By the way, you've been uninvited,

perhaps @Nikitas

---

The forest was quiet, those who were intertwined to its decor roamed freely, occasionally a shift though in charge of the Queen's children. She too roamed often, taking upon herself to go back to the routine of patrolling. Though it was a norm before her pregnancy, it felt a bit unusual when she dived back into it a few weeks after her children were finally of an appropriate age. Suppose she indulged too much of the luxuries of a pregnant woman ; but as a ruler of Elkshire, she could not prone back into such habits. Celnes chuckled, at the thought of such a lazy life, and couldn't deny, it was at times desired.

Sometimes she felt a desire to such a life, remembering that of the gargoyle who joined the crown but days before. Such a desire prone to him, that ah, such a way she had to deny. What would be a Queen for if she would fall into such sins? Though her mind toyed with the thought, as the two knew each other more.. Perhaps such a day would come.

A smile upon her face, and but a rather peaceful life that it was, she roamed the forest. Every once in a while a new structure would be scene, something that was occasionally hidden by the wildlife, and only revealed during the stormy days. Unearthed by the vibes and such, or simply unseen by others. But a moment of ignorance of not noticing, as she faced but an odd structure that looked like an arch. She couldn't put her paw on it, but other terms would seem like a 'doorway' to the world itself. She circled it in a curiosity.

the staff team luvs u

^^Well, well, well - Nikitas found himself as one of the Crown, now. The Queen’s Guard - or whatever the actual title was, but alas, she was his to protect, and protect her, he shall do. He had not expected her to trust him, a stranger, with her life, but alas, Nikitas knew better than to question the motives of others.

He would fall into routine as the Queen’s shadow. Either following in her pawsteps as she strolled through the kingdom, or within the shadows. Today, though, Nikitas didn’t care about making his presence unknown and thus, Nikitas trailed after the queen a few steps behind. His ears perked as she chuckled, and Nikitas found her circling an archway. His brows arched and his head tilted as he came to sniff the base of the structure while he relied on his ears to survey the sounds around them.

Were they truly alone? And if so, for how long?

^^
the staff team luvs u

Célnes had trouble making of what these were. While interesting and amusement, sometimes used to sit upon and decor The Elk's Crown ; in the end she couldn't figure out how they were made. As a child she could stack rocks to make something similar, and yet no wolf was large enough to do something like the structures that littered around. She couldn't help but muse at the thought of giant wolves once loitered the land, but did remember it was once told their ancestors were akin to something bigger, more dangerous then any currently was.

Her distractions were stopped when the smell of another and the sound of footsteps coming forth. Twirling she saw the man only recently that came to the land, and a smile placed upon her lips, "How are you, Nikitas? Are you enjoying The Elk's Crown so far?"

the staff team luvs u

^^Unlike this queen, Nikitas knew that these had been a man-made structure, of sorts. Just like the skyscrapers he used to perch upon, but something else, entirely. Some part of him missed the feeling of falling down those giant skyscrapers; missed the feeling of the wind beneath his wings.

He took in a sharp breath, slowly lifting his head to cast his golden emerald eyes upon her figure. He stood in silence for a moment, just taking in her view. Her question caused his brows to arch; it hadn’t been that long since he joined yet, he felt as though he only knew the Queen and honestly, that was just fine for him.

He gave one swift nod, though his expression remained blank, as he continued to admire her. “That I have, your majesty. It feels like I am right where I’m supposed to be.”

^^
the staff team luvs u

She smiled at him with a narrowed gaze ; a man who always knew the right words on what to say. A charmer, that surely did justice to herself as she was seduced everytime he walked and spoke. Her tail flickered, an inching to beckon him closer as she turned around to gaze back toward the structure. Such an unknown entity, "what do you think of this?" she asked the man, who vaguely so, remembered his past was of traits she had not heard of.

