The Newcomer... Anya

[skyeyes]

Anya felt her heart thud in her chest as she came out into the warm clearing. Wisps of steam wound around her, making her pale blue eyes water. She flicked her tail and trotted on, puppyish squeals came from the nearby pools and everyone seemed to be chatting with old friends. She went to a smaller pool off to the side, she sank into the wamth, feeling shivers run up her spine. She let the water wash over her for a couple seconds, eyes closed.

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[.Rabid Lycan.]

A new day was dawning.
Light fluttered loftily from somewhere beyond their vision, the canopy of conifers making ants of the shifting bodies down below. A rug of fallen pine needles momentarily broke the otherwise smooth sheet of snow that had settled from the night before, and the heat of the springs sent a few puffs of deliciously warm air up from the cauldron. There were a few creatures about—a few children and their overseer, scampering around a shallow pool, oblivious to the battle raging mere miles away.
Clumsily, as if intoxicated with sleeplessness, a participant of said battle suddenly lurched his way out of the surrounding copse.
“Why Kasie and Milo ever agreed to send us into that… is just… urg!”[/i]
The male’s golden coat was thoroughly tangled with dried blood, grit, and ash as he made his way toward one end of the clearing, away from the company of the little ones, and slipped into the bath. Grumbles continuously spouted from his tongue as the other single wolf in the spring—his brother—raised a brow at him.
“Come now, Coop—can’t you try to behave like a soldier? Just a little?” Dallas shook his head, twisting about to lick at a nasty gash along his shoulder. “I’m sure they had good reason.” Well, I sure do hope so, in any case.
“Yeah, well, Kasie’s lucky we even got back at all!” Coop insisted, furrowing his brow and shaking his matted pelt. He rested his head on one of the stones, eyeing his surroundings lazily—until, that is, a certain fae caught his sights. “Wait… who is that?”
Dallas yawned, glancing toward the female in the nearby pool. “Hurm… I haven’t seen her around here before…” Catching on to his intentions, Dallas suddenly glared at this brother. “Does fidelity mean anything to you?”
“Fida-who? Whatever, I’m gonna go make an introduction, since some of us are too rude to do so!” Flicking an ear dismissively, Coop abandoned the thoughts of the pain in his limbs, and leaped into the pool beside them. A large splash shook the spring, and before long, the golden-russet male surfaced beside Anya.
“Why, hello there, chica. My name’s Coop—now, have you always been this cute, or did you have to work at it?”
Meanwhile, Dallas sighed and slipped in after his brother, observing Coop’s advances with an unimpressed expression. Please tell me I didn’t just hear that.

[skyeyes]

Anya jumped slightly. "I-I... what?" she asked, surprised. "Who are you?" she asked, standing, water streaming from her snowy fur.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Coop flashed a toothy grin, edging not-so-sneakily closer to the frightened female. He rather failed at reading obvious signals.
“Why, m’dear, I’m your guardian angel, at your service. Now, maybe you could help me earn my wings—”
Almost instantly, Dallas pushed his brother under the surface, a mixture of annoyance and boredom on his muzzle. Never learns… “What he means is, miss, that we’re Lupus Proeliators of the Sheeran pack. We haven’t seen you around here before—where did you come from? And my name’s Dallas. What should I call you?”
Coop finally emerged, bubbles foaming around his muzzle, and a glare aimed at his sibling.

[skyeyes]

Anya laughed a little "Anya and yeah, I'm new around, nice to meet you." she said happily, ears pricked "Who are you? 'Guardian angel'?" she laughed again. Her white fur flashed with water droplets in the setting sun casting golden rays through the pine trees.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Oh yes, the charm is working. Coop finally found his footing, sitting up with drenched mats of fur clumping throughout his pelt. With the weight of dampness, he looked twice as thin.
Dallas coughed, shoving Coop with a paw and rolling his eyes. “This ‘angel’ is my brother, Coop. He’s pleased to meet you… happier to stalk you.”
“Whoa, whoa—hey, man, I do not stalk. That’s psycho stuff. I appreciate.”
“Mmhmm, I’ll be sure to remember that distinction…” Dallas lifted his muzzle toward the fae once again, softening his gaze. “So, then, Anya—join the Sheerans just for the hot springs? Where’d you come from?”

[skyeyes]

Anya shrugged "My family lived down river, my mother,my father, my two sisters, and my brother. When mom was killed and dad captured we all seperated." she sighed "This was the safest place I could find." she looked around "The hot springs are a bonus."

[.Rabid Lycan.]

“Oh…” Dallas’ ears lowered a little bit, his skull tilting slightly downward. “Erm, I’m sorry about your family.”
“Yeah,” Coop joined in, seeming to sober up a little now that death was the topic of discussion. “Our parents are long gone too… our real parents, anyway.” He tapered off into silence for a few moments, basking in the warmth of the pool and gazing up into the hazy mixture of clouds and faded blue above them. Then, after a while, he couldn’t help but interrupt the quiet. “So, then, how long have you been here? Need a tour guide, or two?”

[skyeyes]

Anya looked up, surprised "No, not long... sure." she padded out of the pool and shook her pelt out. Water droplets pattered against the grass and showered the two. "Sorry." she said, embarrassed

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Both males motioned to follow, but were greeted by an airborne tide of spray. They blinked blankly, each face damp, but Dallas was the first to chuckle. "No problem. I think you've actually improved his looks."
Coop made a few mocking motions, decidedly unamused-- with Dallas more than Anya. "Yeah, whatever... let's go on, then." Coughing, the golden male clambered out of the spring, and led the path toward the forest. "This way, Anya. Along this way is the stream-- well, it's a bit bigger than a stream, but we call it that, anyhow. Does that sound like a good place to start?"
"Or," Dallas added, shaking himself dry and joining the duo, "we could show you the hunting grounds. Or the caverns, maybe, if you're up for that! Anything sound interesting?"
"Meh... I'm a bit hungry, myself."
"I wasn't asking you!"