Nocturne.

[River]

She was different. In the most distinctive of ways, the girl wasn't meant for Oukoku-Kai. Not meant for it, no, but did she desire such a place, such a hell? Yes. The answer immediately came to her, but the bondless took no notice of such a thing - interested more so in the evening sky than her own thoughts, such tedious things they were, Hayley had paid little attention to what her mind thought that day at all. She seemed.. distant, unemotional - why? Anyone could inquire, but no one could get an answer - at least, an answer that held truth within its confines. Her mind had been a slight annoyance to her in the past few days - a slow, steady buzz like a wasp nest buried in her brain, but did she seem deterred by such a thing? No, not outwardly - she seemed rather calm, the stilled surface of an isolated lake, still virgin to the touch of something living.

TEACHER.

BOND.

The words haunted her, like an ominous dark cloud splitting entire continents with bolts of fire and lightning. She feared and lusted for a bond, as most bondless did - Hayley was a passionate creature and, though she wasn't built for the Valley, all she needed was a teacher, someone to take her under their wing and show her the right path. However, while Hayley desired a bond so greatly, she made no actions upon that desire - she'd never spoken about it, hadn't spoken to anyone about anything really. Her time within the valley was spent not amongst the wolves, but amongst the foliage and flowers, distinguishing one flower from another and deeming which ones were poisonous and which ones were harmless, delicate little pleasures for the eye.

Suddenly anger pulsed through the maiden's body, amber eyes seemingly ablaze with the light of fire and determination. She had to bond, had to figure out some way to make herself noticed. Inner turmoil began to shake the fair maiden's body, causing her to tremble a little - upon realizing this, she huffed angrily, nearly a grunt, and made herself calm down. Getting frustrated was hardly the way to pick up a bond. She knew that she needed to find someone intelligent, someone willing to spend a little bit of time helping her out - but in death valley, who in the world would want such a thing? Want anything to do with her? Hayley knew she was not worthless - even in death her body would help the earth to grow - but it was just so unlikely that the wolves of Oukoku-Kai had much time on their hands. "Life really is like a giant test of will, isn't it?", she asked herself in a seemingly tired voice. It was then that a thought occurred to the maiden, an old snippet of a memory.

"Now let the day just slip away, so the dark night may watch over you." A short pause before the girl would continue. "Nocturne." She had to pause then, trying to let the second and final verse come to her. "Though darkness lay, it will give way when the dark night delivers the day." What significance that had to anything in her life, anyone could have asked. Hayley smiled a bit at the memory, giving herself a gentle shake before turning her gaze to the sky. A test of will, eh? This would be one test she would not dare to fail. As she settled down in what she hoped would be a peaceful eve of thinking, she let one more word slip past her lips in one gentle, unwavering breath.

"Nocturne."

[River]

Salvatore had never been known to be solitary. Her nature drove her towards others, orange eyes longing like a pup crying for milk. How funny that now others should long for her presence, as a Senior and disciple of the Rosas. The Red, in particular, a branch that seemed to be the most civil (but who was she to talk? Any thoughts on the matter would surely be biased!), making connecting with others easier. Easier in the sense that they did not speak in blood, that it did not take a spar to see each other in a positive light.

Then again, the dire was not one to be pessimistic. When she a wolf, she did not see the useless lump of bones that most did. Instead, she saw potential. Potential like she'd smelled in that one, the lonely, tiny girl muttering to herself in the deep dark of Oukoku's evening. The scarred ginger wolf edged closer slowly, her route placing her behind the bondless as she spoke.

"Now let the day just slip away, so the dark night may watch over you. Nocturne. Though darkness lay, it will give way when the dark night delivers the day."

How curious. Sensing the pattern to this dialogue, Salvatore joined Hayley in repeating the word again. "Nocturne," she spoke in time with the smaller wolf, holding the word with a hesitant respect. That should catch the bondless' attention enough." Hayley, is it? I've seen you around." The Senior's words were perhaps quite a compliment, depending on how one took it. "Your craft lays with flowers and plants, am I not mistaken?" Of course she wasn't mistaken.

Gently the tan Senior made her way around Hayley, changing her position so they could speak more easily. She held her tail loosely, though dominantly. She wanted to keep this casual as possible, as intimate as possible."Tell me of this... Nocturne." It was more a musing than a command, but no doubt she would obey it. "Talk your fill, and perhaps it will be easier to leave it at the mouth of the rabbit hole." Should she open herself up, Hayley was about to enter a whole different world.

[River]

What she had heard of Oukoku-kai appeared to be true. Demons lurking around every corner, even the earth itself was a dangerous trap - tar pits and deadly foliage all around - the mere thought of the place sent a chilled shiver up her spine, causing her fur to bristle ever so slightly, noticeably. Yet, for once, the bondless felt home, even despite the fact that she hardly belonged in such a place as death valley. With a little tutoring, she thought idly, she could belong, she knew it. For a moment as she spoke the final word her the lullaby her mother used to sing to her, she thought her voice had changed dramatically; then she realized that another had approached. as quiet as fog drifting in on a humid summer night. The maiden did not turn, however. A bondless should wait before moving, think before acting - that was how one got out of the bondless rank, was it not? Thought, contemplation, intelligence, power.. that was what they were looking for. The bondless maiden dipped her chin toward her chest in a light nod to the others inquiries, unaware of this tan wolfs rank or intentions. She knew to obey, however, this wolf had a sense of power about her that made Hayley nervous, the pit of her stomach churning like a gear that overheated and went crazy, upsetting the entire balance of her body. She forced the feeling back though, for her sake.

