed and calm like he was basking in a place only he knew about where no one would ever find out about. There were no walls that blocked his true colors, and Avak was just fine with showing Azaria who he was in his own ways.

Even though Azaria wasn’t the clingy type, or the type to fawn all over some male, she found that Avak was rather comforting. Her former inference of him being like a cuddly wolf still stuck out in her mind. There were usually two sides to loners, and Azaria had collected it as such facts. There was the side to keep others at bay, but then there was that side that showed the real them. If one took the time to break through the barriers guarding them, they would see such a wonderful soul… Most of the time. There were of course the twisted monsters that most pups would have nightmares about. The stalkers that would follow one’s every move even if one knew they were there the entire time. And naturally, some wolves that have gone so far off the deep end they gorge themselves with the flesh of other wolves. Azaria’s nose wrinkled at the thought, and she shuddered at the idea. She had met a few of those insane wolves, and pressed onwards at a fast pace. Last thing she needed was to be skinned alive. Another shudder convulsed through her petite body, but she turned her eyes upon Avak. His face was beginning to lighten with the oncoming daylight, and he was more defined. She spared a short glance at herself, realizing that she was becoming like an invisible being once more. Even in daylight or nighttime, Azaria was still hardly visible, but once the bitter winter was over, Azaria would be seen for a great distance.

Avak’s almost thunderous laughter made Azaria gaze at him. She watched his face contort with the laughter that rose from inside him as he was clearly amused with the idea of Azaria’s agile form launching itself into mid-air to collide onto his large form. She laughed as well, forming her own imagery within her mind. He would hardly be fazed, probably looking around every which way to inspect what exactly had thrown itself at him. Then he would look up to see Azaria growling playfully, gently tugging at his ears in her futile attempt to knock the earth out from under him. He wouldn’t even collapse, but Azaria would probably try everything possible to make him hit the earth. One day she would find a way, and she would claim victory was hers at last. The picture brought a smile to her face and she shook her head slightly. It reminded her of the days she spent with her brothers, play fighting until one gave in. Most of the time she would be out numbered, but she would hold her ground. She didn’t always win, but with the brunt of both her parents’ stubborn ways she hardly ever gave up. Sometimes her stubbornness got her into trouble, but Azaria was still hard-headed even to this very day.

Avak’s smile had faltered when Azaria’s own smile had. It was like he was her mirror. They were truly somewhat similar in more ways in one, and even though he looked nothing like her, it was nice to see that someone would miss her presence when she was gone. She smiled at his remark of being a nocturnal animal, and the grin on his face was dually noted. She glanced to the lightening heavens, and she shifted her weight once more. Letting her flaming gaze to turn back onto his soft, gray eyes she gave him a playful look. ”It seems you are a bad influence, Avak. You’ve turned me into your kind.” She gave a soft laugh that flowed easily from her as if to lighten the atmosphere, but her laughter fell away. The seriousness on Avak’s rugged features cut Azaria short. It looked like he was contemplating something. His head lowered slightly and he spoke quietly as if he was unsure of himself. His words drifted to Azaria in what seemed to be slow motion. Her back straightened and she glanced at him with a glimmer of shock. It was like he had been reading her mind when she previously wanted to linger in his presence. His voice had stopped, and a smile claimed Azaria’s lips. She could spare her independence a little just like he was sacrificing his own pride. Her tail wagged furiously, creating a soft breeze as it sliced through the air. Her golden eyes beamed brightly. ”I would truly enjoy that, Avak.” Azaria answered him earnestly. Her slender body rose and she moved towards him. She placed her head below his and attempted to lift it. She smiled at him then and nodded with satisfaction that his head being lifted suited him more. She withdrew away from him, and her tail still wagged, her eyes filling with luster and shine as the sun drew closer and closer to its peak. Not once had she thought him to infer something other than what he stated. His heart was set properly, and Azaria could tell it was.

