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 Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:43 pm
 The few days that passed since her short journey to the river outside of the packs lands had passed quickly and uneventfully. There were many times when she thought on the events of that day, how there had been that awkward moment between her and Tirin at the river. He seemed like a nice wolf and she did wish to talk with him again sometime. The day was still young and Sauda felt the itch to be on her paws. She had spent a long time before coming to Sanctity wandering about, first with her family and then on her own. Those wandering tendencies we not easily dropped and every now and then she just had to wander. Now granted most of the time she stayed within the packs territory, but every now and then she slipped out beyond the border. Today would likely be one of those days.
Giving her muscles a quick stretch Sauda set off from where she had been sitting under a large tree. She went there often to think or just to have some time to herself. Glancing over her should to make sure no one was nearby she set off, headed towards the packs border. She would decide one she was there whether to push her luck and go out further or to stick within the safety of the pack lands.
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:58 pm
Tirin wandered along the pack's borders after he had turned his stint at guard duty over to his father. It was amusing, remembering how he had stalked his father's footsteps to get to the point he was at now, when all he would have needed was a little patience. ... Well, he didn't have much of that, even now, he had to admit.
A scent crossed his path, carried by the wind, and he stopped, trying to catch it again. It seemed familiar, and thus not likely a stranger who had accidentally crossed into their lands, but Tirin headed the way the wind had come anyway, following it. It was strong enough to be close to the border, and despite being off-duty, he was obligated to check and see who it was.
When the black she-wolf came into view, Tirin smiled. That was why it had been familiar. He trotted after her, not bothering to be quiet. He didn't want to startle her by sneaking up on her, after all.
"Sauda, hello." His green-gray eyes were as welcoming as his voice. "Heading out on hunt?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:07 pm
The faint sound of another set of paws reached her ears. Had she been still living on her own, wandering from abandoned den site to abandoned den site it may have caused some alarm. But within the safety of the pack Sauda could breath easy when another approached her. Turning her head Sauda looked to see just who was coming when she caught site of a familiar wolf. A smile crossed her maw and her pace slowed a bit. "Hell Tirin. I wasn't expecting to see you out here." She hadn't really expected to see anyone actually, but if she had to run into any wolf Sauda was glad it was him.
Giving her head a light shake she glanced towards the border and then back at Tirin. "Oh no, not a hunt. I was merely wandering. Sometimes I just feel the need to do so. What about yourself?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:34 pm
"Would you mind some company? It would be safer for two to wander than one." Judging from her look, the wandering she was about to do would take her beyond the protection of the pack. He should do what he could to keep his packmate safe, even if it meant his second excursion beyond the pack's boundaries in a seven-day. He couldn't remember the last time he had pushed so many rules in such a short span of time. Certainly not since the early days of his adolescence.
"I just finished my border patrol." The border they really shouldn't be crossing. "I'm free for the rest of the morning, so I could use something to do."
The border taunted him now that he was with Sauda, almost suggesting that since he had done such a good job walking it last night, that he deserved to make a quick cross over it. Say, a morning walk with a pretty packmate? Okay, maybe that was going a bit far... but it was only the truth. She was pretty. That didn't mean anything.
"I can nap this afternoon anyway. Might as well be out and about now." Thankfully he had slept all yesterday, so his night's energy was still present. His rest could-- and would-- come later.
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Posted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:43 pm
Her smile widened just a bit at his offer to accompany her. "Sure, I would love the company." Her eyes moved towards the border once more. She had been out there before, not only with him a couple of days ago, but in all those years of being a wanderer. Sauda may not know the land around Sanctity very well but she knew how to keep relatively safe when wandering through unfamiliar territory. Glancing back at Tirin she spoke once more. "I don't really have a plan as to where I was going, just wherever my paws took me I suppose."
She started to walk, glancing over her shoulder to make sure that Tirin was coming. "Perhaps we can find something on interest along the way." Then she remembered something and smiled at him. "How did you sister like the rock you brought her?" It was been a nice rock, and she was certain his sister would have liked it, but the idle conversation would make the time pass quicker - though she wasn't entirely sure she wanted that to happen.
As they came closed to the border Sauda slowed her pace for just a moment. Well might as well take the plunge and cross over into the unknown. So with a glance over at Tiring she nodded her head and picked up the pace a bit, somewhat eager to get to exploring. Tail wagged slightly as she moved along, Sauda did love pack life but it was times like this that she felt free and happy. And with good company how could she not be happy.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:18 am
Tirin's tail wagged in reply as she accepted his offer, and his worried thoughts about crossing the border vanished. He actually passed over it without even noticing, or noticing Sauda's brief hesitation as they passed the scent markers. He caught the nod, however, but didn't recognize what it was to, so he simply nodded back and matched his pace to hers until they were trotting away from the pack.
