Welcome to Gaia! ::

Veero felt elated, the male sense of satisfaction that came down from generations. He felt like a winner of some grand contest he hadn't even known he was participating in. He slowly opened an eye and peered at the lovely female beside him. A slight grin raised his lips and he was tempted to pounce on her to wake her with licks and nuzzles. No, no he had a better idea, slowly he lifted his body and slipped out of their makeshift den. He stretched and shook off feeling his blood pump with excited energy.

He glanced behind him torn between staying or going and finally decided his lady love would enjoy waking up to a hearty breakfast. She was a classic femme, she didn't have much use for sweet words, he could show her how serious things were by showing her he could provide for her. Still even after he had caught the rabbit he paused and snipped a blooming flower with his teeth. It didn't hurt to show he had a tender side as well, even if Talia didn't have much use for it. He stepped back towards the den breakfast and a flower clutched in his jaws.

She certainly wouldn't have boasted to being such a prize. Being self assured was one thing, but if Talia had been A: a seer, and B: awake, she would have laughed at her own expense. As it was she was dozing somewhere between asleep and awake, not really tired, but too content to wake up with the sun for once. The black coated female inhaled deeply as Veero got up from his spot next to her, his warmth fading. Still, she didn't stir.

She had dozed back off again when he returned, but the smell of fresh blood caused her to wake quickly. At first she thought Cadbury might have returned while she was sleeping, but the amount of blood seemed too slight to be serious, and as far as she could tell it didn't belong to either of the males. In fact...

Talia had a look around, moving to pull herself from the den quietly when the dark male returned. "Breakfast in the den?" She asked with an edge of play in her tone.

"Unless you wanna come out here" He grinned and slipped inside with the rabbit setting it down for her and the flower on top. He stepped aside allowing the sun to filter down on her fur. "Good Morning Talia..."

He slunk closer and lay down licking his lips of any traces of fresh blood. He wanted to tell her he loved her, that she looked amazing in the mornings first light, but none of that seemed very adequate. He simply nudged the flower towards her with a smile.

"Hmm.... I guess I can afford to be a little spoiled today." She mused with a grin, reaching over to paw at the flower stem carefully. Shifting her weight to lean forward she took the flower in her front teeth and looked at him, giving him what looked like a quirked eyebrow expression curiously. "Good morning, Veero." She managed from around the stem, not an easy task.

He watched as she took the flower and grinned nuzzling her softly. "I saw it, and it was so beautiful...like you." He hoped she wouldn't mind his flattery, but it was more then that. He wasn't just mouthing the words, he wanted her to understand how special she was. It wasn't just about dominating a female, or any female, he had wanted to prove himself to her, only her.

Flattery, when was the last time she'd had that, honestly? It had been so long that maybe she'd forgotten how nice it was to be appreciated aesthetically, not that Tsume had found her unattractive, he just wasn't this flowery, if you would be so kind as to pardon the pun, of course. Maybe that girl was still around, maybe just buried under years of "roughing it"?

Talia settled the flower to one side so it wouldn't get smashed or bloodied, free to speak unhindered again. "Flattering me first thing in the morning? Better pace yourself or you'll be run dry by the time the sun's going down, slick." She chuckled, nipping at his fur as he got close. Her body was still waking up a bit, and only then would her morning hunger finally kick in. Her attention turned to the kill to drag it close by one of it's legs. "But thank you, all the same. It's nice to know I haven't lost it yet after all this time." She winked.

"I wouldn't need flattery and words at sundown to show you what you mean to me..." He slowly grinned at her the suggestive look of a confident male. He rolled over with a soft laugh as she nipped at him and then hauled himself back to his feet. "Better eat up before it gets all cold." He watched her drag it close. Her little wink sent a thrill of warmth fluttering up from his stomach and he had to fight to keep his grin from growing into a look of infatuated stupidity.

Talia had a good, playful laugh at that too, draping a paw over the rabbit. "Right, right, that wouldn't do at all." She agreed, leaning in to take a bite out of it. She only paused when she picked up the smell of another wolf, another male nearby. The freelands had never been THIS busy before! Sure there were wolves all over, but running into a new one at least once a day? Somehow she'd never managed that before. Then... her ears perked up and her eyes went a little wide. Her body language was both disbelieving and excited. "Hey.... wait a minute, I KNOW that scent!"

Veero stood suddenly alert his ears perked as he tried to catch the sound of a distant wolf. His nose twitched, once, twice deeply inhaling the foreign scent. He turned to Talia a bit surprised before tilting his head curiously. "You do?"

