She had started out on patrol having to wake up early had put her in a sour mood. Well a more sour mood, word had reached her that her mother and that male were blissfully content and possibly planning a family of their own. It figured that male had stolen her family from her and now planned on replacing her. Her chest felt tight as she fought back a sudden wave of sadness, of longing. Snarling she shook her head and tore off the path of the packs territory heading instead for the ocean. She rarely moved down to the rocky beaches that the pack resided so close too. The salty air and the power of the ocean had always felt a bit too overwhelming for one so used to being the most intense wolf in a group. Still she felt a need for company, not just any company though...she wanted to see Rio again, she wanted to see if he could make her feel that warm sense of friendship. In truth it wouldn't hurt to smile again either, but she wasn't looking for miracles.
She leapt from stone down to the sliding pebbles that were smooth from the waters wear. "Uhh...hello..." She stared at the expanse of water before her suddenly feeling foolish. This had better work she thought with a slight snarl. "If...Rio's out out there let him know..." Let him know what? That she was sad and lonely and pathetic? No, it wouldn't do to look so needy. "let him know I'd like to have a little spar...if he's game." She tossed off with a flicked of her head and then waded out of the mild waves to sit on a rock higher up.
Imagine Rio's surprise when, as he was finishing a meal, he heard the familiar voice calling in his head.
She searches for you.
He knew right away exactly who "she" was, but that was the extent of the message. Hopping back up and leaving his catch where it was, picked almost clean, he hurried off to meet Agrona with a slight bounce in his stride and a wag to his tail.
"Agrona!" He called as soon as her dark figure came into view up on the rocks.
She looked up surprised to see him, yes she had called but it still startled her that the water had actually seemingly brought him to her. She wasn't sure how to express her...happiness? Was she happy to see him? Yes, yes she was actually quite happy to see him, she leapt from the rock and moved quickly down towards him her tail wagging.
"Rio!" She frowned a bit at how harsh her voice sounded then shook her head. "I'm sorry...I just hoped we could...err well...I...wanted to see you." Hmm, that had been harder to admit then she expected.
"What are you apologizing for?" He grinned, drawing closer with a light wag of his tail. "Nothing wrong with a friend wanting to see a friend, is there? How are things going?" He asked, both polite and genuinely curious. She'd seemed a bit on the sad side when he first met her, this was a drastic improvement already from that meeting.
"I guess I'm not used to having a friend like that..." She gave a slight twitch of the lips, half a smile. She moved to sit down and then glanced at the water. "I'm still surprised that worked..." She gave a soft huff before looking down with a slight frown.
"Things are...I don't like how things are...I guess..." She sighed and scowled unsure how to express herself without anger.
"Well, you can get used to it now." He laughed, wagging his tail more, but then he grew worried, frowning softly, but not too much. "Don't like? What's the matter, Agrona?" He moved to have a seat next to her, nudging her shoulder with his lightly.
"My family...they all feel like strangers to me, I don't want anything to do with them...and they...they don't want anything to do with me." She inhaled deeply trying to growl the words out instead of sob them out. What did she care what her family thought anyway, the whole lot were useless. She looked at Rio mildly thankful for the nudge, she wasn't used to touch...unless it was with her teeth.
"The pack just...doesn't seem to be helping me, I mean it's not like that's their job. I just...I'm always...angry...and tired...I feel like everyday has to be a fight." She sighed softly her brows drawing unhappily together.
Over time Rio had picked up on a few big social cues from others, learned at a young age how to read certain looks, sounds, and body language, but he'd also learned that every situation and every wolf was different. He listened carefully, quickly proccessing what he was told and putting himself in her position as he did. Empathy was usually more appreciated than cold logic, not that he was a cold kind of guy anyway, but instead of thinking it through practically he usually just said what seemed right at the time. How would he feel if it was him? If he had been the one avoided and avoiding?
"Well... I don't know your family, or your pack, but I'll tell you what... if that's really how you feel then it's really not a home... and if it's really not a home then what is it that's keeping you there?" He asked softly, glancing over at her with a slight turn of his head. "You should be around wolves that appreciate you, or at the very least, respect you and want to be around you, but..." He trailed off, going back to what he'd started with. "I've learned that we all have a pretty good way of misunderstanding each other, and taking each other for granted. I'd hate to think that that's what's going on."
