Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lak smiled and wrapped his tail around her softly "Luscia....." he whispered under his breath "You should go feed from my kill, its in the center, the elders and learders get first bite so go before theres nothing left" he just smiled at her "I'll be here if you want to come back to talk though, I am always waiting for some company"

Luscia was about to refuse when her stomach grumbled and she got up.
The grey wolf walked only two steps before she turned around again.
"The cubs are coming to the temple today." She said. "Me and Blanka always tell them stories. You should come and tell some too." She said before she smiled at him and bounded away with as much vigor as she had when she was young.

Ilyak and Chaos were all ready feasting and the other wolves in the village were about to pounce on the four remaining deer when a couple in the back suddenly began to part. Then more and more wolves began to move to the sides to create a path for Luscia. She was following the scent of the kill but whenever her feet strayed slightly from the path the wall of wolves around her nudged her gently back on track. Luscia stopped in front of the carcass and sniffed then curled her lips into a hungry snarl and tore into the flesh. The Serna wolves all watched for a moment as the three wolves ate then the hunters stepped up and then the remaining wolves began to dive in.

~~
Outside the village, far up a neighboring mountain two wolves were sitting.
The smaller one twitched and whined.
"The hunters are back." He said meekly.
"I can smell their kills. I'm hungry..." His jaws began to slaver.
The larger wolf grunted.
"You have no right to call yourself a scout!" He said.
"Always thinking of food-" The larger wolf quieted and perked his ears. His head swung from side to side.
"What is it Darm?" The small wolf asked.
"Hush, Mirar!" Darm snapped. "I heard something." He lifted his head further up the mountain and as the wind blew he let out a growl.
Mirar lifted his muzzle too. They smelled a wolf nearby.
"It's a Varg." Mirar muttered. "Could it be a Kerl?"
But Darm wasn't listening. He was on his feet now, growling feircely.
"It's watching us!" He breathed.

Two large orbs had indeed seen the two wolves and was watching them silently, circling them.

Mirar and Darm were nearly back to back as they felt the presence circle them.
"Darm, could it be-?"
"Hush you fool!"

A twig snapped suddenly and Darm swung around with a ferocious growl.
But instead of staring into eyes of an enemy, he was met with large, quizzical eyes.
Darm snarl dropped with his jaw. Suddenly he shook his head in disbeleif.
"What are YOU doing here?"
~~

As the deer carcasses were stripped to the bone and the wolves had had their fill, they went about their own business. Luscia walked over to Ilyak and Chaos and lowered her head.
"Fair morning to you Dragga and Drappa." She said.
"Pack Mother, you needn't use formalities with us." Ilyak said warmly.
Luscia smiled.
"Well, I suppose not." She said and lifted her head as she cuaght a scent.
Mirar was running into the village.
"Ilyak! Chaos! Pack Mother!" He called delightedly.
Ilyak growled.
"Mirar! What are you doing leaving your post?" He snapped.
Mirar lowered his tail.
"I brought news!" He said, lifting his tail again.
"We met a Varg along the path! He claims to be a Serna mem-"
"CAL!" Ilyak exclaimed, interrupting Mirar. He bounded past the scout and up to a tall grey wolf.
The grey wolf, Cal, lifted his tail delightedly and ran up to Ilyak. They touched muzzles and Ilyak rubbed his head under Cal's chin.
"I've missed you, Cal!" Ilyak cried gleefully.
"I've missed you too brother." Cal said.
"You must tell me everything." ilyak ordered with a smile. "where have you been? What have you been up to? And" Something shiny caught Ilyak's eyes and he lifted them. Two strange metal rings were looped through Cal's ears.
"What-in Zolstar's name- are those?"
Cal laughed.
"They're called earrings brother. I'll explain later." The Kerl said before he turned to the others.
"Chaos! Luscia! Long time no see."

"Yeah it does!" Cal swung around and his smile dropped alittle.
"Oh. Hey Lak. Long time no see." He said.
Ilyak sighed. Cal was an Omega wolf, or Sikla as the other wolves would term it. It meant he was one of the weakest wolves in the pack and not fit for jobs such as hunting and scouting. Cal was also more passive than other wolves and easily frightened. Lak frightened Cal a little. Unlike Luscia, who rarely used her powers, Lak seemed to used them a lot.
Cal shook his head and swung back to Iylak again.
"I'm not staying brother. I just thought I'd come home after being away for so long." He said.
"I understand." Ilyak replied. "But you're here now. Tonight, we'll celebrate your arrival! Until then, feel free to make yourself at home."
"Actually, Brother..." Cal hesitated.
"I came to see you most. There's much that I must talk to you about."
Ilyak's ears raised.
"I have many matters to attend to..." He said.
"Nothing can be more important than seeing your kin." Luscia said and walked up to him.
"Me, Chaos, and Lak can handle any business that comes through."
Ilyak looked over his shoulder at his mate and nodded.
"Very well then." He said.
"What's so urgent Cal?"
Cal lowered his tail in embarrasment.
"Not here, brother." He said, casting a quick glance at Chaos then Luscia and finally Lak.
Ilyak nodded.
"All right. Lead the way." He said and the two brothers padded away.

