Familiarity

* Echo is no longer part of the College but she was born there and only recently left after the failed rebellion (check history for details). If your character is a member of the College feel free to have them know or recognise her * It had been a while since Echo had returned to the college, her newfound freedom taking her to the edges of the Lowlands and allowing her to dip her toes in the southernmost Highland territories. As a member of the College since birth never once had she traveled so far in all her living years. Of course she’d been a wilful, curious child, one prone to the odd adventure around the Lowlands but she’d never been more than a day or two’s travel back home to the safety of the tall trees. The only home she’d ever known. She missed it sometimes. The Arboretum. Most days she enjoyed the freedom of travel and delighted in finding hidden treasures. While she wasn’t one for making friends she did find it interesting to listen to the gossip of the commoners and the whispers of the other traders and merchants. Some just imparted stories and superstitions but that was fine. It was knowledge, after all, and knowledge was always useful. Although she still couldn’t quite decide whether learning all these new things made her feel more or less like the Lowlander she was supposed to be. She just couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of being disconnected from it all no matter how fascinating it was. Yes, most days she enjoyed her free lifestyle. Other days when the wind was sharp and the nights were cold Echo found herself longing for her old, warm den and the feeling of safety brought by the comfort of sleeping next to another body. On those days she traveled back, usually with items to trade for a meal and overnight stay, and while there was no more warm body for her to sleep next to any more at least it was all familiar. It was nearing sunset by the time she’d arrived, dropping off the herbs and plants for trade with one of the healers. In return they’d given her a meal and allowed her to stay the night. With the food in her belly and night not quite arrived Echo found herself with time to spare. In the end she decided to just take a walk around the Arboretum, a slow and half-hearted patrol. She wondered if there would still be any lectures she could listen in on this late in the evening. "Speak."

Starting over was exhausting. Not only on the mind, but the body as well. There were many times he wished to turn back and go home, where it was familiar, but they were too far gone for that now. They being only him and his son. Thane, his mother, had become nothing but a fleeting memory. He could only hope she found safe refuge after they fled, as he had warned her he would be leaving along with Kyros due to the brewing evil that was to come about their life. Anteros was tired, mostly, from moving from place to place ever since a young age though this was a different situation. He wasn't forced to move because of a deadly fire, and this time around he did not lose every single one of his family members. Just one, though she was as important as a thousand. A heavy sigh fell from his lips as he slowly pressed along. His large paws dragged behind him, the defeat was clear for anyone who had prying eyes. Anteros had left Kyros back home, though the boy was old enough now to wander on his own if he so desired to. Had it been any other time he would have taken note to the stranger, but his mind was so wrapped around what transpired within the past weeks that he just bypassed her. It was not an attempt to be rude, as that was not in Anteros' nature. It wouldn't be until he inhaled another deep breath and taking in her scent that an ear would flicker. Golden hues slowly trailed from his paws and upwards until her equally dark form came into view. "My apologies," his voice was soft...beaten. "I didn't mean to intrude," he breathed slowly. "speech"

table by amanda

It wasn't long before Echo became bored of her patrol. She'd not seen anyone she recognised or, at least, no one she recognised that she wanted to talk to. Not that she ever really wanted to talk to anyone, not unless there was a reason. Small talk wasn't her forte so she supposed it was for the best that no one decided to come and talk to her. It was a shame there were no lessons going on though. Perhaps it was too late for them, but it would have been nice to sit and listen to something rather than just sulk off to bed early. She'd been standing between the trees lost in thought, head turned in the opposite direction to the approaching wolf so she didn't notice him get so close until he was a few steps away. She heard the soft drag of his paws first, her ears twitching as she then turned her head to face him. Her whole body jumped, not expecting someone to be quite so close. "Hey!" Her exclamation hadn't been angry, just a knee-jerk reaction to being caught off guard. It was no big deal and the man apologised almost immediately, his tone quiet. Echo's brows furrowed as she regarded him with a superficial concern. "Are you alright? You look like you've eaten a batch of bad berries." She didn't recognise him so he was either passing through or new to the College. She took a small step back. "You're not going to vom are you? Should I get a healer?" "Speak."

