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 Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:39 am
"So, Aish'..."
"Don't call me that," Aisha announced gruffly. The only reason she was travelling with doofus was because it was safer to travel in a pair than by yourself. Though, given what she'd seen of him so far she was beginning to wonder. His inability to keep quiet made her stomach rumble. They hadn't come across much to hunt either, but she prefered to blame him. "My name is Aisha. Remember that or I kill you."
Bakari hung his head slightly as she spoke. He could tell she didn't really like him all that much, and he didn't really blame her. He talked when he was nervous, made a fool of himself in an attempt to impress, and was hopeless at hunting. They'd been travelling together for several weeks now, having miraculously avoided any conflict - except that which they had with each other. They had both been travelling alone, when they found themselves hunting the same deer. Needless to say, it got away, but they paired up when they realised they were both alone.
"Where're we going? And..."
"If you dare to ask if we're there yet..." the she-wolf growled, leaving the threat to hang. "And you know where we're going. Or at least what we're looking for." She turned back to glance at him. Her voice softened for a moment. "We're trying to find where we belong. Forget again and we go our seperate ways."
"Oh yeeeeeah..."
"Idiot..." she hissed quietly, moving on.
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:55 am
"But mmmmmuuuuuuummmm" came a whine which pierced the forest like a blade through ice - grating, irritating and very, very loud. The petulant tone came from a small brown and silver pup who was following an older, caramel brown female. Even without the pup's exclamations it was obvious that the pair were mother and child. The child seemed to move with her mother's manner - confidant and strong, but with none of the inherint adult wariness. "I want some millllkkkkk..." came the second, shuddering petulant whimper. Truly it was a volume one wouldn't have thought possible from such small lungs.
"No." The older wolf replied bluntly, looking down at her daughter with a mix of exasperated fondness and exhaustion. Although the pups had been eating meat for a while now it was proving hard to get them off of milk completely. Together the pair were driving her crazy and so Calliope had suggested to her mate that they each try and occupy one girl in a two-pronged attack which might, eventually, mean the pair got some peace.
Calliope had intended to give her daughter a hunting lesson and the small female had seemed keen but something wasn't right. "Aoede.. sush a minute.."
"Buut..."
"SHUSH" Calliope whispered loudly, instinctively herding her small pup underneath her front legs.
Milk forgotten, for the moment at least, Aoede tried to peer out to see what had upset her mother. Her nose picked up more than her golden eyes did. Below the pair, on a slightly lower part of the terrain, were two wolves. A male and a female. Aoede could feel her mother's body tense as she watched them heading in the direction of the familys den.
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:08 am
"So, uhh, Aisha?"
"Shut up!" Aisha hissed impatiently. She could smell things now, other wolves. This could be a bad thing, or then again perhaps a good thing. She lifted her nose and snuffed at the air for a moment, taking it in. If this was a friendly pack, their journey might be over. If it wasn't friendly, their journey might be over just as quickly. With no idea that the den was so close, the pair continued.
Bakari glanced about. He could smell wolf too, and it made him uneasy. He wouldn't accept himself into another pack - how could he expect anyone else to do it? He tilted his head for a moment, hearing something on the wind. A small voice? Absently, he turned his head uphill. Blinking, he silently nosed one of Aisha's flanks.
"Up there..."
Aisha turned, her gaze irritable and looking up the embankment. She froze. Then she narrowed her gaze. Did she see...?
"Is there a wolf up there? I think I saw something move..."
Aisha froze, not knowing what to do. "I think so..."
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Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:36 am
It was half instinct and she didn't realise she was doing it until she had begun but when she did she threw her voice into it. Head leaning back, she wailed a long, low howl. Our land, beware tresspassers, were live here and we are strong the old words said. It had been a long time since she'd felt confidant enough to sound that song, to warn others off. Now the pack was getting stronger it seemed like they might have to respond to such challenges. There was a grim determination in her eyes as she looked down at the two and called again.
It wasn't that she instantly disliked new wolves, strangers, though she was a particularly wary wolf, but she wanted them to know that this was not open territory, was not free for them to come and go. Especially with the pups around...