The two brothers walked in silence for awhile.
"Cal, you never told me what's wrong," Ilyak said.
"And what are those strange 'earrings'?"
Cal smiled alittle.
"Humans wear them in their ears." He said and saw the fear flicker in Ilyak's eyes. The wolf had few enemies, but of them they feared man the most.
"You walked amongst the humans?! Let them touch you!?" He almost growled and Cal lowered his ears submissively.
"I was careful brother." He insisted.
"I watched them for many suns. Those who I met...They reminded me of Serna."
Ilyak looked slightly interested.
"How so?"
"I came across a group of traveling humans. They were led by a Dragga and Drappa and each night they would build a circle and fill it burning air. With fire. Then the humans would dance around the fire to strange noises that the humans make with wooden sticks! It sounded like they were howling! Now...I couldn't understand what they said but..." Cal stopped.
"What?" Ilyak asked.
"They said the names of our Gods, Zolstar and Va."
Ilyak stopped and he stared at Cal for a long time.
"So...I walked among them. I figured if they worshipped the same gods then it would be okay...."
What the wolves didn't know was that the humans Cal had seen were Gypsies. They were humans who lived in nature and honored its boundaries. Some gypsies, like the ones Cal encountered, even worshipped the wolf.
"You must be careful, Cal." Ilyak warned. "Not many wolves would appreciate that kind of talk. Even I am unsure....But you are safe and unharmed and that's all that matters. Now tell me the real reason why you're here, my brother."
Cal waited, measuring how to put his words.
"As a Kerl, I hear things." Cal said. Ilyak winced as Cal reffered to himself as a Kerl. Kerl was the formal word for a wolf without a home or a clan. Wolves, by nature, were pack creatures, and Kerl were often feared. However, Cal seemed to like being alone. Suddenly the tall wolf dropped his head and whispered.
"The things I hear are often dark..."
Ilyak and Cal sat down now, under the shade of a Rowan tree.
"A met a wolf pack over the mountains." Cal said. "They would often whisper strange tales, of a Dark wolf with a coat as black as an abyss."
Ilyak began to shiver.
"Was it-" He dropped his voice. "Zalk?"
Cal shook his head.
"I don't know." He admitted. "When I asked, they wouldn't say."
Ilyak shook his head and lifted his muzzle powerfully.
"Zalk is dead." He said firmly. "He's been dead for hundreds of years!"
"But Luscia and Lak survived that long..."
"Luscia and Lak had had the protection of Serna not to mention Zolstar and Va." The bold Dragga argued.
Cal nodded meekly.
"I guess so." He said.
"But I worry about you brother. About the clan."
"You worry for me?" Ilyak's tone was almost mocking. "What do I have to worry about?"
"Chaos still hasn't birthed cubs, has she?" Cal asked. Again he saw his brother wince.
"No..." Ilyak replied.
"Brother...All the other wolves with mates have all ready had cubs. I saw them on my way in to the village today." Cal said. "Chaos seems to be the only one with a mate and no cubs. Ilyak, you are the leader of Serna. However, there are no Dragga after you to take your place. I certainly couldn't...I'm just a Sikla."
"So?" Ilyak snorted forcefully.
"Well....should anything happen to you...the blood line of Draggas that was lead serna all these years will be gone...And with the rumors of Zalk's return-"
"I couldn't do it Cal." Ilyak said guiltily.
"I love Chaos...but she loves the hunt. If we were to have cubs, Chaos would have to stop hunting for awhile. I couldn't do that to her...I want cubs, beleive me. But I won't ask her until she's ready." His tail and ears dropped.
"I understand brother." Cal said quietly. "I just thought I'd voice my concern. I do love Serna with all my heart. I only want to see it thrive."
Ilyak smiled and licked his brother's muzzle affectionately.
"You're so sensitive, Cal." Ilyak said. His brother's words had comforted him a little.

((sorry i've been gone so long. i read through everything, yet still i am lost....i dont know if there's an opening for me here))

Chaos nodded her head and smiled. She may have been something of a loose cannon, but she had great respect for the Elders. She wlked along with Luscia.

chaos chuckled. Lak didnt seem to understand the senses Chaos had, for he was hiding in the shadows, trailing behind. She kept her head foreward, looking for the story place.