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The male was surprised to find that it was easy to converse with the femme. Normally he was more awkward and unsure of what to do or say, not used to being around others. But the reason he was not used to being with others was his own fault. If he had been more social then he probably would have made more friends. But he didn’t need the company of others to be happy, and he had learned to enjoy being in his own company. There were few others that he enjoyed being with, Halina had been one of them. And he didn’t hate talking with Anastasia, maybe this was what it was like to have a friend? When their introductions had been over he didn’t want their conversation to end, and so Lupin had asked about her. He didn’t think about how it could be taken as an intrusive question, he was just curious. But she answered him nonetheless. The smaller femme didn’t answer right away, but stood, staring for a moment, and Lupin was afraid that he asked something wrong. He was new to the friend thing and it already seemed like he was messing it up. But he also knew how sometimes he wasn’t sure how to respond to others, so he patiently waited to see if she would be okay with continuing their conversation or not.
After a few moments, Anastasia spoke, and the scarred male patiently listened as she told her tale. Lupin was surprised to hear what she had to say. The pack he had been born into had been a kind and caring one, and when that had been taken from him he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be in another pack. He didn’t want to replace the wolves that he had lost. But Halina was different, and life with her had been very different from his earlier life. So it was not a replacement but just a new experience. He couldn’t imagine a pack like the one she was describing. Wasn’t the point of a pack to protect each other and be a family? His light green orbs widened as he listened to her speak, but he didn’t interrupt. When she paused her speech, instinct told him to reach out to her and give her some form of comfort. Lupin took a step closer to her, but he wasn’t sure what to do, so froze where he was, his pinnas falling to his head in uncertainty and embarrassment.
Anastasia rose from her sitting position, closing the distance between the two vargs, stretching and flexing her muscles as she rose. Her plume slowly swayed behind her, and having her closer made Lupin bolder. “I am sure you are tired of hearing about me…tell me about Abendrot. I know nothing about the pack, what was it like there? And what made you come to Wudubearo?” Her vocals grew softer as she finished her question. The male’s gaze met hers as he answered. ”I’m sorry to hear about your old pack,” as he spoke he closed the last few inches between them, sitting close to her side, his plume reaching out in a bolder action than he normally did, touching her flank in what he hoped would be a comforting gesture. He had never really bonded with another more than the teacher and student relationship he had with Halina, and he didn’t want to mess up anything with one of the first wolves he had actually spoken with.
Lupin’s head turned to face her as he continued, ”I didn’t mean to be intrusive, but I would not tire of hearing about you. I am not from these lands either.” He paused for a moment, realizing that he had barely even told Halina about his past. He had never really told the whole story out loud before. ”My pack was attacked, and my parents were killed. I somehow lived through it, but knew I couldn’t stay there anymore. And then when I was younger a female named Halina found me and trained me. She lived in Abendrot so I joined here there. Most of the wolves there kept to themselves, and other than Halina and her mate, I didn’t really know anyone else there. There were some other pups that Halina had trained…but I didn’t see them much.” Lupin was afraid that it would sound weird that he hadn’t made friends there, and he was worried Anastasia would think there was something wrong with him.
With a nervous glance towards the femme he continued, ”I stayed in Abdenrot for a while, but Halina’s mate wasn’t happy there. I guess she didn’t like being in a pack, so Halina left with her. When she left, it felt weird to be there, and a lot of the other wolves had left too. So I decided to go off on my own. And I guess the rest was kind of like you. I was in the right place at the right time to hear Milo’s call and decided to come…and here I am.” His cranium turned towards her once more, unsure of what she would think of him leaving a pack for not much of a reason at all before coming here.
Picture credit to LSVK/xathira!
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**Lupin**Brute**Protégé of Halina**Loveless**No Heirs**Wudubearo**Young Adult**Violet
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