raindrops keep fallin on my head

Falsk was quite tired mentally. Things weren’t going particularly well for him and his bright spirit had been dampened. The light from his eyes was lost, and he meandered through the woods. He didn’t even bring along the special rabbit pelt for collecting exciting items. His face despairing, he wandered.

Eventually, he came to a spot in the woods where the landscape dipped down, and in the divot created was a little pond. It could hardly even be called a pond, it was more of a puddle. Walking over to it, curiosity peeking through his bad mood, Falsk carefully observed the water. 

After waiting a few moments, he saw a fish swimming about in the tiny pond. Falsk grinned at finding something interesting. Then he wondered how the fish had gotten there. There weren’t any streams nearby and the puddle-pond didn’t look big enough to house such a large fish. Falsk’s grin turned to a frown. This fish was all alone and would most likely die alone. Falsk began to sob, scaring away the fish as he gasped and whimpered.

@Baelfire

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It seemed silly to cry over nothing.

Bae knew better than that. Knew that when the tears came, it was difficult to stop. It could be random, or it could be forced. It could be brought on, triggered by something. He also knew the pale-coated wolf was sobbing uncontrollably and would attract unwanted attention. Damn his previous pack for making him feel bad, feel compassion and mercy... They had given him none.

"Why" he began, turning on his path and making a slight line for the other male "are you crying?" He peered at the surface of the water, seeing a lone fish there. Hm. It could be simple; loneliness. The wolf didn't smell strongly of a pack. Just casually. Bae didn't know what the smell belonged to though. He only knew Dragonford and Northfall by scent alone. Still, his tone was not accusing or angry. Just grim acceptance.

Someone was crying. You ask why.

@Falsk

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Interrupted from his sobs, Falsk tried to stop his crying. He hiccupped helplessly but managed to turn towards the other male. He was a multicolored wolf, with intriguing russet patches. He was abnormally tall, but other than that seemed normal enough. Taken by the question he managed to keep his cries down in order to respond.

“The fish- I mean, I just feel confused and lonely,” he said with a grimace, his usually smiling face gone. He hadn’t done much since he arrived in Canis, but all of it felt worthless in the face of looming loneliness and questioning. Had he done the right thing joining Highvalley? Their ideals were far from his own. The idea that some were inherently better than others didn't sit right with Falsk. But he didn’t want to be alone. “I’m sorry for annoying you,” he said as he hiccupped again while trying to compose himself. He was sure he was being irritating again, just like he had with Reyes and Chantico. Soon he would be scared off just the same.

@Baelfire

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"Don't apologize." Bae sounded a bit curt, but he continued despite that. His tone was softer as he explained his reasoning. He bit a sigh back and sat down, near the lad but also not right next to him. He didn't like to be touched, even if he was attempting to be sympathetic. His good eye was able to focus on the other wolf, he hid his blind one by position alone.

"Nearly everyone feels lonely at some point" Deflecting on that fish was key enough "those who don't cry, worry, or even shed a tear - lack the capacity to feel in touch with others" He rolled his shoulders as he stared at the fish "it's normal. So don't apologize for the emotion. It shows you have compassion." This time he did sigh, as there was a difference between feeling and being lonely.

"Distancing oneself from others, like this fish... Causes more problems. A wolf is strong with others beside them" He flashed a paw out, striking the fish and slapping it out of the water "if you are alone, you open yourself to attack" He leaned expertly and bit the side of its gills, killing it. Quick mercy. Mercy that others rarely gave others "so don't push others away."

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Falsk reflected on the taller wolf’s words. He seemed practiced at this, or maybe he was just smarter than Falsk. He didn’t know. What he knew was that this man's words made sense and even his presence was helpful.

Falsk was utterly surprised when the man put the fish out of its misery. He had been thinking of rescuing the fish, trying to find water with it in his mouth. But now he realized that would’ve been a much slower, much more painful death. He needed to stop being like this fish, alone and pushing others away. It logically made sense, but emotionally it felt hard to do.

“But what about when others push you away? Or your pack makes you push away others?” He asked while sniffling. He had finished sobbing, for now at least, but still looked a mess with snot and tears on his face. He tried to wipe it off covertly but ended up being quite obvious in his shame. He looked over at the man and added, "My name is Falsk." Trying not to forget his manners.

@Baelfire

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"Then you have to decide if they're worth your loyalty." Because most were not. They didn't deserve any sort of commitment or care, because they lacked the capacity to give it back. Bae glanced away from the pale mess, giving the man his privacy while he cleaned himself up. He'd seen worse, and he'd cried worse upon a time. Setting broken bones, repairing wounds, and also just ah... ending lives. Mercifully or not. He had seen worse.

It took much more for him to flinch or become disgusted. "If it hurts you to push others away, ask how it feels to be pushed away. It is fine for a pack to protect what they have, but bias is still a topic that comes up eventually" His lip twitched somewhat but continued on despite this "especially when one person's poison bleeds and infects the rest. Do you want to be part of that?" He didn't think Falsk would. He seemed too sensitive to needlessly hate others. He'd feel bad about it.

He'd slip up in his pack. They expect this, and he would be punished. Eventually or soon. It could even end in death. "Baelfire." He added off-handedly. His name really mattered so little right now.

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