Hello, Little Wolf

[Inigo Westwood]

To be truthful, he'd been doing quite well on the wild island of Aldsage. To have survived the last three years alone was a feat in and of itself that he could feel proud of. He'd heard stories in his home of Teronna, knew that most people would prefer to avoid Aldsage at any cost. Unfortunately for the dark-haired man, his hand had been forced in the matter. Even still, he could say he was a survivor of this place one day if he ever made it back to his home.

In the golden hour of the morning, he traveled lazily forward, unaware that he'd already crossed into Wynfrid territory. Dark blue eyes were cast straight ahead and he stared at nothing in particular. Most mornings around the clans seemed to be particularly calm. From what he'd observed, the people here seemed to live by a set routine, tending to themselves and their young before venturing out past the main homesteads. Sometimes they went out on patrol, other times it was to hun. While there was always patrol on duty at any given time, the very first light of morning always brought a sense of peace to the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Inigo wasn't the type to really push his luck - at least not here when he was always in one clan's territory or the other. But today, he just wanted to relax a little, enjoy himself and not worry about glancing over his shoulder constantly. Sure, it could cost him his life, but just because he decided to let his guard down a little didn't mean he wasn't alert to his surroundings. He took in everything; the sounds of the birds, the feeling of the sun as their world began to transition from winter to spring, the earthy smells that carried on the light breeze. It was, without a doubt, very serene here when no one else was around - when he had nothing to worry about. Still, he couldn't escape the feeling that something was amiss.

He'd moved along the edge of the territory, taking the horse-worn path through the trees as the morning hours faded into early afternoon. Just as the feeling his gut began to make itself know, the world seemed to fall just a little more silent. As if on cue, a small figure appeared in the distance. Inigo came to a stop before moving off the trail to watch the stranger with a lackluster curiosity. It was more than likely a passing patrol anyway. So long as he remained hidden, they'd end up moving past him without ever noticing his presence. Then again, it seems he'd had a bit too much luck lately with keeping out of sight of the clan members - if there was ever such a thing as too much luck - and it was about time that luck ran out.

tagged: Grace Harper

[Grace Harper]

Grace had the house to herself that morning. Malcolm had taken young Aiden with him to hunt for the day before she'd even thought about rising from bed, and after she'd fed him breakfast she'd let Cohen go over to a friend's house to play with the new puppies the other boy's hunting dog had just birthed. The friend's mother had promised to make sure he was fed for the day, and return him at sunset ready for a good night's sleep. 

She'd told herself she would use the free time to clean the whole house from top to bottom--but the problem was that it was already clean. She washed her few dishes from breakfast with Cohen and wiped down the table, then wandered the house, righting any small messes until she truly couldn't find anything else to do. She thought about sitting down with a quilt, but the even thought of being still for that long made her skin crawl. No, she needed to get out of the house. 

Grace put on an old dress and her favorite walking boots, tied a canteen to her belt, and set off for a good long walk. 

She might not have had much of a thought in her head for a good five minutes as she wandered away from home, her feet treading the familiar hunting paths without any conscious direction. She hummed softly to herself, every once in a while singing under her breath part of the words of the song. Once she'd had a little longer to unwind, she was able to let her mind wander aimlessly, considering new quilt designs, the progress that her little nephews were making in their reading, the way the trees were beginning to bud around her and new flowers might soon appear. 

The closer she came to the edge of the Wynfrid Clan's territory, however, the darker her thoughts became. She wondered what had become of the boys' mother, after she'd vanished. She wondered whether her own parents were watching over them now. She wondered if she was simply fooling herself into thinking she was happy, and whether or not she ought to pursue more. She was going to run out of time, eventually. She fell silent as a gloom slipped over her, despite the shining sun and its warmth. 

When she caught herself, she stopped in her tracks and put her hands on her hips. Well that was it, no more wandering. She needed to do something. She looked around her for a moment and chose a nearby pine tree as her victim. Its trunk was thick enough that it would take two of her to wrap  their arms around it, and even then their fingertips might not quite touch, but the branches were sturdy looking, and low enough that she knew she could haul herself up into it. She walked through the underbrush to stand at its base, then took the hem of her skirt, twisted it in her hands like she was wringing a rag, then tucked the twist she'd created into her belt so that her skirt now ended at her knees. She'd had plenty of practice at this--the whole process took perhaps ten seconds. 

