The past day had been relaxing and enlightening, as far as the young Stormbringer was concerned. He'd arrived back to Ichika in the evening and he'd had a conversation with Nayru. They'd agreed that they should move out of the den that Saluce and X'yrin had settled in, but they would not be moving far. He'd finished his conversation with Nayru before exiting the den and running in to Jace. He shouldn't have been surprised that the female had found him and he felt glad that she had. It was good to see her looking well again, even if she'd lost the certain glow of pregnancy that she'd had when he'd left. It had been replaced by the slightly less appealing tiredness of a new mother, but Saul had assured her that they would soon be out on their own and they would need less watching. It was, afterall, what the pack was for. To watch ones back when otherwise occupied. He'd attended to Hermes after his conversation with Jace before attempting to return to Nayru and the children. He hadn't gotten very far when he'd heard the scream and had found Neela by the river.


He shuddered softly as he thought of that meeting. She was troubled, that was for sure. Saul would do everything he could to help her, but he had no idea how it would work. He was more of a physical healer and he hadn't learnt enough about mental conditions to really be of any help. Yesterday had started off with the recurrence of his routine and it had felt good to get back to a little bit of normalcy. He'd met one of Jace's pups- Dalgina. She was a cute one, who looked exactly the same as Temo, with no interference from her mother. He'd carved her a tree out of the block of wood he'd been playing around with and she seemed to enjoy the demonstration. Saul knew he couldnt wait for Temeraire to grow enough to get to this inquisitive pup stage and while Kahlo would have to wait a few weeks to join him into the outside world, Saul was certain his son would love it. The rest of the day had been spent scouting the borders and searching for a suitable place nearby to begin digging for his and Nayru's den. Neither of them felt up to moving back into Cerne Rise at the moment.


The young male had woken early this morning and he'd moved about the lands like a ghost. He'd run out towards Gampo Abbey this morning and he was pleased to see that the Abbey hadn't fallen to ruin. Ansui was still here, despite the abandonment by Alae a while before Saul left himself. Pripyat had joined the dog up in the Abbey and the young male was pleased to see the two enjoying each others company. He'd returned to the den and had mentioned to Nayru that he was going hunting. He hadn't realised that it was past noon before he moved out towards the forest, following a now familiar scent in. He'd spoken to X'yrin, but Saul felt he hadn't truly spoken to her, in a way that he knew next to nothing about her. He allowed his tail to swing softly back and forward as he pushed all four paws into a swift run. He spotted her not far in.


"X'yrin... Its good to see you." He called before coming to a stop a few feet away. Perhaps he could entice the Kozan into a hunt- it would be good for both of them.

It hadn't taken the young male long to recognise the strain on the matriarchal female. Saluce had fallen ill and was bed bound for the time being, and X'yrin had picked up his duties as well as her own. He'd only been here matter of days and he could see that the female was running herself into the ground. It wasn't fair that she would have to do this and Saul felt incredibly guilty whenever he saw X'yrin. He was trying to find a place to dig a better den for him and Nayru, and their impromptu family, as well as trying to earn his rank back. He knew why Nayru hadn't just handed him the rank back when he'd come home- he needed to earn his place amoung the pack once more. It didn't bother him too much at the moment, but he knew his patience wasn't the best thing.


X'yrin turned, a lock of hair between her fingers and Saul allowed a soft smile to grace his lips. She was a beautiful female, a fact Saul could respect about her. She was also a very powerful presence. She dipped her head softly and Saul returned the gesture, a mutually silent greeting followed by a verbal acknowledgement. Her voice sounded tired to him, but it had been that way since he'd returned and first met her. "All mine" He murmured softly, returning her assurances that it was a pleasure to see him. She followed it with a question and Saul chuckled softly. "Actually, I followed your scent out here. I wanted to hunt and I wondered if you would like to join me?" He asked, hoping he didn't sound demanding of his superior. He couldn't tell whether X'yrin was just really tired, or whether she had a dislike for him.


"I didn't want Nayru hurting herself trying to hunt, so I came out here. I hope I wasn't intruding on anything?" He asked, green eyes concerned. She seemed rather pensieve and Saul wasn't entirely certain that he'd caught her on the way back to the den with nothing to do. He was tempted to shift up into his optime form so that they weren't so uneven, but he had no clothes with him and he didnt want to appear rude. So he remained on four paws, ears swivelling back and forward to pick up anything the Kozan said.