Some would call her foolish, to make such a stranger a royal guard. Though what else was befitting of someone she thoroughly enjoyed, then to be of her personal personage?  Though in the end it was but a decorated title of a guard - and she saw no harm in such. To keep someone close, it was a worthy risk.

the staff team luvs u

^^Nikitas gazed over to his queen to find her staring at him with a smile upon her lips. He pondered, for a moment, what she might be thinking. What was the reason behind her smile; her gaze? His cream lined ears did but flicker, eyes catching the movement of her tail. It was like a wave, calling him closer, and thus, Nikitas took two hesitant steps closer.

He had hesitated. No mortal had ever caused him to do such a thing, but here Celnes was, causing him to smile and hesitate, and with so little effort! Normally, Nikitas took what he wanted, when he wanted. Yet, here he was, playing guard to the queen. How strange of her to choose him, but Nikitas did not question it. For, it worked in his favor, had it not?

Finally, he tore his eyes away from her to glance towards the structure. He knew what it was; what it was meant for. He knew, too, the creatures that made such things, but something told him such creatures either no longer existed in this world, or had yet to exist. His eyes narrowed, pondering if he should speak the truth about the arch, or if he should make something up.

His lips pressed together, and Nikitas returned her smile as his eyes returned to her. “It was a structure, created by clever, naked monkeys, in order to appear… more wealthy to their subjects. ” His ears perked at her, glancing over her wine-like appearance that he could drink up for days. Did that make sense? Would she even take his words as truth or crazy nonsense?

^^
the staff team luvs u

She wasn't aware the kind of effect that she had on the mine, but was far more aware of what he did on herself. Yet, she was also curious on such the strange land he came from.. Célnes could only cock her head in a curiosity, for she did not know the terms he had spoken of, "what is a monkey?" she asked so, admitting to her lack of knowledge. Within a regular forest, akin to that of a yellowstone land, she had never encountered what.. Humans, were, much less that of a monkey. Though hairless as they were, the best she could imagine was that of the moles. She shuddered internally thinking of them larger, bigger, and stronger enough to create such monuments.

"Though I suppose it does the trick. It feels that is enhances The Elk's Crown." When she thought of wealth, for a wolf that meant a bountiful pack and a land that was flourished with prey. She felt that the land simply felt more dazzled with these strangers structures, and even uses some as a point of meetings. Landmarks, to say ; something that the Queen grew fond of.

the staff team luvs u

^^

What is a monkey?

How did one describe the concept of a human? His ears flickered several times, realizing that he enjoyed the fact that his queen actually asked questions. She wasn’t one of those ‘i know all’ types, and therefore, an actual pleasure to be around.

And ah, the way she cocked her pretty little face when she was curious, Nikitas drank it up. Just like he had hoped, he would drink from her, one day. But alas, that time was not now, nor did he think that he was skilled enough or charming enough to get there anytime soon. So, he would bid his time.

“You’ve seen a bear on its hindlegs, before? These creatures are like that, but without fur, and much smaller, and not so threatening. A monkey is a uh...type of furred creature that lives in the trees.” Kind of? He didn’t know. He gave an awkward smile and shrugged his shoulders.

“Tell me, m’queen, how may I be of better assistance to you?”

^^
the staff team luvs u

"Ah, that sounds.. Unsightly." Though bears rarely seen, she has seen them rise upon their legs. A stretch to that within the tree, and even surprisingly so, as well as impressive, a walk on occasion before the landing onto fours. If any wolf were to try it was uneasy and uncomfortable, as well as simply ghastly to see. Unadmittingly she tried when younger, and would never do so again in that fear of embarrassment. Simply thinking of these awkward.. Monkeys, furless and onto only two legs, surely so they were some sort of abominations.

