Legosi was lost.
And it wasn’t the sort of lost he could handle, no.
He was lost in a foreign place, displaced from his raiding group. His eyes flashed to narrow as the large wolf slowly trekked through the woods, a permanent uncomfortable look creeping along his face. Something about this place made him extremely uncomfortable, something about this place felt wrong. This was not his home, that was for sure. He was far from the Waylands now.
Large paws pulled forward as the wolf called out, his tone a bit deep, yet oddly soft. “Lure? Thief? Where are you guys?”
Ugh. Of course. No signs of his companions. How typical. Legosi could feel his blood start to boil, this whole situation was really starting to piss him off. “This isn’t funny.”
Haru could be found in her normal place of comfort – her garden. Well, her self-proclaimed garden. It brought her joy caring for the small flora, when she herself was quite little. Wolf-dogs were normally small in stature, but Haru had been the runt even as she aged. She didn’t let that affect her though. She had her ways of making her feel larger than life.
She sighed as her chocolate orbs settled on a withering daisy. “Oh, you need water?” She hummed slightly. “Hang on there, I can get you that.” She looked to her left, and to her right, finding her discarded tortoise shell bucket. Transporting water was a breeze with the contraption.
Grabbing the shell, she gave her flower friend a quick smile. “Back in a jiffy!” she grinned, as if the flora could respond back to her.
She was unaware of what sort of predators may have been lurking.
Legosi’s eyes narrowed as an unfamiliar scent crossed his nose, what was this? His ears pinned backwards in frustration as he slowly started to follow the smell, lowering his body to the ground.
Maybe he could get a bite to eat while he waited. He was starving after walking for so long, perhaps this was just what he needed to fill this void? The large wolf snarled a bit as he slowly crept along the ground, hunting his new prey.
The smell was unlike anything he had ever smelt before, it was unfamiliar, yet… comforting. Alluring, yet… afraid. He could feel his own heartbeat as the gray wolf slowly made his way closer to the source.
As quickly as he settled himself to sit in the shadows his eyes went wide with wonder. “-What..”
A wolf? Huh? Was she…. A wolf? He had never seen a wolf so small before, surely this was a mistake. His eyes went wide as she turned to show her face, his own now covered by a warm blush. “...I-” he paused, unable to speak.
What was she?
The riverbank was quiet. It was the norm this time of day. Rather, in this area. If Haru could stay secluded from others, she normally would. Seclusion meant no hurtful words. It was a lonely life, but, that void was what her garden help filled.
She swiped her shell at the bank’s edge, noting the sludge that started to congeal on the side. “Oh, that won’t do…” She said to herself, dumping the muck to the drier ground, wading herself into the water further for the clearer liquid. Once satisfied, she turned herself around, exiting the river.
Drip. Drip. Drip. The small beads of water rolled down her white pelt, hitting the ground with a light tap.
The first thing she saw were his eyes. Crimson like blood, almost…glowing? The next, his sheer size. He had to be twice the size of her, or so he seemed. The last, was the shell on the ground, and the water she had just collected pooled around her front paw. “Oh.” She said with a gasp. She hadn’t realized the sight of the beserker had caused her to drop her container. “Oh no.” Haru would have to get the water again if her daisy were to live.
“You know you shouldn’t sneak up on others like that.”
Is she talking to me?
No. Wait. She is.
Legosi’s eyes darted back and forth as he glanced around frantically.
Maybe… she was talking to someone else?
No. Oh, no. It was him. She saw him.
He felt his heart pool into his throat as she spoke out to him, her voice unafraid and warm.
What was she? The gray wolf felt himself slowly rise from the ground, towering over her as he took a step forward. The day had started to turn into dusk and with it came a soft cloak of darkness. This darkness settled against his large frame, at least enough to keep him slightly hidden from her.
Hidden enough. Her eyes…
The large male spoke out once more, this time firmly as he questioned.
“Did I frighten you...?”