She grabbed the lowest branch with both hands, then swung her hips back then quickly forward to gain enough momentum to slip her feet and knees up over the next as she neatly hauled herself into the tree. She was about to climb up further, reaching for the next branch, when she spotted a figure on the other side of the tree that she hadn't been able to see until she was off the ground, She gasped and nearly fell out of the tree, but she managed to catch herself. 

"Goodness, you gave me a fright...And I must look like an absolute madwoman!" she exclaimed, too embarrassed to realize that she was potentially in danger. They were still inside Wynfrid land, after all, so she assumed she was speaking with a clan member she simply hadn't met. 

"I'm sorry, I ah, I didn't see you there." Oh, but he had surely seen her--her skirt was up around her thighs at this rate, and as she'd flipped herself into the tree, he could have had a good look right up it at her underthings if he'd had a mind to. The realization made her turn bright red, and she smoothed the skirt down around her legs as much as she could without completely unfolding it.

[Inigo Westwood]

Inigo was pleasantly surprised to find the stranger was a woman as she made her way closer. However, that surprise soon fell to something else - something close to tension - as the woman suddenly stopped where she stood, hands going to her hips. Had he been spotted? Deciding that waiting for the answer was too risky, he took to the nearest tree he could find, climbing so high into its branches that he was nearly at its very peak. But again, this woman surprised him as she chose the very same tree, pulling up her skirt and tucking it so that she, too, could climb onto its limbs.

A single brow raised as she hoisted herself with ease into the lowest branch, her eyes landing on him but seeming to take a moment to register as a bold smirk spread across his lips. She'd given him quite the show, that much was for certain and it made him wonder what other treasures he could find beneath that dress of hers. However, before his mind had time to indulge him, she was speaking, her voice soft as a soft blush came over her cheeks. How sweet.

"I didn't mean to frighten you, m'lady." He said smoothly, his deep voice laced with charm as his eyes sparkled deviously, looking her over as best he could. He was crouched at the other side of the tree, watching her carefully though there was no ill-intent in his demeanor. "What brings you out this close to enemy territory, alone, no less?" He asked her, tilting his head curiously as a stray strand of hair brushed his shoulder. She didn't seem to realize he was not part of her clan, so he'd use that to his advantage. After all, who knew where the afternoon may take them.

[Grace Harper]

Looking up at him with wide eyes as he assessed her, Grace slowly started to realize the strangeness of the situation. Or, more accurately, she began to realize that it wasn't only her that was strange. What was this man doing in the tree before she got here? She assumed he must be hunting, although from this angle she couldn't see a bow anywhere. Perhaps it simply blended in with the pine boughs.

Her blush intensified as he smirked, seeming to laugh at her behind his blue eyes, and she broke eye contact for a moment to glance down at the ground, wondering if she should just leave. She was intruding, she thought, but then he spoke up again, asking why she was there. She bit her lip, but couldn't suppress a sheepish smile. "I go for walks when I need to think...and I climb trees when things are bothering me. So..." she gestured vaguely to the tree they were sitting in.

Now that she was somewhat committed to a conversation, she decided she'd better find a better place to sit. She scanned the branches above her, closer to his side of the tree, and chose a wider one that would be more comfortable to sit on while also giving her a better vantage point.

"I've never run into anyone else out here, other than the patrols..." she explained as she maneuvered herself between the branches, a slight strain in her voice as she stretched to reach a branch slightly out of her reach. "So I don't usually bother anyone. Other than my brother, who seems to think I'll be eaten by real wolves out here."

She had to climb up a few levels to reach the spot she wanted, although she still wasn't as high as he was. She sat with her back against the trunk of the large pine and folded her hands in her lap as if this were something she did all the time, chatting with strange men in pine trees. This also gave her the opportunity to fix her skirts, leaving the hem low enough to cover part of her knees this time around. The action made her feel a little better, although he'd already seen what there was to see.

"And you? Have you been hunting turkeys? Or just looking for a little peace yourself?" she asked, knowing that was what Malcolm and Aiden were after.

