O'Malley hadn't expected to be taken out of this world. After all, others had made it pretty apparent that it wasn't possible to go back to where you came from. So why was he taken away? Why did he get snatched from the pretty girl that he was sharing a den with? The golden man hadn't come to terms with the anxiety that had befallen him. Instead he was left with being returned to a world that had seemingly no mercy for its inhabitants. Sore muscles greeted him as he tried to get up, his large body laying back down in the soft powder with a thud.

Honey eyes looked around to see if anyone had heard his arrival as he fell from god knows where. Guess this wasn't going to be his best day ever after all. And now he was forced to deal with the fact that he might get taken away again, forever losing the possible friendships he might eventually gain. So what was the point then in making connections? Especially when you were just going to lose them. It felt suddenly like his heart had shrunk a thousand times too small, hiding it away within a dark chamber of oppression. But still allowing the charade of glowing happiness and carefree attitude that was his usual persona. But how long could he keep it up?


Cvetka

Skill: Astronomer [1/5]

---

The girl was stargazing, perched upon a moonlit outcrop. After a long night of silent observation, she'd fallen asleep.

The fleeting presence of everyone around her left Cvetka with a gaping hole in her heart. She'd met Raum. Now he's gone. She'd met Amaris. But he had more important things to do than have a leech cling to his coat. And...

Hanska.

Why had he been taken from her? Was it something she did?

There was no permanence in the presence of another. No one who would reliably give her a body to lean on when she needed it.

And yet, the same could not be said for the stars.

There was no night in which the stars would not gaze down upon her, cast their dim, silvery light upon the rosy fur that blanketed her slender flank. When she could trust no one, she could trust the stars to be there. Each night. Awaiting her.

The leg once broken after her collision with the earth was mended—at least for the most part. The limb remained weak. Sore. A mere walk out of Fate's Respite towards the Golden Glade left her sore with a hobbled gait.

Fortunately, the girl was content to remain poised upon the stone. A night well spent with her cerulean eyes trained upon the celestial bodies, all of which resided in distances far beyond her comprehension.

How she yearned to hold one in her grasp. The gentle scintillation, its warm glow...

Her peaceful slumber upon the stone was interrupted. A soft thump, somewhere in the near distance, tore the girl away from her dreams and back into cruel reality. A tongue flickered out between her lips, and lapping over her damp nose. Cvetka stepped off the boulder, careful not to lean excessive weight on her sensitive arm.

Nostrils flaring, she wandered forward and eventually halted once a golden body appeared in her line of sight. Cvetka's head dipped downward, ears swiveling forward and fixed on the stranger, listening for sounds.

Was... he dead?

Curiosity killed the cat. Cvetka timidly wandered forward, keeping a safe distance lest the man would react physically to her presence.

---

holy Shit im sorry its so long i promise my next responses wont be :sob:

One can be forgiven for not noticing anyone else around. Being stuck in your own head can do that to you. Dull your senses so hard that it's nearly numbing you to the bone. O'Malley heard the somewhat heavy foot fall of someone nearby, sounding more like someone jumping from somewhere higher up. He kept his gaze transfixed on his surroundings, carefully watching and waiting until an unusually soft looking girl came walking towards him. He wouldn't have been able to tell she wasn't all wolf just from looking at her. But he could tell that she was unique compared to others that he had seen. A very fluffy coat with some extra long fur here and there. Added to the soft rosy look, it was quite appealing to the eyes. Speaking of eyes, hers were a really soft cerulean, like that of the sea. Guess today is my lucky day after all. Not often I wake to find a pretty girl. What's your name, sweetheart? That's right, just keep it cool. Nothing to worry about here.

Skill: N/A

---

Cvetka diligently stalked forward, her tail held neutral by her rear, until the bronze form's head rose from the ground.

Immediately, she froze. Not dead.

Her tail fluttered anxiously by her hocks. Ears folded back, eyes widening its gaze upon the sire. 'Guess today is my lucky day after all.' She furrowed her brows with a slight cant of her head. 'Not often I wake to find a pretty girl. What's your name, sweetheart?'

For a few fleeting seconds, she did not answer. Cvetka's head was low, still scrutinizing the stranger who was strewn over the ground. His posture lax, eyes looking over her frame with, seemingly, little shame. ...Cvetka, the young girl answered quietly, what... is yours? The blush-furred wolfdog carefully eased herself onto her haunches, remaining apprehensive of the new face.

