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 Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:50 pm
Stryder knew what it was. What the strange, funny, joyful feeling he got was whenever he saw the she-wolf. Sunbird. Schatze. It was... could he really say it? Could he really even think of it. Oh, the strangeness. He loved Schatze. There, he said it. Or thought it. But... what could he do? How could he even say it? Show her?
It was every other thought that ran through his mind. Schatze, the pack, Schatze, the pack. The only thing he loved as much as her was the pack, and her more so. Wraith-willing if she ever wanted to meet the two-legger she was intent on finding, he'd go and make sure she was safe.
And the strangest thought of all. Stryder even thought of having pups with her. Pups! That meant... mating right? Such a strange thought that was.
But that was the one conclusion Stryder had come to after thinking and he liked the idea, loved it. He did love her. But... how to tell her? How to... show her how happy she made him...
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:13 pm
Had he caught on yet? It was possible that he had, but she couldn't be sure. He was acting a bit strange now, and seemed a bit happier overall, so it was quite possible- she assumed -that he had caught on to her feelings for him.
"How have things been going? I must remember to apologize to Wraith for being away for so long..." She mentally balked at the thought that she had been shirking her pack-ly duties by being, well, absent from the pack. But what could you do? It was her nature to wander, to gather stories, and to tell them to those who were happy with settling.
"I think I missed you most of all." she brushed against him occasionally as they walked, smiling gleefully. There was nothing like coming home to the ones you... well? The ones you loved!
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:57 pm
Stryder's feelings flipped. Did... did she know? She kept brushing against him... and she said she missed him most! That sent so much happiness coursing through him. His tail wagged in the air, and he met her occasional brushes with his own and nuzzling her a bit.
"I haven't met any of the newer members since you had left. I've been scouting the borders of the packlands, but I'm sure Wraith would be pleased if you had information or stories to tell." Stryder smiled a bit. Maybe she knew more on the rumors and dealings of the other packs, the tales of evil or restlessness that plagued the lands.
Stryder could feel his face, his muzzle flare up with heat. She... she missed him the most! Oh... oh... "I... I missed you the most as well."
He said it. Wow... Stryder turned his hooded face to see her not actually looking at her and took the chance to lick her with the small tip of his tongue that he could move.
"I... I like you a lot Sunbird."
Did he just say that?.. He did.
"Actually, I love you."
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:28 pm
At his declaration, the she wolf lovingly butted him in the shoulder with the top of her head. Her tail wagged furiously. "I love you, Stryder."
The land was familiar to her now, and she jumped ahead, hoping to spur a game of chase. Happiness often spurred hyperactivity in the wolf, and she was out to expend some of that energy and play a game in the same breath.
It was twilight, and the firebugs were out twinkling like stars, flying all over. Schatze noticed them flitting here and there as she ran, and smiled. They made this time of day her favorite, and she was glad to be spending it with Stryder now.
"Come on, love, catch up!" she breathed heavily, grinning like a mad wolf. They were nearly to the pack's borders, and she always felt odd passing through them without an escort.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:48 am
Joy, joy, joy. She loved him! She loved him. The headbutt to the shoulder made him feel so happy. He couldn't help the gaze that followed hers as she took in the surroundings, the environment. So close to the pack and yet not yet.
His eyes followed her as she ran, teasing him to run after her, to chase her. Oh he could chase her but he'd let her have the small headstart. It wouldn't do to catch her too fast or have her get exhausted. He worried she hadn't eaten too much, even by his standards.
Stryder wagged his tail and pounded after her. Running to catch her. His eyes were lit brightly, following her every move as he got closer and closer. When she was close to the borders he had finally caught up. He nuzzled her neck as he took over, "Catch up now!"
Stryder couldn't help the deep chuckle. It was so good to be near her.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:02 am
The she wolf stretched out before rocketing off to catch him. They were pretty evenly matched in the game of speed, and she soon caught up and was running beside him in no time at all.
She let out a lingering howl as she sailed over rocks and branches, and whipped and weaved around trees and through bushes. This was the life of the wolf.
The beads and leather around her tail whipped in the wind, and tinkled like music as they gently knocked together. Oh, she could be silent if situations warranted it, but she loved the sounds her trinkets made if she let them loose and ran full speed.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 12:17 pm
Stryder chuckled as the she-wolf caught up to him, her trinkets whipping about in the wind, noisy in the otherwise silent area under the quickening dark sky. She could match his speed fine and that almost hurt his ego. Almost.
He laughed as loud as he could as he followed Schatze, but even he could tell it wasn't much more than a soft woof. He jumped over the low branches, ducking under high ones, and weaved left and right around the tree trunks.
His pendant swung as he weaved, and he could feel the cloth around his head pull at his fur as he ran against the wind.
"Sunbird!" He let out and licked her once again, grinning. He wagged his tail as he ran off, faster.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:45 pm
Sunbird slowed a bit, conserving some of her energy. She hadn't yet picked a site for her formal den yet, on the packlands, so for a moment she was lost. Yes, she was home, but... where exactly within home, was home? It occurred to her that maybe now was the time to find a suitable area to dig out a den for herself.
