are you afraid of the DARK?

[AZIKAI [kai]]

Dark wasn't usually his thing. Like his element, Azikai flourished in the sunlight. The lack of light in the cave felt heavy, weighty, and suffocating. His ears flickered back and forth in unease. He placed on pale gray paw forward, inching only the littlest bit of him into the cave at a time. As much as he hated the darkness, he hated the thought of spending the night out in the open even less. He kept seeing his brother Koron's face looming out of the falling dusk. A shudder ran down his ruffled spine.

How pup-like! he chided himself, hearing Folrye's voice as if in his head. Koron's far back with the pack, not anywhere remotely near. Use some logic! Setting his face, Kai pushed his whole body over the threshold of the cave. The rock seemed rough and wrong beneath his paw pads. Stone was thick, compact, solid. Not at all like good ol' dirt. Plants grew easy in dirt, certainly not on rocks. The only time a plant found footing on the surface of stone was when a layer of dirt had accumulated over the stone. The feel of the ground beneath him only increased Kai's feelings of discomfort.

It took him over an hour, but the young gray wolf had finally settled himself in a part of the cave that was very close to the entrance, but far enough away from the looming open that he could feel the comforting closeness of a stone wall against his back flank. Despite his kind position, Kai's body was stiff, and his eyes flickered about at the slightest bit of noise. He kept shuffling his paws, and he didn't feel comfortable laying his head down on his paws.

When did I become so afraid of the dark? he wondered vaguely, vibrant green eyes shooting to the left at the nearby sound of leaves rustling. He realized it wouldn't be nearly so bad if he weren't alone. A bitter feeling of loneliness bubbled through him. He had been away from Folrye for two full seasons now. During that time, he had only had the briefest encounters with other wolves. One pack had chased him away from their territory before he was ever really in it. A set of twin females had bit at his tail and pulled out bits of his fur, teasing as darkly suggestive expressions filled their eyes. Still young and not fully understanding, Kai had gotten out of their quick. And now he was stuck all alone. In the dark of the cave, he felt he might prefer the company of the two rabid females than spending a night all alone...

HOOOO!

Kai shouted aloud as he jumped in frigid surprise. The sound seemed to boom into the cave. Tail fluffed and tucked tightly between his legs, the mottled gray wolf took a few slow and cautious steps to the cave's entrance. Relief and embarrassment rolled through him. Perched low in a nearby tree was a small owl, staring down at him with fire-gold eyes.

"Quite a night, isn't it?" Kai said softly to the winged creature, an uneasy smile flickering over his face. The owl stared at him for a brief second then fluffed up its feathers and took flight. It swooped once, low over his head. It's sharp talons pinched at his right ear before it swerved high into the sky. "That wasn't very nice..." the young male muttered, turning and moving back into the cave with a single careful glance back over his shoulder.

[nerrezai]

Taking a break from the Tytanus to think a few things through and to survey the land, Nerrezai left the canyon and found that her paws had taken her in the direction of the Agrava Cave. She stepped lightly as she explored the foreign territory for the first time, her element allowing her to see even in the pitch black of a blizzard, and so undaunted by the night. The grey wolfess was one of the newest additions to the pack, timid in personality, yet she was decent enough to be accepted. She wasn’t too physically strong, either, and had a petite frame which put her at a bit of a disadvantage when joining. Nerrezai didn’t mind though, she’d be trained in due time to be fit for the title of a proud Tytanus soldier.

The shadow elemental intended to use this unaccompanied moment to scour the land of her new pack, though she jumped at every rustle of the leaves. She wanted to engrave every feature of the area into her mind in order to impress her superiors. Zai would have much more preferred a more forested territory, but she was willing to deal with it in return for the Tytanus’s protection.

Nerrezai nearly jumped out of her fur as an owl suddenly hooted in the distance, but she regained her composure after a short moment. It echoed through the forest eerily, yet she wasn’t afraid. She had the element of shadow on her side. Though, admittedly, she wasn’t the best at it.

