Such an eventful day left Marrok tired and yearning for some quiet time. Letting his large paws lead him away from the pack he soon found himself on a slightly frozen swamp land. The ooze and slime clung to dead trees and logs in a slick film and the eerie quiet chilled him to the bone. Not used to such a place he cautiously explored, taking careful paw steps and keeping his ears perked. Carefully we stepped and occasionally got a thick slime stuck to his paws. Rolling his amber eyes he paused to shake off the dreadful stuff when his gaze caught a small dry area to his right. Curious he trotted over and was surprised to see a few blades of spring grass poking out of the slushy snow, sticking his nose low and soaking up the scents of spring.

Spring, such memories held him to that season, both good and bad. It was one year ago to spring that his beloved Luna was killed while expecting. It was also the anniversary of his friends death and his fathers murder. Such pain fell upon this supposedly happy season that the male half wanted to stay with winter. Sighing Marrok plopped down on the slush, crushing the new grass in an attempt to rid the memories of spring from his mind. With a deep exhale the male rolled over on to his back and stared up at the dead trees covered with moss. It was so peaceful here, so serene and yet he still felt crowded. Having come to this pack a few months ago he had made friends and helped out, but he still felt like something was missing. A pain in his chest not bound to this world was calling to him, but for what?

With his legs sprawled in the air he looked quite silly, but no one was around. Not caring the male let his eyes flutter closed as he lost himself in dreams of his past.

She watched the brute from a distance, not making any sound or sudden movement. Juno tended to lurk the shadows like a ghost. Her black coat made her a part of the darkness that devoured the night. The fae had almost laughed at the silly position the male was in put stopped herself. Chiara had mentioned the swamp at the clearing the first day she had met her and the dangers she could face. She couldn't help but let the spark of curiosity take over her body then leading her into the moss covered destination. The ground was wet from the melting snow left over and the sun shined through the trees almost slightly hitting her coat. Spring was now in session, the most beautiful season that her eyes had seen in all her life. It wasn't her favorite season for it was this time of year that her loved ones had passed by a vicious passing loner. Juno shook her head at the guilt that pinched at her heart with immense pain. Luckily the pain had soon then stopped and her attention focused back on the strange wolf before her. He was built and had a mix of colors into his thick coat along. The brute reminded her of her mate that died, Ace. They looked similar but Ace had a much darker coat.

She was growing tired of hiding and not being social. Her emerald green eyes locked on to the brute as she silently moved form her hiding spot with one swift movement to her toned body. Emerging into the ray of sunlight, showing her face with a shimmering black coat, she walked up to the brute to a point where there was enough distance to speak without startling him. Juno spoke in a friend tone as she pierce her pitch black ears against her skull. "Hello there." She gave him a befriending smile and straightened her stance to show her rank with respect. The frozen swamp land was a rather odd place to meet a wolf but she had met Ember in an odd situation as well. She thought back to her friend and smiled. Ember was a good fae and she treated her with great respect and loyalty. Her attention averted to the wolf and waited in response.

Letting his mind wandered Marrok had nearly fallen asleep when the sound of delicate paws woke him up. Turning his head slightly his gaze was graced by the sight of a fae not a few yards off from him. Drawing his lip back in a grin he cleared his throat then stumbled to his feet. Realizing how silly he must have looked he shock out his fur slightly and drew a fore paw over his maw. "Hello yourself miss. Thought I'd come out here to relax from all the hustle and bustle and who should find me, but a pretty fae such as yourself. Name's Marrok, Warrior Marrok and you are?" He questioned, flashing her his famous grin.

Marrok hadn't always been such a flirt, but instead he was serious and almost shy around females. Luna helped bring him out of hi shell, but without her he turned into this blabbering idiot. Deep down in the brute all the sweet words and smooth words were a cover for how afraid he was, afraid to open up again. His act forced so many females to turn away, he almost did it on purpose without realizing. Still pained fro Luna's death he blamed himself to the point of punishing himself from not being happy again. Of curse the male didn't think this deep into the matter, no for now he just played on instincts which were constantly driving him away from others.

The female before him was tall, long legged and black as night. His Luna was the complete opposite, but he didn't care. The fae before him was easy on the eyes and quite fetching in the morning light. He himself probably looked a wreak from rolling about in the slush, what a great first impression huh?