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[AVAK]

Avak had left his childhood behind when he still was only a child. You could say he was a bit of a trouble to have around, always being gone at one time or another, and sometimes (at least recently) he had regretted it. At most times, he showed his regret by being solemn, silent and unmoving. That was to drive all of the incompetent wolves away, leaving him alone to find somebody else on his conversational level and of his good mind-set. Though when Azaria showed her colors and humor, his other side had blossomed out, like sunlight almost. Azaria had been a catalyst for his good mood, and a match for him on a social level, mentally. She may have been much smarter than he, but he hoped he hadn't let her know that. He had his ego to think about. Though he was a good individual, he was still male and proud or accomplishments he had made in his life. He was fully happy and aware of all the entailed his decision to be a loner, away from the world of rules and limitations. And though Azaria had possibly thought the same things, he was hoping that she would not reject him. He had never taken rejection well, especially if it was someone he was attached to. Azaria had drawn Avak in with her positive attitude. If he thought his more sociable side struck out like sunshine, she blossomed more.

Avak had not always been faithful, especially not to his broken family. They, at least in his young, rebellious mind, were a weight tied to his leg, dragging him down into the depths of a sea that he wouldn't be able to find his way out of. But he had changed all that when he lost them to... whatever he had lost them to. He knew how his brother died, but the rest of his family was a mystery. The only thing that seemed to stick out in his mind was a wolf of white with liquid gold orbs. She filled all the empty spaces with a light. Her attitude was sparkling, like her eyes, especially in the gathering light. She was easy to be around, probably because she really could open others up and break down walls that others would not. She was relaxed. He had been so stiff at first. She had changed that. He had been a bit forced at first. She had changed that too. But he had his own ways to show himself. With time, if one stayed around long enough (and didn't have the ability of Azaria), they could see that Avak really could be open, trusting (sometimes a bit too much). But nobody dared to cross him because of his stature. The fear he struck was different from that of others. Size was formidable in a world like the one he lived in. No doubt that his ancestors, wolves the size of grizzlys or larger, smote down small foes like flies in the air.

Some females just wanted one thing. A male to stick around with to keep them safe. They didn't even have to experience love to be with a male. They just wanted a strong individual when they couldn't defend themselves from freaks that roamed the wild in constant search of them. To those stupid individuals, Avak would show himself around, only to deny their request to travel with him, and when they tagged along (against his will), he could easily outrun them. And to think, he used to think that female wolves were gross. All young males were like that though. Or at least he and his brother had been. They had pounced on their sister so much that they were sure she hated them. That was when Avak had the tolerance to play with them. She was always the stubborn one who would stand her ground. In fact, her attitude reminded him a bit of Azaria, though her coloring was all wrong, and the eyes as well. Innocent eyes that showed everything from happiness to depression and everything in between. Avak noticed her nose, which now held shadows, as the rest of her small frame did in the approaching sunlight, wrinkled. She shuddered as well, but not from the cold. The face she was making could only belong to thoughts that were truly terrifying. Avak gave her a curious look, but it was lost immediately when Azaria glanced at her own fur, which was blending so well with the snow that he thought she really was only a phantom that showed itself in the darker hours of a day.

