The smile on the boy’s face lifted a pinch at the happy thanks he received, his tail giving a short flurry of waves high in the air behind him before settling back into its slow, constant rhythm. The girl, Alcmene, seemed awfully genuine, and that was a pleasant turn of events for Aiden. Truth be told, the motherless, fatherless child had always been on the receiving end of cruelty and mistreatment from his peers back home.

Home…

Aiden supposed there was no such thing anymore. Not as it had been, anyway. He had to remind himself: there could always be another home. And, wherever he made his new home, he could start fresh. He didn’t have to be the illegitimate child of an alpha – or an orphaned pup. Just Aiden. His past didn’t need to follow and haunt him here, or anywhere he traveled in the future.

The boy turned an alabaster ear back as his return greeting seemed to all but fall flat on Alcmene, and his heart sank a little in disappointment. Had he misinterpreted her friendliness? Was she not interested in continuing their conversation? It certainly seemed so, what with the way she looked away in silence. His smile wilted and his banner fluttered to a sad sort of halt, dropping an inch or so in his self-pity. Aiden closed his eyes and took in a slow, steeling breath through his nose, and that was when he scented the other. Head and tail lifting in attention, Aiden turned his dual-toned eyes of cerise and cerulean in the direction Alcmene was now pointing to see her approaching.

Pale as snow besides a small patch of russet between the shoulders and a cascade of freckles over her muzzle – and, now that he was looking, another dip of the same red below the chin – the tall female seemed to be appraising him with soulful eyes of a most enchanting violet. She tilted her gaze as she lingered on him and Aiden could not help but mirror the motion, his tail taking up its high flying position in another steady wave and his expression turning pleasantly curious on the new stranger. When she spoke, it was in a voice so utterly sweet and polite, and the sound of his own name in her strong, feminine tone brought a smile back to his lips. She asked for Alcmene’s name, too, apparently having missed it the first time around, and Aiden glanced between the two as names were exchanged once more.

Her name was Ambrosia – a word which sounded as soft as her appearance – and she was ever so polite in her introduction.

“The pleasure must be mine, My Lady,” Aiden replied at the same time as Alcmene, his boyish tone lilting on warm and charming as he began to grow more comfortable. “Pardon,” he said with an apologetic bow of his head to the smoky grey girl, ears flicking back humbly. He had not intended to be rude and speak over her, but excitement had gotten the better of him.

The girl Alcmene made a statement then, and confusion skipped across the boy’s face for the barest moment before he remembered what he had asked her. Aiden cast his iridescent gaze about the forest as if seeing it properly for the first time, the cadence of his tail picking up on this news. He gave a glance to Ambrosia and Alcmene then, his eyes soft as his smile widened. “I see,” he confirmed with a nod, taking in more meaning to Alcmene’s answer than what was probably intended – for he was not only enjoying the forest’s beauty, but the beauty of two lovely maidens, as well. And, surely, they were enjoying his beauty, too. They were all so blessed in this moment, to share in such lovely aesthetics.

“So! Now what?”

Aiden tilted his gaze at the question, but was soon taking an animated, prancing spin on his large, white paws. “You said it yourself, Alcmene,” he answered excitedly. “People come here to enjoy the beauty. We could walk together – enjoy it together. Perhaps there is beauty in this forest that has yet to be discovered!”

Surely, this was a grand idea and both would be eager to explore the autumn lit forest with him! What better way was there to enjoy such a fine day? Perhaps, a little later, they could all play a game – if the ladies wanted to, that was. He would agree to anything they wanted to do, so long as it made them happy and nobody got hurt.

And not even once did it occur to him that either of his acquaintances might have intended to continue along their previous route.