The world just couldn't give this old lady a break. Dinye had been out patrolling the kingdom's territory, the thought of hunting something decent for her family running through her mind. In what felt like a split second, she had been yanked into some weird dark portal of some kind. At first she thought she was losing her ever loving mind. The dark world put her into a state of sleepiness, only to wake her ass right up as she was flung from the sky. Dinye tried to right herself up, but ended up landing in the cold water of a massive pool.

She hit the water with a loud slap, then went right under the surface. The water was extremely cold, biting at her small frame and old bones as if they were a tasty snack. It took her a second to regain herself, paws moving to take her back up for air. With a loud gasp and more splashing, Dinye made it to the surface world. Her brightly colored form swam to the shore, ears perking up to the sound of nearby waterfalls. The beauty of the place would have to be enjoyed later. For now, Dinye's only concern was getting much warmer and dryer then she had ever been.

Reluctant to move on from this locale until he further gained his bearings, Fuxiao had lingered within the area. Until they had some mark or goal, he was content to remain here and gather his wits. Of course, wherever Yuèshí went, Fuxiao would follow. He had already lived a lifetime of diligence. This one would be for leisure.

The sound of a body hitting the water alerted him immediately. Hesitant to stray from his friend's side, he was still bound by duty, and so his body moved instinctively toward the sound. The she-wolf had already made her way to shore by the time he came upon her. Fuxiao approached with a graceful, friendly posture, although it may have seemed rigid and stiff.

Are you alright? he ventured to ask. Where had she fallen from, he wondered? The sound he had heard suggested it had been more than slipping off of the shore.

Yueshi was not far off at all, and the loud splash behind him turned his ears, his head followed. Of course, he didn't see anything. Fuxiao was headed that direction. Yueshi considered it might be a fish. A very large fish. And why wouldn't it be? He didn’t doubt anything in this world anymore.

He sat down, scratched behind an ear, and was surprised to see a wolf breaking the water's surface gasping and spluttering, splashing about. Yeesh, he muttered. What a racket. As if he didn’t routinely make an ungodly amount of noise. He trotted after Fuxiao, silky tail swaying.

It's raining wolves now! Yueshi called out, voice light and playful. He knew. He'd done his fair share of falling out of the sky. Someone up there hated him.

Her loud bouts of noise seemed to have attracted an audience. How lovely. Dinye was licking herself dry, shaking out the water from her pelt as best she could. Luckily she wasn't a huge creature so this wouldn't take long. In the meantime, her blue eyes moved to tall glass of snowmelt that came in her direction. Followed by a very smoky looking companion. Never better. Just you know, a small wolf falling from completely out of the sky. Don't mind little old me.

She gave a smirk, tail now nearly dry and fluffing up into a puffy mess. That would have to get fixed later. Where in the world am I any way? Looking around, this place didn't seem familiar to her at all. But in some ways it didn't remind her of the many tropical areas she had visited before finding Petra and the others. Funny how life seems to pluck little memories out of you when you least expect it. It was really annoying.

An ear twisted slightly in Yueshi's direction and he felt his lips tug into a faint smile. His attention remained on the stranger until she mentioned she had fallen from the sky. Pale gaze briefly traced the path upward from the pool and saw nothing of note. When she asked where she was, it became apparent to Fuxiao she must have arrived here as abruptly as he had. At least he had simply woken up. The idea of falling into the world felt... embarrassing.

Little old me. As he studied her, he could see that she was indeed older than Yueshi, at least—well, she would be his elder now, too. Whatever manner of being brought them here did not do so equally, it had seemed.

Somewhere new, he answered plainly, his gaze turning now to Yueshi in case he had anything to had. He had been here longer, anyway.

Fuxiao put it so simply. Somewhere new. Well obviously this soggy wolf was somewhere new. Yueshi sniffed.

“Somewhere,” Yueshi settled on, echoing Fuxiao. “I fell out of the sky too. Mm… a while ago. I lost track of time between dying again and… falling out of the sky again.” He laughed. “Not so sure we're all not dead,” he added, and his teeth flashed in an ironic grin.

“I'm Yueshi, by the way,” he greeted. The worst creature you could ever have the misfortune of meeting, he added silently. Bad luck. Cursed. He didn't doubt it now.

Yueshi introduced themselves seemingly without a care in the world, chiming in after the white male had said his own short sweet peace. Dinye almost spoke up to clarify some things, when a very familiar voice rang in the air. One that belonged to her great niece! Dinye turned to face her, now dry enough to stop the shaking. My dear Apple! It's been too long! She ran right on over to meet her sweet golden Apple, a happy and bright smile spread across her face. The other two became an almost distant memory, as she went to hug Apple affectionately.

Are there any others here from the old pack? An expression of both slight concern and more so curiosity, came across her face. Then she looked back to the others. Excuse me for my rudeness after making such a splash. I am Queen Apple's great aunt, Dinye Dusk. I wish you were seeing me in a more grand and elegant entrance. A toothy grin came next, blue eyes ablaze with the same fire she had always carried in her soul. The true mark of a real Dusk wolf.

As his gaze lingered on Yueshi, he felt his eyes narrow ever-so-slightly. His friend had fallen out of the sky, too? Again? Died... again?

Again?

It pained him to think Yueshi had suffered here alone. All the time he had spent mourning and paying respects—had it been for naught? Fuxiao had to believe that it was good for something. Maybe it was why he was here at all, but if others came to this world so readily, maybe it was nothing special, either.

Even as another wolf approached, his eyes remained studying Yueshi. He twisted an ear to listen but only turned to look at her when she mentioned she was a queen. It occurred to him sometime before that his reputation likely had not followed him here but he was not sore to think this. It freed him, in a way, despite his likeliness to remain an etched piece of jade.

The queen's great aunt shared a toothy grin like Yueshi's and Fuxiao dipped his head slightly to both women. He understood the importance of a reunion and wondered how long it had been since these two had met. For a world to grant reunions like this, he struggled to cast it in a bad light. But Yueshi had come here and died again? It weighed on his mind more than introductions, especially for a space where his name and title meant nothing. He wanted to be rid of this distraction.

To see you healthy and reunited is grand enough, he said quietly, following quickly with another polite dip of his head. We will take our leave.

He turned then, knowing Yueshi would follow, and made way to depart. This space was growing crowded and they were long overdue for an adventure.

[exit]

Another approached, head inclined, a warm smile gentling her face. Yueshi could practically feel Fuxiao withdrawing, and his red-brown gaze turned to his friend, and then to the two women.

He felt very much the outsider as these two family members reunited.

“Ah, Queen Apple! Auntie Dusk!” He looked over as Fuxiao dismissed himself. “Ah… my apologies. We'll talk another time, yeah?” he grinned, giving a quick bow of his head to each of the women in turn.

He trotted after Fuxiao. “Good luck to both of you!” He tossed over his shoulder with a flick of his tail.

---

[Exit]