If You Could [Espeesix x TakodaVega]

[TakodaVega]

"I doubt they will return again Vancus, their pack would not tolerate a humiliation such as this one. It's a pride issue to them." She flicked one of her ears back, perking it back up once more. She was his? Well if he was speaking of dinner that might be the case, but the idea to belong to someone, even if it was such a different doctrine as the pack code she had grown up with, was more than enough to ease the ache that she had felt over the last six months of her solitude.

"If you're not going to eat me what are you going to do with me?" She carefully asked allowed as she settled into the path behind him, considering she was smaller than he was she practically blended in. In fact as she disappeared into the long-grass at his side, not a sight could be seen from the deer's perspective if they looked into her direction, not that they noticed either of them, as they were downwind of the prey. Deer tended to rely on their other senses rather than their sight anyway.

Her ears were tuned however to the Alpha in front of her, gold hues meeting his as she nodded. "I understand," she said, her tail wagging behind her in small excitement. "I won't let you down." She made gently nosed his cheek before moving into the long grass and disappearing from view, but her gold eyes remained focused on the buck with the single mindedness that had served her well in her own hunting expedition with the sheep. She would just remember it like hunting a ram. Avoid being hit, and the prize was worth it once the animal was tired. She remained in a crouch, waiting for the hunt to be on.

[Espeesix]

Vancus shrugged his shoulders to her remark and would sigh softly.  "I wish I could believe that, but if they are cast out by their own pack, I see no reason why they shouldn't return."  He smirked.  "I almost hope for it.  Driving them off with a new set of aches and bruises is entertaining to me."  He shook his head to the following question as he began to head off with her behind him.  "I haven't fully decided yet." He responded simply, not bothering to look back at her as they went.

With the plan explained, he would wait for her to move and settle off, in position and ready.  He gave a confirming nod to her then would do something a bit unconventional for his kind.  He climbed the nearest tree, and he did so with ease and quickness.  It wasn't long before he'd vanished into the treetops entirely.  As it was, one had to be creative when they hunted alone so often.  He would move, running along the thickest branches and leaping from one great tree, to the next.  There was no question then that he knew his territory better than any other living creature.

As he got nearer the prey beasts, he would slow his movements and hid himself into the brush sprouting from the tops of the trees.  Even a shift in the wind would not give him away at this point.  Poised directly above the deer, he eyed his target and leapt from the branch he was perched on.  He fell, and fell, landing on the ground with a terrible thud, but rolling to avoid injury to himself.  He was between the buck, and the two others, and he leapt up, loosing a howl at the females. 

The plot worked flawlessly, the buck rushed off in one direction toward Morrana, and the other two took another.  Vancus sped off after the buck, running on all fours like the beast he could be, snarling and snapping at the buck's feet, but avoiding his hind end.  As they closed on Morrana's position, the brute shifted to the opposite side of the deer, howling out in signal for his companion to join the fray and help guide the buck unsuspectingly to the river.

[TakodaVega]

There was something ominous to the tail end of Vancus' words that made her pause, part of her wanting to bulk and run. Yet that same part of her, the part of her that hadn't had the pack by her side wished for something more than the idea that had coursed through her head. Yes he had threatened to eat her, but he had come for her when she called, had tried to care for her, and even comforted her in his own strange way. Protection like that was something she had missed, and had craved since the pack. There was also that sense of companionship, and the slight tug of trust that pulled between them.

Her golden eyes were keen as she watched him move, he certainly knew his territory well. As she watched him scurry up a tree, she was surprised, no other wolves had thought of that. Her thought didn't stay long as she watched him jump, a shot of adrenaline and fear went through her but he effortlessly rolled sent the herd scattering. Her ears perked, her whole body poised to run in a good chase, rather than one for her life. The desire of the hunt pulsed through her just as the howl rang out and she bolted out from the tall grass.

Her own howl joined in chorus, flawlessly coming up the other side and snapping at the bucks feet to steer it away from deeper parts of the woods to go towards the river, near where Vancus had stumbled upon her. She could smell the fear of the buck, and a smile darted across her muzzle, it had been too long since she had a companion to hunt with, and now she had the chance to run full steam, with the prey being lead directly into the trap that awaited it. In it's fear it was not nearly as sure footed as it usually was as they traveled deeper to the point where the sound of water guided them both.

