Tea for Two ((Tybalt//Echo))

[PARANOIAC]

Gold-amber eyes skimmed the surrounding area, plush tail swishing back and forth every now and again as the little red fox looked around. Her stomach felt ready to cave in on itself, and search for some food had driven her out of her hastily made burrow and into the area of sparse smatterings of trees and cover. She didn't much like being out in the open, especially not this early on in the day, but... It was just past dawn, and many of the larger creatures were probably still minding their own business. Besides, it seemed highly unlikely that a much larger dog or even a wolf (heavens forbid) might choose to hunt in the younger forest. Hoping that she wouldn't run into much trouble, the vixen had begun to stalk around, hoping to catch a mouse or bird or something small she could carry back to her burrow before too late in the afternoon.

Echo really would've preferred to stay in the underbrush, though she knew that birds did not venture into the dark crevices of the undergrowth and that a meal was probably roaming about between the newer trees if at all. Black ears pricked as she thought she heard some leaves being rustled about, and muscles stiffened as she did her best to stay still. Something was moving around, something much smaller than she. The fox tilted her head as she listened carefully, her mouth cracked open just a bit so that she could pick up any scents. A rodent?? Yes, a mouse, most likely. It was moving about underneath the dirt, just barely below the ground she stood on.

After pausing a moment, she crouched down a bit, and suddenly sprang foreword, leaping up into the air as she aimed to hit the spot under which she had heard the potential meal scurrying about. Her front paws his first, and she actually managed to break the thin layer of dirt between herself and the rodent. There was a squeal, a flash of gray, and the vixen looked up to see that the mouse was attempting to escape. Quickly, she followed up with a couple more pounces, though to no avail. It scurried just out of reach, slipping into the trees ahead before she could catch it.

"Drat!!" barked Echo, her ears falling back as she lost sight of it. She let out a soft sigh, frowning as she watched the direction it had run off in, as if she were hoping it might run back, "...There goes a perfectly good meal... Oh, I do hope the spring will bring more to eat this year..."

[DENI.]

He came into awareness before he cared to open his eyes. The sweet smell of musty earth permeated his nose, the leaves under his belly were soft and warm. He could feel Rose next to him, curled up into a small ball. Her breathing was deep and even, she was still in a very deep sleep. His black-tipped ears swiveled around, and his nostrils twitched. When he had garnered everything about the den that he could with his eyes closed, he cracked them open one at a time. Soft morning light was filtering in through one of the many exit holes, but the air was still chill with the night that had only recently been driven off. He stood up slowly, and made his way out of the den without waking his sister. Once he reached the surface, he opened his mouth wide with a yawn. His viciously sharp teeth glinted in the sunlight for several moments until the yawn abated.

He shook his pelt out next, and then blinked his eyes several times. The cool morning air combined with these things wakened him quickly, and soon enough the world came to him in sharp awareness with his new found wakefulness. He bounded around in a circle a couple of times, loosening his muscles. Most of the beasts of the night had retreated to sleep by now, not to mention that he had never seen anything much larger than a coyote in these woods anyway. He bounded into the sparse trees, stopping next to a small stream to lap at the cool water.

The sound of a crash and squeal caused him to jerk his head upright. A mouse was streaking along the ground, emitting squeals of terror. His instincts took over quickly and he pounced it, ending its life as his paws collided with its back. He grabbed it by the tail, following the sound of a voice. Once he found the voice, a small smile appeared on his face. A vixen. He hadn't known that another fox had moved into the forest recently. He moved out of the underbrush and into sight so he wouldn't startle her.

He dropped the mouse at his paws, "I believe this belongs to you... If you want it." He smiled warmly at her. He and his sister had been eating well recently, she probably needed the mouse more than he did.

[PARANOIAC]

She had been ready to turn around and continue stalking about in search of another target, until the glimpse of another red pelt from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Echo took a few steps back in an instance, mostly out of habit, ears perking up again as she lowered her head and looked over at the stranger. She hadn't seen another fox in what seemed like an eternity; it almost worried her, and she seemed ready to sprint off is need be, but...

He didn't look mean at all; actually, he looked quite friendly.

