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 Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:54 am
.::.Of Butterflies and Blue: Jaxom/Coheed.::. Coronaviridae Learning how to hunt is a part of every pup's life in the wild--chasing rabbits into ditches and squirrels up trees, pouncing on lazy toads and making life miserable for any crows stupid enough to stay on the ground near them. Coheed was no exception to this...although, it seemed, back when the Great b***h was giving out the instincts of the Hunt to Her children, he was apparently off asleep under a log somewhere.
To be more precise, Coheed was chasing butterflies--some of the few woodland creatures every bit as colorful as he was. In this specific instance, it was a palm-sized Monarch that caught his interest, and he was doing everything in his puppy power to catch the thing. Which, more often than not, meant falling over on his back in a confusion of flailing paws after another near miss.
After one such of these, he rolled to his feet and shook enthusiastically, before baring his teeth at the buttefly. "I'll get you for this," he told it in a growl. "Just you wait!"
The butterfly flittered tauntingly, perching upon a fallen log just out of reach. Its orange wings flashed enticingly as it rested there. Coheed gathered himself to leap, and sprung--!
"OW!"
A family of partridges, afrighted, burst from cover at the tremendous bark of pain. Coheed dropped smack onto his haunches, pawing at his abused nose and feeling mighty sorry for himself. RonsoStryder Concealed within the brush as only the sharp eye could discern his carrot hued fur from the lively leaves, Jaxom onlooked the teal pup with a grin as he found his antics to be humorous. He tilted his head in curiosity. He?d never seen him within the realms of the woods before and perhaps he?d actually find a friend.
It had been days since he'd last been reunited with his pack but, once again, he'd managed to stray away. There was adventure that lurked around every corner and turn within the woods and Jaxom would see to it that ever part was to be explored. But what fun would it be without having a friend tag along?
Slowly, he padded outside of his protected hideaway and casually strolled towards Coheed with a light-hearted smile. ?What are you doing?? His ears perked up while his eyes drifted sight upon the looming butterfly. Coronaviridae The sudden appearance of another pup--one Coheed'd had the vague idea might be in the area, from the scent--gave the teal wolfling an excellent reason to stop feeling sorry about himself. He wuffed in startlement, putting his paw down and swivelling head and ears around to face the newcomer.
"Teaching the butterfly a lesson!" he said firmly. "I'm going to catch it, and when I do, it will be so sorry it ever messed with me!" He puffed his chest up, self-importantly, and gave a wag of his tail to emphasize the point.
The butterfly perched once more on the log, opening and closing its wings enticingly. RonsoStryder Glancing towards the Monarch as it descended towards the log, Jaxom drifted his gaze back towards the teal pup as his eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Oh," he replied as he took several paces back in attempt to give him more room to proceed onward with the hunt. "They'd always said to be quiet and creep within the shadows for the kill." Lowering himself towards the ground, Jaxom shifted his eyes back and forth from pup to butterfly as he grew silent.
"Are you gonna go after it?" He whispered while keeping his vision between the two in anticipation. Coronaviridae Had he feathers, Coheed's would be ruffled at this juncture. But he did not, so he settled for a huff of breath out through his nose, and flopping into a parody of an adult's crouch. "I know how to hunt," he said, irritated--and a little unsure. The Monarch was right there--but he banged into the log last time, and...
It was the "are you gonna go for it?" that made up his mind. He grinned a cocky grin. "Yeah," he whispered back, and leapt again.
This time, he missed the log and butterfly entirely, soaring over it clearly and landing in something that crackled under his weight. "AAAAAAH!" Thump. "...ow." RonsoStryder After watching Coheed's last attempt, Jaxom simply sighed and gently laid his head upon his forepaws. His eyes were glued onto the teal pup, anxiously awaiting to see the outcome of the battle of pup against butterfly.
Just as the Coheed launched himself, the orange-brown pup leapt onto all fours as the objective seemed within reach. With the second attempt worse than the first, Jaxom winced at the sounds and drew his ears down. Shifting his weight to his back legs, he teetered towards the log and looked down towards the fallen pup.
"Do you need help?" He commented as he scrambled atop the log and made ready to offer what assistance he could provide. Coronaviridae ((*winds time backward to Coheed's puppyhood* *takes her fingers off the cosmic VCR* Hokay!))
"Mmmf," Coheed remarked. His fall had been--(un)mercifully--cushioned by a pile of vegatation that was oddly still rather green among the sere browns of the summer-scorched woods. "...huhwh--?" He rolled over onto his back as Jaxom spoke up, blinking his red eyes rapidly--before offering the other pup a lopsided grin, his tongue hanging out.
"Yeah, I'm okay! These leafy things caught me." He giggled abruptly, rolling around in them, before popping to his feet. The white tip of his tail made a fine flag as he wagged it in his amusement. The twitching slowed, though, as he squinted up at Jaxom. "...did, uh. Did the butterfly get away?"
He didn't wait for an answer, instead taking a running leap at the log and managing to get two legs over it. For a moment, he hung there in that ridiculous posed, before scrabbling with his hindlegs and hauling himself up. RonsoStryder ((*punts puppy Jaxom into the Rp* xd ))
Tilting his head as the butterfly had flown upwards on a gentle breeze and loomed overhead, the brown and orange hued pup drew his vision back to Coheed and nodded his head. "He's above us," he replied as he glanced upwards towards the elusive monarch.
Jaxom's tail swayed to and fro with a soft motion, its orange tip attempting to lure any curious creature that roamed amongst the forest floor. With ears swiveling as they intook each sound that echoed and cut audibly through the air, he grinned as he caught a slight glimpse of Coheed as he hung in such a unique fashion.
When Coheed finally stumbled to all fours atop the log, Jaxom eased himself onto his stomach and rested his head upon his forepaws. He was both curious and sought a sense of a new adventure. The forests were a foreign land, brimming full of new discoveries that were awaiting to be unveiled by the curious wanderer.
Leaping down from the log, though with an ungraceful manner as he tumbled and rolled through the pathway of fallen leaves, Jaxom quickly regained his footing and yelped with excitement of a new idea.
"How about we go on an adventure! We can go anywhere and I'd like to explore the parts of the woods I haven't seen. Wait," he stalled for a second as he peered towards the teal pup with a slightly perplexed expression, "you haven't even told me your name yet."
Seating himself down upon the path, a smile crept across his maw. "My name is Jaxom. What's yours?" Coronaviridae "Mmph." Coheed flopped off the log, collecting his limbs under him and staring balefully up at the butterfly. Finally, he snorted and scratched behind one ear, pretending nonchalance. "Well, it's not like I wanted to catch a ragged old thing like that anyhow," he groused. "It'd probably be all...crunchy, and bitter, like the crickets." That's right, ladies and gentlemen, we have a bug-eating wolf with us tonight.
At length he finished his scratching, setting his paw down and canting his head at Jaxom. Those white-lined ears of his perked up, and he laughed a little as the other pup took a tumble off his perch. The idea they go exploring fell on receptive ears, though, and the teal pup all but bounced in place at the thought. "An adventure? Away from everyone else?"
He seemed to consider a moment, before running an excited circle around Jaxom, tail flagging behind him. "Yeah! We can go find a whole new place and hunt anything we want and and and be alphas and--" The idea that this other pup didn't know his name (and, much to his chagrin, the reverse was true) hauled him up short, and the teal wolfling sat smack down on his hindquarters.
"Oh. Uhm. I'm Coheed. Nice ta meetcha!" He extended a paw in a "shake" gesture, something he'd seen the two-leggers do. It seemed like a friendly way to go. RonsoStryder Jaxom grinned as he watched Coheed suddenly explode with thrill, running around in circles as the idea transformed into the twos next excursion. "We'll be the best hunters and rule the woods!" He exclaimed with an estatic bark.
At the mentioning that he was unsure of the teal pups name, he watched him sit down upon his hind quarters and extend one paw towards him. Jaxom was a bit baffled but as a smile crossed his maw he deciding to follow in Coheed's lead. The brown and orage hued pup outstretched his right paw and tapped it lightly against Coheed's, "Pleasure ta meet ya, Coheed!"
Dropping his paw down lightly, Jax peered over towards a light bathed trail, snaking through the unknown where, perhaps, the hunt and territory were prime for two mischevious "alpahs". Lifting himself to all fours, the brown and orange hued pup padded several steps towards the head of the trail. Looking back towards the teal pup, his tail swept with vigor as he was ready for a change of scenery and an adventure with a new friend.
"Ready, Coheed?" He commented with a grin as his paws grasped the ground beneath and dug his claws lightly into its surface.
Anticipation for what laid in wait swelled within his body as he could easily picture a secret place where rivers and stream were lively with silver, slimey things and the territory full of suitable things to hunt. He only hoped to find such a place that somewhere abounded within the woods and, perhaps, it was still undiscovered. Coronaviridae Coheed grinned a silly grin when Jaxom tapped his paw in response. See, it was a good way to introduce himself! "Jaxom. That's a good name. Nice to meet you, too!" His tail thumped out an irregular beat on the ground, signatory of his enthusiasm. It was always nice to meet new friends, especially ones that were up to going exploring with him. In fact...
Rule the woods? That was something Coheed could agree with, and he sprang back to his feet, dancing from paw to paw in glee. "Yeah! Everyone will know our names from one end of the woods to the other!" Now his tail was wagging hard enough that his entire back end shook, making him look slightly ridiculous and very excited. It ceased after a moment, as he plopped back down and scratched at his ear again.
By the time he finished, Jaxom had gotten up and started toward the trail. Coheed popped back to his feet and jogged after the gray-brown and orange wolf, panting happily. "I'm ready!" Pause. "Where are we gonna go, anyway? Just straight ahead?" RonsoStryder Wherever the path takes us," he grinned as he swept his vision towards the teal fusioned pup. With ears perked up and tail wagging with great zest, Jaxom peered down the trail with exhileretion. Either it was the feeling of the wind rushing past his fur, rippling across his body like that of a disturbed body of water, or the feeling of freedom that made his body yearn unceasingly for the thrill of an adventure time and time again.
"Let's go!" He suddenly exclaimed as he lunged into a full sprint as the surge of adventure coursed through his blood. Swiftly sweeping each paw upon the ground, Jaxom couldn't help but continiously look around at the unfamiliar sights and whiff lightly of the foregin, yet intriguing, smells that lingered within the air.
The woods were very different from the spacious plains and far mountain regions but the sensation of freedom was more lively and he embraced it whole heartedly. It was like nothing he'd ever know!
As his mind was engulfed with the fantasy of being a revered alpah as he swept through the woods, Jaxom tipped back his head, still allowing himself to see visibly, and solaced a high-pitched howl, though not as defined as an older males, in joy and with the unleashing of his countless emotions that swelled within his body. Yeilding its progress as it died off without accompanyment, the brown and orange pup laughed light-heartedly. "Come one Coheed, howl!"
Casting his vision back, he found that Coheed had dissapeared. There was no second set of pawprints that followed him nor the muffles and whines of a pup. He was alone. Hanging his head low, the brown and orange pup trudged his way on the trail and slowly dissapeared into the shadows.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:56 am
.::.A Friend And Good Fortune: Jaxom/Nessa.::. Tweek Pitchy paws fell on soft, sandy grounds near a bubbling stream as a cobalt blue and cream pup padded forward a couple steps into the shallows of the gentle water. Olive eyes glanced back and fourth in a cursory cautious glance. Times in the woods before already had made the small pup wary of going out on her own. Hesitating a moment, Nessa tilted her ears backward, reaching down to lap up the cool water with her light pink tongue, her light eyes scanning even whilst she drank. RonsoStryder Enclosed within the shadows of the brush, the young brown and orange hued pup silently onlooked towards the banks of the tranquil river. The days had grown long and the air cool with a soft, caressing breeze that rippled against his fur. It had been days since he'd last been reunited with his pack but, once again, he'd managed to wander and seek the thrill of adventure. Like a luscious fruit that tantilized ones appitite, the unknown was elusive and he'd always enjoyed to discover the mysteries the forest held.
Drawning near towards the river, his eyes caught sight of female cobalt blue and cream pup. Though he'd never had really interacted with many pups his age before perhaps he could finally find a friend or at least meet someone new.
Padding slowly towards her, making sure not to scare her, Jaxom yeilded in his steps several feet away from her as his tail wagged with curiosity and his ears perked up.
"Hello." He greeted, barely managing to slide the word off his tounge with a bit of nervousness. Tweek Nessa pulled up sharply as a figure of tan and orange slipped into her peripheral vision. She drew back a couple steps onto the land, licking the water off her whiskers. Shaking a front paw slightly, absently in the air to rid it of a few drops of water, she dipped her muzzle in response to the other pup.
She might not have appeared so flighty if it had been another time, but Nessa was still readjusting to forest life after being ambushed by a pack of hounds. Her view of the world was rewriting itself with the added aspect of danger.
Still, what could be so frightening about another pup? "Hello," She returned the greeting softly, tail wagging gently. One ear swiveled back as a tentative smile crossed her face. "Who're you?" She asked, her voice gaining a little of it's usual spunk. RonsoStryder As she shifted and took several steps back from the waters edge, he drew a friendly smile across his face. He didn't want to seem intimidating nor a brute as first impressions were known to determine ones friendship status of present and future time.
"My name is Jaxom," he replied with a dash of enthusiasm as he sat down upon the sandy banks. "What's your name?" Brimming with curiosity as still the foreign territory was uncharted and mysterious to him, Jaxom couldn't help but tilt his head and look upon Nessa with a friendly smile as his worries of meeting someone new were slowly dissolving. Tweek Nessa pursed her black lips together, feeling her anxiety falling away. "Well I'm Nessa." She said with a hint of a pleasant-natured smirk, turning slightly to face the other pup before seating herself primly on darkened haunches. The little female readjusted herself, paws dancing slightly on the sandy ground, coming to a rest at last to sink her tiny claws into the earth.
"Are you--" She tilted her head. "--from around here, Jaxom?" Her ears canted slightly forward, towards the other. RonsoStryder "Nessa," he softly remarked as he glanced upwards in quick contemplation, "that's a pretty name." Stretching his neck upwards and adjusting his head position as he slowly drew it towards a more comfortable level, the young male dabbled in silent thoughts until her question drew his attention.
"No. I'm from just outside the forest, up in the mountain terrain. I got separated from my pack when the the fire erupted." His ears flattened as he hadn't heard or caught scent of his pack for days. Whether they were alive or deceased was oblivious to him or perhaps he would never know the truth. "Are you native to the forests, Nessa?" Tweek "Thanks!" She whuffed, pleased with the compliment. "Yours is nice too.. though I don't think I've ever heard one quite like it." She smiled, her brush of a feathered tail sweeping against the ground behind her.
Nessa glanced at him curiously as he spoke of his past. "Mountains..." She echoed, letting the foreign word roll off her tongue. The mountains were quite far from here, or so her father had told her. Fire... that was the instrument of two legs. But she didn't know anything else about it. Still, being associated with two-legs was enough, and Nessa felt a tiny tingle of fear creep up her spine."We live here." She nodded in affirmation. "My family. Beside the river." Her eyes wandered to sweep the familiar waters. RonsoStryder A grin spread wide across his maw as his name truely was a bit unique. "It's a bit out of the ordinary but it never gets old," he commented as he wiggled each claw within the soft sands, gripping and sensing the grainy texture underneath.
He had watched her facial expression as he unveiled a minute aspect of his past, somewhat portraying a puzzled and curious look as he mentioned "moutains". He was alone and forlorn within the forest realms as he had no home or pack to call his own. It would take time, thought the exact timeframe was shrouded with mystery, for him to become accustomed to the lands and its culture yet sooner or later he would learn by experience and trials.
Glancing around the river banks and its surrounding territory, Jaxom was in awe. The land was lush and thriving with life! What could be better than residing right next to a tranquil river? Sunning on its banks, cooling down when the temperature became unbearable, and even hunting for fish, sounded like a perfect lifestyle. "This- I mean- your families territory is beautiful." Tweek Nessa couldn't help but flip Jaxom a reflective grin, her expression mirroring his own. "Thank you." She said with sincerity. "Mom and Dad were lucky to claim it before anyone else did." She let her olive colored orbs roam her familiar surroundings, and seeing them through the eyes of another she was pleased. The river waters twinkled here and there, bending beams of light, skewing them off in random directions to create fleeting sparkles.
"Is your family here with you? --Or.. your pack?" She quickly added the latter, remembering that not all wolves travelled in small families like her own. Indeed many chose large groups. Surely Jaxom couldn't be on his own... could he?
(( Edit: Oh! x3 Thankyou! )) RonsoStryder "It's a sanctuary. I bet countless wolves have only dreamed to acquire such a territory." The rays of immaculate light danced upon the rivers calming surface, leading his eyes to follow its pathway until its destination became shrouded by its distance. It was this territory that would have lured his family to live within the forests yet they'd always believed that the mountains were a desirable home away from the dangers of the two leggers. They were wrong.
Just as Nessa questioned the whereabouts of his pack, the young males ears flattened while he winced as if something had cued a sharp pain to grasp his heart. He fell silent as he stumbled to draw the words out of his mouth.
"I- I haven't seen them for two days," he finally replied as the words were begining to roll off his tounge withouth hinderance. "Our territory was swept by fire from the two leggers and my mother told me to run, run away towards the forests." He softly whined as he only hoped that his pack was well yet the constant thought of his family deceased and gone forever was unceasing, "I don't know if they're alive or looking for me. I might never know." Tweek The blue pup smiled warmly, flopping her little body down against the soft earth. She'd seen adults do this before, so she knew it was appropriate to do while in a conversation. "It's all I know." She wuffed softly. "Well--except for the woods. But I'm not sure if I like it there yet." She fought back a shudder.
Nessa's ears swiveled back slightly as Jaxom spoke about the fire again. Her brow lowered. "What exactly is fire? I don't know much about it at all." She glanced up at him slightly, her features sympathetic. "That's awful... do you know where to look for them? RonsoStryder His head lowered a bit as the recollections of the event swept fresh through his mind. "Fire," he began as he leveled his vision with Nessa's, "is a monster. You can't bit it or scare it away, it consumes everything within its pathway without mercy nor hesitation. Bright as the sun and as hot as the vile summer day, it destroyes everything it pases over as it leaves its trail of death and blackness behind it." Looking towards the side as his body quivered with the jolting images from the tragedy, Jaxom sighed. "Everything it touches dies and its darkened breath is vile to the smell. No wolf can stop it."
Swivling his head towards the young, femal pup, he shook his head. "I'm not sure where they would look. The woods are foreign to our pack and rarely have we ever set foot within its realm." Tweek Nessa stared at the tan and orange colored pup, almost as if she wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. Her olive eyes flicked up and down his face, bout found no semblance of a joke, or even an exaggeration. A monster... Everything it touched... "Does it-- eat wolves?" She asked in a near whisper, finding it impossible to imagine such a phenomenon.
"When you ran from your mother you must have lost track of direction." She guessed, putting two and two together to realize the other's dillemma. Nessa pursed her lips, her ears tilting back again. Jaxom already had such a jaded past. She vowed to herself she would help him if she could. RonsoStryder "I've never seen it happen before but it hasn't stopped to pass up anything it can sweep over." Looking into her eyes he found trust and a true friend. Still a bit shy and wary of his new surroundings, Jaxom was sure that she could perhaps guide him around and help him become familiar with such a strange place.
With the given assumption, he nodded as his ears perked up slightly. "Yes, it was hard to tell where I was headed but I just had to run away. I couldn't stay anywhere near the fire." Glancing around, Jaxom still was confused. Where was he to go? Would he be reunited with his pack? "I just don't know what to do," he softly whispered as he bent his head low as sadness gnashed at his very soul, helpless and forlorn within the wakes of the world. Tweek The pup quieted again, taking in the information about fire. Before, Nessa had been curious, even interested in two-legs, but if this Fire was a product of theirs, she wanted to stay far away.
Nessa raised her head slightly craning her neck. It was clear the gears in her mind were turning and she was mulling over a decision. Her eyes flicked with a hint of nervousness towards her family's den. Her father had warned her about slipping off, but this was important. She brushed the anxiety aside.
"I can help you look, Jaxom, if you want." She offered, her tail sweeping gently behind her on the ground. "I don't know too much about the land past here, but maybe two pairs of eyes are better than one." The puppy smiled offhandedly with a shrug. RonsoStryder His head suddenly drew upwards as his ears swivled forewards. "Really? I'd like that. Thank you, Nessa, it means alot to me." He replied as a smile drew across his maw.
Rising up upon all fours, Jaxom orange tipped tail swayed side to side as he envisioned a reunion with his pack. Slowly padding towards a lone path, well trodded as it snaked through the woods, he glanced back to the cream and cobalt pup as he was curious of where they would venture to. "Should we take this path? " He remarked as he was unsure of where to begin as well as where to start. Tweek " 'Course," She smiled, a little abashed.
Nessa pulled herself to all fours, shaking the sand out of her soft puppy fur, the longer tufts on her hips inherited from her father fluffing otu like a bird's feathers. "That sounds like a good idea. You said you came from the Mountains in the north?" She glanced up the worn deer path, following it's shape, and nodded in confirmation. "I know that way's North. It leads to the Northern bank. There's a crossing there, a tree that fell across the river. If we just keep going in that direction..." She trailed off, tilting her head, ear flicking forward as if calculating something. She glanced to the other to see what his thoughts were. RonsoStryder "We'll see the forest disapear into sparse trees and endless plains. But that's not for a while, if i remember." He commented as his nose took a small whiff of the lingering scents though only to find no recognition. Trailing behind, Jaxom's mind was rambling upon countless thoughts as it left him silent.
The piercing howls of his pack still rang audibly through his ears, surging shivers echoed through his tiny body as it was consuming his soul with a ravenous appitite. Still lingering upon his soft pelt was the stench of a distinct, rotten smell of the fires breath while its blackened remains still clung within the depths of his fur. Would he ever be left in peace or would he be haunted, scarred forever by the devastating fate that was brought to his pack.
The knowledge of his head continued to tell him that it was useless. There was no sense in searching for his pack as it was likely that everyone had perished either by the hand of man or by the wrath of the fire. Beckoning with hope, his heart still held to faith that his pack was well, searching and scouting the woods for him. These conflicting emotions were burdensome and sooner or later they would get the best of him and seize him when he'd least expect it. When his walls would crumble and a swelling emotion would overtake him.
"It's strange. For one moment you think that everything is perfect but suddenly the world turns against you and you're alone." Flickering his ears as he was taking in every sound of the lively woods, he looked towards Nessa with softened eyes. "Do you think they'll come?" Tweek "I haven't traveled past the forest border, you'll have to lead when we get to the plains." Nessa turned her pale eyes on the male, watching him quietly for a moment. She did not come from a true pack, only a small family. But she listened with interest to her father's stories of his previous pack life. If there were a good number of wolves in a pack, then the chances were they might run across one, right?
But then there was the fire. That elusive monster Nessa could not even imagine. Who knew if any of the wolves had indeed fallen to it's grasp? Truthfully, the little pup had no idea if they would find Jaxom's friends or not, but something made her say: "I think we will."
With an encouraging smile, Nessa padded a few soft steps down the path on pitch black toes, glancing over her shoulder with cobalt ears perked to make sure Jaxom would follow, her tail wagging gently. RonsoStryder "Really?" He perked up his head as a grin spread wide across his maw, "I wonder if they're out searching the plains? They'd have to be down from the mountains by now." With a more kindled hope and comfort, the young pup kept his eyes searching in every direction for any signs or traces of his packs existence that reside hidden within the elusive woods.
A small smile crept upon Jaxom's maw as he caught sight of Nessa silently watching him. He was curious as he wondered what she was thinking. Doubts perhaps or maybe still uncertain of a foreign stranger stepping foot into the woods? He?d never know.
Out in the distance the forests began to dwindle as the rolling plains grew vast and unruly. Though unconfined and a wanderers dream, the plains were a symbol of freedom. No seclusion nor hideaways from trees or brush resided as one was left to fend for themselves in the wide open. The wide open; that was the sole reason why wolves never drew near towards its borders or so that was how his father had once explained it.
"It shouldn't be too much longer," he commented as he kept his vision drawn upon the horizon, "we'll be there before you know it." Tweek Though a part of Nessa reminded her of the danger they would face, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. She's heard of those plains, but she'd never been in an area like that, save for the meadow where she met her mentor Harle. A vast expanse of rolling land, with tall grass and no trees? Nessa could hardly imagine it.
She gave a thoughtful 'hnn' at Jaxom's first comment, mulling the idea over herself. At his second comment, she perked up. He was right. She could hear the rush of water where the two must cross the river. She had never strayed far beyond the opposite bank.. Within a few minutes she'd be in unknown territory.
"This is as far as I know." She wuffed as the two rounded a bend and were faced with a large toppled tree spanning the river in a natural bridge. Her tail began to wag once more and she gave the other a small, adventurous smile. RonsoStryder His emerald eyes scanned round about, following the trailing river as it snaked through the lush forests and proceeded to follow a new course within the foreign territory just ahead. Gradually padding slowly towards the fallen tree, ancient and lathered with sparse patches of algae, Jaxom tilted his head in curiosity.
The tree was slopped just at the right angle for even the smallest of forest dweller to easily climb up and walk over towards the opposing bank. At first glance, it looked relatively simple and Jaxom intended it to be. The last thing he would have ever dreamed of was losing a new friend and, once again, being left alone within Shaoilin Woods.
"I guess the real adventure begins now," he replied with a wide grin set upon his maw. Taking small steps, the brown and orange pup, made his way across the log with a cautious fashion. It's slick feeling in some areas made his heartbeat quicken with fear as it felt that he'd slip into the rushing waters below. Barely approaching the end of the toppled tree, he sighed in relief and looked back towards Nessa. "Come on, Nessa." He whuffed with enthusiasm as he let his emerald orbs drift, following the length of distance between himself and the cobalt and cream swayed pup. Tweek The dark blue pup hopped up the gentle staircase of thick roots onto the thick pedestel the trunk provided, smiling at the other's encouragement. She made her way across a bit quicker than Jaxom, with practiced steps. Nessa may have been a female but she certainly wasn't beyond showing off. Her breath caught in her throat as her back foot slipped slightly on a wet patch of wood, and she hoped Jaxom didn't see her falter and catch herself before she made her way smoothly to the other side, jumping down beside him.