She smiled at the clumsy way he tried to get up from his position. The brute's introduction almost made her blush but Juno remained composed and stayed straightened up. "It's nice to meet you Marrok. I am Warrior Juno. I was just exploring and came upon this swamp here." Her head bobbed towards the almost melted dark lake behind him and grinned. "A friend mentioned it to me the day I was accepted into the marvelous pack and the curiosity hit me." She shrugged like as if it wasn't a big deal but her thoughts smiled at her in the luck she finally had met a wolf that wasn't a fae for once. Now that it was spring, males would want to fight over her to becoming her mate. The outside showed an elegant, tall fae with the looks a brute would kill for to be mates with. In the inside, Juno wasn't ready for a mate just yet since she had already lost her first one along with her pup.

Ace, the mate her heart yearned for and was captured between his grasp, and the wolf she expected to spend her whole life with was no longer alive. Although, Marrok might look like Ace only a lighter shade, nothing had changed. She was always going to have the wrench of pain hitting her heart where ever she walked. Juno looked for the brutes that didn't fight for dominance or for her pretty features. No, she looked for the ones that saw her difficulties and didn't care for what rank she was or where she came from. The she-wolf leaned to the kind and understanding wolves over the muscular types. Her black tail lay lifeless for which she was relaxed from the sounds of the swamp had to offer. Her ears pierced backwards towards the sound of a wood pecker somewhere above her head, pecking away to a mossy tree. Her emerald gaze peered into his yellow orbs with a lopsided grin. "Out of all places and curiosity, why pick the swamp? If it were my choice I'd be leaning towards the Rapid Falls." She questioned Marrok in a friendly matter. The swamp didn't seem like the most beautiful place to enjoy but it was rather empty and the sounds around them were somehow peaceful she supposed.

Grinning at the black fae Marrok sat down and wrapped his large tail around his feet. Dipping his head his gaze melted into hers as his warm features grew. "Nice to meet you as well miss Juno, ahh curiosity can lead someone anywhere, interesting that it lead you here. I've heard tales of large lizards that live in the water, waiting to snap at anything. You best be careful not to run into them lest they bite that pretty face of yours." He said trying to envision a huge lizard living in this area anyway.

With spring coming Marrok knew the pack would fall into a tailspin of flirting, courting and heart break. The sable male had no intention of playing that game, for his own heart was still healing. In the past Marrok had fought with the best of them until he settled down with Luna, no for now he would remain on the sidelines unless some males pushed their boundaries with his lady friends. Glancing back at Juno he let a tiny escape his mouth. Such a pretty fae like her would have any suitor she wanted, probably had them lined up now. Deep down Marrok didn't care about looks or how amazing a fae was. No, instead he liked how well rounded a fae was, who she was on the inside, tha'ts what mattered to him.

"Ahh the swamp called to me for being quiet. The hustle and bustle of the pack was getting to be too much and I wanted to come out here to think things through. Spring has always stirred certain memories up in my mind, ones that require contemplation and such. But enough about me, you say you are new here, how do you like it?" He questioned, wishing to get the conversation off of himself.

"Chiara has mention such creatures before now that I think about it. I think you are referring to alligators, or maybe crocodiles. It matters. I'm not an expert on such creatures, I prefer to avoid all costs of encountering any of the such." She scanned her eyes rapidly around her in any sight of the monsters were watching. There was no scent other than Marrok's but that could just be because the putrid creature wasn't around. "I'm sure I'll be careful, no need to worry about lil ole me." Juno smiled weakly for which she has had a fear of the giant lizards. She remembered seeing one of her elder ex-packmates having a massive scar across her face from the attack of one when the fae was only a pup. Juno was cautious on a lot of things since she had grown up basically to do so. The training exercises and obstacles she was put through by Zephren, her father, were excruciating and tricky but Juno had managed a way through it all resulting to a fine fae.

Her ear propped itself to the side while the other stayed pointed on top of her head. It was a permanent feature she had and Juno dearly hated it for it made her look cute and innocent. I hate these da-- The fae's thoughts disappeared at the sound of Marrok's voice. She nodded to his reason of why he was at the swamp out of all places of the pack. "Sometimes it's good to get away from it all. It's nice to be alone when needed and get some fresh air running through are lungs." She smiled. Juno thought she could have a liking into this brute, even if he was a little too flirtatious. The she-wolf ignored it and constructed a thought that maybe he acted this way since it was now spring and she was mateless.