Did he frighten her? Her heart was racing, but she dare not let it show.. It wasn’t something Haru would let off to the other though. Especially not one that looked like this male. He was towering, and she, just a meek little canine compared to him.
“Of course not.” She scolded lightly. “I just didn’t expect to see anyone here is all. And look at this mess now. Hmm.” She sighed, her paw grasping at the tortoise shell. “At least it didn’t crack. That’s good. You know, I should make you go in the water and get more for me. It was your fault for just hiding in the shadows after all. Speaking of. Why are you still there? Come out into the light. It is not polite to stay hunkered down.
“Come on. What are you waiting for?” Her head tilted as she sat on the ground, waiting for him to move.
She was scolding him like a mother wolf would, her tone made him frown in return. Wait, what was happening here? As he glanced at her again the large wolf noticed her pawing at a turtle shell. How strange, this female was very different from the females back home.
“...What are you doing with that?” he questioned, still hidden in the shadows.
What are you waiting for?
What am I waiting for? Legosi’s mind echoed her words as the petite white wolf stood by the shore, water rippling against the soft grass. She almost glowed against the moonlight as the sun faded into black, leaving her the only thing in his focus.
“...I-” the large wolf stammered as he slowly took a step forward, exposing more of himself to her. He was no dire wolf, and he surely wasn’t whatever she was. Would… she ran away in fear? He was different after all. His claws gripped the earth beneath him as his blood red eyes narrowed onto her own.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Legosi answered her question finally, flashing his fangs. "-but...." he whispered those last words to himself.
“My flowers need water. They grow further from the river, so once must bring them it if they are to survive. That one is me.” Since, no one else had offered to care for the plants. She added silently. “This is what I use to get it from the river to them. I’m glad it didn’t crack when it fell. These things have been hard to find lately.” Haru said with an exasperated sigh.
She watched the male come out from the shadows, her eyes widening slightly at his complete form. Oh, he was…even larger…than she expected. She shook her head slightly, clearing away from fear that slowly began to build. Don’t let others see that, Haru. She reminded herself, putting on her best smile as Legosi was no longer casted in the shadows.
“I’ve never seen someone as large as you before.” Not wolf-dog, not dire. Then, what else was there?
She giggled a bit. “Oh. I don’t think you will hurt me. Is that why you came here then? Or…was there something else you were looking for.” She eyed the male in his entirety, lifting herself from the ground in the process. “I mean, if there was, I…may be able to help with that.” Keep Control. She mind said slowly.
“Flowers?” the gray wolf frowned as she spoke, her story confusing him to a degree. “Why take care of flowers? Won’t they just… die?” it was true, no matter how much love she gave them, eventually those fragile things would wither and rot and she would be alone. It felt cruel to ask such a question, still, a part of him wanted to know more.
He wanted to know more about her.
I should ask for her name.
No, I can’t. That’s too forward.
The wolf found himself looking away as she made a comment about his size, sighing in deeply. “-and you are very small.” it was more of an observation than an insult. He had never met such a small wolf before. Wolves were massive where he came from.
“Are you a Direwolf?” the Berserker asked, glancing down at her as he stood about four feet from where she was. He could see her completely now, her pale pelt looked like snowfall against the muddy colors of the riverbed.
“How can you be so sure?” he gave her a blank expression. “That I won’t hurt you…?” he ignored her offer to help him. She wouldn't be able to even if she wanted to. His group would eat her alive. Or worse.
“There’s always something that needs care for. Flowers may die down the line, but don’t we also? Nothing lasts forever, but it’s nice to know something is at least cared for, no matter how small or insignificant.” Haru explained.
“Besides.” She looked up at the beserker. “They are quite pretty to look at in an otherwise dreadful world.” She found herself laughing softly at her comment.
“Yeah…you got me there. I just stopped growing I guess.” Haru shrugged. “But that never stopped me.”