She couldn't help but mirror the other's contagious grin. She felt a bit roguish, setting out from home for the first time, and she could feel her spirits lift with each step. "Which way now?" She yipped. RonsoStryder Jax onlooked the colbalt and cream pup, watching her pad across the log with ease and the least bit of hesitation. Turning his head away slightly as a strange scent caught hold of his nose, he barely caught sight as Nessa's back foot slipped but luckily the young pup regained a stable footing upon the log.
Raising himself to all fours, he grinned as she stood beside him. Their journey was to continue once again. Guiding his sights across the spacious plains, barren and bleak, the pathway expanded into vast territory. "We'll venture into the plains. That's our best chance of finding anything," he whuffed.
Stepping lightly as a light breeze rippled against his fur, Jaxom rose his nose within the air as a vauge scent lingered within the air. It was strangely familiar yet the young pup couldn't determine a source. With each step, the scent drew heavier within the air.
The fur upon his neck began to stood on end but the emotion was undescribable. Wheter it was fear or anger, Jaxom couldn't discern either one.
"Do you smell that Nessa?"
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 11:57 am
.::.Shadows, Fangs and Sudden Hatred: Jaxom/Starla.::. RonsoStryder The woods were changing. Leaves brilliant green hues were transforming into those of fiery reds and blazing yellows, littering the ground in countless quantities. Summers heat had receded and winters chilling breath was stirring up a cold spell over Shaoilin Woods as the energy and active senation that summer produced was slowing down.
Padding slowly from out of the depths of the woods, Jaxom narrowed his sights towards a tranquil river with relief. A typical day consisted of exploring and wandering round the still unfamiliar woods and his journey had led him to a serene place where he could relax without any disturbance.
Nearing the edge of the river, the young brown and orange hued wolf dipped his head low and drank slowly as soothing relief quenched his thrirst.
((Sorry for the lag...I got distracted by the Daredevil movie)) Ary Keeyara Starla moved along through the dense trees, her body hunched over slightly in her tense mood. The cold months were coming, she could tell. They were by far her least favorite, for water spread father from the banks of rivers and lakes in the form of snow and ice and lingered far longer then the rain. She much prefered the long, warm days of summer, where any precipiation would dry up rather quickly.
She knew there was a river near by, but she did her best to avoid the bank. Her wounds had healed by now, but she had lost track of her sister and could not yet bring about her vengence. This frustrated her to no end and only increased her anguish. RonsoStryder Sounds. Slightly muffled and within the distance caused Jaxom to perk up his head and look around. An unfamilair scent wafted in the air and the adolescent distinguished it as another wolf that roamed close by. His ears swivled while his eyes roamed about his surroundings.
Lifting his muzzle higher into the air, the brown and orange hued wolf was still perplexed wheter to adress whomever was lurking nearby or let them be. Still, as curiosity and his adventurous nature persisted, he softly sighed as he took several steps towards the woods.
"Whose there," he announced as he let his eyes continue wandering amongst the darkened scenery of the woods. Ary Keeyara Starla stopped, her ears flickering to the side. Someone had called out, questioning who was there. She hadn't known there was another wolf so close. To the uncareful eye, she could be overlooked in her current position. Her black and gold-olive colored coat blended easily with the shadows in this situation. Perhaps if she said nothing the other would move along. She couldn't see him from here, but the last thing she needed right now was to be given a hard time by someone and get scratched up again. After all, she had just recovered from her last fight. RonsoStryder The fur on his back bristled slightly while his ears were slightly pinned by the lack of response. He had only been a residence of the woods for less than a month and whenever he had come across any wolf he tended to let his emotions and words become pent up, refrained from his true expressions as he seemed to lack a more defined social interaction with various wolves. Silence was causing him to become fearful and his mind suddenly swarmed by countless thoughts. He had yet to engage in a brawl and, truth be told, that was the last thing on his mind.
Surprisingly his intrest of who exactly was lying within the shadows drove him to venture closer and, with following his yearning suspense, he stepped closer towards the mysterious shadows.
"Come on," he lightheartedly laughed as his ears perked up with a more friendly sense about him, "no use in waiting in the shadows forever. I won't lay a paw on you, I promise." Ary Keeyara Starla's eyes narrowed as she realized how young the male wolf before her was. He was practically a pup! Her fur bristled slightly, and disliked his tone of voice, finding it to be, in her twisted mind, too cocky. Her muzzled wrinkled as she lifted her head slightly. "If you did you wouldn't have that paw very long, would you now, little one?" The words were like acid, angry and burning. She wasn't in the mood for dealing with others fight now. Taking her angery and frustration out on him was just too easy. RonsoStryder As the mystery unraveled and the wolf emerged, Jaxom was taken back a bit. Her tone was riddled with despise and it instantly made his spine echo with a chilling sensation. His ears drew back at the remark of "little one" and his maw drew up in a grimace. "I'm not not a pup," he blatantly remarked as his tail swayed in an irritated motion behind him, "and I'm not looking for a fight. My time doesn't need to be deverted for dominance, I have a family to find."He simply rubbed off her icy words though the stinging pain still nipped at him.
Though some would deem the search worthless with no evidence or signs of his remaining pack, Jaxom still was determined. Somewhere within the boundaries of the Shaoilin Woods his family must be searching. Still he'd continue to find them as their paths were bound to cross sooner or later, or so he hoped. Ary Keeyara Starla grimaced, showing her white fangs. "Looking for family? You might as well give it up while you can. You might not like what you find, little one." The last two words were stressed in a sneer. If this youth knew what was good for him he'd follower her advice. Look what her search had done to her-driven her to loose what litten sanity she had had to begin with. And she still didn't like his attitude. Even if she wasn't the strongest wolf around, she could still whip HIM if she wanted to. RonsoStryder He hackled slightly, the fur on his bac practically standing on end as his shot a glare towards the female. His paws clenched fiercely to the ground underfoot as his tail rose like a flag in signaling the fury that stormed inside him. The nerve for someone to tell him to cease his efforts!
"What the hell do you know!?" He growled, lips pulling back to unveil his fangs, as his muzzle bunched up. "I won't stop until I find them and the truth. All I seek is the truth behind the flames that swept through my packlands."
At this point, Jaxom was up to his boiling point. His enraged feelings felt as if the wall that had been oppressing them was crumbling and everything, every emotion, feeling and thought, was about to become unleashed. Though by the ill feeling that the female produced, he predicted that a brawl was brewing soon enough wheter he wanted to endeavour in one or not. Ary Keeyara (( The ironic thing is...Starla understands his struggle better then he thinks. xP )) Starla bared her fangs openly at him, her own tail lifting like a dry brush, frizzy and stiff. Her violet eyes flashed dangerously, the inner anger and suffering she felt rising to the surface. "I know far more then you do, you little pup! I chased after my family, my LIFE when I was barely out of my den and never gave up...only to find they had given up on me long ago! She had chosen to dump me when we parted! Who says they care about you anymore, you runt? HM?"RonsoStryder ((He is-uh, a bit oblivious to things but he'll see the light sooner or later. I'm likin' the rp! xD))
As her own testimony took several blows towards his own emotions and thoughts, the adolescent male drew silent for several moments. Jaxom let his lips sheild his fangs as the fur upon his back began to receed from their upright position. She, one of the first she-wolves he had met, knew his pain!
"I'm sorry," he commented as the rage within his soul began to slowly withdrawl from the depths of his emotion. "It's incidents where you search for your family, your friends, and, in the long run, discover that they've never sought you after all is something that should never happen to anyone." Jaxom attempted to come to terms with her as best he could, still trying to show curtiousy though, so far, his reactions and interations were far from successful.
When she began to continue tormenting him, Jaxom sighed softly as he looked up towards the she-wolf with a more calm and respectful appearance. "For all I know they could have easily forgotten but that doesn't mean I've forgotten about them. I'll still search and walk wherever the road takes me and, perhaps, our path will never cross."
Memories. The echoing sounds of howls that pierced the night was all that sounded within his head. Shattered recollections and the scent of death seemed to haunt him and it seemed that the only cure to this disease was to find his family and put his emotions at ease, wheter it was to reunite as one or to keep roaming the woods knowing that he was truthfully alone.
His ears perked up slightly from their pinned back state as he drew his gaze towards the tranquil river briefly, "Perhaps I shall never see them again yet I'll search for them." Ary Keeyara (( *is liking it too* :O Starla doesn't seem so strange anymore...even though she is. xD )) Starla watched him with narrow eyes, her lips still curled back slightly, but not so fiercly as before. Youthful and idealistic thoughts like his were foolish to no end! Better to move on then cling to such false hopes. If he didn't...well he'd find out sooner or later his mistake and would suffer as she did.
"You better hope, for your own sake, you don't ever meet them," She told him coldly, though the deadly burning was gone from her tone. Ears flickering back in discontent, she turned to move away.RonsoStryder ((Not strange at all! xD))
Jaxom softly laughed, mostly silently to himself, as he couldn't imagine what exactly would happen if he had come across his pack. Would they accept him? Perhaps they would title him as an outsider and, most likely, not even recognize him. "I doubt they'd even remeber me," the young male replied with a small smile, "or consider myself as their blood. I'm better off alone, or atleast, for now."
As his fur retreated from its bristled state and displayed a more relaxed appearance, he met her narrowed sight with his a more friendly gaze. "I think I owe a better introduction," he sheepishly grinned as his true personality was drifting out. "My name is Jaxom, I come from the mountains just outside these woods. May I have your name, miss?' Ary Keeyara Starla glanced back at him with a sharp sense of seriousness, "You shouldn't want anything to do with me, young one." This, in a sense was true. She couldn't ignore the murdurous lust that drove her heart to keep beating until her task was done. One so young as he could not understand these feelings she harbored. How could anyone unless they had experienced it themselves? RonsoStryder Jaxom heeded her fair warning and simply gave a nod of his head. Many wolves had always tended to keep seclusive and away from others and that was perfectly acceptable. He wouldn't badger for her name nor attempt to derive it from her, he'd leave her in peace and attempt to not rile her emotions in such a disrespectful manner.
In truth, he was still young and now finding himself to inhabit the woods in contrast to the mountains would prove to be a new challenge in survival. He'd roam the woods and continue to find a place to call his own until he would, hopefully, stumble across a place where he coud establish a new life and a new future.
"I'll keep that in mind," he remarked as his eyes scanned across the river. "Do you know where the mountains are from here?" Ary Keeyara Starla let out a snort through her nostrils. "Which mountains is the better question," she told him simply. It was true. There were more then one sets of mountains around. After all, she had traveled very far and for a very long time, so she knew how wide the land could stretch in all directions. And exactly how long had this young wolf been looking? She coulnd't say, and wasn't sure she wished to know. RonsoStryder Lifting his head slightly up towards the endless skies, Jaxom scanned around briefly. He was slightly unsure and, in truth, a bit disoriented in where exactly he was. Shaoilin woods seemed so complex and mysterious that, at some locations, it all looked exactly the same. Wheter he was right or not, he gave a rough estimate.
"The mountains to the North-East or Seers' Cliffs as some call them." The lands before him were foreign. Each destination that he treaded upon felt cold and distant from the mountains that he had grown to know so well. Why the world he had come to love had turned against him was something he could never seem to fathome but ever since he was a pup, young and innocent, he had sought to triumph over death and survive within the vast woods. Yet death always seemed to be nipping at his paws, trailing behind him in wait to strike. Ary Keeyara Starla paused for a moment, trying to remember exactly where that might be. She wasn't familiar with titles of the lands she passed through for the most part...but she thought she knew of what he spoke. She twisted her head in the direction opposite the flow of the river, "If you follow the river back north and then head east when the sun rises...I suppose that's the easiest way to find it." She wrinkled her nose and turned back 'round, keeping the flowing water out of view. RonsoStryder Jaxom lifted up his gaze in the direction where the female turned her head towards. There, just opposite the rivers flow and beyond the thick forest vegetation, he could see the faint outline of what appeared to be Seer's Cliffside. This would put him a step closer in seeking there wherabouts of food and, of course, his family.
"Back north, then east," he mumbled to himself as he urged himself to memorize the exact whereabouts which he would travel. "Sounds good to me." Slowly padding away from the river, Jaxom looked back towards the female and smiled warmly to her. "Thanks for your help, miss." Ary Keeyara Starla let out a snort at his attempt at being friendly with her. She shook her head, thinking of the folly of the young these days. Hopefully one day he'd gain some sense...because he obviously didn't have much right now. Without so much of a good-bye, not wishing to get the foolish male involved in her life and her struggle, she turned and loped away, into the shadowed trees.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:01 pm
.::.Separated, Stray and Without Regrets: Jaxom/Kiba.::. RonsoStryder The cool breeze of the afternoon rippled against his fur, waves of brown and orange hues sweeping across his body as he relaxed under the immaculate rays of the sun. Jaxom had finally managed to swipe a fair kill and now found himself to lightly slumber knowing that it would be awhile until his body would require a new rejuvination of strength.
His ears flickered as the sounds of the winds drifted through the boughs of the trees, rustling and stirring the leaves that scurried across the ground. In truth, the adolescent male had found himself in a secluded hideaway where only himself, a stripped and half eatten rabbit carcass resided.
"This is the life," he mumbled as his head sank between his front paws and softly closed his eyes. Ary Keeyara A young pup slid through the undergrowth, as thow he was trying to mimic the wind my his graceful and light actions. He had been going out away from the two legged more and more often of late. Part of him thought it was because of the coming cold...of which he had never experienced before. The two legged had called it "winter" and had told him cold water would most likely fall from the sky.
The other part of him went to explore because he had a strong sense of longing. He wasn't even sure what it was for-only that it was there and that it drove him to leave the two legged more and more every day. He suddenly caught the scent of something that smelled good...and then something that smelled like what must be another of his kind. He remained where he was for a moment, staring at where the smells came from and musing over thoughts about them. RonsoStryder As the sudden presence of an unfamilair scent lingered within the air, Jaxom was quick to discern that he was not alone. His eyes drew open slowly as he lifted his head off the ground and whiffed of the strange scent. Another wolf, he simply thought to himself.
Rising up off the coarse grass, the adolescent male shifted his forepaws away from him and stretched in attempt to rid of minor irritating pains that congregated in regions of hsi back and hind legs. He yawned, lips unveiling his fangs as his tounge unfurled outwards from his gaping maw. He was, in truth, in no mood to fight or protest if the lurking wolf was after his kill. Jaxom had eatten enough to satisfy his hunger and intended to keep himself out of trouble, or at least for today.
"Take it," he called out as he slowly padded several steps away from his remnant kills, "I've eatten my fill."
Slumping down upon his haunches, Jaxom slowly fell upon his stomach and placed his head upon his forepaws. His eyes closed, however, just enough for him to catch a glance of whomever lurked within the shadows. Ary Keeyara Kiba wasn't hungry, really. He hunted rather well for his age...and when he couldn't catch anything, the two legged lended him a hand. No, he was not here for the other wolf's meal. Having no intention of hiding, since he hadn't meant to in the first place, he moved out from the branches of a fern, his white flur clashing with his green surroundings. He sniffed a little at the air and then shifted bright gold eyes around until his gaze fell upon the wolf he had smelled before. RonsoStryder Jaxom's eyes drew open as the mysterious wolf emerged. Either it was the rustling of the bushes or the stark white fur agains the array of green hues that had caught his sudden attention. Emerald orbs trailed towards the direction of the pup in relief and curiosity.
As his eyes met with those of the pup, Jaxom's slight tension that bounded within his body dissappated into nothingness as he smiled. "And I thought this place was hidden," he chuckled softly with a sigh. Glancing towards the half eatten rabbit, Jaxom could care less yet he'd hate to see food go to waste and, in his logic, others could manage and scavange from what remains were left.
Tilting his head in a curious manner, Jaxom let his eye scan across the pup as this was perhaps one of few pups he had ever encountered within the woods. "What's your name?" He blatantly questioned as he found himself a bit speechless gazing upon such a coat that was likened to that of fresh fallen snow. Ary Keeyara Kiba returned the stare, not out of admiration for the other wolf's coat, but out of habit. He had not enountered many of his kind, and didn't know very many manners or ways to deal with them. They were all a mystery and yet...not so, for they were familiar even if he had never met them before. The two legged was far harder to understand. He had spoken not a word up to this point, nor had he moved, until the other wolf addressed him, requesting his name. "I'm Kiba," Was his simple, smooth reply, sounding as though it was almost lost in a breath of wind. RonsoStryder He momentarily pondered the pups name as a vauge, familair ring to such a name struck a slight familiarity but, to no avail, he couldn't pinpoint a source nor reason. "I'm Jaxom," the brown and orange hued male replied with grin.
Staggering to all fours and falling down upon his haunches, Jaxom still was a bit confused. Why was a pup out here and so far away from his pack? Of the countless reasons, the one that penetrated his every thought was that the pup was, perhaps, alone. It was unusual for him to come across a pup, let alone, any within Shaoilin Woods as his mind had been engraved with the constant belief that wolves who inhabited the woods were vastly different than those who hailed from the mountains and, thus far, Jaxom found the comparison to be a bit broader than he had anticipated.
"So what are you doing out here? Is your pack nearby?" Ary Keeyara Kiba blinked his large eyes at Jaxom. Why was he out here? That question seemed pointless to him...after all, he could ask the same thing back at the other and it'd make little difference. The second question, however, he answered, "I don't have a pack." His voice was in the same silky, far away tone he had used before. RonsoStryder Kiba's tone was, somehow, so calm. It felt as if the words themselves could soothe the pains and fears that one could harbor and make them disappear. The adolescent gave a sheepish smile as it became clear that his first question was useless but as the young white pup answered, Jaxom nodded his head slightly. "That makes two of us," he replied with a minute smile.
His orange tipped tail swayed gently behind him in a back and forth motion while his mind reflected back upon the night where fire stormed their packlands, the separation from his family and the escape from the mountains away towards the woods. It was that night where man had ravaged and killed his family, a night where only the sorrowful howls of pain and suffering cut through the night air audibly.
"My pack was ravaged by man and I haven't seen them since I was a pup," he sighed, giving a small explaination for his reasons of wandering Shaoilin Woods alone. He glanced up to Kiba as his eyes were softened by the rays of the sun that trickled in from overhead. "What's your story, Kiba? Were you separated from them too?" Ary Keeyara "Seperated?" Came Kiba's soft whispered reply. "No...they're all dead." The simple way he said it...and how he spoke without remorse was strange, almost creepy. He stared off into the trees, his gaze not filled with sorrow but rather with thought and perhaps day dreams. For one so young, it was odd that he didn't morn the loss of his family. RonsoStryder Jaxom was a bit stunned at both Kiba's reply and the simple tone at which they were spoken. Rather than expressing anger or sorrow, the pup displayed more that of an optimistic view or a neutral status. Compared to how Jaxom continued to handle his grief and sorrow towards his past Kiba, in a sense, seemed to show a different view point on his past and how, strangely, it didn't stir up vile emotions but cast him in a new direction, or so he thought.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Kiba," the adolescent male replied with a more solemn tone. "Do you wander by yourself out in the woods- I mean how do you survive out here?" Jax was baffled. How could one so young keep strong in such a vast place? The brown and orange wolf couldn't understand yet he himself had endured wandering the woods when he was a pup but he was much older than Kiba when he first stumbled into Shaoilin Woods.
His paws gently gripped the ground below, claws digging through the soil as they could feel every texture underfoot. How he managed to survive within what felt to be the endless woods was a mystery but seeing a young pup bounding within its range seemed evidence enough that if one had the will to live than anything was possible.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:03 pm
.::.Curious With Intriuging Notions:Jaxom/Tomoyo/ Corvus/Leo/Vulp/Bambii.::. Tahja Estes Fall was slowly beginning to melt away now, making way for the biting onset of winter. The leaves didn't have the same vibrant hue as before, and Tomoyo's bones were aching a bit to show for the temperature drop as well.
Still, the she-wolf carried herself with smooth and graceful steps, denying her older age. It wasn't that she was old, either, just, not as young as she used to be. All of her children had grown up, soon to have children of their own. She wasn't entirely sure where this left her anymore. Maybe she'd find a place with her son's pack. She had to meet them still, but asked Kouji to let her roam a bit before she did.
The red female slowed to a stop near a gathering of pebbles, a stream wasn't too far away, and she began to debate a break from her aimless wandering for lunch.
((No objections here, Dust, :3)) RonsoStryder The chilling breath of early winter swept past Jaxom as it rippled against his fur. Though he yeilded and let the breeze pass over him, he could slightly discern that this winter would be very different from that of the mountains. He padded softly upon the lone trail as his eyes scanned for any sign of inhabitants or food. Wandering out from the shadows as a more visible pathway came in sight, the adolescent halted.
Jaxom drew his muzzle skywards, whiffing of an unfamilar scent that lingered within the air. Though plants and arrays of vegetation shrouded his vision, there was no doubt someone else lurked close by.
The brown and orange male drew silent as he kept himself hidden. Wheter this would be a meeting of a neutral or aggressive encounter Jaxom would wait. He could wait until he could find a willing reason to meander on his way or become seduced by his curiosity that had, already, gotten him in trouble far too many times.
((Sorry for the wait. I had to get cookies out of the oven.)) dustfeather ((I'm sorry to hear that, Untamed. :/))
Voices carry down the trail, coming closer, and a moment later, three young puppies come strolling along over the pebbles. The larger one, a tawny-colored male, seems intent upon keeping up with the two smaller ones, a ruddy fox-colored male and another dark pup. The first seems to be conducting an arguement with the other two in slightly raised voices.
"Do you have to nag, Leo?" The fox-colored one asks with a scowl, looking miffed. "Just because you're the oldest doesn't mean you gotta hover over us like a robin mother with a single egg."
The larger puppy has the grace to look mildly abashed, but goes ahead with a considerable amount of determination anyway. "You know you aren't supposed to go far away from the den," He argues resolutely. "I mean, fun's fun every now and again, but you guys take it too far. I heard what you were going to do, back there, and mum wouldn't like you stealing. We're wolves," he adds in a noble tone. "We don't steal."
The younger brothers share a look, but before they can do more, Leo comes to a halt, looking apprehensively ahead. The three puppies turn, curiously blinking, to spot a deep crimson-and-white wolf further ahead.
"Hullo," The oldest puppy offers cautiously, seeming to draw himself up to be more presentable. He offers a polite wag of his tail. "M'sorry if we're trespassing, my brothers and I were just exploring."
None of the puppies are aware that someone else is watching from the brush. Talaye Bambii himself was placed out in a pile of leaves. The pups instincts where a little out of whack right now, for all he was doing is rolling around in the leaves. Pawing at them as he lay on his back the brown male gave small happy whines.
He didnt even realize that their where others like him around... but these others where older, stronger, and wiser. The nieve pup just right now loved to play... though he found it boring playing by himself.
The pup came to a sudden halt and flipped over onto his back. Their where others around... he could smell them. He wanted to see! Standing up the frivilous Bambii peeked his head out of the brush at the scene.
( im sorry untamed... x.x feel better hun. ) Shaoilin_Woods_Dummy Tomoyo's crimson painted ears twitched to life, turning in the direction of young voices. The older she-wolf blinked in surprise to see three healthily colored pups watching her, the largest of the three presenting himself first. She also became aware of another, mostly due to the proximity he'd kept. She'd simply been lost in idle thought and hadn't noticed until now.
"Hello there," She smiled and offered a kind and warm tone, much like a mother whose pups were still by her side. Leo was rather polite, and the way the three carried themselves she guessed on a chance that he was the one in charge. "You're not trespassing as far as I know. The closest pack is further South of here. What finds you three out here all on your own?" RonsoStryder As a sudden chorus of voiced erupted from the silence of the woods, Jaxom perked up his ears and padded to where the brush receeded. Keeping himself hidden by the shadows of the dense woods and from the oblivious eyes that could wander upon the surroundings, the adolescent peered through a slight opening.
Just as his ears had confirmed. Pups. A grin crept upon his orange hued maw as he could make a vauge distinction of a red she-wolf that was present as well. She's the one whose scent I smelt before, he silently pondered as he tilted his head and onlooked the scene. When she spoke, her tone was rather soothing and most welcoming as she conversed with the three pups. In truth, he was a bit nervous to suddenly appear out of the brush and interrupt them since, after all, he hadn't acquired a feeling of belonging or home yet.
With his curiosity bubbling inside him with each passing moment Jaxom couldn't seem to resist its temptaion. Slowly he padded from out of the shadows as rays of light unveiled his presence. A friendly smile drew across his lips, "Sorry to interupt," he commented to the young pups and she-wolf, "I'm just passing through." dustfeather The two younger wolves, oddly, look crestfallen at this news, then the darker one brightens and whispers something to his sibling. A grin flits Vulpecula's features, then is quickly surpressed until he looks all innocence once more.
Leo, missing the byplay between his siblings, looks slightly apprehensive. "I was just following my brothers, they just wanted to do some exploring, ma'am." He has a feeling an 'I was looking after them,' wouldn't go down so well with the other pups, so he wisely leaves that out of his explanation.
"We were hunting rabbits," The dark one pipes up.
All three little heads turn, almost as one, as Jaxon appears on the scene, and Leo gives the older wolf another polite wag of his tail. "Hullo."
"You're weird-colored," the fox-colored male remarks, peeking out from behind Leo. His older sibling rounds on him, scowling. "Don't say anything if you can't say anything nice to say, Vul." RonsoStryder From the corner of his eye, Jaxom managed to catch sight as all three pups directed their gaze at him. His emerald orbs scanned across each one and met the eyes of, supposively, the older pup of the trio as a warm smile spread across his face. "Hello," he replied as his orange tipped tail swayed gently to and fro behind him. "If your worried about tresspassing, don't be. As far as I know, these parts of the woods have been desolate without a single wolf for a while but it's always reassuring to see others around."
