The Feral North

It had been a few weeks since her day at the coffee shop and a few days since she'd last spent time with Dante. Cassandra's life seemed to slowly be falling into place. While nothing was easy, it was the trials and tribulations that made life worth living. Many people had said it, including the Regina of her old pride. The joy of life didn't come from the destination, it came from the roads that are traveled along the way. Cassie tried to live her life by that, feeling that it meant no matter how bad things got, they would get better.

Today found the lioness at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. She had needed to escape the cage that was the town. It wasn't like she didn't like being in town, because that wasn't it at all. However, there were times where she just needed to get out. The times when she felt those animal urges to just be out and about. To roam free. Part of her wanted to shift and just run, but something was holding her back. Cassandra didn't know what it was, but it was there regardless. Shaking her head, she smoothed her baby blue top out, letting the hem fan out a few inches above the hem of her jeans.

As a gentle breeze appeared, her hair whipped lightly around her, a familiar scent wafting towards her. With creased brows, Cassie looked around, her eyes golden for a brief moment as she attempted to pinpoint just where the scent was coming from.

With his normal attire of black pants and jacket and a random shirt tossed on under it Keller was roaming with no goal in mine. Everything had seemed quiet of late and it was bothering the snow leopard some what. He had this feeling it was just the calm moment before some sort of storm. After getting caught randomly sniffing the air outside the pard house he moved on not wanting to explain his weird urges. Plus he sort of blushed everything someone asked him what the hell he was up too. Just awkward all around really. Which mean he had climbed into his car and wandered as far as he could without actually leaving town.

That was mostly the reason behind being at the park. It seemed like the thing to do and the weather was nice enough considering all so he parked and started walking around. His cell was on him of course in case Elenna or Jasper needed him for anything.He had left the jacket behind in the car and was strolling around in his light blue t-shirt and his black jeans hands deep in his pockets as he came across a familiar scent. He glanced around quickly before sniffing the air around himself. Bad enough that people who did that thought he was going mental no need to get around humans who would be twice as confused about him sticking his nose in the air and inhaling.

it only took a second for him to know who it was he was standing down wind from. The Lion he had met at the coffee shop not to long ago. His head tilted to the side as he considered what he wanted to do. He wasn't in a hurry and didn't have a million things planned so he shrugged to himself and wandering into sight of the Lion looking casual. "Fancy running into you way up here Ducky. Getting a bit of fresh air are you?" He tilted his head to the side and wandered a step closer to the Lioness before stopping.

Her senses remained confused until a distinct voice rang in her ears. The smile that graced her lips was one of surprise and happiness. Go figure of all the people she could have possibly run into, she found Keller. "One could inquire the same about you," she said with a grin. Of course she was teasing, though serious at the same time. Tucking some hair behind her ear, Cassandra tilted her head slightly and looked him over. She couldn't fathom how he managed to wear all of that black and not feel the need to shed some of it.

"Honestly, love, how do manage to wear all that black and not get hot? I mean, naturally higher temperatures not enough for you," the lioness asked, arching a brow. Moving a little closer, she nodded slightly, finally deciding to answer his question. "And yes, I find the fresh air to be a nice breather from the chaos that is town." That much was true. Coming up here was probably one of the best times for her to just be able to relax and unwind. It was nice.

(Sorry it's short, muse died on me)

He offered a smirking look before glancing around taking in the area they were in. "I'm all about the fresh air and what not Ducky. Kitten's got to play hasn't it?" His hands found their way into pockets like it was second nature for them to be there. taking his eyes off all the greenness that surrounded them he turned to look at the lioness. he had felt eyes on himself but it didn't annoy him or make him more self aware then he would have been normally.Hearing the question he rocked back on his heels and laughed. "The color is slimming. Thought everyone knew that."

He did give himself a glance before making an aha sound and pointing at his shirt. It wasn't like he was wearing all black. Even he didn't do something like that. She was right after all black trapped hat and he already ran hotter than a normal person would. After giving another shrug not really directed to anyone he blinked and turned his eyes back to Cassie. "So what are you up to up here all by your lonesome? Figured you'd have someone tag along with you." Even as he spoke his eyes were looking around trying to see if she did have a tag along with her. He wandered closer to her and after a moment mentally said screw it and tugged her into a hold. She was another cat, shouldn't mind to much really.

She found herself nodding at his words. She did want to simply shed her clothes and let her feline take over. However, she was content at the moment to remain in her human flesh. "Slimming...Right...Though, I have to ask, why do you need a slimming color when you seem rather slim as it is," she inquired, brunette bangs falling over her left eye. She herself found it pointless to wear black these days. A naturally hotter body temperature and a slim body? There was really no reason to wear the shade. The aha sound that he made caused Cassie to roll her eyes and smile.