The mud was a surprise, almost worse for the deer as he, slid into it, loosing his footing as Morrana took the higher ground above. Mud was everywhere, caking to her limbs as she remained poised, her pearly white fangs flashing as she waited. She was the other distraction, the one that was in the deer's direct eyesight, the more ruthless, and intimidating wolf not far behind. Though she knew after this she needed to get the mud from her fur. Sticking to everything, including her food, after she ate, would not be on her agenda.

[Espeesix]

Both surprised, and happy, Vancus had not expected her to know just what to do during the hunt, but she proved more than effective.  She snapped in just the way he needed, communicating through movement and never letting the prey out of sight.  This was a most effective way to hunt.  He did not need to make risky maneuvers that could cause injury to himself or allow his meal to slip away.  He found himself able to count on her in just those few short minutes of hunting together with her.  So surprised was he, he would be the first to make a mistake in this engagement.

He drifted more behind the animal, snapping once at his hind end before he realized his positioning.  The deer bucked and sent one hoof right into his cheek, knocking him off the chase for only a second before he snarled and proceeded to pursue.  Despite the throbbing in his cheek, and the coppery taste of blood in his maw, he chose to watch Morrana from behind, pleased by what he saw.  She guided the beast just as he would have done, and it wasn't long before they would reach the river. 

Here, he did not need to direct her.  It was as if she already knew what to do, slipping around, and catching the attention of the deer as it bucked and reared to get free of the sticky mud.  Its efforts only further sealed its demise as the buck sank deeper into the muck.  There was a certain level of attraction Vancus saw in Morrana at this point.  The mud clinging to her fur, the fierceness in her eyes, he needed no further decision of what he was going to do with her.  No sound was made as he leapt from the shoreline and landed on the beast's back.

The buck thrashed and kicked, trying to knock Vancus off, but its efforts were in vain.  The mud simply made him too sluggish, and he was rapidly tiring.  Scrapes were added to its back and Vancus landed mortal blow.  He bit down heavily onto the back of the creature's neck, but did not thrash as he normally would have done to break its neck.  Rather, he held on tightly, feeling the blood fill his maw, but a paw would reach under the snout of the doomed animal.  He forced the head back, and exposed the jugular to Moranna, leaving it to her to land the final killing blow.

[TakodaVega]

Morrana had noticed Vancus' injury, and would have aided him had he not seemed just as determined as she was to get the buck to the designated place. She watched Vancus take down the buck with little effort. Yet, when he offered her the final killing blow, she blinked startled at first, before pushing off the overhang to land in the mud. Yes, that bath was sounding better and better at the minute. So however, did the food that he was presenting her with. Slowly, as to not get her own footing stuck into the very muck the buck had she made her way to his offering.

The blow she dealt was quick, her fangs sinking into the jugular and tearing into the flesh. The coppery tang filling her mouth with the life giving energy it always provided. A soft murr left her throat as she backed away from the beast, blood soaking her maw as she licked it carefully. Her focus, now that the buck was dead was to Vancus. "Are you alright?" She asked softly, her tail hanging slightly low as she looked him over. Though she was soaked in mud he was covered in blood. Her need to get clean was eating at her.

But first she would see if Vancus was alright and help him get the buck to shore before attending to that need of removing the filth from her fur.

[Espeesix]

Vancus bit even more harshly into the back of the buck's neck when he felt her take hold and thrash to cause as much damage to the beast as she could.  It died quickly, rather than suffering needlessly.  Feeling it collapse under his weight, he leapt off, and landed only a short distance from her, though sank nearly a foot into the muck that had stopped their catch.

A single ear twitched then to her worrisome comment, and he would look back to her, though did not answer.   Rather, he would reach down, and hooked his arm under their catch to pull it free of the mud.  Hoisting it into the air, this seemed as much of a display for her than a need to move the beast to a more manageable location.  With the deer hoisted onto one shoulder, he began to walk, nearly losing his footing multiple times until they were out of the mud.  The buck was dropped near a patch of clear flowing water a short distance away, where they could clean it for eating.  Though, moving the heavy buck had taken its toll, and he was noticeably panting from the exertion, still, he was pleased enough.

Vancus would sit by the river then, dipping his maw into the flowing cool liquid for a quick drink.  He motioned for her to join him, though suspected she would be cleaning off her muddy fur first.  The injury given to him did not seem to hinder him, and the cut that he had received was on the inside of his maw where his fang had sliced his lip when he was kicked.  It was a foolish mistake on his part, one that he cared not to relive and letting her fuss over it did just that.  The brute would send her off if she had tried.