Looking up towards the older she-wolf, he felt calm and relaxed as her tone was pleasent. "I'ts a pleasure to meet you, Tomoyou. My name is Jaxom."
When the fox-colored male spoke up, a rather intriuged smirk spread across Jaxom's orange hued maw. "I'm weird-colored? Oh, you mean the orange?" He replied with a hint of a devious nature as he couldn't help but stir a bit of mischief and fun. "It's from being in the sun too much. I'd be careful if I were you, though. It just might turn yor fur pink, yellow or even orange."
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:05 pm
.::.Of Crossed Paths and Free Spirits: Jaxom/Nessa.::. Tweek (( Alrightay~ ))
A slender cobalt and cream teen padded through the woods, pitchy black toes beating against the ground quietly, save for the rustle of a cluster of dry leaves here and there. Nessa's pelt was fuller now, the fine hair she'd inherited from her father slightly fluffed out at her hips and the bases of her ears, almost like feathers. Her warm winter coat was growing in, taking away a little of her fur's natural luster, but it was still that same, muted navy.
Her dark ears were pitched slightly forward, giving her a relentlessly curious expression, as if she were trying to take in everything in its entirety. Pale olive eyes scanned the landscape, searching for other signs of life on the chill autumn morning. She slowed her pacing to a leisurely stop, arching her body in a spontaneous stretch before shaking her coat slightly, and continuing on, her tongue lolling gently, adding to her face the appearance of a wolfish smile. RonsoStryder As his feet swiftly swept upon the ground, the wind rippled against his fur and drew the jagged, deep brown fur upon his neck in a spikey mess. This was freedom! The adolescents maw gaped open as his tounge lolled out of his mouth, deep breaths of air filling his body as he sprinted through the Shaoilin Woods.
Jaxom had finally grew into his oversized ears and now had managed to become acustomed to his paws. His coat was sleek but bristley near the back of his neck as whenever anger kindled within him, a wolf would become fully aware of his fury. As his orange hued markings stretched and lengthed, all and all Jaxom was still the same.
Within several lengths ahead, a familiar scent wafted in the air. His nose drew higher into the air as familiarity struck him. That scent, he had smelt it before and such a scent couldn't be forgotten. Why couldn't he remember? Striding closer with each stride, a figure began to emerge from the shadows that laid in front of him.
Jaxom pressed onwards as his eyes temporarily closed, inhaling a deep whiff of the scent that lingered heavily within the air. Though he had closed his eyes at the wrong moment and, truthfully, wasn't watching where he was going, he suddenly found himself to collide with a unknown object.
Suddenly collapsing towards the ground, though with a few staggering steps, Jaxom fell back and sprawled upon the ground. "Ow," he mumbled as he slowly staggered to his feet, shaking his head as his vision became a bit shourded by the impact. Tweek (( Awr! ;.; Bye Noya-chan <3 ))
As the cold wind ruffled down her back, tickling her spine and throwing her scent to the air, Nessa shivered with delight. Her father had long told her stories about the winter that came to pass once every three seasons. The female had been born in the spring, and couldn't wait 'til first snowfall. She found the cold agreeable, and had thought to herself more than once that she could have been one of those rare winter pups, birthed in a snowstorm every now and then.
The young female's head whipped up at the crackle of leaves close by, and getting closer. Suddenly, her happy musings were gone, her body on alert. She craned her neck to try to see around the bend, when suddenly, a blur of autumn colors bounced into the clearing, bowling straight into her.
She was rolled back over on her side, head over tail. Quickly, she pulled herself to her feet, a light snarl issuing forth from her throat that died as she recognized the other's green gaze. "Oh!" She breathed in surprise. "Jaxom, is that you?" A waggish smile slowly spread across the shewolf's delicate features.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:08 pm
.::.Journey To A New Territory: Jaxom/Whisper.::. RonsoStryder Jaxom paced up and down the banks of the river. His ears were perked up, alert and searching for unfamiliar sounds. His emerald orbs stared upon a deserted deer carcass that was half devoured but would be suitable to soothe the adolescents dire hunger.
He could vaugely recall the last time he had eaten a filling meal and, as he had happened to stumble across such a prize, it was too tempting to avoid. His eyes scanned round about as he searched for any wolf that lurked nearby as the last thing he wanted was to fight and risk his life to satisfy his hunger.
As his stomach drove him to desperate measures, Jaxom had no choice. Slowly he padded across the shallow depths of the river and lunged towards the opposite bank. Approaching the carcass with caution, the brown and orange male sniffed it several times and ravenously began to tear away at it. Tamiko-chan Attracted to the smell of dead deer was the recovering wolf Whisper. Just recently she had taken to a more... deadly... diet. She hadn't been eating all too well because two of her friends had randomly disappeared without telling her. Both were close to her, good friends and highly trusted, and it worried her so much that she had stopped eating in her desperate search for them.
But upon realizing that it would be bad for them to randomly come back and find her almost dying--Ieshia helped her see that little detail--the green omega changed her ways and began eating properly and gained weight again.
Now her fur was beginning to shine, a smile once again occupying her face. It had been a long time, way too long, since she had felt this good and been in this high of spirits. It felt good.
Humming to herself, Whisp came upon a river. She had been following the meat smell and had reached the spot where Jaxom was before he crossed the waters to reach the food. Of course, being the oblivious one that she was, she didn't notice him or the meat. Instead, the river just washed away the scent momentarily and reminded her of her thirst.
So to quench it the green She padded calmly to the water's edge, dipped her head, and took a nice refreshing drink. Still she was unaware of the other wolf. RonsoStryder Gnawing and ripping away strips of meat from the remnant dear carcass, Jaxom found himself to become content and satisfied. His pains of hunger were dissapating and with each bite of raw flesh he felt as if his strength was slowly replenishing ounce by ounce. He hoovered over the kill as his eyes continued to occasionaly glance up, keeping a watchful eye for if the owner of the kill was lurking closeby.
An unfamiliar scent wafted in the air. His head shot up as his eyes directed him several feet away where a green she-wolf drank at the waters edge. His body became tense as a sudden lash of fear seemed to sweep through his body.
Jaxom was still young, an adolescent who still was trying to find himself and a place where he belonged. Wheter she was the owner of the kill or not he was uncertain if she could be considered a threat. As his eyes gazed upon her, the brown and orange male conjured up his fear.
"Look, I didn't mean to intrude on your kill, Miss, honest." His tone was soft with a pleasent ring. "I'm not lookin' for trouble so I'll be on my way," he remarked as he slowly padded away from the kill and drew closer towards the river. Tamiko-chan Upon hearing a strange voice and having the scent of another drift into her nose, the female immediately stopped drinking and her eyes shot up towards the other. At first she was expecting some aggressive move or maybe even a little warning, but Jaxom seemed to be expecting that from her.
When he finished and drew closer to the river, she stepped back, away from him. Never before had she met him or scented him before, so she was cautious. Better safe than sorry... it was an old saying, but still true.
For a moment the omega stayed silent, just watching the other and trying to figure out whether to speak up or just pretend that she was mute. After much contemplation, though, she figured that the brown and orange male meant her no harm.
"Oh, well.." she spoke out in her soft but sort of shakey voice. "That's not my kill... I had followed the scent, thinking that no one else had found it... but then the river distracted me because I was thirsty.. and..." She trailed off, thinking that she was just rambling and making herself look like an idiot. RonsoStryder His emerald orbs were softened as rays of light seeped through the boughs and branches of the towering trees. Jaxom had never encountered nor scented her before but she appeared cautious and wary of his presence.
A warm, friendly smile crept upon his orange maw as he looked upon the green female with respect. "Well there's more than enough here for one and I wouldn't mind to share the wealth," he smirked as he sat upon his haunches.
At first glance, the female still appeared a bit timid in his presence yet the adolescent had found himself to be a bit nervous. Yet as she spoke he only sensed a sweet spirit and one who was kind.
"My name is Jaxom. I'm still fairly new to the woods but I've gotten use to it. May I have your name, Miss?" Tamiko-chan As Jaxom loosened up, so did the green female. Suddenly a smile appeared on her warm face and her eyes no longer showed any sort of fear. Instead, there was that normal loving glow in which she liked to treat everyone. There wasn't anyone that she thought deserved to be treated badly.
A slight wag of her tail and that widened smile showed to the male just what kind of wolf she was. Caring and loving, that was Whisper.
"Nice to meet you Jaxom, I'm Whisper." Once she had introduced herself, the omega got out of her submissive stance and took a more comfortable one. It still showed that she wasn't all that aggressive, but it also showed that she was confident in good wolves and her friends.
"New, huh?" she asked, her soft voice no longer shakey. "Well, I can... show you around, if you want?"
And just then she remembered that he had offered to share the food. Her smile widened ever to slightly. "You don't have to share your food with me.." Then the omega also remembered her time before this... when she had almost gotten so ill that she had to stay in her den...
"But if you don't mind... I need to eat to keep up my strength for my journey home." RonsoStryder "It's a pleasure to meet you Whisper," the adolescent replied with a wag of his tail. His ears perked up in a relaxed and nonchalant manner as Whisper's true personality broke through and truly unveiled a completely different wolf.
"I came to the woods when I was a pup from the mountains to the South-East." Upon the offer of being show around, he smiled. "I'd like that," he commented as he padded closer toward the water as he sought to quench his thirst.
He dipped his muzzle into the cool waters as he welcomed such soothing relief. Lapping up the water in a casual manner, Jaxom looked up towards the green she-wolf and grinned.
"I wouldn't let another wolf not revel in the spoils of a kill." His tone was bubbly and lively as he glanced towards the deer carcass barely a feet or two away, "I'd be delighted if you'd join me," he added. Tamiko-chan Another wag of her tail and a few splashes away from the brown and orange male and Whisp was across the river, next to him. That same warm smile still occupied her face.
"As a pup? Hm, like me. I came as a pup.. not sure which direction, though. I just.. ran from home because something terrible happened." A sudden sorrow flashed through her eyes, and her smiled faded momentarily. Then, in a flash, they were back again.
Then, when Jaxom offered in a friendly way to share his kill, Whisp only smiled a little more and wagged her tail again. "Thanks, I really appreciate it." Such a nice male... he'd do well in her pack... perhaps she'd offer the opportunity to him when she knew him a little better?
With that thought, the omega padded calmly over towards the kill and took a nice piece. Mm, such tasty meat, fresh and juicy. Once she had finished that bite, she licked her chops and turned towards the male. "Have you had your fill yet?" If he hadn't, he could always eat with her. RonsoStryder His tail wagged with with thrill as Whsiper padded across the river and sat next to him with, still, a friendly smile spread wide across her maw. He was enjoying his company as it seemed it had been too long since he had crossed paths with another wolf.
Jaxom tilted his head slightly as he caught a slight glimpse of a momentarily change within the green she-wolfs eyes. His own emotions of joy subsided as he briefly reflected upon his own past of scorching flames, howls that pierced the night and the scent of blood heavy within the air. Man had killed his pack but the whereabouts and knowledge if his family had survived was shrouded but, perhaps, one day he would uncover the truth and reunite with them if only they hadn't forgotten about him.
"It was man and fire that ravaged my pack lands but wheter my family is alive I have yet to discover," he simply replied with a more somber tone as he silently pleaded with his mind to take these pains away from him, to free his mind and let the nightmares of the night take him hostage.
He closed his eyes softly and shook his head, his fur shaking as the air bristled his back furs upwards and then down again. As if someone or something had heard his thoughts, the memories were gone until night would bind him in sleep. Peace would be upon him until night would come.
Just as Whisper spoke, the brown and orange adolescent opened his eyes and smiled. "No problem, Whisper. Besides, you never know when you'll get a chance to eat around here." he replied as he trailed alongside her towards the kill.
The scent itself was sweet as it was sure to lure any hungry wolf to such a prize find. He watched as the she-wolf ate, a grin spread across his orange maw as she turned towards her. "Maybe a few more bites," he replied as he lowered his maw towards the kill. He pulled his lips away from his fangs as he was just about to tear a loose piece away from the carcass as a question, he hoped wouldn't be offending, popped into his mind.
"Whisper, If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up here at Shaoilin Woods? Was it because of two leggers?" Tamiko-chan The older wolf stopped mid-chew as Jaxom explained how man had taken away his family. They had invaded his packlands, set fire to what they loved, and taken away the male's everything, his protection, his family.
Just like me.
Eye cast down, Whisp couldn't help but frown and even whine a little. There were too many packs that the two-leggers had gone and destroyed. But why? They never got anything out of it, did they? What did the humans accomplish by getting rid of the wolves? Nothing, she thought.
Then, when he asked how she had come here, she managed to finish that bit of meat in her mouth and swallow it. "The two-legs..." she hesitated, memories flooding back into her head. More than once they had tainted her good dreams, her good thoughts, her good spirits.
"My pack.. my family.. they were disturbed the same way yours was. The two-legs came one day and killed everyone. I was forced to look at the dead body of my relatives, my friends... Tathar..." Her eyes glazed over with tears. But there was no use in sulking over it now. She would always remember them with good thoughts, but it didn't help to trouble oneself with bad memories.
"The stench of death was everywhere. I was going to lay there for the night, perhaps thinking one of them was still alive... but I heard the humans coming back and ran for my life. I was afraid that they'd kill me, too."
The omega turned her head away from the other, unable to cope at the moment. RonsoStryder He had barely sunk his teeth into the flank of the deer but yeilded in mid-bite as Whisper spoke. His emerald orbs widened as she divulged her story to him. Not only had her pack been ravaged by man muck like his olf pack but she too knew and had experienced the blows of grief and sorrow that man had thursted at him.
Mankind had taken away not only his family and friends but a piece of himself could never be revived again. Somewhere within there was a part of him that would be lost forever because of mans hatred against wolves.
Jaxom listened intently, her words slowly drawing from her mouth as she unveiled her tale of how she came to the woods. Every word that she spoke struck a memory that surged into his recollection as some even caused a cold, sick feeling to stir within him. As the green she-wolf turned her head away from him, Jaxom padded several steps towards her.
A concerned expression drew upon his orange maw as a low whine was sounded. "Two leggers have no right to tresspass on our lands and slaughter our brethren and families. We've all experience pains but to lose a family, even a friend, is too much."
He was cautious as he inched toward her, drawing his muzzle towards hers in a manner of sympathy and support.
Wolves have never trespassed against mankind but why, why are our packs being mercilessly slaughtered? His ears slightly drew flat as the constant thought swept through his mind. If he ever could manage to become accepted into a pack, he'd make sure that no two legger would take away with that of which he had found. A home and, of course, a family to call his own. Tamiko-chan Grief. Pain and grief, that was what she felt at this particular moment, nothing more and nothing less. No one else had known her pain... at least, no one had let it show as much as she did. Even Jaxom, who had also lost his family, seemed to be at least a little more content than she.
...If one ever truly looked into her eyes, one would see the large amount of fear that was built up and hidden there. Every single day Whisp acted as if she was absolutely and completely content, but there was nothing in all the world to fill that empty space inside of her that her family once held. They were gone, and so was that part of her heart, never to be touched or filled again.
"Two-leggers think they have a right to kill wolves just because we appear viscious... they don't know what a true wolf is: compassionate, caring of his family..." Family. Something she never thought would get taken away from her when she was a pup.
As she lay there in grief, the omega could sense Jaxom moving closer and closer towards her. Such a caring male, he had barely met her and already was trying to comfort her. Sweet..
Glancing towards him, she managed a bit of a smile. "You should visit my packlands one day... they are absolutely beautiful and my friends and I made sure they were away from two-leggers..." RonsoStryder To say the least, Jaxom was a warrior. Crusading through the destruction and filth that lathered the world, he was one who sought truth. Within his soul his grief and sorrow was buried within the midsts of his memories of the tragedy that had struck his pack. Never would he playfully wrestle with the young pups, never relax within the golden flower beds nor hunt with his brother..with Damu.
He couldn't...no he never could forget his older brother. As white as fresh fallen snow yet marked with swirling shadows of black, Damu was his personal mentor. Just before the two leggers had seiged the packlands, the older male had promised to refine his brothers tactics in social skills. When mankind had set fire to the packlands, its dry state was suddenly engulfed in flames and, as a last resort, Damu owed his life to his pack and fought. Wheter or not he had survived was something that Jaxom sought to uncover from the shrouded truth.
"I never knew nor experience such pain until I left everything behind and everyone I had ever known, loved, was taken from me. Two leggers never have, nor will, understand our kind." His ears motioned flat as he parted his gaze momentarily towards the ground.
"If only man could see through the eyes of a wolf they would see who we are, what we are. A caring soul behind the beast."
Drawing his eyes up towards Whisper, Jaxom couldn't help but smile. He had always dreamed of joining a pack, especially one far away from the realm of the two-leggers. "I'd like that," he replied with a smile. Tamiko-chan The omega smiled at the other. He had great potential and a vibrant personality. Despite the loss of his family and everything that he knew, he was determined and hopeful. Those wolves, the She thought, were the ones who truly made it in life. Of course, she wasn't in that sort of category... she was more in the 'live and let others live' sort of thing. She didn't do much to improve her lifestyle and she didn't really do anything to worsen or improve others' lifestyle.
"When you are ready I can take you there... it doesn't have to be now. I was venturing back, but I could keep you company for a while if you'd like." Yes, it wasn't like Whisp had anything important to do. Fute and Kouji were still missing, and for some reason she didn't have much hope of them having reached the lands whlie she was out.
Wagging her tail slightly and trying to get her mind off of the saddening topic, she took another bite from the deer carcass in front of her. Then, once she had satisfied her hunger enough, the green she-wolf looked back towards Jaxom.
"And I can show you a little around the freelands if you would prefer that first." Her thoughts flickered to Vitus. He seemed to have a fear of packs. Was this brown and orange male the same? Hm.. he didn't appear to be, but there could be no way of telling.
"Whatever you wish, I'm in no hurry." RonsoStryder His mind was whirling in the thought of packlands. Free, wide open space where mankind had yet to tread upon and where wolves could find themselves secluded in their own paradise. The very thought caused a wide grin to spread across his orange maw as his tail wagged with anxiousness. For once, he wanted to break away from the woods and find a pack where he could finally belong.
"Well if you've had your fill than perhaps, if its alright with you, we can head on over to your packlands. All I've wanted since I came to the woods was to find a pack, somewhere that I belonged." His tone was solemn with a hint of excitement as this would be one of his first times venturing away from the woods and he couldn't so easily tear his mind away from the thought.
Shifting a paw to press atop the carcass, the adolescent male drew his fangs close and tore away a suitable piece of meat. As he swallowed the last remaining fragments left in his mouth, Jaxom found himself to become satisfied and content as he would not need a filling meal for some time.
"Wherever you go I'll follow you, Whisper," he smiled as he drew his gaze to match the green she-wolf, "I'm up for anything." Tamiko-chan Upon hearing that Jaxom was up for anything and ready to follow her where ever she went, the omega was delighted. A friend to take back with her to the packlands! She would have company and there would be more wolves to converse with in their haven with him...
Suddenly her tail was wagging a mile a minute and she sprang to her paws. In an instant she walked over to him and began licking his face. It wasn't the sort of lick that could be taken as a kiss, no; it was more of a lick that a mother would give to her son as a sign of deep affection.
It had been too long since she had a wolf that was young enough to be 'her offspring' and since she had someone to sort of take care of. This brown and orange male seemed perfectly capable on his own, but Whisp couldn't help but feel a sort of motherly protection over him. Perhaps it was a lack in her own pups that caused her to be a mother to others.
Once she had finished 'grooming' him and what not, she smiled then brushed past him slightly. After taking a few steps, the green she-wolf looked back at him and wagged her tail. "You coming?" RonsoStryder Seized by motherly licks as result of the green she-wolfs thrill, Jaxom grinned. He hadn't recieved such affection since he was a pup but he was still young and, in a sense, he had forgotten of such tender affection.
As Whisp finished with a smile and padded past him, the brown and orange adolescent perked up his ears and leapt towards the omega. Keeping a swift motion as he breezed past her, Jaxom looked back with an smirk set wide across his orange maw.
"Of couse, Whisp!" He replied as he sought to endure in a fine race, blazing down the trail as it appeared he couldn't hold back his curiosity and yearning to break away from the woods. Tamiko-chan The gray hairs beginning to show on her maw were lifted in a somewhat playful grin. Her busy tail continued in its wag as he ran a little ahead. It was obvious Jaxom wanted to race, but the omega's wounds from her adolescence were coming back and starting to hurt now and then. Even though the shaman had healed her, she still had somewhat of a limp.
Laughing merrily, she trotted to the best of her abillities, her shoulder wound beginning to act up again. "Whoa there, why don't you slow down Jax?" She attempted to catch up to him and eventually was successful.
"I'm not as young as I once was." A weak smile crossed her face as she remembered some major events in her life... though from her own point of view it wasn't all that exciting. Golden orbs revealed the age of the female, as they were still soft and warm yet a little tired. Of course, she wasn't that old... just older than some...
And so Whisp limped next to her new friend, adoptive son in her mind. They would get to the lands in due time... RonsoStryder As the wind rippled against his fur, trailing like small waves across his body, Jaxom yeilded his pace to something more that was suitable for the older she-wolf. A sheepish grin drew upon his maw as he padded aside her. "Sorry Whisp. I guess I'm not very good at containing my excitement."
His eyes gleamed with a kindling hope, bearing testimony that his dreams and desires still lived on. What would he find? Who would he come across? Countless questions riddled his mind but one thing for sure was that he wasn't fearful but confident.
Drawing his muzzle close to her, Jaxom tenderly licked Whisp on the side of her face in means of deep affection for the older she-wolf. "Is your leg okay, Whisp?" He was concerned and, silently, hoped that he wasn't the one to cause such pain to surge within her legs. Jax couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for the result of making the green she-wolf limp as he wasn't one to accept that it was because of old age. Tamiko-chan That smile upon the omega's face only widened as Jaxom came back to her. She couldn't blame him for the excitement that he couldn't help but let out. It had been almost the same way for her when her friends had traveled to the packlands for the first time as a whole.
"That's alright Jax," she said softly, accepting the licks that he gave to the side of her face. He would be a great addition to the pack, if, that is, he ever chose to stay. There was a high hope in her mind that he would choose to remain, but there was always doubt, too, her past being what it was.
Then, when he asked if her leg was alright, her golden eyes cast down towards the one he was talking about. "My leg? Yeah, it's fine.. just a little sore. I injured my shoulder when I was young and even though a shaman healed it, I feel some pain now and then." Nothing big really...
Her affectionate smile turned into one of confidence, hoping to assure the male that that was all, because it was. RonsoStryder His emerald orbs drew towards her leg as the green she-wolf spoke of it. A familiar word crossed his mind reflecting a curiosity and a recollection of a past that was fleeting away in shrouded manner. "Shaman...," he softly spoke as his vision drifted towards the lush scenery around him, "it's been too long since I've come across any."
Some packs bore those who were gifted, guided by the unseen spirits who linger within nature, and some did not. Legends within the Shadowsong pack bore witness that Shaman could converse with Spirits and bear truth to secrets. If only he could find a Shaman, or even a Seer, to help him unlock the mystery behind that fateful night.
Closing his eyes softly as he shook his head, whisking away the memories and reflections that harbored ill feelings within him, Jaxom displayed a smile across his maw as he yearned to know more about where exactly they were headed.
"Whisp, what are the packlands like? Are there rivers that flow freely through the land? Mountains? Snow?" He yipped in a curious, puppy like manner as if he could only invision what such a place would be like. Tamiko-chan Whisper frowned slightly as she noticed the change in the other. Did the word shaman have any specific meaning in his past? Did just speaking of a shaman bring back painful memories? Well, whatever the case, she didn't have much time to think about it as his face had changed, a smile now there, and he had asked about her packlands.
Oh, sheesh, her packlands. They seemed like paradise to everywhere else, especially those lands from long, long ago... from her early childhood.
Suddenly a new smile sprung up onto her face. The omega wagged her tail and then she began walking again, towards the lands her good friend was so curious about.
"Well, they actually have all of that. There are two rivers, I think, maybe only one. Yet even if there is only one, it is still quite a large one that runs through the whole of the lands. There are mountains surrounding all of the packlands, with one entrance: a long, long cave. The mountains protect us, both from wolf enemies and two-leggers." The green she-wolf stumbled slightly on the word 'two-leggers'.
But she regained herself and continued on. "And with winter well on its way I'm sure there will be snow." RonsoStryder Just as the green she-wolf described the packlands which they were bound to arrive at, Jaxom couldn't help but bear a wide grin across his orange maw as his imagination could be contained.
His imagination was running wild with visions of the coarsing rivers tha ran freely through the land where fish and other wildlife gathered in abundance. Towering mountains, jagged and even smooth terrain, that looked as if they were to conjure more height they would scrap the sky. With the addition of the two-leggers, Jaxom couldn't help but feel as if such a place was somewhere that one would seek to find within a dream and, even now, such a longing wish was becoming tangible.
Snow. That was something he hadn't experienced for ages! He couldn't help but feel somewhat anxious for when snow would first fall.
Still like a enthusiastic pup, he always loved to catch snowflakes upon his tounge and roughhouse within the mounds of powder. It would be his first winter within a new land and he was looking forward to it.
"It sounds all too perfect," he replied as he glanced towards Whisp with his maw slightly ajar in a toothy smile. "I can't wait!" Tamiko-chan "Then perhaps you won't have to," the old wolf offered up to the younger one. Her leg was for some reason feeling worlds better. There was no reason they couldn't enjoy themselves a little and have a little race part of the way to the packlands. Of course, Jaxom didn't know where they were... that wouldn't be fair. Hm.
"Come on, my leg's feeling fine now, we can run if you'd like?" But she didn't wait for an answer. Instead, Whisp just barked excitedly and took off.