A strange sense of curiosity overcame her as the scent of a fellow pack mate then wafted into her nostrils. He wasn’t too far away if she was correct with her analyze of the smell, and set off in the direction she assumed he was at. The new lupine was nearby the owl when it had called out, that much she was sure of.

Fast approaching the mouth of Agrava, she slowed her pace as the scent grew fresher, and stopped altogether when her eyes met the figure of Azikai, not sure whether he was friendly. He could be like any of the wolves she had met thus far, or completely different, but Nerrezai knew one thing for sure, she’d let him come to her. That way, she figured she wouldn’t come off with a bad start. It was a good thing she was upwind and in clear view for once.

[AZIKAI [kai]]

It took several minutes, but the feeling of fear was eventually replaced. Certainly, it was still there, but now lurking further back in Kai's mind. Something more prominent had taken over. A short and pathetic whimper left him, simple as a sigh. His light gray ears angled back in visible discomfort. A feeling was tugging heavily at his heart. The cave around him no longer seemed so completely dark. Now it was painfully empty.

He closed his green eyes, reliving a memory of tumbling about with his siblings. It had been one of very few times when all six of his litter played the same game. There was a rabbit nearby. Folrye had scented if first. He and Koron stalked it side by side. As they neared it, the other four pups caught interest and fell in behind their brothers. Azikai, eager to get in on the action, had taken one too many steps forward. His paw came down on a twig, which snapped loudly. The rabbit attempted to flee. What happened next occured spontaneously, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Koron flicked his tail left and one of three sisters shot that direction. The darkest brother had only to tilt his ear once and the other two sisters ran right. Folrye predicted his brother's order and sped quickly around his right-going sisters. Soon, the six of them had the rabbit cornered between them. Kai was beside Koron, his paws twitching to fly forward at the terrified prey. Only Koron's low growl held him back. With a brief and tiny nod, the lead pup started walking slowly forward. The others all moved at the same time. Kai shot around the circle, filling a gap whenever the rabbit moved towards it. Soon, Koron raised his tail, signaling them all to stop. He began to crouch for the kill, but Folrye beat him to it. The gray-furred brother leapt on the rabbit with untrained paws. His teeth caught around its throat, but the creature managed to get away. In its panic, it sprinted directly into Koron's grasp. The creature was dead in an instant.

Kai blinked himself back to the present. Not for the first time, he longed to run and run until he found himself back on his homepack's land. He would have given anything right then to grow old with his sisters at his sides. He had never had that much trouble with Koron's demanding leadership. But more than all of the others, he wanted the company of his closest sibling, Folrye. For months, the two of them had travelled side-by-side. Kai knew that one sibling far better than he knew himself. He felt like a part of himself was missing when Rye wasn't near. The mottled gray male pulled himself to his paws, moving once more to the cave's entrance. He looked out at the starry sky above him, knowing that somewhere, his family was hunting under the same set of stars.

A hungry growl rumbled in his stomach. Pushing back his sorrow and self-pity, he swept the air with his nose. A look of surprise blinked over his face. How could he have missed that scent? A feeling of sudden joy and hope elated him. He took several more steps out of the cave.

"Hello?" he called, ears moving carefully to catch any sound of the other wolf lurking in the darkness.

[Not a packmate quite yet, deary.]

[-zynêx-]

Zynex never thought herself to be a restless wolf, but there were undoubtedly those times when sleep was elusive and there was nothing to calm the swirling thoughts that overwhelmed her conscious. This being such a night was the reason for her nightly stroll from the Emeti Canyon. Onyx pads treaded silently on the rocky terrain, skipping over protrusions from the unstable ground until those delicate pads rested upon soft grass and newly awakened soil. Her steps became heavier, more certain as her cautious tip-toe became a confident gallop through the expanse of foliage. A nightly gust brought with it the scents of the woods near to her refuge, the solitary cave by which she met her friend and Beta. Such fond memories came from a place often shrouded in rumor of dangerous things awaiting those who entered the gaping mouth of the cave. This fae harbored no fear for her home, if only for the pleasant reminders that were brought by its presences.

