You’re safer beneath the fur – you should know that. Kongen’s words managed to gnaw like an incessant gnat buzzing around in the heat of summer. No matter how many times it would be swatted away, the gnat seemed to always return. Having taken a breather before heading home, Tethys took rest along-side the slow-moving stream. In tow, was the days catch from the shores. Two gulls and a few common sea fish. Nothing extraordinary, seeing that todays hunts were rather lackluster. Just something to fill the icebox until tomorrow and then to tag along to the shop to clean and butcher.

“He’s an odd one, don’t you think?” Glacial eyes studied the small rippling currents of the water passing by.  Knees where tucked and embraced by sun kissed arms that supported her head. She was talking to the water. Odd to see if anyone happened to be passing by but there were far worse things to worry over than what others may have thought of her for speaking to just nothing. “A bit of a temper too, like Kreios and Dad, don’t you think?” A small genuine simper tugged her tawny lips, chuckling, unraveling her limbs to recline back. Fingers drug into damp soils allowing her head to tilt back “Maybe we’ll cross paths again sometime, who knows?” After all, they were neighbors now weren’t they? She couldn’t help but laugh at the thought, recalling the twisting snarl of frustration in the kalaks face.

“See? Rivers are good listeners.” She mused dryly, sitting upright now and pulling the spotted seatrout by the tail, inspecting her catch of the day.

!

Tethys found herself stopping her almost on the daily either to collect herself or just to rest in between travelling from work to home and vice versa. Icy gaze did a once over on the small collection of fish and avian she had caught for the day, hoping that if she’d look to it a second time that maybe her hunt for the day would appear more successful. It didn’t. Ah, well, not every day is going to be a good day for a hunt, she knew that much. It didn’t lessen somewhat bruised pride when the day did not go how she wanted it to regardless.

So, the huntress took the opportunity to take a moment to rest and soak in the scenery more so upon the moving water rippling between her legs. Heightened senses caught the sound of distant hooves clopping lazily against the soils. Growling tones caused her attention to turn finally when realizing she was no longer lounging in solitude. Glacial sights befell the stranger, quirking a lazy smile in greeting as she gestured a friendly greet. He did not possess the same scent as Kon had upon their initial greeting so she could only assume that this was another wolf. Loner perhaps?

“Hey,” she greeted casually then, finally retreating the fish to the rest of the pile. “You look a little lost, stranger.” Her head tilted slightly.

!

Not lost Came the strangers response. Tethys simply offered him an amicable smile nevertheless. A shame, really. Sometimes it was rather fun getting lost – intentional or not. There was daring adventure that came along with the concept to which Tethys would privately enjoy. The steeds’ hoof stomping against the ground briefly tugged her attention towards the large beast, watching his curiosity dwindle in assumed disappointment when realizing there were no horse-favoring snacks. Instead, the horse would meander away from them grazing lazily upon fresh grasses. Wolf? the inquiry came in a guttural tone. Dark brows rose curiously only to allow an impish grin to tug her cheeks.

“Well, that depends on who’s asking.” She teased crudely. Tethys knew better than to go around flaunting a double life – even if it was something she wasn’t too keenly on flaunting. Something she had kept from Kongen in their first encounter. There was nothing wrong being the wolf she was. But it was the beast that lingered on those full lunar lights she wasn’t exactly proud of. “Names’ Tethys. Are you from around these parts?” An introduction following a question. Heightened senses gave either one of them away with ease, so for him to ask her – was to only assume he already knew the answer.

Her gaze briefly drifted towards the horse currently minding his own. An odd pair, she thought.

!

She was never one to judge so rashly or too quickly. Many may have thought the man to be odd or perhaps a potential threat as many could be. Women could be just as cruel with a false set of tears on hand. Instead, Tethys simply watched him with idle patience. Live here, his words sounded detached – broken and if anything, forced. Sunkissed ears twitched, listening as he tasted her name upon his tongue. Gritty and gravelly. Am Vali. He stated while engaging closer. She shifted her weight to allow room for him to sit. She moved her catches of the day to the opposite side. Not everyone could tolerate the smell of fish or carcass be them wolf or not. She on the other hand could care less as long as it wasn’t her reeking of it.

Her shoulders were relaxed, unbothered by the new company. It was a different change of pace, compared to the comically disgruntled maned wolf she’d encountered more than once now. Tethys couldn’t quite put a finger on as to why she enjoyed Kon’s company or why she found his mannerisms humorous, but she did. Am wolf, The huntress would glance towards the man where it seemed he was trying to assure her that he too, possessed the lycan curse. She offered him a half grin. “You’re a little odd, aren’t you?” she mused.

“But that’s alright,” she shrugged. “I’ve been told the same thing.” More than once even, though she didn’t clarify. “I live around here too.” She continued from previous. “Haven’t been living here long though – “ she paused for a moment as if trying to recollect the time spent here in Vufrien wilds. “I run a butcher shop in the town nearby.”


!

She assured that such oddities were perfectly fine. Perhaps even argue that normal was rather boring. Tethys was a daring, adventurous spirit too and would often have been given odd looks when bringing in new produce of the day in the early morning from neighboring shops. Or, perhaps it was the idea of a woman presumably doing the work of a man?  Butcher shop, The piqued interest of the man turned her attention then with a lazy smile, nodding in affirmation. Could… buy from.. sometime? His broken words continued in growling tones. Uncertain if it was just how he was or if he truly struggled with the second nature of speaking.

The huntress was never one to judge the up bringing’s of others, so she merely remained patient with him. She was patient with Kongen too despite his own brackish attitude. Though – she found the maned wolf to entertaining, if anything else at the time. “Yeah, for sure!” she agreed to the suggested self-invite. “Be happy to have the company any time really.” It got rather boring if the day was slow too. Not many willing to spark conversation too much lest they were an obnoxious drunk causing a scene. Train horses, Tethys blinked contemplating his words – ah! He was a horse training? Sell them, except for Codrin.

“That’s kinda cool actually,” she mused. “Never been great with them myself but I respect them.” Tethys laughed. “That and they’re bigger.” So they could have easily trampled her if one wanted to. “Is it hard to sell them?” she wondered aloud – wondering if there may have been a bond to form and then to suddenly severe that?

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