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 Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:10 am
 Amber eyes flicked up, nervous and edgy, ears twitching this way and that as one hesitant paw was placed in front of the other. The lingering scent of other wild dogs was thick here, saturating the foliage and seeping from the ground, the overpowering number of trails and fainter traces of the pack made the young female shake where she stood, and yet, they were exactly why she was here... stepping so very cautiously over the boundary that their intermingled scents created.
Pausing again she strained her ears, desperately seeking any sounds that would give her the advanced warning of the pack's approach. Nose flaring wide as she sniffed carefully, scenting the air, the ground, the grass, trying to decipher the muddled up information left behind.
Again an uncertain paw lifted into the air only to press down on the dry grass, the other following, slow, hesitant, as the young female inched forwards, pale-tipped tail pinned low between slender back legs, body low and slinking as she crept along. She needed to find one of the pack but at the same time, she was fearful of doing so, of being run off and abandoned all over again.
Pausing, one paw lifted, amber eyes flickered nervously over the terrain, vivid orbs bright against the darkness of unusually black eyes.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:48 am
Everything was a blur as the wild dog ran across the savanna. Normally he wouldn't be running like he was, but since approaching this area he had started running. He had not stopped once since the smells hit him. The scent of all the other wild dogs, the rest of his pack, meant only one thing. He was close to home. Home. The thought made his heart thump loudly in his chest. It felt like so long ago since he had left.
Silverleaf laughed to himself as he imagined the things he would do once he was back amongst the pack. Oh, he would definitely have to check the plants! Hopefully they grew like he thought they should. The treeshaper smiled at the thought before stumbling to a halt. Wait a second.
Peering in front of him Silverleaf spotted another dog. Was she new here? She didn't look familiar to him, but then again he had been gone. Sitting down he studied her. For some reason she looked rather nervous. With a sigh the dog stood. He couldn't help but to call out to her, "Hey there. Are you lost?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 7:58 am
The last thing she could have expected was for someone to come up behind her. The call, friendly as it was, made the young dog startle badly, skittering forward and spinning round fast enough that she nearly sent herself tumbling. Wide eyes stared back at the pale male, body hunched and held low, cowering close to the ground, the plush length of her tail clamped between her legs.
Only then did his actual words filter through her mind. pale-tipped ears, so recently pinned against her skull, crept forwards, as timid as the female herself. Her low tail gave a faint nervous wag as she crept a step forwards, expression hopeful and yet nervous. "H-hello... Um.. kinda.." Flinching as he wind picked up and rustled the dry grass, she glanced round uncertainly before looking back at the tall male. "I.. was hoping to find the pack that lives here.."
Her body was almost shaking as she remained crouched, worry and fear warred with the desperation in her expression as she awaited the stranger's answer.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:24 am
Startled by her reaction the male jumped back with his ears pressed down against his skull in confusion. What? Had he startled her that badly or done something wrong by calling out to her? Maybe he should have approached her differently. Taking a step back he tried his best to look harmless to the female. He didn't want to chase her off after all.
Hearing her say hello the dog breathed in relief. That was good then that she wasn't going to run away from him. "Sorry if I startled you." He apologized with a faint smile. So she was lost. "Oh! You're looking for the pack that lives here?" She was a newcomer then! Now the question was if she was just a visitor or actually here to join the pack. Would she join? The thoughts kept bouncing around in his head until the dog finally realized that he was staring at her.
Shaking his head the male looked at her apologetically, "Sorry. I tend to get lost in my thoughts. But lucky you - I happen to be returning to the very pack that you're looking for. I can take you there if you like."
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:35 am
His jump made the young female sink lower, afraid that she had upset him some how though the gentle reply and soft smile went a long way to reassure her, she couldn't help but feel nervousness roll up her spine, making her tail tremble. Shaking her head slightly she denied being surprised even if it was painfully obvious she had been, ..at least it wasn't his fault.
Nodding slowly at his exclamation, she gazed up at him, hope making her heart thud painful in her chest, yet he stared at her silently. Had she been wrong? Was this pack not the one she had heard about, but rather, one that was hostile to lone dogs? Feeling fear turn over in her belly she slunk lower to the ground, tail brushing the dry earth.
