[Set shortly after ya'lls battle with the kyotes]
The light from a small fire glinted through the drape of darkness between the trees. The forested hills embracing the forgotten and suffocating fields had a new ghost - the enigmatic stranger who went only by Grayson. It had been three days since he stumbled into the cemetery and was met by the pack second-in-command, who then proceeded to drag him to his salvation. Gray's chin dipped as he sat near his fire, idly turning a stick skewered with freshly butchered badger meat in the flames.
As the fire lapped at the bloody flesh and crackled hungrily in the otherwise peaceful silence, the optime's thoughts spun. Three days, even in his condition, was enough time to make it to the territory center. But after his second rather enlightening encounter with Haku yesterday, Grayson still hadn't left the forest. He already had himself all figured out - he wasn't going to stay, so why mingle? Why bother? He'd stay and service the pack until he was stronger. Nothing more, nothing less. No one even had to know his name.
He had business to take care of.
Gray dug the end of the stick into the loose soil and leaned back, grimacing when the covered wound on his chest protested. The shadowy depths of his eyes were warmed in the firelight, a similar glow lightening on the metal panels gleaming around thorny brush and ivy nearby. It was a helicopter...he recognised it from an illustration in a book he had been shown, once. It was black and rusting out, almost unidentifiable. The existing blades hung awkwardly at a jaunty tilt, again so shrouded in plantlife that it was impossible to tell what it was from a distance. Grayson came upon it by accident; after tearing down the flowering crawlers that partially blocked the sliding door on the side (which he forcefully wrenched open), he discovered the pitiful discoloured skeletal remains of three humans amid the junk and raccoon scat in the rotting hull.
He'd let them be, for now. The ancient flying machine would make a good shelter...he would clean it out when he wasn't so tired.
Grayson removed the skewer and blew on it, beneath a starry sky hidden with pine fronds and mist.
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Food never failed to bring her out of hiding. Especially not fresh, roasting meat. Mmm. She could almost taste it. Within seconds, Alexey had gone from being a lazy bum to a soldier on a mission. Yes, her new assignment was called the "mooch food off whoever is having a barbecue" operation. Not like anyone would have the guts to say no to her anyway, at least she hoped not. Well, maybe Haku would. But she knew that with the right amount of nagging, she'd manage to get some even from the Lilium.
Oddly enough, Alexey hadn't seen any of her pack mates in almost a week, despite the fact that she hadn't really left the lands during that time. Well, she had left once to be precise, only to get scooped up and carried back home by a male named Vedr. She hated being this banged up; it was a bloody handicap not to be able to walk properly. Her leg was getting better though, slowly but surely. However, the healing process wasn't fast enough. Far from it.
Lexey made her way a little to the east of where she'd been lazing around, only to find an ashen male just going about his business. She could've left him alone, seeing as she didn't really know him, but that would've counted as renouncing to her current mission. Oh no, she definitely couldn't do that. Her stomach depended on the outcome. Honey-colored eyes examined her target meticulously as she limped over to the fire, seating herself a feet or two away from the newcomer.
"Hi", she stated bluntly. Straightforward greetings were the best. There was no point in asking him if he was new to the pack, since the answer was so blatantly obvious. And she couldn't really come up with anything pertinent to say, so instead of making small-talk, she patiently waited for his reply while keeping an eye on that roasted badger.
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[Sorry for shortness.]
He nodded once at the tawny quadruped who had invited herself to his fire, sparing her a sharp look. With the war and it's aftermath bloodying their piece of earth, he figured that his solitude would drag on for days yet. Everyone was too busy stitching things up. What she was doing this far out, he had no desire to speculate. His eye caught the details, and he surmised that her healing wounds had been dealt during the very same conflict that left Haku in such a mess. He also noticed her eyeing the badger.
"You like it cooked?" he asked, raising a brow and motioning fluidly at a second skewer stationed in the dirt. The rest of the badger was nearby, spread on a layer of dry leaves to keep the grit at bay. He hadn't left many of the choice organs, devouring them as soon as he'd split the beast open. Once decently sated, however, the optime thought he'd treat himself to a warming fire and some...finer cuisine. It wouldn't hurt to offer her what he would most likely be drying into jerky later, if he didn't eat it now. Grayson was not a covetous wolf.
