Ivaylo watched him running back to her with such enthusiasm that the corners of her lips couldn't help but tug upwards. But after a moment she averted her eyes and looked away as he reassured her that he was more happy to see her than anything. She didn't know how to take it or how to act. Normally she was used to her brother Seva, who was the same age as her, being her only friend. He was the only friend she ever needed. And now the more she tried to talk to others, the harder it felt to relate to anyone. Could she really say she the same, that she was happy to see him too? She wasn't quite sure yet. She still felt scared that somehow her problems would become his. But that wasn't important for now. She pushed her thoughts away to be able to tend to him with care. He didn't need to know about her past, and she didn't need his pity. The only thing that mattered now was that she made sure he was safe for the night, and to find a new route away from the woods the next morning. Her belly tightened as she remembered to tell him eventually that she wouldn't be slowing down just for him. She must continue her search.

But it was hard to remember what to say when he seemed to be exploding with excitement, laughter escaping his grinning lips. How could he be so happy in a time like this? She didn't understand him. She didn't know exactly how he happened to lose his family, but she didn't remember feeling this exhilarated to be alive.

"I'm just so glad, I'm just so glad I found you! Or...you found me. I don't know; but I'm, but I'm very glad to see you!"

She cringed, feeling an unusual wave of discomfort following the boy's attempt at an endearing remark. Relax, he's just being nice. This is fine. Her eyes darted back and forth, then fell upon his joyous gaze. Should she... reciprocate? Ivaylo slowly lifted her paw over the child's curly tufts on his head, a confused look on her face, and softly patted him. Realizing this was probably the wrong time for that, she swiftly lowered her paw and cleared her throat. "Yeah, uh. That's nice, kid. We should really be going now."

"Oh! I'm Angus! It's very nice to meet you!"

The pale girl blinked, realizing she hadn't shared her name with him either. She guessed that it wasn't important, since it was quite possible she'd never see him again in a day or two. "My name is Ivaylo," she replied, then after a few moments she gave him a subtle smirk. "But you can call me big boss lady. Now come on, let's find some place warm to sleep. I have a lot of things I need to plan for."

As she proceeded to lead the way, her pace slow and steady so he could keep up with her, she looked down at him occasionally and pondered what to say to make things less awkward for the both of them. It was going to feel strange for her either way, but she felt it necessary to make him feel like he was safe around her. "So then, Angus," she began. "Do you want to tell me why you thought it was a good idea to wander so far from home?"

She listened closely as Angus suddenly became somber and explained his story. It was a simple, child-like mistake. And she couldn't blame him. She recalled a time when she was younger, around his age, and she would wander far to the edges of the woods with her brother and play silly games. They would pretend to prepare for their biggest quest, then just as they took a single step outside what they knew was home, their mother came yowling and scolding them. Both would receive a nip on the ears and a swift kick back to their den. But she never said to keep their itch for adventure at bay. Mother was always kind like that. Their safety was her priority, but that never meant she had to crush their spirit. Then she remembered the night of the storm, the day she lost everything she had ever known and loved. She had gone again to the edge of home, this time hunting for Mother when she was on the brink of death, only to find her bleeding out and lifeless when she returned and her brother nowhere to be seen. If only she had made it back sooner and not gone too far from the den. If only she had asked her brother to accompany her. If only she had been strong enough to bury her and stay in the forest to find Seva. She closed her eyes for a second, wishing her spirit had been crushed long ago so that the world didn't have to do it for her.

In a way, she felt a little angry with Angus. It was irrational, but she was envious that he possibly still had a family to go home to. Yet he doesn't know where it is anymore, and he may have lost his chance to grow up with them now. She would never have taken that for granted, if she had a second chance to do what's right. She couldn't stop the thoughts from racing in her mind. Angus is a kid, he couldn't possibly be aware of the consequences he would soon endure because of his actions. At the same time, she didn't want him to feel badly for it. Maybe she did a little bit, in some sick twisted way, only so that he could learn from it and prevent him from further negligence. Some how, Ivaylo believed it wouldn't help him right now. Maybe in the future he'd learn, but for now she was tired of thinking about lost families and dumb mistakes. She would let him continue believing that this was just another big adventure. Although it brought some pain to be reminded of her twin, she felt a little relieved to be in his presence and feeling this sort of brotherly familiarity. She had forced herself to reject it from her mind for so long, but now it was almost soothing. She made sure to gently smile back at him whenever he looked up at her, with what little emotional energy she had left.


"Where's your family at?"

Ivaylo's smile disappeared and her ears laid flat against her head as she walked along, her gaze fixated on the path ahead of them.

"Are they all adventurers? Or are they at Gemini? Is that why you're looking for it? I think my family might have gone there to look for me; that's why I'm looking for it."

A few minutes passed before she could muster up an answer. She heaved a long soft sigh, exhaling through her nose before looking back at him and attempting to smile through it. "My family is... on a big adventure right now, actually. I haven't seen them for a long time. I'm on a big adventure myself, you see." She hoped her tone was convincing enough. Getting into it about her dead folks and wandering aimlessly around the forest with no will to go on anymore didn't exactly seem fun to her for the moment.