Once his strength had returned, he would drag the deer into the water, and proceeded to wash away the caked mud until it was cleaned enough that they could eat without mouthfuls of dirt.

[TakodaVega]

The thrashing of the great animal slowly died to nothing, the sweet coppery tang filling her mouth with that life giving force that flowed through them all. It was heady and the thrill of the kill quelled her urge to be clean for the moment, though it didn't stay that way as she pulled herself away from the buck, her concern for him obvious however he seemed to make it, like the buck at that moment as if they were nothing. She knew that Vancus was a strong, and capable, male in his own right, but the fact his current aura oozed alpha made her pause. It had been a long time since she had time to absorb perhaps what had been the message all along.

Shaking her head, she carefully pulled herself from the mud, moving with care to not sink further into the muck until they reached the riverbank where the clean fresh cold water flowed. Her ears perked, her golden eyes focusing on the water once Vancus had motioned her to it. His instincts had been right as she almost leaped past him into the water, moving to the much deeper part towards the center of the river, far enough away to have the current keep the mud from contaminating their drink and food. Thank goodness for clean! She murred as she set about working the caked mud from her ebony fur. Diving under a few minutes before rising up, pushing her fur from her face.

The water proceeded to do it's own work, leaving nothing to Vancus' imagination as the water made her fur stick to her body, showing toned muscles and her feminine figure. Almost too soon she moved from the depths of the river to move towards the drier, less muddy shore, shaking the remnants of water from her fur, flicking her form this way and that til only small droplets, rather than rivers fell away. She watched him clean the deer, her tail wagging as her belly reminded her that food would soon be ready. However there was something that needed attending to, and with that she sent a playful splash of water towards him. "Go get clean."

[Espeesix]

Scraping, and scrubbing, Vancus worked hard to remove the layers of dirt clinging to the entirety of the deer's body.  The dirt and grime was stubborn, but he was ever making progress.  Behind him, he could hear her splashing about in the middle of the river to get her own body clean.  Between the two, she had suffered the worst when it came to who had more mud on them since he'd been riding on the deer's back during the final moments of the creature's life.  He growled with a bit of frustration.  The side of his head throbbed, and he was already tired from the pursuit and kill.  It would be when he glanced over his shoulder toward her that all that frustration melted away in a single fell swoop.

For minutes, Vancus completely ceased working.  The dark brute was focuses elsewhere, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the female as she had her bath.  Both the elegance and playfulness of it all captured his attention while the sight of her, held it.  When she rose from the water, he found his eyes drinking in that lovely sight of water dripping off her healthy feminine frame.  Jaws were clenched, and thoughts simply stopped for those few brief moments.  He didn't care if she noticed him staring.  After all, she should expect it from an alpha as far as he was concerned.  The wolf soon returned to the task at hand when she shook out her pelt, though he would often sneak glances toward her.

The splash of water caught him by surprise, and he looked up at first with teeth bared, but soon fell into a light chuckling at her 'demand'.  Eyes shifted as he looked all around him in the now browned waist high water with a tinge of crimson.  "Very well." He agreed, though before he would wash his pelt, paw gripped the corpse of their catch and hoisted the prey beast back onto land.  He soon returned to the river, swimming beneath the surface and breaking through as he reached the place she bathed in.  His bath was far more brief before he would return to shore in the same manner.  Fur clung to his pelt showing off the clear definition of his toned, strong being.

When he returned to shore, however, he would not simply shake out his pelt, but rather, moved until he was beside her before falling forward to hands and feet.  Droplets of water sprayed in every direction, including all over her if she did not scurry away quickly.  Heavy chortle followed as he stood back to full towering height and moved to settle at the belly of the deer.  He knew she would not eat before him if she had any sort of pack mentality left.  It was customary for the alpha to eat first, both so that he would receive the largest full, and so that he would determine that their food was not contaminated in any way.  Even with just two of them, there was no exception to this rule.

Blunt clawed tips of his digits tore mercilessly into the belly of the beast, peeling back folds of thick hide.  Juicy red blood spilled out all over the ground as the wolf dove maw first in to snap a piece of raw flesh from the innards of the deer.  He did not pull back to chew and swallow, but instead took another large chunk of meat.  His maw was swiftly turned the same crimson color as the now painted ground.  Moving back, he motioned for her then.  "Eat."  Though he would continue to eat, while leaving enough room for her to move in beside him.

