For Fen <3

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It was hard, pulling himself from the ocean's edge, out of fear that as soon as he did, he would miss the rest of his family and companions swim out of the currents just as he had. But that had been days ago, now, still there had been nothing and Huiren, well... He was hungry. Whatever morsels he'd found along the rocky beaches wouldn't have sustained him for any longer. So he traveled east along the coast, towards the scent of green.

He tried not to allow the antsy feeling in his gut to travel down to his paws, keeping his strides long and steady. Truly, he was in over his head. Was he aware of wolves as a human? Yes. Had he seen them traveling in packs? Also yes. Did he know the intricacies of their lifestyles and how to be one? Certainly not! He knew they hunted the deer and small creatures around his homeland, and that he would likely have to do the same to survive in this new world. But, surely, he would have to learn how to do so before trying it. Like learning a new art, failure was inevitable if one tried from simply watching once and without doing proper study, not to mention the risk of potential injury.

So, Huiren picked his way through increasingly dense foliage as he neared the foothills of tall mountain spires. He hoped to find some plants he was familiar with and knew would be safe to eat, to tide him over just until he could find someone willing to teach him. Assuming he could communicate with them in the first place.

Her steps had taken her toward the territory's outskirts, along a path lined with tropical overgrowth that hung heavy above the well-worn trail carved by years of scampering paws. She did not know where they had come from, or what animals had traversed this jungle before Tianlong arrived, but she did not seem to care. If anything, she remained grateful for the paths that kept her paws secure along the earth and carefully placed so as to not fall from a spot of crumbling and softened earth.

An accidental fall would add to the stress already lining her shoulders; she could not have that.

However, it appeared that a misadventure of the earth was not on the docket for her to concern herself with. Instead, it was the scent of a stranger that drifted along the wind. One who smelled familiar, like the fermented berries that had stained her tongue and the cherry blossoms she used to covet before she had woken here.

Curious, she ventured in that unfamiliar direction.

Until a man—tall as herself and doused in the shadows of red-toned night—materialized before her. She twisted her chin to garner a better look at him, a single ear pivoting toward the sound of his crunching feet. He was handsome, the princess would have to admit, and for a moment, her interest was heavily piqued.

Who were they, and why were they so close to her family’s borders?

Could they not smell?

You there! She called after a beat, her voice the sound of a blaze of fire running across a pane of silk. You skirt around Tianlong’s borders, name yourself.

Cutting abruptly through the idle sounds of the forest, words reached him with a tone of authority, bringing about a quick stop with ears standing alert as their owner searched for an answer. Tianlong? Curious, he had not heard of it before, and hadn't known he was near any borders. But, then again, he was a wolf now, presumably out in the middle of nowhere with no way to know if this world was anything like his own.

Wait—

You speak my tongue! Words spoken before given much thought, admittedly, far too eager at the familiarity to remember formalities. Huiren busied himself with eyes searching the forest undergrowth, until eventually, deep red landed on a pale figure. By the voice, he assumed it must be a young woman, and he watched her with hopeful curiosity before remembering the rest of what she had even said.

Forgive me, miss, for the lack of a proper greeting, and apparently being near her borders. His fur fell forward as he carefully dipped his head, muzzle pointed to the ground in as much of a respectful bow as he could manage as a canine. As he rose, he spoke again, his voice kept open yet measured. I am Zhū Huīrén, in this realm, it likely wasn't worth mentioning his home of Fortune's Harbor. Not yet. I wasn't aware that I was approaching your borders. In truth, I'm not entirely aware of where I am at all. That felt like an understatement to him, with much more to explain about his situation and what brought him here. But, unsure how any of it would be taken, or if this young woman would welcome him or have him turn around, he promptly decided that he would wait to be addressed again before speaking further.