His laugh made her gaze and she joined him, their voices lifted in a glorious symphony so unlike a howl. He wondered if she could indeed read his mind and if she was thinking the same thing. But one day, she would outfox him, like the arctic fox she was, and knock him off his feet one way or another. That play fight would be one of the best he had experienced. They were such pups weren't they? Innocent and happy with their actions? Relieved that they had found each other? Maybe. She had noticed that his smile faltered. How would she take his question? The thought blew through his mind like a hurricane on a rampage. He noticed her shift in weight, as well as a bit of another weight that seemed to hang on her. The weight of a farewell? But she softened. ”It seems you are a bad influence, Avak. You’ve turned me into your kind,” she said with a laugh that only fell away. A sad fall, he thought, seeing as her laugh was always bright. But she had stopped because of the serious look he gave her. That face could make just about anybody stop short, or even stop breathing in worse cases, even Azaria it seemed. He looked up from under his eyelids. He looked a bit sullen, or so he must have thought. Was that shock he saw in her eyes? Could he really read her mind? Did she want to go? Yes, he had confirmed it. Even he could get into her mind. He inwardly smiled at that. Neither one hid secrets from the other. She smiled. He saw her tail wag furiously. She was exciteable, and he would be able to tell if she were without her tail. Her eyes said more. The wind from her furiously moving tail swept snow up in little tufts. ”I would truly enjoy that, Avak.” An earnest answer. He loved that more than anything else. That's all he wanted, an earnest answer. Nothing forced. And she hadn't forced hers.

His ears pricked happily as she walked toward him, closing the space as the sun peaked the trees, turning Azaria almost invisible against the white background. She placed her slender head under his own much larger one and pushed up slightly. He let her lift his own skull, white fur rubbing agianst silver, and he smiled behind her ear, closing his eyes a bit before she moved away. She did move away, and he could see the glint of true luster in her eyes. The sun did rise quickly, and now it was moving across the sky where it would soon rest into a slower arc. Avak moved as well, padding along beside the almost non-existent female, taking to the tree line and moving along in as straight a pattern as the descending path would allow. He kept feeling like he should check to see that she really hadn't disappeared. But he set his pace, putting faith in her until he had trotted a fair way from the spring. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw nothing. "You know, you're going to be hard to keep track of," he laughed, dodging a low branch with some difficulty. It caught on his hackle fur, snagging a bit before it snapped up and wobbled for a moment. "You make me think that ghosts acutally walk the earth." He continued on jokingly, waiting for her reply.

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria’s family was a relatively touchy subject for her. Whenever someone asked her about them she would stop mid-stride. Whatever expression that lingered upon her face would be drained and washed away. A smile – if any – would falter and dissipate into the whiteness that created her. Her golden eyes would lose the vivid sheen and become dull. She would look frail and empty, devoid of emotion as she took in what had been said. Sometimes she would ask for clarification to ensure that she heard right, but every time they repeated themselves. Not many asked that question about what was her family like or where are they now. Most were uninterested or just making conversation. Some just want to pry into her private life and make her uncomfortable. She would attempt to come up with some response, and most of the time she would say she didn’t know. She really had no clue where they were now, or what had become of them. It was a sad reminder that had left her feeling emotionally disfigured. She was close to her family for the most part or had been when she departed from them. The reason that had forced Azaria to leave her family behind was personal. Sometimes too personal for anyone who she hardly knew to ask such a question.

That little tid-bit of information was classified, and could be used against her. Azaria’s eldest brother had snapped one day and attempted to do something. Her middle brother sought out their absent father and then it was utter turmoil from then on. She watched as her father attacked his son, teaching him a lesson the hard way. Her parents were occasionally around and it was only due to the fact that they wanted to teach them independence. Azaria was like the epitome of independence, and that she was thankful for. Her parents were not neglectful but where they should have taught their pups certain things, they learned on their own. They only came around when it was dire circumstances, but it was still her family no matter how messed up it appeared to be. It was a small pack of loners that were related to one another. Azaria had run off after her father ordered her to. Her oldest brother laid flat on the ground, barely unmoving from where she sat. Her mother and Raevyn urging her to leave, and Azaria did. There was nothing she could do to turn back time and attempt to change what had been done. She could not change herself to ensure she never appealed to her eldest brother. The damage was done, and Azaria wondered a bit frequently as to what had become of them. Last she knew her brothers were fine, and that her parents were wandering the earth once more.

