σн, ѕαιℓσя { 1x1 , 10588 & 15349 }

The pine needles under foot had soften the sounds of the large male’s steps as he approached the clearing. The third and final Eastern scent marker had been the cause. A summer sun flirted just above the tree line of those towering pines as Nikolai stepped out from the protective dapple of shadows. The marker was a beacon of a musky scent, and one he had become familiar with. The she-wolf who had welcomed him among her kin. He had only been with the pack for six sleeps, and yet with each scouting trip he dared to step in a farther and farther arch past the core territory of the pack. He could swear the borders enchanted him; lured him forward with scents he could not yet truly fathom. Was this an unwise choice fueled by youth? Perhaps he should have taken these long summer days as opportunity to bolster affections with the pack…     

 Nikolai dismissed the self-doubt with a shake of his head, and scratched a fresh scent mark over the spot. After all, he was assigned to do this work. The pine’s edge was the visual cue of the pack’s farthest territory marker, and what lay past it was foreign to the male. Azure gaze studied the horizon as nostrils flared; trying his best to predict what might lay beyond.

Sora walked through the dense  forest floor of the trees above her. She never was this far away from her den. She lived alone, but she liked it that way...at least for now. 

But there was one thing that made her stop and sniff the air and point her  foot up.  A new smell  she thought sniffing the ground.  A male's no less  she chuckled " That's the one thing I need" She said aloud as she walked on for a few more minutes. Sora was a lone female, scared from fights from previous fights, but that's what made her the best mate. The best mate always stayed strong in hard times. " I need to find someone who can depend on me" she said 

And just like her prayer was answered she spotted a male. Unknown to her of course. But  she didnt care. She would go say hello and  hopefully make friends and maybe a long lasting relationship with him.

The wind was not in Nikolai’s favor because he saw her before he smelled her. It caught him off guard, and made every nerve buzz as the male attempted to regain control of his environment. Too late. Too slow. Foolish. 


The shape of the other wolf skirted at the space that had once been empty brush seconds prior, and seemed to be approaching. How daring! It took Nikolai a second longer to realize the lithe form of the grey dappled she-wolf seemed expectant. Was this a trick? The male stiffened, confused by the ease of which the approaching she-wolf seemed to have about her. By all accounts he should turn tail, sound an alarm, and let the pack deal as they wish with the stranger. But there was something bewitching about the way the she-wolf moved nonchalantly in his direction. It taunted his ego, and churned at the primal root that vexed most males of maturity. So, instead of snarls and bristling hackles he chose to greet her boldness with an attempt at calm and cool, “Have we met before?” 

Sora perked up at his gentleness in his voice. She was confused. Why wasn't he attacking a stranger, like herself. Maybe because she was a female. An attractive one at that. "I-d-don't think so. I don't usually come this f-far  you see. Only to hunt." she said as she stopped a few feet away from the male.  Why was he being so nice to her? Was it a trick or was it not? She thought it not and just went along  " Names Sora" she said shyly, sitting on her haunches, her eyes upon the male. 

" And you are?" She asked a while later when the male didn't say anything. she tried to stay calm, but her excitement was getting the best of her. She had never seen  a single male since she left her pack a long while ago " You smell of a pack, and one I am not used to" she said wanting to know more about this  handsome looking stranger in her  midst. Her tail wagging and ears perked up.

Nikolai watched the she-wolf keenly as she responded to his request. He repeated the syllables of her name on his tongue. Softly, and if only for himself; letting them become a familiar shape in his throat. 


A small smile played at his lips as she sat before him. It seemed she was as taken aback by their meeting as he been at her approach. Better to continue in confidence then be bested a coward. Not that it was a tribulation to indulge the audience. No, the guest before him was easy on the eye, and thus far her attendance was pleasant. Though he had to wonder what brought her this far to the edge of another pack’s land.


“Nikolai.” He paused to let his gaze move over her before speaking on, “And you are quite correct.” At this curt response to her second question the male pressed forward unwavering and without preamble. When he was not inches from the she-wolf he finally stopped short to press his snout at the soft fur of her neck- just behind her skull, and take a deep inhale. “….but you do not.” He spoke in soft remark, the whiskers of his snout brushing past her ear before he stepped back a respectful distance once more. “You do not smell of any other wolves at all. Now why is that?” 