He looked at her again trying to gauge how exactly she knew this strangers scent. Was this someone she would be glad to cross paths with again or someone they should avoid? All he knew was the scent was male, already that tidbit of information concerned him. He had just managed to sweep Talia away from Cadbury would he find himself faced with another charming foe?

"He was the alpha of the south Seaside pack when I first met him. I helped his brother in a fight years ago. It's alright Veero, we can trust him." She reassured, moving to stand next to him, but unlike in situations past she reassuringly pressed her side against his to keep him calm. She'd had years of practice placating Tsume, she certainly knew how to handle herself now.

The mountain wolf could certainly be heard in his approach, being of such big size it sometimes made traveling in stealth difficult in tight places. He'd thought this best, however, opposed to risking alarming the two by bringing too many wolves forward at once, and Kouji had bristled at the scent of whatever had transpired the night before when it drifted their way so he absolutely had to stay put.

Golden eyes peered out from a dusty brown face, sparking to life a bit at the sight of a familiar scent.

"Talia, speak of the she-devil herself!"

"A pack alpha?" Veero repeated warily his nose twitching again to make sure they hadn't carelessly crossed any borders. No these lands were free, perhaps the pack had disbanded. Sometimes territories couldn't be held, or the land failed to sustain a growing pack, things happened. He hated to think that someday his family might disband, but that was a distant worry, the war had him thinking grim thoughts. The war...it was coming and here he was with Talia. He loved her, but he knew, he saw her reluctance to remain in one place, in a pack. His pack was everything to him, his entire family was there, and he was needed. Were they worried already? Did they expect him back so soon? Yet, it hadn't been so soon, he had been off with Talia for a few moons. He pushed the thoughts back not wanting to be distracted when this new male came into view.

Then the male appeared, large, hulking even and Veero felt himself tense a bit. His own frame was well muscled, but he had the lean body of a younger more lithe male. Blow by blow this male could probably take him down by sheer weight alone. No, not just sheer weight, he was skilled enough to fair in a battle of brute force, but the males eyes bore knowledge. This male was older, and more experienced. It would pay to be polite, especially since he seemed to be on such familiar and friendly terms with Talia. He felt her press close and had to hold back from moving her safely behind him. She was strong enough to stand for herself, still he made sure he was right beside her, his posture screaming of his desire to protect her.

"Hey, and whose this? One of you and Tsume's?" Hige regarded the younger male curiously, guessing by the way he stood at her side that he was a protective son, and he certainly looked like he could be Tsume and Talia's pup... well, adult. The black from Talia, the swirled shoulder mark too, with just a dab of white, and in Tsume's plain markings.

Talia's snort let Hige know that he was quite mistaken.

"Good grief, Hige, no! This is Veero,"

She shook her head a bit.

"My mate, certainly not my son!"

Hige laughed almost boisterously at that. "Don't tell me you finally got to be too much for the grump!"

Though he was laughing now he did wonder how the old male was doing. He had already been a bit cranky, he hoped the parting was on at least neutral terms, and his searching eyes proved that hope.

"We decided to split up a while ago. I got tired of living alone up in the mountains. I don't think he was too far behind me when I left though."

You and Tsume's? Veero almost let out a growl of protest but held back, after all how could the male know? Still a small frown marred his features, until his ear flicked at his name. He gave a firm nod and then had to keep from snapping his neck to one side as Talia called him her mate. Hearing the words from her mouth was a shock. He felt a silly grin curl up his muzzle and tried to school his expression. Mate, he was her mate, and she was his, he felt as if a great burden had been lifted away, the uncertainty of the future. He was certain now, no matter what his place would be with Talia even if that place was near or far from his pack.

He tried not to intrude on talk of this Tsume fellow, though he was a bit curious about the male who had once shared Talia's life. Why had he let her go? Why had they lived so isolated? Did they share a common dislike for packs, would she leave him if he tried to convince her to join his family? He tried to focus again and tipped his head in greeting towards the older male.

"Your brother will probably be relieved... Well, anyway, Veero it's nice to meet you. You obviously like them wild." He grinned a little back to Veero's own grin, good naturedly he hoped, but a moment later he grew a little more serious. "Actually... I'm glad I ran into you. I needed to ask Talia something and if you're together I might as well just ask you both."

Talia perked up next to Veero. If she was aware of his grinning she didn't show it yet.