They could be dead. The words unconsciously slid into her mind, echoing around her as if they had been spoken down a dark and narrow tunnel. They swirled around her, luring her into the darkness it was hinting at. Azaria shifted again and left behind the negativity that threatened to eat away at the bright light within her. She knew it was a possibility but she could never bring herself to say they were dead. She was far from naïve, and if it was the truth, it wouldn’t sit well with Azaria. It would gnaw at her uncontrollably to know she was the last of her family. It was a horrendous thought that she hoped with every strand of her being was not true, and if it was then… Azaria didn’t know what she would do. She couldn’t really avenge them. She’d be lost but she would eventually continue with her life. That was what they would want her to do. She forced her mind to other thoughts of any nature to avoid the sensitive subject. It was then directed to a rather random topic of females joining up with the forces of males for protection. Eech… She thought with bitter distaste. While Azaria merely traveled with someone for the sake of it, she was never searching for protection. Other females that she came across only used the males for their needs. It turned her off. The idea of using any wolf made Azaria uncomfortable. She could never bring herself to use someone to keep her soul alive. She could do that on her own, granted she might not have the upper hand in physical battle but who the hell was assuming she’d stick around to find out? Azaria would sprint off at top speed to evade her opponent. That was her way of survival. Some females can be so… Stupid.

Azaria was fairly more at ease with males. Females just ticked her off at times. It was obnoxious to hear them ramble on and on about something so insignificant Azaria told them off. She would still talk to them, but she would hardly even open herself fully to them. Males she had an easier time talking to, but it was just how Azaria had been since her earlier days. Growing around two older males gave her more experience in that realm. She was unlike other females that threw themselves at every dang pleasing male that came around. It disgusted her to no end, and even more so when the males fell for their little conniving tricks. Azaria almost laughed aloud when she realized she was getting angry over something that she was merely thinking about. She wasn’t even staring at the actual interaction play out and she was still getting worked up about it! Mentally laughing at herself, she turned to stare at Avak. He had recognized her actions. The bright glimmer of joy shone bright within her eyes and her still wagging tail being digested along with her reply. The snow was shifting by the breeze she was creating but that didn’t matter. A blizzard could hit and Azaria would think of it as something of her imagination.

Azaria had barely caught onto the lift of Avak’s ears when she had drawn closer towards him. She had faintly captured the movement upon his lips forming into a smile. She drew away from him and watched for a moment as he sauntered towards wherever she was going. Azaria followed him, jogging up to catch up to his walking form. His strides caused her to lengthen her own in order to keep up with him. Her paw prints were created but no source was found. She was sure he must have felt a little uneasy that Azaria might not be following after him, or even unsure that she was even there at all. His remarks made her grin, releasing soft laughter from her maw. From her peripheral vision she watched as the branch that had attached itself to his fur wriggled in its spot before settling. She then answered him lightly. ”You never know… I could be.” Azaria stated, attempting to be serious. It was like she was trying to convince him that she was just a figment of his imagination, but Azaria’s mind tricks usually were pitiful attempts. Ah well, she would still make those attempts no matter how sad they may seem.

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[AVAK]

Nobody, and he meant nobody, could use Avak's past against him. Nobody knew about it. He never told anybody. But he thought that Azaria already knew a bit. Not from her own experience, but he could tell that they had both lost something along the path of life. She was smart enough (he knew that) that she could figure some things out on her own by his very body movements. His family was just full of worry-worts. Or that would be what his younger self thought. Today, he would realize that they really did care and worry about him. All he knew was that they were nowhere to be found anymore. Or at least his mother would not be found. 'She disappeared all too strangely...' But his questions would never be answered and all he could do was live his life. Sometimes it really did eat him alive. The fact that he could very well be the last of his family was a heavy weight. He hoped that Azaria would never have to experience that feeling. His paws sank slightly in the snow, freezing his paw pads even though the sun was up. It probably would not snow today. There were clouds, but they didn't look too ominous today, though one still couldn't see the sky. The sun had risen much faster, eager to shed its light on the two wolves weaving their way through the forest of gray trunks, dead limbs, and evergreen pine.