The mention of his previous treasure hunt sparked more cheerfulness in him. She had remembered! Of course she had. "She liked it. It wasn't as... shiny when it dried off, but it still glitters somewhat and she can take it down to the lake now and again if she wants to make it bright again."
His ear flicked as the sound of something moving off to his right passed by them. "I haven't been out this way yet. We could probably find something new here to bring back."
He glanced at Sauda thoughtfully. Maybe not something for his sister though.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 10:31 am
"I'm glad she liked it, even if it may not be as shiny when it's dry." She commented as they continued along. It was great to be out again, feeling that freedom that only wandering could bring. It made her wonder though did Tirin ever get the itch just to just wander off. Well she was certain he did, based on their first meeting, but that wandering had a purpose to find something for his sister. What she wanted to know was if he just ever felt like walking without feeling any consequences and for no real reason behind it.
His words brought her out of her thoughts and she glanced over at him. "Sometimes the unexplored area's can hold the most treasure of all." The mysteries one could find while traveling through the unknown were by far the most interesting. Catching his little glance she smiled and wondered just what was going through that head of his. "You ever just get the need to wander?" The question slipped out before she realized what she was saying. Sauda had meant to ask about what that look was for.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:43 pm
The question seemed a bit odd to Tirin, but he thought about it before he answered.
"No, why would I want to wander? I have a pack for safety, my family, a den, and a steady supply of food from the hunting grounds. There's no need for me to wander." Well, except excursions like this. But those didn't count, did they? It was just curiosity. "Do you?"
It had only occurred to him after he answered that maybe her question had something to do with Sauda's own feelings and he felt a cold wave rush over him, making him shiver. Just because he loved his pack and his family didn't mean that he was blind to their rules. There was nothing against someone leaving the pack, per say, but Tirin didn't know Aether well, and once you left the pack... Well, he'd never known anyone to do it but that wolf who interrupted the ceremony ages ago. And he was almost as good as considered a traitor. He looked at Sauda, concern shadowing his features. He didn't want to see that happen to Sauda.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:08 pm
"I don't mean to wander and never return." She pointed out as it seemed that's what he had thought she meant. "I merely mean do you ever feel the need to explore outside of the packs boundaries every now and then?" Glancing over at him she nodded a bit in regards to his question. "Well, yes I do. But that is what happens when you used to be a wanderer. Every now and then you just have to satisfy the need to wander." Like today, she had that need to wander, not far just a good distance from the pack so see something new and interesting perhaps, then afterward she would return to her den and the safety of the pack. Sauda didn't miss the look of concern on Tirin's face, and it was nice to know that someone was concerned over her actions and it really didn't hit her until now that her wandering ways could get her in trouble.
There were already a good distance away from the border, they could easily turn back now and be back before anyone noticed them missing. But that would not help Sauda's wandering paws. She needed to get a bit more distance from the pack before they would let her return. "Besides you wandered the other day in search of something for your sister."
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:39 am
His fur rippled slightly in the shiver, but he shook his head as much to respond to her as to shake off the feeling. Nothing would happen to her for a bit of wandering. He would vouch for her if he had to, but he wasn't about to let-- well, whatever, happen to her.
"I suppose... that's true." He had left the pack before, but aside from now and the last time he didn't intend to make it a habit. Every now and again... "I guess sometimes I do like exploring." He smiled sheepishly. "I've been here all my life and know just about every corner of the lands. What else is there to explore there?" Perhaps he should have been content with that, but he had always been full of curiosity, and his energy fueled it. And that energy, his parents had found, was very hard to control or wear down. Maybe he liked wandering-- exploring-- more than he thought.
Above them, a bluejay guarding her nest shouted nasty things down at them. Tirin glanced up, then just made a face at her, taunting the bird to even higher levels of shrieked insults. Birds.
"I guess she doesn't like the idea of us exploring so much." He smiled, so Sauda would know he was joking, but danced slightly away from the tree and towards her to avoid any kind of non-verbal barrage the bird might decide was appropriate.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:16 am
"I think whether the others want to admit it or not, even they might enjoy a bit of exploring beyond the border every now and then." There were plenty of packs out there that allowed their members to move freely beyond their borders to explore, look for recruits and sometimes hunt. If one never left their small territory then Sauda felt a bit sorry for them, for they might miss out on something interesting.