Once she was a ways away, she looked back over her should for a second to call out to him. "You gotta be fast if you wanna catch up?" Really, she wasn't all that quick, but hey, it didn't hurt to tease him a little did it? RonsoStryder "Are you sure wha-" the adolescent yeilded in mid sentence as the older female suddenly leapt into a sudden sprint and began blazing down the unfamiliar trail.
His ears perked up as his tail wagged estatically his grin spreading wider and wider upon his maw. So she'd engage in a race, would she? There was no way that Jax wouldn't let her press onwards ahead of him. Where exactly the green she-wolf would run towards and in which direction was a mystery...he didn't even know exactly where they were. One thing for sure is that he couldn't be left behind for fear of becoming lost in a vast, unfamiliar territory.
For the most part, the orange and brown male was a bit stunned as Whisp took off suddenly and he continued to watch her as she glanced back and teased him in a playful manner. As his emerald orbs drew upon the she-wolf, Jaxom suddenly lunged into full strides, paws sweeping upon the valley floor with a rythemic motion as he dashed after her.
Tounge lolling out his his mouth and fur rippling with the wind, the adolescent male was gaining on her with each furious stride. He could feel the energy surging within his veins as his body was becoming exhilereted with excitement.
He had always enjoyed a good race whether it would be the fun of playful antics or even hunting for a next meal but moreso he loved to run within the woods, free and wild-spirited, with a friend.
"Catch up? I'm on your tail, Whisp!" He replied with a willy bark as he was approaching nearer towards the older female just as he barely was within reach of her. For now, he would wait. He could wait until she would make her next move. Tamiko-chan Whisper looked back once more, about a few seconds after the first time, to see where Jax was compared to her. And to her surprise he was actually gaining on her pretty fast! Darn her old age and weary bones... then again, she'd never been really speedy.
Merrily, she laughed and continued running. "Haha, I should have known there was no way for this old girl to keep up with someone younger and faster." She tried to speed up a little, but just found herself tiring out.
Hm... she thought it was right around here that they should turn towards the packlands. If they went any further, they'd probably be in unfamilliar territory. So, thinking and acting quickly, the omega suddenly pivoted and sprung to her left, continued with her same pace rather well.
"This way, Jax!" she called after him, looking back a lot more now that they were out of the forest. RonsoStryder With his eyes wandering round about as the forest began to dissapate, Jaxom found himself taking his first steps outside the seclusion of Shaoilin Forest and into the packlands.
His ears were perked up as they intook every sound that echoed and sounded within the surroundings as, truthfully, he was unsure of what to expect. Would he be welcomed into the lands as a friend or would a more serious measure go about with the arrival of a stranger? Best not find out, he thought as Whisp suddenly whipped towards the left.
Barely catching himself as his front right paw slid towards the left, the adolescent dashed towards the left in following the green she-wolfs lead. His heart raced as, somehow, the new land felt so...invigorating and refreshing. It was as if his body was becoming rejuvinated by some elusive cause. Whatever it was Jax liked it!
The brown and orange male smiled as Whisper directed him, making sure that he wouldn't get lost. "Are these the begining of the packlands?" He commented as he padded a few steps behind her. Tamiko-chan Hearing the voice of her newly found friend, the female slowed her pace slightly even though she knew there was no need. She was lucky enough to have been listening intently enough to hear his words, for she was traveling away from him, the wind blowing towards him and away from her.
"The packlands? No, they're still a ways off. If we continue like this for a while longer, we'll reach the entrance. The only way to get into the lands is by a long cave that looks like a bear cave. Once you're through there, you're into the packlands."
With that said, Whisp sped up a little more, the wind rushing through her fur enlightening her and her spirits. RonsoStryder A soft sigh escaped his lips as he continued pressing onwards towards where this mysterious cave would begin. Already the surrounds had become vastly different than those of the Woods and if Jax was feeling refreshed already he could only imagine how he'd feel when he would enter into Whisp packlands.
A smirk crossed his orange maw as he cold only invision what laid ahead. A place where man had yet not tread upon and, perhaps, a place he could finally call home. Somwhere I belong, he thought as he glanced up towards the open skies above,..this could be it.
"Oh," he replied as he drew away his vision from above and planted it upon the green she-wolf, "alright. Sounds good to me!"
As Whisp sped up a bit more, Jaxom kicked up his pace into full strides. He was somewhat behind but he wasn't going to risk falling behind and becoming lost especially not here.
It only took a few moments for the brown and orange adolescent to finally synchronize his pace with the green female as he then began to run aside her. Turning to Whisper, he grinned and continued onward towards their destination. Tamiko-chan After about ten more minutes of running continuously, the female and her young companion finally reached their destination... well, mostly anways. Once Whisp could see the slope leading into the cave, she slowed then ultimately stopped a few feet away. Her tongue lolled out of the side of her mouth in a funny fashion, trying to cool her body down.
"This is it," she said once she had regained most of her breath. Normally wolves would be able to run constantly through the day, but being old as she was and in a fragile state of health, it wasn't as easy for her and some would imagine.
"The cave is dark and cold, but once you get through it the packlands open up and the forest begins after a little hill at the other end of the cave. That's the entrance." Her packmates and close friends lay in await on the other side. And hopefully there would be a new addition to the group of friends.
"I'm sure everyone will like you, but if you choose not to stay, it's completely understandable. No one will force you to do anything against your will." And indeed no one would, the green omega would make sure of it!
"So... shall we continue?" RonsoStryder It was at that moment when the cave came into sight, Jaxom yeilded in his steps while Whisp drew further towards the packland entrance. Maw ajar as he took deep breaths, the young brown and orange male simply stared upon its entrance.
This was it. This was to be the begining of, what he hoped to be, a new begining and a new future. Jaxom was anxious but hesitation also seemed to stir within his thoughts.
Every wolf, within its lifetime, bore the weight of trials. Whether it was to sacrifice ones longing desires or to understand how it feels to lose everything, Jaxom's burden had laid siege to him long enough. For too long he had never known the true meaning of family or friends but packlife would, hopefully, rekindle a part of him that had been lost since the fires that stormed his packland.
He listened with intent, though his facial expression appeared as if he was lost in deep thought, and nodded his head. "I hope so," Jax replied with a smile.
As his tail wagged behind him and a wide grin set upon his orange maw, Jaxom padded aside the green she-wolf. "Lead the way, Whisp."
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:09 pm
.::.A Snow Crossed Path: Jaxom/Ryoku (Amelie).::. Werewolf ((So failed at this post XDD Apologies for timing. ))
Ryoku was beginning to remember why she never spent much time outside during winter. Snow had continued throughout the day, swirling down with an eerie prettiness which at the same time was miserably chilling her bones. She shifted, the coldness of the rock not abating from her own body heat, although it had melted most of the snow covering the once snowy boulder. A small leafless branch was knocking carefully against the rock, irritating her ears with a soft scraping noise.
She snorted carefully, and sighed, a small plume of misty breath slipping from her muzzle. It was really a lovely day, despite the cold. The sky was overshadowed a bit by the drifting snow clouds, but there were still long and deep veins of pure blue sky which struck across the horizon in a tangle. A cardinal sat solemnly on the branch of a barkless tree, hungry and depressed- but his bright red plumage shown out against the white landscape in brilliant contrast. Something was beautiful about it all, but all these things were lost to her blind eyes.
She supposed she should be under better cover. They had been nesting underneath that old tree for almost two months now, and it provided at least one of them at any given time with some cover from bad weather. But she was in the middle of giving him the silent treatment, and there was no reason to break it just because she was cold. Almost on cue, she shivered, and crossed her paws with a childish sigh. She was horrible at keeping grudges, she supposed.
The female lifted her pale grey head, suddenly flecking her ears upwards. The cardinal took to the air, and she was given the first alerting to its presence, although in her mind's eye she saw a shadow take flight rather then the small and beautiful bird. She was momentarily lost in thinking about it, and at once, she even forgot that she was upset about anything. Her tail shifted cautiously, and with a smile- she sneezed.
'Not good of me to be of outside.' She thought to herself, and pressed her head back down. RonsoStryder ((It's alright, Were ^^. ack...forgive me for my delayed response.))
The brunt of winter cold spell seemed to dispell through the woods, snow churning round about in a flurry as the chilling breeze sent a surge of chills running down ones back. Strangely, Jaxom found the Woods to be just as ruthless as the mountains and it seemed that there was no place for a stray to inhabit but, nevertheless, he'd press onwards in search of a decent hideaway.
He padded softly through the snow, his head peering in every direction as he sought the slightest shealter or anything decent. "There isn't anywhere to hide," he muttered as his emerald orbs scanned round about for a sign of life.
As he pressed onwards, something caught hold of his attention. A scent, foreign but somewhat of a relief, wafted in the air. There was hope that at least he could finally have contact with another of his kind but it could only be his imagination. With ears perked up in an alert manner and tail wagging behind him, Jaxom tilted his head curiously as a figure could be seen just ahead.
A female, he silently remarked. Perhaps she can help me or at least tell me where I am.
Keeping a safe distance as he knew not what to expect, the young adolescent let a smile creep upon his orange maw as he slowly approached the female.
"Excuse me, ah, Miss. Can you tell me if there is any safehavens from the snow around here?" Werewolf A voice somewhere in the darkness brought her back, and she turned her head where she believed the sound came from, flattening her ears and cautiously ducking her tail in slight embarrassment if she was wrong. She had a habit of being wrong. But despite this, a smile stroked across her face, and she tilted her head softly to the side.
A place to avoid the snow? The female shook her head unfortunately, and gave a careful laugh from somewhere within her tiny frame. "No- I am sorry, I am not of knowing where to seek the shelter for you." Her voice softly uttered against the quiet. It was a grammatical nightmare- but her tone of voice never seemed to make it too awkward. At least after a while of hearing it.
She lifted her grey snout to the wind, and puffed the ends of her tiny, near translucent whiskers. 'There must be someplace.' She thought. She knew where their den was, but as much as she wanted to offer that up, she knew it would be best to spare the strange voice the occasion of both sitting in a narrow slump only large enough for a tiny wolf such as her, and having to deal with a very angry Phib. She couldn't help but laugh. Wouldn't that just kill him after that argument! Oh- it'd be too much like her though, so she stilled herself. It'd only make him upset.
"I-" She attempted to think, and furrowed her brow. So much darkness, and her mind only remembered numbers and painful smacks against trees. There were three trees to her right- and the stone... but... Perhaps under this rock? She lowered her head, and poked at the rock. She chuckled meekly. "I'm...of thinking this rock does not have a hole...I am sorry- I do not know. I don't know anything...like that." She smiled. Hopefully this wouldn't end in another conversation about how blatantly blind she was. Her tail wagged in apology. Not to mention- her complete lack of survival skills to boot. RonsoStryder Padding closer to the she-wolf, Jaxom drew slower as there was a familiar sense about her. As his emerald orbs narrowed towards her eyes, it was there that the familiarity that lingered around her was unveiled. She was blind.
The she-wolfs eyes, wide and somewhat a mystery, were like those of Zahimas', a witty she-wolf who had caused his affection to run deep for. Looking into those eyes made his shrouded memories of her reoccur with a spark of remembrance but though there were shares of thrills and joy there also laid sadness that gripped his heart. He had lost her during the night of the fire that ripped through the Shadowsong packlands and, still, he had yet to find her although it remained uncertain if she had escaped from the mountains and into the woods safetly.
As a calming voice seemed to whisp his sorrows from his current train of thought, the adolescent male drew a small smile across his maw. "It's alright," he replied as he sat himself down upon the snow lathered ground,"seems that a good place to hide is inevitable in these woods."
He couldn't help but feel some emotional ties to her as each time he found his eyes to gaze into those of the she-wolf. It was as if there was a streak of Zahima that called out to him which rekindled his yearning to search for his pack or anyone that had escaped that night. "You remind me of a friend of mine," he softly spoke as he lightheartedly laughed.
"Same mysterious eyes and a heart of gold." His ears slightly flattened, hoping that she wouldn't mistake him for striking up a conversation of her lack of sight as, from prior experience, Zahima had always found it obnoxious and a "same old routine" when she had crossed the paths of strangers.
A sheepish smile crossed his lips. He had plain forgotten to introduce himself or know the name of the she-wolf he was conversing with. "Forgive me for not asking your name miss or for a proper introduction. My name is Jaxom, I'm from the mountain ranges to the North. And you are," he remarked with a curtious tone in all respect towards her. Werewolf The pale wolf smiled, although her eyes remained still glassy and soft. She could not see upon his face the kind of de javu he received from being around her, but she was not one for random speaking, and assumed the silence did mean something. She waited for him to speak again, keeping her soft smile and moving only to adjust her position as she sat upon the ice driven stone. She still felt rather bad that she knew no place for him to take shelter in, and it was unfortunate that her own home was far to small for this male.
She smiled, her face gently pulling back into an almost serene like gesture, listening to him speak once more. Whatever he had been pondering, apparently now resolved. "I am sure there are of many places to hide. Not very good for my sight- but I do not think you will be of finding them too hardly now." She chuckled, her strange manner of speech rather soft, despite the grammatical nightmare which it was. She spoke as if she was only just learning the strange language of wolves- even though it was the only one she had ever spoken.
"Jaxom?" She inquired, listening to the sounds of the name. She'd become quite a name reader as of recent- she liked that name. It was short and strong, a lot like her mate's name, and she admired that sort of name. "I am Ryoku." She said gently, her head shifting. "Also- from the north." She concluded, and for a moment, her voice was clear of whatever strange wording she made. Whether or not this was accident, or if it hinted she consciously muddled with her mannerisms, was hard to tell.
"I am sure your friend was a good creature." She said again, softly, although she was hesitant to take claims to his kind words. "How are you of coming down this way?" She asked, her head tilting. RonsoStryder "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ryoku," he replied with a warm tone. For a moment, Jaxom was slightly stunned. Another from the North like himself? Strange. Whether it was a lucky coinscidence or, perhaps, a twisting link on his path of his search for truth, Jaxom couldn't help but let a smile cross his lips. "I'd have to say, you're the first wolf who also hails from the North and that at least reassures hope."
He softly chuckled, a softened expression upon his face. "She was a rare find, a diamon in the rough." His ears perked up slightly to Ryoku's question of just how exactly he had come to Shaoilin Woods. A soft sigh escaped his breath, "Mankind. Those two-leggers stormed our packlands with fire and slaughtered my pack. I had no choice but to run away to the woods and, ever since, I've been wandering the woods in search of my family, Damu and Zahima."
Jaxom had told his tale of misery and tragedy to those whom had come his way but, still, the pains of remembrance seemed to bear heavy. Though he was unsure wheter or not he would ever find him, he would rather excavate the truth than be left in the oblivion.
"Did you escape from the fires as well?" He questioned softly, curious as to know if she had encountered mankind that night as well. Werewolf Ryoku nodded her head softly, listening to the young man's story. His story was very similar to her own- surprisingly, although she knew man had nothing to do with their great fire. Gently, she coughed, and flattened her ears. "Sometimes, people are only of noticeably wonderful during rough times." She spoke, nodding her head in agreement to Jaxom's story of his friend, as if she knew enough about this wolf to agree a thousand times over.
Her ears swayed upwards. "Yes, we have escaped a fire- but none so much as with people. We come from very far, to the north-east; Half a country a way. But my plague is not men." She said softly, and shook her head. She had no feelings towards what these wolves called "two leggers." She'd never met one- although Phib told her many stories about them. He'd apparently spent much of his young life watching them, and creating his own opinions on what man truly was. He saw nothing so very different from men, then from wolves, although Ryoku did not feel knowledgably enough to express this remark. "I'm sorry be of saying, but fire in one way ended our problems." She chuckled softly, and shook her head, not particularly wishing to dwell on such thoughts.
She took a particular interest in the names of these two. "If you are searching, I am sure you will find something." She said softly, and nodded her head. RonsoStryder He shifted his paws within the snow, feeling relieved and not alone as someone else knew the pains he bore and, also, shared them as well. The young adolescent listened closely with pure intent. It was strange as both stories concerned fire and a deserting of their home only to come to these unfamiliar woods but, none the less, Jaxom still was intrigued. "So, you are not the only one who came to the woods from your lands then? There are more from your pack here in the Woods?" Hope still lingered and, if he could consult some of the other wolves that had joined Ryoku, there was still truth to excavate.
"I don't blame the fire," the adolescent replied with a grim tone, "I blame myself. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't protect anyone." Jaxom feel silent as the hauntings memories from such a horrid night recirculated through his thoughts. Though he was young, he couldn't help but feel guilty for not aiding his pack but what more could a young pup do? He was too hard on himself but it was a natural instinct, strangely.
Whisping away the grief and pain that swept as it twisted and churned his emotions within his body, the brown and orange hued wolf let a minute smile draw across his face as the she-wolfs soft words were encouraging but, from results of his search, still seemed shadowed by doubt. "I hope so. I just want to know the truth, nothing more nor less." Werewolf The pale wolf slowly moved her head back, her white ears carefully flattening against the brunt of her skull. "Oh, but such a little one- to be of thinking such things. Not everyone can do everything. One can only do as much as one can- it's impossible to be wanting anything more then what's in your power to be fixing, or be changing..."
The guilt his voice seemed to carry deeply troubled her, for she was a creature of high empathy. She took all problems seriously, and lamented upon them a great deal- for perhaps, there was just too much love in her heart. Ryoku blinked once, although her dead eyes revealed no such emotions within her. "Yes, I travel here with my mate, Phib. He was of being-" She paused for a moment, pondering. "He was alpha of his lands then, but he has extricated himself with me to this place south. A few others, I am sure- we were of large numbers, we two groups, and although we lost many- many more lived." She shook her head. "He would know better then I- I'm just Ryoku." She said softly, with a pale smile. It had never been the fire which claimed lives, after all. She was a wolf, who believed above all in the goodness of all people. But such thoughts of wolf at it's most lesser state troubled her opinion of good, and she was not fond of thinking on them.
"The truth is being good to know-" The she wolf said softly, her tiny form rising upon the rock. "Many things I don't know. But I try to- but life will always be having some secrets. You can only do your best to be finding them." RonsoStryder He knew that it was somewhat of a silly thing to reflect upon constantly but the memories and emotions were hard to shake off as they binded him. Perhaps, in time, he would finally find himself to be at peace with himself and the past. It would take time but it was something that Jaxom wished to put to rest. "I guess you're right," he replied with a slight grin, "no one can change the past and I shouldn't be haunted by it forever. Besides, what's living if I can't fully live my life?"
The young adolescent perked his ears upwards as he found her tale quite intresting. An Alpha male and his pack traveling to these lands? Intresting. Though he was curious, Jaxom refrained himself from questioning further as he felt that it would be rude to dive deeper into her story and snow was slowly falling to the ground, dancing and sweeping through the chilling air. Dainty snowflakes began clinging to his earthy pelt and his need to find a suitable shelter seemed to rekindle. As a breeze brushed past him, Jaxom shook his coat free of various snowflakes and rose back onto all fours.
Nodding his head in agreement, Jaxom found himself to fully take to heart what the she-wolf spoke of. "Perhaps there are some things we're to never discover until our time has come but I'll still search for the truth no matter where my journey takes me." The young brown and orange hued wolfs voice was of a soft tone but brimming with a rekindled yearning to unveil what secrets laid in wait to find.
Slowly padding several steps away from the she-wolf, Jaxom turned back towards Ryoku as a wide smile set across his maw. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ryoku. Take care," pressing onwards through the snow lathered ground, the young adolescent continued on his journey with his tail swaying behind him and rekindled spirits.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:10 pm
.::.Scars, Markings and Mankind: Damu/Phib.::. RonsoStryder Snow.
The world around him seemed like a setting from a story-tellers old tale, a frozen land that was desolate with no life whatsoever. Black ears flickered while he padded casually through the strange woods. He was lost and why he had come to these woods was still a mystery. With a coat that was jagged, thick and bristled, one could only suspect that he was a foriegner to these lands and, in truth, that what he was. A wanderer, a lone wolf who was cursed for his past as his black markings upon his hide were proof for the sins he had comitted.
His white tail swayed behind him as he intook a small whiff of the lingering scents. Such familiarity, such memories, and he was one step closer to finding truth. It was faint but its presence was distinguished just enough to follow.
"He can't be too far off," he muttered as he glanced around. Damu was usure of what to expect from his surroundings or any creature he might encounter. These lands were vastly different than those of the mountains he had come to know so well but there was no sense in ever returning as, sadly, that was only a faint memory now.
Meandering in a somewhat meaningless manner, the young adult walked deeper into the woods as cold, emerald eyes kept a settle gaze low towards the ground.
((Sorry for the slow response, Were. It took me a while to get my creative juices running ><.)) Werewolf  After walking for a while along the shores of his lands, the great black wolf found himself once more leaving his familiar home and out into the depths of the deep wood. There was a slight breeze upon the air, and it unsettled the gaping depths of snow which clung to the earth after the previous night's snow. Spring was coming, but winter had yet to finish with the earth; it was going for the long ride this year.
But it wasn't just winter that was steadily building. He felt something good around the corner, and being a profound realist, he found himself surprised at such a thought in his head. Perhaps the winter months had left him more thoughtful then he had imagined. The arrival of Cassidy had brought a lot back to him and for the first time a long year Phib felt himself reconnected back with who he had been. And this was a good feeling for the old king.
Yet, all of this reconnection did not make for a particularly welcoming Phib either. He kept himself well to not let on he was bordering on pleasantry- and so, once more he settled himself back into the nomad's land to see what strange vagabonds roamed about. He prided himself on knowing much, and truthfully, despite his belligerence he was a sociable creature. Whether or not it was in self glory, however, was up to debate.
A light wind fluttered itself across the bridge of his large snout, and at once, the black wolf rose his head. He stood out like a beacon in the snow, even with the small of his back covered with tiny flakes. His pale eye focused forwards with a squint- and catching precariously, the shape of moving black stripes upon the winter earth.
The black wolf swayed, and carefully shifted his winter plumed tail. An interesting matter of events- but where would this occasion lead? He didn't wait to find out.
"Hello there." His low voice rumbled, watching from about ten feet as the jagged white wolf passed.
RonsoStryder His mind broke forth from the seclusion of thoughts as a voice sounded from the silence. Damu slowly yeilded in his steps, shadow-black ears swiveling in a perked attention as he looked back. Emerald orbs drew towards a black wolf, riddled in scars as it seemed he too had seen his days of trouble and brawls. Somehow he felt that he could, perhaps, relate to him or at least this individual could understand him and what he had been through. But he'd leave his past out of a conversation unless he felt that he could find trust in such a strange wolf.
Padding several steps towards the pitch-black male, a minute smile drew across the white and black swirled wolf's maw. "Hello," he replied as he shook his coat free from collected flakes of snow. As his jagged, back fur swept within the light breeze, Damu drew closer as he kept a steady distance from himself an the male.
He wasn't sure what to expect. There was no evidence of a yearning for a brawl or heated tensions but, still, Damu didn't have the need for a battle but, if provoked, he wouldn't shrink from such a challenge. He was a lone wolf from the Shadowsong pack and he wouldn't dare run away least the haunting memories of his father would unceasingly taunt him.
"I don't suppose you've encountered a tawny, carrot colored male by chance?" He commented, still uncertain of what his current encounter would unleash. "He shouldn't have passed by too long ago." His voice was a bit gruff, but not in hostility. Since anyone could remember, Damu was known to be a little rough around the edges, a rebel and traitor, but in no means did he mean for his actions to be hostile towards the unfamiliar wolf.
Werewolf "Tawny wolf?" Phib remarked the slide of his voice. It was a bit rough as well, although it was smoothed out through years of conversation. "Well, my friend." He drawled, and shifted his tail. "I've met myself many wolves, but I cannot say whether or not I know such a wolf." Perhaps he was less keen on ambiguous answers then the asker was, for he shook his head and seemed intent on correcting himself.
"Or rather, I have not seen such a wolf unless it is a wolf that doesn't strike my memory. What is your tawny wolf's name?" He uttered, craning his neck forward. It was possible he did know names- for he was a creature that kept himself intent on any information that might be interesting or vital to the old king.
He settled himself, seating down against the snow, mostly because his shoulders were still bothering him. He was not, then looking for any sort of brawl, although the arrogance in his nature and posture showed that he was not adverse to such an occasion either. For that was the kind of strange fellow he was.
RonsoStryder He tilted his head slightly to the side as his black ears fell towards his head in a saddended expression of dissapointment. Perhaps his brother had passed through before the black wolf could have seen him? Yes, perhaps that was it or simply Damu was reliving that horrible night where he was marked with his sin. It was strange to think that he had not seen the likes of his brother for close to a year and, still, he looked to keep his promise to his fathe. He had to find him.
Settling himself down to sit upon the snow lathered ground, Damu flicked his black ringed tail back and forth as he let his stiff posture retract from his appearance as he slipped into a more casual mood.
"His name is Jaxom; optimistic, thrill seeker and a dreamer." As the words rolled off his tongue, it still felt strange as for so long he had never uttered his name but with the flicker of hope that had presented itself there was a chance that, at last, they could be reunited. "He's my brother."
For too long he had scowered the woods in search of him, bearing the burdensome truth about his pack, Akumi and Zahima. It wasn't by choice that Damu had been sentenced to be the one to have witnessed the demise of their pack as, some say, it was by fate. The white and black swirled wolf was repaying for his transgression against his family and slowly realizing the beauty of the world that for too long he had shrouded from his vision.
Looking into the eyes of the black wolf, Damu's gaze softened from its cold spell. "Forgive me for my manners, my name is Damu. I hail from the mountains of Seer's Cliffside just north of these woods." Werewolf A faint breeze pressed against the long wolf again, and he rose his neck to meet it in a steady gesture. Jaxom? No, he'd never met such a wolf before... but then why was the name familiar to him? It only just faintly tickled his mental beings, and the alpha shifted somewhat in concern. He did not like to not remember things.
