OOC: This has been made present dated!


He should have known better. Nothing good ever lasted forever. After countless days of no one returning, everyone vanishing without a trace, he couldn't take it any more. Just couldn't take the faint scents of those that had been there, couldn't take the deafening silence that rang out across the island. He had to get out of there, it was time to leave. But he had noticed that he wasn't alone out there in this cruel world.

The faint scent of that dark brown female caught his attention, and he tried hard to keep pace with her. But she was faster and more capable of great agility then he was. And it didn't take long for him to lose her. So the black beast wandered off alone, trying to seek out a new living for himself. But hoping that maybe one day, he would run into her again. Even attempt at getting her name. It was a task he was prepared for, but knew it would take some work to gain her trust. That was if she even wanted him around.

The afternoon sun broke through the vast forest, coming in and raining down on him with a soft warmth. It felt so different, so strange to be back on the mainland again. After an entire season being cut off from the rest of the world, there came a time when he had forgotten what it was like to be out here again. Perhaps moving further north could help him figure out his next move. The scent of deer moved through the underbrush, whispering to his nose from the trees. It was a mouthwatering temptation, one that he couldn't pass up.

So he decided to start attempting to track them down, taking his sweet time and not rushing the process. Each paw was placed carefully across the forest floor, careful not to roll around any debri or rocks as he walked. The sun still lit his way through the forest, taking care to help him along his journey. The thought of a good meal and a good night's rest called to him like a parent to a child. Just a little further now. You will get there. A simple sentence that he kept telling himself, and nearly forcing himself to believe.

Midge

---

The huntress had been unaware of her pursuer, for the time he'd been on her trail. Midge had adapted to solitude reluctantly, and still often found herself made uneasy by the distant yowls of coyotes in the depths of the night, and the singularity of her citrus-and-spice scent. But she had adapted, and her days were quiet and simple. It was not an easy life, but it was hers to shape.

The sable she-wolf lay in the grasses on the hill overlooking where a small gathering of elk cows grazed. They were cautious of her presence, but she posed no threat to them for now. Midge was well-fed from a beaver she'd rooted out from its pile of sticks; a pungent meat but one her wolf's body could stomach with nary a problem. Her keen gaze was the first to spot the shadow splitting from the denser trees and bushes, and Midge could hardly believe it - another wolf, out here?

Then, the man silently trod further into the sunshine, the elk blissfully unawares of their stalker, and Midge's ears pricked atop her crown, her breath quickened in her chest. Was that Gekirin, from the Dynasty? She had thought everyone had dispersed their separate ways. She unfurled herself from her comfy bed of sweet-scented ferns and leaflitter to begin descending the hill toward him. Across from her, one of the cows lifted her head and snorted with alarm, not yet bolting but on highest alert.

So far the hunt had not gone badly. The elk cows remained oblivious to his approach, the shadows keeping him well hidden until he was ready to strike. Carefully he pushed himself out of the darkness and through the brush. Still they remained quiet and happy to go about their day. It wasn't until one looked up and snorted, that he noticed something was off. Gekirin froze in place, his muscles stopping in their tracks and his senses going in overdrive. Did they finally pick up on him? No, something else was up.

He watched the one female's nose twitch. Her eyes attentive and alert as she searched for danger. Gekirin followed her gaze, slowly setting his sights upon a face that he wasn't sure he would see again. Had it really been that long? Did he finally catch up to the scent he knew to be all too familiar? Yet there she was, the woman without a name and who would come trotting down the thick foliage with an exuberance that was so familiar and appreciative. But her actions were going to get them both in trouble.

The lone deer that became alert initially, snorted more, causing the others to spring to attention. The elk all rose their heads, attempting to catch a glimpse of anything that was remotely threatening. The threat however came from a different angle then to the side. The black beast lunged forward, attempting to catch one of the elk by surprise. Then there was panic, and many other elk scattering. Did he catch her? Was there enough time? Was he quick enough on his feet?

---

Midge had intended to allow the elk to go about their day, but it seemed Gekirin had dinner on the mind. He seemed to ignore Midge's approach, instead bursting from his careful stalk into an ambushing gallop. Midge's feather-light trot halted, as she watched the man's raven-black form cut like a knife through the trees and grasses. The elk scattered, leaving one lone cow behind just enough for Gekirin's fangs to connect with a muscles hind hoof.

The huntress' instincts awoke at the sight of prey on the run, and she was zipping down the hillside toward the fight before she was even aware of her decision to do so. Her paws hardly touched the ground, tapping it only to propel her lithe frame forward. Leaf fluttered in her wake, until Midge had closed enough of the gap between the struggling deer and her once-packmate to lunge for the cow's velvety nose. Midge let her weight swing, yanking the elk's head down to throw her off balance and send her collapsing to the ground. Fear, elk, and musty leaf litter filled her nose as Midge sucked in a breath around her grip, tail flagged over her hips.

