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 Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:23 pm
Fiereza poked her head out of the den sleepily and cringed slightly as the sun hit her ruby eyes. She slunk out and shook off before looking at her son curiously, she adored Possum , but normally he didn't pester her the way Sly did. How odd that she should find herself awoken in the middle of the day by him. Her nose gave a slight twitch and she turned to glance at the female behind him.
Ahh what a pretty pelt, white, and a soft brown in the light it might even manage to be rust colored. Fie wrenched her thoughts away from skinning and tried to refocus.
"Possum, what you doing baby? Shouldn't you be sleeping or something?" She had to stifle a yawn herself, no doubt Adolfo was curled up in the dark den below.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:31 pm
Calandra watched the black wolf pace from the den and her eyes caught on the white pelt on her back. If he hadn't announced it, Cali would still have known it was Possum's mother. She cast a quick glance at the forest behind her again, then gave her full attention to the she-wolf and Possum. It would be rude not to pay attention.
Cali's hackles slowly went down, and she grew a bit more hesitant. This was a female, yes, but she was a strange adult as well, not a child like Possum. It took a specific decorum to interact with adults, especially if you were the intruder on their territory. For now, she'd let Possum speak. It might be easier if he explained the situation before she asked for his mother's opinion.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:35 pm
Possum grinned at Fie, his tail wagging swiftly now. Sure, he should be sleeping... He loved the darkness, loved the shadows they kept, but he also knew that during the day, pups could get stolen... And it was up to him to protect them...
"I was out," he murmured, giving his mother a nuzzle. "And I ran into this wolfess. This is Calandra, of the Outriders. She's trying to get home. But, Mother. When we were heading through, there was a strange smell. A smell of a wolf not of Akiiki Chibale nor Agua Azul... Calandra felt she should bring me home." Though I would've been fine on my own. "I worry that they might be a problem. Has father mentioned anything unusual?"
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:42 pm
Fie lifted her head alert and her eyes narrowed with concern. "The Reign of Terror is a pack that has been spreading slowly between the more peaceful packs, if you sense them you must avoid them." She sat back and looked at Calandra once more.
"Welcome to our home, the friendly are always welcome, forgive my lack of attention but I and my family are normally more active when the sun sets..your very pretty." She added as a soft afterthought her eyes raking the females pelt once more before looking away to hide her cruel longing. It was harder to act civil when Adolfo was away from her side.
"There have been other rumors...two mysterious packs but no evidence to support them. A hidden band of mercenaries, and a group of males who steal away pups in the night. One would think it's just some cruel wolf scaring young mothers."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:48 pm
"Wolves can be very cruel," Calandra agreed, slow sitting on her haunches as well. "I wouldn't put it past some to steal other's pups, although this is the first I've heard of it. I'm afraid until recently I avoided pack lands; I still try to whenever possible."
She flicked her tail slightly and ducked her head at the compliment, although the look in Possum's mother's eyes was a little... unnerving. "Thank you."
"Forgive me for asking, but... who is the Reign of Terror?" The name implied how they behaved, but Calandra wanted to know everything she could about the surrounding packs. The area didn't seem safe or stable at all, and until she was clear of it she needed to know how things worked. If she ever needed to pass through again, she would also have to remember whose lands she could pass through, and who she needed to avoid.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:56 pm
Possum's small body tensed. Reign of Terror. He didn't know much about them. He knew that their alpha was a formidible-looking wolf who wore a steel skull for a crown. He knew that his twin sisters had run into said wolf. The thought made his skin crawl.
He didn't see the look in his mother's eye; perhaps he overlooked it, or perhaps it was because she was his mother. No one wanted to believe their Mom had problems, inner battles. They wanted to believe their Moms were wonderful people. And Possum did believe that. Fie had given him no reason not to.
"The Brotherhood," Possum growled out, that snarl returning to his lips. "They kidnap puppies and brainwash them into slaughtering their families... They should be put to rest..."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:09 pm
"Yes...The Brotherhood, but they are...elusive, perhaps they have already died out." She shrugged softly before turning to answer Calandra.
"The Reign of Terror is a pack bent on ruling the land...not directly, but by collecting tribute from the others. They've been spreading, gaining more power steadily, but in truth they pose no threat to those who simply ignore them and offer some token of respect." She shrugged softly, Debora was perhaps on the path towards joining the RoT court. Fiereza felt only mild apprehension yet she knew her children could all handle themselves.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:20 pm
"Evil does not die. It merely hibernates," Calandra said softly. "I was unaware of the dangers of this region. I will have to mention it to my alpha when I return to the pack. I suppose I should consider us lucky for not having a run-in with the Reign of Terror. I doubt Phib would give in to the demands of a pack that thrives on fear and violence for control, and I would leave before I would let them walk on me." Calandra had to wonder how true her last statement was. Avoiding trouble was her specialty, so would she bow her head, or fight for her freedom now that she had a home to fight for? She wasn't sure and that made her uncomfortable.
