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One could not ask for a better day to spend with their family. The soft climate did wonders to elevate even the dreariest mood leaving the initial troubles but a memory better left forgotten. Such was the mood that became the complacent woman this day, wrapped in a soothing task that had become more a part of her than remarking the borders of hunting. Silly that creation could bring about this kind of calm; lost in the purposeful repetitions of mending and weaving while she lied upon the grass with the string of her craft above her. Should any wolf that labored look upon her, undoubtedly they would think of her a lazy leader... no more than a face meant to smile and bring ease rather than work diligently within the earth or pack. And even if these assumptions were spoken with disdain no less, too true would she smile and seek to bring ease. But it was not simply a part of her nature, but a silent response to a truth that only she and a select few knew. That just as she calmly and diligently worked in a manner that brought her peace, so had she dug determinedly into the hard earth and carved away into the mountain to create the homes her family now resided.

A great deal of time and energy, of pain and labor went into building the caches that supplied and housed their food. The addition of malleable earth and clay that went in to making their homes livable and comfortable. The female was anything but lazy... and she needn't contest an otherwise claim toward those that did not know. But such worries were non-existent when she was surrounded by the group of select few that knew of her labors and had labored themselves to see this family comfortable and whole. She had earned her rest, and earned her little treat that was of course made with her treasured Family in mind.

Tilting her head slightly, she looked to the tassel hanging above her. The radiant hues of autumn and fire melding together in the form of a tail ending in soft white. A simply creation, detailed with little more than bone and what details she could find. A reflection of the Evan'ule spirit... whilst the one beside it carried the creative essence of the Mareck; sharing the same tassel of the fox tail but adorned with wild flora and reflective glass beads. She tilted her head to the other side, still staring at her work through wild strands of red. Thoughtfully, she hummed... wondering what more she could add. Perhaps it was better left to whom received the tassel at add what they will; a unique element to make it their own. Yes... she could do that, she reasoned with a nod to none but herself, and satisfied she set her work aside and pulled herself upright.

Lazily, she stretched, both arms pulled haphazardly over her head as she pulled the kinks from both with a tired smile. It was much too early to find herself in need of a nap, and too pretty a day to remain deep within the heart of the mountain. But had there been any intention of remaining inside, it was abruptly discarded by a sound call overhead. She needn't look, but extended an arm to act as a perch for her descending guide. A sudden rush of wind and a sound beat of the air greeting her face as the great bird found her forearm and latched hold. The smaller companion was not far behind, taking her uncovered shoulder not a moment later to garner her attention as well. Both owls screeched in unison, demanding as birds did for her to rise and entertain them. It was her own fault for their behavior, ignoring them for so long they had to seek her own in demanding ways. But she only smiled and didn't mind as both dug into her braided mane and became to bother whatever strand they could grab, compelling the woman to stand and walk a while, to occupy this idle time with them.

While any other would see this as a nuisance, she saw these acts as a comfort. For while her craft had done well to distract her from the edged words that grated against her mind, when there was nothing else to do, they dug deeper with a vengeance demanding to be recalled and responded. No, these companions were a blessing to retract the knives once again and give her mind something else to mull over. Like how she intended to entertain two demanding birds of prey...

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Quite the distractions if ever there was one, her attention starved companions. And while she acknowledged it was her own fault for their behavior, there was the unshakable feeling that they sought to exploit this fact by having their annoying way with her. From her arm, the larger of the two shuffled to her shoulder and began again his ill-conditioned behavior of pulling on her hair. He offered no explanation or any kind of coherent insinuation toward his aims. Only the gestures made out of what could have been called boredom, which in turn invited the fledgling female to do the same. One was enough, however, and with a quick albeit delicate hand, the swept the young one from her shoulder and ushered her into the air.

The female cried rather indignantly, but with a sharp command did not return. Instead her gleaming eyes turned away from the pair toward a grey form on approach to the mountain. Though her understanding of birds were impressive, the woman could yet to find ration in most their actions. And this remained true as she watched the fledgling glide toward the closing distant form.

Warily, X'yrin perked up just a little more, needing little more than the contrast of the grey upon the golden landscape to know whom was wandering toward them. And for once, dread did not appear in her eyes. More so she carried worry for what the owl would do to him, rather than what he would do to her. Even the nameless male upon her should shared the same worry, offering a sound 'hoot' to get the female's attention. But she was young, curious, and excitable. Such were the attributes of youth.

"Hold still," she called out to her approaching companion while motioning with a pointed finger toward the owl nearing overhead.

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He came nearer, and the female feared the worst would befall her friend. Knowing the excitable temperament of the female owl, she would undoubtedly get herself into some kind of trouble or make herself as irritable as possible. It would have been in his best interest to stand still... but to her surprise the nameless female was in a sense behaving when sat on top of the Nomad's back. Surprising, to say the least, earning a mirroring expression as the Lambda came closer. Mimicking the little one's behavior, the great male on her shoulder began again to pull and pluck at her manicured braids, nibbling a strand here and there to gain her diverted attention.

