|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:36 pm
The part that was hardest for Tis to grasp, however, was that there seemed to be two alphas, both male, both related. It did not seem like it should be possible, yet it seemed to work for them. This pack would certainly take some getting used to. Of that, Tisiphone was certain.
Ah. There was one of them, now. The blue male, the companion of the red alpha – Deimos? – though he was not by the side of Deimos, for a change. Were they mates? It seemed like it. But that was a matter to be considered later. For now, she wondered if she should try to approach him or wait and see what he did.
It was not really her habit to be overly friendly, not anymore, but if they were indeed going to stay, she figured that she ought to at least try. As such, she did not approach the male, but she did speak to him. What was his name? Oh, yes.
“Good morning, Ehrek,” she said. There. If he wished to be social, she had left room for the possibility. If he wished to ignore her, she could simply return to her inner musings.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:17 pm
Ehrek was in another moment of musing over his storm of thoughts. In his mind, doubts, desires, unanswered questions, and inklings of ideas floated among it as if a snowflakes within a blizzard. Often times he will think about them, sort them out, how he should solve each with an answer, how to implements ideas, but these sessions are often cut short with a pack this large. It was quite social and he often had to put his thoughts aside to accommodate his companies. He thought about going back to his secret spot but he needed to keep up appearances now that the new wolves are here. The new wolves worried him at first. The pack was family, literally blood related to his mate. They welcomed the loose-leaf group of wolves from the Einsame Lykos as Deimos was the alpha and those who followed were his friends. They would have to accept them. However, these wandering wolves, "the painted wolves", were not related to any among their pack and Hephaestus welcomed them regardless. Dione was cautious to offer a warning, if not a threat. As the elder, she was protecting her pack .... her children... her family. It was then that his name was called. Perking his ears, he moved from his spot, scanning in the direction of the sound to fall upon the one painted wolf he had wished to avoid. At least, on bad terms. The black wolf, the one he felt blood lust from when they first met. Her glares at his mate still angered him when he thought about them - no, it was not time to caused bad blood among the pack. He had to give them a chance. If he were to cause trouble, it would reflect poorly to Deimos. "Morning.... um... Tasafin?" Ehrek offered with a soft chuckle. Was he so nervous that he would forget her name? What about her rubbed him so... uneasy. He would have to put aside his thoughts about her. This wasn't like him, he was a lot more playful and kind and affectionate (platonically). Suppose some warming up will have to do. "What brings you about today? No duties to do?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:05 pm
…Tasafin? Tis’s ear twitched. Her name might be unusual, but surely it was not that difficult to remember. No, no. That would not do. She was supposed to be making nice. With that thought in mind, she pushed away her annoyance. Perhaps he was not good with names. Or perhaps it was his nerves, for he certainly seemed a little nervous. Was it her or was it his natural disposition? The latter seemed unlikely, given his interactions with some of his pack members. Did that mean she had done something? She could not think of anything in particular that she had done to him. In fact, this was basically the first time they had spoken directly to each other. Well, no matter. She could try to fix whatever it was, now.
“Tisiphone,” she corrected without malice. “And no. I have no duties at the moment.” She considered him for a moment before adding, “Were you going anywhere in particular?”
It had certainly been a while since Tis had endeavored to engage in small talk with anyone. She had a feeling that it might take a while for her to get back into practice. Best start now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:42 am
"Tisiphone, that's right. Forgive me, with all the commotion before, I wasn't able to catch your name quite clearly with the tension. Not too often we see Dione out and about and our shaman doing his ... for a lack of better word, stuff." Ehrek chuckled as he gave an excuse. It was a legitimate one nevertheless, things happened that day and some of it might have been overlooked due to the situation. Hephaestus welcomed them, Dione warned them, Ciirsyn did a light show, and they all went on their way if he recalled correctly.
"No, I haven't received any duties from Hephaestus either, but I still do duties around here regardless. It's become a habit at this point, so changing that would be rather fruitless and have me come off as lazy," Ehrek mused longer than he had intended. Perhaps speaking that much of his mind was unnecessary. She was a stranger, she knew not of the personal problems he was going through.
The blue hued soot ball looked into his thoughts as to how to continue this conversation. He had to make an effort to get to know these new members as she will be around with her group if they take the alphas' offer.
"I was new here myself at one point, I came here with my mate and few of our family pack members from the north."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:00 pm
Tis accepted his excuse, seeing no reason not to. Why draw unnecessary attention to it, if it was not really that important, anyway? He was clearly not interested in discussing the matter and she did not want to pry. At any rate, he did seem willing enough to speak with her about other matters. Perhaps he could help her learn more about this pack?