In true puppyish fashion Aoede copied her mother. Her small, wailing tones barely audible under the adults sonorous call. She felt good for doing it, secure. Unlike her mother she'd been brought up right in the centre of a group of strong adults who watched out and cared for her and perhaps spoiled her a little. She was confidant that the land belonged to her and her pack and it seemed even more alien to the small silver-tipped pup that there should be strangers here.
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:43 am
Bakari's first instinct was to run away. The she-wolf scared him, her voice was so clear. And with her head thrown back like that, she looked powerful and strong. An alpha perhaps? Or at least something close to it. What the male did was to hunch his shoulders, crouching a little towards the ground, his tail tucked securely between his legs, his head bowed towards the floor. The fact she had a puppy made her all the more dangerous, but at least she was outnumbered for the moment. Hopefully it would mean she wouldn't try to kill them for their trespass. Just yet, anyway.
Aisha had quickly copied Bakari's motions, an inbred stubborness being the only thing to make her hesitate. Keeping her head bowed, she barked up to the other, "We mean you no harm! We come looking for a pack that will take us in!"
Bakari shuddered. He wanted to add to her words, but wasn't sure what to say.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:40 pm
Calliope stared hard at the red and white female. The pair seemed strong enough - they must have managed to eat well enough on their own - and neither seemed more oddly coloured than a particularly vibrant shade of red. The caramel-brown female harumphed a moment and then made her way down from where she stood, carefully leading her pup. She might have driven them off right away but the alpha female knew the neccessity of their pack being strengthened by more members. She'd also been somewhat pleased with the addition of the snowy female that Ouranos had brought which made her consider this pair.
Teaching her daughter how to react to strange wolves was as good a lesson as hunting, too.
Aoede was excited. All of the other wolves had been around since as long as she could remember even Anya - who had arrived latest - had arrived on the day of her birth and so was a familiar face. The young female, so alike in colour to her mother if not personality, trotted ahead of her mother, small feet finding purchase more easily in the rock. She ran forward, looking up at the pair of odd wolves. "Who're you? Where did you come from? Why are you here?" her small tail wagged happily as she questioned the newcomers.
Calliope's heart leapt into her throat as her youngest daughter walked right up to the strange wolves. "Aoede!" she hissed sharply, but the young pup didn't pay any heed.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:52 pm
Glancing towards Calliope with a sort of apology, Bakari stepped backwards from the pup. He didn't think her mother would appreciate her being so close to a stranger. He glanced then towards Aisha, who didn't look like she had any intention of addressing the pup.
"I'm Bakari, and she's Aisha. We come from a place far away from here. I don't think we could find our way back even if we tried." His tail dared to move a little in mild amusement as he murmured, as though it were a secret. "I'm terrible with directions."
"We're here-" Aisha ignored Bakari's surprised look as she addressed the pup. "We're here because we want somewhere to belong. We didn't know this land was already taken until your mother stopped us." Aisha then looked to Calliope, feeling much more comfortable addressing adults. "If you tell us to, we'll leave your lands immediately. But we ask that you and your alphas at least consider our request before casting us out." She bowed her head again, guaging that they might be making some progress.
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Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:13 pm
Her dark brown fur ruffled in the cool wind as she stepped forward to grasp her pup by the collar. The little female was getting too big now, almost, for it, but Calliope half-carried-half-dragged her pup a little ways back, depositing Aoede behind her. She eyed both the male and female, staring at them hard for a time. The male, his words, that odd marking. She wasn't sure she liked him too much - he seemed a bit weedy. But the female, she seemed strong and capable enough. Calliope eyeballed her a little longer, one capable female eye to eye with another.
"I am Calliope" she said finally. "My mate and I are the alpha's of this land. This is one of my pups, Aoede." It was an acceptance of sorts, letting them know who she was. It meant she didn't intend for them to have to leave right away. "If you can hunt, help out in some way, we could use more adults. We have pups to feed, a territory to patrol. I cannot guarantee this is the place where you 'belong' but I won't turn you away if you're a help and not trouble." she eyeballed the male at this point, not sure why but sensing he was not the stronger of the pair.