While her outward appearance was one of polite interest, there was something off about her body language. He wouldn't ever begin to assume that he knew what another was thinking, nor was he in any way omniscient. But he got the certain feeling, a gut instinct that told him there was far more beneath the surface that she wasn't letting on. Perhaps it was the rather stiff quality to the way she held her shoulders that gave away her tension, or the slightly tightening of her eyes, but there was the distinct feeling of things left unsaid, or unnoticed between them. Saul tried to push it aside, to tell himself that he was reading into her posture far too much for his own good. No good would ever come from him over-thinking things, it was just an insecurity on his part. He wanted X'yrin to like him, to understand the bond he and Saluce shared, no matter how strained it was at the moment.


Still, there was nothing he could say to the things left unsaid. He was pleased to see that she was intrigued by his proposition. He wasn't sure whether she was pleased by this or not- she just seemed politely interested in what he said. He watched as she leant down, her bones shifting beneath her skin as she shifted into her Secui form. It was clearly her preferred form to hunt in. Her soft voice came again and he nodded softly. He was glad that he hadn't interrupted anything- he wouldn't have wanted to intrude on anything. She surprised him by allowed him to take the lead, despite her clear superiority.


"I was thinking some deer?" He asked, rolling his shoulders in anticipation. He hadn't hunted on four paws in a while and he was glad to get back to some more basic instincts. Glancing back to see that X'yrin was following him, Saul moved towards the trees that surrounded Wentworth Valley. He knew there was a healthy population of deer around here and he intended to find them. Allowing his senses to take over, Saul began stalking through the forest, green eyes wide and spotting everything in his path.

The whoosh of wings was his only warning as the large owl exited the trees behind him. He paused his run for a moment, glancing back to watch the owl land on X'yrin's shoulder. Large amber eyes caught sight of him and Saul stared back, trying to get the measure of the bird. He hadn't seen the owl around in the last day and a bit, but there was no doubt he belonged to the female. Saul thought back to the egg in Nayru's room, nestled among his things. Could it be an owl in there? He had no idea, and he wasn't about to stop and ask X'yrin about her familiar. He shifted back to the front, shaking his body once in a quick, decisive motion. It would not do to get distracted at this moment. Grey flecked tail swayed back and forth with no instruction from him- the excitement of the hunt was beginning to settle in his bones.


He wouldn't have guessed at the time span it had taken them to get through the forest. But a little while later, the sounds of many hoofed animals moving quickly through the trees bought the agouti male up short. Green eyes cut through the gloom of the forest, catching the slight gleam of ivory horns on a stag. They'd found to herd alright, heading back the way they'd just come. Glancing back to check the female was still with him, Saul adopted the typical stalking pose- body low to the ground, ears and tail tucked out of the way, slow movements that bought him forward and closer to the back of the herd. If there were any stragglers, it would be the back they should aim for. He didn't know if X'yrin had asked him to lead the hunt for any specific reason, and he wasn't sure whether she wanted him to pick their target. But his instincts had taken over, green eyes critical on each deer that passed him from his hiding place in a strip of bushes.


An older female caught his attention, clearly an old wound to her back leg that made her movements more disjointed than the others. While she wasn't clearly disabled by the past injury, her leg was stiff in comparison to the rest and Saul rolled his shoulders softly, a silent indication that he'd found a target. With one last glance towards X'yrin, Saul slunk from the bush and towards the back of the herd. They caught his scent immediately, but it would have been difficult to do this any other way. With a bellow from the stag, the does moved into formation in their frenzied run. Green eyes collided with gold and he directed X'yrin towards the doe already beginning to fall behind.


"Hamstrings?" He called out to the female, asking her to take the rear end of the female and disable her from her back legs. Saul would try and get up some speed to cut off her jugular to coordinate their attack. Stretching his limbs out further and faster, Saul shifted his speed up until he was running by the does shoulder. It would only be a matter of seconds until X'yrin caught up and Saul would launch himself at the deer, he just had to hold on to a bit of patience until then.