The stranger dropped the mouse, and offered it to her with a warm smile. Gathering what little bit of courage she could, the vixen padded over toward him slowly, keeping a careful eye on him to watch for any signs of hostility. No, he didn't appear to have any sort of malice toward her. The smile reassured her as she drew nearer, and soon she found herself only a couple feet away from the other fox.

"R-really??"

She almost didn't believe that he'd offer it back, especially since it had run far out of her grasp. Her gaze wandered down to it, then back up at him, and she offered a shy smile in return, "...Thank you very much... I just haven't eaten in a while, I..."

She trailed off. Echo hadn't held a decent conversation in that same long eternity, either. She kept looking down, to the side, at the mouse, back up for a quick glance before quickly looking back down. Cautiously, she took the few more steps foreword and leaned down to pick up the mouse, tearing at it with her teeth so that she could get something in her stomach before it growled again. She tried to leave at least half for the other - after all, he was the one who caught it.

When she was done, she took a step back and tried to give another small smile, still unsure of the whole situation.

"...Thank you, again... Um... I'm Echo. Who are you??"

((You're template is so pretty ;u; *sobs*))

[DENI.]

The vixen was definitely cautious of him, but then... Who wouldn't be? She was in a strange place with a strange tod offering her food. It would be slightly foolish of her not to be at least a little cautious. He kept a warm smile on his face, though, because harming her was the last thing on his mind. Tybalt certainly didn't enjoy violence, and you would be hard pressed to find him causing any sort of trouble. Fighting was a last resort for him, though he would fight if he was forced to. He nodded encouragingly to her question.

"Of course, you seem hungry." He smiled and took a couple of steps back so that she might feel more comfortable coming for the mouse. The last vixen he had met hadn't been nearly as cautious and frightened as she was, but experience shaped everyone differently. Perhaps this female had had a bad run-in with another fox before, or maybe she was just cautious by nature.

"Hey, hey. No need to thank me. It is my pleasure, not to mention that if you hadn't startled it in the first place I certainly wouldn't have caught it." Another reassuring smile appeared on his face as she continued to eye the mouse. He almost wanted to pick it up and toss it toward her, but he didn't know if such an action would be seen as rude by the fae - or worse yet if it would scare her off. Finally she reached the mouse and grabbed it, tearing into it with the ferocity of one who hadn't eaten in awhile.

He remained silent as she had her meal, his amber gaze traveling around them to check for danger. He felt safe in the forest that he had lived in for awhile, but one could never been too careful. "It was my pleasure," he repeated with a warm smile. "It is very nice to meet you, Echo. My name is Tybalt." He grinned at her, allowing his gaze to sweep over her again. She was a very pretty fox, there was no denying that.

OOC - I would be more than happy to make you one if you PM'd me what you wanted<3 Or if you want one like this you could request it from Kindle.

[PARANOIAC]

Well, he was certainly polite, that much at least was true.

"Tybalt," the vixen repeated, to help herself remember, "I've never heard a name like that before..." She and her siblings had all been named after something, something their mother noted about each. She had even been named Echo after she mimicked her sister's yips and barks, a little guaranteed repetition of every sound she had heard. It had actually been quite ironic that she grew up to be one of the more quiet of the lot.

Echo had never heard of a true name before, not really, at least not one that was shared by something else like a flower or a season. Her curiosity was peaked, and her cautiousness began to fade away ever so slowly, piece by piece until she felt comfortable enough to keep eye contact instead of distance.

"It's nice," she added, not wanting to sound rude. It was different, but not without its charm, almost like this whole ordeal was proving to be. Deciding that, if this fox were really out to cause any harm or chase her away from anything, he would've already done so, the vixen's confidence grew and she sat down across from the other.

"I haven't seen another fox like myself for a long while... Do you live here, Tybalt??" she inquired, still repeating the name, making it a point to keep it memorized. Sitting down, actually taking the time to look over him, she noticed just how big for a fox he was. He definitely looked like the strong type; thankfully, he didn't seem to be the territorial kind, at least not when it came to one wanderer.