Avak noticed that he was going a bit fast when he glanced back, slackening his pace only slightly, as he wanted to sleep soon. Nothing wrong with that. She still looked like a ghost behind him. "You never know... I could be," she had said. He could catch the feigned seriousness in her voice. It made him chuckle up ahead. But, he hadn't slept for some time, which made his chuckle sound a bit slow... A few days maybe. He had been restless, but he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the odd feeling he got from within the territories lately. He didn't know much about them, but he knew that they had not always been there. He had heard that they themselves crossed the mountains long ago. Other than that, he had little information as to what had caused them to move. All were situated beyond the foothills and were in close proximity to each other, and normally things were peaceful. But, as of late, he had heard rumors of disquiet. Now his thoughts were troubled with it. What was this area in for if something did occur? This place was all he had known. What would be do? What would Azaria do for that matter? She had just arrived. What about her? He found himself getting agitated as he headed in a south-easterly direction, heading for a certain outcrop that would shelter them from weather and wind if any did rear thier ugly heads.

Trees began to get thinner, even as they did descend. In the area that Avak now walked in, trees were few. It was like a scar on the mountain range. A fire perhaps? An avalanche or a rockslide? Whatever had happened, it was before his time, or anybody else's here. Rocks were standing out at odd angles and were pretty precarious as they were. Some loose, and some just as sharp as a wolf's fang. He padded along more carefully, calling back to Azaria. "Be carefuly along here Azaria. The rocks shift here." His large size caused many rocks to cave beneath him, making his way very stumbly and odd. He was sure that Azaria's slight form was picking its way over rocks easier than his. He sniffed the air. No prey for miles, and none had walked through the area for some time. No other animal dared to walk across the loose shale. He chanced it though. He knew the area well enough. Soon the loose rocks would give way to stable ground, less haphazard and dangerous than this.

The sun had now risen higher, toward the noon hour. And Avak stood outside of a cleft in the moutainside. The shifting of the earth was always so beneficial to him... most of the time. The stone radiated the sun's heat, even through the snow that surrounded the shale outcropping. Trees began on the other side and around the cleft as well. The scar on the mountainside ended there. Avak sniffed the entrance, checking it out first. He mumbled something that sounded like "stay here", barely audible as he was too concerned with the contents of the hole. He had smelled something. Another wolf? That's what it seemed to smell like. But no sign was seen, and it had not been a permanent residence. He lay down, calling Azaria inside, awaiting a charming conversation.

(OOC:: Sorry my muse was short for this one )

[AZARIA]

Azaria

Why do we stay instead of [ l e a v i n g ]?[/center]

Azaria’s paw falls were silent; the only thing giving her away was the sound of snow crunching beneath her paws. She gazed over her shoulder in a casual way to appear that she was just looking back for the sake of it. If Avak was paying attention or watching her closely, he may or may not realize that Azaria was looking back at her paw prints. It did seem rather childish but Azaria smiled faintly as her paw prints were alongside her counterparts. His paws were larger than hers, and there was certainly no competition about that. She glanced forwards at just the right time. A tree was directly in front of her face by the time she stared to the land in front of her. She stopped abruptly, her golden eyes filling with embarrassment as she side-stepped away from it. A sheepish smile crossed her lips as she caught up to Avak, hoping that he had not caught onto the recent display of Azaria almost hitting a tree head on. He did seem observant to Azaria, and thus prepared herself to hear roaring laughter or a chuckle here and there. She dropped her gaze as she strode alongside him as if to avoid his eyes that may be filled with laughter at the incident. She felt her paw print collide with his freshly made one as she began to fall behind a little. She blinked at it for a moment. His was a quarter or two larger than hers, but before she got carried away, she hurried back to his side. This time, she noted that he had slowed down to match her pace. She smiled at him gratefully. It was pretty hard to keep up with someone that loomed over her much like the trees. The trees did make Azaria feel insignificant, but compare herself to the monstrous mountains and she felt like a speck.