Then.. he agreed! At least, he was from the place she was seeking, and not only that, but he would take here there! Pulling herself up, though still unable to lift her head far, she smiled shyly at the male, tail wagging despite being pressed tightly against her rear. "I would really appreciate it.. I've been lost for a while now but I was told the Peke-na may accept me.." Padding over she paused a few steps from him, body low but at least her ears were pricked and some of the fear had left her unusual eyes.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:47 pm
So she was looking to be accepted into the Peke Na? He grinned happily, "It would be my pleasure to take you there." He nodded at her comment, "Everyone is welcome in the pack, no matter where you came from." For they lived in the now, not the past nor the future.
His gaze went past her towards where he knew the pack's lands to be. His thoughts were still traveling forward and in his mind he could vision everything just as it was when he had left it - though he still couldn't get the hopeful image of new growth out of his mind. No matter how long his visits out into the rogue lands were Silverleaf was always a 'tree shaper' at heart. "You were rather close to home though-" He paused and looked back at her with a faint frown. Finally his thoughts returned to her and the wolf found himself gazing in her bright eyes. He didn't even know her name. For that matter she didn't know his yet either. "My name is Ma- actually, I'm called Silverleaf in the pack. It's my wolfname."
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:11 pm
His smile helped relax her a little more, though she was still terribly nervous. "Thank you, I really appreciate it." Relief and gratitude filled her, legs weakening at the sudden release of the impossible tension that had filled her for so long. At last, she would have a home! Someplace she could be safe, where she wouldn't have to starve for days on end, a place that was warm and friendly and calm..
Following his gaze she glanced behind her, back int he direction she had originally been headed in. Her future lay that way, one that was far more preferable to the rogue life she had been struggling to survive until now. Looking back at his words she couldn;t help the puzzled look that clouded her expression. "Close to home?" She echoed softly, voice worried. Was that a bad thing? The frown only increased her worries and she slunk low again, ears dropping as she tucked her tail down low nervously.
"Ah.." Blushing she repeated his name to herself in her head, then offered her own. "I was called Mwepesi Kukimbia.. or Kimi usually.."
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:33 pm
"You're welcome." Silverleaf beamed at her, "I'm honestly just glad to be of assistance to you." His tail wagged as he stretched. Blinking he nodded at her, "Yes, home." He noticed how she seemingly retreated back into herself and the dog was torn. Did he do something again? He really should learn to focus better. Should he nudge her? No, she seemed to nervous...just the barest of touches might scare her. So he gave a soft laugh, "It's great there. Everyone will be happy to see you." It was true that the pack was open and news of new comers tended to travel quickly.
"Kimi." He repeated before the frown came back. But his smile quickly returned though he glanced at her with a serious gaze, "Others may consider that to be your soul name, a name that you should keep to yourself. Here everyone in the pack goes by another name, our wolf names. You'll see." He chuckled and nodded. "Anyway you're probably eager to get going. This way." With that he slowly started his way back to the pack.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:27 pm
Blushing at his welcome she smiled shyly, tail moving against her legs before it fell still once more. Gradually, the longer he stayed close to her, the less edgy the little female became, though she certainly didn't relax at all, she was no longer shaking and jumping out of her skin.
Shyly, she looked in the direction of the pack, ears pricking with fragile optimism. "I hope they like me..." Looking back at him as he spoke her name, she listened intently, expression growing worried as he explained about her name. "Oh..." Well.. she could keep it to herself, but what would she introduce herself as until she found anew name? What kind of names did they have anyway? Confused but almost desperate to finally reach the pack and safety, she inched backwards along the trail, gaze turning back to the pale male. Pausing as he walked past her, she fell into step behind him, trailing along like a small brown shadow, nervous but eager to see her new home.
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:28 pm
Silverleaf smiled back at her, "Don't worry. I'm sure they will like you." Once they arrived he would watch her and help her around. Perhaps even help her find a wolf name? If she couldn't figure one out herself that was. Not to mention the pack was keen on picking names for others. The thought made the dog laugh softly beneath his breath.
He hoped the Peke Na would be the place for her. Silverleaf's gaze brightened as he saw the familiar landscape. They were so close to the pack. To home.
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