It had been a long, lonely winter. There had been a time in Rio's life where there was nothing that could bring him down. Nothing could dampen his spirits and make him unhappy. Until he started to learn and grow- started to age and experience the world for what it truly was. While it had its wonderous moments, it also had it's horrid ones. Life was a constant state of balance; good and evil, happy and sad, pain and pleasure, yin and yang. This the red-head knew all too well, but there were some days where a smile was simply difficult to put on. Most days it came easy to him, completely natural. This day, it did not. The lean hare that hung from his muzzle helped to ease that, though. No smile was needed for the killing of prey, or for those phantoms around him that weren't actually there.

Ghosts, memories of the past and of a life he had been leading. Faces had come and go, so many faces and so much time. Right now, there was no one in his life he had known more than a year. Hell- Rio hardly knew anyone as it was. He had gone to Glorall to make a new home, to find a fresh start. And yet before he had known it it was flipped around, a new Alpha taking the reigns and there had been nothing. It was when he was returning from Spirane and his mission that he had found out, and yet when he went to meet the Alpha- the Alpha never came. He did not wait around to find out who they were, or what they were like. He had left and taken to the nomans land, wandering and finding a home in the freedom and forests and valleys.

While the russet male is a usually social wolf, the past winter he had kept to himself. Long, dark nights were spent alone and in silence with only the stars to keep him company. Time was spent thinking, and wandering, and learning about the land that surrounded him. At this point of time- mid summer, the male could traverse any inch of this land and know it with his eyes closed. He had been here a year now, and the only thing to show for it was the deep knowledge of what is Moladion. Observation was key to this, and it helped him learn all about the different pack lands and everything else that the land was constructed of. There was only one question left for him. To stay, or to go.

But if he went, where would he go? Eis? Bright Moon? Somewhere new and unbidden? He did not know, and he did not think he cared to. Moladion was home now, and he had no itch to continue forward or seek out another place. No. This was where he belonged, and so he would stay- going wherever which way the wind brought him. And today, with his fresh meal swinging still warm from his jaw, it brought him to a river side. And in the presence of another male, lounging in the shallows of the water. Without hesitation, as was his custom, the red-head is making his way toward the other on large paws, his russet toned frame oozing confidence and simplicity. He is not a vain creature, but he is wise.

He stops several feet from the other, the hare still in his jaw. Tilting his skull to the right for a moment, golden citrine irises watch the midnight toned one before a voice is brought forth. 'Greetings, stranger. Beautiful day- isn't it?' The words were somewhat muffled due to the fur and flesh in his mouth, but there was a small, friendly smile of sorts creeping across his dark lips as he gazed upon the other. Perhaps it was a day for a friend, a day for sharing or just being near or with another. Then again- this other wolf could react in any way, shape, or fourm. Rio would be ready for anything, of course, but one could never be too sure. Only the stranger would be the one to show him.

male-eleven-no love & soul-loner