Gallivant strides kept the golden form progressing towards the setting sun as if in some vain attempt to prolong its set and meld her like hide into its warm beaconing hue. To revel within its beauty for a moment longer before darkness shrouded the lands. Though her molten gaze was blinded by stunning light, they needn’t see what lied ahead for the refined sense of smell was better able to accomplish her aim. Despite the gorgeous array of the setting sun, it was not what she sought during the late hour; rather seeking a familiar scent, the allure of pack inhabited by warriors.

Since the unfortunately brief engagement with the establishment’s king, she longed to find this palisade of kindred souls and indulge her curiosity. Enraptured with the very idea of being among like people kept the woman awake and longing for an opportunity to appease her appetite for their knowledge. What was the culture like? Were they warriors of armor and weaponry? Or were they living weapons like herself; bred to engage and subdue if need be? She wanted to know… she had to know, if not only to satisfy her curiosity then to lessen the gap between herself and the other wolves of these lands that were still very new and very strange. The desire to dispel her loneliness became a private wish; to know there were others like herself became her silent goal. And what better step than towards the inviting path laid before her by the embodiment of strength and fortitude.

From her muscled shoulder ascended the speckled body of her companion, his vain cry ringing out in the still air to draw the attention of any being that stirred. His awareness of their surroundings heightened the further they delved into the darkening lands until he became uneasy and was compelled to survey at a more comfortable height, leaving his earth bound companion under his watchful gaze. Below, the scent of marked lands had grown faint but evident to her delicate sense encouraging a pause in stride to behold the land she’d ventured to. She had yet to feel the instinctual sense of violation and knew that these lands were unclaimed, but she had hoped she hadn’t strayed too far from her aims. With no true direction, she was left to guess even with her owl scouting overhead. But the faint scent gave her hope.

Her bulked form became better accommodated to suit a two legged stature with a sound shift of form, retaining both refined figure and radiant hide now dulled by the decreasing light. Wild locks flowed freely as she stood becoming a haphazard mess of tangled strands with leaves woven in. A form not yet cultured to the civilization that was gradually overtaken her kind, but was well endowed when granted the opportunity to show it. As her companion had done, so did she lift her voice to capture the attention of those still awake to hear it. Her song began softly, but the crescendo of her octave could not be withheld… not when such elation was laden within. ‘This longing heart seeks its kindred pair,' she sang, '...in body and mind… a warrior’s spirit with eyes of the sun…’

With commendable patience she waiting, relinquishing her upright posture for a more comfortable seat on the ground. She held no fear for the coming darkness, but was rather put at ease once again enveloped by night to the gentle melody of the nightly creatures. Her golden form reclined to a leisured slouch with an arm braced behind her as she lifted an umber glove and beaconed her companion down to join her. Reluctant as always at first, the creature of the night made flagrant sweeps in the air, again letting his voice sound long and high before he tucked his wings and plummeted towards the reaching arm.

Glowing orange was set on the arm til motion cut his gaze away and his wings again unfurled to keep himself aloft. The bird said nothing to the awaiting female, but led her questioning gaze to the approaching spectator. The owl made a line for the unfamiliar male, but as he had done for the arm, so did he divert his path and return to his now rising perch. In the presence of a stranger, the lady brought herself to stand, dipping her head humbly though she was not whom she sought. She knew this immediately by the bi-colored eyes that pierced the darkness and scrutinized her equally strange form. She was more courteous than others might have been in her situation, and the male as well for not immediately dubbing her an intruder, but offering her aid without so much as her name. Such a kindly demeanor made her smile as she offered her paw as a gesture of exchange.

“Good evening to you,” lacking any sort of strong accent, she spoke quietly as if to keep her voice level with the night’s tranquility and calm. Carefully she stepped toward on heavy, albeit silent paws, keeping her head low out of respect but dared to keep the tether woven by their gaze strong and firm. Curved talons dug deeper into her shoulder with each step of advance until a favorably worn claw reached up toward the owl’s beak, eager to be taken to soothe his anxiety. With the claw now in his possession to nibble, his grip lessened and the she-wolf felt herself relax as well. She paused just shy of a foot from the male, her excited gaze generously taking in his towering form without an iota of shame. The artificial garbs she could have done without seeing, but more and more she was finding that her kin enjoyed these strange garments while she was quite fine with the fur she was born with.