[Inigo Westwood]

He lifted a brow at her as she responded to his question, his eyes drifting to her lips as that shy smile spread across them. Really taking in her face, he noted just how lovely she was with those big, doe-like brown eyes. He didn't respond to her answer, he did not need to, really, as she'd begun climbing higher into the tree, speaking more as she moved between the branches with ease. He chuckled at her words, giving her a faint smile. "I think wolves are the least of anyone's worries out here in the forests, though. Wouldn't you agree?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head. Oh yes, there were far more dangerous things than the canines that prowled the night. While not a native to Aldsage, Inigo was well aware of the savagery that some of the clans were capable of. Besides that, humans were almost always more dangerous than any beast. Cunning and with complex thought and emotion, man truly was the deadliest predator to roam the earth.

Once she finally reached a spot she seemed to find comfortable, fixing the skirt of her dress and causing Inigo to frown slightly, she turned the question on him and he pursed his lips to think for a fraction of a second before answering. He was in another clan's territory. That meant he had to be clever. "Mostly a little solitude. The day to day can be such a drag. It's nice to escape to a quiet place." He said with a grin before adding, "Of course, I don't mind the company." He gave her a wink, testing the waters to see just how far he could take their interaction. "Oh, forgive me. I seem to have lost my manners. The name's Inigo." He said with a charming ear-to-ear grin.

He didn't see the point in giving her a fake name. After all, they were having a friendly chat. So long as he posed no threat to her, he hoped she'd feel no need to tell her clan about the stranger she'd met in the forests. While she seemed to be a little naïve, he was confident that the rest of her clan would not be so easily fooled. Even still, he'd perhaps need to come with some excuse as to who he really was before they parted ways. Until then, he was going to enjoy this time with her.

[Grace Harper]

"Mm, at least in our territory," she agreed quietly.

She looked at him with curiosity clear in her eyes as he answered that he was looking for solitude as well, and his comment about "escaping" caused her to nod rapidly. She agreed completely. "Yes, that's exactly it. Sometimes I just can't stand being cooped up any more."

When he winked at her, a brief flash of surprise showed in her eyes as her blush flared up again. His grin was bad enough, and that wink made her heart lurch in her chest. Well, that was new...she didn't think she'd had a crush on someone this quickly before, but there was just something about the way he smiled... It took a moment to but her finger on it, but she decided that it was just a little wolfish, as if he wanted to eat her up. She probably shouldn't like that, but it sent a little thrill up her spine. No one had ever really shown interest in her before--which might have to do with the fact that her brother had threatened to skin anyone who made her cry--it was a little bit...nice. She almost shook her head at herself for being so silly, but thankfully his introduction returned her to the calming habits of polite conversation. It didn't matter anyway; she doubted he would even remember her name after their chat was over.

"Inigo...?" she echoed slowly, testing the syllables on her tongue to make sure she got them right. She'd hoped that perhaps hearing his name would give her more to go on, but no such luck. None of the women she quilted with had ever mentioned a son or nephew named Inigo. "That's a lovely name, Inigo," she told him, although it sounded nicer when he said it. "My name is Grace. Nice to meet you."

[Inigo Westwood]

She was an eager one, shy, but not so much that she didn't know how to socialize; not so much that she withdrew into herself. It seemed that so long as he kept the conversation going, she was more than willing to speak. Such a conundrum she seemed to be, even if he'd only spoken with her for mere minutes thus far. Yet, he returned her eager nod with one of his own, his smile showing his pearly whites as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, looking downwards. "I can relate to that, being cooped up." He told her simply. Of course, that was a lie. He'd never, in his entire life, been cooped up, but she didn't need to know that.

As she echoed his name, he looked up at her again, the faintest hint of an amused expression claiming his facial features as he untied his hair from it's bun, shaking it out so that it fell to his collar bone before putting it back up, this time opting for a half-up do. He needed to cut the mop atop his head soon, but it was never a priority. She complimented his name then, repeating it. He liked the way it rolled off her tongue, so silky as it carried on her voice. Introducing herself, he moved just a bit closer to her, still leaving enough space so that he did not make her uncomfortable. "Grace.." He repeated her name much the way she'd done his, seemingly mulling it around before speaking again, his voice becoming only slightly deeper as he spoke to her with a twinkle in his blue-grey eyes. "Such a beautiful name." He commented with an approving nod. "It suits you." He added. "So, tell me, Grace -" He let her name linger in the air for a brief moment. "- What is it you do around the clan? I can't say I've seen you before, which is really quite a shame." He told her, another lie filling the space as he implied he was part of her people.