He could not fault her for noticing something that was there. It had been days since he ate and it felt like days since he took a second to rest and relax. He had yet to find a place to settle where he would find himself comfortable and safe alongside his son, and it seemed this day would be no different. It took him a moment to return her gaze as she spoke, asking if he desired a healer. "That will not be necessary," he sighed softly all in the while his gold gaze slowly trailed over to her dark feature. "I appreciate it though. I was only merely passing," there was nothing known about this place, but maybe she did? Anteros groaned to himself, he really didn't want to ask as he was not a man to inquire things from others, especially when there was very few he trusted in his life time. "May I ask your name?" A shift of conversation perhaps so the spotlight could be removed from him. He didn't want her to start asking questions, he did not wish to speak about his past time. This was a dark time in his life, one he didn't want to relieve day in and day out. Eventually he knew he was going to have to face it head on, he would have to remember what was and what was going to be. He wanted to go back, but he couldn't as it was no longer safe. That was all he wanted for his family and the pack he once considered so. He just wanted them to be safe, but he was only one being who could only do so much. "speech"

table by amanda

As her words left her mouth she internally cringed, knowing well that her blunt nature usually upset others or got her in trouble. Or both. Usually both. But neither of those things happened. Where she might have expected him to be insulted or irritated by her he only sighed; a deep, world-weary sigh that made Echo wonder what had happened to him. She didn't ask though. Honestly, while she was curious there was a larger part of her that didn't want to know. It was none of her business and he was a stranger. "I appreciate it though. I was only merely passing," Echo shuffled a little under his gaze, unsure she really deserved his thanks. "Sure." It seemed neither of them were particularly good at small talk, an awkward silence falling between them for a moment before he decided to ask her name. She might have been flippant regarding the way he phrased the question but she thought better of it, he clearly wasn't in the mood for snark. Still, there was a hesitation. She wasn't quite sure how it had manifested or why but she never had liked giving her name away. "Echo." She said before the silence between them could grow in awkwardness. "Have you, ah, been at the College long?" He'd said he was simply passing through. Going from his morose appearance Echo could guess it wasn't because he was interested in the classes. "Speak."

There was a tension. Though it was not one that made him uncomfortable or made him feel he should not be there he could still feel it. Perhaps they were alike in the sense that they were both not too good at conversation, he could understand it considering he had been like that all his life. Since a pup he was soft spoken, always aware of the world going on around him while his other siblings prodded, pranced and spoke too much. Anteros was very different in that sense, he read others and with that he would treat them accordingly. With this girl, Echo she would introduce herself as, he could tell that she was not much of a conversationalist and that was okay. "Anteros," he responded back with his own alias in order to be formal as well as polite. If that was her actual name or not he could careless. He knew her for what she looked like now and if that was ever needed in the future that was all he would need to go by. "College?" Naive to these new lands he knew very little about who or what resided here. A College, however, sounded like a place where those would come to learn something. Fighting? Herbs perhaps. He figured maybe Echo knew a little more, but he did not expect her to give much without receiving anything in return. "Excuse my ignorance," he cleared his throat softly, "I am not from here," he finished softly. "speech"

table by amanda

He didn't seem to mind the awkwardness, or if he did, he didn't show it. He eventually came back with his name and she nodded, her blank expression only turning curious when it was made clear he had no idea what she was talking about. "The College of Eolas." She clarified, though that did little to enlighten him. "It's alright. The college tends to take in a lot of strays - I mean, ah, travelers. They tend to have a lot of travelers come through." Really, it shouldn't surprise her. Her own mother had been an Outlander and it really was common for people to come and go. She was a little surprised though he'd managed to wander through without speaking to anyone. But then, he had only stopped to talk to her because he'd been about to walk face first into her so it wasn't as if she should expect him to have his wits about him. "I was born here, but my mother was an Outlander. If you stick around you could probably attend one of the classes. We have plenty of scholars and they teach different things. Plants, healing, history - whatever you want to know about I'm sure there's someone here who could help you." She gave the information freely, seeing no reason why she should hide it. At least it was something she could talk about to some extent without it feeling like awkward small talk. Anyway, she'd been looking for something to occupy her time and she figured this would at least distract her from boredom. "I can show you around, if you like." "Speak."

figured this would prob be a nice place to end <3

Learning new things was something Anteros would never shy from, so when she spoke of the college that he would come to learn as Eolas, he was truly drawn to it. He didn't interrupt her, instead he would give his undivided attention as she explained and thus open an invitation for him to possibly sit in on one of the classes. A soft 'hmm,' vibrated off his lips, his golden orbs settled on her for a moment as his head began to slowly nod. "Perhaps I will take you up on that offer," he offered a soft, short lived smile as he moved alongside her. "I appreciate your kindness Echo, please, lead the way." His paws would not move upon the earth until she took the first steps. He knew the day was short and they would only have so much time to explore before he had to take his leave. In the meantime, at least, he would enjoy the scenery around him. Being sure to soak the area into memory incase he were to find himself here again. Anteros would admit, to himself at least, that this was nothing like home, but it had its own quirks. He would just have to find what he enjoyed most about this place in means of giving him the motivation to stay. fade out anteros "speech"

table by amanda