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He had been taking refuge with a pack called Yuelin, on the island where he had washed ashore. The last couple months had been impressively uneventful since his arrival, winter in full swing and with the ocean made an easy path to land beyond. So that night, he had decided he would go venturing. And he did; he woke early, had a good meal for the journey and set off across the frozen bridge. He told no one. Acting on a complete impulse in the middle of the night. He wasn't an 'official' member anyway, so no one would miss him.

The golden man moved swiftly, eager to discover what awaited on the other side. He was met with dense cloud coverage and a light consistent flurry of snowfall. A golden spec moving through the white landscape. It came faster than he thought; land ─ paws disappearing beneath the feet of piled snow that gathered the night before.

Henbane gave an excited shake of his coat, tail high and confident as he followed the ocean south, his face lighting up when frozen ice encrusted trees came into view. ❝ Oh wow.. ❞ he muttered with hushed vocals, honeyed eyes glued upward. And there ─ in the branches was another fleck of gold not unlike his own. Henna paused, tilting his head at the little bird. ❝ Hey there...get left behind did you? ❞ he mused. A miracle the thing was still alive. ❝ I'm a walking heater; and I'm good at sharing ─ if you'd like ❞ he offered.

All the while staring up ─ looking like a wolf talking to a tree.

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❝ speech ❞
ooc; henbane finding his companion! aw!

It was undeniably true—Yuelin was, in every aspect she had ever known it, a lifeless expanse, languishing in an oppressive stillness. This stagnation was the very reason for her departure, and now, as she stood on the familiar shores, Baijiu recognized that her reasons remained valid.

To her dismay, it felt as though nothing had transformed; in her eyes, time had stood still. The pack was as it had always been, a stagnant entity, and she found it perplexing how they managed to survive in such a lifeless environment. She had hoped that her return, along with the potential inclusion of the charming brown man, would inject some much-needed vitality into their lives. Yet, once again, the pursuit of connection eluded Baijiu, leaving her attention as fleeting as a whisper in the wind.

She had extended her hand to them too many times now, offering countless chances for revival.

With a spirit unburdened by her thoughts, she danced and skipped along the shore, her movements reminiscent of an angel gliding through the air. The sun glinted off her skin, and the sound of waves lapping against the sand provided a gentle rhythm to her grace. Oblivious to the world around her, she was lost in the joyous moment, completely unaware that anyone else shared her space.

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The little bird only watched him, its sun bright wings tucked tightly against its body as it shivered and shook huddled trying desperately to keep warm. ❝ Come on down, I won't hurt ya' ❞ he coaxed, his golden tail swaying before he got distracted by the sound of another. The golden man looked over his shoulder toward the sea that was at his back when a familiar form came skipping by. Dancing and twirling, encased in pure shameless joy.

She moved with a carefree grace, as if the ocean breeze itself had taken the form of a wolf and danced across the sand. He couldn’t help but smile. Though the scene was simple—just a girl running by the water—something about her smile, the freedom in her movements stirred something deep inside him.

A gentle ache of admiration caught him off guard, tightening in his chest. He’d never seen anyone so alive in a single moment. In that instant, with the salt-laced wind and the hushed roar of the sea all around, he realized how utterly enchanted he was. His heart beat a little faster, drawn to the joyful spirit before him, and he silently smiled as he looked on only to find the little sun conure landing upon his head.

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❝ speech ❞
ooc;

To be completely honest, she was blissfully unaware of his presence, and perhaps that was for the best. If she had known someone was out here, silently watching her, she would have felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her, making it impossible to dance so freely in the brisk, falling snow. In her mind, she comforted herself with the thought that anyone nearby had more pressing matters to attend to, didn’t they? Whatever their pursuits were, they seemed far removed from this serene winter landscape, where the pack lay dormant, as still and lifeless as a volcano that had long since lost its fury.

Now, as the snowflakes drifted down like delicate feathers from an overcast sky, she moved with elegant grace along the sandy beach, their soft crunch underfoot a gentle reminder of the unusual juxtaposition between the coastal shore and the winter wonderland enveloping her. She spun in circles, her coat swirling around her like a dark halo, while warm laughter bubbled up from her lips. The melody she began to sing was infused with raw emotion, each note echoing her deepest feelings, weaving past memories into a tapestry of sound.

Unbeknownst to her, a man cloaked in earthy browns stood a short distance away, captivated by the enchanting sight before him. He watched her with a mixture of admiration and awe, the way the snow danced around her and the joyful tune she sang forming an image so vibrant it felt almost otherworldly. Her spirit seemed to illuminate the wintry twilight, capturing both her own joy and the attention of a stranger who found solace in her unexpected radiance.

As the brisk wind swirled through the air, playfully tugging at the long strands of her coat, the dancer felt an unexpected shift in the atmosphere. It was as if the gentle breeze carried whispers of companionship, making her acutely aware that she was not alone after all. A blush crept up to her cheeks, warming her skin as she turned to face him, her heart racing with anticipation. With an inviting smile dancing on her lips, she called out, Well, are you going to just stand there and watch, or are you going to join me in this moment of beauty and rhythm? The vibrant colors of the setting sun cast a warm glow around them, enhancing the magic of the moment and beckoning him to step forward.