[PRP] Company required [Minnow/Haze]

[Ruriska]

Her mother's scent was strong in the area, one lone pawprint marking the muddy bank where Catfish had leapt into the stream after some unfortunate prey. No doubt her mother was now chewing on her meal, hidden from sight and not interested in talking to her daughter. Which was fine. As if Minnow cared that Catfish was a recluse and most of her children had wandered off to have their own lives, except for Pike who was always a nuisance.

And Guppy - where was her brother? He should be here keeping her company.

It wasn’t as if she was lonely but someone to talk to would have been nice. It was a cloudy day, dark skies threatening rain, and she was disgruntled and annoyed. With a huff, Minnow flopped down in a grassy patch and chewed on a nice stick she’d found.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Heavy paws seemed to almost glide across the forest floor until it slopped down into a muddy bank overlooking a stream. A pale brute trudged his way through towards the stream's edge, allowing himself to crane his neck down and lap up the passing waters. He continued until his belly was full and aimed to simply walk off in the direction he had come until movement caught his eye.

On the other side of the stream, a brown she wolf strode by, her face a lighter blotched tan then the rest of her. Her eyes striking and green.

She was perfect.

Was his thought. Which was his thought about just every other female he had come across. And yet, he still remained alone and packless. Not that his family wasn't sufficient company they just weren't. Well. Suitable. For reasons. Not wanting to miss this chance, Haze's red gaze zeroed in on the female as he followed her movements from the opposite side of the stream. "You there!" he called out boldly.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

She’d only just gotten into a good chew zen when she was interrupted. It was a male voice and for a second Minnow was sure it must be her son; who probably thought she had some food and the overgrown pup would try snap it out of her mouth. So her first instinct was to growl, a rumbling warning, ears going back. Her position on the ground wasn’t defensible but she didn’t rise. It wasn’t as if Pike was a threat to anything other than the stick she was munching on.

Even as her growl died away, Minnow was focusing on the figure watching her from across the stream - and that was definitely not her son. She’d wanted a distraction, someone to talk to, but now that there was another wolf directly in front of her, she wasn’t exactly pleased. Not yet, anyway.

Her ears flicked back forward, giving the male a once over. Big, handsome, keen-eyed. Just her type.

“What do you want?” She demanded, nose in the air, snooty.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Haze allowed himself a slight grin. Just the question he’d been hoping for. Without pause, his muzzle opened and the following words ushered forth. “Why, you, of course.” He grinned even wider now, his chest slightly puffed in attempt to make himself look even bigger and stronger.

He eyed the stick she was chewing on and her reactions a moment earlier. “Tasty?” He gestured towards her ‘meal’ with his head. “Ive not found sticks to be quite.....satisfying... but I’m willing to learn.” Haze winked, eyeing the stream before him. He reached out and tested the waters with a paw, waiting to see how she’d react to him stepping over and onto her side of the bank. The last thing he needed was a potential mate fleeing before he had a chance to convince her to be his.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

He wanted her? Well, of course he did. Minnow gloated inwardly. This was just what she’d needed.

When the big wolf mentioned her stick, Minnow realized this wasn't exactly the most alluring of setting to be found in. Regardless of whether she ended up liking him or not, she wanted to make a good first impression and chewing mindlessly on part of a tree wasn’t the best look. But she tried to work with it anyway, her paw slowly pushing the stick a little bit away from her.

“It’s not a matter of taste,” she told him, still eyeing him up and down. “I’ve been quite bored and it was a good distraction.” She watched his paw dip into the stream and her eyelids lowered. Her posture as neither welcoming or unwelcoming, she just waited for his advance.

As he crossed the stream, Minnow realized just how much larger he was. She’d always been a petite female. It was thrilling and alarming at once. Her tail thumped briefly against the dirt. It would be safer to rise but at least her belly was against the ground and she didn’t want to look like she was concerned.

“What is your name?” She demanded to know.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Haze flicked a paw or two when he had fully crossed the stream, though careful not to wet her anymore than she might already be. He half snorted, half chuckled at her response and watched as the stick slowly slid away from her. He glanced back at the stream though he was sure any fish near by had been startled away by his crossing. At least that meant more attention on him.

