<blockquote class="uncited"><div> "Ah, so you're sort of a local then," </div></blockquote><br/><br/>It was a bold-faced lie. Twenty nine miles wouldn't even START to get to their home - yet, it was the outskirts of their territory, at least. And it was the outskirts that were being marauded by city-dwellers...and slowly, were they pushing their way inside...<br/><br/>"A bit of a local, yeah." Eruin replied without batting an eyelid. A small, curvy smile creases his lips, making his muzzle appear almost catlike for a few brief seconds "As for Rea, well...she's about as normal as they come. Some of...er...our other friends..." He'd almost slipped in his wording, there. He'd HAVE to be more careful "...well, they can get pretty wacky at times. Rea is a bit of an oddity out here, though. I think I just overfed her when she was little..."<br/><br/>Eruin casts Rea an amused grin, though her gaze remained firmly planted on the Jackal and Wolf, oblivious to the world around her, save for those two. Something about them had riled her attention, it seemed - she was not openly aggresive, but Eruin could tell by the way she held her tail down - she was overly suspicious of the two. Perhaps with good reason...<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> "Bet you could made all twenty nine of those miles quicker without talking, though! It seems it takes you all of ten seconds of blabbering before you pushed or slurped for what you say." </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Theron's voice draws Eruin's attention back to the canine, his muzzle curling into a full-blown smile, now "HAH!" He laughs loudly, giving the seemingly friendly german shepard a soft little pat on the shoulder "That is part of the fun of the journey - playing. If you couldn't play, what COULD you do, hrm? Talk - that gets old after a while. Physical touch, though...well, there is no way to be more social than that. Or to have more fun, even if it does get a bit rough sometimes."<br/><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> “I’m sorry if my watching unsettled you before,” </div></blockquote><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> “My friend always likes to enforce rules by staring at people until they turn into stone.” </div></blockquote><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> “Oh hush, you were staring too,” he chided before turning back to Eruin. “Anyway, it was nothing personal. We have a lot of people who come on board that look like they can handle themselves, but often they are too ready to prove it to other people. I for one am quite glad the lot of you settled your disagreement civilly and I apologize for making you uncomfortable.” </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Now, it was the jackal's turn to draw Eruins attention - he'd stepped forwards close enough to offer his hand. After an apology, to boot.<br/><br/>His efforts, however, are met with a soft warning growl from Rea's throat, her fur bristling all the way down her spine. Even her tail seems to fluff out the slightest bit, making her appear just a tiny bit bigger - as if she really needed it.<br/><br/>Eruin softly reaches out a hand and strokes the wary wolfess behind one of her tall, pointed ears, just that small, simple touch from the smaller wolf seeming to calm her instantly - to some degree, at least "Easy girl..." He whispers, the hand behind her ear sliding down to pat her softly on the shoulder "...He apologized. This is just his way of..er...greeting, I think it was."<br/><br/>Eyeing the Jackal intently, Eruin finally reaches out and accepts the offered hand, squeezing it softly as she shook it - the second time he'd used this method of greeting, and it felt...very strange to him "Of course. Nothing personal. Heck, I guess we do stick out a little bit, after all. Since neither of us turned to stone.." Here, he casts a wry glance and a smug smirk to the wolf behind the jackal "I guess all is forgiven. Rea just doesn't like being stared at - makes her really uncomfortable. I on the other hand, don't mind modeling for others. Let me know - next time, I'll strip down to my skivvies before you star peeking." A nearly ear-to-ear grin splits the wolf's face, his tail flicking back and forth behind him playfully, more than advertising his mood - and seeming lack of care that they'd been staring at him just a few moments before.<br/><br/>Releasing the jackal's hand, Eruin opens his mouth to say something else....when he catches it...<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Spot check - 1d20(19) + 18 = 37. HUGE success!</div></div></div><br/><br/>A soft little glint of light. Living in the wilds, even one such as himself had to keep an eye out for dangers and the unfamiliar, and when always living life on your toes...your eyes and ears are the first things you bother to develope. Those who don't keep an eye out for predators, even if they are predators themselves...likely wouldn't get to see anything for much longer...<br/><br/>His eyes instantly flicker to the glimmer on the balcony above him - a cougar? Signalling...someone. Or something. He appeared nervous, jittery....Eruin could practically see the tension in his actions, the furtive glances his eyes gave to see if someone was watching him...<br/><br/>He was not acting natural - and there came the red flag.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div> "Speaking of security, I don't figure you guys use hand mirror to signal Eva Height's docks, do you?" </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Eruin's ears perk - so, Theron had caught it, too. Well - it looks like Eruin had underestimated the German Sheperd after all...<br/><br/>"Good eyes." The wolf compliments, peering up at the cougar just as he wheels around and dissappears out of sight again.<br/><br/>Rea, on the other hand, looks entirely flabberghasted "What?" Her eyes shift skywards, looking at the balcony where the cougar had been just a few moments before "I don't see anything. Damnit, Eruin, why didn't you tell me. I could ha..." Her jaw remains half-open, her sentence unfinished. She'd spoken. Aloud. In the presence of almost total strangers "....Oops." she finishes, the aggression leaving her body...and her tail tucking right beneath her hind legs.<br/><br/>Eruin, equally as open-mouthed...just stares at her. That had been the first thing they'd discussed - no talking in the open. And there she'd done it. Ten minutes into the trip. Slapping a hand across his face, Eruin sighs - and deeply. This was not going to be a good trip. Not a good trip at all.<br/><br/>Still, there were other things he needed to take care of - and if that Cougar was planning something suspicious...well, he'd not be caught unprepared...<br/><br/>"Rea, you bumblehead. Gimmie a smile. I have a feeling...well, I just have a feeling. And it's not a good one."<br/><br/>The embarrassed looking she-wolf, having heard THAT particular line before...lifts her head up to Eruin's chest, practically pressing her cold, wet nose against it. Then - eyeing the wolf and jackal with something that was almost 'smugness'- she pulled back her lips, revealing her 5-inch-long canines.<br/><br/>Eruin slips a hand beneath her chin, lifing it up to just in front of his eyes, those white, sparkling, razor-like teeth scant centimeters from his face - and he seems not even the slightest bit concerned.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">DC 18 spot check to notice Eruin's 'concealed Spellcasting'. (1d20(7) + 11 = 18)</div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Andarin Alruin"</span>Eruin whispers softly, a single fingertip turning a soft, glowing green color. Reaching up, he lightly pulls his lips back and runs his finger across his teeth a single time, leaving them glimmering with magical energy in it's wake. Without missing a beat, he does the same to Rea, running his fingertip a single time across her teeth - they also take on an otherworldly sheen, bright and almost glittery.<br/><br/>Almost in unison, the duo close their mouths, as if nothing had ever happened - they looked the same as before.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">(Eruin casts "Greater Magic Fang"On himself. Rea Sharespells.)</div></div></div><br/><br/>"So....pocket mirrors. Signalling someone..." He eyes Theron, then the wolf and jackal "...Well. Why do I have this bad little feeling."