We Can Show Eachother (Lilith)

[wings]

Ketaro had of course, been very lazy throughout the past 8 hours. He ate some berries, lapped water and taken a nap. His day yesterday made him think of Lilith very much. Something about her made him want to keep going to her and talking and talking and talking. She would love one day. She WOULD learn to love and maybe it wasn't with him, but he had wished.
He stretched out and looked for Lilith hoping he wasn't awaking her from her nap or deep sleep, or whatever she had been doing. He was nervous to ask her to go hunting with him but what could he do, he was starving out of his mind and of course berries couldn't help. Berries couldn't hold down a rat who was vegetarian.

[Lilith]

With a yawn, Lilith woke from her sleep.

Her dreams had been plagued with images that she seemed to have already forgotten. She’d remembered the glassy eyes of a small pup staring out at her, but that was it. She shuddered at the image. Several of her lies had included something about dead pups, and she had never once thought to figure out which was true. It was too gruesome to consider.

When she spotted Ketaro, even that image faded from memory. She was fully awake now, though her need for cruelty had faded after their talk during the night. She had planned on going hunting when she woke, but she vaguely wondered what it would be like to hunt as a pair. She’d always hunted alone, and never had she killed anything larger than a fawn. A fawn was even rare. Her diet consisted of rodents for the most part and the occasional bird. The thought of a real deer made her mouth water.

Still, she wasn’t sure what to say in greeting. She called out the first thing that came to mind.

"So, you're back again."

It wasn't the loveliest greeting in the world, but it would do.

[wings]

Ketaro turned slowly, knowing it was Lilith. He grinned and nodded, looking straight into her eyes when speaking.
Yes I am. I was hoping to go farther out to hunt an occasional deer that roams around here.
He looked around and sniffed the air a bit, hoping she would accompany him. Hunting with more than one wolf was always fair because if the hunted something big they would have food saved up and food to eat in case they were starving. Ketaro could eat so much right now that he wanted instant food at the moment. His stomach kept grumbling.
Would you like to join me? We are sure to catch a large deer if we combine our strength.
He said, with his deep voice sounding sweet and slightly raspy. It was always raspy about an hour after he woke up so he would have to clear his throat often in the mornings.

[Lilith]

Lilith’s first thought was to say “No.” Sure, she had thought of going hunting with Ketaro, but just like that? She even took a tiny step back. After a moment more of hesitation, she weakly replied,

“Okay, but you’re in charge. I’ve never hunted with anyone, so I may just be in the way.”

To admit that made her feel weak. She was a decent hunter alone, and she wasn’t quite sure she could work with anybody on a “team.” The idea of deer was just so exciting. She had to try at least once. If she didn’t enjoy teamwork, she’d never do it again.

Ketaro’s appearance made her embarrassed of her own. Her fur was darker than usual from the dirt that clung to it. She looked like she’d been rolling around in the leaves with her mussed up fur. Random bits of leaves clung to her. She’d always thought of gray as a rather dull color anyways. It wasn’t the most stunning sight even without all of the mess. She caught her reflection in the water and realized how thin and wild she’d become in appearance. It made her scowl with disgust. The moon had made her look better. It lied as well as she did. She just hadn’t had time to groom. Well, she’d forgotten. It’s easy to lose track of your own appearance when you’re always alone. She’d also noticed the color of Ketaro’s eyes. They were yellow, beautiful. Her own were the color of mud.

“So where to? How do you want to start this? I’m a very fast runner, if that helps any.”

It was pretty blunt, but she was sincere when she’d said she had no idea how to work together.

The sun was bright overhead, and Lilith tried her best to bask in its warmth. Maybe the water wouldn’t be so cold. Perhaps she could even go for a swim so she could see the white of her fur again.