[Grace Harper]

Ah, his hair was lovely; she couldn't help noticing as he shook it out and re-styled it, leaving part of it loose this time. She had a brief impulse to stop him from putting it up again so she could braid it, but she quashed it. She was not going to ask a total stranger to let her play with his hair. That was just creepy. She was definitely staring, so when he returned his attention to her and repeated her name, she ducked her head, a little sheepish as he said her name suited her and even more flustered as he repeated it again, drawing it out. Distracted, she stammered a little when she tried to answer his question.

"O-oh, um. I don't really do much outside the house if I'm being honest. I live with my older brother and his two boys. Their mother, she...she's no longer with us, so I spend most of my time with them.  Otherwise, sometimes I work on quilts and things with the other moms, or work on dying fabric and things if they need an extra hand. The boys are all busy today; Aiden is hunting with Malcolm--Malcolm is my brother--and the youngest, Cohen, is at a friend's house. So I had the day to myself." She paused to smile. "I'm glad I ran into you."

She realized how that sounded and looked away from those sparking eyes, anxiously twirling a stray curl around her fingers. She hadn't meant to act as if he'd rescued her, or she'd done this on purpose. "I mean, um, it's nice to be chatting with someone new. I was feeling a little lonely." 

That wasn't any better! She wanted to cover her face with her hands and groan at her own idiocy, but she managed to hold herself back. Instead, she just gave him a rueful smile. "Can you tell I haven't talked to anyone my own age in weeks? It's all sweet old ladies and four year olds."

[Inigo Westwood]

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. He could see that look in her eyes and it didn't a genius to know she'd been staring at him. Hell, the poor thing even stuttered as she began to answer his question, causing Inigo to release an amused 'hmph', the cocky expression a clear sign that he already knew he could make women flustered. Call it a talet. Albeit, it was a useless one. He listened to her speak, almost surprised she'd been so willing to give him so much information. It wasn't that he had use for it - he wouldn't dare walk alone deep into Wynfrid territory acting like badass - but more that she still seemed to believe he was part of her clan. Then again, she had just told him that she spent most of her time indoors.

She smiled at him then, muttering a simple phrase that caused Inigo to chuckle. "Well, I commend you for what you do. I certainly don't have the skill for anything like that." He told her simply. "Your family sounds lovely as well." He said with a grin before locking eyes with her as she began to try to cover up her last statement with one that didn't help her words much. He laughed now, but the sound was warm. She was feeling lonely, huh? He could certainly help with that. However, it was much too soon to voice such things and be so forward. Instead, he gave her a knowing look. "I'm very glad to have run into you, Grace." The words were definitely flirtatious and, oh, how he was already enjoying the sound of her name on his tongue. It almost caused him to imagine what it would be like to say her name under.. different circumstances.

The shy smile she gave him was enough to make him realize that she was not like the women he'd known in Teronna. So headstrong and assertive they were. Grace was much different. Quiet, shy, a little on the awkward side. Inigo found it quite adorable, wanting to be in her presence more and more the longer they spoke. As she spoke up again, he chuckled, moving down so that he was at the branch next to hers, turning his head to look at her. He was close enough that he could reach out and touch her if he wanted to, but still far enough away to respect her personal space. "If it makes you feel any better, most of my interactions take place with unruly men. It's a wonder I'm still such a gentleman." He said, giving her a playful smile at his little joke. At least that one was mostly true.

[Grace Harper]

At first, she thought Inigo was laughing at her, but it didn't quite have that bite to it. Actually, he had a nice laugh. She wondered what it would be like if she really got him to crack up... Hm.