"The name is familiar, although I don't know from where." He shook his sloped snout, and snorted slightly. "Many wolves in these woods- locating others can be of some predicament. Although I'd not wander elsewhere, for it does not seem like few ever pass by and keep going."
Phib nodded his head, his mind carefully working against the background. "I am Phib." He spoke, somewhat lighter. "I have heard of the place you speak of," He remarked somewhat, although from what he had heard, nothing good had come from it in recent years. He'd been a bit of a wanderer himself, ever since extricating himself from the far north east, and finally fixing himself upon the lands just south. RonsoStryder Though a small sigh escaped from his maw, Damu was finding that there still was hope. Phib spoke true; the woods were vast and sooner or later, in Damu's reasoning, their paths would cross. It would only take time and unceasing effort.
He pondered the name- Phib? A strong name, he reasoned silently as he looked upon the wolf. "It's good to see that there's at least life in these woods," he mused as his ears flickered.
His maw twisted with slight thought."If fate allows it, then one day we will meet." A sincere tone rang through his voice as he shifted his paws through the snow. "But, then again, who would want to reunite with a traitor?"
A traitor, a blackheated fiend; in his eyes, that was what he had become. Why would a pure hearted wolf want to lay eyes upon the sole reason of the Shadowsong packs demise? Why should he find him? Damu's very soul was riddled with hatred, pains and sufferings. He had always been cold to those he had associated with but, if he was to repent for what he had done, Damu had to change. Such a challenge itself wasn't easy and would require small steps of progression.
His attention was caught as Phib mentioned he was familiar with his once deemed homeland. He never thought that anyone would know the whereabouts of Seer's Cliffside but Damu couldn't help but be curious of what the black wolf knew...perhaps he knew of his past and what he was. Still, he couldn't help seeking to learn of what he knew of.
"I'm curious as to learn of what you know of Seer's Cliffside. If you don't mind, can you tell me of what you have heard or of the rumors that have spread amongst these lands?" Werewolf A low rumble flicked across Phib's throat. "No, there is no lacking of wolves in these woods." His tail swayed somewhat, as he continued to listen to this creature. It was rare that the black wolf allowed himself to be the listened in conversations- mostly, he dominated them when he wished to drive information out into the open. This creature was a bit more open then most- perhaps sprung by his urge to find his brother, and perhaps in respect to that, Phib did not drive needlessly.
"Ah-" Phib spoke, his ears swinging forward. "It's my knowledge that a traitor is only a differing of opinion." This wolf was some traitor? He did not particularly care for that word. It was used too often to express the natural course of things. One could say he was a traitor to his brother Kajh when he had chased him out of office. "Sometimes we betray an idea, but it is rather hard to cross your own blood, even with resentment."
This being said, Phib himself was no creature of pure heart. In fact, he believed such a thing was impossible- save perhaps for his mate, and it left her strange and almost unnatural. There were times when she was less Wolf then she was a flower. But he did not know the exact situation of this wolf's apparent treason, and he kept himself to that.
The black wolf slowly shook his head. "There is nothing to be learned in rumors." He spoke, knowing well as he shared quite a few of his own. God knows, what people thought of him. He'd heard all sorts of stories- that he was bewitched, that he was a coward, that he was dead- "I care not much for them. What I know is stories- if you know truth, then don't burden yourself with hearing stories." It was not in his right to go telling such a wolf what vague inklings he had heard before entering these lands. Something of fire, and death. RonsoStryder Whether it was the anguish and pains that swept through his memories or feeling as if he sought to seek some wisdom from the older wolf, Damu questioned further.
"No-no...I crossed against my own blood with death. I shouldn't be allowed life as I ruthlessly took the life away from my pack because of my actions, because of my resentment and hatred. Why should a wolf such as myself be granted life?" As he spoke, his voice grew rough as he took account for what he had done. Why he suddenly unleashed his hidden truth was unknown to him but there was something...or perhaps the first steps in seeking to change himself.
The white and black swirled wolf closed his eyes, shaking his head as he himself had only realized why he had unveiled his unforgivable past to a stranger. It was remorse that was slowly begining to clear his outlook.
He too had been deemed as a vile, strange creature who roamed lone within the wakes of the world. He was a demon, a death bringer and a ruthless killer. Though he was familiar with the truth, as he held first hand accounts, Damu huffed as his tail arched up slightly. It took him several moments to let the wise reasons seep within his mind, slowly bringing him to a more relaxed state- a mood that almost seemed foreign.
Though he had somewhat told of his story, Damu was curious? What about Phib? Every wolf had a story to tell and the young male was curious. Certainly a wolf of Phibs stature had to be a warrior and a soldier, crusading and brawling for his own beliefs.
"Tell me, Phib, how did you come to be covered in scars if you don't mind me asking?" Werewolf
((*thwacks gaia* Come on >O Let me post... ))
The wolf shook his head, his face stern and steady against the black of his fur. "And yet you live- that should tell you enough that even if we do not deserve life, we get it anyways." There was a certain matter to this wolf which made Phib question the exact level of his villainy. Perhaps he was misguided? Or was he more accepting then he thought? "Because of your actions? Actions and actual doings are often two different things." He kept his tongue from questioning if it was his actions which lead to the demise of his pack, or his own fangs which had. It was hard to tell.
The conversation shifted upon himself- a topic which he both adored, yet dodged away from. A low chuckle rose in his throat. "My scars? Three from women, one from an arrow, and many more unseen. But how I got my scars?" He remarked. "Life gave me scars. Separate instances, nothing of real importance." The old king spoke, leaving out the part that he had been, in his younger days, something of a war king. But he did not hold the romance towards it that most young creatures did. He fought only when he needed to, and when he felt the urge to. He was a strong, powerful wolf yes- but he was a great deal more clever then he was strong. His best powers were in being political. He was sharp, and generally well spoken. He'd won a great many more fights with his tongue then his fangs.
"They sting, now and then." He reflected on them. "But mostly, they trouble me not. Scars are just what remains from bad occasions, but they are not always of great deeds."RonsoStryder He knitted his brows in thought. Why was he given life? No one knows but perhaps it was the unraveling of fate that had made him survive the tragedy and live to seek for forgiveness. It wsn't by his fangs that had led to the slaughtering of his pack but by the cruelty of mankind, their yearning for greed and dire hatred against the wolf.
"Mankind is ruthless; their bloodthirst and vile. It was by their hands and the wild fires consumption that brought upon my packs demise. I lost everything and everyone," he muttered as he snorted a short breath, a misty vapor erupting from his nostirls.
With Phib seeming to like the sudden shift in topic, Damu peered upwards to the black male as he couldn't help but find himself intriuged in what the black wolfs story was. There was something about the markings and scars that one beheld to be something of a mystifying appearance or one that displayed bravery and a heroic nature. To Damu, war was something where he could let loose his emotions and fight for his beliefs and the beliefs of others. Unlike some, he didn't hold a clever nature but one who was strong and reasoned with his claws rather than the liking of his tongue. It was the rage that he beheld that often took charge of his emotions and, ultimately, his every action.
A small smile crept upon his maw as his ears perked up. "But scars show that you are not afraid to face your fears. Somehow I've come to reason that our marking and scars show who we are and what we have become. They show our trials and our challenges but, perhaps, it is never so glorious." Looking up towards the black wolf, Damu glance back towars his own fur. "Some are left as a reminder of what we have done and what we are to seek for."
"I've heard of your scars but what of your past, Phib? Are you native to this forest?" Still curious of where to go and how exactly to navigate these lands, Damu needed to learn his way around by any means necessary. Werewolf Slowly, Phib shook his head. "Man is nothing more then what it is. It is not good, and it is not evil. We are quick to turn our eyes from our own slaughtering- we wipe one another out just as often that Man does; not that they are not vile and cruel. But their actions can hardly be one in of your own."
Somewhere in his youth he remembered the days he had spent wandering around Man's land, trying to learn what few wolves took the time to try to figure out- who ruled earth? Wolf or man? He knew the answer, perhaps, but it was long within him to never truly say. He viewed men as a kind of Wolf, and like other such kinds, he cared not for them unless they so caused him harm. But he knew of the cruelty they were capable of.
But then again, he knew what Wolf was capable of as well.
Phib took a moment to ponder the subject of scars once more, and found he could not see in them the youthful romance to them. He found himself to be no hero. He was strong and clever, yes, and he celebrated himself for it. But he made no illusionment to himself that he was some kind of hero. Maybe some would say that was a lie.
"Ah-" Phib said, somewhat amused. There was a time in his own land, and perhaps even still now, when he would never have to make such formal introductions. He was always some sort of myth- the conjuncture of his great father whom no one could really decide was mortal or not. Sometimes even he himself felt lost in the mythology of his once great family, but he knew that above all, they were all brutally mortal. Perhaps more so then most.
"I am six years old- a long time for one such as I. I have done many things, on many occasions. In the north, I am Hrothmund's son and bit of a warlord and tyrant." He shifted his ear. "Here- I am alpha of the Outriders." For as much as was often construed as arrogant, he was not so boastful as it might seem. But so much had happened in his life- and he was not perhaps so open as the other. He was willing to allow himself to be questioned, but he did not loose face that it was usually he who did the questioning.
"But no, I do not hail from these woods- although presently I do live on the coast." RonsoStryder He wrinkled his muzzle in deep thought, pondering as he was begining to understand what Phib was expressing. "So, in a sense, wolf and man are brothers all the same?" Mankind was a foriegn beast; treacherous and estranged within the world. Yet he had heard stories of wolves whom had willingly bonded to mankind, living within their world and serving as not only a companion but as a valuble hunting asset. Such a thought seemed strange but perhaps to others it was a newfound lifestyle that was worth living.
Shaking himself off as a fine collection of snowflakes had gathered upon his back, the white and black swirled male swiveled his black ears in attention as Phib began to unveil his story.
"Hrothmund-", somehow there was a faint familiarity within such a name. There was a sheer sensation that send a spine tingling rush through his body as he mentioned 'warlord' and 'tyrant'. Unlike many younger males who only dreamed of becoming a fearless warrior, Damu had other dreams. He wanted to break away from the ties of his pack, from those who only despised him and roam free! He wanted to become a vagabond, for once he wanted to explore and let his wild nature become unleashed, wild without boundaries. Since the tragedy, the young male had only tasted of hatred, unforgiveness and suffering.
"An Alpah? I figured much," he replied with a smile. Though he didn't want to blatantly question the black wolf, it had quickly come apparant to the young adult that the wolf he had encountered was a designated leader. There were wolves who earned such a ranking within a pack and there were some, like Phib, who seemed born for such a high honor.
"The coast?" He raised a brow, slightly confused. Werewolf "We need not be brothers to be of the same nature. But there will never be brotherly love between Man or Wolf." He shook his head somewhat. "There's no room in Man's world for Wolf- and where there is, Wolf becomes dog." He too had heard of wolves that joined up with men- but not only had he heard it, but he had of recent been of company towards one. When he was younger, too, he had known a young female used to lure male wolves from the wild into her encampment- but she had been perhaps more savage then most wild wolves. It was a hard world to draw stereotypical boundaries upon.
Damu repeated his father's name with a tone which almost made him shiver as well. It was not fear... but there was an intensity in his father that remained in him now. He, supposedly his father's doppelganger- he had been made to die for him, but instead had followed on past his death. He remembered his father's death well, although they had never been close. Phib had never fully decided if what is father had done for his people was of beneficial nature, or what had brought them down years later.
Phib swayed his tail with some contentment. Yes, he was alpha- but oddly this did not envoke the kind of pride it might have in other creatures. He had been born trained to be leader, and he had taken it when he was old enough to. It had been all he'd known until the one year of exodus and wandering. He was a bit of a political machine at times- and he was never really sure if the part of him that was leader was really so much of his being as it was that had been implanted into him.
"Yes, there are miles of coast just a bit south." Phib spoke, rather pleased. He did not like the water, but ironically, he enjoyed the sea. It made Ryoku happy...and that made him happy. "There is another pack on the coast as well-" And from what he'd heard, it was ruled by a great giant of a wolf. "But I am on the west. But I don't concern myself much with pack borders- my clan roams. I find information, and I share it with my allies." He was, in some instances- a leader of spies. RonsoStryder Even to Damu, brotherly love between wolf and mankind seemed physically impossible. Bloodshed and destruction would always devastate the world but for one to achieve unity and peace was beyond any fathomable measure. Perhaps, one day there would be a time where wolves would find themselves above mankind yet, sadly, it was only a twisted fantasy Damu could only imagine.
The white and black swirled male tried to imagine what the coast was like. For as long as the Shadowsong pack had laid claim to Seer's Cliffside, Damu had been sentenced to living within the mountainous region as it was a forbidden to ever set foot upon the outside realm of Shaoilin woods and the freelands. Yet the stories of vast waters, scorching sands that would almost feel to envelope ones legs and a hidden paradise seemed appealing.
"What is it like to rule as Alpha? To have no boundaries and roam free?" His black ears perked up, yearning to know what one would feel, how it felt to be the overseer of a pack and venture wherever ones feet would take them.
Damu wanted to redeem himself; to revive his image and repent of the transgressions which he had sentenced agaisnt his pack. In his logic, if he was to become a leader, or to find someone who would not cower in his presence- a mate or friend, he would be a step closer of truly finding himself.((Sorry for the delay Were...T.T I have to go but I'd love to continue this Rp another time! Thanks for the awesome Rp, Were! <3)) Werewolf It was hard to call his coast a paradise- but it was a place he enjoyed. It was not like his old land, which had been frigid and cold. One of the most pressuring duties at any given time was bartering with other packs over food rights- and in these woods, it seemed there was so much food to go around that very few packs did not get along. Perhaps there was no need for a wolf such as he- but he knew better then to ever fall into complacency.
The large wolf shook his head, slightly snorting. It caused a soft rise of white smoke, and his pale eyes rolled up once to watch it dissipate into nothing. "Being alpha is hardly being free. I roam where I wish because no one can tell me where to go, but I always have to be thinking. There is always work to be done, and there is always some sort of problem to address. Right now, the winter snow is melting and it's causing some minor flooding. I have to think about that, and I have to think about building correspondents in other packs. Being alpha is less free then being a member." He snorted somewhat. "Always work, always something." But- it was the life he knew. He liked the control he had. He liked being in charge, even if it kept him awake at night worrying about things that didn't make sense, or kept him constantly on the move to keep his ear open to all events.
To be king, you had to be willing to sacrifice a bulk of your life to serving those who work under you. A guard might only need to guard, but it was an alpha's job to both guard, scout, hunt, spy- he had to be able to give council, and receive council. He had to be diplomatic enough to deal with other kings. He had to be considerate enough to make just decisions during fights, and through it all, keep himself healthy enough to be always able to defend his position from usurpers.
Life was hardly free- not that it was not appealing. He was rather amused by the young ambition in it, and it made him wonder if he had ever been disillusioned with what it meant to take over. RonsoStryder Perhaps it was a change to actually speak to another wolf or that he wasn't understanding why one whom ranked over his followers wasn't free? To some it would seem to be a simple concept with responsiblity but, in Damu's case, he couldn't quite completely fathome why such a leader wouldn't live wild, unruly and unstobbable. Truthfully, he was still young with his blood still thriving with rebellion and a need to find himself within the world.
"But-but you are an Alpha! You are an overseer of an entire pack! Don't you have more entitlement?" His brows knitted in utter confusion. He wanted power or, in other words, he wanted to show those who had once scorned at his name and very presence that he was much more than a fiend. There had to be some way that he could redeem himself but, thus far, perhaps finding a way to become a Alpha or leader wasn't the right move to make.
The position of Alpah was about strategic thinking and decision making. Already, Damu seemed not the candidate as he would think with his fangs rather than the logic of his head. There had to be something else he could do...right?
Becoming slightly flustered as he was slowly realizing that the ambitions he had so dearly held to were slowly collapsing, Damu sighed softly as his black ears fell towards his head.
"Can I ask for some advice, Phib? You seem to be one of the only wolves I can relate to." His emerald orbs cold gaze slowly dissapated as a minute softened appearance casted over them. Though he still sought to continue on his journey, Damu needed to understand one thing and, in his logic, the Alpha seemed to know best.
"How can I redeem myself for what I've done? I mean- how can I prove myself? From your stories you've been through alot and I'm sure you have a bit more insight than I do." Werewolf (( Awww, Whisper. ToT! I don't want her to die either. <33 She's too luffly.
And aww, Gizzie alpha. ToT! ))
Phib shifted his ear. It was true, he did not have much freedom. There was always something to be done, even though he was free to go about doing it in the matter that he pleased. "I could, I suppose. But that's a dream world." He chuckled. "Packs that are wild and free will eventually fall under themselves. They cannot keep strength for long, because they burn like fire- but once the object they burn under is gone, they crumble. An alpha cannot do whatever he wants, or he looses his pack. Or if he does not loose his pack, he will have it taken from him if he shows that there is a weakness in him. People may hate politics, but life can't function without it."
He was in ever sense, a political machine, and this he knew. He knew how to speak to other people and to say as many things he wished about himself without ever truly telling others who he was. He liked that. He liked politics; he liked the little head games. But then again, he hadn't known much but it.
But he did feel a bit disheartened as Damu sunk down somewhat, perhaps depressed with the idea that an alpha would have to do more work then run around like a hell beast. "My father- he did what he wished, and he ruled much. But in the end, even he had to fall to politics. Conquering only lasts for so long, and then you grow old."
Redemption? Boy was he talking to the wrong wolf! Ryoku was the good one, not him. What would she say in a situation like this? "Redemption...is a matter of opinion. Forgive yourself, and you are redeemed. You can't accomplish anything if you can't forgive yourself for misgivings. Then- just live. There is no feat that can ever make you great. You just rise up to meet them when they come by." And from Phib's area of knowledge- they came a lot, and normally, they smacked you up a bit before you even realized it. RonsoStryder The white and black swirled wolf contemplated what Phib had spoken. Just like a fire, eventually even the strongest would succumb to weakness and eventually lose their foundation of an unruly nature and self government. Everything fell under dominance and the basic structures of unity and laws.
In the eyes of other, Damu was rebellious. He was one who would never properly find himself asserted within the dominance of his pack whether it was by his ideal logic or the markings that the fires so long ago had branded into his fur. Once as white as fresh fallen snow, the young adult now found himself as black as the night itself; a bearer of sin. He was left to repent and find his place within a constantly changing world.
His ears perked up as Phib spoke of his father. "Even the greatest of warlords succumb to the laws," he remarked with a slight frown drawn upon his maw. "There's no escaping politics."
Damus black ringed tail swept behind him, occasionally breaching upwards in thought as he listened to the words of the Alpha. Forgiveness? The word itself sounded foreign, such a concept that he had never been shown nor used towards another of his kind. He was to forgive himself? But what about those he had transgressed against? Was that to be whisped away with the past itself? No, he couldn't. He wouldn't forgive himself. He had unleashed demise upon the Shadowsong pack and had only sacrificed his future.
Each word was reviewed silently, his brows raising and knitting as countless thoughts swarmed within his mind. "Just...live?" To live; Yes, Damu had forgotten to live as the weight of burdens and grief had left him staggering with each step he took. He had forgotten much but, slowly, he was reviving himself into a new life.
"Just live." He softly repeated as he found a new concept within these simple words. Slowly rising to all fours, the young adult looked back towards the black Alpha with a small smile across his maw. "Thanks, Phib." Werewolf Being thanked was awkward upon the black creature's ears, but he did take it with a nod. He was becoming dangerously close to being considered good or wise- both things perhaps he truly was, in some way. But he let such an idea fall, for he was of the nature to always keep up a constant sort of opinion of himself, whether or not it was particularly accurate.
"Sometimes all you can do is live." Phib remarked, his pale eyes sliding across the snow covered earth and falling back to Damu. Life in itself could be quite a feat. Sometimes that was all one needed in order to be great.
He craned his neck, and allowed his ears to swing forward in sharp points. "You seek your brother. Do you expect to be willingly accepted?" He questioned, a slide of interest crossing himself. RonsoStryder "And that's what I've been missing," he replied as a light breeze ruffled his jagged back fur, whisping them upwards in a thorny mess. "I've been missing life."
Just as he retracted his gaze and took several steps, the words of the Phib trailed towards him. Damu halted in his step, looking back towards the Alpha was an slightly puzzled expression. His maw gaped open slightly as he had not fully contemplated of what could arise from such an encounter. Whether the encounter of brother and brother would be today or never until several weeks, Damu knew of what he set out to do.
"I don't expect to be accepted. I made a promise to my father at his deathbed that I would find him and confess what I had done and of the demise of our pack. He remains unaware of what happened when mankind stormed through our packlands and he deserves to know the truth." His voice was low but he was positive in what he sought out to accomplish.
Whether or not he would be welcomed and embraced, he cared not. For who could love a wolf whose fate had marked him with sin? Damu was a wanderer who searched for his place within the world and sought to live. Whatever life dealt him, he would fight back and this was only one of the trials he had yet to overcome.
Nodding his head, the white and black swirled wolf drew his vision in front of him and slowly padded on his way with the scent of a forgotten sibling as his guide.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:11 pm
.::.A New Destiny, A New Future: Jaxom/Nessa/Kouji.::. RonsoStryder ((I don't have a preference to whom Jax encounters ^^.)) Daybreak.
The Woods were still as the rising sun began its descent to its throne, its immaculate rays dousing the lands underneath with a radiant appearance. Few birds sang an early morning solace and, surprisingly, there were few traces of life except for the sound of crackling leaves underfoot which echoed with a crisp audibility.
Time had passed slowly as the now adult brown and orange hued wolf had long rummaged within the woods to an extent where there was little that he had never encoutered nor had he rarely crossed the paths with friends from long ago. He padded slowly towards the small stream that ran through his so called "home" as his tail swept gently from side to side in a casual manner.
Dipping his orange hued muzzle into the cool waters, the male drank slowly while his eyes seemed to glance up occasionally. The water was refreshing and quenched his early morning thirst to an extent but, ultimately, there was something more his sould was craving.
Freedom.
He wanted to finally break away from the confines of the Woods and journey into the unknown. Jaxom had always had a keen sense of adventure and for too long he had ignored such a yearning that the need was impossible to withold. He had searched in the same woods long enough as he had failed to excavate any truth to what had happened to his family, to Damu and Zahima, and his pack. Filled with both burdensome and uplifting memories, Jaxom had decided that it was time to move on and search elsewhere for a place he belonged and for lingering traces and ties to his past that remained shrouded within the unknown.
With his thirst satisfied, the young gamma trailed towards the open trails of the woods away from his secluded hideaway. His ears flickered as they intook the scarce noises all around him but nothing seemed to catch his attention nor divert his chosen path. His mind had long been made up and, at last, he was obeying his instincts.
Looking back at the small, secluded hideaway where he resided for countless months, it seemed that now they were all distant memories and nothing more nor less. A soft sigh escape from his maw,?There?s nothing left. It?s time to move on as the truth lurks somewhere.? His voice was calm, somewhat remorseful as a feeling of loss seemed to fill his heart. He had searched the woods for any trace but had never found any clues nor any witnesses who had ever encountered strange wolves from the North. Somewhere within these lands was to be a place where he could put such ill feelings to rest. ?It?s time to move on.? Setting his sights far into the distance, Jaxom slowly began to walk towards his destination. He didn't know where he was going or where he would end up as the only thing he was sure to do was to leave the Woods and let his destiny guide him to where he was to go.
Whether it was the yearning for a new adventure or a wanting to leave his past behind within the realm of Shaoilin Woods, he couldn?t stand to walk much longer. He had to run. Suddenly lunging into full strides, Jaxom began his journey.
The chilling air of the morning rushed past him, rippling against his fur and causing it to stand in a messy array. With tongue lolling out of his mouth and paws sweeping furiously against the dirt trodden ground, Jaxom was beginning a new adventure once again. The feeling of the wind on his face, the new sensation of sights and smells, and the thrill of the unknown made his adrenaline skyrocket to new limits.
Familiar scenery and landmarks seemed all around him, taunting him and urging him not to leave as they conjured memories to become recollected. He wouldn't, no, he couldn't let himself break down. He had to escape from this prision and venture off in search of something more. He pushed himself to exceed to a dashing speed as his heart ached with the pains of memories he'd wished to never remember. Memories that would be sure to haunt ones dreams unceasingly for periods of time.
'I can't stay here! There is nothing left to search for!' He repetitively thought as he pressed onwards, weaving around towering trees and dashing through cold streams that entwined within Shaoilin Woods.
Just ahead, Jaxom could see the clearing which led to the outside world of the Woods. Though many wolves never ventured outside of the Woods, Jaxom would, once again, cross the borders. Coming within range of the vast plains, the orange and brown wolf slowed his pace. Briskly running to where the borders of the free lands met with those of Shaoilin Woods, Jaxom yeilded in his footsteps.
He panted, intaking deep breaths as his eyes drifted across the spacious plains. Like any wolf, he had heard stories of those who had traveled within the open were killed by mankind and other beasts that inhabited these lands. Though he was wary of what dangers could await one who set foot into the open domain, Jaxom wouldn't let that stop him.
Regardless of the warnings and stories, he would endure any pain and exceed any physical limit to free his mind from the chains of sorrows that had binded them.
As he drew his eyes closed, Jaxom let his body relax while he intook a deep breath. "I'll find you Damu. Whatever it takes, I'll find you." Taking his first step across the border between Shaoilin Woods and the Freelands, Jaxom meditated in silence before he could finally tear himself free.Tweek The young adult was ambling down a worn deer path as she thought, a habit she had picked up from her father. Her feathered tail was out flush behind her, curled slightly in a question mark as she worked an idea over and over in her head, her muzzle was held level, her olive eyes glancing out ahead, her dark tipped ears perked forward in alert.
Nessa's musings had brought her to the outskirts of the freelands, just below her parents' territory and just above Selia and Devvyl's. Here the leafy foliage had returned to the lands after winter, and new green buds were apparent on every young sappling. The young gamma paused momentarily, the wind ruffling her coat against the fur's natural direction, then twisting back at her to bring her the rich scent of spring from all around. She inhaled deeply, letting the heady smell of the ground brought on by soft rains fill her lungs. But there was something else as well... she twitched an ear. She knew that scent!