“Haze.”, he replied, taking her neither welcoming or unwelcoming gesture as invitation to approach closer. He stopped a few feet from her but close enough to take in her scent, sight and sound. Ears forward and eyes alert should she happen to not be alone. Other females were welcome, but a lurking male? Not so much.

A tongue darted across his fangs. “And might I get yours? I’ve given mine.” He about purred for a wolf.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

Minnow was not happy with her position as he stepped closer. She felt so much smaller having to look at from the ground. It gave her less power and she hated that.

So she stood up, trying to do it slowly, as if completely relaxed and unconcerned. She even made sure to stretch a little, show herself off. It was a fine display (or at least she thought so) and bound to win over any male.

“I suppose that’s fair.” Her voice was still uppity. “Minnow.”

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Haze watched her rise slowly, the stretch she gave like a tease. He bit back a growl and the urge to pounce, simply watching what muscles she had flex through her lithe body. "Minnow...ah. Very fitting for such a femme." he chuckled, waiting till she reached her full height, which was still small compared to himself.

He smirked again, his tail flicking slightly. "So what's a lone female like yourself doing in these parts." he questioned, testing the waters so to speak. His senses still alert for any males that might be returning or other wolves sneaking through the brush. He hoped for a more pleasing answer so that he might offer his..... company.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

“This is my home,” Minnow told him. She neither confirmed nor denied the existence of others, whether she was a lone female or not. And to be fair, she didn’t have a pack. But she did have a mother and overgrown offspring wandering around.

She wasn't going to give this Haze all the information to start with. She planned on making him work for her attention.

“And what brings you to the area?”

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Home.

The words somewhat stung him as they passed his ears but her lack of other information still gave him a spark of hope. With a quick glance around, he took one paw step forward. "Well I was hunting. But I'd say.... my hunt is complete." he made an airy, almost puff of a laugh before grinning at her. Arrogance blinded him in this moment but he was near nose to nose with a pretty fem, he wasn't about to let her slip away.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

Well, didn’t seem like she had to work for his attention at all. This Haze was clearly keen and Minnow was both flattered and slightly annoyed that he thought she’d let him have his way so easily.

But Minnow was a fish and they weren't easy to catch.

While he was so close, she nipped at his nose and took a step back. “I don’t think so,” she told him. “Your hunt has only just started.”

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Haze reared back and snarled at the snap, snorting and rubbing a paw quickly over his nose. He then planted them firmly back into the ground and stood staring over her. A brow quirked as his smirk began to angle down into a frown. "Oh? Are you so entirely sure about that?" he huffed, this time instead of taking a step closer he began to slowly move towards her side as if to begin circling. He hadn't yet met a female react like this one was. Either they ignored him completely or were putty in his paws.... at least for a night. Something about her fight both excited and irritated him.

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

Minnow eased away, giving ground as he tried to circle around. “I am,” she was just as huffy. “You’re not as irresistible as you seem to think you are.” She wasn't ready to let him any closer, not with how hungry and keen he seemed. She was not about to roll over and play nice just because a handsome fellow turned up.

“You’ll have to do better than this,” Minnow told him, then she turned and started walking away. She wanted to see how quickly he would give up or if he was willing to put in some effort. How fun.

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Haze quirked a brow as she began to walk off and snorted. He let her get a few paw steps ahead before following after her. Not too close but not enough to let her get a good amount of space between them either. "Oh I'm just getting warmed up, just you wait." he added, though his tone seemed upset he had a cocky smirk spread across his maw. "I can guarantee you so much more than any other could."

Ruriska

 

[Ruriska]

Minnow woke up beside him the next day.

It hadn’t exactly been the plan, or maybe it had. She’d strung him along for a while, paddling about in the stream, caught them a fish or two just to show off her skills. If any of her family had bothered to show up, she would have driven him away just to show how little she cared.

But they hadn’t turned up and she did like the attention and then it had started to rain. So what else was she supposed to do then to find shelter with the handsome (if annoyingly arrogant) male? It was so much warmer sleeping beside him.

After she last remnants of her dream faded away and she had yawned herself into wakefulness, Minnow gave Haze’s ear a not so gentle nibble.

Fea Line

one time skip XD