The zephyr too brought with it a feminine scent, light and delicate. A scent that could only belong to her newest subordinate Nerrezai. Perhaps she too found it difficult to sleep. In all honestly, the autumn fae did not desire to the company of the timid femme, if only because she wanted the night to herself. But as this was not only her land, she could not direct where the young fae was to wander and where she was to stay out of. This land was as much the Grey's home as it was her own, and accordingly, she was endure the female's presence. Her disposition was not sour nor agitated, merely anxious for the need to sleep.

Erected twins darted forward at a voice not but a few feet ahead. It was too strong to belong to Nerrezai and was indeed male in nature. Fleshed onyx nose bobbed in the air, gathering the unfamiliar scent as it was carried on by the twirl of the wind. The tossle of auburn fur sent an uncomfortable chill down the Alpha's spine, though it was quickly dispelled by a rough shake of her full, marbled pelt.

Her pace quickened, wide spanned paws fell soundlessly on the earthen floor. The trot now a mighty gallop through the new-growth til the beckoning mouth of the cave was in sight as was the image of her Grey. Sounding her steps and raising her body to its full stature, Zynex parted through the trees. Eyes delicately veiled by waning lids, swept over the female without a word to her then cast their light to a pair of distant eyes approaching the mouth of the cave. Someone was intruding her home. A stranger...an unfamiliar scent now tainted the interior of the cave. Had this stranger not smelled the fresh scent of the pack? Or had the night doused his abilities as fatigue overtook them? Certainly she would find out. "Excuse me.." The Alpha's voice was soft as usual, though there was a commanding tone, gartering attention from all within hearing. "Are you perhaps lost?" She continued. Head tilted slightly in favor of a more curious disposition, rather than a commanding, intimidating one. She waited patiently for reply, eyes locked onto the alien pair before her.

[AZIKAI [kai]]

He wasn't sure what he had expected, but this wasn't it. Perhaps he had thought the stranger in the night would be an angry male, ready to rip poor Kai to shreds for stepping into his territory. Or maybe he had been clinging to the hope that one of his siblings-particularly Rye-would pad from the forest and greet him with a happy grin.

She had come out of the forest from a different direction than he had guessed the other wolf was. He silently chided his senses for not catching her change in direction before she slipped into his view.

It was as if the goddess of the hunt herself had walked from the night and questioned him. Azikai's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the strength and beauty that seemed to radiate off the female. She appeared near his age, but at least a little older. Her eyes were strong with wisdom and intelligence beyond his simple mind. Her shoulders curved back with grace. But most notable was the way she held her head high, body poised. He knew that stance at a glance. This female was beyond a mere pack wolf. [He had caught the scent of a pack smoked about her person.]

This was an alpha.

His ears fell back at once. Where his had had been raised high in curiosity, he lowered it lightly, not low enough to seem a weakling, but deep enough for an obvious show of respect. His tail wagged very quietly and gently behind him. Her voice was soft as it reached his ears, but still held a commanding note. He felt the need to respond to her question at once. "Terribly lost, m'lady," he admitted. "I..." He hesitated. "I was frightened of the darkness and fled to this cave without scenting where I was," he said truthfully with a tiny sheepish smile. He almost regretted telling her, fearing she'd dismiss him at once at his cowardice. But there was something about her that made him trust her at once, but also crave her approval.

