Kalio

The only wolf trained by the pack's first herbalist, Rusty, Kalio had high standards to meet. He prevailed even after Rusty passed, and on April 22nd at 1 year and 6.5 months old, he obtained 100% herbalist proficiency.

Then, at 6 years and 7 months, something unexpected happened. Aibrean decided to confront him about something neither had been brave enough to say. They grew up together, feeling a certain, fuzzy way whenever they looked at one another, but what was that way? What did it mean? Kalio was far too afraid to contemplate it, but as time passed on, he began to worry. Would he ever be able to search his own soul enough to determine what that feeling he'd felt from his puphood to now toward Aibrean would mean? Perhaps he wouldn't have to ponder for long. One beautiful, moonlit night, Aibrean trotted over to him. He was humming a quiet tune as he mashed together the parts needed for some medication, not very attentive to his surroundings. "Hey," Aibrean started off, sitting down beside the dark wolf. "Hm?" Kalio replied, snapping out of his little trance as he looked over to Aibrean. Those golden eyes glimmered from the dark, brimming with emotion. It set his heart aflutter. Aibrean hesitated, unsure of whether or not he could continue. What was he going to say? "So, I was wondering… how do you see me?" Kalio was understandably confused, some part of him not sure whether he should believe what was happening before him, tilting his head at the question. "How do I see you?" Kalio repeated, "What do you mean?" "Er…" Aibrean averted his gaze for a moment, struggling to find the words, "well, do you just think of me as a friend?" Kalio cocked his head, seemingly thoughtful. "I mean, you are my friend," he ventured carefully, those eyes scanning Aibrean as though trying to decipher what he really meant. The hint of a blush on the brown-and-black wolf's face, the anxious posture, and the wide-eyed, hopeful expression adorning that beautiful face gave him a few hints. "Do… uh… do you think we could be more?" Kalio seemed a little startled by how Aibrean went straight to the point, a blush coming over his face now as well. "I-I guess I haven't really thought about it," he replied somewhat nervously, but both of them knew he was lying. "What would the pack say?" Kalio seemed worried. "It doesn't matter what they say," Aibrean consoled, giving the dark wolf a soft nuzzle on the cheek, "because they don't get to say how we can and can't feel."