The two scouts skirted the territory's edge, following the creek that wound through the trees. The young white-and-purple wolf led the way, splashing in the water's edge then darting back out to bother the elder melanistic wolf. "Calm yourself, young one. You're making a racket," the elder wolf spoke gently, though the anger in his voice was clear. With the younger scout making such a large amount of noise, the melanistic male was sure they'd be heard. The stream wasn't always the safest, especially not with the corruption of other creatures. Of course, the old wolf knew the young female was aware of this and just being reckless. Putting herself and him in danger, as usual. He growled softly, but knew that as long as they didn't get attacked, pretty much anything could be settled with talking, right?
Raziel reached the creek's edge, inhaling the fresh scent before dipping his paws into the water. This was a favorite hideout of Branwen's, but she was nowhere to be seen. He shook out his long white fur, and lapped at the stream's edge. Branwen had warned him not to wander off on his own, but she was always paranoid when it came to his safety. However, when he'd suggested she do the same, she dismissed it immediately.
He smiled, then lifted his head to admire the canopy above. It was a beautiful day. No monsters would show, he was sure of it.
So much for a peaceful scouting mission. A corrupted coyote sprang from the forest- heading straight for the older scout. It collided with him hard, sending him sprawling into the water with a splash and a howl of surprise. The female whipped around then lunged, slamming the creature away from her mentor and packmate with a growl. "For Ender's sake! We're supposed to be safe from this!" She cursed, swiping at the coyote until it fled. The melanistic male stayed down, panting. He was lucky he wasn't injured, not visibly. "I do not bare Ender's mark. I am not protected as you are, dear apprentice. Check the area while I gather myself. Make sure nobody else is around and nothing else is around." The female ducked her head and slipped off, following the creek, unaware that she was heading directly to another wolf she wouldn't recognize.
Raziel's ear twitched at the muffled sound of a commotion from downstream. He weighed his options, then sighed, and trotted towards the commotion. Branwen was going to kill him.
In a sorry attempt not to completely disregard her concerns, Raziel crouched, stalking forward. He wasn't excellent at hiding--his shining white fur made sure of that--but it was the thought that counted, wasn't it?
She pounced out from the treeline in front of the strange wolf. "I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be here!" she wagged, trying to seem friendly despite having just tried to startle the stranger. Her white and almost neon fur was not the strangest about her. She bore the decorations of the lunar realm, heavy-looking "metal" chains with purple orbs that matched the color of her fur. Around her eye was a marking that seemed- unique. It was nothing any other wolf had, known or not. It was definitely beyond the norm. She also had three eyes, each of which blinked in a different order.
Raziel yipped, and jumped back. "I-- um, I don't mean trouble," he said, wincing. How was he already making a fool of himself? "I heard something, and--well, I wanted to see what was going on. Did you hear that too?" He squinted at the wolf's odd face, trying not to shudder at the way she blinked. His pack was compromised of the most average-looking wolves he'd ever encountered, he was used to being the odd one. He was determined not to offend her by appearing unsettled. He shook out his coat, and tried out a friendly smile. "What brings you here anyway, all by yourself? I've heard reports of strange creatures afoot. Maybe we're lucky to have run into each other, considering." He widened his eyes, for dramatic effect, than realized he was probably making himself seem even more stupid. "I'm Raziel, by the way. I'm from the Endeavor Pack. And you?"
She wagged harder when he got startled, clearly happy with herself for startling him. "I'm not alone! You're definitely lucky to have been found by me!" She paused, debating introducing herself. "I've been told not to introduce myself to strangers. You should probably come with me! Oh- I'm not suggesting it, by the way," her three eyes stilled for a moment, all three of them trained on one of his eyes until she blinked and the focus was gone.
"Alright then," Raziel said, charmed a bit by her enthusiasm, despite the somewhat troubling assertion of I'm not alone. He was more than a little curious to see who she was with, after all. He took off after her, already deciding not to bring this whole ordeal up to Branwen.
"Do you often travel by these parts?" Raziel inquired, trying to ease both the awkward silence and his own nerves. "Me, personally, I just like it here. I'll come when I'm bored, or want to be alone, or--" he broke off, not sure why he was even still talking at that point.
She led the way back along the creek the way she had come, wanting to meet up with her mentor to figure out what would happen with this stranger. "My pack lives around here!" She responded. "Where did he- gah-!" she stopped then fell back a bit when her mentor simply seemed to materialize from the shadows. "Right here, apprentice. Who is this." The elder wolf's words were not a question as he studied Raziel, much more put together and hostile than the female. He was also dripping wet, looking somewhat like a wet rat with pink decorations.