[wings]

Ketaro smiled. He liked being the leader of hunting. It made it feel like she trusted him but he realized she probably didn't.
Okay, so we'll head on my scent trail and your quickness can get us to slow the deer down. Then my strength and your strength combined could finish it off.
He turned quickly and started smelling, having his nose very close to the ground. He kept his eyes up looking around as his nose quickly picked up a vague scent. Since it was a deer hunting ground he knew it was a deer. He started quickening his speed and going to a jog, keeping his body lower so the deer wouldn't see him immediately.
I've got a scent!
He said eager to catch it.

[Lilith]

Lilith scrambled almost comically to catch up to Ketaro. Her long legs moved with more power than she’d thought she had at the moment. She once she caught the scent, she crouched to slowly move toward it as Ketaro did. She circled around to the other side of the deer. Once she was sure she was ready, she shot out toward the deer. It was incredibly fast, darting away from her with exhausting speed. She kept chasing it, leading it back to Ketaro. When it tried to break off to the left or right, she was quick to correct it.

She thought about leaping out, sinking her fangs into the deer’s throat. She knew, however, that she was doomed to fail if she did so. She’d probably just end up getting kicked in the head. She didn’t want to look like a fool in front of anyone.

She could only hope Ketaro was ready. She didn’t want to lose the deer after her efforts. Once he got ahold of it, she could try her best to help. She was better with driving animals into traps than she was with taking them down. She’d nearly been gored by several animals.

For a moment when she caught the deer’s eyes, she slowed. It looked confused, frightened. For a moment, Lilith didn’t want to kill it. She’d seen those emotions in her own reflection.

However, she picked her speed up once more and continued to steer it to its death.

[wings]

Ketaro had been waiting for the right moment. He sprung up and let the deer trip over his large body, then biting it's neck and and backing up to congratulate Lilith on her first deer kill as a 'team'. He had realized that maybe she was better at teamwork then she thought she was. Teamwork benefited many things like hunting and less loneliness and not longing for a friend as much anymore.
You did really good! You are quick. A smile consumed his face as he felt happy for her to catch such a big creature. He took a small nibble at it, his mouth already watering from it's deliciousness. He turned to her yet again.
You may take the first real bite.

[Lilith]

She was surprised that the poor deer was taken down so easily. She had been silently rooting for it. Though it put Ketaro in a better light. She now had a taste of teamwork, and she was already enjoying it. Her ally seemed strong, and combined with her speed, hunting would be a cinch for them. Of course, she wasn’t cocky enough to take on a bear, but she was still very pleased with herself. She proudly strode over to the other wolf, head held high. He wasn’t worthy of trust yet. But as long as he was around, she could feast on deer and have someone to talk to.

Her heart sank as she realized that he was part of a pack. Socializing with one wolf was bad enough. Even though she and Ketaro were on semi-friendly terms, she doubted she’d refrain from try to mess with the alpha’s head. Taking orders would be a pain, of course. She’d still do what she wanted when she wanted. No one in their right mind would allow her to join their pack. It was actually quite frustrating to even think of. Maybe if she made her home by the stream, Ketaro could visit often. Then she wouldn’t be lonely, and she wouldn’t have to join some demanding pack.

“Of course I’m quick. It makes escaping easier,” she replied to his first remark. She’d trained for ages to get to that speed. It didn’t guarantee an escape, but it had gotten her out of many tight situations.

When he offered her the first bite, she did not hesitate. She had to resist the urge to growl at him for even touching the kill. It was hard to think that she’d have to share. It was a fairly foreign concept. Instead of dwelling on it, she took the first bite from one of its legs. She’d almost forgotten the taste of deer. She grinned at Ketaro despite her bloody muzzle and resumed eating. She paused when a thought struck her.

“Your pack. Won’t they be angry that you didn’t alert them to this?”

She didn’t see how Ketaro would hide the smell of blood from them. She couldn’t imagine a pack where a selfish wolf was deemed useful or trustworthy.