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Mission accomplished. A barely noticeable smirk spread on her ebony lips as the male inquired about her cooking preferences. She'd tasted cooked meat before, once only, and her experience had been exquisite. Being one of the few non-lupercis around was sometimes hard. Alexey couldn't always enjoy the finer things in life, and savoring roasted meals was one of them. Paws couldn't make fire, and they certainly couldn't put meat on skewers. It made her a little jealous to know that she didn't have those kind of opportunities due to her lack of fingers. It was a weakness she had to cope with everyday.
"Of course. Mind sharing?" She was already by the badger's remains. There definitely wouldn't be any left once she was through with the meat. Jerky would have to wait. However, Alexey wasn't rude enough to go ahead and start eating without proper approval, so she waited for a clear verbal invitation. She hadn't eaten in quite a while now. Food hadn't really been a priority since the battle with Inferni, but now that it was in front of her, she wondered how she had gone on without it.
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"Help yourself."
Interesting. She hadn't Changed yet, so it was likely she was Nonnisi. Pure. Grayson could sympathize. After all, he had spent his first two years happily as the same. Memories of the terror he had felt as a child at the hands of those looming terrorists seldom strayed far from his mind.
They were monsters. He was a monster.
But he did what he had to do.
The ash wanderer plucked the stick and leaned over, laying it by the remains for her so she could readily strip the meat from the wood with her teeth. He already admired the female's open confidence, but his feelings went unbetrayed on staid, cinerous features. Leaving the bold femme to her meal, Grayson went to work on his own badger-kabob, eating in silence. His eyes continuous transfixed themselves on the shining 'copter metal, alive with thought and possibility. At last, he grunted, "So, you were in the fight too?" The tawny-black orbs were in her direction, now. He hadn't missed her wounds, the way she favoured her leg. Almost made him wish he had been poisoned a couple days sooner.
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Alexey nodded her appreciation, satisfied with his actions. He hadn't taken the food off the stick for her and she was thankful for that. Most luperci probably would've treated her differently due to her inability to shift, but not him. Being a nonnisi wasn't a handicap, and it was about time people started understanding that. Using one of her front paws to hold the skewer, the golden femme gently tugged at the meat before savoring her first bite. Her eyes closed momentarily, indicating that this badger was the best meal she'd had in a long time. At this very moment, Lexey felt like a little princess.
Of course, that feeling didn't last very long. His question was enough to burst her bubble, reminding her that they did live in a cruel world. "Yeah, I was" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. She was ashamed. The little wolfess had failed in many ways that night; not only had she allowed them to kidnap Firefly, but she had also taken quite a beating. ""I'd ask you the same question, but I don't remember seeing you there. So how did you get that wound?" Her interest was genuine, and his story would help her forget her own problems, if only for a little while.
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Grayson chewed thoughtfully, congratulating himself on yet another superb meal. He didn't cook often; a corner of his ego swelled with pride that the shewolf appeared to be enjoying the food he had prepared. The ability to cook meat so it maintained a perfect consistency and flavour was, indeed, an ability he took a lot of pride in. He swallowed and answered her. "An old friend of mine gave it to me as a little going-away present." He studied Susequehanna's handiwork with a look of deepest resignation, the most expression he had shown yet. "Not sure that I like it. It wasn't very considerate of him at all," he added seriously.
The male pushed himself onto his feet and hobbled over to the other side of the popping fire, taking his skewer with him. He paused, arms crossed, staring at the trees. Gray returned his shadowed gaze to the female. "What's your name and why're ya here?" he asked abruptly, becoming more interested in his new packmate. Doubtlessly any stories would be elaborated upon later. Grayson's mind would wander, but he'd pick the thread up again if she was so inclined.
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Alexey smirked as the male briefly explained where the wound came from. She was extremely amused by his veiled sarcasm, well hidden behind his deep and humorless tone of voice. "Definitely not the kind of present I'd like to get," she replied, mostly out of politeness. The Circee wasn't going to ask for any details, taking his short answer as an indication that he did not want to discuss it any further.
Instead, Lexey remained quiet until she was spoken to. She had no problem answering his first inquiry and introducing herself like she should've done in the first place, but his second question was a little too straightforward. It puzzled her, really. Why was she here? What did he mean by that exactly? "My name's Alexey. Alexey Koios." she paused, thinking about her upcoming answer. It was amazing how such a simple question could leave her speechless.
"I'm here because-" Her mind went blank at that very moment. She did not have any particular reason to give him. "I don't know why I'm here, to tell you the truth." The tawny femme promptly returned the same two questions, a little intrigued by the male standing before her. "So what's your name, and why are you here?"
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