* Kelais watched the sun go down hours ago. It was a quiet evening, the clearing dark and silent. Despite the dozens of wolves that wandered around the territory, it was inevitable that eventually, solitude reigned. It reminded her off her yearling days--the months spent with only herself to talk to. Those nights, she looked up at the stars then too. Kaia had always told her that her ancestors lived among the constellations up there--watching. After her death, it comforted Kelais, the knowledge that her mother lived on in some form. Even now, looking up, she was comforted. Despite the fact that her mom had been dead for nearly three years, it comforted her still.


* Xiodax figured that he would make himself useful, and was out admist the woods with the last of the spoiled meat from the cache. He had noticed some of it had spoiled, so he took it upon himself to -clean it. After depositing it, he spit a few times and wrinkled his nose. Then he made his way to return to the clearing, specifically at the lake in order to wash away the the rancid flavor that remained within his muzzle. Once there, he dipped his dark muzzle to -drink not only just to clean out his muzzle, but to sate his thirst. His midnight ears and golden gaze took note of everyone and everything within the clearing. Though his attention would linger upon Kelais once he spotted her. His tail would raise and flick back and forth, happiness upon seeing her taking over his countenance. He was usually fairly stoic.


* Kelais 's ears flickered when she heard the footsteps approaching the lake. Nearby was her boulder, which was just high enough for her to jump up on, and then it sloped gently upwards to form a small peak facing the lake. It was a shame that they didn't linger in the summer, because it would've made a fabulous sunning rock. But she craned her head forward, and spied the familiar dark silhouette. "Evening," she murmured. Loud enough that he would hear; quiet enough that it would disturb none of those sleeping nearby. She scooted over slightly on the rock, so there was a Xio-sized space beside her. "There's room for two up here, unless you had other plans?"

* Xiodax did not need to be asked twice. He would offer a grin, exposing all of his pearly whites. He would shake his head ever so briefly, then leap up beside Kelais and settle in next to her. He would lay beside her gently, curling his tail around her. "Not even a good hunt could tear me away," he murmers softly, for her ears alone. A bit of snow clung to his dark pelt, perhaps helping him to blend in with the snow that covered everything.


* Kelais smiled earnestly as he immediately sprang up onto her rock, and after he settled in, she moved to lean her head against his shoulder. "In fact," she murmured, "a good hunt would be one of the rare things that mean I get to spend time with you." Actually, now that she gave it some serious thought, those fleeting moments spent in only each other's company were few and far between. Between hunting, cache-cleaning, and intrusive--but, she thought, well-meaning--newcomers, they'd hardly had any time as simply Xio and Kel. "Sooo," she said, one ear flicking twice in rapid succession, "I was thinking...now that you're, uhmm, here....and all...I was thinking, after you become a packmate?...since you're here..." Her heart twisted uncomfortably. "If....uhm...." In that moment, she felt weaker than the day she'd stumbled across Kladd and had been too submissive to even look in Saigh's general direction. The beta of Kladd’atir, and self-professed Huntress stared determinedly down at her paws. She felt so conflicted, and then added quickly, "I was wondering if you'd like to go hunting sometime?" Stupid, stupid, stupid. The cache was only seven days old! Weak. That's what she was. Embarrassed and frustrated, she could only stare at her paws, an acidic ball of anxiety winding itself ever tighter in the pit of her stomach as she waited for his reply.


* Xiodax 's midnight ears perk as he listens to his favorite voice. Immediately he picks up on her anxiety; she usually did not stumble with her words around him. His golden gaze focuses in on her much smaller form, and he sees within her a strong and fierce spirit, a loving and forgiving heart, and absolute loyalty. Indeed, though he spent as much time with her as possible, it never seemed like it would be enough. In fact, he doubted he would ever have enough of her company. Gently, he brushed his nose against her scruff, and then nuzzled her. He nosed her ears briefly before replying. "Kelais, I would love to go hunting with you, any time, any place." He paused, letting that sink in. Then he placed a paw on hers and gently brushed his nose against her muzzle, staring at her face. He speaks softly, "I would like your permission to speak with Saigh. After I become packmate, with your and her permission, I would like to ask you to be Courts in front of the pack," he murmers softly. One of his midnight ears pin back, the only outward expression of his own feelings. He finally admitted to it out loud. Feelings were not something that he was good with. Kelais held the power to make him, or completely break him; if she so chose.


* Kelais continued to watch her paws, and visibly cringed as he spoke. Hunting?, she thought critically. Seriously, Kel, hunting?! First you wimp out, and act like THAT, and the best alternative you could come up with?! She wanted to shrivel up to acorn-size and maybe hide under a rock for a couple years. But then he kept talking, and she looked at him; if it were possible for wolves to cry, she would've then, if she wouldn't have been anyway. Kel leaned in toward his nuzzle, eyebrows furrowed intently. She stared, momentarily at a loss for words. "Of course," she whispered. "Anything you ask." If Xio was so caught under the power of her, then Kelais herself was ensnared as much or more.