[-zynêx-]

Interesting, was perhaps the only word she could think to describe this odd speckled male for the moment. His proud yet curious stature fell under her presence, but there was still an innocence the female sought to be genuine. And it was this that encouraged her approach, though slow and regal. Her tail too gave a slow quiver of greeting as a small smile curled the corners of her elegant maw. "The dark it not something to fear," her voice retained its soft tone as her eyes drifted back to her subordinate. "Nerrezai could perhaps tell you that better than I." A knowing glimmer in her eye was directed to the fae before the rusted cranium was once again turned toward foreign male. "But I can understand the need for refuge at this untimely hour." Her forgiveness for the intrusion was perhaps more wordy than necessary, but it was with the intent to put the male's mind at ease.

Stepping into the mouth of the cave, she regarded the male with a glance to follow coupled with a gentle tap of her auburn plume on the tip of his nose. "Please come Nerrezai," she called for the female behind her and once again cast her moonlit hues upon the speckled Grey. "You as well."

Onyx pads thread soundlessly on familiar ground. It had been some time since she returned to this cave, though it was an extension to her domain. Perhaps it was the feeling of enclosure that kept her away, or the fact this den would better serve as a nursery than a resting area for her pack. The thought of little bodies romping around in the cave created a warm feeling in her stomach and a motherly smile on her lips. But just was quickly as the feeling emerged, it was snuffed as the female remembered she was in the company of a stranger.

Using the pale light the moon had to offer, her eyes swept over the stone ground for twigs and leaves, something dry enough to burn. With luck and a delicate sense of smell she found and gathered the fire starters into a neat little pile. Dipping her head with a subtle inhale, she released her breath in a display of red-orange sparks. Greedily feeding off the dry matter, an ember was born and it grew into a sizable flame, not large but enough to provide some light in the dense cave. Satisfied with her work, the fiery fae padded around the fire then settled herself but a foot away from it, curling her form into a crescent shape. Her muzzle was facing the mouth of the cave, watchful. Her eyes met that of the male's. "Tell me..what is your name?"

[AZIKAI [kai]]

Her actions surprised him more than her sudden appearance. He had met few alphas in his days, and she acted like none of them. A part of his had assumed all alphas were as aloof and uncaring as his father had acted, or perhaps they were as cruel as the few leaders he come upon along his travels. She didn't chase him off at once, instead pausing to hear his words, and even accepting them.

There seemed to be far more going on behind her eyes than she vocalized aloud. He watched her closely with his green eyes as she moved up next to him. When she spoke this time, however, she wasn't addressing Kai. He turned his head and was surprised to find a light gray female lurking in the shadows. This was the one he had originally scented. The young male felt a brief reboost to his ego, happy knowing his senses weren't complete failures.

His elation vanished quickly as the rust-furred alpha moved past him and into the cave. His ears quivered once more. Was this their pup den? He padded over to his spot with an uneasy feeling tugging at his stomach. The gray felt out of place in a dwelling that was probably very sacred to the red female's pack. He frowned briefly, wondering if she'd start yelling once he was settled into a laying position. The awkward feeling not subsiding, Kai sat gently in the spot where he'd lain earlier.

His green eyes watched keenly as she moved about, scraping twigs together. She arranged them with experience and skill, then opened her jaws and breathed fire into them. His gaze stuck on the small, flickering flame. What a wondrous ability, he thought to himself. Much better than making tiny leaves sprout...

Her fire started and light spreading into the cave, the alpha female turned her gaze on Kai. He blushed beneath his fur and dipped his chin almost shyly. "My name is Azikai, m'lady, but I usually go by Kai." In his previous life, only his close family members had been allowed to call him by his nickname. He wondered why he gave it so freely now. Perhaps it was because he wanted so badly to trust the female before him. And perhaps it was because an idea was forming in his mind, in the same place where his loneliness had lurked only moments before.

[-zynêx-]

Allowing her tired forelegs a chance to stretch and relax, the autumn fae looked upon the Grey known as Kai. Words could not be spoken for the moment, as her eyes were surveying the male's form shamelessly, absorbing the sight allowed by the light of the moon and then some. He had a sturdy built, much to be desired, but with a kind face. One she would place upon a friend when one was in need. The eerie glow of his green eyes though were was captivated her, like a baited lure she was drawn in as if taken through the inner depths of his soul. His intentions and disposition out before her, she felt immediately a calming presence from the male, a familiar sensation...one she had only felt from her Beta before.