She hummed slightly at the thought, a turning of gaze back toward him, "Perhaps you can join me in a hunt?" she would adore nothing more then to see such a dark, lean wolf running within the forest. But a bliss to imagine alongside her so as they feast for the night and share but a prey - perhaps a boar.

the staff team luvs u

^^Unsightly they were, indeed, Nikitas would agree with a chuckle and nod of his head. He was unsure if he liked being in a time period that didn’t seem to have these monkeys, yet… there structures were here. Had.. had Nikitas been sent into the future? He’d thought he’d been brought to the past, but this alone proved that the naked monkeys had existed… once. What happened to them? Yet was he brought to the future, in a wingless, pathetic body?

Her question snapped him back, and Nikitas brought his attention to his beautiful queen with the lick of his lips. There was more that he desired; more that he craved, but he supposed that he either needed to take baby steps, or needed to be more aggressive in his desires. He pondered this for a moment.

He licked his lips again, though more slowly, nodding his head. A hunt would be fine, but after? “I would love to dine with the queen.” Nikitas mused, taking several steps further. And perhaps, if he hadn't been a man of stone, he might have said something romantic, but instead, she had Nikitas, and thus, he smiled and tilted his head. “But we both know that it's not the only thing I desire to do with you.”

^^
the staff team luvs u

She let a low laugh, a tail brushing against him, "I'm afraid i'm not up for dinner." Though she gave herself to the dreaded boogeyman of a distance woods, her heart was never there, and only the fueling of greed to gain so. She could not easily imagine herself doing the same with another, until she trusted and held close — even the evil Queen thought of love, once upon a time. Though each with betrayal she gains, each love becoming lost, it all but just a dream for those of the other side. It brought a curiosity as well, did he desire her heart, or her flesh?

"Perhaps you can join me at the Jawbone to hunt goat," she then changed, a continual soft smile at her own suggestion.

the staff team luvs u

^^Nikitas flattened his ears with a low growl that came out as a grumble of sorts. Not quite towards her; never towards her, but at the confusion and unclear vibe he was getting from her. She had asked to hunt, but did not want dinner? Did she not intend on eating the animal that they slayed together?

A tail brushed against him, and Nikitas arched his brows; she never spoke of the chemistry between them, but her actions told a different story. His eyes narrowed, pondering if the queen was stringing him along. “Lead the way so that I have something pretty to look at along the way.” Nikitas grumbled, being so bold as to command the queen. Would she challenge it, or would she obey?

^^
the staff team luvs u

link

---

She turned her head back at him while body faced ford, brows furrowing as slowly did she make the turn to face, "remember," she said with a chilling tone, and a venture forth. A snap of a warning, unusual for that of the self-claimed Elk Queen ; not one of violence of barbarism, but strategy and words. Yet even as a wolf she knew a place needed to be set, a warning of bites without a snarl toward his command of her — something she was never pleased about, especially if someone orders her to. High in pride and ego to the boot, the Deorwine woman was not an easy woman to command, "you are in my kingdom."

Whether he took it or not and would follow her so, she wouldn't waste much time to see his expression before turning back. Though she did like the man — Celnes wouldn't settle someone the temps with her crown like so. If he followed to the hunt, a momentarily time of forgetting such an act.. Otherwise she would keep it as a stain in his image, and hunt the day alone.

the staff team luvs u

^^Perhaps her tone might have chilled any other canine to their core, but for Nikitas, he drank it up with an excited quiver of his coat and the lick of his lips. His eyes widened briefly, though not in the way of surprise, as his head tilted. Of course someone with the title of a Queen wouldn’t enjoy being bossed around, or commanded, and Nikitas arched a single brow at her as his eyes took in the view of her.

He smirked with her response, wondering if she only didn’t take his so-called command because they were in the open, with the likelihood of prying eyes, or if she just really didn’t like being told what to do. He wondered, briefly, if she would allow someone to command her in the heat of the moment, with skin pressing against skin.

He would remain where he was, for now, but only to enjoy her view, as he followed her. Maybe if she saw the way his muscles looked when he used then, she'd be more inclined to share a piece of her with him.

^^
the staff team luvs u