The girl was apprehensive as she continued to approach. A cautious expression was on her face, and her whole body was guarded. She had every right to be, as she had no idea that he meant no real harm. Cvetka was her name as she introduced, prompting a friendly smile to rise more on his own face. It curled and tugged at the corners of his lips, light shining in his eyes again for the moment. You may call me, O'Malley. Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you. You can settle down. It was his first attempt at getting her to calm down, though he wasn't sure how much he had succeeded. You from around here? An honest question from a somewhat honest man. He waited to see if she would accept his show of mutual respect, or if she would turn tail and run.

Skill: N/A

---

Her tail never ceased its nervous movements by her legs. Cvetka's eyes flickered to and fro, away from the male, then back upon his countenance, then back away again.

'You may call me, O'Malley.' O'Malley... she softly parroted, committing the name to memory before falling silent yet again. 'Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you. You can settle down.' She couldn't help the grateful smile that curled over her lips. Cvetka, though still restless, let the timid strain on her body dissipate at his words.

'You from around here?' The question prompted another periodic silence. Cvetka's brows furrowed, her lips pursed in thought. Was she from here...? Could these woodlands be considered her home, nowadays?

Truth be told, she hadn't any idea. I've been living around here for... a little while, now. And unsatisfactory answer. Cvetka frowned tilted her ears back. She wanted to know more.

Yet, even if there were someone who knew more than she, would she be able to find them?

Cvetka seemed to take his words to heart, showing signs of setting down but still being insecure. Did all young girls have this issue? Well that's good to hear. It's always nice to have some kind of home base to come back to. Then you can explore to your heart's content. O'Malley tried to rise to his feet again, this time making more headway and actually being able to stand this time. I was in this world before, but suddenly got taken out again. Now I have woken up back here. Not sure where I am going next, but at least it will be an adventure for sure. He was doing his damn best to seem confident, not really too sure any more of his own skills and future now after all that has happened. But she didn't need to know that. As far as she could tell, all was well. No need to get all emotional and sympathetic towards him. Well, at least not yet.

Skill: N/A

---

Oh, if only she harbored such confidence.

Cvetka listened to his words, her head tilted to the side in curiosity. 'Not sure where I am going next, but at least it will be an adventure for sure.' To the girl, the unknown had been the one harrowing force that'd driven her to bewildering actions—her allure towards Raum and Amaris, the constant wanderlust...

Yet, he welcomed it. With assurance oozing from his sonorous voice, he embraced it. She scowled. Do you... enjoy them? Adventures? Her voice remained soft, though there was still a palpable sense of desperation in her voice. How could one feel such a way...? She had to know.

The sun wolf listened to her questioning, a curious look on her face that was also filled with confusion what looked like scowling. Did she disapprove? Oh yes indeed. It's a breath of fresh air not knowing what's going to happen next, where you'll end up or who you will meet. Sometimes just winging it and throwing caution to the wind can bring about some of the most memorable moments of your life. You just have to learn to make the most of your situation at hand. No sweat, Cvetka. He beamed with a sure sign of confidence, rising to his feet as he found his inner strength again.

O'Malley was not the type to just roll over and give up after some hardship. And while he had still worried over the troubles of vanishing from this world, he hadn't lost that wild spirit that kept him from enjoying life. It would just take some time to figure out the rest that seemed to ache his heart. But he would get there, that's all there was to it. Is that so strange a thing to like? This time it was his turn to question her, a quizzical brow rising as he waited for her next answer, wondering what her reaction would be to his prodding.

Skill: N/A

---

The woman listened to his short tirade, her head tilting. His confidence in 'throwing caution to the wind', his assurance that it was his free-bird sentiments were 'no sweat'. Her lips slightly parted, she watched his mannerisms with a gaze filled with as much wonder as there was confusion.

'Is that so strange a think to like?' She snapped out of the curious stupor at the realization that he was speaking to her. Oh, I— she regained her bearing with a quiet inhale, shuffling her feet. I wouldn't... know. My life hasn't been particularly eventful.

That could be a lie as much as it could be true. Cvetka didn't know what life she'd lead.

I suppose... I just don't understand, she conceded quietly, caution is what had kept me alive. I couldn't imagine myself neglecting it.