ground control to major tom

Despite the fact that time seemed to be working as expected again - tick, tock, tick tock; the ebb and flow of seconds as they were meant to be - not all the haze had cleared from his mind. Something was still deeply amiss, deeply forgotten, deeply wrong. Element stared closely at his reflection as it was constantly warped by the flowing of a small stream, his nose almost touching the chill water that flowed from one of the lower, sun-dappled peaks of one of the mountains that did not yet have a name.

It had taken proof of his existence in the eyes of another to cement him in this world, but his mind still ached with the vaguest of memories. Every so often as he wandered, he'd be struck with the sense that he was missing something real, something important, and the certainty of the thought would momentarily freeze him in a shuddering place, taking deep breathes into his constricted chest as he tried to make sense of the realities clashing in his head.

Thoughts of laughter and comfort and certainty were in direct juxtaposition with his current state - wandering across a mountainside he had no memory of. He sometimes felt the weight of a lifetime on his soul, well-lived and well-earned, and in the next fleeting moment that security disappeared and left him faced with the fact that he was wandering along - searching for something he could not name. One of those moments had overtaken him now, as gray eyes stared into the ripping stream, trying to look for something deeper.
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The fluttering of wings and the soft chime of a bell echoed softly in the woods around the duo. The boy and his bird followed the river down with the bell hanging loosely from behind his lower canines as his tongue lolled out happily to the side. With his banner proudly hung high behind him in a playful display, the boy sincerely had not one care in the world right now.

Full of energy and glad to have his companion and precious little jewel, the two had woken up together just yesterday and thus, they both felt completely rested and full of energy. Energy to do what? Well, discover the new region of course! Find the packs who were the most successful hunters to steal from, places where they could easily feed themselves without using too much of their precious energy. Now he was more thankful for the eyes in the skies than ever!

In appreciation, the boy glanced up at his feathery companion who flew between branches, tail wagging softly in glee until the bird called out its signature alarm. Caw spotted something ahead, and Crow's ebony eyes darted forward. Someone was watching the water with such intent that it drew the boy to come in closer.. bell chiming with every second step as he slowly approached, keeping just enough distance between them but he still was curious to see what the guy was looking at.

Wide eyes and ears drawn forward, he tried to see what this guy was seeing... teeth clamped around the bell's lace, careful not to lose it, it rested against the ground quietly as he stretched out his neck to try and get a better view from where he stood. 

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A strange sound broke his trance and the tightness in his chest exploded into cold fear that rippled through his limbs. He'd never heard anything quite like it before, this strange and not quite rhythmic clinking. It didn't exactly have order to it but it did not sound entirely random, but what he could figure out was that it was getting closer.

Summoning the panicked strength to break the ice that fear had coated his limbs in, he whirled around towards the sound, ready to face whatever this new world was going to throw at him, and saw - a wolf. The half-hearted warning growl that had been bubbling in his throat died and escaped as a strange grunt, wide eyes narrowing in confusion as he took in the picture before him. This other wolf didn't appear to be in any distress. Standing awkwardly, legs splayed while he continued to stare, Ele's fear of the unknown sound was replaced with a the all too real anxiety of a social encounter you were not prepared for - and that you had already made weird.

"... what was that sound?"
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He heard the something offered by this guy as he swung around and was thankful he had stayed away from a striking distance despite his curiosity over what the guy was looking at in the water... was it food he wondered? Even then, Crow took a step back just in case, bell jingling again as he moved quickly enough. 

He felt no animosity coming from the guy despite the dramatic turnaround, and so, Crow felt comfortable enough to lean over and try to see once again what the guy was originally looking at from over his shoulder. Nothing, nothing special at all he could tell from here. A soft whine poured out from behind closed drapes, still clamped around the fabric and unwilling to let it go.

The only thing that brought his attention back to the guy and away from the pool of water that still had his curiosity at maximum overdrive, was him asking a question. Sound? Crow tilted his head as if to ask what in the world this guy was asking, thus, causing the bell to sing out once more. To Crow, he was so accustomed to the sound by now he was almost deaf to it. In fact, it was its shine that kept him attached to it - not the sound.