[TakodaVega]

Morrana knew his eyes were on her the moment he looked in her direction. Part of her burned beneath the pelt, as though his gaze could pierce through her pelt and find everything about her in that golden gaze. Her ears perked as she glanced in his direction, her own honey hues meeting his own. Even in that moment she felt like he possessed her in some way. Something inside of her ticked into place. Trust, complete utter trust when he returned to his task. Could he hurt her? Most undoubtedly so but she felt, somewhere, that he never would.

Her bath seemed, now, to end too quickly as the fur was shook clean, but now it was her turn to admire what he was. The water flowed over his strong, toned muscles that reminded her that he was Alpha and she should trust and follow him. Her tail wagged slightly as he, all too soon, pulled himself from the water. Yet, he didn't stop there, oh no he waited till he was right next to her before giving her the reward for drying herself. Yipping softly as cool drops of water splashed in her direction she wiped what little she could from her muzzle, nose twitching but her eyes crinkled with amusement.

Her gaze followed him as he moved back to their fallen prey, her belly conveniently reminding her of the whole purpose of this small hunt. She felt like she could eat an elk by herself! But she waited, ever so patient as her background told her. Eyes never leaving the mess that was made once more until he summoned her to his side. The command didn't go to waste as she slid her own muzzle into it's belly, tearing into the bits of flesh and muscle that touched her lips. Hunger drove her but she would occasionally stop only to watch him. She knew that once all was done she would lick his muzzle clean, and he'd be still that Alpha that protected her beyond all means.

She never knew that this was what her family meant when she knew she would find the one that would suit her.

[Espeesix]

Vancus could not have guessed what she thought about, but all attention was on getting his fill from the hard won catch.  He was relentless at tearing into the deer, but at the same time, clean about it.  He viciously tore at whatever his maw clamped onto, but kept his area contained, and only moved up along the carcass when there was no more than bone remaining where he was.  The alpha did have an appetite though, so much so one would think he planned to eat enough to 'store' for later on.

Satisfied at last, he sat back onto his haunches.  It was likely they would only get one more meal out of it, though the wolf knew from experience it did not take long for the meat to foul and become too rotten to eat.  Without a pack to devour the whole deer, he took great care in his kills to use what he could.  It was unlikely the two of them could eat it all before the meat was too putrid.  He let loose a low belch and licked at his own lips, though blood clung to his fur in the oddest of places.  His forepaws and maw were obvious, but there were even splatters around his eyes and neck.

Vancus glanced once to his now extended belly, nodding content after the meal and turned his gaze on her, suspecting she had finished long before him with a much smaller body size.  Had that been the case, however, he'd not have let her move to clean off herself if she had so desired.  Besides, it was not customary to leave the kill before everyone had eaten.  Tail waved tantalizingly behind him, and he eyed her with such a gaze, one might think he intended to jump her at any moment.  Though, such an outcome never came.  Rather, he flicked his head at her in a sort of 'come on' motion and headed for the river where he dipped his bloodied paws into the cool clear water.

A wavy trail of crimson would flow away from them until they were cleaned of all the residue.  He would not clean off his maw, but seemed to already intend to leave that duty to her.  Before he'd finished with his paws, he lowered himself to her level and leaned in dangerously close to her face, giving access to his maw for her to lick clean.  He remained still throughout the process it would take for her to complete, but she must have known that similar treatment was in her future.  Perhaps, though, not in the way she imagined.

[TakodaVega]

Morrana's eyes were sometimes bigger than her stomach, but when one was as ravenous as she had been, and the kill had been so fresh her eyes suited her grumbling belly's hunger. Her tail wagged happily behind her as she tore into the muscles of their kill, only moving away when she had her fill to find Vancus still devouring their kill with vigor. Not that she was surprised, she was smaller and more delicately built than the Alpha in front of her. Sitting back on her own haunches she went through the process of licking off the blood from her fur.

Her training kept her from wandering far from him, seeing as how he hadn't finished she could only do so much in getting clean, again, with her tongue. She waited ever patient though til he finished, pausing when she felted his gaze on her. Carefully she looked up at him, and swallowed though the action was harder to do when he was looking at her so intently! Lowering her hands to her lap, she remained still until he gave her the signal to get clean. She wanted to bound ahead of him but considering his long strides, and at that moment her full belly, no one was going anywhere fast.

Scrubbing the blood away from her paws, she watched the blood flow away from them. She tilted her head though just in time to see Vancus' face loom in front of hers. Her eyes widened a fraction before softening and going about licking away the blood from his muzzle, her long pink tongue making good strides to clean his from from the ruby stain that rested there. His intent stare made her shiver slightly as she continued to groom him, until she had gotten any spare blood from his fur, noticing it had progress far higher than just his muzzle she gave him a look before migrating up his face. There was less here than his muzzle but another coating of blood cover his fur below his muzzle.

