Gekirin could barely believe it. The world that was once blanketed in darkness, was now bathed in a warm glow of light. The sun had risen for the first time in several months, if not longer, taking back what belonged to it without a fight. It's as if the world had been reborn, welcoming back all that had lived underneath its rays. The behemoth rose from his den, taking it all in like a fine wine.

Golden eyes blinked a few times to make sure that he wasn't simply seeing a mirage, a feeling of relief washing over him as he realized that this was all truth. Somewhere Crane was likely either sleeping or finding something to keep his ever racing body busy. A small smile appeared on his lips, faint but ever present. It was the first time in many moons that he felt any semblance of peace or happiness.

He just hoped that it stayed this time, not to be taken away from his grasp again. For there was only so much his heart could take, and he wasn't ready to find out just how far he could be pushed. So for the time being, Gekirin would relish in this moment, basking in the warm golden light as if he was being reborn once more into the reawakening world.

She hadn't known a world without light long enough to miss it, so when she came upon him standing there like something carved out of the dark and only just remembering how to breathe she didn't rush; but she never did. She approached slowly, unannounced and unhurried the soft press of her presence enveloping the space. Mm she hummed contently tipping her head back slightly to feel the sun across her throat There it is, She drifted closer, close enough to share the same patch of warmth but not so close as to crowd him. Let him have the space to stand tall in it, and let him choose not to move away.

You’re standing like you expect it to vanish if you blink, she said, with a gentle fondness. Lull shifted then lowering herself into the grass folding into the sunlight like she belonged there. Like it had been waiting for her, too. You can sit, you know she added glancing up with a small smile as she stretched slowly soaking it in.

—

The woman's voice caught him off guard, pulling him out of his sense of security and back to reality. She was much smaller then him, with a pelt of softer colors. Eyes of blue and yellow stared out at him, but with a kind and confident expression. I do admit that I feel like it might at any second. It's been so long since the sun has smiled upon us. Feels good to have it back.

Geklrin smiled down at her, though the rest of him was quite soft and at ease, almost stoic. I take it you are from around here? Just judging by your confidence, as not a lot of wolves have had the guts to approach me so readily. May I ask your name? A curious expression remained on his face, wondering who this wolf was and what kind of demeanor was hiding underneath all of that fluff.

"I do admit that I feel like it might at any second. It's been so long since the sun has smiled upon us. Feels good to have it back." she only smiled up at him, a soft flick of her tail. "I take it you are from around here? Just judging by your confidence, as not a lot of wolves have had the guts to approach me so readily. May I ask your name?" she let this settle her gaze lingering on him longer in an appreciative manner. Confidence, she echoed softly, a small easy smile following Is that what it looks like? Lull shifted where she lay stretching out one foreleg into the sunlight.

I don’t think it’s that, she went on, voice warm and low. You just didn’t feel like something that needed avoiding. her gaze lifted back to him and I like finding out when I'm right

From around here, she echoed playfully vague. For now, It didn’t sound evasive so much as… unbothered by the need to be precise. Like “here” was wherever she happened to be standing, or sunbathing in this case.

You can just call me Lull, she offered and you?

—

A rather peculiar woman she was, but interesting to him none the less. I try not to be any way. But I do have my moments that I care not to show. Golden eyes watched her as she stretched herself out, bathing in the sun with utmost care and indulgence. Shamefully he found himself admiring her own body, careful though not to linger on her too much.

It wasn't a gentlemanly thing to do after all. Gekirin is what you may call me. I'd say the rest of it, but then we would be here all day. The black wolf stepped further down to her level, but careful not to encroach on Lull's personal space too much. Just in case this woman had more bite then she let on.

"I try not to be any way. But I do have my moments that I care not to show." Mm she murmured, the sound low and thoughtful her eyes like a rising sun in a blue sky followed him as he moved closer, unbothered by the shift in distance. If she did notice the care he took not to crowd her space, she didn't say it, only a quiet awareness in her expression. "Gekirin is what you may call me. I'd say the rest of it, but then we would be here all day" Gekirin she repeated, a small smile curving at the corners of her maw It suits you...feels deliberate

She wouldn't press him for the rest of it. That wasn’t her way, and if anything, she seemed more interested in how easily he’d offered even that much to someone he'd known for all of ten minutes. You carry it like it’s heavier than it needs to be, she would add this however, eyes flicking briefly to his posture before drifting back up to his ebon face.

Letheia shifted again, rolling slightly onto her side so she could look at him without tilting her head back. The sunlight catching along the pale of her coat softening her edges and making her look almost like she belonged more to the warmth than to anything solid. You’re being very careful, she observed after a beat, her tone almost amused she slowly reached a paw up toward his face, but did not touch It’s polite. I like it.

