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'Why won't father listen to me?' Ayizoe was clearly overstepping his boundaries, but Downburst would hear none of it. Nor'Eastern's father just shook his head at his son and sauntered off, looking for his mother. Nor'Eastern was a good seed, his father had said so himself, why would he make up tales? He'd trusted Ayizoe since the day he joined them in the wastelands, but perhaps father was too blind, too kind to see something even if it was happening right before his face.

Nor'Eastern knew his grandmother was near the drinking hole, he'd just seen her as he passed by. He needed to walk this off, before he lost his cool. His father was his hero, always had been since he was just a pup. DownBurst left the almighty Agua Azul pack to stand by his mother. He carried on, after waking up one morning to find his lover had left and taken with her four of their five puppies. His heart was so big and his soul, old, but that doesn't mean he should disregard the honest word of his young son. Nor'Eastern was an adult now, he had the right mind to leave and join another pack, where he could prove his worth, but that wasn't right. Family is thicker than blood.

He continued on the beaten path, past the greening weeds. Spring would be here soon enough, meaning food would be less scarce, and the flowers would bloom again, by night's light. Nor'Eastern wasn't sure where he was going, but he thought back to something his grandmother, Mania, had said to him just the day before, 'Follow the signs.' Signs? More non-sense perhaps. But it couldn't hurt, just maybe he'd find something worthwhile on his outing.

Nor'Eastern kicked the pebbles before him as he went, still infuriated by his father's easy-going nature. 'Impossible!' He was positive his father had no idea how far he was driving a stake between their once strong father-and-son bond. He was a pack leader, a father, and he should be acting as such!

The youth hung his head in dismay, but shot up as soon as he noticed a freshly made path. No one in their pack traveled out this far. Mania had once tried, creating quite the scare, but no one since then. It was most definitely fresh for he could still smell the scent; unfamiliar as it was. A stranger in their lands? He scoffed. 'Father would welcome them with open arms.'

Nor'Eastern would handle this, there was no need to involve his father or anyone else for that matter. And so he set out, trailing behind Gods-knew what, with his family on his mind. He wasn't sure how he'd defend himself or put up a very good fight, without ever having had a confrontation before, but he'd put up a strong front. 'Yeah, scare them down!' He prayed that would be enough to send them packing.

Pink, lots of pink crossed his mind. The flowers would be out soon, but not now. What was the source of all that color? 'The wolf!' He barred his teeth and took off like a jet, trying to close the distance between them, without so much as a plan in mind.

'What the ---?'

Before Nor'Eastern could even register the simple greeting, he realized (much too late) that he wasn't going to be able to stop before the polite intruder. He withdrew his teeth and made his descent from his long bound and bowled the poor pink wolf over.

Moments later, Nor'Eastern could only lift his head from where ever it was laying. With his vision wavering and head aching, he could only make out a tail. 'Since when did you have stripes on there?' That certainly didn't look familiar, and neither did the haunting neon eyes that were staring at him. He flew up and onto his hind legs, trying to put distance between the two of them. He dropped onto all fours now.

"What? This doesn't...."

Why had this wolf simply stood there and let himself be mounted? No, 'mounted' was definitely not the right word for it. It wasn't like he set out to do it. He was in attack mode after all. Nor'Eastern tried to shrug off the uncomfortable still between them before beginning again, breastplate raised and out.

"This is my packs' land. Who and what are you doing here?"

'Yeah, that sounded macho!'

Nor'Eastern stood, dumbfounded and stared through the wolf for a minute or two. Was he serious? He had wanted him to ask, not act? Had he just overreacted? NO! He was defending his own. This wolf, he wasn't right; not normal. Where was his canine instinct?

"I, I look 'familiar' to you? I can't imagine why, I'm positive I'd remember such a fluorescent wolf."

Nor'Eastern smirked and began circling the other wolf. Perhaps he could make the other confess to whatever intentions he had being out this far, by intimidation. If this wolf were playing dumb, he would let him.

"What about me looks so 'familiar' to you?"

So this stranger, now known as Novacaine, had a sense of humor. How fitting! Nor'Eastern rolled his eyes before slowing his pace to a lazy swag.

"You have a point, but nature has it's purposes for using such bright colors. Take the poison dart frogs for example. My family's coats are enough to run off even the stupidest of canines."

A light jab, but Nor wondered if the other would even pick up on it. Instead he turned his attention to the mention of his father's origins, the Agua Azul lands. Had this stranger come looking for them? Downburst had left the lands on account of his family's wishes to outcast his mother. Had they followed after them with hopes of spilling blood on their minds? Now Nor was beginning to worry again, this whole situation may be bigger than both he and this stranger.

'Keep him talking. Extract whatever you can before... well, before any blood shed.'

" 'Novacaine', hm? The name my parents blessed me with is Nor'Eastern. We usually aren't so cold, but you must understand we don't get ANY guests out this far. So no, to answer your question, this isn't Agua Azul. Far from it actually. So tell me, what brings you out this far, Novacaine?"

His ears drooped the slightest to focus on the creature before him. Nor'Eastern would not jump to conclusions (any more) and allow Novacaine to make the first move. Nor would and could take him, if need be.