Marrok's next words brought her attention. So he had harsh times during this season in the past as well...? "I try to forget everything that has happened in this cruel season. Yes it is supposed to be a joyful season but too many of my memories are brought up in the process and my jubilant mood is then crushed. It's been a year since those memories have scared me but its a part of life that we all eventually go through..." Trailing off she sighed. Her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces once she saw the blood splattered upon the pasture's ground. Blinking back from tearing up her emerald eyes gleamed into his and she managed a fake smile for him not to notice. "Yes I am new here, I joined about a few days ago to be exact. Creek, the caretaker welcomed me with a very kind manner. She brought me to the clearing to create a den, that's where I met my first official friend, Warrior Chiara." The glow in her eyes brightened at the thought of her lovely friend and her tail wagged a tad.

"I like it very much here. I've met very little people but I am slowly making progress with being social. My social skills are surprisingly weak since I never had friends back in my old pack." Her eyes gazed happily into his. "I'm happy to meet such a fine brute like yourself. I've never met a male so confortable around faes." She moved from her spot and gracefully moved closer, sitting down this time only a yard of space between them to show she meant no harm. Her tail curled around her and her chin was held at eye level with complete and utter properness. "Two questions if you don't ming me asking. How about you, do you have a liking in this pack as well? The other question is, how long have you been here. The scent of the pack from the smell of it is basically drenched in your coat. So I figured you've been here for quite some time now." She bowed her chin a little. "My apologies, I have a tendency to be a bit too curious with others." Smooth Juno, now he things you are a chatterbox and nosy fae.

Nodding his sable head Marrok was relieved as the fae said she would avoid the lizards, one less thing for him to worry about now.Looking back at her she moved her head in a certain way that made one ear stick up, how adorable. He couldn't help but grin at this aspect of her, so cute and sweet. Scanning over her once again Marrok couldn't help but half stare. In this light she was quite beautiful with her black coat and green eyes, such a fae. At her next string of words his ears flicked back softly and he took a small step towards her. Something had obiously happened in this beautiful female's life, something bad. Not wanting to push the matter he scooted closer until he was about a yard away. Thinking fast his large ears flopped forward to cover his eyes, then one raised slightly as if to peak at her.

Figuring it was stupid he cleared his throat and looked away. "Sorry Im not normally this dumb, guess it must be the nice company messing me up, I do apologize. I too have memories related to the spring that have pained me, and everyday they ring in my head, but softer each time. We can never run from our shadows miss Juno, but we can learn to live with them." He said with a lopsided smile as his eyes averted to his paws. Marrok hadn't really gotten to know either of the faes she described, perhaps he should expand his social horizons more.

Smiling at her next compliment Marrok puffed up slightly and grinned. "Why thank you miss, you're a fine fae yourself, though if you find me great after not knowing many others I hate to disappoint you." He said trailing off a bit. Almost chuckling at her questions he relaxed and sat down before her. "I'm an open book my dear, ask anything you wish. Yes I do like this place quite well. Its very friendly and everyone I've met so far I've liked." He said making a little white lie when the image of Steele flashed in his mind. "As for how long, I'd say three months, not as long as some though. I hope to speak with Alpha Azul soon about helping out more, you know maybe lead some patrols or something. I was a Beta in my old pack and have been used to responsibility from all the work my father instilled upon me." At the mention of his father Marrok almost choked and his gaze immediately fell to the ground.

(( xD I think I'm on a writing spree tonight. Haha ))

She chuckled at the sight of the male's ears flop down over his eyes and almost chuckled harder at one of his amber eyes staring through under one of the ears. She couldn't tell whether or not the brute was trying to do it on purpose to make her feel more comfortable, or the fact his ears were like hers, where they had a personality of their own. "I wouldn't say your actions are dumb, more clumsy almost, but definitely not dumb. There is no need for apologies." When he called her miss Juno it made her feel almost as if she was important. She gave him a kind smile and nodded along to his words. "Running from your shadows wouldn't be smart because they will always be there to follow. However, forgetting the past is a more difficult option. Just like you said about the shadows, you can't run away from them but you can indeed learn from them." Juno had been living to those words the whole time she ran. It wasn't that she was running away from her troubles it was that she was too heartbroken to think fast. Her instincts took her and led her to this place thankfully. The wise words the brute spoke to her made her feel even more at home.