The shadow that was Gekirin flew towards the elk in a flash, white teeth flashing from his maw as he latched on to the elk cow's hind hoof. She swung and struggled, but not long enough to quell her taste of freedom once more. The dark pelted wolf that was his old pack mate, came flying down the path with utmost urgency. He was startled at the level of ferocity she displayed as she bit down hard on to the elk's nose.

With a twist of her lighter body, she went the elk flying straight to the ground. Within a moment's notice, she was able to bring this mighty beast to its knees. Gekirin saw his chance to end this, flying over with speed most wouldn't expect from a wolf his size, launched straight for the elk's neck. Fangs punctured flesh and jaws squeezed tightly shut. Little by little, life began to fade from the poor animal's eyes. And then? Then for her, the light would go out.

---

The dark man's athleticism had been impressive on their first meeting. Now, he continued to prove that the game they had played had only been a playful taste of his capabilities. Midge hit the ground with the cow, refusing to release her grip and bowing with her elbows brushing the leaves beneath her paws to further hold steady. Gekirin, however, moved like a silent shadow of death across the sable hide of the cow. He struck for her throat, and Midge watched as her once-packmate claimed their quarry once and for all.

The cow's head thumped softly into a pillow of multicolored leaves and faint green grass. Midge's attention remained on Gekirin, though, eyes bright with curiosity but the rest of her posture a little wary.

Why was he here? Did he still consider her friend instead of foe?

The elk's life ebbed away before his eyes, her breath leaving silently as he held on tightly. Just a bit of blood flowed down his mouth, going down further into his throat as he swallowed. As soon as he knew it was all over, the black death let go of his quarry. The transformation from killer to friend soon came to pass as he looked upon the silent woman once more.

Not the way I expected us to run into each other again. But I'm glad that we did. Gekirin did a sheepish smile, attempting to catch his breath as he spoke. Sorry if I caught you off guard. Yes, it was her alright. It had to be. He wouldn't forget a face like that, the eyes of someone very much an enigma. But would she let him in more?

---

The dark man's savagery ebbed away as he turned his attention onto the huntress. For her part, she remained with a bloody maw and a glint of the chase still in her two-toned gaze, mirth and query and familiarity all expressed within the depths of blue and gold. She had no other way to speak, and so Midge had long practiced permitting her eyes to be windows to her soul.

It was a kind of honesty that was impossible for her to turn off, and had dragged her into trouble too many times to count, but the alternative was a silence in her body the same as her voice. And Midge could not bear to not speak her mind, in one way if not all of them, so she let her teeth bare in a lop-sided and breathless grin in reply to Gekirin. He was glad they had found each other.

It was the kind of sentiment the lone she-wolf needed to hear, and she reached forward over the elk's carcass to bump her muzzle into his shoulder. Her tail swept through the autumn-colored leaves beneath her. It seemed she had caught him almost more off guard than she had him, but Midge was not sure if she'd say so even if she could. Instead, she swept her paw at the cooling body of their meal, an invitation and encouragement.

Those eyes, it was so hard not to look away from those eyes. She smiled at him with a gleeful expression, her body still calming itself down from the adrenaline rush. Despite everything telling him not to get attached, not to seek her out further for any reason, he just couldn't help himself. It was even hard not to mentally jump at her touch as her muzzle came into contact with his shoulder. Gekirin almost opened his mouth to speak, almost spoke what was on his mind, but kept from doing so the moment she went to the kill and beckoned him to join her.

The black wolf got to his feet, taking one of the limbs in his mouth and gripping it down hard. With a twist and a rip, the leg came off and he went to lay down with his portion. Dulled yellow eyes tried not to lock on to her gaze again, for fear that he might utter something he would regret later. After all, he knew what could happen if he did. So he opted for asking her something instead, possibly not something that was too hard to answer. So do I get a name this time? A small mischievous smile on his face.

---

Gekirin tore off his portion of the meal, and Choumi went for the soft underbelly. It was strange still to only consume sustenance like this; the wolf within her thrilled at the hunt, but the woman longed for the variety of freshly baked breads, for the sweet tartness of a ripe mango. Although she couldn't have gotten her hands on either of those with particular ease even before she'd been magicked to this world.

Gekirin held up his end of their conversation, if it could be called that, asking if he'd earned his way to a name.

Midge barked out a laugh. It was not unkind, or meant to be. She could empathize with the man's frustration with her silence.

Her voice had not been her own for a very long time.

She measured her response, then shook her head lightly. Better to simply deny him than get his hopes up.