[wings]

Ketaro looked up to her after eating some of his side of the legs.
I notified her, the alpha, that I was taking a break. I've been working hard and plus if she needed something, I could hear her howl.
He sighed looking over towards the pack location which wasn't that far away. Only about 40 minutes it would take and that was nothing to Ketaro. He could run for a very long time, always testing his stamina and his speed. Of course he wouldn't be as fast as Lilith but he sure was stronger than her. He wouldn't brag because Lilith would become mad at him, of course.
Ketaro ate the rest of a leg and sat down, satisfied with only half of his meal. He wasn't full nor was he starving anymore so there was nothing to complain about.

[Lilith]

His reply was so confident, but she still had her doubts. She stopped eating, overcome by sudden nausea. Memories were beginning to surface with her unease. She blurted them out as they came to mind.

“My pack was not nearly so forgiving or understanding. No one slacked off. No one ran off. They were a resilient unit. Alphas chose wolves carefully for important tasks and ranks. Failure was never an option. Weak ones were chased out to perish in the wilderness, or they were executed as a mercy. Wolves picked mates with traits that would produce strong offspring. Often, the alphas chose for them.”

The more she spoke, the clearer her memory became.

“My father had his quirks. He was very kind. When the pack took prisoners, he brought them food. When one of my siblings was injured while playing, he jumped to inspect her while my mother remained on the sidelines. He once even saved me from drowning when I was very small. The only reason he and my mother were even mates was by order of the alpha. My father was intelligent and the only wolf whose beauty matched my mother’s. My mother always told me how disappointed she was that I gained her strength and his intelligence, but lacked a decent appearance.”

She shrugged then, refusing to make eye contact.

“The alpha told my mother that the pack had no room for every pup of hers. One had to go. She chose my youngest sister, the smallest and feeblest. My father tried to stop her, but he failed. As punishment for his defiance, he was to be executed by my mother. As she had no love for him, she did so happily. He didn’t put up a fight. My siblings cried and howled, but I just watched her tear him apart. He was weak, and there is no place in this world for the weak. My mother was not cruel for carrying out this punishment. She was merely following orders. She did what was necessary for the sake of the pack.”

Her words held no feeling for the memory. She always believed she was her mother’s daughter, even when she hardly remembered her. She held no love for either parent. She couldn’t help feeling she was forgetting something important.

“I’m sorry. Keeping my memories is much easier when I say them aloud as soon as they come to me. Hearing the words makes it more real.”

[wings]

Ketaro's eyes were wide in astonishment. She had just told him something big. This moment made him happier than anything he has ever seen or heard in his life. She had opened up to him, and merely told him everything about her. She was tough yet emotionless with her words, just as Ketaro had been growing up. Why was he softer around her? There was no reason to be!
I think you have gained very good looks. You are pretty in my book but if you aren't looking for a compliment than I will not give you another.
He nodded his head, looking at her in her eyes, mostly with respect. He respected her for opening up such a cruel story of childhood with her mother but her mother seemed wise.
Your mother seemed wise yet, emotionless with her mate. That is my only input. I grew up with a family with barely any emotions. They did not speak much to each other but I had a bond with my father like no other pup in the pack. Of course my story is no where near yours but I can say, your family was very tough.

[Lilith]

The compliment made Lilith uneasy. Was he blind? Her mother had been an absolute beauty. If he met her, she was certain he’d realize his mistake in calling her “pretty.” Revulsion welled up in her at the idea of even being “pretty.” What did it matter, anyways? Survival skills, however, mattered. Lilith didn’t need to be pretty when she had a sly tongue and quick feet.

The comment on her mother being “emotionless” was an understatement. Once the new alpha had taken over, her mother had worked night and day to make him notice her. It hadn’t taken long. That was when she was cast out. Her mother’s heart was nonexistent in Lilith’s mind. There was nothing there but darkness, if even that. Perhaps there was simply nothing. For a moment, Lilith could remember trying so hard to please her mother. A simple “I love you” would’ve been plenty for Lilith, even if she only heard it once. Her pups were failures. Her mate was banished. She had nothing but her beauty to claw to the top once more.