And just a quickly as she was drawn in, her consciousness resurfaced to reality. Silvery eyes blinked several times to re-wet them as they had been wide and staring through the entire endeavor. The female cleared her throat with a subtle cough, recalling that the male had named himself, and justly she should do that same.

Slightly she dipped her head in regard then returned her eyes to the male. "Do forgive my absence Azikai. I am called Zynex by my underlings and Zyn to my friends and equals. Do feel free to address me as either," she offered, her voice was kind and soft as her eyes. Smile still present her tired eyes fell upon the fire and became enraptured by the flames. A soft, relaxing sigh escaped from slightly parted lips. It was some time before she regarded the male again as her thoughts were her own. "Tell me...what brings you into the Tytanus lands? You seem like a wolf to be within a pack. Your build suggests such..." Her gaze detoured from the light of the fire and fell upon the Grey again.

[AZIKAI [kai]]

He didn't notice that she had fallen so silent. Truthfully, his mind followed a similar path to that of the alpha. His dark green eyes surveyed her mottled copper pelt, her body good-sized and with apparent strength. Her eyes stood out against her fur: a soft steely gray. She was like an inverted version of himself; he had a gray coat and vibrant eyes, while she had bright fur and subdued eyes. The young male could almost see the gears turning behind her eyes; there appeared to be much on her mind. It had been a long time since Kai had last been around a wolf who actually had things to ponder and worry over. As he traveled aimlessly, he often found himself wondering at the stupidest things, simply because he had nothing relevant to concern himself with.

Her words brought him sharply back to the present. The gray was surprised to find their eyes linked. He held her gaze with his head tilted lightly to the side in an innocent, curious sort of expression. Zynex was her name. What a sharp, powerful name, Azikai thought to himself. He nodded softly, deciding the title suited her well. It was strong and straight-forward, but also with a hint of beauty and certainly an air of intelligence.

His ears flickered back at her next address. I want to join your pack! he restrained himself from blurting out at once. He was silent for a long moment as he considered how to reply. While a part of him wanted to pour out his heart to this mysterious female, another part of him held back. He didn't think he could stand to feel his heart stomped all over once again. If he told her the whole story, he'd find himself emotionally attached to Zynex and the pack she led, even if he'd never met them. Kai knew he wouldn't be able to stand watching his hopes crushed once again.

"I-I have no pack. Not for a long time," was all he said, ears tilting lightly back, but eyes maintaining contact with her.

[-zynêx-]

It was that strained flicker in the male's eyes that kept the female's gaze on the male. An ear tweak with interest as she waited, calmly anticipating his reply. Subtly he had deemed himself a loner...a wanderer that just so happened to stumble onto the Tytanus lands. Surely there was another reason behind this, but for the sake of keeping the male comforted, she didn't press on.

Instead the female was silent, Azikai's words sunk into her consciousness and she mulled them over and thought of her pack. They were low in numbers, and this male did have a suitable physique for their ranks. A sturdy body, and attractive to say the least. The females would surely make him feel at home. A deviant smirk sneaked onto her muzzle, but was quickly covered by a well placed cough and a swipe to her muzzle. She cleared her throat and once again addressed the Grey. "By that tone of voice...I would say you miss the pack environment." Her eyes glittered with intrigue. "Am I wrong?"

[AZIKAI [kai]]

Again, he wasn't sure what to say. He saw something flicker briefly over her face, but didn't catch what it was. At her words, he forced himself to keep from reacting with another twitch of his ears or a soft sigh.