"It's worth any extra work" He chuckled and softly bumped his nose against Talia's cheek. Maybe things were a bit harder, not knowing how to tame the wildness in her, but it was worth it. He doubted if he would be content with a female who didn't add some spice to his life. Hadn't he left the pack to find some excitement and challenge? Well he had found it, now if only he could take it back with him and have the best of both worlds.

"Ask away?" He glanced at Talia wondering if she had known that this male was looking for her. Or what he wanted to ask them for that matter.

Talia looked back at Veero with a tiny little knowing smirk at his answer, back again to Hige as he mentioned a question, then back to Veero briefly as if to say she had no idea. She nodded to Hige in confirmation to Veero's statement.

"Your brother and I are heading Northeast to start new packs.... well, a pack. You remember Suzaku, don't you?" He saw Talia nod, she seemed to see where he was going with this. "She brought us together with this idea of hers... The free lands are getting too crowded for us old.... traditionalists I guess you could call us. We're looking to settle down in new land again, away from the rest of the new packs, start fresh. Know any of that area?"

Talia nodded, familiar with it indeed. "Tsume and I spent our time Northeast of here. The mountains were up that way, Northwest, and flatlands on the Southeastern side of them?"

"Your brother wants you to come with us, heck, I would appreciate another familiar, friendly face. It wouldn't be for a while, not until we're sure we've found the right place..."

"... Well..." Talia trailed, exhaling softly, then frowned and looked towards the ground as she thought. She hadn't wanted to settle back down in a pack before, but after last night's developments and just a few minutes ago she wondered if she could honestly say she still felt that way. And then what about Veero?

She looked at him quietly, lifting her head back level again. What about his pack?

"Can you give us a minute, Hige...?" She asked of the older wolf quietly, watching as he nodded and slipped off to give them some privacy.

Veero was startled to hear of Talia's brother, of a pack, so many things she seemed aware of. Familiar things, familiar to her, would she want her past with them more then a future with him? He felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as he thought of his own pack, his family. He had wanted Talia there with him, the best of his past and future. Was he being selfish? He thought of his mother, his siblings, his grandparents, he didn't want to leave them. Then he looked at Talia, he didn't want to leave her either.

He saw the older male leave and watched him go, his eyes trailing the departure before they turned back to the female beside him. "You want to be with your family?" He asked her softly trying not to let his uncertainty taint his voice.

"... I don't know." She admitted, shrugging lightly and slipping down to sit again, next to him. "Yesterday I was certain I didn't want anything to do with pack life again, now I wonder if I was just being immature." She shrugged lightly, watching the dark male. His tone didn't really fool her, she suspected he must be home sick at least a little, but she hadn't been for sure. "I suppose I just don't know if I'm ready to go back to blending in. I mean, there are good and bad things about being out here or in a pack. It's just been a while since anyone reminded me of the good.... You miss yours... don't you, Veero?" Talia questioned, for once not worried about doing things her way, not now that they were together-together, rather than two wolves traveling in each other's company as friends.

"You had a bad experience, it's hard for you to see the good after that..." He murmured softly reassuring her, he didn't want her to feel immature or foolish. He had come to understand the allure of living free and lone, of course he hadn't really been alone. Even when he had left home he had known he would find Talia and travel with her. He doubted he would enjoy total solitude, but it hadn't seemed to bother Talia.

"Yes...I can't help but miss them, I was born and raised in the pack. My family was always all around me, they taught me everything, and we all depend on one another, we all work together to provide a good life not just for ourselves but for each other. It's hard not being a part of that, but I have you, now I can work to make sure WE both have a good life. We...we're like a pack of our own..." He forced a small smile and then sighed and looked at where Hige had departed. "It seems your family could use the help settling down though..."

She knew that he was right, and it wasn't as though she hadn't tried. She'd tried finding a mate, tried settling down in first Hige's, then Suzaku's first attempt at a pack, even, but nothing had clicked. Sure that there was nothing for it she'd set out with Tsume for the mountains, but after a while she tired of that too. Something was just... not right.

"I doubt that it's need so much as want. They're hopeless without me you know." Grinning softly she glanced the way Hige had gone and back again. "I always had the support of my mother, sister, and brother, so I never felt like I was lacking in love in the pack, but I hated being just another scent in the crowd. If my father had his way I'd be just another female bearing pups for some male I didn't even like. Everything was always so washed out and docile and dull."

He knew this though. Talia shook her head a bit.

"When I left at first it was amazing, refreshing. I got to meet wolves with actual personalities besides my siblings. It was like seeing colors for the first time. You know I tried to settle down twice, but neither pack ever really clicked. Now I can't help but wonder if the problem wasn't the packs or my freedom at all."