((I'll definitely have to PM you then ;3 Though Kindle does make some really lovely templates, from what I've seen.))

[DENI.]

His ears perked up a bit when she commented on his name. Now that he thought about it, his name was a little different. Even his family had named his sisters after flowers, something they knew about. It had never occurred to him to wonder where they got the idea for his name. But then, even though it was rare among his family and Echo's, the white vixen Magalie had a name that seemingly didn't have any meaning. Finally, he simply shrugged it off. Names didn't really have to have meaning. "Thank you, Echo." He said, smiling. He wasn't really sure what else to say to her compliments of his name.

He sat back on his haunches, relaxing as Echo did. She seemed to be more at ease around him now, which meant that he didn't have to try as hard to seem non-threatening. He could have attacked her at any point, but he hadn't, and he was sure that was where her ease was coming from. His large bushy tail twitched a bit, laying out to the side beside him. The day was getting rather warm for Spring, and he didn't want it to be covering his feet.

"I haven't seen another like myself, outside of family, in several years." He said. His kind seemed to less common around here than the dogs and wolves who made up most of the canine population. He angled his ears diagonally, "Yes, my sister and I share a burrow in that direction." He answered, wondering if Rose was still sleeping or if she had already woken up and gotten along with her day. "What about you?" He asked. If she lived here, he decided, she must have moved in very recently.

[PARANOIAC]

When Tybalt mentioned that he hadn't seen many other foxes, either, the vixen's heart sank just a bit. It was highly unlikely that she would just run across her family - she had convinced herself of that long ago, that they had probably ventured farther away and that they were happy, but there was always that bit of disappointment when she realized this again. She had to move on... They would be alright, and she would be alright.

Echo paused as she was asked about her home.

"Well... I don't exactly have a permanent burrow," she explained, looking back in the direction of the burrow she had made the night before. It had been small, fairly shallow, not exactly much to brag about; but at least it was a place to stay and she could keep warm at night.

"I've been moving around," Echo continued, "I dig a big wherever I end up before the evening, and I keep moving the next morning. I don't want to run into trouble, or anything, and... some of the dogs here are more territorial than others..."

She thought about how to change the subject. Not that she minded talking about where she came from or anything; she just enjoyed talking to someone else. It seemed, to her, like a lost art - and besides, Tybalt seemed quite nice. She liked talking with him, and her worries had all but completely slipped away. "You have a sister??" the amber-eyed vixen asked, cocking her head slightly, "So, there are more?? Is there... I hope I'm not intruding, is this your land??"

She was starting to think that perhaps there was a group... maybe even a pack of sorts??

[DENI.]

The Red Fox's ears lowered in sympathy as the female described her living conditions. They were nothing that she couldn't handle, he was sure of that, but he still felt bad for her. He knew better than anyone what it was like to lose your home and have to travel around until you found a new one. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and yet so many did it all alone. "As far as I am aware, there are no dogs or wolves in this forest... At least they don't take up permanent residence here. The forest is young, and prey isn't really large enough to support them. So, you can feel free to stay here for as long as you want." He smiled at her, cocking his head so that his ears flapped a bit. Tybalt hoped that she decided to stay in the forest, she would make for good company.

Tybalt laughed softly as the fae bombarded him with questions. He didn't mind, though. Anything to keep the conversation flowing. "Yes, I do. Her name is Rose." He said, thinking of her momentarily. "Yes, there is one other. She is staying with my sister and I for awhile. She doesn't exactly look like us, but she is a fox. Her name is Magalie, and she is tiny and white." He said, explaining the small white fox who had recently taken up residence with he and his sister. "And no, this isn't exactly our land. We claim a permanent home here, but we don't attempt to run anyone else off."He answered.

(OOC: Sorry its a bit short!)

[PARANOIAC]

Echo gave a relieved sigh when Tybalt mentioned that there weren't many larger canines in the area, and that it was highly unlikely for any to take of residence. She couldn't help but smile back when Tybalt added that she was free to stay in the area. It did seem like a wonderful place to live, and without any larger predators it would be much safer than the constant traveling.