"After a while, you come to ignore it..." she rounded her shoulders indifferently, forcing the birds wings to unfurl to keep himself balanced. "So long as she isn't biting you, you're well off. " There were further implications that went with this odd bonding of wolf and bird, but seemed unfitting given the chance situation at hand. It had been a couple days since the two had spoken after the less than pleasant conditional reunion. And there was no need to fill it now with idle chatter when it could have been better used to reaffirm that in some minute way, they were still in good terms with each other. And in a round-about way, her little companion had seen to this happening.

"Do you remember when we were younger," she began thoughtfully. "The feathers that the Mareck would collect? The young ones like us would always complain it was too hard to get them because the wind would chase them away." With subtle emphasis, she raised her occupied shoulder to drawn attention to the large owl. "Suppose if they saw us now, they would be terrible upset. Had they just made a companion like this, they wouldn't have had to worry about chasing random feathers..."

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From her nearly claimed perch the owlet was disturbed by the rather sharp click of a tongue against formidable fang in beckon. For a moment, the gleaming yellow eyes turned to their handler in a moment of panic, then sought the direction of her senior still standing contently upon the wolf's shoulder. With what sentience could be seen, there was a question lingering her eyes coupled with an anticipation for the consequence of her conduct. But rather than reprimand, another click sounded, and the female was aloft again set to hover around the two wolves and her senior.

"Sorry about that..." again the female bashfully apologize, going so far as to lower her head in embarrassment for her companion animal. "She still has...much to learn..." she attempted to explain, but the strength of her voice faded away as her came to realize it sounded nothing more than an excuse. She simply should have devoted more time to her companion... at least, that was what she expected the Lambda to say. Thankfully her bit of nostalgia had done something to stir a conversation. But it was terribly short-lived. Little more than the prophetic words of a well learned mind than the input of a friend whom she shared a past with.

But as always, there was undeniable truth to his words of which she acknowledged with stilled tail and lowered ears. "Of course things have changed..." she agreed in little more than a whisper. Carefully lifting a paw, she let it drift between them, attempting to reclaim a gentle smile. "But is that not for the better? What we have learned in our seasons have made us different... but within we are still the same. ...do you not agree?"

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It would not have been the same, had his words not held the reflective quality they were known for even with as simple of a topic as recounting the past. Internally, they had not changed. She, the curious one what sought to appease everything and everyone within her manageable means. And him, the complicated weaver of word and metaphor able to fabricate works of truth both terrifying and sublime. The products of a rigorous upbringing coupled with their natures. But she would not be the wolf to look into the lake and gaze upon her reflection… for looking into its revealing depths portrayed much more than she was willing to acknowledge. What was held upon the surface would remain her truth, at least for a time til she was made to face it.

Truly, not a casual moment could be had between them without the Lmabda’s words invoking some profound thought. It was dreadfully tiring, and she sighed thusly. Why was she made to tune her mind to understand these riddles when it was much easier to speak freely and casually? But perhaps it was her own fault for letting her mind go unconditioned as it had; soft and lazy without a continuous onslaught of intelligible conversation to keep it sharp. But then, it was never really the role of the Exultare to use their minds other than to determine a target, or close it off when need be.

Again, she sighed, this time at her own troubled musing as she watched her companion’s eyes turn from her. The mild state of disappointment again setting in…then abruptly discarded for alarm. He moved, as did she. A rustle of feathers sounded in the calm as the great owl was disturbed from his perch as her arm moved on reflex with the intent to taking the wolf by his throat. Above the discord of wings and feather there was a gasp of shock as sense overtook instinct and the assault was brought to a sudden halt; a deathly mistake in the heat of actual battle. Yet this engagement was anything but…

Attack: Grabs for the throat, then stops mid-attack

Defense: none

Injury none

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The moment was fleeting, but did not go unseen. The movement had been done, come and gone, with a curled hand still extended; a remnant of the intentions of a violent attack. But there was little time to be shameful, what with her eyes again attracted to the moments of her companion. Anticipating her steely grip would follow through, he did well to dodge but it was a wasted effort. Her empty claws curled around air as control forced her air to retract by her side, but instinct demanded her eyes remain on him. The subtle twitch of muscle beneath fur, the balanced height of his tail, she watched all that called for moment… and then she was drawn to his eyes.

Above circled the companion owls surveying the earthbound creatures below. The trivial scraps between the lupine breed was beneath them that could simply gain height by powerful wings to avoid the gnash and scrape of claws and fangs. So they watched what transpired with indifferent eyes, simply waiting for their perch to be still again to be claimed.