Adjusting her course appropriately, she loped quickly through a section of the woods before slowing her pace as she came through the treeline is a walk. Her old childhood friend stood almost directly in front of her. He had certainly grown, as she had, and was now a powerful looking young gamma, but Nessa knew at once from the kind look in the other's face that the wolf's bold and gentle nature had not changed.
"Jaxom! I knew it must be you!" She said in delight, welcoming the repose from her thoughts. RonsoStryder A feeling of peace seemed to reassure him as the wind gently caressed against his face, the low whisperings of the wind rushing around him as he could feel that time had come to leave the past behind and proceed towards the unknown.
Just as he was to take another step away from the memories and recollections that lathered Shaoilin Woods, a familiar scent wafted within the air. His ears perked up in full alert, swiveling and intaking the sudden surge of sounds that grew closer and closer with each passing moment. Such a familair scent couldn't be ignored as the young gamma knew it all too well.
Jaxom openend his eyes and turned his head in the direction where the noises were erupting from. It was at that moment that his jaw seemed to gape open in pure surprise and astonishment as such a tender, caring voice broke through the mornings soft solaces.
"Nessa!" He yipped much like in an excited puppy nature as a wide smile crept upon his orange hued maw. "I haven't seen you in months! You're absolutely beautiful. It's strange to think that the last time we saw each other was when I first stumbled into the woods from the North. But enough of that, what have you been up to lately?"
His emerald orbs couldn't help but gaze upon her as their puppy days seemed short lived and life itself was continuiously fleeting away with each moment. She had grown into a graceful and, very stunning, she-wolf. There was a way in which she presented herself that caught his intrest. Whether it was only age that had stimulated such elegance or something more, Jaxom couldn't help but be somewhat reflect on the recollections of their childhood encounter and let a small chuckle escape.
'How times have changed,' he mused silently as he looked at her with soft, emerald eyes. Tweek "I remember!" She exclaimed, although of course he knew she did. Her bright eyes dances with the memories of childhood, of all those warm summer days spent lazing on the banks of the river, running in to all the wolves passing by. "The day you taught me about fire, when we went looking for your old pack..." The shewolf paused, canting her slender muzzle slightly. "Did you--ever find them?" She asked tentatively, although from the way his face had played out as he had spoken, she almost knew the answer without asking.
She paused to sweep him over with her gaze, and smiled warmly wagging her plumed tail in a couple steady beats. "You look wonderful, yourself." At his last comment, the cobalt and cream female had chuckled to herself, and she paced a few steps forward, shaking her head to explain.
"So much has happened. So much has changed." Her eyes became momentarily distant as she glanced off to the side slightly, seating herself automatically for discussion, another habit she had unwittingly picked up from her father. She hadn't yet spoken to anyone of the plan she and Kouji had formulated, but suddenly she had the fierce desire to tell her friend, as if to test the reality of it. "My old friend Kouji and I are mates now. He comes from a pack in the far east. His... father has imprisoned the rest of the pack members by force and--" She fought back an incredulous grin. "--if you could believe it, we're going to be going into battle to try our best to win back his lands."
My, the idea did sound brash aloud! Nessa turned her sight back to Jaxom to gauge his reaction, knowing she could trust him to be honest. RonsoStryder Of fire and heartaches, the memories of that fateful day seemed all to fresh within his mind. He closed his eyes, letting his head tilt to the side as a he sighed. "I never did find them," he replied in a soft voice as his eyes drew upwards towards Nessa, "but that doesn't mean I won't stop looking for them."
Jaxom mood lightened as his drew upon other thoughts and let his orange tipped tail wag. Never in his wildest dreams had he thought that he would ever see Nessa again and, with her last comment, he couldn't help but grin.
As the cobalt and cream female took several steps closer to him, he was eager to hear of what she had encountered within the span of countless months since he had last seen her. He could feel that the conversation would be quite engaging and, just as Nessa sat himself down, Jaxom followed in her example as it would be much more comfortable than standing.
His ears perked up as Nessa explained to him of what she had encountered and, truthfully, it wasn't much of a surprise to him that she had mated as he had always thought of her as a rare treasure for any male to stumble across. "Congratulations, Nessa. That's great to hear!" His maw was slightly ajar, a toothy smile present as his happiness for her was indescribable. Just as the young she-wolf continued, his ears fell flat.
Imprisionment? Never had he heard of such ill, despotic ruling of pack before and, even by word of mouth, it was something that made his blood boil and innards chrun with a sick feeling. A wolf had no right to take his pack as his prisioners; an Alpha was a honorable leader and this one was tainting the title of Alpah. Such situations needed evasive actions.
"Restricting and downtrodding the rights of others is a sin. It's those who must arise to the challenge to stand up for the belief and rights of others, for those who cannot fight for what they believe in." His tone was of a serious nature as it seemed unfathomable that such vile actions would be outlashed against a pack.
Rising to all fours, Jaxom had made up his mind not only on the situation but where he would stand upon the situation. "A battel, eh?. Where do I sign up?" Tahja Estes "This will be as close to signing up as we'll get."
Came a male voice from just beyond the shadows as Nessarose's mate drew closer to the two. His countenance was calm and non-threatening. Once reaching where they sat he placed a lick to Nessa's left ear. He gave no signs of jealousy, because he had no reason to be. If anything he was pleased to see that Nessa seemed to have a healthy group of friends where as he had not, really.
"Forgive me if I'm interrupting. I'm Kouji, Nessa's mate."
Kouji locked golden eyes onto Jaxom's own as he introduced himself politely, but to the point. He was curious as to how Nessa knew Jaxom, if they were childhood friends or neighboring littermates. All that he could assume was that they were close, for Jaxom to be willing to come to her, their aide without so much as a question. Tweek Nessa smiled, feeling her heart warm at all the memories. In a relaxed gesture, she closed her eyes to a beam of autumn sun, flattening her ears back against her head in contentment for a moment.
As the two went on to more serious talk, the she-wolf felt a flicker of nervousness. But Jaxom's strong words encouraged her. She could feel her old friend's valiant spirit ringing through his tones, seeping into her own body and quickening her heartbeat a pace or two.
So caught up in the conversation was she, that she didn't even notice the telltale signs of Kouji approaching. His scent had so much become a part of her that her senses hardly registered it as something to monitor. Suprised by the familiar voice as her mate strode into the clearing, she grinned with delight, automatically rising as he came to her side.
The faint breeze around them rustled through her coat, whispering promises of glory and freedom, and she leaned into Kouji momentarily, brushing her cheek against his with loving affection, whispering him a fond greeting.
"Oh, Jaxom... join us!" Her pale eyes danced with excitement and Nessa found herself filling with awe. For the first time, she could imagine herself in fight, on the front lines. She could feel the warm gusts of wind, she could hear the rallying howls, she could see Kouji at her side, and close friends like Jaxom, an array individuals, each with a single goal.
All this she saw, playing out behind her eyes, and she smiled, softer now."I can think of no friend above you I'd want on our side." RonsoStryder As a voice and an unfamiliar wolf drew out from the shadows, Jaxom's ears perked up while a sensation of alarm seemed to catch him off guard. His emerald orbs followed the wolf, watching him trail closer to Nessa and as he licked her ear in a tender manner. No jealousy filled his heart nor did he harbor any resentment as he had yet to even inquire the males name. Though, already, it had become obvious that he was Nessa's mate and, in Jaxom's logic, whomever was a friend of one of his friends was fine by him.
A warm smile crossed his maw as he matched his gaze with Kouji's. "You're not interrupting at all, friend," he reassured with a soft chuckle. "It's a pleasure to meet you Kouji. My name is Jaxom. Nessa is a childhood friend of mine and, probably, the only true friend I made when I came to the Woods when I was a pup."
Jaxom felt a sudden blanket of warmth fall upon him as Nessa spoke softly of how she could think of no other friend she would want on their side. A slightly embarrassed smile crept upon his maw as the autumn light cast a glimmer within his emerald orbs.
His orange tipped tail swished behind him, exhilaration seemed to surge within his veins at the thought of a battle. The slightest idea of baring fangs, bristling fur and fighting for a worthy cause seemed to good to pass up. Not only was it a chance to leave Shaoilin behind but it was to bring a start to a new adventure in fighting for, not only his beliefs, but for the beliefs of others.
"With your approval, Kouji" he directed his attention towards the male, 'I'd willingly vow my loyalty to aid in battle and fight for your cause." Tahja Estes Kouji sensed the warmth shared beween the two and that same friendly air extended towards him by the tawny, carrot colored male. A childhood friend, hm? Yes... that seemed the most likely conclusion. He smiled somewhat suddenly as Nessarose leaned her weight against his, rubbing his cheek back against hers in return.
Agreeing with his mate, for he decided that he was fond enough of Jaxom's character thus far, Kouji inclined his head briefly.
"As my mate has said herself, it would be an honor to have you accompany us. I'm humbled by your kindness."
Though the words sounded right and proper coming from him, where as he normally didn't speak in such a diplomatic manner, the words were scincere. RonsoStryder Jaxom dipped his head in a slight bow as a broad smile drew upon his orange maw. ?No, I think the honor truly is to be able to fight for such a cause,? he replied as her settled his gaze on both Kouji and Nessa. ?Besides, it?s not everyday you get to battle alongside your friends.?
With his destiny sealed and loyalty entrusted to his childhood friend, Nessa, and her mate, Kouji, the tawny and carrot hued male couldn?t help but feel refreshed. It was like a second chance, a continuation and rejuvenation, at a new life. For too long Jaxom had been chained to the Woods as he had sought to find any faint traces of life or remains of the Shadowsong pack and, now, time had come to move one. To find himself, yes, that?s what he wanted along with uncovering much of his shrouded past and, perhaps, he?d find himself to be one step closer to such desires.
He tilted his head slightly as, with all of the anticipation and envisions of what to come, he had not the least of idea of when the operations were to comence. ?So when does the liberation begin?? Tweek Nessa's eyes flashed as she grinned, and if either one of the others had looked closely, they could have seen one of the first true glimpses of a the stronger, dormant, battle-ready character that had slowly begun to bubble up around the edges of the shewolf's more subdued behaviors. In time, it would be ready. In time, she would be prepared for what she had to do for the cause.
"As soon as possible." She said, a hint of an empathetic fire in her voice, her smile excited and justified.
"Kouji and I were hoping to scour the woods in case there might be others willing to help. But if you'd come back to our den for a spell we could talk strategy first." She suggested, her tail arching slightly as she glanced to her mate for confirmation. RonsoStryder His maw gaped open slightly as a tooth smile protruded through. Soon enough he'd be engaging in an all out brawl of emancipation and beliefs and, already, the tawny and carrot colored male felt as if the slightest envision of the battle front made his blood surge with adrenaline. Though he had never engaged in an all out war before, Jaxom wasn't one who wouldn't hesitate nor shrink from a challenge and he could hardly await for what the coming days would bring.
"I wouldn't want to hold you back from recruiting others," he replied with a sincere tone, "but I find the opportunity to talk stratagey and tactics is something I can help offer my services in."
Behind him his orange tipped tail wagged in an estatic motion. With emerald orbs that danced with excitement, the young gamma also looked towards Kouji hoping that he would be fine with Nessa suggestion. Tahja Estes Kouji nodded his head, agreeing with Nessa. It was a good suggestion to discuss strategies early on. Jaxom could help convey it to others, rather than them doing so all at one time and needing to worry about mis-explaining to a group of mixed understanding.
"Our current pack's leader has agreed to let us use our pack land to gather others for our cause. It's regretful, but our own pack seems to be dwindling even now. There is more than enough room to make home and discuss there until we're prepared to make the journey." RonsoStryder Jaxom's emerald orbs danced wildly as his orange tipped tail swished wildly behind him. This was a true chance to free himself from the woods, to venture outside and to engage in a battle of beliefs and freedom. No more would he wander alone as, now, he would be surrounded by other wolves and ,for once, have a real place to call home.
"It would be an honor to join you back at your packlands, Kouji," he replied as he graciously lowered his head in respect to the older male, "I am in your service."
His tone was humble, a sense of excitement clearly defined. The future was ahead of him; a time of discovery and new adventures. Soon enough, the young gamma was to endure tumultious trials and experience emotions that seem as if they could consume one in a mere breath. Whatever he was to go against, he was ready. Tahja Estes ((Geeze Louise Oh Pete! @__@;; I'm horribly sorry for such a long delay you guys, I've had a hell of a time tearing my focus away from SOA and Livejournal.))
"We're both very grateful..." Kouji smiled scincerely. "Come with us, then. We'll lead you to the packlands and make our plans from there."
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:11 pm
.::.Taming The Beast Within: Damu/ Taima.::. RonsoStryder Cold.
If it wasn't cold enough with snow lathering the earth underfoot, there just had to be a chilling breeze. Skies that were once open and vast, doused with a heavenly blue, now were consumed by rolling nimbus clouds that were hazy and thick. Though his pelt was thick and trapped what warmth it could, there still was a numb feeling upon his back and even in some parts between the pads of his paws. Just like Seer's Cliffside, the woods were unveiling a sense of brutality.
The snow white and shadow swirled male drew his muzzle up slightly into the air as he inhaled of what scents drifted nearby. A mist expelled from his nostrils and maw while a soft sigh seemed to escape. "I've lost him," he muttered as emerald orbs glanced in all directions seeking to trail back on the hunt. Shaking his fur free of small snowflakes that congregated upon his back, Damu casually padded towards a withered oak tree and sat himself down. He had trailed the scent for days and, now, he had lost it. Certainly his brother couldn't have wandered too far, could he?
Staring at the tree as his thoughts were riled, Damu's jagged furs upon his neck bristled slightly. His black ringed muzzle bunched up, fangs gritting as he came so close to finding him but lost the trail. "No!" He yelled, picking up his right paw and swiping it across the base of the tree as his claws left a defined mark in vain of his frustration.
Cradeled within the boughs of the tree, snow was situated in a slightly stable position. Collected from the countless snowfalls, it seemed that if one was to even breath upon the tree it would be unleashed from its natural container. And it was the simple swipe of a paw that loosened it just enough. Without warning, the snow unlatched itself and fell down towards the ground and atop the young adult.
Like a sudden rush, the cold seemed to take his body into a slight shock. All the warmth within his body felt as if it was sucked out from his tail breaching slightly to his chest. Supressing a shiver, Damu rolled his eyes.
"Great," he mumbled. Just as he took one step forwards another snowfall from above graced his presence as it matted his head and back with chilling snow. With his body looking somewhat like an abomidable snow beast, Damu glared back towards the tree and attempted to relax as best he could. Tamiko-chan The young female was wandering about the forest, as usual, when a sudden strange voice rang out into the silence. It startled her so much and just seemed to come out of nowhere that the young She had thought herself to be going crazy. Were the trees talking? Those darn elders back home were always talking about stuff like that...
Hmph, talking trees. Who ever heard of such nonsense? Even the random and puppy-ish Taima couldn't bring herself around to believe that. It was just insanity.
Finally shaking off the sound as a part of her mere imagination, she continued to trot along, her rough pads making rhythmic marks along the snow. Yet there was one that broke the pattern every other step; her right forepaw was missing two pads. Yet it didn't seem to bother Tai as she padded aimlessly on.
Eventually, though, she stopped. There was some creature ahead of her that looked nothing like she had ever seen! Eyes widened slightly as she stared at the thing that smelled like wolf but looked like some monster coming out of its slumber from underneath the snow.
Curious, and with a stupid grin on her face, the oddly colored wolf tilted her head slightly and craned her neck forward to take a look at the thing. She wondered if it'd bite. Would it be her friend?....... It was amazing that she had even gotten this close! Her sneaking skills were down to zero at this point, perhaps in the negatives!
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..." she said, letting her voice just eventually fade out on that particular note. Then she sniffed deeply, taking in a huge amount of snow as she did so as well. Shocked by the sudden coldness, Taima yelped and thrashed her head this way and that.
"Get off, getoffgetoff!!"
It was only snow.... but whatever. RonsoStryder Black ears suddenly perked up as a lingering feeling within his surroundings began to slowly bear witness to him; He was not alone.
As his brows knitted together in a curious manner, the white and black swirled male began to look 'round about. It didn't take long for a particularly strong scent of another wolf, a she-wolf to be correct, who was lurking close by followed by a sudden yelp. Emerald orbs darted in haste as it was only to be left looking towards the young female with a curious and worried look on his face.
He tilted his head slightly, somewhat intrigued in catching a small glimpse of her thrashing her head in every which way. A minute smile crossed over his maw. "Are you alright?" He remarked in a low, slightly gruff voice.
Some may of been cautious of his tone, concluding that it was clearly riddled in hatred and despise but, in truth, it was his nature and his typical tone. He was a wolf whom had seen too much destruction and death within the world and it was his horrid past that had forever led his life to be altered. Yet this was only the past...a past he never wished to relive nor reflect upon. It was a "dirty secret" that he intended to keep buried from discovery.
Damu's black ringed tail swayed casually behind him, brushing against the softened snow as he onlooked the female with emerald eyes that were hinted with a slight cold appearance. Tamiko-chan Taima continued to thrash her head about even after the other spoke out to her. It took about a full minute for the fact that she had been discovered to sink into her brain and cause her to slowly stop in her motion.
Carefully she moved her curious eyes so that they rested on Damu's form. Black and white. How simple. She liked it. It was much better than her own ugly excuse for a pelt.
"Oh, yeah, hehe, I'm fine. The snow is just really cold!" Apparently the male's rough appearance and stern eyes didn't bother Tai one bit. And why should it? She had such a puppy-ish nature that it was impossible for her to see bad in anyone. It was always innocent until proven guilty with her.
"...Why would you want so much of it on you?" she questioned, her tone complete curiousity as her eyes traveled to his back where most of the snow now rested. Then they innocently trailed back towards his face. "Do you wish to blend in?"
An amused smile spread across the femme's maw as she thought about this. Quite a silly thing to do, cover oneself in snow to blend in and such. RonsoStryder It took Damu a few moments to gather a response as he was rather intrigued at why the female didn't shrink from his appearance. Did she not know who he was? Perhaps she was one of the few who resided within the woods whom had never heard of the tragedy of Seer's Cliffside; of the bloodshed, the grief, sorrow and of forsaken destiny. Still, it was best not to ruin a "fresh start" with an introduction as it seemed that lately he had rarely crossed paths with a native of Shaoilin Woods.
His brows knitted curiously. "Snow? Oh," he glanced behind him and towards the snow that was somewhat piled upon his back. Damu had never cared for the snow and, truthfully, he could hardly sense its presence as his pelt was thick from his previous mountain lifestyle. "It wasn't intentional. I just happened to be under a tree at the wrong time."
Blend in? A wolf could dream couldn't he? Damu's pelt was a marking of sin and betrayal. Though never had thought of such an ingenious plan himself, the idea seemed perfect for a disguise.
"I wish I could blend in, be just another wolf roaming lone within the woods, but the black upon my hide is rather a warning to all...it's a constant reminder of- never mind." The young adult hatled his speech. He had almost divulged the unwanted past into the open and god knows how disasterous that could of become. His black ears feel back as he shifted his eyes temporarily from the she-wolf. Regaining a more neutral and benign composure, he slowly drew back his focus upon her.
"My name is Damu. I hail from the mountains just north of these woods." With a slightly warm smile trailing upon his maw, the white and black swirled male shifted on foot, gripping the snowy ground underneath as he curiosly looked towards the she-wolf. "And you are?" Tamiko-chan Taima tilted her head slightly as the other began to reveal random things about himself. How weird. He was just rambling on and on... would it ever stop?
When he suddenly cut himself off and just changed the subject, she merely shrugged her shoulders. It was his business and she knew she had no right to go sticking her nose into it. She might have had a puppy personality, but that didn't mean she didn't know her boundaries.
Giggling slightly at his 'disguise', the female sat down comfortably in front of him. It was obvious that she wasn't bothered by his presence at all. He hadn't shown any sign that he might've been a threat, so she wasn't taking him in as one. RonsoStryder Watching as the she-wolf sat in front of him, the young adult didn't hesitate to also seat himself in a more relaxed position. He let his backlegs slide outwards, slowly falling onto his behind as his front paws where outstretched slightly in front of him.
His black ears perked up as he was finding a deeper intrest in the female as, for once, someone did not cower nor shrink away from his presence. He was begin treated as...an equal.
He laughed, mostly to himself, as he onlooked the female musing over his name. "Well, you're the first to ever admire it," he replied as the once stone-cold eyes were withdrawing their eerie cast from over them. A light breeze ruffled his back fur, dispelling the snow from off his back as its strange pattern was slowly becoming more visible and a once brutish appearance fading though very, very slowly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Taima. Always comforting to know that there are other wolves lurking about. I haven't seen many for a while." He closed his eyes just for a brief moment, reflecting upon why he was even here in the firstplace.
Jaxom.
He was on a search, moreso a quest, to find his brother. After making a vow to his father upon his deathbed, Damu had sworn to locate and explain to him of the truth behind the fire that erupted at Seer's Cliffside. But who could embrace a traitor? Who could ever love...a beast? He never expected to be welcomed at first glance, Damu only sought to hold true to the promise but, so far, he had endured nothing but grief and letdown. Would their paths ever cross?
Damu nodded his head, a light smile trailing across his maw. "I just arrived a few sunrises ago and I'm still disillusioned to exactly where I am." Shruggin his shoulders, he sighed softly as, in his logic, it wouldn't hurt to ask another wolf if they had seen the tawny and carrot colored male pass by.
"I've been searching for someone but I've seen to have lost his scent. His name is Jaxom; young adult, tawny and carrot colored with emerald eyes. He's a bit of a dreamer but he has a heart of gold. Anything sound familiar?" Tamiko-chan Taima grinned then randomly rolled over on her back to reveal her belly. It wasn't a sign of submission, but merely a position that was comfortable for the she. This was often done when she was completely relaxed.
Looking up at the male awkwardly from the ground, she made a face. "Really? I dunno, maybe I'm just weird. But I really like your name. It has a nice ring to it. Mine's just stupid." Or, at least, the history of how she got it was. Perhaps the only reason she despised her name was because it had been given to her in vain.
Tai then rolled onto her belly, hind legs outstretched strangely as her forepaws were curled up against her chest. She was still comfortable, despite the postition looking most painful.
Ears perked slightly as she listened to Damu once more. "I see.." was all she said after he had told her that he had just arrived here. She had been here a bit longer, though not much.
Then she tilted her head slightly as he asked her about Jaxom. So he was looking for somebody? That was the first. She just always thought the new wolves around here were looking for a new home, not looking for someone else who had possibly come looking for a new home. Yet the young wolfess didn't know many and so couldn't go about making assumptions.
Shaking her head, a frown formed on her pretty face. "No, I'm sorry. I've never heard of him nor seen him for myself...." She felt bad for not being of any help to him. She had to do something!
"....Maybe I could help you look for him? I know a few others and could ask around for you?" RonsoStryder Damu couldn't help but let a willy grin cross over his maw as he found himself to simply onlook the wolfess as he rolled onto her back, relaxing with no worries. Though he was sitting, the muscles within his shoulders still were taunt, tense as it was hard to dismantle such a composure after too many long months of forgotten dreams and forsaken futures.
"Thanks," he replied, a bit puzzled as to how anyone could admire such a name. 'Blood'; it was a fitting name for the sins he had committed, for the black swirls that had engraved themselves upon his once stark white coat only to transform him into something surreal. Forever known as the rule of the black sunrise.
Taima, a stupid name? No, he thought as he quirked an eyebrow. "I don't think your name is stupid. I like it."
His black ears flickered as Tamia spoke. Truthfully, he wasn't aticipating for anyone to have seen Jaxom as it was already becoming aparant that the woods were vast and even though one seemed nearby they could actually be farther away in a reality sense.
He shurgged his shoulders as, in his logic, there was nothing to be sorry for. "I don't blame you. It's hard to even know where you are in these woods let alone actually come in contact with drifters within these woods. And I-"
He had barely begun to speak after Taima but his words nearly halted his every instinct. Did she just offer to help him? Never in his life did anyone ever assist him in any way and to hear the actual offer seemed foreign. Damu's maw slightly gaped open as he became slightly disoriented.
"Help me?" He paused for a few moments, still attempting to regain his thoughts. "Yes, of course. I'd appriciate that," he replied as his black ringed tail wagged behind him in an upbeat manner. "With others searching alonside it would be better odds at fiding him." Tamiko-chan Well, Tai didn't exactly know what the other's name meant, so she couldn't fear it or anything or take heed to a warning that it might give off. If she had known that it meant 'blood' then she might not have taken to it quite as quickly. But because its meaning was unknown to her, she just thought that it had a nice ring and so grew attached.
Shrugging, she merely stated, "I dunno why, it just sounds nice."
Then she proceeded to squirm about on her back, attempting to scratch at an irritating itch. But she was randomly stopped when he stated that he liked her name. He... liked her name? She coughed and spluttered then suddenly rolled back onto her stomach.
"Oh, you wouldn't like it if you knew how I got it," she stated simply, as if she knew everything. But she was just saying what she thought of her name. The story behind it was horrible, and she hoped that no one had to go through the same thing as she had to just to get a name.
Then she randomly nodded, agreeing with him about the woods. They were quite large, and Taima didn't exactly have the best sense of direction. It seemed that she was lost at all times, though it hardly bothered her.
In the next instant she was nodding, giving him a strange look. "Of course! Why shouldn't I help you?" she asked curiously, wondering if he actually wanted her help or not. Males always had issues with their egos and such, and she wondered if he was just like them. Apparently not, however, for he seemed to accept the offer.
"Great!" she suddenly exclaimed, jumping to her paws. "Where should we start? North? South? East? West? Up?" Her words came out in a flurry of excitement. The young wolfess was a wandering soul and was quite eager to set out into different lands. She would help him, and help herself.