It was times like these that Saul rarely took notice of those around him. He had learnt to trust his hunting partner to do what was necessary, to stick to the assigned roles and make sure that the kill did not slip from between their jaws. Therefore he didn't pay attention to what X'yrin was doing at that moment in time. She would either support him or she wouldnt and there was very little he could do about it. He just about caught the whoosh of wings as they took off into the afternoon sun. Creamy paws remained insistent on the ground, a thrumming against the earth to say that he was on the hunt. He glanced back for the moment and was pleased to see X'yrin closing on the hind quarters of the doe. It would be over soon and the two of them would be able to feast as they liked before returning the meal back to their pack mates.


The defeaning bellows was his que and as X'yrin launched her body forward to attach herself securely to the back end of the doe, Saul made his move. Putting on a good burst of speed, the male too a flying leap towards the panicking animal, jaws closing in the perfect position to cut off her air supply and suffocate her. His mouth filled with blood as he landed on the mark, their combined weight bringing the doe kicking to the floor. She thrashed and jerked, trying to throw both wolves off her in a valiant attempt. But she was losing blood and oxygen fast and Saul knew she was near the end when her eyes rolled back suddenly, her jerking form quieting to stillness. They'd worked well together and Saul was pleased he'd come out here to find X'yrin today. Unhooking his jaws from around the does neck, he glanced back towards the older female.


"Good job X'y." He murmered softly, before getting to his paws. He started to whisper softly to the doe, thanking her for the life she'd given, albeit unwillingly, to sustain the wolf pack. "We thank you for your sacrifice, doe of the forest, and bid you lay in rest now that you are gone. I offer up a portion of my kill to the forest, to show my gratitude for the life taken today." His murmured thanks was followed up by the soft sound of tearing flesh as he cut away a portion of the doe's neck. With a glance towards X'yrin, he bounded towards the nearest tree, standing delicately on his hind legs to wedge the hunk of deer flesh between a fork in the tree. It would go to the birds and other carnivores who lived here. He moved back towards X'y and the deer, licking his lips to try and rid them of the blood that had stained his white muzzle.

While it felt natural for the young man to thank the doe for her life and the kill they'd just made, Saul knew that it wasn't a habit he'd been born with. He'd learnt to respect and thank his kills in this way from Alae, a past member who had retreated so far into herself that Saul hadn't at first noticed when she and her owl had left. It saddened him, but there was nothing he could do about it. The iron tang of blood in his mouth was satisfying as he moved back towards the kill and X'yrin, who had taken a protective stance over the rear end of the deer, most of the front half of her body protecting the dead animal. He just caught her own bird wheeling back towards her and Saul suppressed a smile. He'd wanted a bird for a while now and he was just a little jealous of the X'yrin and the owl that now perched on her shoulder.


She backed off then, sitting back on her haunches and looking towards him expectantly. It was rare that Saul completely let go of the civilised demeanour that he'd grown up with, but it usually happened whilst hunting. Without a second thought, the young male snaked forward, gripping the edges of the tear in the neck and tugging. The steaming meat came free with a wet swoosh before the young male began to pull chunks of it away. He had a feeling that X'yrin wouldn't eat until he was done, so he attempted to hurry his eating. When he'd begun to feel just a little bloated, he backed off, his head inclining towards the kill. It was her turn now. Saul turned towards a patch of grass still damp from the morning, bowing down to rub his muzzle and paws on the wetness. He would go for a swim later to clean off the gore, but for now a quick grass bath would have to do.


He looked back towards X'yrin, unwilling to simply sit here and watch her eat, but also too polite to interupt her eating. His questions were going to have to wait until the female was done. He wanted to know who she was, where she came from, how she was liking Ichika. Having always occupied a prestige rank in Ichika, the young male was feeling just a little resentful of the fact that Nayru had made him earn his place once more. He completely understood why and he would serve his time without complaint. It just irritated him a little to have to work back up again. Perhaps X'yrin would be able to distract these thoughts from turning into something more.

The young male watched from his vantage point on the ground as X'yrin ghosted forward, golden eyes fixed on the doe's head. He wasn't entirely sure what she was doing as she grasped the lower jaw of their deceased quarry, tugging and pulling until it levered free. He watched in silence as she gave it to her bird, before laying down close by. He didn't want to intrude on her silence, but it appeared she wouldn't be eating today. It would mean more for Nayru and anyone else who wished to feast on their catch, but it also meant that X'yrin wouldn't be eating, Green eyes were critical as he looked her over, trying to see if she was genuinely just not hungry or whether there was something wrong with her. He couldn't see anything on the outside, but that meant nothing. So instead, he shuffled forward a few paces so that he could stretch his neck out, touching the pad of her left back paw with the tip of his nose.


