Nyx

Nyx walked through the tall grass, enjoying the cool breeze flowing through her fur. The scent of the flowers were fresh and lovely. Her white eyes landed on a pin flower... before she stepped on it.

Hawk

He was suppose to be hunting with his pack, but that plan went right out the window the second he picked up a scent that was so familiar.

Nyx!

Several miles later, Hawk was all smile when he finally saw the uniquely marked wolfess he'd met months ago in the heat of summer. Now the air was brisk, and his gray coat had flushed out nicely for the coming cold. "Nyx?" He stopped a respectable distance back when he offered this friendly woof.

Nyx

Nyx's ears perked up at the familiar voice, turning her head, she was surprised to see a familiar wolf. Hawk. It had been ages since she has last seen him, a few months at least.

"Hey, Hawk." Nyx spoke, tilting her head. She was happy to see him. The lone wolf life is incredibly lonely.

Hawk

His tail swung merrily from side to side when she appeared happy at his approach, thwacking against tall stands of grass where he stood. "How've you been? Enjoying the break from the heat, I bet?" He wanted to bounce forward and greet her at a closer distance, but this was only the second time they'd met after all, and he didn't want to scare her off. As deftly as he could manage, Hawk tried to take note of her condition, wondering how the lone fae had handled catching food and avoiding dangers on her own for so many months in the Valley.

Nyx

"I've been okay, I suppose." It was a little hard hunting without a pack, but she got use to it. Some days she went hungry, unable to hunt something as simple as a rabbit. Other days she managed to snag rabbit. Her coat had a healthy sheen to it, but she was a little skinner than the last time she had meet Hawk.

Her tail wagged as she tilted her head at him. "Oh, yes. It's been much better now that it has cooled down." She took a step towards the male before stopping. He probably didn't want her getting too close after rejection his offer of joining his pack last time they saw one another.

"How have you are your pack been?" She finally asked.

Hawk

'She looks a little on the thin side. Healthy, though.' Hawk mentally noted to himself. He also noted how she took a voluntary step closer to him, with her tail wagging. Those were good signs, right?

These encouraging signs helped to rebuff the doubt that clouded his mind, thinking back to when he'd blundered his shot with Nyx by trying to invite her to the pack before they'd had the chance to spend even an hour together. He still felt that sting of rejection, but it hadn't completely dissuaded the male from trying again. This time he'd be more careful. "That's good to hear." He lifted a paw, as if to step closer, but promptly pressed it back down into the grass. "The pack's been well; my cousin is settling into his role as alpha. My other two cousins have sort of been at each other's throats though, and I've been trying to help where I can." His own head tilted, silver-gray dome listing to the side, "Spending most of your time in the prairie? It's not bad hunting grounds; sometimes we patrol through here, but there are some big cats you need to watch out for."

Nyx

Nyx listened intently, the last time she interacted with anyone was many months ago when she first met Hawk. She was a social creature, but after her pack was hunted or captured by humans she wasn't too fond of joining another pack anytime soon... that was a a year ago though. Perhaps within the next six months she may take Hawk up on his offer if she comes across him again. He was a lovely wolf and she enjoyed his company the last time they met.

"That's lovely to hear!" Her ears perked up. "Why are your cousins at each others throats if you don't mind my asking?" At least he had company, she supposed.

Nyx glanced around the prairie, and shuddered. "Cats, I'm aware. I've seen one or two around here. I usually, uh, ran whenever I saw one of them." She laughed awkwardly.

Did that make her sound cowardly? She hoped not. She was a lone wolf after all. Hopefully he understood that.

Hawk

Oh, if only Hawk could have read her thoughts now, he'd know not to bring up his curiosity in humans with her. He'd also know that asking once again to join the pack today was not going to go well, but how could he not ask? Here they were again, happy faces and wagging tails, it was the perfect opportunity!

"Them?" Hawk chuckled, a little nervously as he thought back on some of the more vicious thrashings the two had endured by one another's fangs. "They both want to be beta, and there's also a new female in the pack that's they're kinda squabbling over. I try to stay out of all of that; I've mostly been keeping my nose out for this human youngling we found in our lands last year, who carries really delicious berries with them." His mouth all but watered at the thought of those fruit snacks the girl had thrown at the wolves out of fear.

To the cats, Hawk nodded with understanding, "That's wise. Some of them are pretty big, they're nothing for a pack to tangle with, let alone a single wolf." Hawk and the rest of the pack still had no idea that this particular pride had killed his aunt Starwhisper so many moons ago, or his words of warning would have held more weight to them. Instead, he found the perfect opportunity to pop the question again, "If you're ever worried about them, you're always welcome to join the Aspen Grove?"

Nyx

"Ah, fighting for the ranking of beta and a mate, makes sense." She chuckled.

Nyx's pointed and perked up ears slid back, flattening against her skull, and her tail stopped wagging at the mention of human. "There are humans around here?"

She lowered her head to the ground, a low growl leaving her maw. She didn't like humans, more afraid of them than wanting to kill them. She'd keep her distance. She hadn't even come across any in the time she has been here, thankfully.

She shook her head and raised her head. "Uh, sorry about that. I didn't have a good experience with humans..." She sheepishly said.

"Ah, yes, cats. Big cats. Horrible creatures." She licked her lips, considering his offer of joining his pack yet again. "I think I'll remain on my own for awhile longer." She tilted her head to the side. "Perhaps, next time we meet I may reconsider?" The black and white wolf said.

Hawk

'Oh no, I did it again.' Hawk thought as he watched Nyx's jovial demeanor slip away. Her ears went back, and her tail came to standstill, and as her head lowered he was sure he detected a growl. 'Maybe Megs was right, am I the only one that's obsessed with the humans? I should have listened to him and the others...' Those thoughts of course had come to late, and as Nyx lifted her head to apologize, Hawk shook his own dismissively, "There's no need to apologize, I should haven't brought that up."

Now his own merrily waving tail had slowed to a stop and he felt the familiar rush of rejection again. This time felt a little different at least; they had talked some more, and he'd learned a little more about this beautiful fae. For one, she did not like humans, and he would remember that for the future. "No sweat, it's nice just to chat here and there, you know?" He said, trying to play off the sinking feeling in his heart, "I'll leave you with some advice with the cats; stick to the southern and eastern sides of the prairie, and you should be safer. I think they mostly prowl to the north." Slowly, his tail gained momentum again, wanting their interaction to at least end on a positive note.

Nyx

She felt embarrassed for souring the good mood between them. "No, no. Its my fault, I have bad memories with humans." Why did she have to growl? She mentally groaned.

Nyx's own tail slowly began to wag again. The lone she-wolf's ears perked back up, and her stomach gave a low growl. "Yes, it was a lovely chat! Well, I best get going." She was hungry and needed to hunt.

"Thank you for warning me of the felines! I appreciate it!" She didn't really want to leave, but she felt a little too embarrassed to stay and talk any longer. "I'll see you around, Hawk!"

She hoped so, he enjoyed his company.