Naiche

Naiche's tongue was lulling from her parted jaws as she traveled across the sulfuric lands of the Ashen Domes. A dark black pelt didn't help the wolven fae keep cool, and she began to question her rationale for even coming this way today. A little over a mile into the area, the young wolf stopped and looked around for any source of water that might help quench her thirst and help cool herself down.

Nhevaris

This hellfire terrain was no less forgiving to Nhevaris. He wouldn't even be here if not for the scent he'd picked up along his travels, and it was that reason that drove him across these blasted hills and bubbling domes to find its source. Enduring the brutal rays of sun that where cruelly amplified by the radiant heat from the land itself, the lone alpha plodded purposefully past bubbling cauldrons and domes where heat rose in a shimmer from their tops. Dust rose and hung in the air with each step of his paws, and before long, his lower legs were coated in the pale residue. Now and then he'd even wrinkled his face and flick his tongue in irritation at the airborne dirt to the lolling appendage.

Eventually, after nearly an hour of travel, Nhevaris came across what he'd sought. Plume was thrown high over his back and his head was lifted, along with his silver-speckled ruff. "Fancy meeting another soul out here, during the heat of summer." The brute remarked, as if he hadn't purposefully tracked her down for so many miles, rather than accidentally stumbling across her. "Are you packless?"

Naiche

This was the last place Naiche thought she'd encounter another being. Then again, she was out here, so maybe it wasn't all that odd for other lost souls to find themselves meandering the desolate wastes with their minds lost in an endless loop of thoughts. She'd stopped and raised her dark head, the black fur equally tainted by flecks of pale dust that almost blended with the bit of white fur that accentuated her cheeks. Light yellow orbs, like a pair of newly risen moons, blinked in stark contrast to the black backdrop of the rest of her face.

"What does it concern you?" Her response wasn't spoken crudely, but there was definite caution to her vocals, and her stiff stance reflected that feeling. She blinked as she studied him, then promptly frowned, "Were you following me?"

Nhevaris

Nhevaris subtly allowed his dense, ebonite ruff to expand, like a regal mane about his neck and shoulders. His stance was loose in contrast to hers, his posture held with confidence borne of an alpha, and a bold attitude to compensate for his smaller overall size. This fae was nearly fifty pounds heavier than himself afterall, but that difference hadn't bothered Nhev's healthy ego.

"I might have picked up your scent a while back." He admitted openly, a sly smile written across his long muzzle. Ruddy-red eyes sized her up, reading the caution in her body language, and the hesitancy in her stance. "Since you asked, I'm seeking members for my pack. I do need a queen at my side."

Naiche

Naiche raised her head from its lowered position, her caution slowly ebbing after this stranger announced his reason for being here. Curiosity came next, bringing a tilt to her head after he offered her a home and... position as alpha? Her tail loosened, but she was wary enough to keep it wagging at this unknown brute. "I don't even know your name." The wolfess pushed back lightly, "I've never caught your scent before. Where did you come from?"

Nhevaris

Ebony and silver splashed brute chuckled, "Forgive me, where are my manners? It's Nhevaris. Varis for short, if you'd prefer." Like a cube of ice under the hot evening sun, he could see defensiveness melting away from this fae before his eyes. Wanting to continue that process, Nhevaris kept the conversation going, "I was born in this Valley, about four seasons ago. Been a loner though, this whole time. What about you, what's your story?"

Naiche You've been alone this whole time? That sounds... boring." A half chuckle accented her latter comment, "My name's Naiche. I'm from the Parnassian Meadows pack." She blatantly looked him up and down now, a quizzical expression pinching her brows, "So no offense, but will it be just us two, in this pack of yours? How will we catch anything to eat?"

Nhevaris

Nhevaris chuckled too, "That's half the reason I decided to start my own pack. I was bored being on my own for so long." The ebony wolf took his time to stretch forward, bowing his front end to the ground and extending his forelegs forward, pads pressing into the dusty ground. A wide, gaping yawn followed, bringing to prominent display a set of well honed ivories. Nhevaris drew himself back up and gave his coat a shake, sending a small cloud of dust from his being. "I'm use to hunting for myself, and I'm not half-bad at it. Kept myself alive for this long, anyway. I'll show you a thing or two about solo hunting, and you can teach me some of the pack hunting tactics."

Naiche

She watched him, so casually stretching in front of her, and not so subtly revealing his canines. Was he trying to be lowkey threatening, or was he showing off his assets? Naiche almost frowned at little, while still finding some charm in his casual mannerisms. For her part, the young wolfess remained still, if not slowly relaxing from her previously tense state.

"I could show you a few things." Naiche offered at length, suddenly not wanting to reveal that she wasn't the world's greatest hunter. She'd only reached her first year this spring, and wasn't a seasoned pro yet. If not for her pack's help, that of Blue, Crucifix, and the others, Naiche would be living off scraps like Krush use to. Her facade was a convincing one though, and as she thought about exploring new lands and being a ruler over them, a small smile was born upon her mug. "Okay, you've got my interest. Show me this land of yours."

Nhevaris

Nhevaris grinned, his eyes crinkling. "My pleasure, Naiche. It's a little southwest of here, in the upper Valley. We can follow the foothills of the mountains, and drop south past the prairie." The brute held his tail aloft, carrying high like an ebony banner, to let all know of his rank and authority. After orienting himself, and giving Naiche a look of contained excitement, the alpha dropped into a stead lope, heading for the Sonnet Forest territory.