"X'yrin? Are you alright?" He asked, green eyes concerned. He may not know her very well, or at all as a matter of fact but there was certainly a potential for the young Stormbringer to care for the female that appeared to have'd wiggled her way into Saluce's heart. Saul knew how difficult that feat was, and his relationship with the grey warrior was strictly father and son basis. She must be someone special to have broken down his barriers, to get him to see that mateship really wasnt that bad. He thought of Layla, they're failed marriage, how Saul had asked the older male once about it. It had been just before he'd left and Saul had missed the warrior when he'd gone. But he also understood now the reasons for it- he'd give anything to forget the time with Siku, to just forget anything had ever happened. Saluce hadn't been running away, he'd needed to clear his head to come back again.


"I'm glad you're in Saluce's life. He hasn't had the best luck with women and it pleases me to see my adopted father happy again." He told her truthfully, though he gave a soft chuckle. "Even if he is sick and feeling sorry for himself at the moment." He chuckled softly, knowing that Saluce wouldn't permit himself to be treated, even if Saul could offer him some natural remedies to help him out. Shaking his head softly, he fixed his eyes on the eating bird, wondering how much X'yrin would open up to him. Afterall, he was the wayward son, returned home after hunting for people who didn't want to be around him anymore.

She looked as if she might be sleeping, stretched out beside the carcass of a doe and the feasting form of her owl. Her breath rose at a steady pace, although it was not deep enough to imitate actual sleep. But she appeared completely relaxed and content. He wished he hadn't broken the silence now, but as his nose touched her paw, she twisted up to look at him. He smiled sheepishly, an apologetic set to his ears and posture. With his hind legs stretched out behind him, he looked a lot like he might be crawling along the ground rather than stretching out to touch the females paw with his own nose. She assured him, with a gentle paw to his head that he had not expected, that she was fine. Green eyes were just a little sceptical for the moment, before she began to explain a little bit about her quietness.


"Nomads? I don't think I've ever heard of them. They are your people, where you came from?"


He asked, thinking back to see if he could recall hearing anything about these Nomad race. It was true that he found X'yrin a particular brand of strange sometimes, and he'd always put that down to her culture before arriving in Ichika. It was true that Ichika certainly had its own distinct religion, while it accepted everyone elses ideals about faith. He himself didn't particularly have a religion. He liked the think that he was a bit of a spiritualist- optimistic that there was something more beyond this world, that there was a purpose and a pathway that he was to follow in order to achieve something greater than himself. He didn't know if he believed in a God or a divine being, but there was a certain degree of belief that he wasn't here just because. There was something else he had to do.


He almost didn't catch her sudden interest in the topic, but he watched as she straightened up, ears perking and eyes sparking with interest. He internally groaned- he shouldn't have said anything. It was clear to a blind man that Saluce loved the female that had waltzed into his life. Saul didn't think that they would ever be able to separate from one another. It didn't matter about whom else he'd been with, because X'y was his life now. But she spoke up, echoing his words and intoning with a question. Green eyes grew slightly anxious, before he stammered. "W-well, there was Layla in Dahlia de Mai, which didn't last long. She was far too... weak? For Saluce anyway. Or perhaps I should say dependent- she wasn't exactly one to do a lot for herself." He said, loathing to diss the female, but knowing the reasons Saluce had broken things off with her.


"She was his only other mate, but there have been a few females after Layla that have all ended in ruin. A female from Crimson Dreams, another pack down south, used to come over to Dahlia a lot and I think something happened with them. I'm not sure though, because nothing official was ever announced. Not long after that, Saluce left Dahlia for a little while. I think he'd had enough of females in general." He said softly, before he brightened up. "And now he has you, and I've never seen him so happy. As his adopted son, who has seen him in much worse states than this, I can tell you that you are his whole life X'y." His voice grew compassionate as he spoke of his adopted father, hoping beyond anything that X'yrin would believe in the love they shared and not let his past ruin everything. And if Saul ruined their relationship through his disgustingly open mouth, he would never forgive himself.