So, sound? Curiously he looked around, ears flickering in directions to try and narrow in on whatever the guy must be hearing - oblivious to the soft chiming just under his own chin like a housecat and their collar.

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When the other wolf moved and the strange sound rang out again, Ele's heart skipped a momentary beat and he backpedaled into the stream, yipping suddenly when the cold water splashed on his back legs. His ears shot back against his skull and beneath his fur his cheeks flushed, the warmth rising in them in stark contrast to the chill in his now wet paws. What was he doing. His body felt like it was composed of nothing but nerves, the electricity in them a steady undercurrent; an audible hum in his head that was a background in all thoughts. He had been so on edge since waking up, and here it was, making him act like a fool.

The new stranger leaned forward again and as he did the sound followed - only then did Ele flick a dark ear towards the wolf as he realized the noise was coming from him. Also aware that his feet were still in the stream and increasingly self-conscious of his skyrocketing anxiety, he cleared his throat and rotated, giving his hind legs a quick one two shake to dispel some of the cold water as he moved back to solid, dryer ground. A moment of silence passed between the two, Ele's question answered with only a curious head tilt from the other male. Element mirrored it, tilting his head to the side and trying to observe what was in front of him. There was something dangling from his mouth, something long and soft with a solid, shiny ball the tip. It reminded him of a golden nut. He had heard nuts make noise if you shook them, the seeds jostling in husks. But this... this was a weird-ass nut. "What is that?" He asked again, inclining his head slightly towards the item held in the other's maw. "The thing you're holding."
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The other guy was a bundle of nerves, it set Crow himself to feel just as nervous and confused about the whole situation. Lowering himself to the ground, tail curling lightly under him, he sought out the comfort of his avian companion who fluttered above with large eyes hoping they had all the answers. He wasn't certain what to look out for, what this guy was hearing in particular that made him so scared.

What confused him further was the random shift in mood again, this time for the better - but again, what in the hell had him flip his switch so quickly?! Crow frowned and Caw called out from somewhere in the branches, most likely feeling the tension being shared between the two young men.

"What is that?" The scrawny boy's eyes crossed as he looked down as if he could see the bell hanging under his maw somewhere. A smile finally gracing his lips briefly before pulling away as if the guy leaning in to see what it was would taint its beauty.

"Treasure." He croaked, the silk just hanging behind his lower canines in a sort of "hook". By his expression, he was certainly proud of his little treasure - but even more so, unwilling to share. "What you look at?" Again his attention was turned on what brought him here in the first place to investigate. What in the heckin'-fuck was this guy looking at before?

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[size=x-small]OOC: The comic killed me. 10/10, love it.[/size]

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Just as Ele had learned forward slightly to sniff inquisitively at the golden jingly nut, the other wolf pulled away, seemingly unwilling to let him get any closer. Still on edge, Element recoiled slightly, embarrassed that he may had committed some kind of serious social faux pas. "Treasure" was the only response he got and was... somewhat of a description, he guessed. His dark brows furrowed while he contemplated the one word response, unsure of how to proceed and becoming increasingly aware of the crushing pressure of passing silence between two individuals. Had he always been this awkward? [Yes - yes, you were, you just don't remember this yet.]

"It's... it's good treasure," he finally offered, desperately attempting to be casual and even more desperate to be free of the burden of social anxiety. "But, like, what is it?" He asked again, unable to let it go. It was shiny like a precious stone - he'd seen rocks glint like that before, special and rare. His first thought had been a nut because of the hollow sound, but he'd never seen a nut that reflected sunlight. He had to rework his initial hypothesis. "Is it a rock?" In the meantime, the other's attention had shifted towards the water that had occupied Element's attention previously, and it took him a moment to realize what the other had even been asking. Following the strange wolf's gaze back to the stream, it took a few seconds before it clicked and then he felt a new wave of heat in his cheeks as embarrassment, once again, decided to make itself known. "Ah,"... what was a good way to explain? "I was, uh, looking at my reflection". Well that didn't really explain it. "Not, like, in a vain way. But to..." no, really, where was he trying to go with this? He frowned suddenly, failing at the words and turning back towards the other male. "Okay, this sounds strange, but I just woke up here the other day and I have no idea how it happened, and my head is a mess, and I keep thinking I know things but then I think about them and I can't figure any of it out." No, yeah, good job - this is how you make friends. "Does... does that make sense? Probably not. I just... I thought maybe if I could look at my face I'd... be able to figure it out?" 
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I'm glad bc it was the only way i could describe it properly xD