Grace looked up with surprise when he answered that he was glad to run into her as well. She had honestly thought he was just being polite, humoring her since she'd settled in to chat. She watched as he moved with lithe grace down to the branch next to hers, and turned herself to face him, her right shoulder leaning against the trunk of the tree and her legs dangling in the space between them. It was interesting, she noted, that both of them had gravitated closer to each other as they talked. If she stretched out her legs, she could rest her shins on his lap; he was that close, now. She could also tell, even in the dappled light that filtered through the pine needles, that Inigo had light freckles peppered across his cheeks and nose. The observation made the corner of her mouth quirk up a little. The freckles were oddly cute on a grown man, softening his otherwise rugged appearance. It made him seem...more approachable, somehow. She wondered if they were on his shoulders too. She thought there was a tattoo poking up from his collar, as well, but she couldn't be sure... She caught her mind wandering as he turned back to her, and she sat up a little straighter.

Focus, Grace!

She laughed at his joke about spending more time with unruly men. "I never would have guessed," she replied with a grin, "You're much more polite than the average wolf, I'll tell you that much. Although, perhaps I'm not the best judge--my brother hasn't been much of a conversationalist since we were children, and he's the only man that talks to me on a regular basis..." She shrugged. "Not that I have much to chat about, other than my nephews. I don't exactly have the opportunity to go on wild adventures or anything like that."

[Inigo Westwood]

Noting the way her eyes found the tattoo peeking above the collar of the off-white long sleeve, Inigo leaned his head back against the tree until she laughed, a charming sound that nearly caused him to laugh along with her. Instead, he just gave her a playful grin, though her next words did cause him to chuckle. Such an open book she was. She seemed trusting, a very dangerous thing to be in this world - especially on this island. But then, he again had to remind himself that she still thought he was part of her pack. He scoffed at her words then, giving her a look that clearly indicated his thoughts; bullshit.

"I find it hard to believe no other men converse with you." He said, shaking his head softly. "Have you seen you?" He asked her, gesturing with his hand as he teased. "Then again, keeping yourself cooped up so much, it's probably all your fault." He said, continuing to tease as if he were a young boy.

Her final statement had him raising a brow, tilting his head back and looking at her like he didn't believe her, though it was still a playful gaze. "I find that even harder to believe!" He said, throwing his hands up as he grinned. "You're sat here, in a tree with a complete stranger, yet you don't have the opportunity for wild adventures?" He asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. A soft breeze blew, ruffling her dark brown hair softly and for a split second he admired her as he thought. Such a lovely woman she was..

"So, how about now? You're already out and the it's only just after noon. There's something I could show you." He said, grinning and leaning closer to her as if about to tell her a secret. "I know a place where you can see for miles." He said softly, pointing in the direction that would lead deeper into Wynfrid territory. It hadn't been his intention to stray from the border, but he'd make an exception, for adventure's sake.

[Grace Harper]

"Wha--?" Grace was completely taken aback by his teasing, and she sputtered helplessly in response. What did he even mean, had she seen herself? Was he saying what she thought he was? She wasn't anything special--she blended right in around the clan with her brown hair and eyes, and her dark colored dresses. She didn't wear any fancy styles or jewelry, and she truly didn't have anyone giving her attention. Was it really that surprising?

She didn't have time to overthink it because he was now telling her she was having an adventure right then. Huh. He was right, wasn't he...? She furrowed her brow a little as she considered. She certainly was talking to a stranger, halfway up a large pine tree, laughing and joking like they'd known each other for ages. It was nice...and it was also a little bit of a thrill to realize she really was doing something out of the ordinary. The wind ruffled her hair, blowing a few strands across her face, and she brushed them back behind her ear.

Grace found herself leaning in as well when he grinned at her, a little smile playing on her own lips, which widened into a brilliant smile when he suggested what he wanted to do. She practically lit up with excitement. Somewhere they could see for miles? That really would be an adventure...and a great spot to go when she needed to get out of the house. She wondered how she hadn't found it already in her wandering, but then, she usually stuck to the same few paths--predictable even in her escapes. "That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed with wide eyes. "Are you sure it wouldn't be a bother for you?"

[Inigo Westwood]

He chuckled at her again, realizing that she must not have seen her own worth, her own beauty. In Teronna, the women were much the same. They all dressed fancily, paid too much mind to makeup and over the top clothing, their hair done to perfection, not a strand out of place. There was something even more lovely in Grace, the way she dressed so simply, her hair moving however it wish, brown eyes and rosy lips unhindered by makeup. She was naturally beautiful. It was refreshing.