Her ears pricked forwards, capturing the chuckle that had escaped from him. It sounded slow like he had just aged about ten years before her very eyes. He still looked the same but sounded different. A glimmer of confusion and worry creased to her visage, and her looks sobered. The appearance of her face seemed out of place, but Azaria washed it away. Avak was a loner. That meant he could very well take care of himself. Azaria did not need to demand that he sleep. He knew what was best for him. Perhaps it was Azaria’s odd way to care for others. She always had a tendency to look after another wolf before tending to her own needs. It was how she had been. It was how she felt when Macello, her eldest brother, had been attacked by her father. In that moment, she had forgotten what he wanted, and just felt that lurch in her stomach to help him. Azaria shook her head slightly, trying to refocus on the here and now. She had no idea where she was going. She was debating on what direction she was heading in. Maybe we’re going… West? She guessed but it felt wrong. Letting her face crowd with determination to figure out what direction they were going in, she thought to herself. We’re most definitely going north! With a satisfied nod, she smiled to herself. Then again, Azaria always settled for north. She would have to be right eventually, but she had poor navigational skills, but she could remember her surroundings if she stuck around for long enough. She could easily recall the grounds where she and her family resided even if it was over a year ago since she had last been there.

Azaria noted that the trees were beginning to become scarce in this part. Their clusters arranged in an abnormal way. It was like Mother Nature’s wrath had left its mark, or something else of the sort had wiped the area almost clean of the foliage. She glanced at the rocks that were now at her paws. She heard Avak call back to her, warning her to be careful. She watched for a moment as he struggled a little with the loose rocks beneath his weight. She stepped forwards lightly, pressing down on a rock before moving onward. Each step was decided carefully, and every time her paw pressed down into the surface of the rough texture beneath her, it held her weight fairly well. It was only mid-way when Azaria’s fortune was thinning out. A rock slid from beneath her, but Azaria shifted her weight onto another rock. She listened to a few of them clatter onto their counterparts before becoming silent once more. She pressed her paws firmly onto solid terrain. Within moments, Azaria was beside Avak once more. She took this time to observe the elevation of the sun, seeing it in a rather high point. It was noon already. Time went by at an unreasonable pace, but Azaria would not fret over it. Winter hours seemed to whir by probably due to the early darkness it led up to. All other seasons would be longer for the most part, and Azaria could not wait until winter was over. The cold was seeping further into her. Her paw pads felt numb and stung every time they pressed into the snowy surface.

Azaria’s attention was drawn away from the familiar sensation as Avak muttered under his breath, ordering her to stay put. Though she would normally protest and go with him anyway, she was surprised that she obeyed. She sat down on the snow, attempting to think of warmer weather but it only made her colder. The wind rushed past her to remind her that it was still around. She faintly watched Avak inspect the hole but was more focused on the chilling temperatures that swarmed around her. Her body shook a little from having been exposed to them for so long. She was able to tolerate them, but now it seemed to break through her thick winter coat. Azaria gazed back to the hole, mentally hurrying Avak to share the warmth that he was probably enjoying. Seconds passed, and as soon as Avak began to speak to her, she rushed in. She smiled at his laying form before laying down in a sphinx-like pose. Her head was placed on her paws, and she glanced at him. Her metallic eyes met his silvery gaze for a fleeting moment before staring in front of her. ”What would you do if I was just something your mind conjured up?” Azaria inquired, the worlds slipping free from her mouth. She glanced at him again, curiosity clear upon her face. It was a random question, but Azaria wanted to see how he would react. She minded his personal space, keeping as much of a distance as she possibly could from his enlarged form. Last thing she needed was to have her newly found companion kick her back into the frigid atmosphere. Her fluffy tail pressed against her side, offering up the little warmth it could provide. Her golden eyes remaining steady upon Avak, observing him openly with no intention of wanting to irritate him.

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