The sky was clear and the stars shone down on the earth. Cast No Shadow wove through the wooded areas and made her way to the bare ground. She was like a shadow herself, with a pure black coat. Her movements were smooth and her sensitive ears picked up the sound of a lone wolf's howl. She replied with a howl of her own, then continued on her way. She was a loner. And she told herself that she always will be. The smell of a mouse caught her attention, but she allowed it to walk by without chasing it or snapping at it. For once in her life, she was lonely. She was a friend of the humans, and for that, she was an outcast. She howled one last time, waiting for a reply.

The large black brute, with eyes of an icy blue and a golden sun, trampled up through the canyon. He was carrying something dead in his mouth, a bird. It's lifeless body hung out of his strong jaws, bouncing with every movement of the wolf as he made his way higher and higher. He treaded along the edges of cliffs whenever they were there, and others times stayed along the rocky walls.
Soon, he turned and changed course, heading down a different bouldered path. His motions were reckless and uneven, like some silly drunken human that knew nothing better. However, he was all ears, alert, with nothing to stop him. He was also a loner, hense his name, and was proud of it. Packlife was for the sissies, he always said.
Finally turning around a corner, his blended eyes landed on the fae. She appeared alone, just as much as him. Yet being alone didn't bother him. With a snort of satisfaction, he parted his jaws and dropped the dead bird to the rocky ground. He then simply stood and stared, eyes holding back a sinister glare. The very corners of his wolven lips were curved upward the slightest bit in a hidden grin.

Shadow smelled the scent of something dead. The bird. She lifted her head and sniffed the wind. She looked upwind and barely saw a dark figure in the night. Oh, great. Another one coming after me. She thought, and prepared to run. But when she saw that Solo was just staring at her, she calmed down. She watched him for a moment. Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes showed fear. She lifted her head and howled, waiting to see if he would reply.

Solo simply stared at the fae, standing there unmoving. He seen no reason to chat here, but he was wondering why such a creature would be up here all alone, with absolutely no one else around. Yet then again, he fully understood the life of loners, for he was one himself. Always had been, always would be.
At hearing her lone howl, he perked up a bit and then tilted his own maw to the sky, returning hers with a chilling one of his own. Then he lifted his tail a bit, and went stalked forward, the bird in his mouth once more. It was a fresh kill, so it didn't smell too bad yet.
Once he finally was in talking range of her, he spoke, "Hey," he stated, though his voice was quite low and barely audible, just about at a whisper. Then he spoke louder, voice lifting, "Name's Solo. Who're you, and why are you all alone here?" he asked, thoroughly expecting an answer. His blended eyes narrowed at her then, oblivious to her fear, and only noting her smile. Something was fake.

Shadow listened as Solo replied, watching him, never blinking. This time, her eyes smiled too. He seemed kind enough. She wagged her tail as he came closer, keeping her head low in a submissive posture.

"I was named Cast No Shadow...But these days I'm usually known as Shadow." She said, almost as quiet as the night itself. "I am an outcast for saving lives. They threaten and hurt me because I have no fear of humans - because I was raised by humans. I don't think it is right to kill humans, and for that, my own packmates want me dead." This time, she showed no fear.

Solo watched her, unmoving, posture unwavering. He stood tall and strong, unlike most other loners. He was his own leader, and he would use that position to his own advantage. He then noted her own posture, and gave a little shake of his head. "No need for any submissive doings, miss." he stated in a strange tone, almost mocking. He didn't know why he was being so... Nice. The bird must have done something to him. "Well, Shadow, nothing could be so bad as to save a human," he began, licking his hungry chops, "though I can't say I like them." he then finished, taking a seat on his slender haunches. He could tell that she seemed strong, fearless even. But he knew how things worked. Fearsome one minute, fearless the next. He knew how the mind worked, especially those of others.

