In Dire Straits - opia [blanca]

THERON
THERE'S A COLD BREEZE BLOWING OVER MY SOUL

Sunset found the massive dire mix as he wandered somewhat further than he typically did. Leaving his haunt on the fringe of the Inarian graveyard behind to wander, rather aimlessly, downriver. Theron had been gripped by a sort of wanderlust as of late. Afterall, he was not made to truly sit still. He found himself meandering the less trafficked parts of the wood. A muted curiosity painted across his features that was almost childlike.

He could know the land but knowing Inaria on a deeper level? That was another thing entirely. There was a bit too much of his "mother's" emptiness still lurking behind those vacant white eyes.

Theron pushed through the dense foliage without breaking stride. His head held low as he paused every few minutes to nose at the ground between his paws. He made no attempt to remain silent - since he was more intent on exploration than on finding game. He ducked beneath a low lying branch, some of the violet flowers shaking free when his back brushed against it. A single bloom drifted down and landed on the bulky dire mix’s broad head comically. Theron gave a undignified pig-like snort -- Then rid himself of it and any other blooms that clung to his fur with a vigorous shake of his body.

b l a n c a

Familiarity of her family was welcomed in her dreams, as her unconscious mind most often allowed only for the sweet memories. Playing with Paco, racing with Bea, the warmth of her mother. But as she huddled close to what she remembered of her mother, the warmth turned to a scorching sensation -- as though she were laying on a ground of hot coals. At first the burn was not enough a reason for panic as it was the disappearance of her mother. Every time young Blanca tried to shout for her mother, the coals seemed to burn brighter, blistering the sensitive skin of the albino girl. The feeling, so real, jerked her awake. Large pink eyes, still under the spell of her dream, looked desperately for her mother once more. Sweat matted her fur, even in the dusk of the winter months. With a heaving chest, Blanca came to remind herself that none of it was real, they were gone. They've been gone.

"Relajarse, Blanca."

Her time in Inaria had been lonely, but that was no surprise or horror to someone who only frequents when the sun is well hidden. As the sun began to tuck away beyond the curve of the Earth, Blanca chose to start her night early in exchange of forgetting all about the nightmare she'd had. Exaggerated stretches helped wake the small, white wolf-dog, a whiney-yawn to finish them off. The cool air that winter's frost provided certainly helped keep her alert, skipping quickly through the thick brush; seeking a small pool to relinquish her thirst. She'd felt like she had just baked in a sauna, afterall.

The water was still and Blanca embraced this calmness. Bowing to sip from the lake, she caught the reflection of another who was making his way down river -- opposite of her. There were very few opportunities that Blanca had to meet with the other pack members, as they rehearsed their sleep during the time she was awake. This stranger peaked her interests, following his trail parallel but careful to keep her distance behind him.

When he paused, she paused, acting as his shadow and watching as he ducked beneath the tree to have a flower land upon his head. She watched his expression in the reflection of the water, giggling as he snorted. Blanca came as close as she could without crossing the river, making her position obvious now. "The flowers suit you." Blanca smirked, ears ducking behind her crown as she realized how this must look to the stranger. "I don't often see others that busy themselves at this time of night."

THERON
THERE'S A COLD BREEZE BLOWING OVER MY SOUL

Family was a curious concept. One that varied so greatly from one to another. Theron’s family had been a broken semblance of one. His relationship with Dragon more resembled the companionship between wielder and weapon than it did mother and son. Even if he had known of the emotions that plagued her, he could not have related. He was steel. Cold, withdrawn. Her high, effeminate giggle caught him off guard. He had not expected company.

"The flowers suit you."

He turned with a low grumble, hackles bristling slightly as his white eyes locked with her pink. An intense inscrutable something behind them. Annoyance? Distrust? It was anyone’s guess. Theron was difficult to read even for those who knew him well - which these days no one did. He did not so much as recognize this one. She was so tiny compared to him, for a split moment he mistook her as a child. No, she was a wolfdog. He suspected he’d remember her if he had seen her before.

"I don't often see others that busy themselves at this time of night."

The dire mix’s glare seemed to soften. Her friendly demeanor taking the edge off of his distaste at being surprised. No amount of her charm could grant him any though. He shook his pelt a bit. “...no sleep.” He grumbled in a voice like rusted metal grating against itself.

He stalked forward a few steps, his head held low - still somewhat defensive. “Thirsty...” He dipped his head to the water’s edge, lapping at the cool crisp surface.