The specks in her eyes turned yellow under the sunshine's glare. The season may have it's tolls about her past but it was the way things were. Spring was a beautiful time of year, it was the time where everyone would pair up and soon have pups of their own. The time when good game would graze the pastures, giving pack's an endless supply of food to feast upon. No one will go hungry. She remembered seeing Ember and her ribs showing from under her swirled pelt. The fae will soon feed and fill out to a beautiful fae like Juno. She already was toned in the legs from the looks so it wouldn't take long for Ember to eat and look healthier. It would also give her an easier gateway to finding a mate with her angelic white eyes.

Her emerald gaze went to his and grinned. "You're welcome, sir. Thank you for the compliment. The compliment isn't something that's different to my ears, I've been told I'm a fine fae numerous amounts of times. It was pretty much my job to be proper, strange as it may sound. Surely you don't disappoint me, Marrok. You seem like a kind male and I would like to see you more often around here." When he said he was an open book a spark of curiosity pinched the tip of her black tail. "An open book you say..? Hm.. well.. I hope you don't mind me asking but who is this Beta Steele. I hear he's quite the killjoy at the presence of him according to Chiara. Have you met him?" Juno wanted to know more about this Steele before she encountered him for the first time. He seemed like the type of brute that could get any fae he wanted in a couple words. If she wasn't wrong then she knew who to trust and who to keep a distance from. In this case, she trusted Marrok even though she had just met him.

Juno was curious when Marrok had mentioned he was trying to get Azul's permission to greater duties. She too would like to get in on this, for which she was known for a great soon-to-be Alphess back in her old pack. "I would like to do the same, I should really try to ask him too myself. I'm so used to being a higher rank than warrior but this rank isn't something to complain about. I'm the daughter of a great Alpha, and he put me in various training sessions since they day I could roam outside the den." She then sat a but straighter and peered at the brute as she spoke. "It'd be nice to be a higher rank again, it's such a great responsibility and I feel I could manage the duties very well. You'd make a great Beta too. From the looks of it compared to what I've heard about the recent Beta, you seem to be more friendly and hardworking." She smiled. Marrok was trying his best and she respected that to the fullest. Juno had never met such a male like him to actually care about his actions instead of the next fae to stroll by. Marrok is different....

Smiling sheepishly at Juno Marrok wrapped his tail around his paws yet again and paused for a second. He was speaking faster than he thought and the combination was certainly making the female think less of him, but why did he care? Juno was just another female in this pack, someone he had just met, why did he care about her opinion. Sighing from the jumble in his mind his eyes wandered to a new tree sprouting leaves just a few paws steps away. Taking a pause in speaking his amber eyes raked over the patch of dirt until a tiny purple flower was visible popping through the snow. Flicking his ears back to Juno's words and a sporadic idea popped into his mind again. Standing suddenly he trotted over to the dirt and plucked the flower carefully. When he returned she had just finished speaking, and acting impulsively yet again he brought the flower from his maw and slipped in behind her ear. "Don't let your thoughts get you too far down miss. Such a thing of beauty shouldn't look so sad." He said then motioned to a puddle near her to look at herself. Damn what was coming over him?

Great now she probably thought he was a creeper who stuck weeds in others fur, just great. Bringing his gaze back up, the image of her in the sunlight nearly took his breath away, she was simply stunning. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." He mumbled and looked down again until words started from her. At her sudden compliment he brightened a bit and straightened up again. "Why thank you my dear, I too would like to see you around. Sure beats hunting." Smooth buddy. "Oh Steele, well I met him on the boarder, seems to have something stuck where the sun don't shine if you ask me. Took a run of words to make his mind scramble then before I could defeat him orally the Alpha showed up to accept me. He doesn't seem to have liked me much after that, don't know why though. I find myself quite charming." He said with a chuckle as he posed silly like before her.

"I'm sure you would excel in any position you had miss Juno.Perhaps we could be Beta's together some day." Oh great, just great Marrok. Now she thinks you're a creeper. "I mean...um...what I meant to say was...um....so strange weather we've been having huh? Seems like winter just started a few weeks ago." Very smooth buddy.

