Fae was lost in thought for a moment before Koko snapped her out of it.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry they said that about you, Fae. They shouldn't have. We can tell your father."

Fae shook her head. "It's fine, I just need a minute to clear my head. They aren't exactly wrong, you know."

Ko gazed at her with sympathy. "I'm sorry. They are wrong though. Don't start believing all the nonsense some of them say about you."

Fae shrugged. "It's alright, really." She turned around and started heading out of the clearing, glancing back to say goodbye to Ko before she left. "I'll see you in a little while, okay?"

Ko nodded reluctantly and turned around to join the rest of the pack as Fae disappeared into the bushes, rustling the ferns as they swallowed her into the forest.

Dijkstra angled the way he was going slightly so he was now headed towards the northwest boarder where he had met fae yesterday as when he started to the river he remembered telling her to meet him there today. His stomach growled and he remembered he hadn't eaten breakfast. He stopped to sniff the air and heard footsteps behind him. He could tell by the sound that it was kenleey but his gate sounded a little off. When Dijkstra turned around to face his friend, he saw that the make was holding a whole turkey. They didn't get wild turkey often as it was forbidden to go out of the pack to hunt or at all and the Wild turkey didn't often come in or close to the pack territory. "Two questions." Dijkstra told him. "First is where did you get a turkey from?"

Kenley chuckled and dropped the bird. "I had gone to the eastern boarder early this morning. It took me a while but in the north western boarder I found a couple barely in the pack territory and managed to catch one."

Dijkstra shook his head. "Okay. Second question. Why are you following me with a turkey."

Kenley shrugged his shoulders "I thought we were going swimming."

"That doesn't explain the turkey."

"I didn't want anyone else to eat it." Kenley explained.

Dijkstra shook his head before walking closer deciding if they were gonna bring the dead bird with he would be better at carrying the large bird and keeping quiet.

As Fae padded out into the forest, she took a deep breath in, enjoying the crisp air. It had a small, almost unnoticeable chill to it, signaling to Fae that Fall was about to come their way. The idea of fall brightened her mood. It was her favorite season by far, with all the migrating birds and falling, crunchy leaves.

With those thoughts in her mind, she continued onwards with a more joyful demeanor. Thinking about the future calmed her mind, and her thoughts about what the two wolves had said were cast out.

As Fae trotted through the ferns, she realized that she had subconsciously began heading towards the river. She was reminded again of agreeing to meet Dijkstra at the river and her tail wagged a little at the thought. She wasn't really sure if he would actually come, or be there, because they had never agreed on a time. Besides the fact that Dijkstra had probably asked to meet again on impulse. She wouldn't be surprised if he had changed his mind. After all, she was from the other pack. But she kept heading towards the river anyways, unable to squash the unexplainable hope that he really would come.

It wasn't long before Dijkstra made it to the small clearing where him and fae had met yesterday. He dropped the bird on the ground and started for the river. Slowly he waded in the water covering his feet before slowly rising. Dijkstra went further and further in til he was swimming. He swam for a minute allowing the water to soak him completely before heading for shore. Once back on dry land, he shook out his fur sending excess water flying everywhere. He snickered when he looked and saw a not so happy kenley who was wet now. "Did you have to do that?" Kenley asked giving himself a shake now. Dijkstra shrugged. "Maybe." He said letting out another laugh. "Alright now go back to back to the pack. I'll be fine."

"I can't go back when I told ur mom I was gonna stay with you."kenley sigheddijkstra rolled his eyes, "just tell them we are playing hide and seek or something."

Kenley shook his head. "I dont know what's more sad. The fact that that is something we would actually do. Or the fact that everyone would actually believe it."

Fae sniffed her way through the damp ferns that covered the forest floor, picking out the scent of the flowing river.

As she got closer, she could also pick up the scent of a wolf. Actually, two wolves. She had been able to recall the scent of Dijkstra from yesterday, and knowing he was there made her tail wag. She surprised herself by the happiness she felt at knowing she could see him, and that he hadn't really changed his mind- at least she hoped. But she couldn't figure out who the second scent belonged to. She slowed her pace as she realized this, more cautious of whoever else might be with Dijkstra. She eventually reached the edge the trees, which gave way to small, brightly lit clearing where the two wolves had met the previous day. She didn't step out of the trees, and instead crouched behind a bramble bush and peered through it's branches.

Fae let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding as she recognized the second wolf as Dijkstra's friend from the other day. She was still cautious and stayed behind the bush as she watched the two wolves. She still couldn't gauge how his friend, whom she only vaguely recalled the name of, had felt about her. She didn't want to put Dijkstra or herself at risk.

Dijkstra paused and sniffed the air. He could smell Fae but when he looked across the boarder to the other pack, he couldn't see her. He looked back at kenley. "Alright. You get back to the pack or go exploring. Maybe try to catch another turkey cause this one is mine he said nudging his friend away." Kenley put on a shocked expression. "Wow. I can't beleave your choosing a she wolf over you own best friend. I thought we were going to be bachelor's for ever." Kenley said rolling his eyes and turning to walk away. "Have fun love birds!" Kenley called across the boarder hoping the she wolf would hear. Dijkstra chuckled and shook his head. "Your going to scare her away. Get out of here." Dijkstra said giving him another nudge.

Fae watched as the two wolves interacted, appreciating Dijkstra's request for the other wolf to leave. But she blinked in shock as his friend shouted about being loved birds. As the wolf walked away, Fae slinked gracefully out of the bushes, laughing softly as she made eye contact with Dijkstra. She paused for a moment as she noticed how striking his eyes were. She blinked, snapping herself out of it and greeted him warmly before commenting on his friend's dramatic exit.

"Wow, I guess he doesn't mind you coming to meet me!" She commented. "That was sort of an awkward comment, I hope that didn't make you uncomfortable."

She smiled a half smile, swishing her tail happily as she spoke.

Dijkstra padded up to the boarder. "Aw. Kenley is my best friend and will become my beta when I take over my pack. He will always have my back and follow me blindly. And I him." Dijkstra said turning to look in the direction the male had left. His tail swished happily as he turned his attention back to Faeris. His eyes glinting in the sun light. "So anything interesting happening with you?" He asked.

(Wow, I am so sorry, I've been very busy and forgot that I never responded!)

Fae smiled as he talked about his bond with Kenley. She admired the fact that they had grown so close to each other, but she could also relate to it. She felt very similarly about Koko. The two wolves would do anything for each other, and Fae knew that she had her back when it came to leading the pack.

She shrugged as Dijkstra asked his next question, glancing up through the treetops. She squinted against the sun that filtered through the leaves. They seemed to her just a bit less green than they had been the day before.

"Not much," she replied. "Unless you want to hear all about my personal pack problems."

She rolled her eyes as she thought about how she ended up here in the first place. Running away from the dubious looks and whispers of her pack mates, yet again.

Fae flicked her ears, trying to shake off her worries along with it, and turned back to meet the gaze of Dijkstra. She could feel the late summer sun beating against her fur.

"I would bet this is one of the last hot days of the summer season before fall settles in. How do you feel about swimming? Do you wanna cool off a bit?" Her eyes glittered with interest as she waited for Dijkstra's response.

Dijkstra tilted his head before closing his eyes for a moment. He opened them when she mentioned her pack problems before she asked about going for a swim. The sun had grown hot against his fur again and he was almost dry again. "A swim sounds wonderful" he said as he stood up and started towards the river. "Also i wouldn't mind listening if you had some pack problems that you want to get off your mind." He said pausing and glancing back at her.