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 Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:31 am
Ransom shrugged, recognizing that she'd stumbled into rather uncomfortable ground -- for them both, perhaps, for different reasons. "Just...well, you know how family is," she said, and looked around for another topic to discuss. "Say, have you been around here for awhile? Maybe you know the way to a river...I don't mind drinking out of puddles, but I'd rather not if I can help it, you know."
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:27 pm
Pleased to get away from such sensitive topics, Youko immediately latched onto this new idea. Really, she did not particularly enjoy avoiding the truth with new acquaintances if she could help it. Well, she did not like lying to anyone, really. It was just that her uncle was more important. But that was behind them for now. They could move on to more neutral things. Like water.
“I am not very familiar with the area, I’m afraid,” she said, “But I have come across a river not too far away from here. I can show you, if you like?” Surely that was not too presumptuous. Ransom had asked her, after all.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:15 pm
She smiled, relieved. "Alright -- yes. That would be nice."
She trailed after her, thoughts buzzing with all the questions she wanted to ask but was too polite to bring up...especially as they might rebound back onto her, and she wasn't in the mood to discuss her family right now either. Still, the weight of the unspoken hung between them, and she was desperately curious.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:38 pm
For her part, Youko was content to travel in silence for a while, but she was a friendly wolf and she was glad of the company. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity to speak to another. So, as they neared the river, she glanced at her acquaintance.
“What have you been doing in your travels? Do you have anything in particular that you want to do or somewhere you want to go?” Perhaps she could help, if that was so. Of course, she was also simply curious. What was the life of her fellow wanderer like? Surely that question was innocent enough.
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:33 pm
"I haven't been on my own very long," she admitted. She was a little embarrassed by this. She suspected that the other wolf had probably been a loner for a very long time, and there was probably a correct protocol to follow when one was a wanderer. "Mostly I've just been here and there. I haven't really met a lot of other wolves, honestly. What about you?" She looked perhaps a bit too eager -- hungry, almost. "What do you do, to keep busy?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:51 pm
Youko could not imagine why that fact should embarrass the younger female. Though Uncle had occasionally sent her off on her own, she had not been alone for very long, either.
“I have only been on my own for a few months, myself,” she said aloud. “I do not have a particular direction, but as I wander, I do try to help any travelers I come across.”
Though the help she offered had been rather tamer of late. If she was not careful, all of the skills Uncle imparted to her might begin to dull. Well, that simply would not do. She might have to find more…strenuous tasks soon. But that was another matter entirely. Right now, she was having a nice little chat with a younger loner and helping her find the river. That was a worthy task, for now.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:48 pm
"Helping?" She asked, her ears sweeping forward. What a charming notion! A lone wolf, wandering here and there, helping others wherever she went...although, she suspected that finding watering holes would get dull very fast.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:06 am
“Yes,” she confirmed, pleased that her new acquaintance seemed so interested in her choice of lifestyle. “I like to help people. It makes me feel useful. If I can help them get somewhere or take care of their problems for them, it makes me happy because it makes them happy.” It was doubtful that Youko realized just how much of a people-pleaser she really was.
“Oh! But here is the river, now,” she exclaimed, and trotted over to get a drink herself, then stopped and peered back at Ransom. Was it rude to drink first when you were only supposed to be helping your companion get some water?
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:11 pm
"Oh." Her brow furrowed. That hadn't really illuminated the situation any, but it was still extremely charming. She wondered if she could do anything helpful so she could help strangers, too.
That reminded her. "But...who helps you, when you need things?" Surely this strange green wolf had needs from time to time, too?
She bent over the water and took a long drink, thinking that water tasted better when it was shared.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:35 am
Who helped…her? This gave Youko a pause. Who helped her? Well, she helped others. She did not receive help. She did not need help. She was self-sufficient. Uncle made sure of that. But…why was it that that simple question struck her so hard? Perhaps it was some distant, deeply-buried part of her that cried out for affection. A part of her that wanted to receive rather than give and give and give, if only just a little. Whatever it was, Youko could not identify it and so, it made her uncomfortable.
“I…do not need help,” she said, the words oddly flat and uncertain. It was true. But…why did it sit so poorly with her. She did not like it.
Still oddly distant with her inner contemplation, she dipped her head down for a drink of her own.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:05 am
Ransom's ears folded back. "...Really?" She asked. It seemed very unlikely that a wolf could live by herself, helping others, but never need anything for herself. Not unless she had some kind of super powers.
That was an interesting thought.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:34 am
Was it really true? Well, Youko had survived this long without help and she had managed fine so far. She was still alive and she was healthy and she could take care of herself. So, it must be true, right? She did not need help.
“I am fine on my own,” she said, still not sounding entirely confident in her own words, but not changing her mind, either.
Youko eyed the other wolf. She had helped Ransom and this conversation was beginning to disturb her. Perhaps it was time to part ways with her young acquaintance…
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:30 am
She shrugged. This seemed a little incongruous, but what did she know? "Well, I appreciate your help," she said, and gave the other a probingly curious look. "And, well, if you do ever decide you need some help, and I can assist you....I'll be happy to."
Her tail thumped with the offer and she smiled sweetly -- perhaps even a bit naively -- at her.
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:41 am
“You are most welcome,” she said, not entirely comfortable under that stare. “And I thank you for your offer. Best of luck on your travels.” With that, Youko nodded and trotted off, quietly melding with the forest. For once, she was glad to be headed out alone, where she could forget about those uneasy thoughts that Ransom had forced into her mind. She could only hope that her next encounter would be less introspective.
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