The vixen listened politely, not uttering a sound, as the other fox explained about his sister, Rose. Rose and Magalie?? So there were many more, then... At least many more than what the red fox was expecting to find in one area. This was turning out wonderfully; more foxes, safe land, and a friendly todd willing to explain these things and share prey.

"Well, you've been so kind, I hope no one tries to take advantage of that," Echo replied after being told that the group didn't chase anyone away. She paused to think back to the question of living there or not, taking a second to think over any pros and cons. She wasn't really leaving anything behind if she decided to stay, and if Tybalt was this kind, then surely the others would be in that general range, right??

"...Y-you really wouldn't mind if I stayed here longer??" the vixen asked shyly, a bit nervous sounding, but no longer frightened or so wary.

((That's find, don't worry about it ^^ I feel like my posts have been shorter, too... I'm a bit rusty, I haven't RPed in a little while since a couple sites I was on died...))

[DENI.]

He shook his head, hopefully dismissing her worries. "No one's gonna take advantage of me." He smiled, "I can usually tell when someone is nice - like you - and when someone is just looking for some handouts or looking to take my home." His eyes traveled upward as he was distracted by a bird flying over the tops of the young trees. Longing filled them. He usually wasn't too successful at hunting or catching birds. For some reason he nearly always failed when he attempted it. Perhaps it was for this reason that they were his favorite snack. Not because they were actually better than the other small prey that he hunted, but because they weren't as accessible.

"Of course you can!" He insisted, looking at her sincerely. They remained in silence for a moment before he made the decision to speak again. "I've actually been toying with the idea of starting a pack around here. You can stay whether you want to be a part of it or not, but I figured I should warn you if you're gonna be sharing the forest with us." Another smile appeared on his face, his eyes crinkling a bit.

[PARANOIAC]

Echo looked up when she noticed that Tybalt was doing so, noting the bird. She hadn't really attempted to hunt birds many times before, and preferred going after creatures without wings, since the rare occasion on which she tried to catch one were unsuccessful.

Her attention was brought back down to the ground asTybalt insisted that it was alright for her to stay. She hesitated, her expression being one of surprise. The vixen suddenly smiled as her amber eyes lit up with excitement, and she let out a noise that sounded like a mix between an outward gasp and an awkward laugh.

"Wow..." was all she could utter in response. She had a place to stay... A home, a safe home, and one with plenty of others around. It was wonderful.

Echo's ears flicked as Tybalt continued, speaking of starting a pack in the forest. There was another moment of silence as she thought about it, trying to look over every possible outcome. She was welcomed to join, and it seemed as though that invitation would last if she needed more time to think - after all, this todd had been very patient with her thus far - but... She didn't want to keep him waiting if she was already interested in the idea.

A pack... She'd have a family again, and Tybalt said that there were others, like Rose and Magalie. She could be safe, and staying on the land without contributing to them would make her feel like more of a moocher than anything. Finally, she gave a small nod, and a sure smile.

"...I'd like to join," Echo opted, her fluffy tail swaying back of forth as her heart began to race just a bit, "I mean, if you start it, I'll join. I don't have much to offer in fighting or protecting, but... I can hunt for you. It would be the least I could do. You've already shown me more kindness than I've seen since my own kind. I want to be of some help in return, if you have a place for me."

[DENI.]

He smiled softly at her amazement, and he had to wonder who she had been around that had made her think that everyone was so mean. It didn't matter now, though. She would be living next to him, and he would make sure that no one treated her badly anymore. His protectiveness over the fae was just natural to him. He had protected Rose for so long that it just seemed to extend to anyone (particularly females) that he met. None of them seemed to mind very much, but then again... He wasn't downright open with the fact that he had added them to his list of foxes to protect. Some females might take offense to it. After all, he was sure that Echo could fend for herself without him. She had up until this point. But she didn't have to anymore.

He listened to her words, shock rendering him incapable of speech for a moment. She was going to join the pack? Happiness swelled up inside of him, starting in his stomach and making its way quickly toward his chest. This was it! This was the first step to starting a pack where canines like himself could be safe. Before he even really thought about what he was doing, he had jumped to his paws and bounded over to her - closing the small distance between them. He buried his nose in the thick fur on her shoulder, breathing in her scent and applying it to memory.