The direction of his eyes pulled her own toward the occupied sky, expecting the intrusion of her companions in the middle of their play. But there was only sky… then a cloud of dust and grit invaded her eyes. A dirty trick, but never the less an effective one that earned an enraged snarl from the recoiling female. And as her form curled, it was made to double over as sheer force charged into her to knock her off balance. The smarting in her side was ignored, for an Exultare was implored to forgo pain in the midst of a fight. It was a luxury for the weak, an ailment to be tended when the fight was over. But the force was felt and in turn used against him. She turned into him as a limb collapsed beneath her forcing her down to his level. There was no hesitation as one arm made to spear into his neck to grasp and hold him down by it…

Attack: Grabs for his neck

Defense: none

Injury Bruised side

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How this encounter transformed from a casual conversation to this bout was not beyond her realm of comprehension. Her mind was simply too far gone too care how it had come to be, only that it had and now she was in the thick of showing her playmate his place beneath her.

A kind of smile had worked its way to her muzzle, one fueled by adrenaline as the instilled excitement for physical engagement rapidly began to surface. His banter was deafened by the blood rushing in her ears. Her eyes were wide and all seeing of his moments. Her grasp had not met his throat but the broad of his chest instead as the body beneath her reformed itself to mirror her own. A more agreeable playing field now that both wore the same flesh and furred armor. But how their skills differed…

Her wild eyes flickered to movement, ignoring the latch to her shoulders as he brought himself upward. Her smiling maw splayed wide to snatch his invasive muzzle as her assailing claws continued to dig, intending to pierced through the grey fur to delicate flesh.

Attack: Snaps at muzzle, digs into chest

Defense: none

Injury Bruised side

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He knew her all too well. When words often failed her even in the hopes of reforming a bond between the childhood friends, he knew that the language of skill and physical prowess was one she could communicate in flawlessly. And an exciting language it was, infusing heavy doses of adrenaline into her greedy veins lessening what pain she was dealt to lengthen this dance of tangling limbs. Her teeth met his muzzle with a vicious bite birthing both a smile and giggle as he sounded his pain. Their bodies were much larger than as children, but in this state, her mentality was just the same. A scrap between friends, a test of skill… an opportunity to assert her dominance over the Lambda male; all this she took from their bout. The brandished banner of the Alpha wagged excitedly as she delved deeper into this physical pleasure.

She groaned not in pain, but a kind of pleasure as his oppressive claws sank deeper into her scarred shoulder, piercing through the tender flesh and coaxing fine droplets of blood. And in turn, she only pressed harder into his chest, forcing her weight down as if attempting to breech the barrier of fur and flesh to his very heart…

Then her ears flicked up. A recognized name… a name with meaning. The haze of adrenaline abruptly parted as she was suddenly left feeling cold with fright and hastily turned to meet the acknowledged. Her mouth tore away from the X’ies’ muzzle but remained parted as a hastily made explanation sat on her tongue. …But there was no Jaden. Only a jarring pain as her muzzle was snapped shut by a limb crashing into her jaw rendering her momentarily senseless.

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A rotten trick, calling out the name of her companion for no reason other than to win their little game. Among the Nomad, surely she wouldn’t have fallen for this poor excuse of an attack, for there would have been nothing of emotional attachment for a contender to use against her. It was a difference she had grown more aware of day by day as it slowly began to develop into a weakness. But it was her own fault for making it so. Though she knew the male was capable to caring for himself and holding his own, she still worried about him and the thoughts of harm overtaking him was too vile a concept to entertain even if to make herself immune to the emotions it created.

“That was dirty!” Having been knocked back by the force of the kick, the woman was rendered useless on the ground now cradling her smarting muzzle. The numbing quality of the adrenaline had ebbed away in a matter of minutes, holding her down on the soft grass and the weight of her injuries (though minor) set in. Blindly, she kicked out in retaliation, hoping to catch her friend in his side. “What wolf fights in a manner that would call for trickery?” Grumbling, she eventually rounded up to sit cross legged on the ground, still holding her muzzle with both hands. “No wonder no one wanted to fight with you,” her words were muffled by her enclosing grip, but were none the less audible to recount a time of their childhood. But like him, she missed their little game…injury and all included. It was a much better course then threading down idle conversation when nostalgia was just as easily achieved by a means they both enjoyed.

Now, if only he could play fair… An underhanded tactic just to make himself the victor.

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She always disliked having to admit it when the male was right. Though his tactic was dirty, it would have been no different than her attacking a wounded limb to bring about victory. But still her ego was bruised by the way his triumph was brought about, using her beloved friend as a weapon against her. “You can be cruel at times…” she grumbled, still internally bruised but allowed the angered crease of her brows to smooth away. He was right to believe she wouldn’t fall for that sleazy ploy again. Especially in his presence.

Falling into a brief repose, she examined the damaged taken by her golden form. The taste of blood in her maw became an afterthought as she admired the bleeding wound on her shoulder and gingerly touched her throbbing side. For what it was worth, the damage was minimal. Nothing a dip in the lake and a thorough rasp couldn’t mend in due time. But for the moment, they ached considerably but not so much to distract her from the other wounded party. Swiftly she glanced over his wounds. “Are you going to be alright with tending to yourself?” she inquired. “If you’d like, I could help you. You know I don’t mind…”