This time when she looked at Veero it was more meaningful. She understood now what it was that she was missing. She was already well into her prime, but she'd never carried or birthed pups of her own. Hell, she hadn't even been AROUND them before but once.

"I want a family of my own, our own." She concluded softly, eyes still staring into his. It might seem a bit sudden after the night before, but who could blame her? She felt like she'd just been hit with a ton of rocks herself with the realization that morning. Hige's arrival just gave the perfect opportunity to express it.

He knew, he knew she hadn't wanted to just be some brood mare for her pack. Talia was wild, clever, strong, while she would be an excellent mother there was an edge to her that thirsted for more then just the approval of pups. He thought of his own mother, of his siblings and himself, if she hadn't been so young when she had birthed them she might not feel so insecure now. True his mother had new talents, new strengths and lessons that had come from being a young mother, but he liked Talia's fire. She had lived now, seen and explored, and she wanted to pass that on.

He was a bit surprised though by how quickly she admitted she wanted to pass that on...with him. He was inexperienced, with a lone life. True in a pack he had functioned well, he was an able hunter, a fair sparring partner, he understood diplomacy, and above all love and loyalty. His entire family had been loyal and loving a framework of support. Every weakness was protected by another strength, each strength taught compassion to prevent cruelty or abuse. Perhaps in a new pack he could help pass that on, he could be a part of a new framework.

Yet it pained him to think of not seeing his family again and he looked at Talia a long moment. "Talia...I want to...I want us to have a family, I want to raise them somewhere safe, where they'll be loved. I want us to teach them everything we know so that they'll be better then us, the best of both of us." He took a small breath...the 'but' breathe. "But...I can't just abandon my family...I couldn't raise pups without them ever knowing their aunts and uncles and grandparents..." He disliked the way his emotions cause his voice to quaver.

In their travels together Talia had been cautious to only be affectionate when they were already at play with one another, not wanting to give him the wrong idea or lead him on. Since that had changed she knew that it was safe stop worrying about such things, they were together now.

Turning in her seat and leaning in to lick his muzzle with soft, reassuring strokes.

"I wouldn't ask you to do that, Veero. I chose to leave my family and live on my own, I didn't have all the bonds that you do. I wouldn't ask you to give those up so callously." She hoped he understood what she meant. Her roots hadn't been that deeply planted when she left, she only had three wolves that really kept her grounded at home, but Veero was different. His roots were planted deep, he'd need time if he was ever going to pull them back.

She stopped licking him so that she could nuzzle her head under his chin.

"Besides, you have to introduce me to your parents, right? I know that's the kind of wolf your mother probably raised you to be."

She was half guessing and half teasing, but not to be cruel. Her tone held mirth to it, but she only meant to lighten the mood a little.

"We could raise them with your pack... then maybe when you're ready see if there's a place for us with my brother and Hige."

"I don't want you to feel smothered...my family might chase you away with all their fawning." He chuckled and leaned softly into her tender licks. He nuzzled her rubbing his muzzle against her cheek and nodding softly.

"Of course mother will want to see you, but it's grandma and grandpa who will be most eager to interrogate you." He chuckled softly and nipped her ear. "Their the alphas...and they they their everyones parents." He shook his head with a small homesick smile. How long had it been now since he had felt his grandmothers mysterious warmth, seen his mothers eyes looking at him with a mixture of pride and concern? How long since he had hunted with his uncle or lounged by the river with his cousins, laughing at fishing antics?

Then he thought of all his new memories, of starry nights spent with Talia, of their hunts together, of the way they found rivers and camped beside them. It had dulled the pain of being away from his family, a part of him sensed that he had a new family, his own. He nodded softly and looked at her. "We should go back to my pack, birth the pups there...my grandmother is a healer. Once the pups are weaned...we can find Hige again, help him, we'll settle our family in the new pack, help it prosper."

"It might be a nice change of pace compared to what I'm used to." She chuckled, closing her teeth around the tip of one of his ears harmlessly with a gentle affectionate tug, briefly before letting go again. She was surprised though. "Your grandparents are the alphas?" Somehow she'd missed out on that fact before. "We should tell Hige our decision then."