"So what did you say he looked like?" Taima questioned, her paws jumping with anxiety. RonsoStryder He quirked an eyebrow as he watched Tai suddenly cough, perhaps caught off guard by his remark, and flop back onto her stomach. Damu briefly glanced aside as the females words seemed to ring through his mind.
"There is always truth and the gruesome facts to what a name holds. Some names are given without realizing its potential while some can transform into who we become," his voice drew soft, a slight muse as he reflected upon his own name in a slowly drawn silence.
He was quick to regain his train of thought, whisking his head slightly as if something was agitating him. Emerald orbs once again settled upon the she-wolf as she questioned him.
The white and black swirled wolf hesitated momentarily as it seemed his speech was stifled. Opening his maw slightly, Damu slowly let the words slip off his tounge. "I- well, no one has ever offered to help me before. When I cross their path, they shrink away from my presence or hackle a warning. To them, I am a bad omen." Truthfully, he never would have gladly recieved help from those of the Shadowsong pack, except Jaxom, or any other wolf whose path he entwined with. But there was something about Taima that led him to trust, somehow he could feel comfortable with such a rare offer.
He became slightly startled as she leapt up upon all fours and made ready to commence the search. Damu couldn't help but let a minute smile cross his maw. Yet he had to think...where was he? Glancing behind him where Seer's Cliffside rose from the shrouded mists, Damu slowly formulated his bearings.
"East...we should head east. That's the direction where I last trailed his scent." The white and black swirled male replied with a low tone, his gruff voice receeding slowly.
Arising upon all fours, Damu slowly padded several steps ahead of Taima. Somewhere there was his brother's scent lingering strongly just beyond his reach. Yet with two noses at work, he felt confident in reaching some result.
Looking back towards the wolfess, he silently reflected only to make sure that he could account for all of his brothers distinguished looks. "His pelt is a tawny color with orange upon his chest, top of his head, tip of his tail and splashed upon his front legs. He has emerald eyes just as I do and he's a bit younger than I am." Tamiko-chan Taima merely shrugged her shoulders then shook her head. "My name is bad, simple as that. My family wasn't too keen on giving me a good name... they just threw the first thing that came to mind at me." A slight frown overcame her features, and for a moment she almost looked... well, angry. Then she loosened up, so much so that she almost became spiritual.
"My name holds everything it seems. All of the feelings one could ever feel and all of the power and hatred..." But she suddenly cut herself off and shook her head to clear it.
"Ah, but no matter," she said, sounding rather cheerful now as she bounced about the other.
Yet Tai suddenly stopped when Damu said that others usually shrink away from him. Confused and curious, she tilted her head and moved closer to him. "Shrink away? From you? I don't see why they would do that. There's no such thing as a bad omen, only superstition from what has been planted in our brains," she growled, narrowing her eyes at nothing.
A moment later she was hopping around again, being her old delighted self. "East? Alright, east it is!" she yipped, gnawing on his ear for a split second before darting forward a few feet.
"Two noses, twice the amount of results, yes?" she asked, just making stuff up at this point. She had really never been out on a search for someone, nor had she ever assisted in a search. Hopefully she didn't fail too terribly...
Nodding as the black and white male explained to her what his brother appeared like, the young wolfess focused her eyes on the ground and her nose on the air.
"Sounds like he'd stick out quite a bit, especially in this snow," she commented randomly. Yes, perhaps this brother character would be foundin no time flat! Encouraged and faithful, the oddly-colored female stepped forward a bit more, sniffing at the ground for the heck of things.
"So you said you scented him to the east? Hm... packs, perhaps? I don't know of any but..." The last was mostly her thinking out loud to herself... RonsoStryder Pitch black ears flickered, a curious expression slightly skewed across his face as he listened to Taima speak. Was she just like he was? Estranged and forlorn from the world? Perhaps the female was someone more like himself, well- except for the betrayal...the wolfess seemed more honorable then to be blemished by such a vile act. But he, the wolf of the black sunrise, was marked by sin and such a display seemed that it would forever divert his future.
"Where I come from," he began slowly, words chosen carefully as his tongue slowly threw out the dialect, "the legends of old bind their thoughts and shroud their logic. They see no beauty...they see no truth." His tone was solemn; no real emotion unveiled as the white and black swirled wolf let his vision drift ahead, onlooking the twisted trees and peering into a space of nothingness.
As his mind seemed to attempt to seal him within a silent seclusion, he nearly jumped upwards as the she-wolfs sudden yip caught him off guard. Shaking his head and barely catching his breath, a slightly shocked expression crossed his maw as, for only a few seconds, Taima nipped at his ear.
Emerald orbs followed as she darted a few paces ahead, staring in a slight trance. Kindness? For once he felt like an equal around another of his kind, he felt like one whose transgressions were not engraved upon his fur for the whole world to bear to look upon. He was...just another wolf.
He slowly trailed behind her as his muzzle drifted low towards the ground in a search for the fleeting trail of his brothers scent. Perking up his head, he nodded. "He's sure to stick out. The orange never was a good trait," he remarked, a small smile creeping up on his maw.
"Yes, the last time I caught a trail of his scent was in the direction of east. I just need to find him I- I have many things to tell him."
Glancing around, Damu kept his head low as his brows knitted in thought and a soft whisper escaped from his maw. "I don?t know what to do...Oh, brother, I can?t believe it?s true. I?m so scared about the future and I want to talk to you. Oh, I want to talk to you..." Tamiko-chan "Bleh," she she-wolf said, scrunching up her nose and making a disgusted face. "That's a little how my old pack used to be... only it was more the elders than anyone else. They were crazy, a bunch of the others said." She simply shrugged. "I just thought they were obssessive over their tales."
Tai watched the other, even as he seemed to slip into a world of unknown thoughts. She waited patiently, figuring that he would be smart enough not to lose himself in the captivating things. Thinking was never something she did often, and so she never really understood what it was like to be coaxed by the lovely things inside of her head. But then again she also had some experience with others around her losing focus and diving into their thoughts. It was annoying, but for her friend she didn't mind.
A sudden grin spread over the female's maw as she watched his shocked expression. She never knew anyone quite so jumpy and unused to playing... well, except for the stiffs back at her old pack. But they didn't count. At least, not anymore.
"Haha, you should have seen the look on your face!" she laughed, rolling over once in joy. It really amused her, these games that she liked to start and play. It gave her restless mind something to do, something to occupy her time with. But a game really couldn't be played unless there was more than one player.
Tail wagging happily behind her, the female continued on, nose still stuck to the ground. She probably looked quite silly, what with her inexperience in tracking and such. She really had no idea of what to do or what to look for. But she had always known that siblings shared a similar scent because they shared the same blood...
"Wouldn't he have a scent close to yours?" she questioned, tilting her head as she voiced her thoughts. "I mean, if you are blood related then you should have similar scents, no? Hm..." Drifting off a little, she let her paws wander as she sniffed the air then the ground.
"Many things to tell him? Oh... then is there a rush in finding him?" If so... sheesh, let's just say Taima doesn't do well under pressure. RonsoStryder Slight embarassment drew up upon his shadowed maw as he onlooked Taima as she rolled and laughed outloud. During his puppy years, Damu never felt a yearning to endure in the countless game that others engaged in as, in his own logic and resoning, he was better off wandering and straying within the unknown than playing silly kid's games. He was a brute but,truthfully, he never did feel as an equal amongst anyone.
"That would be something I would have never expected," he replied, still somewhat stunned from the sudden playful nature. Within him, there was a strange feeling stirring. Only tasting slightly of the foreign aspect of play, the white and black swirled wolf was rather curious. What did it feel like to engage in a playful activity? Well...rather than striking back suddenly, he'd wait for the opportune moment.
His black ringed tail swayed behind him with an aticipation, a slight twitch as to how to fully engage in a rousing game. But as the she-wolf spoke, he perked his head upwards.
A similar scent? His brows knitted in thought, a slight hesitant feeling washing over him. His own scent had become foregin; The fires had ripped and engraved their presence within his fur that still, to this day, were attempting to fully heal. The once immaculate fur was tainted with black as a strange scent seemed to musk his own presence slightly. For now, he'd stick to a simple answer.
"Our scent should be similar," he commented with a small smile. "After all, we are brothers." His teeth gritted slightly only to notice that even his whispers were somewhat audible. Damu shook his head. "No, no. There's no rush, really. I just haven't seen him since he was a pup and there's so much to explain to him that's all."
How was he to get out of this one? Damu had always been touchy about unveiling too much of himself too quickly and, so far, he was revealing a bit more than usual. Perhaps it was the comfortable, relaxed sensation he sensed since he met the wolfess? He wasn't sure but he'd have to deter their conversation somehow and he knew just the thing.
Leaping into a brisk stride, Damu let his paws brush swiftly upon the snow as a devious smile crossed his maw. The air against his fur rippled down his back, pricking his back fur upwards in its jagged array. A small sensation of exhileretion trickled through his veins as he came up towards the side of Taima and, with a sly acute motion, nipped quickly at her ear.
"Gotcah!" He yipped as he sprinted forwards, glimpsing backwards for a few moments as he rushed through the snowy path. He couldn't help but chuckle softly as, for once, he was experiencing thrill firsthand. For now, he could only hope that his small antic would strike up a bit of playfulness within the female as a fun game didn't seem so bad after all. Tamiko-chan Taima continued to laugh, obviously in high spirits despite her friend's surprise at just how playful she could be and how quick and swift she could be when she wanted to. Little did she know that he hadn't really ever felt the joy of a game or chase. If she did, it would probably be disaster for him; she'd forget all about the search and force him to play with her then and there.
"You were surprised, just admit it," she teased playfully, rolling back and forth on her paws as they made small indentions in the snow. When she lifted them uneven patterns were left by her right forepaw, being as it was missing two pads.
Oblivious to the scars that lay directly in front of her on Damu's fur, the female continued to wag her tail and dart back and forth in front of him. High energy was running through her veins and she just couldn't stay still for more than a few seconds. She often became this way when she believed she had made a new friend.
Nodding, Tai stopped momentarily to look back at the black and white male. "Oh, well, I guess that's good. I'll know what to look for and I won't be pressured into finding it quickly." Yes, that would truly be terrible. She wasn't built to handle much pressure.
Not really minding if the subject changed or not, and quite frankly not really caring at all in the first place, she was happy when he nipped her back. At first she had been startled, being as he hadn't shown any playful nature since she had started up the little 'game'. Yet it thrilled her to know that he was at least capable of feeling fun.
"Haha, yeah you did!" she yipped excitedly, bounding forward slightly after him with ears perked and eyes alert. "But can you catch me again?" she growled playfully in a challenging tone, darting forward with intense speed and hoping to leave him behind for a bit before he chased after her and most likely caught up in no time flat. RonsoStryder His mind was diverted from the original plan as it revolved around one simple concept; fun. For now, he could be at peace knowing that his brother was alive, that he had long survived within the woods without a problem, and for once he could let a small streak of his puppy nature reveal itself in a spot of fun.
Words faultered to come to a response as he simply nodded his head only to agree that to rush into the search would only cause a panicked rush and, in Damu's case, he never liked to be rushed nor pressured. His pace had gradually decreased to a gait while his paws continued to sweep across the snow, rolling across its surface with reliative ease. Glancing back, Damu couldn't help but grin as the wolfess yipped with excitement and engaged in the chase.
But what was this? A challenge?
Emerald orbs gleamed mischiveiously as his black ears drew upwards with intrest, lured by hearing Taima's tone riddled with thrill. "Catch you again? I never miss my mark," he replied with a laugh, "and I won't give up."
The young adult seemed to be caught somewhat off guard as the she-wolf bolted past him, a true trick of the trade to attract the challenge-loving nature within him. Instead of madly rushing after her, he would wait. He could wait until he found the time to be perfect, for the time he could strike.
Watching as she was pulling far ahead, Damu gripped the ground underneath with his claws, feeling the earth underneath as he waited. As his back muscles tensed and the moment was deemed ripened, the white and black swirled male leapt into a full sprint. The chilling wind bristled his jagged fur upwards as a mist of white escaped from his gaping maw.
Just like the thrill of the hunt, exhileretion surged within his wolfish veins and swept wildly through his body. It felt as if that coming to the woods was dawning a new life, a new begining, as the past was only another lifetime ago. He was two wolves; one of the past and one of the present, trying to find his place within the world. It was another lifetime and it had belonged to someone else yet his markings were to atone for the sins he had comitted.
How could he even begin to explain what he was? No, he thought as he tried to shake free of the feelings that were begining to take root in him, they wouldn't understand. No one would. There was something that made him want to bear his soul to her, a feeling that, perhaps, of all the wolves he had come across Taima would understand. He wanted to build a trust but, somewhere in his heart, he knew it couldn't be. Emotions were never easy to define, whether it was anger, sorrow, or whatever he was feeling just now.
Drawing closer as he was behind her several feet away, the white and black swirled wolf lay behind as, once again, he'd make his move when the perfect opportunity presented itself. Tamiko-chan Taima laughed happily as she bolted across the ground and the male behind her accepted her challenge. Yet he didn't chase after her fully, he didn't act as if he was going to get at her right away. Was he teasing? Trying to make her wait out the moments in suspense... ooh how she hated that.
Narrowing her smooth eyes slightly, she growled playfully then lengthened her strides so that she covered more distance. An ear flicked back in his direction as she continued along, slender snout taking in all of the necessary oxygen that was needed for her running exercise.
Then she made a huge mistake: she looked back.
The female was curious to see how far ahead she was or how close he was to catching up, so she had turned her head to look at him. But of course, being the clumsy wolf that she was, she ended up tripping over her paws and a random stick. The trip then turned into a stumble, which led her to go tumbling head over paws. 'Oofs' and 'ergs' escaped her as she rolled and rolled, seeming like she'd never stop. But then she did.
Tai ended up in a furry and dusty heap, all of the dirt in the air making a cloudy mist that somewhat hid her from view. Her eyes were closed tightly as her head rolled over on the ground. Legs were splayed out randomly against her body, and the paw with the missing pad was propped up in plain sight.
"Auuuuuugh," she groaned, attempting to get her body back in the right alignment. It kinda hurt though... RonsoStryder Thrill and pure adrenaline swept wildly through his body as he could vaguely sense the she-wolfs agitation in knowing that he was waiting for the opportune time to strike. A sly grin crossed over his maw as the slightest thought of catching Taima off guard, her surprised facial expression, made him softly chuckle.
Emerald orbs kept a steady watch upon the strangely pattered female as his maw gaped open, sucking the oxygen into his lungs ruthlessly as he needed to sustain his body if he sought to continue with his increasing pace. Snow white paws drifted across the ground, lengthening and stretching outwards as he was gaining close behind. Just a few paces more and he?d be able to n** at her tail! He was so close yet his attention withdrew from her black lathered tail as she peered back at him.
That was when the disaster unfolded.
As for only a split second his gaze collided with hers, Damu grinned wide but slowly his jubilant smile withdrew. His eyes widened as he helplessly watched Taima loose her footing and tumble over her paws as, behind her, a cloudy dust trail shrouded her from his vision. He abruptly yielded in his steps as he awaited for the dirty air to disperse and in caution not to trample over her. As the shrouding mist dissipated, the white and black swirled male?s muscles stiffened with fear.
?Taima!? He exclaimed as he wasted no time in standing idly and rushed to her side. Casting his emerald orbs upon her as they trailed along her sprawled out figure, Damu whined softly in sympathy as he lowered his muzzle near hers. ?Are you alright??
A sense of fear and compassion overtook his body as such feelings had never been experienced before. Fear made itself present by the thought of losing another friend, losing someone dear to him, as the fires long ago had seized everything from him. Compassion overtook him as the once brutish wolf had found another who he could fully convey true feelings for. He wouldn?t let anything happen to her- no, he couldn?t.
Glancing towards Taima?s paw that was propped up slightly, Damu gritted his teeth slightly. This did not look good, not good at all. Knitting his brows in thought, the young adult slowly began to formulate a plan.
?Don?t put any pressure on it,? he remarked with a soft, minutely stern tone. ?We need to get you up on your feet without disrupting your injured paw.? Padding one step back as he paralleled himself with the wolfess, Damu sunk low onto his stomach. ?If you can maneuver yourself up, I can help you get back on your feet.?
Though his brain was becoming churned and spinning with countless thoughts, Damu began to slowly get a handle upon his central idea as he believed that, perhaps, this could help aid his new friends situation. He coudn't stand idly, he had to do something.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:13 pm
.::.Truth Behind The Shadows: Damu/Taima/Jaxom.::. Tamiko-chan As he walked and she hopped, it seemed that their thoughts were one in the same. Everything that went through his head seemed to be going through her own, thoughts of love and hope that the two now had despite their bad backgrounds and hateful pasts. Taima shook her head, remembering hers all too well.
"Fate," she smiled, looking at him for a loving moment before letting her gaze fall back down towards her path; she didn't want to trip over anything and hurt herself further.
Tai chuckled along with her mate, finding his words rather silly. "I don't think it's coordination keeping me up," she said simply, continuing along despite her obvious exhaustion now. Yet she didn't bother to explain; let him figure it out for himself if he wanted to. And, if he couldn't quite get to the right conclusion, she'd tell him eventually.
The injured female smiled as their destination was now in sight. Her mostly black tail wagged back and forth happily at the mere thought of rest. Sleep would come easily tonight.
Following in his pawprints, the she soon reached the place they were to stay in, together. Still smiling, she moved to nuzzle him affectionately before she hopped past him and into the den. Once she had gone far enough in, she turned about then curled up on her belly, her injured paw splayed out so that she could lick at it and nurse it.
"I love you, Damu," Tai whispered. RonsoStryder He softly chuckled to himself as he fully realized that it was much more than a well sense of balance keeping his mate from falling for it was love, forged strong with brimming affection and compassion, that made Tai continue hopping to the small den.
"It's love...and it always will be," he mused with a warm smile as he kept a close eyes on her, making sure that the rocky incline wouldn't hinder her progress up to their cozy safe haven. As she passed by him and nuzzled him, he shivered; such a delicate touch sent his body whirling in countless emotions. Her soothing touch contained sparks of affection that made his senses run wild!
Taking a few steps forward as he padded stiff-legged up to where his love resided, he yeilded and turn around.
Within the confines of the thickets and brush, shrouded by the remnant snow and shadows of the outskirts, the sound of foot fall cut audibly through the air with a crips sounding. Emerald orbs watched the two from a distance in a curious yet cautious manner. The stranger was confused; should he approach or perhaps just wait for a more opportune time?
Taking a closer step, the pure light of the afternoon brushed against his tawny and carrot colored hide as his shadowed cloak faded from his presence. It was a young adult and he was Jaxom, Damu's brother.
His orange tipped tail swayed behind him in an estatic manner as his ears were perked up rather in a slight alarm. Was this him? Was the strange white and black swirled wolf truly his brother? It couldn't be, he thought as his eyes continued to look upon the large wolf in a sense of awe and sadness.
The last time he had ever laid eyes upon his brother was when the fires of mankind had ripped through their packlands, when the watch had failed and the fate of the Shadowsong pack had failed. But certainly this stranger couldn't be his brother as black inhabited his hide and Damu was of pure white like that of fresh fallen snow. Though it was the familiar scent of remembrance, Damu's scent, that had drawn him closer.
On looking as his brows knitted slightly, Jaxom eyes closed softly as a low whine drew from his maw. "Damu," he whispered low as a warm smile crossed upon his maw. "I've found you..."
As the black and white fur upon his jagged back bristled slightly, a lingering scent within the air caught his attention and soothed the agitation within him. Damu's emerald orbs widened as he maw seemed to drop slightly.
"Jaxom..." he called slightly as the familiar scent wafted within the air.
Perhaps it was a slight hallucination, his nose and senses mistaking his own scent for that of his missing brother yet, somewhere within his mind and heart, he knew that such a thing couldn't be mistaken.
The long search would end. Tamiko-chan A grin spread across the injured female's maw. "Yes, love. It will always be my savior," she purred, licking at his muzzle delicately.
Rest. That was what the female needed most at the moment. So when she had settled back down into the den and her mate had come in beside her, she smiled then rested her head on the ground next to her injured paw. Bright eyes watched him for a long while before she slowly began to let them ease closed, welcoming the thought of a good night's rest with her one true love.
Yet something lurked without. Tai couldn't see it, but she could definitely smell it and sense its presence. Alert, her ears perked forward and her eyes were no longer ready for sleep; they were wide awake and scanning the bits of the surroundings that she could see from where she lay.
"Damu," she murmured quietly, hoping that her voice didn't sound too frightened. Normally she wouldn't have minded, but in her state there were more things to worry about.
What Taima failed to notice was the similarity between the scent of the stranger and the scent of the one that lay right beside her. Panic covered all senses. At least until the one outside whispered something, something that her keen ears could faintly catch. And suddenly her eyes widened.
The two knew each other. That one out there was Jaxom, her mate's brother.
Remaining silent at this discovery, the she-wolf merely lay in await and watched the two, wondering what would go on between them now that they were reunited after all of the time of separation. RonsoStryder Padding closer towards the brush and gnarly thickets, Damus heart raced. This was it...the long search would end and, at last, the two brothers would reunite! His body seemed to tense as it trembled slightly as there was much joy yet a nagging sense of fear laid at the back of his mind.
How would Jaxom react to the telling of the tragedy at Seer's Cliffside? And what about his appearance? Would he scorn him for the sins he had committed or accept him just as Tai had done? What will come of this, he thought silently as a slight panic sensation lingered close. Though the scent was not his own, he turned back towards his mate and smiled warm in reassurance.
Words couldn't come easy at the time but his own feelings of a calm nature emitted from him as there was nothing to worry about, or so he hoped.
Focusing back upon where his brother secluded himself, the white and black swirled wolf stepped closer as his white and black ringed muzzle poked slightly through the brush. "Jaxom," he called out questioningly as his emerald orbs scanned about for his brother.
A blur of tawny and carrot colors lunged at himm taking him by surprise and off his feet. Tumbling down as he rolled onto his back, Damu shooks his head and glanced upwards where a heavy weight upon his stomach resided. It was then that, for the first time in months, he was looking into the same emerald eyes, that orange smudged maw and beaming grin of his brother.
"It's you! It's really you!" The tawny and carrot colored male exclaimed as his typical puppy nature bubbled forth. "I thought you were dead but knowing you, you can beat the odds..." Playfully nipping at his black ear, tugging at it with a tender manner, Jaxom scuffled onto all fours as his gaze softened and a low grumble sounded from his chest. The wolf before him was his brother but his once snow white hide was doused with strange black swirls. He couldn't stand oblivious...he just had to know what his older brother had endured.
"What happened to you, Damu, and what have you been up to? I mean- your hide is different and you seem...happy."He tilted his head slightly, brows knitted in pure, innocent curiosity.
Rolling onto his feet, the white and black swirled male chuckled softly as he shook the dirt and snow from off his fur. He had changed...for the better. His black ears perked up as he returned the warm gesture and nipped his brothers back fur. "There is so much to tell you...but before I begin I'd like to introduce you to my mate, Taima," he replied with a warm tone as he looked over towards her with a smile, his eyes dancing with her blessed reflection cast within them.
"Taima, this is my brother, Jaxom."
Lowering his head in a chivalrous manner, the younger male smiled as the same emerald orbs fell upon her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Taima." Tamiko-chan Taima watched in wonder as the two brothers seemed to reunite after all of the time of separation. What would happen, she wondered. She figured that things could either go well, or they could go horribly wrong. She hoped that it was the former, as she wasn't quite in the appropriate shape to handle some more drama. So much had happened in this one day... yet it seemed that it was not over yet, the sun was still up in the sky and a new wolf lay in front of her.
Smiling and merely watching from the small den as the two males scuffled playfully and had a happy reunion, she wondered briefly what her own family was doing. None of them would ever come looking for her, and the simple thought saddened the female. She attempted to distract herself by thinking of the happy moments that hopefully lay in await.
It was amazing, the love that these two apparantly shared. Made her wonder how things would have turned out had her family actually cared about her.
No... best no think about those types of things. Tai enjoyed life as it was in this moment, and so she decided that her life had turned out for the better, caring family or not. They didn't matter now, only her mate did. They would lead happy lives together, despite all of the odds that had been against them in the past.
Then, when things seemed to settle between the two and Damu went straight into introducing her, the omega couldn't help but smile and slowly limp out of the den.
"It's a true pleasure to meet you, Jaxom," she replied calmly and warmly, hoping to leave the best impression that she could. "It's good to see the two of you reunited, after all of the time I'm sure Damu was searching for you," she smiled, looking fondly at her mate.
Initial introductions over, Taima settled down onto her haunches next to her black and white love, merely content with watching the interaction rather than possibly getting in the way of things. RonsoStryder Smiling a bit wider as Taima spoke, Jaxom nodded his head. ?Believe me, it?s more than an honor to make
your acquaintance and especially to someone who has won the heart of my brother?he deserved it.?
Watching as his mate came as sat beside him, Damu nuzzled her tenderly as a pleasurable rumble came forth from his chest. ?I?m the one who should be honored,? he softly replied as he looked towards Taima. ?For she sees who I am.?
His emerald eyes veered past his brother as they temporarily looked elsewhere. He still had to tell him of the truth of Seer?s Cliffside. Though he couldn?t fully fathom what the consequence would be for unveiling the pains of the past, he would, no matter what, have to tell Jaxom. Whether the bitter feelings would separate them further or the truth only bond
them closer, he knew not. But there was no two choices
available save one; To tell the truth.
A soft sight escaped from his maw, shoulders slumping slightly as the task was all but easy. But he had to start somewhere and begin the tale before their meeting would conclude.
?Jaxom I??
?Can you believe it, Damu?? The tawny and carrot colored male yipped as he was oblivious to his brothers beginning. ?The last time I saw you I was only a pup and now I?m almost as old as you! Though I hoped that the orange would fade a little but it?s still just a bright,? he huffed with a slight roll of his eyes. He never did like the orange on his hide but
he?d have to make peace with it since it was apart of him.