"But no, I don't know what Gemini is. I'm just looking for a pack to join. And then I heard you talking about one, and here we are. Weird, huh?"

As they walked on, Ivaylo couldn't help but feel anxious about watching over the young boy. He was so young and naive. What if he ran off again while under her care? She'd never forgive herself if something happened to him. Her expression turned from friendly to serious as she looked down at him again with a stern look in her eye.

"Angus. Family is very important. If you want to make it to Gemini and find your family, wherever that is, you must protect yourself. It will all mean nothing if you're dead. Do you understand?" Trying her best to sound supportive was difficult, especially when she wanted so badly to tell him that he may as well stop looking for them and focus on being safe. But that wasn't her problem to deal with right now, no matter how much she wanted it to be. "I was a lot like you once. But times have changed. This world is dangerous. You're very lucky you haven't been eaten alive yet, as am I. I'm sure your parents are very worried about you, or maybe they already think that you've perished. If I were you, I'd be conscious of that next time you want to go out and adventure. Bring someone with you that you trust, or mark your trail. Be smart. Okay?"

Finally, they came upon a small stream where dark water bubbled over smooth pebbles. The pale girl looked both ways, seeing nothing but shadowy forest up and down stream. Up ahead, she could just make out the thin lining of moonlight against a large stone that protruded outward, giving just enough space and coverage for the strange wandering pair. She glanced at Angus and nodded her head towards the boulder. "We're going to rest there." She gathered strength in her hind legs, then lightly bounced over the water and turned back to see if he followed.

"You can do it. It's not that far!"

"Yes," she heard the small one answer meekly, and for a second she felt a pang of guilt, but she disregarded it. He needed to hear what had to be said, and she could only be grateful that he didn't make a fuss. Seva would have done the same if it were their mother scolding them. Ivaylo, the less intelligent one, was more likely to argue and have a tantrum. Angus was a good kid, she could tell. She was slow to admit to herself that he had the most potential out of either of them to become an experienced traveler. For that, she had faith in him.

Maybe a little too much faith? Her jaw opened wide the moment she knew he had not jumped far enough, knowing what was about to happen next. Ivaylo winced as she heard a deep sploosh, then looked back to see the young boy sprawled out on the shore. "Ahh, fuck..." she muttered, padding a step or two closer with her ears lowered. With his limbs stretched out before him, he almost looked utterly defeated. But as he picked himself up and shook it out, she couldn't help but let a chortle escape from her lips which soon turned into a little laugh. She waited until he caught up with her to give him a side look and carry on towards the boulder. "You're alright. I would've carried you, but I wanted to see you try. Gotta face these kinds of things when you're adventuring on your own, right?" She gave him a half-hearted smile. If anything, she was glad to have him here to experience the real world for the time being. Had he been anywhere else on his own or, stars forbid, with someone cruel and unfriendly, he would crack under pressure and probably give up trying just as she did. She almost shivered thinking about it, that dark depression and twisted grasp of reality that she was trapped in for so long. Now it was in the past, and she was here, with a little boy who had hope and a dream. How ironic.

The sandy she-wolf slumped near Angus, heaving a sigh of content as she felt the cool grass nestle into her fur and soothe her sore muscles. Finally! A chance to relax.

"You know," Ivaylo's ear flicked as she heard Angus speak up, but she kept her eyes closed and only gave him a short "hm?"

"What we, what we should, what we should do is find Hyperion. He's the one who told me about Gemini. That's why, that's why I'm out here looking for it." She slowly blinked, then straightened up to show she was listening.

"I bet Hyperion found your family and my family, and once we get there we'll all become good friends! I mean, I mean we're already friends but I mean our families!"

She pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, unsure of what to say. She had no idea who Hyperion was or what he had to do with finding his family, only that he was some prince of this pack called Gemini. There wasn't enough information given to make her want to reroute and find this stranger. What if he wasn't who he said he was? Some scoundrel trying to trick an innocent child into following them, only to hurt Angus or worse? It hurt her heart little by little to hear him mention her family the more time she spent with him, but she didn't have enough strength to tell him that his hopes would be an impossibility due to them being dead. And it worried her even more that he was thinking of finding this wolf, going completely off course and wasting his time. What if Angus accompanied her? Could she really bring him along to wherever she was headed? Her gut felt hollow with anxiety at the thought of being held accountable for his well being. So what, was she just going to leave him and let him figure it out? Her head swirled around with different outcomes and possibilities, all of them ending with the fear that someone may harm him or he may harm himself. She couldn't tell if she was ready to have him be her... family. She couldn't promise him anything. Only a night of safety, food, warmth. Those were things she could provide. But to provide it forever... well, that would mean she cared for him. Did she?

"I mean, I mean, I mean only if you and your family would want us to be friends."