Carefully eyeing him in case he decided to change his mind she went down lower to lick the blood from his neck, though here too was sparsely covered. Once clean she gently butted beneath his head in a gentle nuzzle before pulling away from him. "Thank you for the food, Vancus." She had no idea what he was going to do to her next.

[Espeesix]

Vancus was both surprised and pleased by how thorough she was in her cleaning.  He would twist and tilt his maw in whatever way would make it easier on her, provided it didn't require his bending to an awkward angle.  Though, with the exception of the brief time he allowed her to clean off the stains above his eyes and on his forehead, she would spend the rest of the time beneath his height.  An alpha certainly couldn't make it appear he was submitting to another, even if it was the one he intended to make his by every meaning.

It was when he let her near his neck that his level of trust really showed.  That he would let one he considered a meal not more than a day prior near such a vital area truly spoke leaps and bounds beyond what any words could say.  As she shifted and push up against him in that tender display of affection, he would lower his own body to her's, shifting his head in such a manner to nuzzle along her side until she had pulled away and spoke her gratitude.

He didn't answer her immediately, but shoved forth and forced her to her back as he loomed above.  Maw dipped to her's whereupon he began to lap at her snout, much the same as she had with him.  Though there was far less residue to clean than there had been from him, he would make sure to lap away any that remained.  It didn't take him long to clean away at her face, but he seemed to be doing this for a number of reasons.  It was in play partly, but also in dominance as he held her down, not that it was needed of him to show.  He also seemed to enjoy licking at her, almost as if he were tasting her!

"I may have been on my land, but you helped to kill it.  Therefore you had rights to it as much as I." he spoke as he pushed himself away from her to allow her up.  The wolf then shifted to stand back to his full impressive height.  The question that lingered on her mind was obvious enough.  'What now?'  The thought did cross his mind.  What did he intend to do with her?  He moved back to his kill, and grabbed the half eaten deer by the hind legs before motioning to her.  "Come; let us return to the den."  He said and began to walk, dragging the kill behind him.

[TakodaVega]

With Vancus' help, his fur was soon free from the ruby stains of their catch. Though she cleaned him, she was very aware of the fact that he made it quite clear who was the Alpha in this situation. She didn't argue, and obeyed as she was meant to. Though she was always aware that he could use that to his advantage, she still had the feeling he had no true intentions to harm her. Especially now that she cleaned away at his throat, feeling the pulse beneath her tongue though never did she once invoke his growl or make him force her away from him. He trusted her, and in some some strange ironic way she trusted him.

Even if he really did want to eat her. She mentally shuddered at the thought, though her mind instantly blanked as she felt him nuzzle into her side. He was warm, and almost sweet when he nuzzled her. It didn't stay that way for long as she promptly found herself on her back, looking up at him, and him atop of her. Oh no, did he change his mind? She shut her eyes tight and waited for the killing blow only to feel his tongue along her muzzle, and nose, making her open an eye slowly.

He didn't bare his teeth at her, only cleaned her much like she had cleaned him, except of course his full weight was on her pinning her down to remember who was the top wolf between the two of them. Her ears flicked back in a submissive stance, letting him clean and remind her that he was still Alpha. But a smile still played on her lips that was hard to keep out of sight. She hadn't really seen Vancus playful until the bath. However there was that underneath that gruff existence, and a gentleness for her that was there. Trust and companionship. Wasn't that what had kept the Pack together?

Perking her ears as she rose back up to her feet. What now indeed? She kept close behind him, watching their trail as they made their way back to the den. The afternoon haze of warmth settled over them as she finally made her way into the den moving along the stone floor back to the corner, curling up along the furs as she yawned once more, resting her head along the back of her arms as she laid out, watching him with those sincere golden eyes. "What now, Vancus?" She finally voiced the unspoken question between them.

[Espeesix]

Vancus never once felt threatened when she was close to his throat, so much so, he paid closer attention to their surroundings than to the position of her teeth and if they were poised to strike at all.  At what point was trust gained anyway?  She had already trusted he would save her from the savage outcasts which meant her acceptance to his care and companionship.  Why not return it.  The life of a lone wolf was a very brief existence, and she had made him laugh and show a different side of him for the first time in many years.

