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It was high noon in the lush forest of Kells, a time when most the realm seemed to settle into agreed-upon stillness. For those who had seen many a summer pass, it was a valued period of rest. But the young were often at play; learning, growing, and... occupying the banks of creeks, appearing unfazed by the heat that would otherwise cull creatures into lethargy... And as it were, the two siblings doing just that had by all appearances actively avoided the chance for a mid-day nap, in favor of basking in the sun. Both panted contentedly, and both were sopping wet.

Fen Mire, the female, a touch more lively, squirmed from belly to side and back again before lifting into a stretch. The dark brown of her fur was made darker by the moisture clinging to it, and appeared rich with red hues even after an aggressive shake out. When her feet found their purchase she snapped her attention to the tree line, eyes wide and ready to survey the wild unknown. But nothing provoked alarm... nothing was of consequence out beyond the clearing and a yawn gave physical manifestation to her internal frustration.

To all this her brother, Wood Rot, gave no response. Resting now on his belly, uncovered and staring out in the opposite direction, he occasionally tilted his nose to scent before returning to a steady pant.

Fen's frustration grew.

Her gaze traveled across the pair of skulls and the pelt piled to one side of him before settling on her sprawled out brother. Then, the sweet lull of her voice piped up from the quiet and that gave Wood Rot a jolt.






Without wanting to, Fen blinked and her eyes were on that of the wound carved into her brothers thigh. Some days old now, the fur matted all around the site, it seemed to be healing well enough but was an unpleasant sight to revisit all the same. She was quick to redirect her attention to the woods, giving silence the opportunity to clear the air. Then...







The breath in his lungs caught, and Wood Rot for a beat shut out the world; sitting within the darkness behind closed eyes. "...You can be so cruel."


Fen Mire would smirk if she could, and turned away from the male to step into the cooling creek water.

Fen had fallen silent once in the water, entranced upon its glittering surface. She admired both the reflection of the world and the gleam in her eyes, which was a trait their brother had once possessed... and what she missed the most about him. She kept remarkably still for one so jittery, lost entirely to the picture in the creek, and in her mindless fancy an event began to unfold.

A gust of wind that rustled leaves and carried with it many flavors would have easily been overlooked if Wood Rot not, for a split second, caught whiff of a wolf; fresh and close by. His eyes flicked in the direction he thought it might have traveled from while the rest of him rose up to stand. He was a tall creature, an imposing sight even by dire wolf standards, and mangy looking on top of it all.

"Fen Mire." his voice cracked.

And there was no response from the girl.

"Fen Mire." the tone shifted something fierce but the female did not appear to acknowledge him... at least, not in the way he wanted. Yet she did speak up.

"Oh look, brother." Fen motioned to the waters with her snout. "If you squint your eyes and look just right, you can catch the resemblance." At last she turned to face him, eyes wide, "Its as if you-- What? What is it?"

And Wood Rot, suppressing so much of what he wanted to say, simply looked long and hard at his sister before slipping into the dark skull at his feet.

His words drawled out of him, heavy with mental fatigue. "We may have company."

Fen Mire, looking more excited than ever, strode over to do the same.

"I hope they introduce themselves. And please, brother, let them live long enough for us to play a bit, maybe?"

The pair said nothing, but they watched the exchange with the intensity of a doe caught in headlights.

Wood Rot hoped for an unspoken understanding between he and his sister, as his desire to disengage simmered. Let them go about their lives in peace. He sent his tail off to brush against hers, as if to clarify. Please.

But Fen Mire had lost that connection when she lost her other brother, and had no such intentions... she didn't have to go out looking for fun; it simply up and found her. A thorough investigation was in order.

"We mustn't ignore the Universe's tidings..." She whispered, never once sending her gaze to meet his but seething with the fire of spite between every syllable.

And just as her brother's tail flicked to her side, Fen Mire took to a stride. Elegant in most cases, the rivers slick bed left much to be desired, and her stumble over stone and silt propelled her roughly to the banks edge; where the duo had gathered. Yet to factor in the crow into this equation, Fen dismissed it as a part of the background.

Looking from Clay to Two Tone and back, her words pilled from hidden lips, and through them one could sense delight. "But which way are you going?"

At this point, Wood Rot had, both begrudgingly and hurriedly, moved across the water to saddle up at his sisters side. He loomed over her petite form, offering a look of apology but forgetting his face was masked.

Fen Mire quickly became entranced by the young male, watching confidence thwart peer pressure and loving every second of it. So this was what other wolves could be like? Bold, as oppose to violent? Curious, and sweet, and trusting?