Perhaps beauty would be useful.

She listened to him speak briefly of his family and make a comment on the “toughness” of her family. Was that what you would call it? Tough? She decided to steer away from the topic of her own family for a moment.

“You’re very blunt and brief with your description of your family. Do you not have any stories to tell?”

[wings]

Ketaro shook his head, as if it was a bad thing. He sighed, maybe if he was more interesting he could get more wolves to relate to his story but of course, he was boring. He did have one story but it wasn't amazing or anything.
"I have no interesting stories, I'm sorry for that." He shrugged lightly almost starting to feel bad for himself. What a boring, cold wolf he was, huh? "I do have one when a wolf pack attacked mine but it isn't all that interesting... He looked down at the deer and took a few more bites.
He loved eating deer but taking out the biggest one was always a treat. All the birds would eat with him but he didn't enjoy it. Dirty rotten animals eating his prized food. Ketaro would get a deer about twice a week, treating himself to the biggest one. He would like to think of himself as a king and the beautiful lands were his kingdom. Of course he needed a queen to complete the full dream.
He was screwing with his own mind by now. What was he thinking, a mate?! Was he even good looking at all. He probably was anyways. He just needed the right mate to fit in with him. He needs a mate to love and become attached to.
"What would you like to do now? Of course if you want to hear the story I will tell but be prepared to get bored." He rolled his eyes, nearly disinterested in the thought of a fight. Big whoop, he was had about 10 fights at the max with different wolves, some bigger and some smaller but none younger. He couldn't attack a wolf younger than him. It would be petty and stupid.

[Lilith]

Boring? This wolf was so convinced that he was boring that he couldn’t tell just how interested Lilith was. She’d already revealed so much about herself. Ketaro, however, was still a mystery. Lilith found that she’d never hated a mystery more. While she preferred to remain a mystery, she never tolerated others trying to keep their stories to themselves. He wasn’t going to get away that easily.

“I really don’t care how ‘boring’ you consider your own stories. I may think otherwise. We’re not leaving this place until you’ve amused me.”

It was blunt and quite rude, but Lilith meant every word. She’d stay rooted to the spot until he told her a story. She wouldn’t have minded if they spent the entire day sharing stories. She loved knowing things. It allowed her to seep into other wolves’ minds and completely destroy them.

However, she found this wasn’t the case with Ketaro. She was genuinely curious. It was almost a shame that he had a pack to run off to. Eventually, he’d have to leave and she’d have to roam around once more. She almost wished she had a pack at that point. She was getting a taste of companionship, and she found herself growing addicted to it. She decided to add to her statement before he would respond.

“You know quite a bit about me. I’d like to know more about you. It’s only fair.”

She found herself already uncomfortable with having said so. She fidgeted slightly, casting her eyes to the ground in embarrassment. How childish she sounded! They were temporary companions, not friends.

So why was it so hard to admit that she actually wanted to know him?

[wings]

Ketaro looked at her with an intense stare and then looked down. He sighed, well I guess he could share everything about himself since she did.
I grew up into a pack who loved water. We loved swimming. My whole family was near emotionless. Not showing much emotion towards other to hide their strength until it was proven necessary. Of course, I had grown up like that as well, being distant and not sharking much with just anyone. One day I just decided to leave my pack but it was for a reason. Ketaro looked up at Lilith almost holding back what he was about to say. He didn't want to be judged and of course he was about to be annoyed if that was the case. Such a cancer to have wolves having something against home. How petty. I wanted a new life. Maybe one where I had emotions towards someone...Like a mate. Pups aren't my thing but I might eventually like them. It depends. I just need a companion. A loyal friend. Ketaro nodded, concluding his little story summing up his rather pathetically non-interesting life.