When she asked if it were a bother, his grin widened. "A bother? Pfft." He waved a hand dramatically. "The only thing that'll bother me is you not agreeing to go." He said, poking his bottom lip out in mock disappointment before smiling again and beginning his descent. Once his feet were firmly on the ground, he looked back up towards her, careful to avert his gaze until he was sure that he couldn't see up the skirt of her dress. He offered a hand to her to help her down if she wished.

Once they were both on the ground again, he grabbed her forearm gently. "This way. It's off the paths and a bit of a walk to get there, but man, is it worth it." He said excitedly, releasing her as he moved brush from out of her way as they dipped off the hunting path. "It's a straight shot. You'll know you're close when you see two big rocks." He stretched his arms out as if he could accurately portray the size of them. "They're close together, so you'll have to shimmy through to get to the other side." He warned her ahead of time. "But I think you're going to love it." He said finally as he took the lead ahead of her, moving any brush from her way as they walked. "So, tell me, where is your favorite place to go?" He asked her. It seemed she liked to wander when she could, so she certainly had a favorite place.

[Grace Harper]

Grace laughed when he faked a pout. "Well, that should be the least of your worries; I'd love to go." She assured him.

She climbed down after him, taking his hand as she made the final hop down from the lowest branch. His hands were surprisingly rough, she noted, making her wonder what kind of work he did. She didn't worry over it for long, though, as she quickly bent to undo her skirt and set it to rights. Of course, her hair fell in a mess over her face, and she had to finger comb it into place again, brushing a few stray pine needles out of her curls as she straightened up and smiled.

It startled her a little when he took her arm, but his grip was gentle and his smile was bright, so she followed along happily. She appreciated that he was describing the way to her as well so that she'd remember it for next time. She'd definitely want to go back, she already knew, just based on how excited he seemed to be. A gentle smile stayed on her face as she listened to him, watching him gesture and lead the way. She liked seeing him this way, she decided--it seemed more genuine than the way they'd begun, but she chalked that up to them finding common ground and getting to know each other.

"So, tell me, where is your favorite place to go?" he asked, and the place that immediately popped into her mind made her face turn bright red. Oh goodness, she was a terrible liar, so she was going to have to tell him the truth...but it was going to be more than a little embarrassing. Her hand rose to twirl her hair again as she followed him through the underbrush, grateful that the path needed some of his attention so that maybe his ocean blue eyes wouldn't be watching her as she confessed.

"Well...There's this waterfall that makes a really gorgeous pool, and it's got a little cave behind it, that you can only get to if you swim. So, um, in the summer when it's warm enough, I really like to go there and lay on the stone and listen to the waterfall." She carefully left out the bit where she did that swimming in her underwear or less. "It's not much of a secret, because I've seen couples leave their clothes on the shore in the evenings, but if you go in the morning, right around sunrise, it's quiet and perfect, and the water sparkles..." She sighed dreamily. "That's my favorite."

[Inigo Westwood]

He smiled at the way she twirled her hair, thinking it a cute little habit she had. He continued to remove brush out their straight path as he listened to her, stopping only for a moment to roll up his sleeves, revealing the tattoos that covered his entire left arm in an inked sleeve. He couldn't help but find her favorite place a little cliché, albeit still charming as she spoke. "It sounds very beautiful." He told her after a short moment. Smirking as he took note of what she'd said about the couples. "Perhaps I'll come across it one day." He said a little flirtatiously, giving her a crooked grin.

He looked at her then. giving her something of a boyish grin. "I like the thing you do with your hair when you twirl it around it your finger." He said, raising his own index finger to make the same motion in the air. "It's cute." He said, chuckling softly as the finally made it to the boulders he'd mentioned earlier. "We're almost there." He said, excitement rising in his tone once more as he gestured to the gap between the rocks. He moved to stand next to the entrance, mock bowing at Grace. "After you, m'lady." He said. "Unless you'd prefer to follow, of course." He flashed her a charming smile.

He was only somewhat surprised he'd been able to pull her so far from her clan so soon after meeting, not that there was any ill-intent meant towards her. It was more surprising that she was so reckless and adventurous despite her shy personality. Perhaps he had her pegged wrong after all. Either way, it was becoming increasingly clear to him that there was more to her than meets the eye.