Beetles, wings, and bothersome things.... [OPEN]

[Bassie]

Lexington blinked his eyes open, sleep retreating like a tide withdrawing from a shore. A beetle scuttled near his paws, it’s shell gleaming bright as the insect went about it’s business. The sun glinted off it’s hull, making it look like a gem stone.

Lex flicked his large ears back against his skull, loathe to be awoken in the middle of his nap. The beetle made a chirping sound with it’s wings every now and then. He couldn’t be sure what had awoken him – if it had been the zeeeeeeet, zeeeeeeeet of the emerald bug or the shift of the sun – he was no longer swathed in shade, as he had been when he’d fallen asleep. His head and shoulders were now bathed in golden light.

Admitting defeat, Lex hauled himself to his feet – all three of them. A moment was spent inspecting his coat for brambles or debris, and another shaking what was found free. Lexington was a fastidious creature, after all, and it wouldn’t do to go about his day covered in bits of leaf and twig.

So, he’d manage to spend at least two hours asleep, judging by the shift in the sun’s position. What to do now? There were no sick or injured wolves in the Eyrie pack, which gave him free reign to spend his days however he liked. Lexington gave himself one more good shake and set off toward the Fleet River.

1,2,3…1,2,3… Lex’s gait was an odd thing to witness, if you hadn’t seen it before. The tripod had been born with three legs, and had adopted this manner of travel from day one. It looked oddly graceful, almost like a waltz – different than one would expect.

Soon enough, Lexington could hear the distinct sound of water rushing past stones. The light filtered down through the trees like golden liquid, splashing into the river and setting the dancing water aflame. Dipping his muzzle, Lexington let the cool water flow down his throat while the considered things. He was in a free wolf today. One ought to think he could find something to do.

[Madey(Hatter)]

Alue was on top of a rocky hill, her throat burning of thirst. She was new in these parts and had yet to learn where the ponds were located, her auds twitched to every sound around her, birds chirped loudly at each other, bees started to buzz in her ears. Annoyance soon was easily detected on her features. Then the last Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz echoed through her ear, so she snapped her jaws at it with incredible speed. Spitting it out of her mouth and onto the floor where it laid...Limp. She snorted in satisfaction that the buzzing had stopped. She lifted her dome a little higher than normal to get a new scent so she would remember where she had been. Then a strong scent tickled her nose, it was very strong so she figured it had to be a brute since it had a wolfy tang to it. Her auds pricked as she quickened her strides, maybe the brute knew where water was. She didn't take any more time to debate, she would find out where the water was, no matter what. She told herself that in her head about 5 times. When she was down the large hill she could start to hear the drops of the water as if dripped from the brutes maw. If you haven’t figured out already, Alue has a keen sense of hearing. Her throat started to feel like fire at the moment, like a vampire did when it was thirsty for blood, when it would do anything just to get it down it's throat to take out the fire. When she finally reached the tiny hill she padded soundlessly up it quickly. When she finally reached the very top she looked down at the water then at the brute. Her auds flickered back for a few seconds then she rolled her eyes and padded down the hill. She was a couple feet away from him, she lowered her nose to the water and her tongue started to lap at it, getting as much water as she could to satisfy her thirst. When she knew she wasn't thirty anymore she lifted her dome. Wary golden green eyes focused on the brute. She lowered her head in a gesture of greeting. " Salutations, Brute." Her lyrics were soft as if rolled off her tongue. Her tail swayed calmly behind her as she waited for the brute’s response.

[Bassie]

Lexington perked his ears up in interest as he heard the sound of another approaching. Whoever it was, they were coming from downwind, for what it mattered. He turned slightly, sharp eyes scanning the treeline, until a female appeared. She approached the stream calmly, hardly seeming to give Lexington much notice, and drank deep. The tripod watched her keenly out of one eye, curiosity prickling at him. They say it killed the cat, but a feline I am not. As far as Lexington, curiosity was a virtue, and it fell on her personal list of priority character traits somewhere between "sarcastic" and "dry witted". Others might have considered it one of the only traits that made Lex bearable. He considered them all to be positive.

The three-legged healer was content to watch the large female in silence until she spoke to him. "Salutations, brute. It was formal, and Lex tipped his muzzle in a cordial nod in return, like a gentleman tipping his hat. "Greetings to you too, then, miss." He was well aware that she might take "miss" as demeaning, but it wasn't how he intended it, and so he didn't care. She could misinterpret it if she liked, but "lady" was a word of respect in Lexington's vocabulary, usually reserved for the alphess. "Miss" fell to every other female, and she could count herself lucky it was a kind term, relatively speaking. Lex had been known to bestow titles like "mudpuppy" on perfect strangers, as well as harsher words.

The silvered wolf shook his coat, sending diamond-bright droplets scattering through the sunlight, and took a few steps downstream, eyeing for trout, his ears still pointed toward the fea. "I don't suppose we've met before, have we? Of course not. I never forget someone." He turned and gave her a speculative look, as if he were just checking, and then cracked a smirk, before turning back to the water. A fat brown body shivered just under the surface, silver fins slicing the water, dappled back blending in with the river stones.