See, brother? Just because you are cruel, does not mean the world has to be…

A medley of her own confident concoction, heavily reliant upon Wood Rot’s undying loyalty, brought her back onto her own haunches… settling into the moment.

Did he say… mountains?

Wood Rot, noting his sister’s laxed position, side stepped closer to her flank, wincing at the pain of his injury and all too hesitant to get comfortable now. He sent word of this by a tail flick for a second time but received no response, and his green eyes wandered to search Fen Mire’s profile… only that too left him wanting. His gaze returned to the lighter male, and behind his silent mask the male was all but screaming.

When the questions were posed and the woods had fallen quiet, Fen removed her attention from the youngest, blinked to meet with the crow, before alighting upon their apparent leader.

“The mountains? You mean… those giant peaks covered in white?” Her head gestured in the direction of, for her, the Red Woods… “There are actually those who choose to live up there? Really?” A mix of curiosity, awe, and mockery all mingled within her tone… She quieted a moment, contemplatively, before addressing the more directed inquiry. “Ah yes, the skulls. We found them. They are… fun to wear.” Lowering her head just below her hunched shoulders, Fen let a sharp breath escape her nose before breaking into pant.

“Why the mountain?” Wood Rot chimed in, earning a look from his sister at last.

"Do you?" Fen's gaze flitted slowly from Wood Rot back to Clay, completely overlooking the only other adult amongst them, Two Tone as it were. "We do not like the mountains. They are cold."

But Wood Rot was less enthused by the adolescents musings. He had become far more focused on Two Tone, particularly when his home forest was mentioned.

"The wastes..." he replied, not quite disputing but... relating to, in the only way he knew how. "There is no competition to be found, there. Only death?" In stark contrast to his sister, Wood Rot spoke with intensity. His tone was confident, bordering aggressive, but the subtle inflection hinted at his own curiosity.


"How silly, having to ask someone else for something. If you want one, you take it!" Meanwhile, Fen Mire had been entertaining Clay, charmed undoubtedly by the whimsy of youth. When mention of the 'wastes' was overheard, her ears perked and she was immediately triggered.

"They've moved on, brother. Leave it be." Her gaze threatened many things and lingered long and hard upon Wood Rot before turning to find Two Tone's. If her brother wanted to remain in her good graces, he would quit while he was ahead. These were HER'S to play with, not HIS to interrogate.

"We were born there. What did you call them? The 'Red Woods'? They are the wastes to us and we never saw any other wolves beyond ourselves." She paused, awkwardly, as if more wanted to be said on the matter.

Then it was Wood Rot who followed up. "It comes at a bit of a surprise to hear that there were, in fact, others. What part of the wastes did you cover?"

To break the tension, mostly for herself, Fen Mire searched for Clay's attention with only her eyes. She'd proceed to roll her eyes and flare her nostrils comically, before readying to interject.

Fen Mire, half paying attention, shrugged at Two Tone's remark. She could see how that might be beneficial. How it might work in their favor. It was what kept them away, after all. But it seemed an awful waste of time to spend a whole life up on those coated giants.

Although... perhaps it was better than spending her whole life next door to her brothers grave.

Wood Rot remained invested in Two Tone's recount, absorbing like a sponge. It was odd to hear about their home spoken with such levity. Or... rather spoken about at all? He was one part frustrated, one part comforted. When the information fell off, he grit his teeth. "Right. Of course."

Meanwhile, Fen's side-eyed blues flicked to the boy. A grin spread across her maw, one to rival his own in both youthful vigor and charm. "Oh, my friend. You are far more polite then I will ever be." The gaze shifted to Two Tone momentarily, "You are raising your boy well." Then back to Clay. That cheeky grin still pulling at her maw.

"You know what, we haven't formally introduced ourselves. My name is Fen Mire. And this here," She didn't take her eyes off of Clay's. "Is my brother, Wood Rot."

A sharp exhalation from the tawny male noted his budding frustrations, not entirely fond of the reveal... but not entirely against it, either. His attention flitted from Two Tone to Fen and back. He, too, seemed to be relaxing somewhat.

Her voice took to a playful whisper. "And don't bet on him giving that one to you now. He is... particular about his things. But don't worry, you'll find your own. We all do in the end." There was something in her tone that shifted, and her smile faded ever so slightly. But she had more to say, and her features twisted expectantly.

"And who are you two? I mean. We know where you guys come from, but who are you?"