Her build froze as he put the delicate violet flower behind her ear. The shattered heart of hers were slowly being glued together at the slightest feel of him close. She didn't know how to respond or why she was beginning to feel this way. Maybe it was the effects of spring taking over his or my mind... She thought about it for a few moments and relied on the liability of her being correct. Juno's gaze went to the murky puddle the male was referring to. She saw a black fae with bright green eyes. The fae saw the reflection of her and didn't believe it at first at how truly unique she really was. The emerald hue she possessed in her eyes sparkled as she saw his reflection standing next to hers. She smiled and looked back up to Marrok. "Thank you, Marrok."

His pelt glistened next to hers and it made him look charming to her eyes. Marrok may have a rather too friendly attitude towards faes but she saw something different within him. Juno saw potential and a great warrior. She noticed his eyes constantly looking over her as if she was an experiment in need of preparations. Marrok's eyes trained on hers and he dipped his chin. "It's alright, remember I'm used to it." She leaned against the brute and bumped his shoulder playfully. Juno didn't want Marrok to feel like he was being foolish, she knew that he was just trying not to make a nuisance of himself in front of her. Her mood brightened when she saw him register her compliment and straighten back up. " No need to thank. I'm sure I'll be seeing you quite often with how busy I will be soon. Maybe we can hunt together sometime. I bet I can take down a deer faster than you can." She teased him in a friendly manner. If it took some teasing to loosen the male up then teasing she would do. Juno had found a way to break down Chiara's walls and managed to get Ember to have a liking into her. If she could do the same with Marrok then maybe he could be little more comfortable with her.

She nodded to the description of Steele from his point of view. "He sounds like the same as Chiara had mentioned him. Ember had mentioned him too but never gave me a clue of what he was like. All she said was she was going to try her best to avoid any costs of meeting such a beast." Her brows furrowed and a shiver ran down her spine. "To be honest, I'm scared to meet the fellow. I wonder what he's doing at this moment. Ha, probably scaring some newcomers, poor guys." She felt sympathy over the newcomer's encounter with Steele. Juno stared to wonder is Steele had ever scared one off that could of been a great warrior someday. Her eyes widen at the words of Marrok. Betas together? Does he mean.....together together? or just packmates fighting side by side. Juno made the conversation more comfortable by turning it around. "I wouldn't mind working with you." That's right Juno, keep calm. Surely he didn't mean it like that. "You're a nice, hard worker Marrok. It'd be a pleasure to work along side with you." She smiled.

The subject was twisted towards the weather out of Marrok's uncomfortableness. She stared back up at the sky and tilted her head at the sight of a cloud in the shape of a rabbit. "I wouldn't say it's strange just yet. Spring just started, soon there will be a lot more rain and weird wildflowers popping up out of no where. I have a liking of rain. It calms me. When ever it's really late and down pouring in the night I tend to stay in my den and listen to the soothing sounds it had to offer. What about you?" She questioned him still looking up at the rabbit shaped cloud with interest. Maybe he likes rain too. Juno peered at the pedal of the purple weed in the corner of her eyes and smiled to herself secretly.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief that she didn't slap him across the maw Marrok relaxed quickly. The fact that she was even still talking to him blew him away, what was she doing to him. Taking another look at her she leaned against him as sweet words lipped from her mouth. A shiver crawled down his spine and he swore he almost melted when she touched him. Such a feeling had only come from one other wolf, Luna. "No problem, just trying to make you feel better. Anyway spring shouldn't bring you down, its a happy time of good hunting and nice brutes to meet though I'm sure you've done both already." He said slipped away from her slightly. Who was he kidding even if...no he couldn't. He could never let himself go down that path again, he didn't deserve happiness. Stepping back Marrok sat down and looked away, he didn't deserve her.

In his slump her words of hunting fell on death ears to him, why must he act this way? Part of him wanted to charge out, sweep a pretty fae off her paws and be happy again, why couldn't he let the past go? Looking deeper inside Marrok knew the answer, it was because he deserved to be miserable, anyone who killed their father didn't deserve happiness. Nodding along with Juno he wasn't really paying attention, but caught the part about her not wanting to meet him. An image of him seeing Juno crossed his mind, making his hackles grow. Without even realizing it he drew back his mouth into a snarl at the thought of that rat being with Juno, why was he acting this way?

Her next words brought him back to reality, with spit dangling from his lip. "I'd like to work with you as well. You seem to have a lot of experience already you must have been trained very well." He said catching her gaze. "Me? Well I'm the weirdo who loves to listen to thunderstorms. I love seeing the second long brightness from the tiny lightning, seems so powerful and yet so small." Catching her glance at the flower made him grin, as least she wans't mad at him.