"I guess...I stay because...where else would I go? This has always been home." She shook her head unhappily trying to ease her thoughts and not to snap. It was hard realizing that the place you had always lived in could be wrong for you. "Besides living as a lone wouldn't be much better..."
Was a bad family or a family that disliked her any better then no family at all? At times it certainly seemed so, but she was so bitter and withdrawn from her mother and siblings that it hardly mattered if they were there or not. Rio's advice made sense, trouble was where would she go if she did leave?
"Can certainly understand that, but as to your question it depends on who you ask. My friend Talia has been a lone wolf for years now. Never met a happier wolf. If you're looking for someone to tag with, though...? We'd kind of be bumming it, but who knows. Maybe we'll find someplace you feel like fits?"
She looked at him mildly surprised to hear about a happy loner, well who knew? She hadn't tried it but it didn't seem like the life for her, she had been part of a pack so long living alone probably wouldn't suit her. To go with Rio though? She looked at him curiously and then averted her gaze again. She was...attracted to him..he was so friendly and accepting of her.
Yet it scared her a bit, what if she left with Rio and then snapped at him? What if it wasn't just her family, what if she was the defective one? If she drove him off then where would she go, what would she do? "You and me?" She murmured softly considering.
"Mmhm." The male nodded firmly, causing his furred bangs to flip just a little. "You and me. Why not? Traveling's a lot better with company. Trust me, I've had it for the last five years. Can't imagine going back now."
She seemed like she needed it, fully looking at her now.
"And there's no pressure! If you feel like you're getting home sick nothing is stopping you from giving your pack another try, if it's your choice, right? We'll meet new wolves, maybe even run into some of my old amigos! I think you'd get along with Talia really well, her niece too for that matter. Come onnn...."
He got up, grinning, and came around to face her, tail wagging hopefully as he teased.
"You know you wanna say yes~..."
Yes, she did want to say yes, he sounded so confident so reasonable. A smile slowly crept it's way across her muzzle, the muscles there felt oddly unused to the motion. Rio brought out a calm in her she hadn't even known was possible. Incredibly enough she didn't want to fight with him, he wasn't a challenge to be conquered but someone to stand beside.
"Okay...I'll go with you..." She finally nodded and looked at him still half uncertain. This was a big step for her, to leave everything she had ever known. Wasn't this what she wanted though, someone to stand by, someone to help her understand it didn't have to be a fight, a struggle?
"Whoo!"
Rio responded by rearing up briefly, howling shortly. His excitement was apparent by the way he was grinning when he looked at her again. Well, most of it was just his general good mood, but why not get excited if it took her mind off of how much she disliked her old home?
"Great! I can't remember the last time I had someone to hang out with that could actually talk with a mouth! Oh-- um, no offense, hermana." He quickly amended, looking to the vast ocean they were still standing alongside.
She laughed and then jerked back startled at the sound, she had never...laughed before. She ran her tongue over her teeth and then laughed again softer before smiling at Rio. "That was...funny..." She glanced at the water and tilted her head. "No offense..." She repeated before smiling back at Rio. Her features fell back into their usual serious expression and she glanced back.
"So...when do we leave?" Her voice held the edge of nervousness and she took a step closer to the male hoping his calm happy influence would work on her again. Should she say goodbye or would it be best to just cut and run?
"Whenever you're ready, Agrona," He replied casually. "Don't worry about it, if it's funny, laugh! As long as you aren't laughing at my pain or something." He chuckled, adding on. Moving to circle her.
She gave him a wry smile and nodded softly still slightly surprised by how...good she felt. It was new and strange as if some great burden had lifted off of her. "Alright...we'll leave tomorrow..." She wanted one last night in her pack, though she wouldn't tell anyone that she was leaving. She wasn't even sure herself who would notice or care if she was gone, besides she might return someday if she couldn't adjust to life alone, but she was already a solitary figure in the pack, what difference would it be away from the land of her birth? She shrugged and then shared a soft smile with Rio her muscles a bit confused by the unfamiliar sensation. A new start, with new ideas and new sensations.