“You say you came with your mate,” she began, “that is Deimos, yes?” Somewhat apologetically, she added, “I am trying to get used to this pack. It is quite different than any other that I have come across, so I fear that I do not yet have a full grasp of all of the dynamics. Many of you seem to be related?” There. She could be civil. She was not always snapping someone’s head off. Honest.
And in truth, this pack was quite confusing to her. The structure was so loose compared to what she was used to. Well, aside from her original pack, but that had been much smaller than this one, like a little family. Her sister and her sister’s mate. Their pups. Tisiphone’s own mate…
A sharp lance of pain tore through her. She clenched her teeth and shoved the thoughts aside. This was neither the time nor the place. Such thoughts would do no good, now. She needed to focus on the present. On the wolf before her, who might help her understand this new place. This place where she might finally be able to make a real future for her wolves.
Tis forcefully relaxed her muscles and returned her focus to Ehrek, hoping for some clarity and a distraction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:48 pm
"Yeah, Deimos is my mate, is that an issue?" He questioned. The beta wanted to know how others felt about their relationship. The constant paranoia of the family not accepting them pressed on his mind nearly every time he had time to think. This female was a wolf, new to the pack, but her view on the matter was no different than the rest. "I'm a beta of the pack because of him, so I wonder if it becomes an issue for others that I came here and received the rank without any real... well, effort." He shrugged. He was pressing problems he should not onto someone else. Someone he hardly knew. Someone he was nervous of to begin with.
"Anyway, the pack structure is rather new to me too, haven't been in many packs myself since being with my mate. His own pack was really loose as a family of vagabonds, but this one has some structure but, nevertheless, rather loose until told otherwise," Ehrek explained the best he could with the little knowledge of how most packs worked. Being orphaned, he knew little of the pack lifestyle outside of what he had gone through since being with Deimos. "The pack is primarily consisting of Deimos' family members. Then there are some of us from the Einsame who came from the north, following out then and now alpha."
"So, Tisiphone, tell me more about yourself. Your group came here, you all wear paint on yourselves. You came seeking a home, which Hephaestus offered to you. Do you have plans beyond that or is it just go with the flow of things?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:57 pm
“Why should it be an issue?” Tisiphone wondered, a bit gruff, not at all understanding why he was so worried. “Who you choose to spend your life with is up to you.” And how she wished she could have spent the rest of her life with the one who had claimed her heart. Instead, he had spent his life with her and then left her alone with her grief and rage. No. Enough of that. She was no longer alone. She had her painted wolves, who meant as much to her as her sister once had. Now, she might even have this pack, which Ehrek was explaining truly was made up of many family members.
“As for being a beta,” she said, catching up with the conversation, “If no one has voiced any complaints, then they must believe you are fulfilling your duties well enough.” She doubted that Dione, as regal and protective as she was, would allow any problems as serious as a poor beta to go uncorrected, not even for a family member’s mate. A strong hierarchy was too important for a pack’s survival and Tisiphone had no doubt that the elder understood this.
…tell him about herself? She had no desire to do this. Her past was private and far too painful to share. Not even her painted wolves really knew. Then again, none of them had shared much about their pasts, either. It did not matter to them, each others’ histories. They were family in all but blood. What did the past matter, compared with that? As for the rest, she could share that. There was no harm and it might help to assure him of their intentions.
“I am afraid that we do not have any real plans,” she said. It was ironic, really. They had spent so long searching for a home and dreaming about safe borders, and yet they had never really spoken of what they would do once they had gotten there. Well, not in any truly serious sense. Of course, Zanza had had his wild fantasies and Heyoka had had her share of worry-inducing ideas, but that was beside the point. What would they do now that they might have reached their goal?
“We can offer our strength to protect the pack and we are very capable hunters,” she said, though a pack this size probably did not really need any more warriors. Still, hunters were usually welcome. “Zanza’jin has a fine nose, when you can get him to be serious. Heyoka has good instincts, despite herself. Captain can keep his head, no matter the situation.” Tisiphone listed their strengths matter-of-factly, but inside she felt pride for her wolves. Pride and affection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:09 pm
"Just questioning your morals, I suppose." Ehrek shrugged. He never knew where people stood with males devoting themselves to another male. Then again, everyone had their own places and he wouldn't know unless he asked. He better get to know the others. "You are right in that, regard, Tisiphone, I've given myself to Deimos completely, he found me and saved me. If it weren't for him, I would have never had the family I've grown to trust. It is his family, this pack, that I must grow to trust as much as I had the Einsame." Ehrek paused. "Don't tell anyone I said that."