Shadow nodded and raised her head. Her life had been one of saving lives and paying for it, though the feeling that she had done good outweighed the punishment. "I never used to like humans because my dad hated them. Soon enough, though, my mom taught me manners." She said, looking back to the days that she was at the Animal Sanctuary. "My worst enemy was my own brother. He put a price on my head and convinced my pack that I was evil." She suddenly stopped speaking and looked at the bird. It sent a tingle down her spine to think of what it could be for. Food, obviously. She thought. But a different reasoning told her otherwise. {He's a heartless killer. He murdered that bird for fun. Run, Shadow, run while you still can. He'll kill you too if he gets the chance!} Shadow closed her eyes tightly and snapped her jaws shut. "Stop it! Shut up!" She exclaimed, speaking to the voice. She opened her eyes and looked at Solo. "Sorry. Just...daydreaming." She sighed, trying to look happy.

Solo sighed, and then flung his dial up to feel a rush of wind flow past him. The sun was slowly beginning to set in the distance, and along with that brought cooler winds. It felt wonderful.
Suddenly snapping back to his mysterious act, he eyed her suspiciously. "Manners? Oh, but I'm not as nice as I may seem." he stated with a snickering chuckle, before flicking the tip of his black banner and looking dully at her. How pitiful, her crying out like that. But it was true, he wasn't as nice as he seemed at first glance. She had just caught him at the 'wrong' time.
"I make my daydreaming come alive." he then said in a simple manner, voice emotionless as he then looked down at the bird which lay at his paws. He had been carrying the featherduster around since killing it earlier this afternoon, even though he was still a bit hungry. He desired not to eat such a creature, since not only was it not filling enough, it didn't quite fit his taste. But would she understand him and his 'different' ways?

Shadow watched Solo, filled half with fear and half with curiosity. {You see?!} Said the voice, {He's evil! RUN!} She clenched her jaws and tried not to yell again. Be quiet. She thought, in reply to the voice. She kept her eyes on him, afraid that if she blinks the voice will attack again. She could no longer keep her eyes opened and shut them for only a fraction of a second. But that was long enough for the voice to say, {RUN!} She kept herself from whining as she looked for the right words to say. But she stayed silent for the longest time. With curiosity overwhelming her, she asked, "Where did you come from?"

Solo simply sat there, watching her with growing curiousity. His blended eyes blinked a couple times, and then narrowed once more. "I believe something's wrong with ya?" he suddenly stated, staring as he tilted his head. "Oh, I came from outside of the valley, of course. Where it was much more peaceful than this." he stated, giving his tail a flick again. Then he raised a brow at her. "And where have you come from?" he asked back, wanting to know more. Something about her made him a bit uneasy, but other than that, he was curious and a bit wary.

Shadow shook her head. "There's nothing..." She began, but realized she didn't want to tell a lie. "I-I hear a voice." She paused and looked at him, wondering if he would dislike her because of this. "I, too, come from outside of the Valley. I was born and raised at a Wildlife Refuge." She promised herself that she wouldn't cry, but all she wanted was relief from the nagging voice.

Solo's invisible brow raised even more at this, and he gave his head a small shake. "Ah, a figment of imagination, aye?" he suddenly asked, auds flickering now. She was a funny one, a fae he had never come across. You were surrounded by tons of kinds of creatures everyday, and you wouldn't know their problems until you actually met them. This was one of those moments.
"I don't know where I was born. I've been a loner. All my life." he stated, giving a snort. And I wouldn't be surprised if she'se the same, her and that little pal she has he thought silently to himself, giving a light snicker.

Shadow took a deep breath. "I don't think it's my imagination..." She replied, "...I think its real." This time, she did not bother trying to look happy. She was sad, and anyone could tell. "I am a loner because I am forced to be one." She sighed, trying not to think too hard for fear that her voice in her head would speak again.

Solo stared at her, as if her words made no sense. In a way, to him, they didn't make anything. They were just words from some messed up wolfess. He never took anything to heart, so maybe that was why he felt so careless now.
"Nonsense." he simply stated, giving a gruff snort.
"And I am a loner because I choose to be one." he then added, lifting his dial, proud to have such a life. Nothing good ever came out of having a bunch of 'packmates' jumping around you all the time.