I HATE IT! he wanted desperately to scream. The loneliness of a solitary life was wearing away at him, spinning him down and down. Even the brief company of Zynex made him feel ultimately more whole again. The thought of being alone again for months on end made something dark shift in his mind. It was a terrible feeling, something he'd never experienced before. The emotion seemed to tug downward at him, filling his green eyes with a brief expression of horror. His eyes dropped, falling into the fire, anything to distract himself.

The little flame was already putting off enough heat to warm his gray paws. It flickered and danced, almost as if it had a life of its own. Kai's green eyes were filled with the orange gold of the fire, slipping past those open windows and into his mind. For a split second [although it seemed longer], he felt the overwhelming warmth, confidence, and lingering self-restraint that he associated with anything fire-like. His gaze slowly slid up, landing on Zynex. She wasn't so different, was she? Beautiful, graceful, confident, surely. Was there a similar feeling of doubt and restraint in her mind? The young gray felt as if he were staring into a second flame, this one even more alive than the last. Her fur and the expression in her eyes seemed only to second that.

For a moment, he didn't realize he was speaking. But his ears slowly resurfaced, and he felt surprised to hear his own voice. "The silence doesn't suit me. Nor does the emptiness," his voice was quiet and gentle without any trace of timidness. "I loved my pack. They were my family, but," he concluded, "not my home."

He came fully back to himself and a blush fell over his face. He ducked his chin and eyes in embarrassment. "Forgive me, m'lady. My tale is not your burden to bear."

One ear fell to the side as he slowly lifted his eyes again with a simple expression of curiosity. "Please, tell me about your pack, Lady Zynex." He felt an icy sort of numbness about his mind and body. Kai wondered what strange twist of fates had brought him to the position he was in: cheekily asking an alphess to describe her home people, all the while wishing desperately to be one of them. He forced his ears forward, struggling not to appear the rude intruder he felt he was being.

"talk"

[-zynêx-]

By the distant glimmer in the brute's eyes, there was much the male wanted to say but he withheld the information, for what reason the fae didn't know. She let him have his moment of privacy as he scrounged for the right words and crafted them in a way, she assumed he thought would be pleasing to her. A conceited notion, but at times authority tended to warp one's outlook. Zynex continued to wait patiently, all the while staring at her creation.

A family but not a home, he had said. An odd way to describe one's pack especially since it was supposed to act as a familiar unit and support the each other. The female tilted her head curiously. Was this male and outcast? Or perhaps distanced himself? Distanced seemed the more likely, as his physique demonstrated he would be an excellent guardian if not hunter. Yet as he wished not to continue on, she nodded her head in understanding and began to answer his directed question.

"We are the Tytanus," she began simply. "As it stands we have yet to establish a familiar setting with each other, though I believe it to be spring's magic working into the emotions of the young. Once the season has changed each wolf may look upon the other with a clear head and note them as a comrade. I keep the pack in order, trained regularly, while also taught the importance of dependency on the other while maintaining individuality. There would be no reason for one wolf to carry another if he cannot carry himself." She smiled softly. "And contrary to rumor...we are not a pack of 'meat-headed' brutes.."

[AZIKAI [kai]]

He felt utterly torn in two.

More than anything, he wanted to run alongside other wolves again. He wanted to hunt for more than just himself, to know the comradeship of those he lived and died beside, to feel the gentle brush of another body curled up near him when he slept at night. It was even so simple as hearing the voice of another buzzing in his ear when the loneliness tugged at his heart. For a pack to call home, he'd run himself ragged day after day. He would fight any enemy, and die without thanks.

He wanted it so much, but he couldn't just throw himself at her paws, begging for her compassion. He held himself restrained, eyes beginning to show the longing that threatened to overwhelm him. He was beginning to feel foolish, wanting something so much, but not asking for it. He wanted Zynex to know how devoted he would be should she choose to take him in, but, at the same time, he didn't want to seem desperate and weak.