Lexington became deadly still, inching forward with his peculiar gate, and then struck at once, jaws snapping in a frenzy of water. The trout was lifting from the stream, writhing, and carried triumphantly to the water's edge, where Lex proceeded to take it by its tail and bash it against a rock. It ceased it's movements then, prompting a satisfied smile from the three-leg.

"I'm called Lexington Rukangàt, miss." His demeanor was entirely casual and relaxed, and hints of a grin kept dancing about his jaws, as if he was in on a joke nobody else was. It was an unusually jovial mood for the normally dry-humoured wolf, as if everything today were some big game.

After studying his newly arrived companion for a moment more, Lexington began picking at his freshly caught meal, seemingly absorbed in the task.

[Madey(Hatter)]

She could feel the glanced when she drank. She held back a 'hmmm' from her curiosity from why he was staring at her. What was so interesting about her? She had asked herself in her head before her golden eyes flickered to his glance, but went back to the water. She seemed wary about the brute for a few minutes. When he spoke to her in a nice way by saying 'miss' she had a confused look on her face. her brows furrowed, but not in anger or sadness...But, in curiousity and confusion. " Uhhhh....Did you just say miss?" She asked her voice in a low murmur, but loud enough for him to hear, her head was tilted her right just enough to make it visible. She was never called Miss before. Pup, heartless, fool, Bi*ch, and all the other cruel names were what she was used to. Then his next statement which was fallowed by his question, made her faintly smile. Now that she was close enough though, her battle scars were noticeable. She had scratches all over her muzzle, teeth gashes which were scared over on her back and neck, and more long scratches across her belly and sides. " I don't believe we have met. It is surly a pleasure. " She said with a faint smile, still not knowing how to react to the niceness...It's been too long. When he said his name a larger smile crept across her maw. " Well, Lexington Rukangàt , It is very nice too meet you. Would you mind if I call you Lexington? " She asked politely. " Oh, where are my manner. I apologize, I'm Alue A'meastra. Alue preferred. " She said with a pleasant smile. Her tail swayed calmly behind her. When he caught the fish was when she noticed him on three legs, she studied him and kept her smile. " Nice catch. " She said in a low voice, that almost sounded like a whisper.

[Bassie]

Lex ate carefully, avoiding the needle like bones with surgical precision as he cleaned the trout. They had a habit of sticking in one's throat, uncomfortably, if not properly avoided. The meal brought a smile to Lexington's maw. He was not capable of bringing down large game on his own, and as a loner had become accustomed to preying on a variety of smaller game. Since coming to Eyrie, his habits had been somewhat reclusive - he lived away from the others unless his services were needed to heal or mend.

In all that time, fish had marked themselves as a clear favourite among menu choices for the male. One did not need speed or strength to catch them, only cunning - and cunning he had. Not to mention the fact that they were, all things considered, quite delicious. Fall would be arriving soon, and with it, the salmon runs. It was a bountiful time for him, and he looked forward to it with anticipation. At the moment though, there was the matter of things at hand. Lex took a moment from his meal, the worst of his hunger now sated, and gazed at Alue.

"Called you miss, indeed I did. You may call me Lexington if you wish," he said, leaning back on his haunches in a sitting position. He was tall, even seated - his lanky frame was unusually long, and he sat straight, his posture a carefully executed thing. One might have even called it regal - to Lex it was simply proper conduct in the presence of others. You wouldn't catch him sprawling about in company, unless it was a particularly trusted individual.

"I'm the healer for the Eyrie pack, although I visit the loner's lands and Njal pack from time to time as well. What brings you here today, miss?" Perhaps, he thought, some intellectual conversation? That was something the packlands could use a little more of. Too many foolish muscle-bound creatures running about, hungry for power and who knew what, oblivious to the idea that they had brains in their heads. He would reserve judgment on this female, for the moment at least. He was in good spirits. Normally her muscle-bound frame would have counted as a strike in his books, not to mention the scars and her manner, but something was making him feel charitable with his judgment today.

He cast an emerald eye at the forest around them - it was alive with gold and green, insects humming and birds calling at one another over the sound of the brook. Quite idyllic really, although the healer saw little point in the appreciation of scenery. Birds, now, those... those intrigued him. From time to time, snatches of their songs made sense, a word here and there. It was obvious they could speak, if they wanted to, but they kept their songs a secret. It was a little maddening, really. The silvery wolf looked back to Alue, awaiting her response.