"Yes, Grandpa Crunch and Grandma Alas...well Libenalas, but no one is formal with grandma, she loves everybody. Actually...the truth is they might no be alpha's for much longer. We all know Aunt Tempeste is going to become the next alpha, it's only a matter of time until grandma and grandpa step down and allow her to take over. Tempeste will be a good alpha, she's a bit...stern, but she loves us all the same, she knows our strengths and weakenesses, and she's not too stubborn to ask for help or advice." He tore himself away from thoughts of his pack and smiled at Talia.

"I know they'll love you..." He nodded and looked to where Hige had vanished off. "Yes, we should tell him, and ask him what general area to meet him back in. Reassure him we'll be back...and with a few more pack members for him." He chuckled.

She tried to remember the names, but knew that she'd probably hear them again on their way back to Veero's pack, and again once introductions were made. It felt good. She felt at peace.

"Well... let's, then." She rumbled softly, thinking that she'd hate for the breakfast he went to all the trouble of catching for her going to waste getting cold. Then again, even if it did they could just hunt down something larger together, but... "Hm, Hige?" She called out loud, looking the way the brown wolf had gone. A few moments later she could make out the sound of him returning, she nudged Veero, indicating that he should do the talking this time.

Veero looked at hr uncertainly for a moment before nodding softly a look of contentment in his eyes. He knew Talia trusted him to speak for her, he wasn't being a brute, he wasn't silencing her voice. Her voice was his own, it was interesting to look at things the way she might. He waited for Hige to appear before stepping forward a bit.

"Hige? we've considered your offer, it's generous, and a good endeavor to form a pack. We'll be glad to join you, but first I need to go back to my family, to tell them I'm leaving, to introduce them to Talia. Hopefully when we return to you it'll be with pups on our tails, and to help strengthen your pack. If you'd be willing to wait? To tell us where to meet you again?"

When Hige returned through the brush he expected a denial, but... instead his eyebrows shot up in surprise, looking at Talia before looking back at Veero. She had agreed to settling down? After they'd left for the mountains he'd half expected her to eventually have pups, but... PLANNING for it? "Okay... uh.... sure. We're probably going to settle in those mountains you mentioned, unless it turns out that they're occupied."

Talia smiled a little, chuckling at Hige's surprise, but couldn't stop herself from rubbing her head against Veero as they talked. "Just don't mention the puppy part to my brother..."

"Excellent, then Talia and I will meet up with you again...soon...I may send Talia ahead..." He nodded softly and glanced at her again. He didn't want to tell her that his pack was on the brink of war, that he might have to fight. He didn't want Talia there if it came to that, he'd send her and their pups towards Hige and stay behind to fight. Once that was done, and it would be over fast, he could follow their trail, catch up.

He smirked and tipped his head "Yes I'd rather make a favorable impression on Talia's brother."

"Sounds like a plan then." He agreed, nodding. "It's good to see you again, Talia. Nice meeting you, Veero. I'd wager in three moon's time... Hopefully we'll see you then." He inclined his head then, tail wagging slightly.

"Tell my niece and the others that I said hello for me, will you?"

"Thank you Hige, until then." He nodded and then looked back at Talia with a soft smile. "You've a niece?" He nudged her softly curious of her family, and a little nervous of their eventual meeting.

"Two, and a nephew, but I haven't seen any of them in years. Last I spoke with any of the others they had gone separate ways." She murmured. "Seems to run in the family..." She added afterward with a sigh, remembering that he'd lost his mate along with their youngest daughter. Hige had managed to slip off by then, leaving the two alone. "I might as well tell you about them, since you'll be meeting them soon, hm? But first... how about we go back out and hunt something down for both of us? I'm afraid the rabbit's gone cold while Hige was talking our ears off, and you know... I definitely feel like taking a run with you." She winked.

"Two, and a nephew, but I haven't seen any of them in years. Last I spoke with any of the others they had gone separate ways." She murmured. "Seems to run in the family..." She added afterward with a sigh, remembering that he'd lost his mate along with their youngest daughter. Hige had managed to slip off by then, leaving the two alone.

"Not anymore, now we'll stick together, we'll see my family and then we'll reunite with yours." He softly nuzzled her trying to reassure her of the future. He wanted his pups raised in a place where they would be known and loved, where blood and loyalty bound them to their packmates. It was all he had ever known, and his stomach felt odd and fluttery knowing he would be leaving his ties to make new ones.

"I'd like that..." Talia replied with a small grin, licking at his muzzle once he got close enough. "I might as well tell you about them, since you'll be meeting them soon, hm? But first... how about we go back out and hunt something down for both of us? I'm afraid the rabbit's gone cold while Hige was talking our ears off, and you know... I definitely feel like taking a run with you." She winked.