Ears twitching slightly, tail swaying, she called forward hoping to catch Stryder's attention. "Have you dug your own den, yet?" she smiled, and wondered if maybe he was defaulting to taking her to his den in the first place - after all, he knew she didn't have one of her own yet.
She figured it would be nice to have her home at least semi-close to his own, unless.. he didn't mind sharing? Of course she would do all the work to make his bigger, since she would be intruding on his home, but it was his decision to make - if he mentioned it, she would offer to help expand.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:42 pm
Stryder had always been a wanderer, even within the packlands. The caves, though visited, where one would assume he would've made one a den hadn't seen much of his presence. He spent most of his time out in the borders, scouting.
He strolled after her, wondering if she would consider making a home with him... sharing one. It was a bit distracting really, her infront of him. He knew she hadn't had one... but he didn't have a den either.
Stryder coughed. "To be honest, I've been on the borders... I don't have a den."
He shuffled his paws, laying his head low. "Want to share one with me?
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:18 pm
She turned her head to him and smiled. "Of course I do." She figured it would be a lot of fun digging out a brand new den with him. It would be an experience, that was the truth, as she hadn't ever done it before.
"Do you have a favorite area within the packlands?" she pondered out loud, also thinking that they could go scouting for the perfect area to dig together. She also wondered if Wraith would allow them to den down just anywhere, or if he would prefer dens be dug in a certain area of the land...
She murred softly to herself, taking in the sights as they walked. This had been a very interesting welcome home, but she was glad that he felt the same was as she did.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:37 pm
Stryder wasn't sure about any digging. After all the caves seemed much safer and well... he needed his claws. They'd dull and maybe even break trying to dig a den in the caves.. But he was sure happy she would share a den with him. The frequency of his tail swaying back and forth was a definite signal to that.
"Well most of the packlands are filled with caves, especially near Wraith's cave. Any idea what you prefer?"
Stryder wondered, would she want to be close to their pack? Estranged from them? The caves seemed the most logical place.
"We could look for one really special, unlike any other cave?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:48 pm
Well that solved all her questions, before she even voiced them!
"Caves?" she asked, confirming what he had said. "It sounds so cool." her eyes widened in wonder, as she slipped a bit into her old puppy ways. With a cave, she wouldn't have to dig unless she really felt the notion to, and there would be so much room for... well, anything that came their way. She blushed inwardly at the offhand thought of pups, but continued on without missing a beat.
"I think, if Wraith won't mind, it would be convenient to den down near him so that we are easily reachable if he needs us." she smiled as they continued on. "Lead the way!" she added, with a playful toss of her head.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:37 pm
Stryder nodded his hooded head, twitching his ears for any signs of others around. Possible spies into the area, the packlands would be bad. He'd have to make sure none were around of course.
"Yah," he muttered. "Forgot you didn't see the caves much... we can get a cave near the underground steam."
Stryder led her through the forest covered land, nearing the caves that he had been for such a few amount of times. He peered back, "Make sure you stick close! I'm sure he'd be happy if we're near the stream."
Stryder twitched his ears, nearing the caves that were connected by the clean stream of water. He took a sip, and looked at Schatze. "We can look for a cave to make a den in one of the caves near here."
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:37 pm
Schatze made a point to glance around as they went. She hadn't seen much of the packlands either, and this was simply amazing to her. "Underground stream?" her eyes gleamed, full of excitement. "We should make a home there!" she half-whispered, referring to the prospect of an underground stream, babbling away softly.
She heeded his warning, sticking close. Occasionally she playfully nipped at his ear, or washed her tongue over his cheek. She shared the water with him whent hey stopped, dipping her head low to drink heavily. It tasted so clean and fresh, like the melted snow she had drank off the mountainside last winter.
"Sounds like a plan." she woofed, taking a quick look around.
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Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:48 pm
Stryder nuzzled Schatze's own muzzle with his one and licked her face. He got her back for her nipping his ears with his own. After all, he couldn't let her have all the fun... right?
Stryder peered around the corners of each cave pausing to look at each one and to look back at Schatze. "The other stream and source of clean water is above ground but it's pretty dangerous. It's got a steep decline."
Stryder hoped she liked it here. The cave walls were so pretty, a stark contrast with nature's beauty on the outside forests.
"The stream is communal, since the other stream is in a dangerous area. Too much trouble for most of us to go there," Stryder supplied. This was a good reason not to take up area here. After all their privacy may not be too private here if everyone was wanting water.
Stryder padded to a cave, two chambers over. The connecting chambers allowed for privacy, being narrow and such, and was still a short walk to the nice waters. There was a bit of a notch in the wall, a nice place. Stryder walked over to it and felt the floor, it was soft. It would be a nice nest so to speak. It was not too big but easily enough space for 2 adult wolves to lay down in. The cave for the den itself could fit at most 5 adult wolves in. Quite spacious. It would be nice for young ones.
... He did not just think of that.
Stryder turned to make sure Schatze saw the space. He nuzzled her and licked her. "What about this space? Looks quite spacious."
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