She found herself shrugging slightly at his question. "My tag along mate isn't really...the woodsy stroll type..." she said, unable to help but grin slightly as Dante popped into her head. After a moment she felt herself being tugged forward and she tensed only briefly before returning the hold, purring softly. Her body relaxed into the embrace and a soft sigh escaped her lips. Only after another moment did she pull back, her eyes soft. "It's good to see you again Keller."

He shrugged waving all the thing of questioning. It's not like he was prancing around naked in front of anyone now was it? Though admittedly sometimes that sounded like a good idea if not getting arrested for indecent exposure. He pulled back from the hug wondering about the whole tag along that Cassie had manged to gather. It wasn't his call really so he didn't say anything about how unbalanced he thought Dante was. His eyes darted around before he spoke up again. "Let's go for a walk shall we?"

It wasn't really a request since he was already moving off towards the trees hands deep in his pockets. The lighter he kept on himself rattled around in his pocket for a moment before he curled a hand around it. He glanced over his shoulder making sure that Cassie was following him before he spoke. "Haven't seen our little human friend lately have you?" Not that he was going to go looking for Neal but it seemed like the kid had taken off from Thunder Bay. Which normally meant someone was up to no good if they did something like that.

He stepped into the shade offered by the trees relaxing slightly in the shadows. Knowing that smoking was mostly a no no up here but not caring either way he slipped a cigarette out and light it up. Blowing out a cloud of grey smoke he looked over to Cassie before moving deeper into the shade. "What fun things have you been up to lately?"

After leaving his embrace, her hazel eyes looking him over once again before flicking to a nearby tree where she heard the distinct sound of birds. She had to smile some as she thought about how easy they had it. Of course each creature had its place in the animal kingdom, but for some reason, it appeared that those animals that weren't shifters had it so much easier. But, that was her own opinion and for all she knew, she could be wrong. It happened a fair amount of the time. However, the question that was posed to her had the lioness leaving her thoughts. "Sure. A walk sounds good," she said, nodding some.

Cassandra turned and her feet began to lead her in the direction Keller had already started on. She silently wondered what he'd been up to lately, but figured she could ask when they were further along. Tucking some hair behind her ear, the lioness looked around, staying alert of everything around them. It took her a moment to recall who this 'human friend' was. Not like she spent her time thinking about the people she had encountered. The main reason she recalled Keller was because he was a shifter like herself. And of another species. Best to keep them in memory. "Not since we met him actually," she said, looking thoughtful. That made her wonder what he was up to.

As he lit up a cigarette, she arched a brow and simply shook her head. Wasn't her place to say what he should and shouldn't be doing. Leaning against a tree, she allowed her eyes to roam around before they fell on the leopard once more. "Not a lot really. Ran into a swan the other day. That was a little...tempting," she stated. Her lion had the urge to eat the female. Stupid swan. "What about you? Find any other leopards," she asked.

"Maybe something ate him?" Keller spoke thoughtfully allowing the cigarette dangle from between his lips as he spoke. He offered a shrug to show much that thought bothered him, none at all actually. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and let a huge grey cloud escape into the air before flicking his ashes onto the ground. Arching an eyebrow he gave a shrug before pushing off and setting his feet into movement once more. Much as he liked hanging out with another feline he wasn't sure how much he wanted to share. Jasper hadn't said much about if they were well known or if he wanted them to be known. For that reason along he was going to plead no comment and pass on sharing with Cassie. "Nose is still to the ground on that one ducky." He offered a one shouldered shrug before taking another drag off the cigarette.

He shoot a look back at the mention of a swan. Had to be the one he ran into. Not like there were alot of the feathery bints running around, "Yeah tall, blonde.. stupider than a first grader left behind a year?" He smirked after speaking knowing that the swan hadn't been stupid, fear had driven her into a corner and offered him an easy chance at a fast duck meal. He liked a bit more of a challenge than that though. He had let her go mouthing off and telling her to not travel alone. After all he was bound to get bored after a fashion. He had something easy to chase about if he did. He stuck the cigarette into the corner of his mouth and crossed his arms over his chest kicking at a patch of flowers before glancing back at the lioness. "Seems like there more puppies round this parts than anything else really."

Cassandra allowed a small laugh to escape her lips at that. "Yes, perhaps something did." She watched as he took a drag of his cigarette and had to fight not to shake her head. Truthfully, she hadn't much thought of the human since their encounter and it didn't bother her in the least. Aside from the fact that he seemed to have some nifty ability. The response to her leopard question had a brow arching, though she made no attempt to inquire further. It seemed like that topic was closed as fast as it had been opened.

"Yes that sounds about right," she said, actually shaking her head at that. She recalled the meeting fairly well. After all, the scent of the girl had been mouthwatering and Cassie was surprised she'd been able to keep her lion in check. It wasn't every day that one ran into a swan. They were somewhat of a rare treat. She wasn't as vicious as Dante was, but then again, she wasn't like him in any way. Aside from being lions.

"I can't say I've run into any puppies. Then again, I've been couped up for quite a while doing some reading and other things like that."