She was actually a bit surprised when no reprimanding or teasing tone laid itself into the tan wolfs words, when she spoke of Hayley's fascination with plants and the like. Most saw such a trait as a useless talent, something foolish and unneeded. The maiden was grateful for the other wolfs consideration. An interested glint began to show in Hayley's eyes as the other kept up her words, the maidens body growing hot with anticipation of what might come, like a flush of heat and red to the cheeks of a kid who had been called to the blackboard to solve an unsolvable( to them, at least ) equation. She opened her mouth to speak and, for a moment to her extreme dismay, nothing came out. Thankfully, the words began to flow after a short moment, though.

"Nocturne? Oh, forgive me.. for I'm not exactly sure of its true meaning. I believe it to mean something along the lines of melodic sound, but I'm not sure. My mother use to sing that to me when I was a little girl, to lull me into deep slumber. I think it has a deeper meaning than most choose to acknowledge, but I cannot seem to unlock the secret of what that deeper meaning might be." She had spoken too much, and she knew it. No, had she? Conflicting thoughts crashed together in her mind, but she quelled the fighting forces down, amber eyes looking to the other wolf with curiosity apparent in her eyes. "You know plenty of me, m'lady.. but I know nothing of you. Forgive me if you see it rude, but, might I ask your name?" If she was stepping over boundaries for a bondless, the maiden didn't know. Ink hadn't told her all she needed to know - enough to get by, yes, but not all she needed. Perhaps.. perhaps this tan wolf had been sent by whatever force helping Hayley out, to teach her the rest of the ways of Oukoku-kai.

[River]

The girl before her began to grow noticeably uncomfortable, either embarrassed or fearful. Salvatore dearly hoped it was the first, as she would have no use for a fearful student. If she had wanted fear, she could have picked from any of the other bondless. But in Hayley the Senior saw something: a kind of confidence that did not bleed over to arrogance like usual. Oh, and that they happen to choose the same color banner to fly.

"Nocturne? Oh, forgive me.. for I'm not exactly sure of its true meaning. I believe it to mean something along the lines of melodic sound, but I'm not sure. My mother use to sing that to me when I was a little girl, to lull me into deep slumber. I think it has a deeper meaning than most choose to acknowledge, but I cannot seem to unlock the secret of what that deeper meaning might be."

The dire gave a deep nod, reflecting on the words of the smaller wolf for a moment. "A thing of comfort, then. Heathen, true, but still comfort," she said, flinging the words offhandedly. She neither praised it nor reprimanded it, just spoke. "I can see how why you cling to it. Even so, some would call it weak, as certain orders are not known for their..." she searched for the word, "...deep thoughts. But! I've rambled on for long enough." The last part she added because it appeared as if the potential bond was about to speak.

"You know plenty of me, m'lady.. but I know nothing of you. Forgive me if you see it rude, but, might I ask your name?"

"Ah! Of course." She cracked a smile, taking a seat quietly. "Forgive me, introductions slipped my mind. I am Salvatore, a Senior of the holy valley." She gave a slight nod as she spoke, giving Hayley a moment to take in her name and rank. "You are not rude, especially with your tone and manner. You're a quick learner, aren't you?" Salvatore eyed the timber with fiery orange eyes, lids half closed and with a soft smile. It was almost seductive, almost predatory, something entirely of the Red branch. "No need to answer that. You'll find I often speak much too much because nobody ever tries to stop me. A bad habit, perhaps, enjoyable as it is." Contradictions poured from her lips like blood from a wound.

But the Senior was wasting time. If they were to beat the hottest part of the day, they should move quickly. "Forgive me, again. I am one for details, and are often caught in them..."She gave Hayley the same soft yet hungry look as she spoke. "What do you know of bonds, Hayley?"

There went the first domino.

[River]

The amber eyes of the bondless looked the older female over, taking in her appearance the very same way Hayley had done with Ink, absorbing each little detail that the other canine had to offer. Familiarization, she supposed one could call it. Hayley pricked her ears to listen to the words of the older female, the knowledge and wisdom evident in the undertones of the woman's voice. Silently Hayley had to wonder exactly how long this wise woman had walked the path of Red, but she suppressed the question and held it down to ask later. The sand colored female was still speaking, seemingly analyzing Hayley's words; good, good. This one actually thought from time to time, instead of simply acting like a wild child. The maiden would let her eyes linger on the female for a few moments longer before averting her gaze to the darkening sky above them, watching the few last clouds begin to fade out along with the colors of the sky.

At the mention of the other girls name, Hayley would look back to her, a warm smile crossing over her features. That alone signified that she was different than most - she smiled. Who in Death Valley chose to do such a tedious thing, without a dead adversary bleeding out at their paws? The bondless maiden would nod in acknowledgment, opening her mouth to reply. "It's a pleasure, Senior Salvatore." Her voice was soft, although still a little uneasy; the way the Senior looked at Hayley, so hungrily, it would make anyone uncomfortable.

The next words that slipped forth from the Senior's mouth caught Hayley by surprise. Bonds? Bonds? The maiden didn't know all that much about the subject; they were yet another thing that Ink had failed to educate her on. The little maiden knew enough, though, but she hesitated. Why would this Senior be questioning her on such a thing?

There really was only one explanation.

"I.. uhm..", the words seemed choked with constricting vines of realization and uneasiness, her heart seeming to beat a little bit faster. "I know very little of them, dear Salvatore. Forgive me for the lack of such knowledge. A bonded wolf and their.. erm.. sama.. onee-sama, they're connected in a house, correct?" Onee-sama didn't seem right to her; that was just one gendered, wasn't it? She chided herself silently, amber eyes resting anxiously on the Senior. Ears would fall back then, flat against her skull.

So the dominoes continued to fall.