[ The howl wasn't really necessary, at least not for Andy. She typically ran this path every morning before sunrise (or around sunrise in the months that the sun came up earlier) and was just looping back toward the academy when she caught the lingering scent of an only partly familiar werewolf. It wasn't pack, that much was obvious, but it had an underlying familiarity to it that at least suggested it was one of the wolves on campus.
She stops in the middle of the path - in her human form - and inhales deeply just as she hears the howl behind and to the left of her. Even though she feels confident the werewolf's not a threat, she still feels a rush of instinctual protectiveness rise up inside of her, making her shoulders tense. Blame it on the recent appearance of some crazed selkie or merely on the basic territorial instincts inside of her; whatever the reason, Andy steps toward the side of the road - still in view, if someone's paying close enough attention - and keeps an eye on the rough direction the howl came from. ]
[Connor found where he had left his clothes, still thankfully all there, and slipped back into the shorts and t-shirt. He left his shoes off, stuffing them into the bag so he could enjoy the feeling of walking around barefoot in the dirt for awhile. He started to follow the path back to the school, but he didn't get too far down it before he someone standing by the road a ways away. He stopped, tensing up a little and just watching them to see how they'd react to him first.]
[ Andy could hear the faint uptick in the boy's heartbeat, even with the distance between them, but it wasn't enough to worry her; it seemed to just be the surprise of coming across someone in an otherwise presumedly empty path. So she took a step forward, visibly relaxing although her stance stayed as such that she would easily be able to move quickly, if necessary. ]
You're new here, aren't you? [ His scent was familiar enough that she knew she'd smelled it in passing but new enough that she wasn't familiar with it, couldn't pinpoint who he was just from the trail. It was then that she actually relaxed fully, a soft smile coming to her face. ] Sorry; I didn't mean to startle you. This time of the morning, I've usually got this path to myself.
Sorry. I just like to run. [As he approached her, he reacted instinctively, keeping his eyes to ground and his posture non-threatening while hunching his shoulders down.] I'm new, yeah. Connor. I mean, my name is Connor.
Don't worry about it, Connor. [ Andy, who never really cared much for her betas or other wolves in general showing respect in such a docile and submissive way, ducked her head slightly to try to catch his gaze. (Very slightly since he was taller than her by a good half-foot or so.) ] I just wasn't expecting you, that's all. I'm Andy. Or Miss Barrish, I guess, but I really prefer Andy.
[His eyes flicked up to meet hers even though he still kept his head lowered for now, glancing back and forth between her and the ground now, at least.] It's, uhm, nice to meet you, Andy. You run this path every morning?
I try to. Sometimes the weather doesn't let me. [ Though it takes a lot for her to skip, like a full-on whiteout blizzard or something. She smiles slightly again, trying to get him to relax a bit more. ] Do you run a lot?
[ She'd only been partway through her own run, but Andy turns in the direction of the school, making it clear she's willing to head back with him if he wants. ]
[Connor's the same way; he'll run in rain or shine. He nods at her question.] It's one of the few things I'm actually good at. [It's said with some self-depreciation as he falls into step just about next to her, keeping a step or two behind.] Nobody could run faster than me in... in my family's pack. [Not his pack. His family's pack. He never really felt like he'd ever been a part of it.]
[ Andy notices that distinction, how he says "My family" and not "My." It raises questions, but she pushes them aside for now; she gets the feeling that Connor wouldn't appreciate prodding, personal questions right off the bat.
Instead, she lets out a quiet, amused huff. ] Is that so? I wonder if you're the fastest here. Maybe we should have a race sometime. [ It could be fun and could let both him and the other wolves blow off some steam. ]
[Connor ponders the idea. A part of him wants to meet the other wolves here, hoping that they're like what that other wolf - Wyatt - had said and that they wouldn't give him any problems about being an omega. The other part of him though is used to at least a couple wolves giving him crap about it and he feels anxious and tense at the thought of getting that reaction again in a place he's hoping he'll be able to finally fit in at. He is genuinely curious if he would be the fastest wolf here though.] All the wolves...? Are you guys like... one big pack? Who are the alphas? Would they be there? The alphas, I mean.
We have one somewhat large pack here, then there are some other non-pack wolves as well. [ She's actually a little surprised another pack hasn't formed yet, but that's beside the point. ] Cath Nowell - the gardener here - and I are both alphas of one of the packs, but... We're more just the parents than anything. Wyatt Johnson, though he's a student, behaves more like their alpha. [ She smiles a little, obviously fond of all of them. ] We'd likely be there, unless you're uncomfortable with the idea.
Wyatt...? I've talked to him before. He's been cool.
No, that's... That's okay. I wouldn't mind. [She seems pretty nice enough and he's already spoken with Wyatt, who said everyone else would be fine, so he'll take their words for it.]
If you're sure. Cath and I aren't exactly fans of forcing ourselves into situations we're not wanted in. [ She pauses before adding, ] Unless someone's behaving like an idiot. [ Or they otherwise feel it necessary. ]
But Wyatt's a good kid; he'll help you feel out a place for yourself here, I'm sure.
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She stops in the middle of the path - in her human form - and inhales deeply just as she hears the howl behind and to the left of her. Even though she feels confident the werewolf's not a threat, she still feels a rush of instinctual protectiveness rise up inside of her, making her shoulders tense. Blame it on the recent appearance of some crazed selkie or merely on the basic territorial instincts inside of her; whatever the reason, Andy steps toward the side of the road - still in view, if someone's paying close enough attention - and keeps an eye on the rough direction the howl came from. ]
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You're new here, aren't you? [ His scent was familiar enough that she knew she'd smelled it in passing but new enough that she wasn't familiar with it, couldn't pinpoint who he was just from the trail. It was then that she actually relaxed fully, a soft smile coming to her face. ] Sorry; I didn't mean to startle you. This time of the morning, I've usually got this path to myself.
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[ She'd only been partway through her own run, but Andy turns in the direction of the school, making it clear she's willing to head back with him if he wants. ]
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Instead, she lets out a quiet, amused huff. ] Is that so? I wonder if you're the fastest here. Maybe we should have a race sometime. [ It could be fun and could let both him and the other wolves blow off some steam. ]
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No, that's... That's okay. I wouldn't mind. [She seems pretty nice enough and he's already spoken with Wyatt, who said everyone else would be fine, so he'll take their words for it.]
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But Wyatt's a good kid; he'll help you feel out a place for yourself here, I'm sure.