[imgleft]https://www.matope-swamp.com/images/pho ... uncert.png[/imgleft]It was one of those rare days in the swamp, where the temperature seemed perfectly balanced and there was a light breeze making the leaves dance. Sun peeked through the canopy of dense foliage, and in certain peaceful places the trunks were spaced far enough to let the light through as more than a dappled promise.

One of those perfect places had been claimed by a rather colorful buck who was currently dozing in the warm wash of light from the sun above, his head pillowed on a bed of soft, springy moss.

@Anhelisk

[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgright] Musk had always traveled the land, from the time he was a foal. His father, and his father before him, and his father and so on... they had been stallions charged with leading a herd and following the rhythms of the land.

This land, however, was very different from where he'd grown up, and it was high time he began to learn its secrets and rhythms. Staying at the fringes of the swamp had been well enough for a while, but it was becoming clear that the pack of muskies his family tended wanted to stray ever-further.

And that wasn't even mentioning his mate and children.

It was on a day in the swamp where the temperature was uncomfortably warm, and where the humidity was almost tolerable, that he set out, a couple muskies on his heels and no responsibilities to attend to at home.

Hooves and paws traipsing along worn, mossy paths pulled the colorful buck from his peaceful dreaming. He blinked awake, squinting in the bright light as he turned his head to try to find the source of the noise. 

Not even a loud noise, really, but he felt it as much as heard it, and when he spotted the kio and the mass of musky wolves on his heels he was surprised by the who, but not by how many.

With a curious hum the buck rolled to fold his legs beneath him, head tossing to settle his mane before tilting gently to one side as he watched the group. The kio looking as much a wolf as the wolves themselves.

@Anhelisk

Traveling days were simple enough, at least. While the sun was partially obscured, she was still a clear indicator of direction in a place where the land twisted through trees and meandering streams, and moss still trended towards the northerly direction. While he couldn't chart a straight course through this land, he could at least go more or less straight. While this was nothing like the coursing of his youth, it was still travelling-- still forward motion.

And he was still canny enough to notice another creature staring as he and his girls began to walk by. Musk turned to nod at the stranger, acknowledging this kimeti's existence. If he responded, Musk would pause his trek to greet him. If not, there was a great deal of swamp ahead of him.

@Beejoux

It was a like a parade of fluffy tails and perky ears, and Life's head cocked curiously to one side before the nod of the leading kio had the Kimeti buck nodding in turn. "Good afternoon."

He was soft spoken. Formal, though polite, and he watched their progression with mounting interest. "Where are you and your pack headed?" Was pack the correct word for a kio and a gaggle of spindly pups? Life wasn't entirely sure, but it would serve well enough.

@Anhelisk

Musk gave a gentle smile, turning to approach the buck. The two girls with him looked for a cue, and when he made no specific instruction, approached the fluffy, long-maned new stranger before them.

"Well, that is the question, isn't it? I set out with no particular intention, other than to get a good walk in and let these two stretch their legs. The one that looks like me, she's Mist, and the blonde one's Must-- my mate's girl. They're friendly, but don't let them suck you in-- they'll steal your dinner and come trotting back to their bonded without a lick of guilt."

@Beejoux

The buck's ears perked indignantly at that, and the elegant point of his nose dipped as he looked down at the two muskies in question as they approached him. "That is very rude," he chided in all seriousness. To the wolves. "You shouldn't steal."

@Anhelisk

The dogs, ever-shameless, wagged their tails and panted happily, crowding even closer as he addressed them directly, excited to scent and brush against their new best friend. "I'm afraid scolding doesn't do much. Proper training, with rewards when they do well and denying them attention when they're not-- I find that does the best to help guide them."

@Beejoux

The buck stiffened when as the wolves fully invaded his personal space to sniff and run against him. Unsure, at least for a moment, before finally relaxing again to just look perplexedly at the pair of them. They were soft, warm, inquisitive, and friendly.

"I see. It's good I have no food here for them to steal, I suppose. " It seemed like denying the prior attention was easier said than done.

@Anhelisk

Musk huffed a chuckle at the sight of a kin clearly overwhelmed with sudden attention. "Girls--" he started, watching calmly as their ears flicked, heads turning towards him-- "Heel."

They trotted back towards him in fractured unison, tails erect, but no longer wagging... at least until he leaned in to give one, then the other, a quick nuzzle.

@Beejoux

Scaled brows arched high as he watched in surprise as the two wolves trotted back to the kio with just a word. "That's very impressive. Did it take long to train them to obey like that?"

@Anhelisk

Musk smiled. "We've had them since they were pups. They've been more or less obedient since they were old enough to hunt on their own, but they've always been very interested in pleasing my mate and I-- it's why we selected them, on top of their looks."