"That is another situation. Hephaestus is the alpha of the pack and he has not given me any specific duties. Therefore, I have no duties, and I am not going to sit about idle and have the pack think of me as a lazy wolf," Ehrek made a shrugging motion. That was why he did everything, it was for his relationship's sake. He did not care for much but his relationship. He was proud of having a male like Deimos as a mate. He looked past his status. He was his guiding light... "I will do whatever it takes to keep things together, even on my own initiative."
Ehrek was a wolf from the cold north where it snowed constantly and the storms were hard, wet, and very loud with thunder. If one was not careful, it could certainly mean the end either through sickness, the grasp of the cold, or through starvation. The blue wolf was only able to get through by donning on an icy exterior to any and all - including nature itself.
However, since then, that blue wolf has been buried beneath the soot.
"To have no goal means you have a lot of options. You can certainly be a hunter, a bigger group means more food. Now that we have four more mouths to feed, so we will certainly need the extra help."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:18 pm
Questioning her morals? Well, Tisiphone supposed she could not blame him. She would want to know about the character of any new wolves in her territory, as well. His story, too, was not unlike hers. When she was a pup, Tis, too, had been taken in and given a warm, welcoming home. But that was in the past. It was ironic, really, that she once again found herself being taken in by strangers, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances in which they had met. Of course, Tis’s life seemed to be filled with irony, so perhaps it was not really a surprise.
Oh? Was this a secret? Well, Tisiphone had never been one to betray confidences. She never saw the point. Besides, it would be a breach of trust and Tisiphone was an honorable sort, all things considered.
“I will not tell anyone,” she assured, and then listened as he continued only to formulate more ideas to share with the blue and grey wolf.
“That you do these things of your own initiative already speaks for your qualifications,” Tis said after some thought. “But if it worries you that much, then discuss it with Hephaestus. He seems reasonable enough. I am certain that he would be happy to give you a fuller description of any duties you are expected to perform as a beta if you asked him about it.” Tis found that her opinion of Hephaestus was growing by the day, but aside from that…
…was this becoming some sort of advice-giving session? Well, no matter. So long as it helped her relations with the pack, that was good enough for her. Besides, she rather enjoyed giving advice, though her thoughts were not often sought out. For some reason, people tended to think that it annoyed her or something. She could not for the life of her imagine why. Of course, she never takes her unpredictable temper into account when wondering about peoples’ reactions to her. Perhaps she was not used to accounting for it.
At any rate, Ehrek was right about one thing. Their future was full of possibilities. With no particular goals in mind, they were free to explore their options. What would they like best to do? For that matter, they need not even all take the same duties, though the thought of splitting up her tight-knit group in any way twisted her heart a little. But it was not like that. Not really. They belonged to the same pack, now. It was just bigger. That did not mean that they would all drift apart. Their bonds were made of sterner stuff than that.
“Yes,” she said at last, slightly distant. “We will not make a burden of ourselves. We can be quite self-sufficient, if need be. So, if you need more hunters, then we will hunt. Whatever needs to be done. It will be done.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:03 am
Everyday his mind wanders into a blizzard of thoughts, the flurry of snowflake thoughts whirled around his head - Unable to focus on just any but they assaulted him nevertheless. His relationship. His place in the pack. Remembering his place and how to display it. His best friend, Kekarn. Who was around him that gave him that odd scent. What about these painted wolves. Was Phrixos stalking him at the moment. The cold north was calling for him. Was it going to rain today? How did Hephaestus see his brother being mated to a tiny wolf such as himself? How did Dione? Constantly these thoughts swarmed about, never a day where they would stop and drift for him to sort them out thoroughly.
Then again, he never really had the day to actually talk about them.
"Hephaestus is the alpha long before we came here. Deimos ascended to the rank as he was the previous alpha in another pack and is blood related. I suppose having a mate was a good thing as well, that is a bright side I guess I will accept. However, he is very strict with his duties as my mate. I hardly see either of them unless they were eating or returning to the dens. Hephaestus is elusive to me, I suppose I find it a better chance to talk to Deimos than the other as he sleeps with me at night. Granted, I will have to take the initiative to pin down Heph." Ehrek chuckled. This tiny wolf may be small, but he was completely capable of taking down a bear on his own should his needs be that dire. Though he was a poor hunter before, he had learned and grown since. Even without his North exterior. He could only imagine what he could do should he don on that old persona again.