"Yaaaay!" came a call from behind Calliope as the smaller female burst forward again, disliking being kept out of things. "New wolves, new wolves!" she danced around her mother, not noticing the pained expression which passed over her mother's face.
Aoede liked the male, she had decided. He reminded her of uncle Oura and had talked to her like an adult, not like the female who was a lot more like mummy...
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:57 am
Upon discovering Calliope was an alpha in her pack, Aisha lowered her head a little further. This was a wolf who commanded respect. "Of course we will try to help feed your pack as long as we are trusted to do so. And likewise with the protection of your territory. Your concerns are our concerns for as long as we will be allowed to stay." She lifte her head a little, regarding her new alpha curiously. She had a lot to learn about her new pack, and she'd rather learn it sooner than later.
Bakari listened to Aisha speak, pleased she was around to be more eloquant than he could ever be. He also got the distinct impression the female wasn't enamoured with his presence. Well, perhaps over time. He allowed his tail to wag a little behind him, pleased that this seemed to be going well. Slowly he lifted his head, no longer in such a submissive position. "Thank you," he said plainly. He didn't mind if this wasn't where he would ultimately 'belong', but it was nice to have a little time off from wandering. And if it was where he belonged, then so much the better.
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:37 pm
If there was one thing Calliope liked it was manners. Wolves acting as they should amongst their betters or even those lower than them. She was fair - didn't expect more than any wolf could give - but expected them to give all that they could.
Her brow knitted slightly as she eyed the pair. The other thing Calliope was known for was being a bit of a worrier. Having pups and the rigours that entailed had relaxed her a little and given her a much better sense of the world but she still wasn't free of her old habit. She was loath to take the pair directly back to the main den right away but it would seem odd for them not to know where it was if they wished to stay.
"Mmm the way you are travelling leads to our den. There are other dens in the area, south of here and one more easterly. All are rocky overhangs - not small, created dens" she summarised, adding "most good prey is in the south too, but the protection of the northern den is greatest. You would have hit cliffs which cannot be climbed by a wolf if you had continued that way unchecked."
Calliope had given the new wolves what information they'd need to get a grounding in the land of this area. She knew that much was vital so they'd be useful but wasn't sure what else to tell them. She'd perhaps wait for now and see how the pair behaved before giving them more information.
"Oh".. she began, thinking of another piece of information they'd need if they were in these lands. "The others. If you see them let them know what I have said, that you can stay. I'll let them know soon enough but if you cross their path before I do..." she trailed off, eyeing them.
"The last female to join brought us a good haunch of meat to feed the young ones. It's not neccessary but..." she trailed off, leaving them to think on that.
Aoede sat down, almost bored now. All this adult talk! Talk about boring... Like any pup she was easily distracted. "Mothhhherrrr... we're supposed to be hunnntttiiinnnnggg" she whined, her head upturned, giving that whimperingly hopeful look all pups seemed to project.
Calliope sighed as she looked down at her daughter then back to the newcomers. "I appear to be... somewhat otherwise engaged at the moment or I'd show you to the den now myself..." she said drily.
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:22 pm
Aisha paused, taking in what Calliope said about the other female bringing food. Now that they were welcome, she didn't mind trying to hunt something to share and to prove she could be useful. She nodded to Calliope, bowing her head a little in acknowledgement. "Then we head south," she said, "It's about time I stretched my legs somewhere I have permission to hunt." She turned to Bakari. "Coming?"
Bakari nodded. "Of course." He then turned to Calliope and Aoede as Aisha took her leave. Before following her he said, "I guess I'll see you two later on then."
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:20 am
Calliope simply nodded to the other female. She really uite liked her and hoped things would work out well. Her eyes met Bakari's and she gave him a brief nod before turning and heading off, sheperding the growing pup.
Aoede was rather happy to be allowed to get back to her hunting practice. She called a rather loud "G'byyyeee", though as she was prodded back to the original destination her mother had intended.
It seemed to the pup that the pack was getting huge now. With no experience of any other packs she thoguth, of course, that hers must be the biggest and best!
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