Her attention was turned upwards as the bluejay voiced her opinion on them being so close to her nest. If that silly bird kept that up it would surely draw attention to them. Stepping closer to Tirin she smiled and bumped his shoulder lightly with her own. "Best move on before she alerts the whole pack to our high jinks, she joked knowing that that was far from what they were doing. And with a flick of her tail she padded off, glancing over her shoulder at him.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:52 am
The shoulder bump startled Tirin slightly, but Sauda's easy grace with the situation and the close proximity made his fur stand up, and not in a negative way. He smiled as she wandered off, very briefly focusing on the movement of her tail, but quickly looked back as she turned back, offering her an even wider grin. He trotted to catch up and fall in line beside her again, feeling and engaging in the need to stand closer to her than he had before.
"It might benefit them to travel a bit. My father did, in order to search for my mother," he agreed. "If there isn't someone to mate with in the pack, sometimes that's allowed, or when we're looking for new members." He glanced at her, his ears perking forward. "Otherwise, I don't know when wolves stray from the packlands." Most didn't want to, since this was home, but new members wouldn't look at it that way. The way Sauda explained it, actually, Tirin wasn't sure he looked at it that way anymore either. It was home, but it could still be home if he wandered off like this, couldn't it?
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:06 am
Sauda glanced at him as he caught up and walked beside her, and she didn't miss that he was walking a bit closer to her. Smiling slightly she tried her best to keep her eyes forward, so as to not stare at him while walking. "Well if wolves didn't venture out every now and then they pack would never get any new blood in it. That's how I came to the pack after all, Kalani was out searching for new members and he came across me." With another glance at Tirin she thought that joining had turned out to be a great decision. Not only did she make friends with the other new recruits Tal and Tar, but not she was getting to know Tirin as well.
Up ahead she noticed a break in the trees and eager to see what was up ahead Sauda picked up the pace a bit. It didn't take her long to reach the small clearing and once inside she brought her paws to a stop. "Isn't it beautiful." She said as her eyes looked over the area, the sun filtered through the tree tops casting rays of golden light throughout the small grove. This made her wandering well worth it and she knew that when the returned to the pack territory that she would feel satisfied with her exploring.
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:55 pm
The sudden quantity of sunlight in an otherwise shaded forest was almost blinding as Tirin stepped up to the opening, but it was both unusual and beautiful. Here, the birds were much nicer than the blue jay, although they left the wolves alone and kept a goodly deal of distance between them. Tirin liked that just fine.
"Yes, it is beautiful." The ground was warmer here, and after his long night Tirin almost wanted to curl up and take a brief nap here. Only the unspoken reminder that they were out of the pack without permission prevented him from making a possibly dangerous mistake. He turned his gray-green eyes to the undergrowth and moved to a splash of color among the green and brown, his head leaning closer so he could inspect the blossom. It was amazing how there always seemed to be flowers everywhere given even the littlest bit of sunlight. The flower Tirin had found was pale pink, and a bud a bit down the stem promised another one soon to come. With his face down to the ground, he could see several other plants that looked similar, some with buds, and the rest with similar bright flowers.
He chanced a look up at Sauda, both comfortably surrounded by the ring of trees that allowed there to be this opening at all. Struck with a sudden idea, he ducked his head again and severed the flower stem so that he could lift the blossom in his jaws without damage. He trotted over to his companion and, with very careful placement and a hope that she would stay still while he basically waved his face above hers, tucked the flower behind her ear securely enough that it shouldn't fall out. Not until they headed back to the pack, anyway, and had to keep a fast pace up. If it fell, he would carry it for her.
A slow, lopsided smile spread across his face, almost shy, but he met her eyes steadily anyway.
"It looks good on you."
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Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:44 am
This place was so serene, Sauda could easily spend all day here just enjoying the quiet chirping of the birds and the scent of the flowers that bloomed here and there. Taking a deep breath Sauda closed her eyes for a moment. The knowledge that there was such a special hidden place outside of the packs lands made her think it was well worth wandering today. Sure there were plenty of nice places within the pack lands, but nothing like this, she was sure of it. Opening her eyes she spotted Tirin with his head down as if he was almost looking for something and then glanced up at her. What was he doing?
But before she could ask he ducked his head back down in the flowers. A moment later he came at her holding a pale pink flower in his teeth. Ah he must be planning to bring that back to his sister. Then he did something she hadn't expected and brought the flower close to her. In fact he was placing it on her ear, and she froze, partially because she didn't want to move and cause him to drop it and secondly because she wasn't sure how to react to such a thing. Never before had anyone done something like that for her.
When he stepped away and smiled slightly Sauda stared at him for a long moment, unsure of what to say. "Thank you." She finally managed to say as her mind focused a bit more. "No one has ever given me anything before." Sauda admitted a bit quietly, though she was somewhat glad that her first gift had come from Tirin.
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