"I went hunting and that's how I met Ember. We were coincidentally stalking the same white-tailed buck and she ended up getting to it first. I let her have it since she was much more scrawny than I and I wasn't as hungry. When she noticed I was watching her, we managed to struck up a conversation. Ember and I are now very friendly with each other. I hope to see her quite often in the future. The brutes however haven't made an appearance. They probably don't even know that I exist. You are the only one that I have encountered this whole time I've been here." She had been hiding in the shadows away from any males because of that reason. Juno didn't want a line of brutes drooling over her elegant features. The fae expected a respectful and mature brute to come along and impress her. It was a rare occasion when she saw great potential in males for which most of them were careless beings only looking forward to impregnating and using faes for their own personal joy. It was sickening to think that such animals would do such things to an innocent female. Somehow Marrok had begun the make her feel something she hadn't felt in a long time.

It was almost as if she had feelings locked away from the death of Ace and unlocked just in Marrok's presence. Was it a sign or maybe foreshadow on her future? What could it be? She averted her gaze back to Marrok who had changed positions and was no longer sitting next to her. Turning her skull she saw him sitting with his face turned in the opposite direction. Did I say something wrong? Juno got up from where she was and stood next the brute lowering her head to see what was the matter. Her eyes trained on his lip that curled back into a threatening snarl. She didn't move and stared at him before speaking for a moment. "Marrok... is something the matter?" It was almost a whisper but it was able to be heard.

"You must have a lot of experience as well since you want to be able to be in a higher rank. It takes a lot of training with intelligence on top of it all. If that is true then you have what it takes to be a sufficient Beta or at least Elite." She poked his shoulder with her peppered snout and her eyes caught his attention. The grin on her maw widen at the fact he too was interested in such things that she had a liking into. "I love the sound of thunderstorms and lightning as well. Maybe when we will have a storm coming up you can watch it with me." She stopped and gave a sheepish grin. Now Juno was being the foolish one. "I..uh..haha.. I-I figured we could keep each other company and learn about each other... Um if you want I mean.." Well aren't you smooth Juno...Oh shut up you..

Pulling out of his slump his eyes grazed hers as she spoke of hunting earlier. Listening he could picture her story in his mind and grinned at her kindness for giving it to another fae. Thinking back he believed he had Met Ember before in the clearing, probably made a fool of himself to her as well. He had a way of doing that it seemed, but so far Juno hadn't turned tail and ran away. Hoping to keep it that way he perked up and grinned widely "They probably don't know you are here miss, but don't fret any brute would be lucky to stand beside you. The brutes shall find you soon enough, just wait I'm sure you'll cause the most scrabble around here this spring." He said a bit faster than he had intended. Thinking on his statement he almost started growling again at the thought of Steele or Damon going after Juno.

Her words pulled him out of his snarl and he shock his head. "No I'm fine my dear just a bad thought on my mind is all. Hey its near dusk and I bet some deer are near by looking for dinner, care to uphold that bet you put forward?" He questioned as he stood up. Wishing to get the conversation off of the topic Marrok shock a small piece of dirt from his pelt and looked back to Juno, "coming?"

Turning back at her sudden touch his face lit up again. Her words of praise warmed him like the summer sun on a smooth rock. "Why thank you Juno, though I don't expect Kenai or Steele to go anywhere soon. Until then I will train as a Delta if Azul allows it. As for the storm, I'd love to. It doesn't smell like a storm now, but I'll be sure to look you up when one does come. While we walk we could get to know each other more if you like, I did say I was an open book you know. Ask me anything you wish." He said with a warm voice as he motioned deeper into the swamp with his muzzle. Something told him prey might be near the high areas where the new grass was growing. The swamp was rich and made the grass grow thick, hopefully it would attract something tasty.

"Thanks, I'm sure a nice fae will soon be won over by your charming looks and interesting personality." She winked and had a pinch of tease in her words. "Although it's quite nice not having a line of different brutes always stalking my where-abouts. I prefer socializing and getting to know better than jumping the gun. They have to be strong, and respectful to their duties as well as me." She smiled at the thought of desperate males at her paws begging for her approval. Juno was used to all the attention but dread it entirely. Her mother had blessed her with attracting features and Zephren's background made her incredibly strong for a fae her age. Her eyes weren't entirely on his gaze but she saw the slight movement of his lip almost curl back. Juno's brows furrowed and didn't bother to ask for which he brought his attention back on her.

