STUCK IN YOUR WONDERLAND
Ramos wasn’t ignorant to the uncertainty that he picked up in this strange she-wolf due to his proximity nor that shiver that had come before she opened her eyes. At the time, he thought he may reach out and comfort her. Maybe he would’ve pressed his nose into her shoulder or the indent behind her ear or in her forehead. Just a small physical connection with the hope to show her that she was not alone, that he could understand, to some degree, her feelings in that moment.
Instead of being the comforter, however, the cream brute had exploded. Anger and hurt and a whirlwind of words that were directed to the darkness of the forest. He was angry at himself more so than anything else on this world. Nothing and no one came close to bringing such a strong feeling except his brother. His brother whose body he had had to drag back to camp himself as he slowly lost more and more blood from his shoulder. He had snapped at and torn skin and fur from his pack mates who had tried to help him, forcing the burden upon himself where he thought it belonged. The dead weight of his partner, the wolf that should’ve been there for everything with him, never left. Even now, his shoulder twitched uncomfortably as the skin pulled at the scars set deep into his muscle.
Her laugh brought him back and he pulled an equally lifeless smirk in response. Perhaps she understood him just as much as he did her. She spoke again and he let loose a great huff of steam in amusement and shook his head and neck, careful not to catch her with any stray feathers that finally made their way out of his coat. He raised his hackles in order to lay the hairs back carefully into place, ears and eyes watching her intently. He didn’t feel the need to respond as it seemed the statement before was not directed towards him. If she needed to let go of such a cold reality as he had done, he was not here to object.
Her next statement brought back a nod of approval from him and an offhand remark. "Seems to be so, love."
She spoke again, divulging more information about her past that brought back the curiosity he had held before towards her. Her own gaze seemed to wonder as the lithe black she-wolf continued. Picking a fight was not what he would’ve guessed, but it was something he could accept without question. He had been denned for a season after his brother died for drawing blood from his own pack mates and forces to become a trainer for the next generation of Sentinels. It wasn’t work he hated but it wasn’t work he loved. At least he was not driven from his pack as this wolf was.
He had been devising a response when the female cleared her throat and held his gaze again. Her next words caught him off-guard. They had never properly introduced themselves.
"It has been a pleasure, Andreania. I’m Ramos," he dipped his head in a formal greeting. "I didn’t take you as much of a fighter, Ana. Was it youth or simply boldness that did you in?"
He pondered for a moment longer before continuing, giving her enough time to respond if she chose to. His tone this time was level as he fought to hold back the emotions that boiled in his gut. "I guess a momentary lapse of judgement cost me my own pack. I didn’t pick a fight where I should have and fled..." like a coward.
He shook out his whole body, and glanced about the trees that surrounded them almost protectively. The mixed green and skeletal remains offered sanctuary to the two loners. Ramos wondered if he’d find proper sanctuary here in Moladion and what work he would do to keep it. Returning his focus to Andreania, he tipped his head slightly. "What are your plans going forward, love? For Moladion? "
RAMOS :: BOUND TO NONE :: LONER