She paused then, tilting her head,

But you don’t have to be, you know. Not here. Her tail flicked lazily against the grass curious what he would do with the information.

Come a little closer, Letheia hummed after a moment; a suggestion. The sun’s better over here.

—

This woman seemed to harbor now fear, not even the slightest discomfort of his presence. It was enlightening but also interesting to the male as he listened to her honeyed voice. Thank you, you are too kind. Gekirin took in her next words with great thought, not really knowing how to respond at first. If you knew much of my history and meaning behind it, you would understand. But that's for another time, I think. If you are able to cross paths with me again. An ear flicked at her next response, a sudden flush of heat hitting his cheeks.

The black beast watched as her eyes rested along his body, his posture. Then rose again to meet his face. Those eyes left him frozen for a moment, much like her presence and tone of voice. Come closer? What ever for? Did she really want a stranger that close to her? A bold woman indeed, fearless. Unless just naïve. Lull leaned back to lay on her side, gazing up at him with much more clarity, a regality to her that was unexpected. A quiet confidence that was hard to miss.

Of course, you never know when the monster might jump out. His eyes trailed her own body for a longer moment, then coming back to meet her eyes again. Only if you are sure, then I will come. It was almost too tempting, but he would listen to her words, coming closer until he was sitting nearly right beside her. The sun enlightened his dark coat, warming it to a comfortable degree. All the while, his gaze remained fixated upon the new woman, curious and thoughtful.

"Thank you, you are too kind." she merely smiled "If you knew much of my history and meaning behind it, you would understand. But that's for another time, I think. If you are able to cross paths with me again" he teased her about this, but she didn't mind. Whether he told her or not presently it mattered not to her, they were strangers after all. "Of course, you never know when the monster might jump out" she mulled over this while he made his decision, "Only if you are sure, then I will come." and he did.

Her shoulder brushing his once more as she adjusted, entirely unbothered by the closeness. If anything, she leaned into it just enough to make it feel natural. There you are... she murmured before drawing her attention back to his previous statement. Τέρατα… (Monsters...) she echoed under her breath, the Greek curling gentle off of her tongue, I suppose what makes a monster depends on what you’ve had to survive Her gaze slid back to him lingering a moment longer now that he was close enough to study without effort.

I've seen monsters, but you're not that — you seem very careful for someone that claims they might be dangerous, she explained. When one was dealing with the myths and monster of ancient Greece you got a very clear picture of what monsters were made of.

Besides, if you ever do turn into something dreadful, she said idly, I imagine you’d give me enough warning, and that’s more courtesy than most manage. she said with a soft breathy laugh.

—

Coming closer to anyone was always a challenge, especially these days when a single touch could remind him of what could have been. A painful memory that he was trying to let go, but somehow still festered in him like a bad infection.

Yet this woman didn't seem to mind his seemingly dismal expressions and attitude. Only finding him more interesting and taking some peace out of his company. To tell the truth, it was something that he found rather comforting in a way, nearly charming.

You are right about that, all of it. A small chuckle left his lips, a smirk rising on his mouth. I would have given you plenty of warning. I simply do not wish to repeat history, for monsters are ones that have been in my life, had a hand in my up bringing. So I too know a few things about monsters, and how to not become one. Or at least die trying.

Gekirin felt her rest against his shoulder, past the point of brushing up against his brawny form. There it was again, that rush of heat that left just as quickly as it came with her touch.

I am curious though of the monsters you speak of. But is that too a tale for another time? What more can I learn of you, I wonder? Gekirin leaned a little more into her touch, just barely so. Enough that he was still supporting his own weight, but more to see if she would appreciate or welcome his strong forthcoming. Either way, it was worth a shot.

Lull would settle more comfortably against him, allowing the contact to deepen by a fraction her shoulder resting into his with a silent acceptance. Her eyes would drift to him, taking in the faint smirk and the curvature of his features, golden eyes striking against his dark fur.

"You are right about that, all of it" she listened, she had always been a good listener. "I would have given you plenty of warning. I simply do not wish to repeat history, for monsters are ones that have been in my life, had a hand in my up bringing. So I too know a few things about monsters, and how to not become one. Or at least die trying." he hinted about his past, and though he didn't vocalize directly wanting to talk about it, to Lull it seemed like he did.

"I am curious though of the monsters you speak of. But is that too a tale for another time? What more can I learn of you, I wonder?" a small, knowing smile touched her lips. My monsters, she echoed with a hint of amusement before she would shift onto her side, They're not very interesting I'm afraid, she mused lightly Old things that use fear to feel important her tail flicked through the grass casually.

When you spend enough time around gods… she added, a normal thing for her - but she wondered to herself what a foreigner might think of the Pantheon. Did he even know about them? You start to realize they're not all they're chalked up to be, mostly they're just bullies throwing their weight around

—