"If you have a way to circumvent their lands, I would appreciate it. Is there another packland I could cross through and avoid trouble? Possum mentioned a war brewing, but if it hasn't begun yet, maybe one of those lands would allow safe passage."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:33 pm
Fie closed her eyes a moment contemplating Calandra's words before nodding. "Your words are true enough..." She murmured thinking of her own wicked desire, locked away but not dead.
"The pack to the south Akiiki Chibale is friendly, family oriented, they might be welcoming to any who wishes to pass through." She nodded softly remembering Adolfo telling her about the pink alpha who had helped him learn the healing arts.
"Where is your pack located?" She asked curiously.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:36 pm
Possum watched his mother, then glanced at Calandra. She seemed bothered by the fact that the rogue they had smelled could quite possibly be a darker beast... He wagged his tail against the earth with a soft smile, nodding in agreement to Fiereza's words.
"Alas and Crunch are tender alphas." Nothing like Twist... Nothing like her. Possum twitched slightly. "Ah... I would like to go with you, on your way home, Calandra...if that is okay with mother." He looked between the females, paw jerking. And his disease had been so well behaved as of late, too...
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 4:44 pm
"I'm many days down the coast from here, off towards the south," she responded to Fiereza. "At a steady pace I should be able to make it home in four days. If the Akiiki alpha doesn't mind my cutting through, or if I can avoid the pack members, then that would make my trip much faster."
She studied Possum as she spoke, weighing his request. He was a child... if things stood as her new aquaintances thought, it wasn't safe for him to be out. Still, if she admitted it to herself, she was being over-protective of a male child who wasn't even hers. He was almost an adult, judging from his size. He could handle the journey there; it was back that Calandra was concerned about. Crunch time.
"I wouldn't mind the company," she said, after a good deal of deliberation, "Only if your parents won't mind the trip. You would be on your own on the way back, most likely, unless we sent an escort to take you home, and I don't know if Phib can spare anyone."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:01 pm
"Possum is old enough to go on his own, and protecting a female on her way home is most noble. He's almost full grown and the Alpha's of Akiiki Chibale are more likely to allow you both through." She nodded softly and smiled at Possum.
"You must be certain to tell Alas your father says hello...and of course warn Calandra's pack that the Reign will eventually come to their lands as well, eventually darkness always manages to cover the land."
She looked back at the female and tipped her muzzle. "I wish you luck on your journey home, and don't worry about Possum, he can take care of himself on his way home. No need to inconvenience your pack members with an escort."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:08 pm
Possum smiled at the fact that Calandra wanted him to have an escort home. She was worried for his safety, that was all. It made him warm inside at the fact that a stranger would look after him so readily. "I will be alright," he admitted with a sharp nod.
"Thank you, mother. I will." His voice was soft, promising as he backed up away from the den and turned to Calandra with a grin on his face. His paw twitched again. "Ready to set out then?" Olivine eyes sparkled with excitement. This would be the first adventure outside of his family and he was eager to start!
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:13 pm
Calandra nodded and rose to her feet. It was rather noble of him, although Cali wasn't sure how much of his offer came from nobleness and how much was from wanting to explore the lands outside of what he knew. "We should go now, anyway, to get as much travel done today as we can."
She shook her fur slightly to resettle it and checked what sky she could through the trees. It looked to be afternoon, which gave them plenty of hours before nightfall. She'd like to get under cover tonight, if there truly were puppy-snatchers and crazed murderers out. The area wasn't safe, even with two wolves to watch each other's backs.
Possum earned himself another appraisal from her, but she was calm. All she had to do was think of him as an adult not a puppy. It wasn't easy, but she did it anyway. He'd made her smile more in the last day than she'd smiled in months, and that couldn't be bad to have on her travels, right? They could exchange stories of their respective packlands and Calandra could show him had to reach her if he needed her.
"Thank you," she said to Possum's mother, then turned and drifted back into the forest, checking only once to make sure Possum was following. A grin crossed her face briefly, then she disappeared into the woods around the den with her new traveling companion, her coat mostly blending in to the pine trunks and needles around her.
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