"Sounds like quite a pack," he finally allowed himself to say, one ear twitching lightly. He wasn't sure what else to say. The last time he'd been in a pack, he had been a pup still. He had no experience with the adults of any pack, let alone with alphas. He wasn't sure what she meant by spring's magic working into the emotions of the young. When he had come fully to age the previous spring, it had only been Kai and Folrye. All young males rubbed each other wrong at one point or another; Kai hadn't noticed how they had particularly disliked each other at that time of year. He had never witnessed a good relationship before, nor seen any pups since he himself was a pup. He knew next to nothing about "the birds and the bees" and pupping. Altogether, he was rather ignorant as to what made spring so special. Perhaps if he hadn't been so nervous, he would have noticed the unusual tint spring had given Zynex's scent to his nose.

He chose his next words carefully. "With a growing pack, perhaps another hunter would do some good," he said slowly, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Kai hoped his voice sounded more sly and intelligent than he was feeling...

"talk"

[-zynêx-]

Kai's compliment to her pack had fallen on deaf ears for she had heard many statements of the like. Some in truth and admiration, others in sarcasm and disdain. Regardless of the intent, the words had long since lost their meaning, though she was grateful for the acknowledgment. Crystalline orbs gleaming by the firelight, she continued to look upon Kai's visage, eyes carefully trained to the emotive dance of his muzzle.

His eyes were that of a distant hound, searching for something along the horizon then finding it, but was not ready to accept it. This notion brought a smile to ginger muzzle and a gentle shake of her shoulders in subdued laughter. Perhaps she had said something that appeased his senses, but he was not ready to accept it. Or maybe he was, and didn't know how to go about it. Either way, it made the light within his emerald gaze dance marvelously and the female found herself enraptured by this vivid display.

She was growing to like this male more and more, after only knowing him for a short duration of time. It took all of her restraint to not give a mirthful howl to his subtle request into the pack. A clever use of words, hesitant and testing, yet bold in want. Simply perfect. None the less her face betrayed her, and a fanged smile, pure in its light, shone upon her slender muzzle and a hearty laugh shook the entirety of the fae's body. "Another hunter certainly would aid in our prosperity," she admitted, voice taking a playful tone. "But do you know of such a hunter? There are few good ones within these parts." Eyes glittering with mischief, she raised an auburn brow, whilst lapping her tongue across her lips, a habit taken when she was anticipating reply.

[AZIKAI [kai]]

He shuffled his paws, surprised by the easiness with which his words has slipped from him. He was slipping back into the smooth easiness of conversing with another far quicker than he had predicted. Even when he'd spend his days with Folrye at his side, Kai hadn't spoken much. Rye was not a very vocal wolf, which had in turn rubbed off on Azikai. By his own nature, though, Kai was a very sociable male. Back in his pack, he and his sisters had spent plenty of time giggling, playing, and making up stories.

At first, her words hit his ears with a level of disappointment. She hadn't picked up his hint! While her words themselves gave him no hope, her tone of voice did. He ran her voice back through his head, catching the note of playfulness. A small smile came to his face, tilting his head to the side as if he agreed with her predicament.

Now that he thought about it, Kai wondered what would sway an alpha to choose a particular wolf for her pack. Did it depend on how desperately her clanmates needed another hunter? Or did she choose depending on how many males or females were in the pack? Did she examine each candidate individually, looking for aspects that would improve the well-being and blood of the pack? If that was the case, what did she see in him that would catch her interest. He was an alright hunter, but nothing too incredible. He lacked Folrye's cunning and Koron's leadership.

Once more he chose his words carefully. Her playful tone made playing along much easier, but he feared a wrong word might destroy it. It was better to continue the charade and let her decide when it was time to be serious.

"Perhaps," he said as if an idea had just occurred to him, "we should go out among your hunting grounds. Should we come upon a hunter, we might be able to convince him to display his skills for you." He flicked his tail as if offering the idea to her, a tilted ear showing an expression similar to a single raised eyebrow. Now he hoped he wasn't overdoing it. He didn't want her thinking he was too cocky or ignorant.

"talk"