It was when she was on her back and he licked back at her that he truly made his decision.  Oh, he felt her tense up and seemed to wait for some form of scolding or worse that would never come, and that she did not try to get away was proof enough that her desire was similar to his.  She didn't want to leave, and he didn't want to send her away.  There were many thoughts coursing through his mind when he stood without words, and moved to collect his catch.

For the majority of the travel, he was quiet, and something clearly weighed heavily on his mind until she had entered his den, though he would remain outside for a bit.  The catch would be strung up in a tree with rope made from plant fibers to deter any midnight scavengers.  After that, he returned to the den to hear her question, and again, he was silent.  Vancus didn't answer until he'd moved and sat at her side.  One large paw would wave through the air before coming to settle right on the back of her head.  Ever so slowly, it drifted down passed her ears to her shoulders.  The digits would curl and the clawed tips weaved through the fur to stroke against the flesh beneath, but if it did not feel nice, it would at lease be slightly ticklish rather than any pain.  Vancus knew how much pressure to use.

Still further, the paw would descend down her back, even passing over her rump to trace along her tail until he removed it and his eyes would stare off.  "I suppose...." He said at last, breaking the long silence, "...that depends on you."  He answered and gazed back to her.  "I've not decided if I would let you leave if that were your choice.  But, I can tell you that I have no intention to send you away."  He smirked as gaze tilted back to her.  "I would have you stay here, with me, and become my companion.  You are a pack wolf without a pack.  And I am packless wolf with no future." 

Vancus shifted and moved to loom over her like a dark cloud.  She would feel his cool tipped nose brushing along her shoulder as he breathed her scent quite deeply.  Something he'd not done since their first eventful meeting.  However, his tail waved lazily behind him in a nonthreatening manner.  Then, all at once she would feel one of his paws gripping her shoulder as his cheek came to brush along her back, pressing heavily against her.  He was marking her, more thoroughly, and more completely so that she would truly carry his scent.  Perhaps they were not mated yet, but any other who came across her would believe otherwise.  Vancus was thorough.  He would continue to rub against her, pausing for brief periods only to continue moments later until the fur from her shoulders to her legs was ruffled because of it.

[TakodaVega]

Morrana was lost in her own thoughts as they had headed back to the den. However, his silence didn't go unnoticed by the shewolf. Her bright golden gaze followed him as he moved. She had complete faith in his abilities to keep them safe from all the harm that might come there way, and what could she offer him? Companionship? Could they make it work as a pack? She wagged her tail slowly at the thought. Maybe, just maybe she could make the gruff male who had stalked her at the river more than just the shadow of fear he had been earlier on.

Her point of the view on the furs beneath him made him giantlike compared to her, however her eyes never left his face. She didn't even flinch when she felt his claws slink beneath her fur to stroke along her skin. The soothing feeling made her relax, her eyes half lidded as her tail wagged behind her slowly. She was happy she had begun to realize. Even if he could be standoffish and possessive at times he made her happy. Morrana shivered when his claws dipped lower along her back to ease over her rump to the tail. There it was a mix of feelings from ticklish to...almost pleasure.

Pleasure was not something she had felt before under another's touch. "Me?" She finally voiced softly as she gazed at him over her shoulder, her golden eyes focused on his. She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders all of the sudden. There was something about having your words echo out of someone else's voice that made the idea more than it really was. His cool nose distracted her from the thoughts though as she focused on him again, only noticing the gentle wag. He wasn't going to hurt her and she relaxed just as he pinned her beneath him.

She was acutely aware of the weight of him, of his expert strokes of his cheek along her back, he was being deliberate and thorough with his mission. His scent blending with hers, which honestly wasn't an unpleasant scent to her nose. She would only move when he was done with his ministrations to shake her coat until the displaced patterns of fur fell back into place. Settling back down onto the furs, she waited a moment before she processed everything in a glance around before her golden gaze flickered over to him.

"Would it make you happy?"

[Espeesix]

Vancus settled back onto haunches before ultimately landing on her rump.  One leg bent and an arm stretched out to lie over the propped knee in front of him.  He looked off again, uncertain how best to answer.  He was truly uncertain what he wanted and it displayed in every aspect of his demeanor.  Her question only further complicated the situation for him.  The silence would press on, even while she moved to stand and stretch out before settling the fur back into its place.