"If your group hunts, that's more capable wolves. You all seem to work well together. If that be the case then that is one less duty I can do and find some place else to devote my time to," The blue-soot wolf laughed. Just then, he sounded like a lazy. However, if they do hunt, then he may not have to, then he can find something else to do more of to ease the burdens of someone else. Or find time to relax and sort his thoughts.
Curiously, he began to think about her more, beyond the first impressions, she proves to be a different wolf from back then. He would be treading on thin ice, but he risked it nevertheless. "Do you plan to do anything for yourself, Tisiphone? I do not mean for your group, but for yourself as a female. Mate? Family? Or would you be more content to just be in the pack as another member?"
Even he had thoughts of a family of his own, but that is a different subject all in its own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:22 am
Tisiphone listened as he voiced more of his thoughts; however, none of them seemed to require her opinion. They sounded more like personal musings than anything else. Of a certainty, her group did work well together and if they did decide to hunt, then it was quite likely that Ehrek would find more time on his paws, but stating that would be redundant. Then, he asked his questions.
Tis had been feeling more relaxed than she had in quite a while, despite focusing on making a good impression on the local wolf. It was nice to just lounge around and have a meaningful conversation. Unfortunately, Ehrek's innocent questions shoved a hot pike of pain and anger straight into her heart.
Her reaction was instinctual.
Where she had been lounging on the grass before, she was suddenly standing, hackles raised, teeth bared in a fierce snarl. She made no move toward him, but the transition was quite abrupt.
A mate? A family? How could he ask her about these things when she had already been denied them? When they were taken from her. They had just been talking about trying for pups of their own when Cith was murdered. How dare this wolf tread on his memory! How dare he suggest that she could ever find someone to replace Cith!
A low growl rumbled in her chest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:37 pm
Ehrek's ears fell back against his skull but he made no other move or gesture. His eyes narrowed a bit at Tisiphone's reaction. Her hackles raised, the immediate jump to her feet, and her fangs were bared, the growl was a good indication that he could very much be attacked by this painted wolf. Yet, the soot-blue hued wolf made no moves against her nor away from her to defend himself. He could very well be attacked but he could very well protect himself and maybe match her on par.
However, bringing that up might anger her even more. Even provoke her into doing so.
"Settle yourself, Tisiphone, it was but a question and you should not feel obliged to answer any, if at all." Ehrek spoke calmly the best he could. Their peaceful discussion suddenly turned about into a stand off. Last thing he needed was to have them return home bloodied. Would certainly not want to know what Deimos would do to the painted wolves should he find out. "Think of what might happen if we were to fight here over a question."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 12:26 pm
Tisiphone did not react well to orders and his words sounded uncomfortably close to one. Even his calm tone only added fuel to her fury. But he had a valid point. It was just a question. He had no way of knowing that his question would cause so much pain. She did not have to answer him. She could simply say that the subject was taboo for her. Besides, her goal was not to stir up trouble and attacking the mate of an alpha was a sure path to more than a little trouble. It was not even that she wanted his blood. The wolf before her was merely an easy target. Someone to vent her pent-up anger and pain at. Logically, she knew this. However, knowing and feeling are two very different things. Her mind might know he was undeserving of an attack, but her feelings wanted to be released, consequences be damned. But now was not the time.
With effort, more effort than she would care to admit, Tisiphone leashed her anger once more. Slowly, oh-so slowly, she got herself under control. Inch by inch, her body relaxed, until she was sitting back on her haunches and her face and body language were free from fury. She was still a little tense, and her eyes were dark with some powerful emotion, but it was less anger and more pain, just then.
“Forgive me,” she said at last, her voice quiet and measured, carefully free from emotion. “That was uncalled for. I have no personal plans, at the moment.” Not entirely true, but until she could track down the murderer, there was little she could do about it; so, in essence, she really did have no plans for herself. Not yet. Besides, exacting revenge and building a family did not belong in the same conversation.
“Such topics bring up…unpleasant memories, so I prefer not to speak of them.” Now, there was an understatement. Besides, Ehrek had surely figured out as much for himself, with her blatant loss of control. Still, she thought she owed him some kind of explanation for her behavior. She did not want to be on bad terms with this wolf. More than pack politics, she had been enjoying their conversation.