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Thankfully for this guy, Crow was just as awkward when it came to being social - but he was simply oblivious about it and couldn't care less about what others thought of him. He had Caw, and that's all that mattered to him. Should he ever lose his Corvidae buddy, however... well, his whole world would come crashing down around him. But let's not talk about that.

At the compliment of his treasure, the boy nodded enthusiastically. Best treasure! As far as he knew, there was nothing like it, it was unique, and all his. The other wolf prodded with his own curiosity over the treasure, "But, like, what is it?" “Pretty” Duh. That's what it was to Crow, just pretty. What exactly was it physically? Hell if he knew, all he saw was some shiny thingamabob and claimed it for himself.

Is it a rock? Crow shrugged, completely carefree about finding out what it was that he was carrying around with him. One could think that he didn't want to figure it out for it might ruin the mystery behind it - but in all honesty, Crow simply couldn't care less. The thought of finding out never crossed his mind, even at the mention from another, he never bothered to figure it out afterward as the thought simply went in one ear and out the other.

Finally, the thing that did have his curiosity was answered; and it was disappointing. Crow had woken up himself just days ago but he didn't bother lingering on it as this one did. It was just another day to the vagabond. Another day to look for food. The other rambled trying to explain themselves and Crow simply offered back an empty, glass-eyed look. “No food?” Pure, utter, disappointment was evident on his face as everything seemed to drop by expression and posture.

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This was not going to be the guy Ele got any answers from. Frankly, it seemed like he did not give a shit about the small talk, or Element's frenzied ramblings. He was utterly unphased and indifferent.

Actually, that was kinda nice.

Something about the other wolf's simple commentary and one-word answers short-circuited Ele's frantic brain, and he stood blinking at the other for a few more awkward moments before finally uttering a laugh. Food - while a very important issue, had not been at the forefront of Element's mind amid his inner turmoil. When was it he had last eaten? "No food - yet." He cocked his head at Crow, a new curious look sweeping across his gaze. "Do you know how to fish?" Did Ele know how to fish? He could not remember. "Wanna... uh, try?"
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HI HELLO, IT ME AGAIN

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^^

He was really hoping for food. Caw was also hoping for food, he was sure of it. He and the avian had similar minds, most likely just as similar empty bellies now that they were awake. So when the man offered to help him learn how to fish instead of having fish, Crow's face scrunched up, detesting the idea.

“No.” The boy said simply before turning away, bell swinging on the string hanging from his maw as he did so. From here he would leave the strange man (yeah, HE'S strange) by the water to move on to find something easier to eat. From the branches above, Caw fluttered in a flurry of feathers, following his earth-bound companion once more.

^^

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finally exit!! again so sorry for the wait on this, your patience is AMAZING

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^^

 

The face scrunch was very telling, and probably should have been a clear enough indicator of what was to come next. But somehow, Ele was still caught by surprise, mouth parting in a surprised and quiet "oh" as Crow's monosyllabic answer came, and the boy and the bird both departed without another word. In other circumstances, it may have been comical - Element standing with a single raised paw, still gesturing towards the stream, all while the shiny treasure filled the growing distance between them with strange and delightful tinkling sounds.

A pang hit him, in part because rejection felt bad, but also because he realized he'd likely never get another look at the strange item the other wolf had carried. A rare feeling spiraled in him then - something quite like envy, bitter on the tongue. His own brow furrowed, and with a frown he turned back to the water, where once again he was greeted with his own reflection. He'd been somber and contemplative before, and with isolation creeping back in around him it seemed that this would be the mood he'd be resigned to today.

Unless he decided to try out fishing after all. Who knows, maybe it would make him feel better.

^^
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