He was back where it all had started. Memories of being washed up on this very shore flooded his brain, of nearly drowning at sea, only to reach land by mere chance. Perhaps, it was also by chance that an acquaintance with extraordinary abilities had found him that very moment, and used her gift to save him. These memories brought up a mix of emotions inside of him, as he tried to wrap his brain around it all. It was like he had been hypnotized to enter the sea in the first place, and hypnotized to nearly die from it. Yet, he didn’t. He had survived, and now he was here.
Gazing at the sandy shoreline brought back the uncomfortable feeling of his wet fur and all the sand and muck that had clung to it. It had taken him days to clean himself off after that. At least now, he was lucky enough to be dry. When his claws dug into the sand this time, there was nothing to make it stick, so it simply rolled off him with a quick shake. This time, as he stared at the water, he knew for certain he wasn’t about to enter it. He wasn’t about to get wet and dirty all over again. But then, why was he here?
The small canid glanced around him, watching the waves slowly roll in and out in no particular rhythm or pattern. He wasn’t really sure he could come up with a reason why he was here at all. Then again, perhaps his life didn’t need to have a rhythm either. Maybe there didn’t need to be a reason. He had spent so much time recently pondering on reasons, and after all this time, he wasn’t sure he was any closer to an answer.
A sigh escaped his breath. It felt good to let the overthinking go - to be carried by the wind and drowned in the sea. He’d sit, watching the water sparkle in the setting sunlight. The world held a pink and orange hue that slowly darkened as the minutes passed. Soon the world would be covered by the velvet darkness of night - and the stars could finally come out to play.
She had “arrived” a few days ago to this strange place. But no matter how different and new everything was, she didn’t feel out of place. Maybe it was because of Reed or because she made herself believe that the last chapter of her previous life was finished and she could begin again. So she could do better. Be better. She didn’t know if returning to the place where she woke up was a good idea. It made her anxious. She wasn’t the only one to come through this vast ocean and she most certainly won’t be the last. A small voice at the back of her head was making her entertain the thought of her father bathing in and ruining everything like her did just a few days ago. She had shaken the thought and pushed it at the back of her mind, locking it in a tight box.
Now she had been laying on a rock, standing much above the ground, it’s texture warm from the rays of the sun that was now only inches away from disappearing behind the water line. Her eyes were closed, her ears had leaned back and the calm of the ocean noise had caused her to drift into a soft slumber. Her claws were unconsciously scraping the ground every now and then, until the soft thud of steps against the sand, ears rotated, but she remained with her eyes closed. Years of fights had her prepared for anything, her tail still, her body appearing almost as if it was part of the rock, aside from the soft rise and fall of her chest and sides. A moment later the softest of thuds, stopped. Her head turned the way the sounds were coming from and then her eyes opened. Bright yellow and orange danced in the fading light of the sun as she observed the creature. It looked like a wolf, but it had mutations all over it’s body. Curiosity made her move. Muscles shifted as her body rose and she stretched without a care in the world. Her legs chose their steps carefully as she got down from her “throne” and and landed on the sand with a thud. Head rose as her tall frame fixed the wolf, now in front of her, taking in all the details. Staring might not be polite, but she could care less.
Eon had been ignorant of the wolf resting on a nearby rock up until now. His ears caught the soft thump when the creature graced the sandy terrain, alerting him of their presence. He was so enthralled by the setting sun that he had a hard time taking his eyes off it to look at the stranger. Instead, he made sure to analyze their movements from his peripheral vision as they moved towards him.
He had been in the realm for some time now and had done his best to get acquainted with the domain and its inhabitants. Despite his efforts, he still felt unfamiliar with it. He knew not every soul here was aligned with the values of the kingdom, which meant there was a chance his presence could be met with aggression, as much as Eon wanted to assume otherwise.
As the moments passed, however, he became aware he was being stared at. At this, he couldn't help but chuckle and allow himself to relax a little. This was a situation he was quite familiar with. The myriad of glowing mutations made him stick out, not like a sore thumb, but more like a freshly done manicure. It really didn't surprise him that other wolves gawked at him, the possibility of them staring for other reasons didn't even cross his mind.
He’d finally take his gaze off the water, shifting it to focus on the other wolf. Unlike him, they held a more natural coloration. In some ways, Eon understood that wasn't a bad thing. It meant they could camouflage with their environment easier which Eon couldn't do anywhere with the exception of cloud bend. That and when flying through the sunset like the one before them.
The color of his fur matched nearly identically to that of the horizon at that very moment. Considering he had such a hard time keeping his eyes off the spectacle, it meant the colors went beautifully together. While his appearance may have given him a few disadvantages in life, he still took great pride in it. That was apparent by how well-groomed he was, even now.
“Like the view?” He’d give his ear a flick.
He couldn't help it as the words flew out without even thinking it over. He didn't specify if he was referring to the sunset - or to himself - but it might have been a little obvious considering the stranger was staring at him, not the sky.
The fading light of the sun was casting shadows and bathing in light, certain parts of them and the surroundings. The scene was serene. Someone might think it was one out of a movie. And they were destined to be there on that beach at that time.
Psh. What bullshit. Ears rotated above her skull as she took in every feather, tail, orb and.. antenna? Damn. He looked like a peacock if she had to be the one guessing. Sure he was.. colorful and cute, but maybe more like a bird snack than anything. Her small tail swayed slowly, but stopped at his words. Eyebrow shot up to the sky as dual eyes burned into his side. Peacock it is then. "Mm." She mused, tone deep. "Love it, birdie." She teased with a smirk pulling her lips. She knew how it felt to look at you different and stare, she wasn't one to be as pretty to the eyes as he was. But she had gotten over it. Now she was accustomed to the nicknames she used to get from her pack. From her family. Not anymore though. She could probably get a new start here. A new place to herself. Live a calm and--
Where was this even coming from. She shook her head more to herself than to the stranger and turned to look at the sun, but it had already disappeared beneath the horizon. Shoulders rolled and a few pops filled the air. She then turned to the wolf and spoke again. "So," She began as she seated herself down calmly, hugely aware that tonight she wasn't getting hurt, even if he decided to fight, which by the looks of it, was definitely not going to happen. "Who're you and why would you need to watch the same colors in the sky if you have them on your ass?" She teased again, though she was indeed curios. If she was colored like the sunsets, she could just stare at herself and be done with the sentimental shit. But she knew even as she thought it, that it wasn't the case. There was something different about the sky. Something free.. and she was most definitely, not free.
She decided not to dwell on that and focused on her company. Her body pushed up from her sitting position and she began to circle around him, more like a hungry bear, than a curious cat, but she didn't have ill intentions. Maybe Reese rubbed off on her for the little time they had known each other and every now and then she felt a bit chipper. Maybe that was the reason her next question was totally out of line and definitely surprised herself that she'd actually do it. "I'm more curious about these though," She came closer, breaking any personal space boundaries and gesturing towards the antenna light on his head. "Can I touch 'em?" She looked more serious, than she should have been for sure.