(Not a problem. Let me know if I need to make any major edits. Regardless, happy to play along. )

Sora twitched her ear as his snout touched her. Not a snarl was heard from her. For she learned that a female must never  attack a male. " I...I dont..have a pack any more.. I'm a l-lone female now. " she mumbled as the males eyes  looked at her from a distance once he stepped away " W-why do  y-you care?" she asked looking at him shyly. Being near him was hard, but she had to get used to being around another male... a younger male for that matter. "  I'm sorry if I  crossed into you-r territory Nikolai. I shouldn't be this far any ways.."

She slowly stood up and shook out her fur, sending out even a strong scent to him. But when she began to turn around to go back to her den, the male stopped her.

So defensive. He didn’t blame her. A lone wolf could be a dead wolf if one was too careless. The she-wolf was stammering on when she turned to leave. He hadn’t accounted for that, but should have. 

Instead of calling out to her Nikolai loped beside her. Once he was in step with her foot-falls the male added, “It’s not my territory. It’s her’s.” Nikolai gestured behind him as if the “her” in his response was obvious though the space behind him was empty of any other life save the pine and brush. For a moment he let the remark punctuate the space between them as they strode. Nikolai was acting as if this little jaunt was casual, but he had not yet been this far East. His senses were alert; waiting to be bested by some unknown foe. The she-wolf had smelled to be a lone wolf, but he had yet to trust much about this curious apparition. 

“I’m her scout.” He added at at last, unsure why he was giving the she-wolf more information than necessary. “One of two, actually.” Did this little excursion account as treason? Perhaps, but Nikolai’s appetite was piqued. He was eager to follow along, and see where the path of this encounter might take him.

"If you have a mate already then I suggest you head back.. im just an obstacle you will soon get entangled in, Nikolai.. "  Sora said walking on " But if you dont then.. I guess you can come along on my hunting trip I was actually going on when I s-smelled you." her eyes went to him. The mention of having a scout for a mate didnt sound  appealing to her, but she dismissed the thought as they walked " A scout? Must be nice. And what if  she finds out you have been with another female.. what would happen to you?" she stopped and looked at Nikolai in the eyes.

" Would it be safer or even better if I just went back with you ? " She shivered at the thought of  meeting the Alpha but she would hold her ground none the less.

After awhile though, she finally caught a rabbit and kept it in her mouth. " Up to you on what you want to do with a lone female, Nikolai. I dont have anywhere to go as of right now" she whined, her head hanging low as if in submission.

A guffaw escaped the male unencumbered, “Mate?” His boisterous laugher ceased for him to consider the concept, “No. Lilith doesn’t want a mate. She wants strong hunters and sly scouts.” He paused to catch the she-wolf’s gaze, “She wants power.” What he didn’t add was that he did, too, but power of his own making.


At Sora’s second question Nikolai reminisced. The past couple of days had been a joyful romp of new smells and curious encounters- not unlike the one he was undertaking currently. “I have returned to the pack with many a scent upon me...” He responded eyeing the she-wolf, curious what her reaction might be. “...but I doubt it would be wise for you to step foot on her territory again.” Before he could concede his response the she-wolf had taken chase, and she approached again with the still her quivering prey- the rabbit. 

“I can think of many things to do with a lone female.” Nikolai cooed as she returned before him, “Including this!” At the last sentence his jaws snapped forward- attempting to grab hold of the bloodied rabbit. Perhaps some play will eliminate the she-wolf’s nerves.

Sora wasnt expecting an attack, especially when she had her meal in her mouth. But what was surprising thing to her was that she took this attack as a challenge. So she played along.

" Nikolai, why attack someone when not only they have summited to the other, but also have food in their jaws?" she snarled. Her eyes bared onto him as they fought. Her nerves never left her though. Yes she was afraid of him, but afraid in a different sense. What was so attractive about this strange male in front of her? He was just a scout.. nothing too special right?  I'm totally over thinking  this.... she thought

After an hour of fighting, Sora let go of the rabbit and stepped back, yet again in submission to the male. Ears behind her head, but her head up. She watched him carefully to see what he would do to her next. " What else did you h-have in mind..." Sora asked " Not that I care, but you didn't have to attack me like that. "