His eyes would drift to linger on her.  The dark wolf took great pleasure in watching her.  There was no question the attraction he had toward her.  She was a fine shewolf, and it was for that reason he'd even allowed her to stay on his land, let alone enforced it.  With her fur back in place and she settled, he would look away again, lost in his own thoughts that came in no coherent order.  It almost looked as if he were weighing his entire life.  Before her, he had everything to keep himself content.  Now, he didn't know if he could be content without her despite it being the only way he knew how to get by.

"That is a difficult question." He spoke at last, breaking the silence after a many long moments.  "I believed myself to be content.  I had plenty of ground to hunt, and a secure place to rest.  Few trespassed, and fewer even knew I was here."  He spoke.  "There was no need for me to pursue anything else."  His gaze tilted downward, and he was again quiet.  "That is, until you came.  I do not understand my desires now.  I believed myself content before you.  Now, I doubt I could willingly let you leave."  He flashed a brief smirk and pushed himself to stand to his towering height.  He turned and walked to the single entry of the den, where he settled with back rested against the cool damp wall.

"Yes, it would make me happy." He finally admitted and turned to look back at her.  "It would make me happy if you chose to stay here, with me.  I will accept no others, so you will not have the same life you once knew."  He turned his gaze to look back out over the land.  "But, if you chose to leave, I cannot promise that I would permit it for long if you are not quick to do so.  Though, I should hope that your choice to stay as much as I hope for you to."  His eyes remained looking out over the landscape as he spoke again.  "I can't give you the life you knew, but I can give you easy food, shelter, protection and your line will not die with you."  He finished and perked his ears for an answer.

[TakodaVega]

Morrana had listened to Vancus speak. Never once did he threaten to harm her, only place a good warning that no matter where she went, in essence she was his until something came about that made it so it couldn't be. She wasn't against the idea, he would take care of her and she wouldn't be alone. Being alone had been hard, but she had managed.

Rising from the comfort of the pelts, she moved without a sound until she settled beside him, head propped against his arm. "I want to stay." She said gently, and that was the beginning of everything between them.

----Two months later -----

She hovered over the edge of the rock, staring at her quarry below. Her tail swished behind her back and forth as she waited, patient for the kill. Vancus had taught her that patience with fish is the key to getting a meal in their bellies. Food was on the menu tonight, after all the weather would grow cooler soon and then food would be far more scarce than the plentiful gatherings they had thus far.

Her golden eyes remained focused, muscles remaining tense before she flew from the rocks. The loud 'splash' sending water in all directions from her ebony coat as she held the flailing fish in her paws to push toss it on to the shore. That was the only disadvantage with fish, they were slippery. However fish didn't have large antlers that could skewer a wolf alive.

Raising herself from the water, Morrana shook her fur as she reached the shoreline, sending the water further once more from her coat as she nosed the fish carefully, only to have it flop at her again in its death throes. Thanks to Vancus' tedious care, and concern Morrana was in full health, with nothing to slow her down except of course that hulking shadow that was Vancus himself. Not that he seemed to mind Morrana's cuddling antics at night.

[Espeesix]

A sharp single laugh broke the otherwise silent area.  Not more than a hundred feet behind the young dark pelted wolfess stood the male who had taken her in.  It was hard to say how long he had stood and admired the visage of her fishing, or if he'd only arrived in time to see the tail tip of the finned creature give a final parting gift.  Vancus stood like the tall proud alpha that he was.

Crossing over one shoulder, what amounted to a small tree was held, stripped clean of its bark.  Vancus still would give her a brief smile, and he turned, the tree trunk swinging out passed his back as he vanished just beyond the brush to their shared den.  A heavy thud sounded as the tree struck the ground, leaving its own impression in the soft mud at his feet.  The wolf set to work quickly, using flat stones to hack away at it.  Now that Morrana had come into his life, he found much of his time freed up that would normally be spent hunting.

With two of them, a need to upgrade their living conditions had become apparent.  While his den would fit them both comfortably, there was still a lot to be desired from it.  Things he planned to rectify and had been doing so.  The ground inside had been dug deeper beneath the overhanging stone 'roofing'.  Vancus could stand nearly to his full height while inside.  It had been widened underground as well, and even a little stone ring was added where a small hot fire could be made.  Something the wolf had learned to do from passing natives in the distant past.  Spears lined one wall while another could be used to store food by shoving it into deeper dug chasms.  The ground was yet covered by the pelts of past prey, leaving it soft for walking, and comfortable for sleeping.