She grinned with the peek of her white stained canines happily at his words. "Alright, just checking." The black fae stood and tilted her build slightly towards the ground in a playful manner to ensure she messing around with him. "Hell yeah. I'm ready when you are." She trotted along to his side as he shook out his dark mixed pelt out and stretched out her long onyx legs. Her black claws grounded the Earth beneath her paws and her tail wagged with readiness. "You're very welcome, Marrok." She tilted her head a bit and smiled when he mentioned maybe accompanying her during a thunderstorm. "I'd enjoy it very much. If you're wondering which is my den, look for the very large one underneath an oak's roots. It's hard not to see it since it's big enough to fit a family. Haha. I think Chiara and I may have over done it." Her grin turned a bit sheepish.

On her first day, Chiara had befriended her and agreed to help her on her den, later having her stay in Juno's den and starting on her's in the morning. It was a brilliant plan and they learn a lot about each other in the process. The fae made her feel warm, Juno was thankful for such a friend to come across on her first day being part of a pack that didn't treat with such royalty. Marrok's words perked her ears back up to normal and her eyes were aglow. The onyx tail of hers wagged and brushed the dirt behind her swirling up a small cloud as she started forwards in a slow stroll. "I can't think of any questions at the moment, but I'm willing to answer some of your questions?"

"Nah no females for me my dear. This old hearts a bit too sore for that sort of thing. No it will be painful for my many fans but you won't be seeing this male chasing tail this spring." He said looked away from her gaze. "I hope you find what you're looking for miss." He said in a softer tone as he stood and looked to the inner forest. Prey would surly seek out the fertile spring grass and new shoots, yearning to fill their small stomachs. Silently yearning to go hunt he flicked his ear back to the female as she trotted up to him.

Nodding his head he walked off, slowly at first then picking up speed into a steady trot. He cept his pace steady for he was unsure where he was going or if the land he tread on was stable. Deciding to be cautious Marrok aimed for dry areas to walk on. "Questions? Well let me think. You say you were trained by an Alpha in your old pack, why leave and not stay as a Alphess? Sorry if that was too personal." He said quickly interjecting in the last part as they ran through the swamp. Signs of spring were everywhere, from the new growth to the many scents of prey. Almost drooling at the thought of a fat quail he nearly stumbled as he trotted.

She sped up and matched his speed, jogging in unison. Different scents of various prey surrounded her and seemed to be at a close range from the two. Juno kept her pace perfectly in balance with his, checking his feeting every few seconds to see if she wasn't anymore further than he. Her onyx paws almost plopped into a muddy puddle but thankfully her instincts that sometimes took over her body avoided it for her. Whew... Juno dearly hated being dirty, she had a cleanliness disorder in which was the reason her pelt always seemed shiny and elegant. Her ears pierced against her skull at the brute's questioning words. Why did I leave?

There was many reasons of why she left but the main one was because she wanted freedom and to have the options of her own future with Ace, her old mate. Still trotting at his side she opened her peppered maw and spoke with a uneasy tone. "My father, Zephren had me trained by his best elites and warriors the pack had. I became a natural quick learned when it came to fighting and other abilities. It's not that I wanted to leave, I loved the pack I had dearly and they gave me great respect." Her eyes stayed trained in front of her, keeping her gaze away from him so he wouldn't see the pain behind her eyes. "I left out of two reasons. The first was out of freedom. Zephren never let me play with the other pups in the pack because he was afraid I'd be like them where I'm clueless to what the real world will do. I never had a chance to really have friends, it was always training, training, or more training." Her chest expanded and she let out a long sigh before continuing.

"The other reason was out of love..." She smiled to herself at the thought of Ace and her running away together. "I had met a male at the border one day and ever since then we became closer. Nights after nights I'd sneak out just to see or talk to him. When I turned two years old my parents arranged a mating ceremony with the son of another pack's Alpha, Brenet." She couldn't believe she was telling him this much, she didn't even tell Chiara this much about her and Ace. "The night of the ceremony, we fled to be together and have a family with no one to choose our futures but us. Do I regret leaving the pack...yes, but I did it with an important reason. You can understand that right?" Her thoughts had always reminded of her of what it would be like if she stayed. Ace would still be alive, but he wouldn't be her mate..Brenet would and they'd be the new Alphas. She wouldn't be here...