Ivaylo glanced at him for a moment, her eyes glowing forest green as the sun finally dipped its last light into the treetops above them, then grew dark as dusk turned to night. "Well... I do want us to be friends, Angus. But I can't find this man for you. I don't know who or where he is, where he's from, what he's doing. It's... not that simple. Maybe he's with other wolves and you can't make out the right scent, or his tracks got distorted. Or maybe he's just not here and has gone home. You'll get even more lost than you are now if you wander around looking for someone you don't really know that well." She stopped to ponder for a moment, then sighed and sat up completely, looking at him with curiosity.

"Here's what I propose we do; you tell me as much as you can about Gemini and this stranger you met, and I'll decide our next course of action depending on what you know already. And then--" A loud growl erupted from her belly, forcing her to pause and look down at herself, then back up at him. "-- we eat something. Because god dammit, I'm starving."

She settled down once more, crossing one paw over another and nodding towards the boy. "The faster we do this, the faster we can hunt. Go on, then. You said you heard about this place from a man named... Hyperion, was it? What did he say? When was this?"

Ivaylo stared intently as she listened to his story, taking in every detail. Of course, she had to consider that this prince might have been lying to him the whole time, or maybe he didn't quite recall things exactly as it happened. There were too many possibilities of things that could go wrong if she chose to trust in his memories being precise, or that unknown wolves didn't have tricks up their sleeves. However, if what he was telling her was right, that Gemini was located in the east at the end of a path, this could be their only way of finding sanctuary. They could not stay in the forest for long. There were bandits, bears, slavers, questionable weather changes that she never understood. Whatever she decided to do, her main priority was to help Angus find a way out of this place. And she, too, would be free.

"We just...need to follow the sun. That should lead us there."

She glanced up at the sky, irritated that it would be so long until the sun arose in the morning. She could find east another way, couldn't she? That might be hard, and too risky to do at night. Better to stay and figure out their next move when their bellies are full.

"Hmm. I see," she muttered, but before she could think of what to do next, she noticed Angus become tense suddenly. Her ears rotated to and fro, detecting a creature creeping around in the foliage a few meters away. But her eyes stayed glued on Angus. Her jaws parted slightly, and she inhaled once, tasting signs of wounded prey close by. After a few moments, she was convinced that it was a frail deer, most likely a calf judging by the unsteady steps and quiet cries. It must have been separated from its mother, hopefully not by another wolf skulking around these parts. Should they leave, find another place to sleep just in case? No, this was a learning experience. And she was going to take advantage of it for Angus. Finally, she looked up to see the fluffy white tail bobbing around in the distance. She looked back at Angus, smirking.

"Ever had baby deer?" she inquired in a low voice. "Tastes a little better than the real thing, if you ask me."

Slowly, she stood, and beckoned gently for Angus to follow with her tail. Immediately she crept in a low stance, drawing closer and closer to the bushes without a sound. Although her paws were heavy and strong, she was careful not to make any sudden noise. Her hunger was too great to pass this one up, but she knew someone else whose hunger was far more important than her own.

After a few silent moments that felt like it lasted centuries, the burly woman leaped with a snarl and managed to snag the young fawn by the ankle. She tussled it down to the ground, then clamped her fangs around its neck, attempting to choke it out. Normally, she would have given chase if it were much older and stronger, but she had the advantage of it being injured already. Once she knew it was dead, she scooped it up between her jaws and dragged it by the neck to the boulder. She would give Angus a playful little wink as she walked by him, then dump it by the ground where they lay. Meanwhile, she stood back and sat as she gestured towards the prey.

"Go ahead. It's not much, but you'll need your energy."

She took one long final look at the deer before laying down once more, now realizing how exhausted she felt after such an eventful day. Her muscles were worn, her eyelids heavy, and she wanted nothing more than to eat her fill and sleep. But she would try her best to stay awake until Angus lay down to do the same.

"There's claw marks on its hide. But it's not concerning, since whatever hurt it seemed to be too small to take it down. We should be fine to stay here tonight," she said, yawning the last few words out. She was finding it hard to keep her head up, much less her eyes open. It was at that point that she lost track of her thoughts and had completely forgotten about their plans.

"I just hope you know that you're safe now. I never felt safe on my own, yknow? It's dangerous to be... alive, I guess. But we all choose to be. For whatever reason. And your reasons are to find your family again, and adventure. You and I are... a lot alike. Even if you don't believe it yet." Another yawn escaped her. "I think we should head for that path you mentioned. It's not worth our efforts to find this man Hyperion when he could have very well returned home by now. Maybe when we get there you'll see him and tell him how you made it there aaaaalll by yourself. Don't worry, I'll still secretly take most of the credit. We'll set out as soon as dawn breaks."

Ivaylo rolled onto her side, stretching out her legs and feeling satisfaction as her bones cracked with ease. "Remember what I said, though," she mumbled, her eyes finally closing against her will. But she accepted slumber with open arms and did not want to fight it any longer. "Family important... Be... smart... Save me a leg... would ya?" And soon enough, she was asleep, snoring and peaceful. This would be the first full night of restful sleep she would have in a long while. And quite possibly, the last.