None the less, the biased outlook did not reach her eyes for they were too entranced with the stature of power poised at ease before her. Her polite smile grew to one of fondness and extended palm quickly hid itself behind her back. “I must admit, you were not whom I expected to see,” she admitted with a soft smile. “However it is a pleasure to meet you.” To this, her tail swayed with mirth and steadily increased in rhythm as the familiar scent that adorned his like clansman graced her nose. “I am X’yrin, Exultare of the Nomads… and Envoy to Ichika no Ho-en. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”

She was a creature of considerable patience, no doubt harnessed during her existence among her Nomadic family. Where there was naught but time and a slow, determined pace leading countless bodies along a single course, one learned never to rush and take comfort in the small instances such a conversation. Other than with her own packmates, the golden Nomad knew few to carry on a light conversation and as she stood within the presence of this towering dark spire, the latent desire to be social spurred forth nearly taking over her tastefully skilled tongue into jumbles of words. She was compelled to speak further, but of what, she did not know.

However the fates were kind to spare her from embarrassing babble. The heady aroma of power was too fine a scent to ignore and drew her attention from on massive beast to another approaching in all his muscled splendor. The Exultare lowered her gaze to the sun-kissed eyes of the familiar male then quickly followed the downward path to kneel before him poised on hands and knees. Out of courtesy, she lowered herself, hoping this compromise in posture would appease the Knight without having to sacrifice her humanoid form. She had only just gotten used to this body and showed considerable reluctance in discarding it so soon. She didn’t believe it beneath her to bow, and lowered her head to an accommodating height to be just below that of her gracious host. The wild mess of auburn locks concealed her eyes as she tipped her muzzle in greeting, then as her form rose once again folding voluptuous legs beneath her supple frame, she smiled fondly. Her stature was poised upright upon folded knees as she made herself comfortable in the presence of the dark Knight.

“A pleasure to see you again, sir Knight,” again, the she-wolf dipped her head with lush tail swaying in elation. “I thought you would have forgotten me.” An attempted jest to lighten the mood, but laden was some truth to her words. She had never believed herself to be a remarkable female and some time had passed since their meeting in the woods. Time had passed in a blur since then, and to the warrior, it was a wonder she was able to recall her prior intentions at all. Yet, she had remembered to see him and forced herself to keep this meeting a priority before the seasons changed and the thought was lost to obscurity.

Her thoughts began to drift toward the past, but digressed to the present the instant her fine ears were graced by masculine vocals. An intrigue gaze drifted from one male to the other; father and son as it were. A sudden weight had briefly fallen upon the woman’s head jarring her out of her temporary stupor and to realize they were her own fallen ears. Odd. Forcibly, she drew her ears up again only to have one caught by an invasive beak and nibbled on relentlessly. Obviously her friend was growing bored of the idle banter, but for the sake of appearances, she would ignore him and try to retain her candor. “Your son…” the woman at last addressed the heterochromatic male, reforming her smile as her gaze passed over the length of his physique once more. “It is a pleasure to meet the son of so kind a man, Lorenzo. There is little doubt this trait was passed on.” Subtly inclining her head then to the son, she returned her soft gaze to the father. “Sir Knight, I had hoped I could speak with you about your clan- my apologies. Your pack. Could you spare the time?”

Their tall spectator had been quiet for the most part, acknowledging that this was more than a random venture near their territory. Taking his subtle cue, the mountain of a male dipped out to leave the two be, receiving a kind smile from the golden female as he exited.

She had risen same as the mountain, keeping the showy bird firmly attached to her shoulder as she returned to her full height with wild locks cascading down her back. Politely she listened to the conditions of the Knight’s family even though in truth, they were of little interest to her. The intimate bonds that wove was family together were as lost to her as love was to a lesser minded creature; it was a notion never explored… nor desired to be explored. The only family she need know was the one that made her into what stood before the sun-eyed male, whom she believed to be an extension of that family… perhaps not in title, but in spirit.

“It sounds rather complicated…” she offered in some manner of condolence before smoothly transitioning to a topic of greater interest. “I had hoped we could continue our discuss about the pack you lead, sir Knight. And in exchange I would offer you a bit of my own culture- rather… my family.” The woman smiled fondly, dipping her head with the bashful turn of her lips, portraying a terribly shy woman for one that favored herself a warrior. “My family is comprised of many like-minded and experienced individuals,” she explained. “But we are a fraction of a whole. And our fraction is tasked with learning the arts to subdue and overtake. We are made into defenders of our whole ever since we took out first breath of life and saw the world with our virgin eyes.” Her voice had risen with such passion for her family but remained somewhat humble as she delved minutely into their inner workings. There was more yet to be revealed about them, but with all matters of trade a kind of barter need happen.

“Sir Knight, my true reason for coming…” withdrawing a hand from her side, the woman extended her hand palm upward to be graced in a show of recognition, show he be willing to take it. “…was to see if you are part of that family at well. If your culture is like my own; one of true defenders…true warriors.”

The Nomads were creatures of exchange, be it in arts or services or technique. But more than anything they favored the trade of information, believing one became better enlightened through experience, be it their own or others. And the plethora that this man no doubt had in store was precious indeed.