Continuing forward through the swamp the males path suddenly veered left as he caught the scent of a lone deer. It seemed to be heading towards the forest so he cept his movements soft as the pair trotted on. Behind him he heard Juno step into a puddle now and then, bringing a smile to his face. She was doing well to keep up with him and it didn't surprise him. With her long legs and training he had no doubt she was fast and strong, perhaps even giving him a run for his money. Several females in his home pack proved their worth to him by defeating him in a spar or out running him to prey. Of course these incidences were few and far between, but he knew it was possible.

As Juno spoke he noted the change in her tone as she progressed from proud to nearly upset. Speaking of her training brought a gleam in her voice, but when the topic changed deeper her persona switched in the opposite direction. As she looked away he slowed his pace from a walk to a halt as he listened. Her story progressed and her smile vanished, hiding behind pain filled memories that he wished he could change. Did he understand her reasons for leaving? Of course he did. He himself had to leave out of sheer pain of losing his father and mate, though he didn't exactly feel what she had been through. Seeing her upset he had the idea that something happened to her mate. Moving his gaze downwards inside he knew what had happened and could sympathize with that. "Oh Juno, yes I do understand. Fate itself dealt me a hand that I must leave my pack, though not for the same reasons as you." He said keeping his voice low.

"I can however sympathize with you losing your mate, that's something I do understand. In my home pack I had a mate, a beautiful fae named Luna. She was my whole world and I was hers. One day I went hunting and while I was out my best friend, well he killed her. It broke my heart and my mind when I came back. I did some things I regret and had to leave." He said now feeling low. Almost trying to escape the memories he took a step away from her. "So you see I do understand, fate is cruel sometimes. Breaking ones heart can be the most painful blow my dear, but time heals all wounds they say" He said turning back to her and forcing a smile. It took every ounce of strength he had not to pull her into an embrace, for both their sakes. He didn't of course, but the idea played in his mind, teasing him.

She slowed down as well and stopped with her eyes a bit glassy from thinking over to much, not paying attention of what all she had just thought of. Juno hadn't really thought about it for a while since she had joined but it felt good for someone other than herself to hear it. She let out a shaky sign of relief at Marrok's understanding. To his words she nodded. He too had his own personal reasons of fleeing but when she became more aware of his lower depressed tone her gaze went to his. So, he had lost his only love too? The lump in her throat reappeared and she felt sad for the brute's loss as she too could relate to loosing someone so special. Her jaw clenched and she tried with all her might to swallow but it was no use. Juno eventually choked out a breathe and answered. "I had a lovely mate as well, he was a fine brute named Ace. The nicest male I'd ever met and in late spring about a year from now we had a litter of one, and named the pup Riot..."

Her ears pierced up as she gazed into his amber eyes taking a deep breathe before continuing. "A few months into spring, I had just gotten back from my daily hunt and decided to nap in the den while Ace took Riot out to the pasture to enjoy the scenery..." Juno's emerald stare fainted away to just a palish green and her pupils grew. "Two hours later, I woke up from my nap and wondered to where they were and decided to go out and look for them. When I came to the meadow all I saw was their.." she choked up a bit and her tone was so low it was a whisper. "...blood and no remains left of them. I-I searched for an hour to where or who had done such a thing but... it was no use." Her volume increased back to normal but stammered at the horrid memory. "After that, I left. I still feel guilty from ever taking that damn rest. I-If I didn't then.. I could of protected them from danger and they'd still be here, alive, enjoying their lives." A bit of pain raked through her chest and it almost made her tear up but she was too strong to let out such emotion. Juno closed her eyes and took a breathe while she listened to Marrok's voice that somehow managed to calm her.

She nodded. "I suppose so." Juno smiled weakly but she felt better at Marrok's way of cheering her back up. The fae hadn't noticed that he was now a step away and started back to walking again, seeing more rays of sunshine through the leaves up above their heads. "We're almost here. You still up for that bet?" She winked this time feeling better and more relieved to get off her chest. Marrok and her shared a connection between histories. They had both lost their mates in tragic accidents and still remained to live everyday lives, to move on. She trotted and soon picked up speed hearing her companion trail behind her, into the tall grass ahead.