[Madey(Hatter)]

She watched as he ate his fish, getting rid of the bone so it wouldn't hurt him. She never did that, she actually never tried fish. She always went for the bigger game, for many reasons. First reason was because she liked to hunt, the second reason was because it's a challenge. She also hated fish, they were slippery and yucky! She thought to herself trying not to show anything on her features. Which was one of her habits she had grown to strengthen. Nothing was noticeable within her features and body language. Alue nodded. " Thank you, Lexington. " She said knowing she would end up calling him Lexington rather than anything else, and if they start a friendship relationship then she would probably end up calling him Lex here and there. Her upper lip twitched as she started to get hungry. She knew she hadn't eaten in two days. Trying to reach her destination as fast as she could...But, she was here now. She would hunt later, she thought to herself then nodded. So he was an Eyrie. A smile started to tug at the end of her maw, but it vanished quickly. " I can very much understand that."She said meaning visiting the other lands. She was thrilled that there was a healer, she knew they came in great handy when something happened to the members. Especially if there were a fight. She then she slightly cocked her head at his question. " Please call me Alue " . She said in a soft and polite tone that she had barely used to so many wolves. She still wasn't used to the kindness. She shook her dome then started to answer his question. " Well, I joined the pack...and everything so I guess I am just waiting for a rank. " She didn't exactly what he was asking. " When you say what bring me here...What exactly do you mean? Like here to the lands or here to the pack? " She had a faint look of confusion in her face, but that was all. When the birds chirped it didn't bother her at all, it was when something did the exact same thing and right in her ear, that annoyed the crap out of her. She hated it when wolves or any other species did that. She then noticed something shake like a babies rattle which made Alue jump back from the opposite direction of the rattler. This was one of her fears....Yes, she was terrified or rattle snakes. Golden green eyes eyed the slithering rattler as it curled up ready to strike.

[Bassie]

Lexington cleaned the last bits of fish away, licking his lips and spending several moments making sure his coat was clean of debris. He took care of his coat - the lack of guard hairs made it easy for his pelt to become dirty and matted, something which disgusted him, and was uncomfortable besides. The three-legged healer was a fastidious wolf - personal cleanliness was important to him. He'd seen the difference it could make, a wound kept clean vs a wound allowed to sit and fester - and although it was beyond the wolf's brain to understand microorganisms, it had reinforced in him the idea that cleanliness led to better health. To say that he was a bit obsessive-compulsive, on top of that, would not have been inaccurate.

"Alue it is, then." the male coiled his tail neatly around his forepaws and peered at the scarred female before him.

"What I meant was," he paused for a moment, considering his words. "Why are you here, at this particular stream? However, both of your options are valid questions as well. Why join Eyrie? Why come to this place? You weren't born here." His tone was conversational. Although Lexington preferred to live a life separated from the members of his pack, he enjoyed delving into their heads from time to time. The desires and motivations of other wolves could be endlessly fascinating.

Something shifted near Alue, causing her to start, and it drew Lexington's gaze. It was a timber rattler - unusual for this region, but then, not entirely unheard of. Also peculiar was it's behavior - to approach wolves. Or, for that matter, any creature too large for it to consider a meal. That wasn't something snakes did. The rattling was a defense mechanism, to warn dangers away from the snake before it had to strike.

Lex pulled himself up, standing on his three long legs, and spoke quietly to Alue. "Best to back away slowly, miss. It won't strike at you unless you give it a reason." Lexington turned - missing a hind leg made it difficult to walk backwards, and it was one of the few maneuvers he hadn't figured out how to improvise. He gestured with his muzzle, bidding Alue to do the same.

[Madey(Hatter)]

Alue studied him when he finished his fish and started to groom himself, it made her think of another wolf named Darcia. He was a brute who always kept himself clean. His talons were shiny all the time, his coat didn't have a hint of dirt on it. Alue for example had a few dirt marks on her neck and paws. She never groomed herself until she finds her cave and before she goes to sleep and wakes up and even in the afternoon is her schedule to groom her grayish brown fur. She nodded towards him in agreement when he said. 'Alue it is, then." She took a breath and gazed at the sky, it was rather cloudy out and the sun seemed to be going down soon. She watched it for a few moments then looked down at her shadow then back up at the sun. She then figured that it will be another two to three hours till sunset. When Lexington explained when he meant Alue's orbs bored into his. She nodded. " Well, to answer that question is because I was wondering the land from my destination and was looking for a watering hole, and since this one was the closest that I found. I came to drink in this stream. " She gave a roll of her shoulders in a faint shrug. She didn't quite get what he was getting at so she ignored the last part until he said "You weren't born here." She then smirked. " No I wasn't." She agreed once again. The snake seemed to coil up and stick its tongue out at the two wolves in front of it smelling by the heat of their bodies that they were a lot larger than it was and knew he couldn't eat them. He seemed too give a disappointed hiss and turned it's narrowed dome towards Lexington when he backed up. Then it turned its blind gave towards Alue. "HGSSSSSSSS" It seemed to spat out, as the rattling seemed to increase. When Alue noticed Lexington take a step back she did as well, but with more ease since she had all four paws. She didn't feel sorry for him, though at the same time she did. She made a note to herself that if he gets into trouble with another wolf she would help him out. Even if he doesn't want the help, she wanted someone to be protective over. She seemed to roll her eyes when he said that it wouldn't strike without reason. " The other one did. " Her lyrics seemed a bit harsher, but it wasn't towards him. She shook her dome in memory. That was how one of her daughter's pup died after it bit her daughter then Alue killed it of course.