“No, I’m a…wolf-dog. We were bred to be companions to the two-leggers, when they were around anyways.” She shrugged inwardly. “And you aren’t a direwolf, so what is it you are then?”
Another shrug at her last question. “You know you are doing it again. Staring that is. That’s quite rude.” She was an observant character, that was for sure. And he, was he daft towards her advances? How strange. Males normally didn’t need much persuasion from that.
“I think if you wanted to hurt me you would’ve already. So, seeing as you haven’t, makes me think you won’t.” She approached the male slowly, closing the gap between them. Her scent lingered in the air, getting heavier upon her approach. “Will you go fetch me the water then?”
She was extremely forward, and in a way that made him feel completely uncomfortable. Was she… flirting with him? The idea made his eyes widen as she spoke about her flowers, using them as an obvious metaphor for life, and perhaps even herself. He wished to relate, but couldn’t. He didn’t feel much joy, nor did he see much beauty in the small things. At least, maybe not until now. She made his heart race a little faster than normal.
But why?
“I see.” the gray wolf nodded in kind, his eyes meeting her own once more. “A wolf-dog? Oh, you mean a hybrid? Where I come from that is what we call your breed.” he mumbled a little, glancing away from her again. Her eye contact made him feel small.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to, honestly.” it was true, while he didn’t mean to stare he really couldn’t help it. He was entranced. She was otherworldly to him, her eyes, her scent. It was maddening. He could hardly contain himself.
As she closed the space that once separated them he felt his face light up again with that uncomfortable heat. Why was she doing this to him? Was it a game? Was she messing with him?
“I-” at the last words his eyes went wide with disbelief.
I think if you wanted to hurt me you would’ve already.
Those words echoed through his mind for a moment. She really had no idea what he was…
Legosi felt himself grow increasingly more frustrated with the feelings he felt, however, he did his best not to…
“Oh - sure. I can do that…” he quickly snapped back, nodding slowly as his eyes glanced down at the smaller female. He may as well help if he could, right? The large male moved a paw to hover over the turtle shell, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
“Why is she so close…” he mumbled to himself.
“A hybrid is not a term we prefer to use.” Haru didn’t, at least. It seemed demeaning to her. “And where is it that you come from? Don’t think I missed you avoiding my original question.” He knew of her common tongue name, but what of his?
He seems to apologize a lot for such a large creature. How strange Haru’s inner monologue voiced. Is he not like other male’s?
Her attention was brought to the present as he said he would help her. She pushed the shell towards him, her paw nudging his ever so slightly.
“Don’t delay, kay. My daisy needs it’s water. It’ll die without it.” The interruption wasn’t something she expected to encounter. She would normally just get her water, and leave. Why had this wolf crossed her path again?
“Chop chop.” Haru all but demanded. “I don’t really have all day,” even with her stern tone, she held that bright smile on her maw.
“That’s strange, why is that? Is it offensive?” they had no other word for it, not where he came from. Her kind was hardly heard of, let alone seen. She was a rare breed indeed. Perhaps that was why he felt so… weird around her. That had to be it, right?
“Me? Oh.” Legosi frowned for a moment, tapping his paw on the turtle shell. “I guess you’d call me a Berserker.” the term felt weird, saying it like this at least.
“Have you never seen a wolf like me before?” the question rang out into the darkness as he placed the shell in the water, allowing water to pour into it long enough to fill. “I mean, well, as large as me? I take your kind is small - like you?”
His expression softened a bit as he lifted the shell by it’s cloth strap with his muzzle. “Lead the way-” he mumbled through his clenched teeth.
“It’s derogatory to me. Hybrid. Sounds like mixed breed or muddied line. And yeah, maybe that was the case back then, but not so much now.” She argued slightly. It was her opinion on the name. She didn’t care what others thought of it.
A beserker? Huh, nope, she hadn’t heard of them before. She left the comment alone, watching the male gather the water with her shell.
