Welcome to Gaia! ::

((*COUGH* ok.. this place needs some action))

Loki stretched out, yawning wide. Morning sunlight streamed through the mouth of her and Hige's spacious den. It would be more cozy, but they had expected pups... now not having any, it was just.. room for the sake of having room - who was going to work just to fill a den in a bit more? She blinked and searched the den with sapphire eyes. Not seeing Hige around, she figured he must be out hunting, playing with Thayne, or just out generally screwing around.

She sighed. She had been depressed, not being able to have pups. Hoping it would pass, she stood and shook the dust out of her fur. She was filling in now, not nearly as boney and sickly looking as she had been when she first came to the freelands. She also wasn't nearly as /sick/. The pain in her head had fought well, but left gradually, leaving the vision in her right eye dull, and almost blind. Her right ear was much the same.. she could hear still, but not as well as she could in her left ear. But at least she had survived. She was getting stronger ever day now, and had come a long way from the runtish pup she had been.

Snapping out of her memories, she headed for the mouth of the den, pushing her way to daylight. The snow was still present over the ground, but it had stopped falling from the sky for now. A light breeze played through the trees, and Loki could hear birds and squirrels playing and calling to each other above her head. She smiled to herself, and made her way to the water. She closed her eyes, lowering her head to drink from the cool water. After she was satisfied, she made her way back to the den to lounge in the sun that filtered through the branches above, hoping Hige would be back soon with something to eat.

((LOL.. -agrees-))

It had been only a day or two since Devvyl had gone out after Hige. They'd resided comfortably in their new territory for a few weeks, and it looked as though he and Selia were the only expecting couple in their pack. Selia was steadily growing larger, and he'd since tried to keep her in the den for as long as she'd stay there. He was concerned about her well-being and those of the pups, and was determined to lower the pups' mortality rate as much as he possibly could.

In all seriousness, however, he knew Selia would be a good mother. It was himself he didn't know what to do with. Half the time he was wondering if the whole pregnancy thing was some surreal dream, and the real self was somewhere else.

He walked outside the den for some fresh air, leaving his mate asleep inside, as his thoughts were directed to other issues.

The appearance of the brown-and-navy wolf named Isaac troubled him. He hadn't done anything to make the alpha distrust him, but he was... odd. The way he acted, the way he didn't act. It made Devvyl wary of him, which was confusing him even more... and the alpha wanted to be able to control things. He wanted to be able to promise the safety of every single member of his pack, his family, including the newcomer. He didn't like not knowing what would come around the next riverbend, so to speak.

Devvyl offered a tentative smile to the omega, in spite of his thoughts flying in uncertain circles. Morning, Loki, he greeted good-naturedly, forcing his mind to move to more pleasant things. Are you feeling better now? I'm afraid I've been too busy with other things to bother talking to you much. His tone was apologetic, and he did feel sincere guilt that he hadn't checked in with his packmates. After all, he felt that it was an alpha's duty to make sure his packmembers were settled in well and good.

Puffs of white rolled from the wolf's mouth with each panting breath, bounced and strained from the abuse Feanaro had put on his body through his illness and exhaustion. All night he had ran, starting from just before the sun fell from the sky. Led by his crows along the more dangerous but shorter routes he was making good time to the lands of the crimson pack. His errend was both personal and otherwise. His mind jarred nearly as hard as his body as he sped through the woods and over the rough terrain. The red male was the one he had to speak with first- he longed to make his peace with Selia and ask for their help eventually but it would take one paw at a time to fix the situation. Being the fastest and strongest wolf in the small group he had been with- to include Haku and another of his wolfs- he volenteered for the long trip. They needed an answer quickly... three young pups needed to be out of the winter wood as soon as they could.

The scent of the pack burned in Fea's nostrels- old meomories returned to him in a flood but he forced himself to ignore them and concentrate on his discomfort to keep his mind steady. Pausing atop a large boulder he stood and panted for a while, gulping in the cold air much to his lungs' discomfort. It took longer than he would have liked to catch his breath but it was accomplished. Drawing another deep breath he arched his head back and let out a powerful howl- one to simply announce that he had come. It wasn't cocky or dangerous, perhaps a bit proud but other than that it was a peaceful sound. The crows around him cawed and exploded into the trees above the wolf, watching him silently.

He howled again before seating himself on the boulder, his head held high and his ears raised forward to listen for the sound of an oncoming wolf. He knew the red male would probibly have his throat for coming or even asking what he had in mind to ask but that was partly why he had volenteered to come here of the three wolves. He smelled like the others- and another smell, more strange and new but it was faint after his long run through the woods and mountainous trails. Crow mainly musked his fur... a scent he was learning to find comfort in. He'd wait there- going futher might just cause more trouble than it was worth.

Feanaro didn't so much as jump at having the red male in his face quite suddenly, his eyes were just as calm as anything- he hardly looked interested in fact. He expected a warm welcoming such as this. "Well hello to you too." He sneered slightly, rolling his shoulders to help ease the trip's toil from them, "I'm not here to cause trouble, Red... If I had that intention I would have already done it without announcing myself." He leaned forward a bit, nearly pushnig his nose into that of Devvyl's, "So I'd appreciate it if you get out of my face and calm yourself."

Feanaro yawned, taking his time to answer Devvyl. He didn't like this male and there was a smug sense of satisfaction in the fact that he was annoying him to no end just by being there. "I'm here for a few reasons- three actually. The most urgent is one that one of your own pack members asked me to address to you, Hige that is." He caught Devvyl's eyes with his own- the cocky embers burning back a challange, "You see... the other day we- Hige, Balan, and myself- happened upon a trio of young pups. One was a wolf like us- the other two were man pups. They have no home according to the little pup and they are a part of a small pack." He hoped the red male wasn't so dull as to not know where he was going with this.

"Anyway... we're protecting them. We are at a cross roads- both ways will call on the aid of your pack. The first option and the one I'm most fond of is that we take the three pups to my lands further south where they will be safe from the other wolfs, they can grow, and we can tame them to our ways... the only problem with this is a rival pack from the east is raising two pups that I had raised originally- Lexi and Gaara -to come and destroy me and my mate, taking the land from us." He took a deep breath, "Which leads into another matter- a personal matter.... I seek a peace between us and an allyance. I'll come to your aid if you wish and you to mine when I need it... but more on that later. The second choise was that we bring the pups here- but there are many wolfs and it might frighten them and your wolfs might do them harm... we won't have it."

Hmm... just as he had thought. Devvyl wanted none of the human pups with their pack. That left them with traveling to his own southern lands, but an allyance was still needed- Hige and Balan would probibly wish to be with the human pups. "An allyance it is then. We'll keep the human pups in my lands so there's no danger to your pack or pups." He sighed a bit, pups... why was everyone else able to have them, "But we still need your pack's help for protection. Listen..."

He took a deep breath, "You know I raised Lexi and Gaara. Took them into my pack and raised them as my own children. When Gaara went missing Lexi and I sought to find them she decided to stay with him... and turned on me." He looked off to the side, it was obvious that a bit of him had died with the story he was telling, "She became a monster... she and Gaara... they slew a pup... an innocent pup. Called him a trator and a threat to their pack- A pup! These two will come for me... come for my mate and any pups that we make. Hige, Balan, and myself are determined to protect these pups but I cannot fight a pack on my own." He sighed, "I will prove that I mean no harm- and that I will keep my promise." He extended a foreleg, turning up to Devvyl, "Scar me.... my shed blood will be my pact with you."