As he took her palm albeit hesitantly, her tail swayed merrily in acceptance. Her gentle smile had blossomed with radiance encapsulating her enthusiasm as she was given insight into his own culture. Her fingers clasped gently around his hand solidifying the tangible representation of their bond was fellow warriors; though it would have been difficult to guess that with such a pleasant demeanor such a title was given to either. “But please tell me, sir Knight,” she interjected when there was a brief pause. Her ears perked forward with intrigue as they recalled his aims for his pack. “Would it not be advantageous to instill come kind of technique in all your members that allow them to defend themselves?

“Though the Exultare-our warriors- are the main supply of our culture’s strength, it is the task of our family to instill some kind of defense in even the Marecks- our artisans. We are not always there to defend them, though we strive to heed even the weaker becks and calls, but it gives us some comfort to know that we taught them enough to keep themselves safe. Is that not something you would practice with your packmates?”

A commendable quality had sparked in the giant’s eyes when he spoke of his pack. An unbridled passion for his comrades that flowed from his person and into the enraptured female by their bound hands. Her tail swayed excitedly whilst her ears adhered his words to memory, repeating them over and over again as she envisioned this plan. It was an impassioned effort to join his pack as one by a common goal… a purpose that would not only better them individual, but as an unwavering unit. She felt her smiled broaden at the thought as her defined digits danced elated upon the soft earth.

“Truly, I am happy to hear this,” she confessed, lightly increasing her hold upon his paw. “There is nothing as wonderful as having a group brought together as a family. Individually they could benefit from each other’s strengths, but as a whole… a unit comprised of like ideals, and mind one in the same… there is nothing as splendid as that.” And the image brought thoughts of her own sect in the Nomadic family. While individually they were strong, capable wolves, it was nothing in comparison to the strength that came when they were all of the same mind and thought; a group driven with purpose and just cause. To see something of the like again, would surely be a blessing bequeathed by the ancestors.

“I do look forward to seeing your family when it is fully established to meet your vision. Perhaps in due time, we will be able to exchange the ways of our cultures. To the Exultare, it is a great honor to learn of another so in depth. We believe it is a way to make ourselves known, as well as form a bridge between other families… or in this instance-“ she smiled “-other packs.”

In so many words, they shared a like vision and it was enough to instill hope and satisfaction in the she-wolf, now with the assurance that she had chosen well in seeking out the master of his newly established domain. Even with their meeting this casual and new, it had awarded them the plans and expectations to begin a build to bond not only them, but their two packs together. Her personal influence to the ears of the Ryu was none existent at best, but it was with certainty that she believed determination and further relations with this fledgling pack would bear sweet fruits that they both may share.

It was with great reluctance that the woman withdrew her palm from Jazper’s encompassing grasp. The sudden cold of the air forced her digits to curl around themselves to preserve what warmth lingered by their prior clasp. It felt strangely empty…lacking…but even as she felt her hand instinctually raise to reclaim his hand, she forced the limb back down to her side.

“I am sure Ichika and Casa will be fond friends in the future so long as we remain true to our intentions.” And of course, provided that there were no qualms among the heads of her pack regarding this long distance, yet rewarding friendship. But only time and determination would tell. And the woman was certainly patient enough to see these planted seeds take root and grow to fruition. Gently, she dipped her head once more, signally the prelude to her leave as her personal mission had been accomplished. There was anything yet to be said of Ichika in comparison to Casa, and while the woman was willing to indulge her host’s curiosity, she knew better than offering what was not in her place to. The lands were still new to her, as was her home and family, and even though his eyes were trusting and his face was kind… the warmth of their bond still felt by her hand, she knew it was not her place to speak so freely of her home in the effort to keep the peace-loving community safe and secure. But how she wanted to share more and talk with him longer… if only to be within a familiar presence for a moment longer.

But it was simply not the time for that.

“Jazper,” she uttered his name meekly rather than addressing him as the Knight. “Perhaps in the near future… and I could tell you all you’d like to know of Ichika.” Lifting her muzzle she smiled whilst her tail swung bashfully behind her. “But before I leave you I’ll tell you a secret of the Nomads. A Nomad never says ‘goodbye’, but bids to see the other again. Only when a life has passed to we utter the permanent farewell. A promise to see someone again gives us something to strive for. And so I make you a promise that I will see you again, and I will sing to our ancestors and ask them to watch your steps as your journey along your chosen path. Until then, Jazper.”

Though reluctance hindered her movements, her steps were none the less swift in the turn. Her muzzle lifted skyward as she began her steps toward home, compelling the ancestors to favor her journey and watch the mountainous Knight in his ventures. Just as she promised.

[exit X'yrin]