It was pleasant, to simply relax and speak with another, nestled safely in the heart of a strong pack’s territory, not having to worry about all the dangers that plagued a wandering wolf. Ehrek made for pleasant company and helping him sort through his worries pleased her in a way that she rarely indulged in. Even if her opinion was not wanted or her advice went unheeded. This might not have been his intent, but it had that effect, nonetheless.
“I am afraid that my temper is rather more volatile than it used to be,” she added. Apologies never came easily to her. Her pride was a powerful thing, however, she tried her best to be fair and he was doubly entitled to the apology. She hoped she had not damaged their relationship irreparably. It would be such a shame. Still, her temper was a part of her and any wolf who stayed near her for any amount of time was bound to encounter it. If he could not accept it, then they would have a very uncomfortable time avoiding each other. With such pleasant thoughts drifting through her head, Tisiphone waited for the male’s response.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:45 pm
"You are forgiven. Emotions are powerful, how one harnasses and reveals them is entirely based on exactly how powerful it is. It seems I have snapped a twig which I had no intention of doing. You seem to have these unpleasant memories trigger anger or something to cause you to react in such a way," Ehrek explained, analyzing her actions with what he believed as to why. Emotions and feelings were powerful; jealousy, anger, pain, happiness, lust, sadness. They could easily take over one's self and change them for a moment. But a moment was all that was necessary to change everything. Tisiphone was able to control herself, pull herself through whatever pained and/or angered her back to the calmer wolf he was speaking to before. In fairness, he had discovered a weakness in this female, would it not be just for her to know one of his?
"Unpleasant memories are just that, unpleasant. We want to forget them, but we either cling to them because we do not want to forget, or there is something there to recall," The beta spoke, diving head forth into the blizzard that became his past. His golden eyes closed as memories came forth in links of a chain. "I was the heir to a pack in the far north were rains fell harder than hail, the storms would keep you awake in fear that you may never wake, and snow that buried you in mere moments should you sleep. I was only a pup back then when my pack was ripped apart and I only managed to escape by sending me across a river. Every memory before that is but a blur. I can no longer remember my parents' faces or their smell. I am not even certain I remember if I had other littermates. But this memory is the oldest I have and my more painful ones. If it were not for the North, I would probably be a ball of wet fur, crying on the spot." Ehrek laughed through subtle tears, repressing the sorrow and pain of losing his pack, family, and, essentially, his puppyhood. If it weren't for instinct and Deimos' gentle guidance, he would have never learned what a pack structure was or its politics as well as cooperation during hunts.
Thinking of the red wolf, he smiled through. A genuine smile. "I think... that though we have had bad times in our lives, we owe it to ourselves to find the good ones. A balance, you could say." Yes, a balance. For the bad times, there are bound to be good ones. His past was behind him and so he stayed in the present and future. "I have Deimos and my times with him and my friends who came to here are what I look to when I am down. You have your friends here, Tisiphone, try to remember your good times with them, huh?"
A howl echoed through the sky. Ears perked he recognized it.
"The hunts on their way back it seems. Want to head to meet them?" The little one asked as he raised to his feet, stretching the aches from his limbs. Ehrek turned from her toward the howl's direction, turning over his shoulder. "Your temper may be volatile, but if I am able to gate mine, I am certain a strong, proud female like you can master it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:16 pm
Though she was glad that her temper had not ruined their relationship, Tisiphone was not certain how she felt about being analyzed thus, however accurate the analysis may be. However, when Ehrek went on to tell her of one of his own painful memories, she decided that it was not worth commenting on. What was a little perception when compared to scars of the heart?
His childhood reminded her a little of two of her past experiences, neither of which was a pleasant memory. Still, he was right about one thing. There was a balance. At least, there had been. She had lost her parents, but that was made up for when she had gained Cith and their little pack. All of her blurry memories of her parents were bitter-sweet, but she had gotten over their deaths. She had Cith, after all, and her sister. The pups.
But how was she ever supposed to move past their loss? Certainly, she now had her painted wolves. Her beloved family. But how could she move past Cith’s death? The loss of Alecto? Of everyone? It was still too fresh. She was not certain that she would ever really recover from that. How could something like that be balanced?
Tisiphone sighed and gently pushed such thoughts aside. Another time.
Ah. There was a howl.
“Very well,” she agreed. It was a distraction, but they could leave their serious discussion behind. But he was not done yet. What was that? A compliment? A challenge? As the blue male turned away from her again, a small smile graced her maw. A strong, proud female, indeed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