"Of course we have a place for you!" He exclaimed, his voice wobbling slightly from happiness. "I mean, we aren't gonna be about fighting - just to protect ourselves... Ya know? I just want this pack to be a safe haven for foxes, and perhaps small dogs, where they don't have to worried about being killed by a wolf or something all the time." He grinned at her, taking a small step back.

"My burrow is a bit full at the moment... So we'll have to help you make yourself a good one. I'm sure Magalie and Rose would be more than happy to help. We could help you with the one you've already started, or make you one right next to ours! Oh! Or we could extend mine and you could just stay in there. Up to you." Another smile, Tybalt hadn't felt this happy in a long time.

[PARANOIAC]

The vixen jumped slightly as Tybalt jumped to his paws, though she didn't flinch away. He had surprised her, though by this point she had become much more comfortable around him, and didn't suspect anything bad from any sudden movements. Her ears perked up as he buried his nose in her shoulder. She didn't protest, and instead gave another smile as her tail wagged.

"That sounds wonderful," Echo replied, thrilled by the prospect of safety and minimal conflict. It almost seemed too good to be true. Had she knows that her answer would've made the todd this happy, she would've gave him an answer earlier.

When he explained the situation with the burrows, her tail wagged even more. She hadn't known that she would be getting so much help. This pack would take some getting used to, but it was in the best possible way; it really was like having a family again, with everyone helping one another and looking out for each other.

"Um... W-wherever you think would be best, I'm fine either way," Echo explained, her voice lowering just a bit as she continued, the shyness creeping back up into it, "I mean, maybe staying with all of you would be better, if it wouldn't get too crowded... It might be easier than digging a whole new burrow, and..."

[DENI.]

He grinned as she rambled, clearly wanting to stay in the burrow with them, but not wanting to come right out and say it. He thought it was cute, in a way. He hoped that eventually she would get more confident around him, though. He pushed his nose into the fur on her chest, burying it completely in the fluffy white. It was so nice to be around another fox like him that wasn't his family. And it was even nice to know that they would be staying with him. The more canines he had with him, the more at ease he felt. Alone they were weak, but together surely they could accomplish their means.

"Echo," he said, tasting her name on his tongue, "please feel to tell me what you want and speak your mind. I always want to hear what you're thinking. There will be plenty of room in the burrow if we expand a bit, I think we'll add a new room on. It will be easier than digging a new one, I just wanted you to know that you had options." He looked at her face, his eyes promising sincerity and truth in every word that he spoke. He didn't want to rule over his pack like a king. Yes, order had to established, but every canine in the pack was just as important as he was.

And then he grinned, his tongue sliding out of his mouth to lick her on the cheek. "Are you excited to meet everyone?" He questioned.

[PARANOIAC]

She gave a soft smile as he pressed his nose into the tuft of white fur on her chest, poking her tongue out to give him a quick lick behind his ear, an almost motherly action. She had picked that up from her brother, who was constantly trying to comfort the littler ones, especially the vixens of the litter. A quick swipe over the forehead or on the shoulder, and some nuzzling was all it took to put them back at ease. And now, it seemed, she had begun to copy that action herself.

"Thank you very much, Tybalt," Echo replied, with a grateful nod of her head. He'd always want to hear...?? The prospect thrilled her; she hadn't talked this much in such a long time, and still he was offering to listen to whatever dwelled inside her mind. Honestly, she felt like she wanted to tell him, like no matter what she had to say, he would be able to make everything better, in a sense. It was odd, especially since she hadn't seen him for more than a few minutes, and already it seemed as though they had known one another all along.

The vixen appreciated the lick on her cheek, and her tail continued to wag.

"Well, I'm a bit nervous, but..." she began, golden gaze wandering downward as she thought about meeting the others. After a moment's pause, she looked back up and continued to wag her tail, giving another (more sure) nod, "It's also very exciting. I... I really can't wait to meet them."

((OOC: I think this would be about a good time to end the thread, unless you wanted to keep it going ^^ I'm just thinking that it would lead off into the group thread really well from this point.))