Hunger. [Open]

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Wandering wasn't something Cross did often, but his growling stomach had dragged him from what might be considered his 'home' to a strange, green place. The idea that there was copious amounts of food beneath the water was difficult for him to wrap his head around, but his mother had told him about fish and how to catch them, and mother never lied. He stood at the edge of the lake, staring into the water, trying to remember the lessons she had given him. It was hard to picture now just what she was trying to explain. He'd never fished before, and it's difficult to learn on dry land. But he was determined. The growing hunger in his gut forced that determination, but it was there nonetheless. He started by tapping the water gingerly with a thin paw. It was cold and wet, as water will be, and he didn't much care for that. How on earth did anyone do this? The next step involved entering the water, slowly and carefully, until it was up to his belly. He was already shivering. Before he could dunk his face beneath the surface, something brushed against his leg, a rather slimy and unexpected something. It started him and he darted back to the shore, splashing up a storm as he went. Though calm and collected on the outside, he was cursing himself mentally. It shouldn't be that hard to catch such a mindless creature. Perhaps he should stick with snacking on field mice instead.

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The brown-grey patchwork female loped leisurely across the green grass, large white clouds following her passage. It was neither warm nor cold - just the right temperature to be out and about in, as far as Zaphira was concerned. She had headed up northwards after that fabulous spring day down south, letting the wind and the spirits guide her steps. She was quite confident, knowing that she'd be brought to where she needed to be for important events. It was simply the way things went when you stayed in tune with the Mother Goddess and listened to her designs. It troubled her that so few were willing to open their minds and hearts and embrace the spirituality of being...but she could not force them to see thiings they had no wish in seeing. 

She altered her course, heading for the cool lake that would offer a refreshing drink. She remebered learning how to fish in those waters, her own homelands being just a little further east. She smiled fondly at the memory. She hadn't actually done much fishing that day, if her memory served her correctly. She'd found it much more entertaining to splash water over her pack and litter mates. To be fair, it had been a very fun game to play - even if mother had scolded her for it. She had always been lively, after all. 

Her musings were drawn to a rapid halt when a figure appeared in the nearest bit of shore. She narrowed her eyes, nostrils flaring to catch the vaguest perfume of the lake-watcher. Definitely an unfamiliar figure, she decided, slowing down to a bouncy trot and being sure to make enugh noise on her approach. She didn't want to be accused of sneaking up on him. The last time she'd done that, she'd barely escaped with a scratched cheek. Her blue eyes widened in surprise as the wolf lurched out of the water. Goodness, had she managed to startle him after all? "I'm terribly sorry" she offered hurriedly, coming to a halt just out of his reach. "I didn't mean to startle you". 


OOC: Sorry for the late reply - I only just saw you posted :0 But I am super excited to have the chance to thread with you,
Tag: @zr

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Ooc; no problem ^-^ sorry for any weird typos. I'm on my phone and auto correct is weird.

Though he probably should have been able to hear the approaching wolf, a mixture of concentration and frustration had Cross utterly distracted. Still, he tried his best to play it cool, even though she had startled him when she spoke.

"You didn't. The creature in there did," he said sharply, nodding toward the lake. He went with a half truth instead of a full lie; his surprise was most likely too obvious to hide anyway. Besides, others should be made aware of the lake monster. Or perhaps the yearling was just a bit naive.

Cross realized quite late into the exchange that he had completely forgotten his manners. Mother always taught him that manners were very important - especially when it came to first impressions. After all, if a pack wolf took a disliking to a loner it would be mighty easy to just kill them. Cross was not interested in being killed; he hadn't even tried fish yet!

"Oh where are my manners," he said, his once sharp tone now smooth and inviting. "I'm Cross. I do hope I haven't stumbled onto pack territory." Though he was sure he hadn't sniffed out any scent markers, he wanted to cover all his bases just in case. As he spoke his posture shifted to that of a more submissive wolf - albeit subtly. His ears pulled back to lean against his head, which dipped somewhat lower. His once limp tail tucked just slightly beneath his belly.

Manners were important, but he wouldn't lower himself to groveling or laying in the dirt like a dog.

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At his sharp reply, Zaphira let her gaze shift from the slender yearling to the dark shadows that cruised beneath the silvery surface. Ah, the fish. Some of the larger salmon could be mightily intimidating if you weren't expecting them. "Oh, I see," she replied, a note of relief in her voice. "Your first time hunting for fish?" Blue eyes were kind as she looked at him, a small smile pulling at her lips. "I remember the first time I caught at fish. It was entirely accidental and I wasn't at all prepared for it to wriggle so much in my mouth." She paused, a fond smile blossoming over her features as she recalled the day. "I never lived down my shriek of surprise that day...nor the fact that that was the only fish I caught in the week afterwards."

She cocked her head to the side in faint wonderment as he suddenly spoke out, his sheepish remembrance of proper etiquette making her heart warm. Oh, wasn't he just such a dear! So much less...highly strung than Wolf. And she did so love to meet younglings - they had so much to offer the world, after all. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Cross" she answered, her voice light and friendly. She had never understood those who went into introductions with raised hackles and scowls. "I am Zaphira, and no, these lands are unclaimed." She paused, turning her gaze back out across the water, before focusing back on the male. If she was one of those inclined to follow societal norms, she would have noted the subtle shift in his posture with pleasure. As it was, she behaved far too much like a pup at times herself, that she simply sat herself down upon the ground and made no show of being anything more than an equal. 

"I must say, I'm quite glad no-one has ever tried to stake claim to the lake, though it would be a marvellous place to raise young", she continued conversationally, her ears flicking at odd intervals to catch the activity of birds and insects. "The lake has fish almost all year round, which makes it a perfect hunting ground. And of course, on hotter days in the summer, it is simply wonderful to cool off in the shallows." She belatedly remembered that Cross had been intent on the fish earlier. "Did you want some more practice in catching fish? I'd be more than happy to help if you did."


OOC: Cross is so charming =D