[Anky]

Schools of fish scattered as the hellion propelled himself through the water with his modified tail, breaking the surface on occasion for a breath before diving back into the depths. He'd been away from Gemini for several moons, an impromptu visit to his childhood home had lasted longer than he'd anticipated but he was finally on his way back. The familiar black sand beach and tall cliffs came into view over the horizon, excitement filled him and drove him faster towards the welcoming shores of his home. From here he remained on the surface, dog-paddling through the surf, tongue hanging out of his open mouth. 

Joy filled the boy as he made it past the break and got into shallow water, he let out a low howl as he bounded through the waves, 'I'm home! I'm home!' it said. He scanned the shoreline looking for familiar faces, eager to reunite with his friends or meet the newcomers. 

||OOC: I'm back!!!||

[Livid (RP)]

When a friend or a loved one dies or goes away for a while, you tend to forget their scent.

But when your friend - and, yes, Livid really went and used the f word - is a fish-tailed hellhound, it's hard to misplace what they smelt like. The Ranger recalled the salty scent that had emitted from Anky whenever she spent time around him, because of how fond he was of the water. It was bizarre how she had become somewhat attached to such a character. In retrospect, they were complete opposites. She was serious and too into her work to really make socialisation work, whereas Anky was laidback, friendly and the type of guy who could bring a party to an empty room. Just why had she missed him? 

Eventually, she came to conclusion that it was because he had made her laugh. 

After all, we all need laughter and happiness in our lives, right?

When she had followed the sound of the hellhound's delighted howl filled the air, however, Livid was far from amused. In fact, she was... well, livid. As she stomped over to where the familiar salty scent was drifting from, her arctic blue eyes became shards of ice at the sight of him. Mostly black, with a strange fish tail. A tail she would always find her eyes drifting to. She would never get used to it. With a low growl, Livid made a beeline for him. Even though she was secretly happy to see him again, it did nothing to quell the abandonment and loneliness she had felt while he had been away. "Oh, it's you," she said dispassionately. "Nice of you to make use of the water. The stench of wherever the hell you've been will wash off nicely before you reenter Gemini." 

OK, she was being a child but the Ranger would only cut off Anky if he tried to speak. "I don't know much about friendship, Anky," she rambled. "But I know enough to know that when you have a friend who cares... well, respects you very much, it would be nice if you shot them a howl or something to let them know if you're going to leave all of a sudden. This is totally a hypothetical situation, by the way! Totally not referring to me at all. I just think... As the Ranger that accepted you to these lands, I should advise you to be a bit more tactful in future."

Her voice got slightly high-pitched at the end, frantically trying to cover up the slip of tongue as she drew awkward circles in the sand with her paw. "Either way, at least you're home safe... Tail and all. Just don't take off like that again, OK? I think it's safe to say that Gemini have and would always miss you." 

[Witch.]

(awwww)

[Anky]

Livid, Anky recognized her instantly, a grin stretching across his muzzle as she stomped toward him with an obvious look of anger. He really needed to quit making her so angry all the time. Picking his head up, eyes sparkling at her as she scolded him about his 'stench', the grin never leaving his face. Oh yes, just me! Squeaky clean from my latest adventure!  She cut him off before he could continue. He sat back on his haunches letting the lady continue scolding him, it was endearing how much she cared, though she tried to hide it. She spoke of his abandonment and admittedly he felt ashamed for leaving the way he did but the moment he had received word from his family's albatross about his sibling's illness, he hightailed it home. Thankfully things worked out for his faraway family but it pained Anky to leave them no matter how much he missed his dearest Gemini. 

Liv was right though, he should have sent word or at the very least told someone he was leaving, his grin softened as she spoke of friendship and saw the panic rise within her as she scrambled to hide behind her indifferent exterior again. He nodded his head softly before standing, black paws padded toward his friend and he gently nudged her shoulder, I missed you too Liv. I'm sorry I left. He whispered, his eyes full of remorse for the pain he'd caused his friend. She was right of course, he had been given a place within Gemini and a role as a Ranger, it was irresponsible of him to just leave.  

Before she could respond to his apology, he gave her a playful nip and bounced away, bowing playfully, daring her to catch him. Beat you to the highlands! Laughing as he continued to bounce away toward the stone stairs, there would be time for explanations later, the hellion had missed his home and his friends, Liv probably most of all, but for now he just wanted to enjoy being home.

[Livid (RP)]

He looked so fucking thrilled that he had made her angry and worried her sick, like it was a talent (it was). She wanted to bite him or at least fulfil her earlier promise of snapping off his tail but there was something about his good mood that was almost laughable and - dare she say it - contagious. When he apologised, she forced herself to sigh, dispelling the tension between them. She had not meant to come across as unwelcoming or dismissive. She was sincerely glad he was back. Although the Ranger was used to being alone, feeling alone after forming a connection with somebody was an entirely different sort of loneliness. Like there was an Anky-shaped hole in her heart. Livid was about to open her mouth to ask where he had been when he suddenly nipped her and bounced around her playfully. Oh, for the love of..

Beat you to the highlands! 

"This is so childish!" Livid called, despite the lack of hesitation as she took off after him. "I am NOT racing you! THIS IS MERELY AN EXERCISE IN SPEED AND ENDURANCE - NOTHING MORE!"

Even though Anky's long limbs benefited him immensely, Livid was strong and able to run a good long distance before getting tired. She was also used to Gemini's terrain after her time as a Ranger. Watching as the hellion's fish tail vanished into a clump of bushes and up the stone steps, she pounced after him, hoping up each step effortlessly. Naturally, due to his head start, Anky won the race and, for a moment, the two looked over the packlands in silence, Livid panting as she turned to look at the hellion with an inking of irritation. It was not as serious as the anger she had initially felt towards him but it was enough to tell him that he had won one over on her. "I'm so glad you've managed to retain your boundless energy while you've been away," the Ranger commented. "Some of us, on the other hand, have to work all day and we naturally get tired - that's why you won."

She was making excuses. Regardless of how Anky would respond to her being something of a sore loser, the Ranger would snort and turn her ice blue eyes upon him once more. "So, Anky, where did you go?" she asked airily, like she couldn't care less - even though she was extremely curious. "Where did this sudden call of the wild take you?"