Outside, woodchips splattered the ground like freshly fallen snow.  The beginnings of a new spear were carved while the rest would be stored for other necessary needs or future firewood, whenever they desired the warmth of a blaze again.  He stood, and moved into the den, packing away the wooden items and stretching out after the hard work.  Though, with setting sun and chilling air, the wolf turned and headed back toward the river where he expected to find Morrana still working to catch whatever more she could.

[TakodaVega]

"I'm glad you find this funny, Vancus." She said aloud shooting him a look, but her amusement was certainly there. They had fallen into a steady routine by now. Her time feeling alone had long lost it's edge and she was happy now, something that she didn't know she would have been able to feel again as she made quick work of the fish's scales and entrails, crouching over the fish before returning to the river. Despite being gruff, Vancus had shown her nothing but life and amusement since they had taken the path of cohabitation.

Life without Vancus seemed like it would be desolate, something the wolfess avoided thinking about. She had since lost a majority of her fear in Vancus' care, and he had taught her many things that made her a better hunter. She remained poised along the edge of the river before diving after another one, tossing it next to its brethren on the shoreline.  Cleaning the fish of their scales had always been the tricky part for Vancus but thanks to Morrana's smaller hands things simply came easier. Their home had plenty to provide for them, though since the day he had marked her as his she hadn't heard a peep from any other packs.

Perhaps Vancus had made a point this time and they truly left things alone though Morrana still remained leery. Nothing was usually that simple. Licking some of the stray blood off her paws from the process of going about cleaning the fish, she eyed her handywork and tied the now ready fish into the bag she had fashioned from some leftover pelts Vancus hadn't used in his projects for their home. Her gaze returned back to the water, lapping at it a moment before letting the water wash away the blood from her work.

She had been so consumed by her task she almost didn't hear him sneak up on her, lifting her gold eyes to look up at his own. "Fish is done, now we just have to go back home so we can eat." Her ears perked, over the last few months this steady routine had slowly ingrained that though at one point Vancus had intended to, well, make her lunch, that he was not going to harm her any way. He even let her cuddle up into him for warmth and comfort, even when he decided to stand watch over the den. She knew that something beneath the surface was stirring between them. A slow dance that promised a happy ending if they let it.

[Espeesix]

Golden hues shifted to gaze at the small pile of unfortunate fish piled.  The sight pleased him and while a larger prey beast was more appetizing, hunting required them both and there were greater risks.  Things that wouldn't deter him by any means, but while he improved their home, fish became the new ready diet.  Two large paws would scoop up the slimy catch, and he returned to the den with them, passing a spread pelt that dried in the sunlight to become another useable tanning.  The catch was laid out for her and he left her to tend to them with her other specialty, removing the hundreds of tiny scales.  It was the little things that troubled him, but she did so naturally that simply strengthened their relationship.

While she was be left to herself for now, the dark wolf would prowl the area, endlessly tasting the air and ensuring that their little secluded world was not being encroached upon.  A nightly ritual for him as it were.  He would disappear from view for a short time, returning once again with clear mind after finding no trespassers.  The dark brute settled behind little Morrana and large paw lashed out and around her side.  She was yanked back just as he sat, tugging her quiet literally into his lap.

"The air is becoming more chilled each night."  He said quietly and she would feel his warm maw caressing the side of her neck.  Morrana would be the only one to ever see this affectionate side of him.  Though, at times it would become somewhat of a hindrance, such as now with how he prevented her from stripping the fish in favor of being caressed and clung to like some precious jewel.  Even the sight of a full moon no longer captivated him in the same manner as when he was holding the little shewolf close.  Though, unless they were settling to sleep for the night, this little cuddle session ended shortly, as they often did, after it began and she would need but pull away to slip back to her work had she desired.

While mountain air was often cool during the spring and fall, it was downright hypothermic during the winter.  Great care was needed to prepare for the winter months which were only a few short weeks off Vancus concluded.  Their winter coats were growing in and even the ebon pelted male had several lighter strands of fur strewn throughout the growing winter pelt.  No doubt a gene from long dead relative that refused vanish as well.  While the winter was normally a disliked necessity, Vancus found himself increasingly fond of the idea and no doubt Morrana could guess why.

There was more on the mind of the wolf than simply spending his winter cooped up inside the now larger and more comforting den with her.  Though, whatever afterthought lingered in the back of his mind was never mentioned.  "Visitors are sure to come one last time before the first frost." He said.  "Either one looking to make their home for the winter here, or familiar faces coming to try and entice me to join them.  But, we'll deal with that when the time comes." He grunted simply and waited for a fish scraped clean of the scales to be handed to him for his nightly meal.