“I mean, all the wolves I have met are larger than me. You just happen to be the largest. And, stockier?” Haru was blunt as she spoke. “Not that it is a bad thing! I’ve never been with a male quite as large before. But, then again I guess there is always a first time for everything.” She found herself saying quietly. This was where this was leading after all? He’d follow her to her garden, plant his own kind of seed.
She nodded approvingly. “This way. It isn’t too far.” She turned on her haunches, tail wagging slightly as she headed back to her garden. “Gee I hope we aren’t too late. It’d be such a shame to see the beauty die so soon.” Another murmur under her breath. She occasionally looked back to make sure the male was following.
Her off hand comment made him blush a bit deeper. Been with? As in….
Oh. She was very blunt after all. How could something so small be so bold and forward? He felt himself move back before she set off in front of him.
Legosi would walk far behind her, as if to avoid direct contact. He was helping, sure, against his better judgment. However, he knew better than to trust an outsider so quickly. He had come here on a mission after all. His time here would be short. He couldn’t get attached, not to anything or… anyone.
Why does she keep looking back? He would ask himself frantically as the two walked on. Every now and again he would glance away, watching the darkness curl around them. He wouldn’t be able to find his group now. They would most likely be sleeping, preparing themselves for the next day.
The gray wolf frowned deeply to himself, glancing down at his paws. Her scent was driving him crazy, and it didn’t help that he was still starving from before. How much longer? His mind raced as the two continued on. @Kasai
[6:36 PM] Kasai: He sure doesn’t talk much. Well, I guess most guys are like that when I think about it. Hmm. she continued the short glances before her eyes widened, as did her smile.
“Aha! Here we are. Let me just.... take that from you, there we go,” he maw grabbed at the shell, taking it from the gray wolf and heading to her dying flower. She gave the flora its nutrient, before putting the rest to the side. She’d water the rest of her friends later.
Haru turned towards Legosi. “So. Um. Yeah, this is my garden. Thank you for carrying the water back. I mean, I know I told you you had to but you really didn’t.” She patted the ground next to her, wanting the male to approach.
“I should return the favor? I mean, it’s fair after all. Right?” She glanced around Legosi. “Just go easy on me. I’m not sure how much weight I can actually hold.” What were pleasantries anymore? Introductions were never a thing for Haru. The less she knew, the better, right?
Legosi moved back quickly as the smaller female removed the shell from his maw. His heartbeat only seemed to grow more intense as she closed the space that once kept them apart. He didn’t like this feeling, not at all. Still, he needed help and he was happy to… try. His large red eyes followed her as she started to water her dying plants.
It seems pointless - he thought to himself as she poured the water over them.
It just looks like a watery grave to me. Inside he was able to express himself more clearly, however, when it came to facing this tiny girl…
“It’s nice.” he lied between his teeth, glancing down at his paws.
“I know I didn’t have to, but… you asked. So-” his words came to a cold pause as she continued speaking. A bleak look covered his expression as she mentioned… returning the favor. Was she really offering herself? To a complete stranger? Did she do this kind of thing often? What was wrong with her?
The large gray wolf moved back at her advances, looking away in complete embarrassment.
“No-” he spoke firmly before looking away. Was he disgusted? What was this expression? Legosi had no idea how to react, in this moment he felt shame.
She was lucky he was so kind, had she offered this to anyone else in his raiding party… the thought made his skin crawl. “Have you no self-respect?” he barked before turning to leave. In this moment he truly felt vulnerable.
“I’m sorry. I have to go.” with a final look back the wolf sighed, leaving the white female alone in her garden. He never even gave her his name.
Haru could respond as the male seemed to high-tail it from her. Her head tilted as she watched his retreating form. “Huh. That was strange...” no male had refused her advances before. Maybe it was a “beserker” thing. Haru didn’t know.
She wouldn’t dwell on it though. Once the male was fully out of sight, she let out a sigh. All her hidden fear had been released with that breath. Her eyes narrowed as she looked back to her garden. Time for things to get back to normal. That interaction, in her mind, never happened.