The white and black swirled wolf was just about to open his maw and speak until the young adult continued once again.
?Just think?soon we can return back to the mountains and find mom, Akumi and Zahima. But now we?ll be able to hunt with dad and fight the two-leggers if they ever try to take our land from us. We?re stronger and
we?ll fight.? His voice was full of hope; the typical optimistic that Jaxom always had been. But if only, if only he knew the truth.
Silently listening to the wishes that never could come true, Damus teeth gritted slightly as his emerald orbs narrowed towards the younger male. ?We can?t go back,? he replied in a low tone, close to that of a whisper. ?There?s nothing to return to.?
A sudden baffled look drew upon Jaxom?s face. What did he mean ?nothing to return to?? No, he thought as he looked into his brothers eyes, the same emerald hue that was softened as a light reflected within them, its not true.
?What do you mean, Damu?? he commented as he padded closer, muzzle to muzzle as he questioned his own brother.
Shifting his weight from his two front paws, Damu clenched the ground in a taunt motion with his claws as, behind him, his tail swept with a brushing motion. Finding it slightly uncomfortable as the best way to convey the truth was to look his brother in the eyes, the white and black swirled male rose to all fours and padded closer till his own white muzzle brushed against his brothers.
?Everyone fell victim to the fires and to mankind?they?re all dead, Jaxom.? Damu?s voice carried low, audible to where his own voice trailed not too far but in range for his mate to hear.
Standing still as his mouth gaped open slightly, Jaxom eyes fell heavy as he shook his head. Everyone was dead? It couldn?t be. ?No. And what of-?
?Zahima perished by the hands of the two-leggers.? Damu replied as his head hung. The bearing of such news was a tumultuous sensation of remorse and ill feelings. Burdens of the past congregated upon his shoulders as he deemed himself the sole cause for the demise of the Shadowsong pack. ?Mankind broke through the territory and ravaged the pack mercilessly. I tried but?? his voice cut as he closed his eyes. ?Forgive me, Jax.?
Shaking his head continuously, the tawny and carrot hued male ceased as the last words trailed from his brothers mouth. Forgive him? What had he...No, he couldn't have. Lifting his eyesight parallel to that of his brother, Jaxom gritted his teeth as the fur upon his back bristled slightly.
"It was you..." he muttered as slight hackles emitted from his chest. "You abandoned your post and let mankind pass through the territory. You let them die!" He hissed with a flash of his fangs. "It was you!" Tamiko-chan "I'm not the only one who's won the heart of another," she smiled, looking fondly at the one next to her once again. Her tail swayed back and forth above the ground behind her, stirring up dust and leaves.
Taima then resorted to watching, still delightful and happy, as the two brothers conversed. Her mate had seemed to want to try and tell his brother something, but it seemed that Jaxom was nearly oblivious to the whole thing. He was just rambling on and on about how they could go back, go and find the others that they had lived with.
Still smiling, the female sighed in contentment as she sank down to her belly. Her bright eyes continued to watch the two, however, for it seemed that she would never be able to break her gaze away from the one who understood her completely and truly, Damu, the black and white wolf whom she loved with all of her heart.
But when drama started to unfold, that's when she became worried.
Damu had let slip the truth about what had happened, though it was purposely. His brother, however, didn't seem to take it so well. Even though he had left as a pup, she figured that it was still hard to believe that your homeland was gone forever, along with the family that had been there.
Lowering her ears slightly, Tai slowly rose up to her paws, fearful of what might happen next. And then it happened. Worst seemed to come to worst as the tawny brown and orange male turned hostile, raising his hackles and hissing at his own flesh and blood. She could only guess what he would do if something wasn't done about it.
"Jaxom, please.." the omega began. But what would she say? She knew not enough of their past to really say anything. So she watched. Fearful.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:15 pm
.::.The Brother's Bloodbath: Damu/Taima/Jaxom.::. RonsoStryder For a moment the young gamma just looked upon his brothers mate silently with an blatant expression as no words could rebuke her nor scorn her. He didn?t have the heart nor intention to strike a brawl with her as it was not in his right too. His anger was to be directed only towards Damu.
Looking back towards the white and black swirled male, Jaxom?s tail arched upwards in defense, bristled and jagged as his orbs cast upon him with a cold, heartless stare. His personality was foreign, distant from the wolf he was, yet the turn of events had let the warrior within break free from its confinement.
?It all makes sense,? he scorned as he paced round about the older male. ?The black upon your hide is your sin, is it not? Draping shadows engraved upon your own flesh and fur by the fires wrath as a testimony for what tragedy you had written. So tell me?what was worth saving? Why didn?t you try and save your own skin??
Damu had tried to contain his fury, keeping himself distracted by directing all thoughts towards his mate and of what love had blessed him with, yet the torment that his younger brother reigned upon him was becoming a nuisance and burdensome. He knows nothing, he thought as he gritted his teeth and let his jagged fur upon his back bristle upwards.
He wasn?t afraid of a challenge and certainly if Jaxom was seeking to contend with him, Damu wouldn?t back down. As his emerald orbs trailed upon the tawny and carrot colored male, Damus own hackles began to come forth.
?I came back to aid Akumi but I came too late. Mankind left him upon his deathbed and I tried to save him but?he wouldn?t let me.? His voice became riddled with anger, a gruff tone as he couldn?t understand why his brother was oblivious to what truth was presented to him. The anger that had for so long never inhabited his heart had tamed it, incarcerating it in hate and despise. ?But he had me promise him that I would find you and tell you the truth and it seems that I have done nothing but keep Dad?s promise, Jaxom. There is no reason for you to bear your teeth and seek a brawl?it?s useless.?
Jaxom?s shoulders tensed while his whole body seemed to become stiff. The realization that all had been lost, everything that he had ever loved and held dear to him, was no more. There was no hope, nor a future in sight.
?You never cared for anyone! You never even cared for your own kin!? He spat as he could no longer control the emotions that riled within him, he couldn?t control the storm that raged inside of him as his whole being was becoming consumed by the darkness of his anger.
Without warning, Jaxom lunged with a gaping maw ajar with awaiting fangs and toppled atop his brother as he sunk his fangs into the back of the neck of his older brother. Mercilessly he began driving his fangs within his own kins flesh as the warm blood trickled within his mouth, mixing with his saliva as his eyes were in a deadlock.
The bloodbath had begun. Tamiko-chan Watching, helplessly, was the mate of the 'sinner'. Tensions were growing as Damu tried even further to calm his brother down with the truth. Yet at the mention of this Akumi, their father she supposed, things only grew worse; Jaxom was not seeing the truth and the sense that was right in front of him, and anger flushed out all other emotions.
Tai grew even more fearful as the younger male beared his teeth and seemed ready for a lunge. Carefully she glanced over at the one destined to have teeth sunk into his throat, the one she truly cared for.
She could see that all hell was about to break loose from this one being, but could Damu see it?
The female tried to call out, to warn him, but all words were caught in her throat as blood begun to be shed. A fight to the death was what she thought. The rage inside that one seemed so strong that he would kill to calm it down. And Damu... he had to protect himself. Did that mean killing as well?
Shaking her head and not liking the thought occupying and haunting her mind, all thinking seemed to cease. Suddenly and without warning, Taima lunged right into the battle, hoping to come between the two and stop the fighting, though she had almost no idea how she would do such a great thing.
Love seemed to make people do crazy things. RonsoStryder Taken by surprise and least expecting such actions to be taken, Damu was overtaken by the weight and stumbled onto the ground.
He was in a bad situation.
As his brother?s fangs pierced his very flesh, Damu growled audibly and quickly rotated his back to catch his attacker off guard and slam him onto the ground with utilizing both the compacted earths force and his back in his favor. Managing to stumble upon all fours, the white and black swirled male pinned his black ears back and charged head on with his fangs and claws extended.
Sprawled upon the ground, the tawny and orange hued male found his body to ache as such an attack couldn?t be properly anticipated. Damu had always been a sly one yet, with the time he had spend within the confines of Shaoilin Woods, he had witnessed several fights and engaged in a few himself. But compared to his older brothers stature and strength, Jaxon was no match for him.
Glacing upwards as the white and black swirled male rushed towards him, the younger male bared his teeth and tried to stumble back onto his feet but such an action was futile as his footing couldn?t sustain his shaking and rigged body.
He was afraid?afraid that his very life was to soon be taken from him by his own flesh and blood.
Pinpointing his sights upon the fallen sibling, Damu closed in with the intentions to teach such an ignorant wolf a fair lesson. Why couldn?t Jaxom see the truth? Did he believe that the very words he was speaking was false? Perhaps the younger male had denied himself of the truth?such thoughts only driving him into the depths of insanity and madness. But Damu would never fully understand him as they were so different and estranged from one another now?how could he possibly relate to him?
A blur of black and mossy, pale green swept in front of him only to cause his paws to dig and press against motion and yield himself to come face to face with that of his mate. Sliding just a few inches from her as a slight cloud of dust swept within the air, Damu panted as the foul emotions surged through his wolfish veins and simply let his emerald orbs look upon her.
His face bore the slight anger against his brother but, in a rather quick manner, all hatred disappeared from his expression and softened. Damu had earlier sensed her worries and ill feelings of what the turn of events could bring and, ultimately, she knew all too well of what was to arise rather than him. As his black ears perked up slightly, the white and black swirled male grunted with a sigh as he looked past her towards Jaxoms sprawled body upon the ground.
?He?s not worth killing,? he remarked as he slowly drew back his gaze to that of his mate. ?And nor would I slay my own flesh and blood.?
Reaching out with his muzzle, Damu buried his muzzle within her fur as a sympathetic rumble sounded from him. He was ashamed that she had to see that yet moreso he hoped that with the sudden splurge of his horrific past that no second judgements could pass. But between them there resided a passion and a veil of understanding for one another and the white and black wolf was confident that such a trial only made loves bond stronger.
Drawing his head back slightly, he smiled as best he could. "Well...were to, love?" Tamiko-chan She had done it. Taima, the weak omega with the injured paw, had stopped a battle from leaving too much bloodshed. Her mate, however, seemed to get the worse end of the deal, for his neck was bleeding and blood seemed to be matting his fur already.
Standing on all fours, yet resting most of her weight on the left side so that her injured paw wouldn't ache, she smiled and accepted his muzzle, grumbling happily because the drama seemed to have passed for now. Yet she was still afraid that Jaxom wouldn't settle for a truth. She hadn't known him from very long, and the impression that he left in her mind was not one of a good stature. It was one of fear, distrust. So the female simply said to her mate:
"Away from here."
With that, she turned about and began limping away from the scene, her eyes having briefly passed over the younger brother in a gaze of distrust, anger, and a few other strange emtotions mixed in.
Taima wanted to say something to Jax, but what? There wasn't much to say, she thought, and so she instead moved onward, going at a slow place and feeling quite uncomfortable that she wasn't able to get away from the attacker of her mate as quickly as she would have wanted to... RonsoStryder Nodding his head as she had accepted him with no judgment past over him, Damu silently on looked as his mate began to slowly pull away from the scene of attack as there was a cold, ill feeling that hung within the air. As his emerald eyes drifted towards the younger male, watching him struggle to stand once more, he wrinkled his muzzle in a snarl while as his black ears pinned back and his feathered, black ringed tail swept upwards like that of a banner.
It was because of his blindness that Jaxom could not see the truth, it was because of his ignorance and his oblivious veil that his logic was shrouded.
Not only had he lengthened their estranged feelings a greater length but he had also disgraced himself in front of his brothers mate. He was young and a pitiful fool.
Following behind Taima, the white and black male stifled a wince and grunted with his fangs gritting slightly. Blood continued to seep from his wound, matting and tarnishing his snow white fur into gnarled tangles, as the pain was just below unbearable.
Gashed and open, the wound was tender and stung as his shoulders jostled and moved. His mate already was suffering from a paw injury and to find himself in no condition to offer protection or be a safe haven for
her didn?t bode well with him.
The young adult had found someone he could fight for but what good did it do if he couldn?t fight?
His ignorance will be his downfall, his thoughts scorned as he begun to pass the tawny and carrot colored male.
Emerald orbs kept a steady watch as the sensation of danger defined itself well as it had already been made it clear that this one would go to great lengths to make sure that he would suffer.
Jaxom's eyes flickered as he shook his head and glanced upwards. Damu was walking away? No, he thought as he staggered to his feet, body shaking as he took several steps, he's waiting to strike again.
Either insane or, for the time being, mentally unstable from the sudden realization of lost hope and dreams that he had held on to for so long, the tawny and carrot colred male lunged again with his lips pulled back and fangs unveiled.
"Your repentance has only begun!" He scorned as, his fangs drove into his back, gripping tightly to the jagged, thick mess of white and black fur.
When the pain resurfaced with a greater intensity and swept through his body, Damu's eyes widened as deep hackles sounded from his throat. The hair upon his back bristled upwards in a jagged array, black swirls
seeming to move a his body became tensed and muscles tightened.
Suddenly twisting around, the white and black swirled male swivled his body and quickly rose up his right paw, claws extended, and latched it onto his brothers muzzle. He drove his claws deep into his own kins
flesh, blood trickling down as the gash widened and drew across his muzzle.
Almost instantly as the claws penetraited his muzzle, Jaxom howled and shook his head as searing pain overtook him. The sensation of the warm blood flowing over his maw made him shiver as his whole focus had
been diverted. His brother had struck...but Jaxom was far from retreating.
Releasig his grip, the tawny and carrot colored male swatted at his muzzle, lowering his head close to the earth as he whined and rubbed the blood away from the wound.
"Let this end, Jaxom! It's no use!" Damu yelled as he snorted a gruff sigh. Why did he seek to continue the bloodshed? Did the once compassionate sibling now consider him a threat and an outsider that his pack had always thought of him as? A loner? A sinner? He knew not.
Padding away from the scene with a slight jar in his
step, Damu looked towards Taima. He was thankful to have met her, for love to be forged between them as he now had a deeper meaning to life. Though it had not even been a full day together, they sure had endured quite a bit.
But this was not the end. Jaxom still had a score to settle.
Lifting up his head as his replicated emerald orbs singled out the white and black swirled wolf, Jaxom flashed his fangs and growled irratabley. "This is far from over...you stole everything...everything," he muttered as he had made his decision; to die or die trying.
Suddenly bursting into a sprint, the tawny and orange hued male madly dashed towards Damu in a final attempt. His brother had stolen everything from him...there was nothing left nor nothing that could fill the empty void that resided within his heart. It was much more than revenge...it was for those who Damu had forgotten and for those whom he had wronged long ago.
Wreckless as his mind was shrouded, Jaxom lunged at Damu. Yet the plan he had formed quickly as a last resort did not fall through as he intended.
Falling short, the tawny and carrot colored male stumbled, faultering in his own steps as he head on collided with his brothers mate, Taima. The sudden impact sent himself tumbling, sprawling and sliding upon the slightly snow lathered ground as a few grunts and winces came forth from him.
As his body slid to a halt, Jaxom laid their motionless as pain shot through his body. Why was he so vengeful? The wolf who currently controlled his every action was not him...perhaps it was the pent up evil and anger within him that, after many years, was being released from its confinement.
Yes, he thought as he attempted to arise up on all fours, I have become the thing which I hate. Slumping down onto his side, the young adult found it futile to conjure any energy nor strenth. For now, he was to be at the mercy of Damu and the hand of fate for the final judgment to be passed upon him. .::.Passions Of The Heart And War For The Soul: Damu/Taima/Jaxom.::. Tamiko-chan Things aren't over, things aren't over! All of the voices inside of the female's head were shouting this, over and over, as she continued to limp away from the scene. Someone who sought revenge almost always went full out in their plan, never falling short of extraordinary. It seemed that Jaxom wasn't planning to stray off of this stereotype.
Suddenly hearing another snarl, the female instantly whirled around, eyes wide as she looked upon yet another attack on her mate. Now she just began to grow irritated.
Ears lowered and her lips curled in a soft snarl as she watched, practically helpless. She didn't know why she felt so angered, but it seemed that the same thing that was bothering Damu was also bothering the omega. Jax was way out of line, and someone needed to put him back in his place, show him that this was unacceptable.
Yet, what could she do? Tai was not a strong wolf, and with an injury she was almost useless in a battle or even in a hunt. Oh how she was just like a puppy!
It seemed, however, that she would not need to worry much longer over whether or not she should step in; the younger male decided that for her. She watched helplessly as he stumbled and went ramming right into her. Unable to move quickly enough due to her injured paw, the femme took the hit straight on, bones cracking slightly as she tumbled too quickly to the ground.
Like the one who had run into her, Taima lay motionless on the ground for a long while. Her eyes stayed closed as her side heaved heavily, her lungs gasping for every breath of air as the seconds ticked on.
"Damu..." the female gasped, peering slightly in his direction. She was weak and battered, unable to move without help. Jaxom seemed to give up, though he looked like he could get up if he wanted to. Thankful that he was at least subdued for now, she smiled slightly then let her head roll over a little. Her eyes shut as her side stopped moving for a few moments.
Yet she wouldn't give up, she absolutely could not. Damu was her love, and she wouldn't leave him without a fight. So she squeaked and attempted to breath, knowing that death would not find her so easy to take.
It was not her time. RonsoStryder Jaxom had gone too far.
Damu had been slowly padding behind his moss and black hued mate when a blur of earthy tones and vibrant orange suddenly leapt at him. Emerald eyes shot towards him, colliding with his younger brother with a cold stare as he watched as the planned attack against him turned onto his mate.
Though, from his perspective, the actions of the younger male were portrayed as a violent attack upon his mate and, as he had vowed, Damu wouldn't tolerate. This did not bode well with him under any circumstances.
The border between sibling and enemy were close, clashing head on as the white and black wolf had yet to determine where his brother stood. Insane or misunderstood? At this time, Damu could not trust him as he had already sought not only his life but the life of his mate.
As his orbs cast upon the sprawled body of his brother, Damu hackled audibly in pure fury while he leapt as his brother. "How dare you attack my mate!" He bellowed as he slammed his left paw upon his chest and rolled him over upon his back. Placing his right paw onto Jaxom's throat, the white and black swirled male lowered his maw close to his.
"If you ever harm or come to lay a paw on Taima I will see that you will pay dearly by any means necessary." Removing his paw from the younger males neck, Damu looked him in the eyes as he now sought for the truth."Why do you feel so inclined to kill me...to soothe your own anger?"
Jaxom's maw opened slightly but no words came forth. It grew harder and harder to speak of such things; the loss of love, family and...Zahima. Trying his best to coax the words from his mouth, he yeilded as another voice broke through yet it was not his own but-
"Taima!" He exclaimed as he rose up and looked back in her direction. Just before he dashed to his mate, the white and black swirled male gave a fierce glare towards his younger sibling and then bounded off towards his mate.
"Tai!" He resounded again as he hastily rushed towards her side, nuzzling her and grumbling in affection while his eyes surveyed her. Jaxom had done this...he had attacked her. His teeth gritted together, clenched with fury and he sunk to his stomach and wuffed low.
"You didn't deserve this..." he whispered as he licked his muzzle, "I caused this...because of me...this is what has happened." The once strong and calm voice was deathly soft, mumbling with a sympathetic tone.
"Because of me..." Tamiko-chan Breathing became a task. The intensive blow from the other wolf had caused the female's body to go into lockdown. Nothing was working properly and there were a few cracked bones in her right leg and in her rib area.
When her mate came instantly rushing to her side at the sound of her voice, she smiled. Her eyes weren't open and seeing, but her ears were still open for sounds to enter in. So his voice carried quite easily to her despite her lack of full awareness.
"Damu.." Tai repeated, trying to move her head so that she may glance a better look at him. Too hard. Her body hurt to much to move anywhere, and so she resorted to staying where she was, still as can be with her heaving and aching chest. Why did Jaxom have to do this?
Her mate began putting all of the blame on himself, causing her to growl as best she could and gnaw on his muzzle that was so close to hers. Never should he say that!
"Not... your fault," she wheezed, wincing at the pain of merely talking. That, however, would not stop her.
"You... did not... force him to... attack," her voice was stern now, as if she was scolding him for thinking such thoughts. It was not his fault, not even Jaxom's; she had seen the way he acted so confused earlier.
"Just... forget... and..." Tai tried to calm down, but the overwhelming pain was almost unbearable. Headache, hard breathing, broken paw... it was almost enough for her to give up. But that one beside her, that one named Damu, he kept her going. Her spirit flared up because of him...
Suddenly she lifted her head, determined to make herself heal, to make her wounds go away.
"I love you, Damu," she winced, stumbling forward slightly as her she only really had one forepaw to lean on. "Please... no more... fighting. Don't think... of this. Forget." The omega fell again, but her eyes opened to peer up at him adoringly.
The fighting had to stop. RonsoStryder His black ears fell down towards his skull as the repremanding growl of his mate and n** at his muzzle made him fall silent. She was right; it wasn't his fault and, to a degree, not his brothers either. The sole cause was to rest upon the shadowed truths, hidden secrets and lost loved ones as such things had twisted, manipulated and contorted their reasonable thinking.
Tai's soft words soothed his stirring emotions, calming the raging storm within his very soul. She was the reason he had found new meaning to life and she was his everything. Yet to see her injured as her breathing was soft and her face held back the pain only made his heart ache and cry out in solace.
As her strength faultered and she fell upon the earth once again, Damu dropped onto his stomach and encircled around her as best he could. His muzzle crept towards that of his mate as a low whine escaped from his maw. With the fight between siblings ceased for now, there was a new objective.
To find Tai the works of a shaman.
"I love you too, Tai," he whispered as he gently tugged at her black ear and pressed his black swirled cheek close to hers. "The fight has ended and there will be no more blood shed. But we need to get you help...a shaman, they can heal injuries can't they?"
Yes...he remembered now. Though he had never came across a Shaman before, Damu, like countless other wolves, had heard the tales of those who were gifted with powers to heal. Such a concept seemed foreign to his logic yet he was seeking for help and, at this point, he was willing to go to any lengths to see her well.
Perhaps, he thought as his emerald gaze drifted across her mangled paw, I can be healed too.
Rumbling softly, the white and black swirled male perked his ears upwards at the thought. "What do you think, Tai?" Tamiko-chan Things aren't over, things aren't over! All of the voices inside of the female's head were shouting this, over and over, as she continued to limp away from the scene. Someone who sought revenge almost always went full out in their plan, never falling short of extraordinary. It seemed that Jaxom wasn't planning to stray off of this stereotype.
Suddenly hearing another snarl, the female instantly whirled around, eyes wide as she looked upon yet another attack on her mate. Now she just began to grow irritated.
Ears lowered and her lips curled in a soft snarl as she watched, practically helpless. She didn't know why she felt so angered, but it seemed that the same thing that was bothering Damu was also bothering the omega. Jax was way out of line, and someone needed to put him back in his place, show him that this was unacceptable.
Yet, what could she do? Tai was not a strong wolf, and with an injury she was almost useless in a battle or even in a hunt. Oh how she was just like a puppy!
It seemed, however, that she would not need to worry much longer over whether or not she should step in; the younger male decided that for her. She watched helplessly as he stumbled and went ramming right into her. Unable to move quickly enough due to her injured paw, the femme took the hit straight on, bones cracking slightly as she tumbled too quickly to the ground.
Like the one who had run into her, Taima lay motionless on the ground for a long while. Her eyes stayed closed as her side heaved heavily, her lungs gasping for every breath of air as the seconds ticked on.
"Damu..." the female gasped, peering slightly in his direction. She was weak and battered, unable to move without help. Jaxom seemed to give up, though he looked like he could get up if he wanted to. Thankful that he was at least subdued for now, she smiled slightly then let her head roll over a little. Her eyes shut as her side stopped moving for a few moments.
Yet she wouldn't give up, she absolutely could not. Damu was her love, and she wouldn't leave him without a fight. So she squeaked and attempted to breath, knowing that death would not find her so easy to take.
It was not her time. RonsoStryder Jaxom had gone too far.
Damu had been slowly padding behind his moss and black hued mate when a blur of earthy tones and vibrant orange suddenly leapt at him. Emerald eyes shot towards him, colliding with his younger brother with a cold stare as he watched as the planned attack against him turned onto his mate.
Though, from his perspective, the actions of the younger male were portrayed as a violent attack upon his mate and, as he had vowed, Damu wouldn't tolerate. This did not bode well with him under any circumstances.
The border between sibling and enemy were close, clashing head on as the white and black wolf had yet to determine where his brother stood. Insane or misunderstood? At this time, Damu could not trust him as he had already sought not only his life but the life of his mate.
As his orbs cast upon the sprawled body of his brother, Damu hackled audibly in pure fury while he leapt as his brother. "How dare you attack my mate!" He bellowed as he slammed his left paw upon his chest and rolled him over upon his back. Placing his right paw onto Jaxom's throat, the white and black swirled male lowered his maw close to his.
"If you ever harm or come to lay a paw on Taima I will see that you will pay dearly by any means necessary." Removing his paw from the younger males neck, Damu looked him in the eyes as he now sought for the truth."Why do you feel so inclined to kill me...to soothe your own anger?"
Jaxom's maw opened slightly but no words came forth. It grew harder and harder to speak of such things; the loss of love, family and...Zahima. Trying his best to coax the words from his mouth, he yeilded as another voice broke through yet it was not his own but-
"Taima!" He exclaimed as he rose up and looked back in her direction. Just before he dashed to his mate, the white and black swirled male gave a fierce glare towards his younger sibling and then bounded off towards his mate.
"Tai!" He resounded again as he hastily rushed towards her side, nuzzling her and grumbling in affection while his eyes surveyed her. Jaxom had done this...he had attacked her. His teeth gritted together, clenched with fury and he sunk to his stomach and wuffed low.
"You didn't deserve this..." he whispered as he licked his muzzle, "I caused this...because of me...this is what has happened." The once strong and calm voice was deathly soft, mumbling with a sympathetic tone.
"Because of me..." Tamiko-chan Breathing became a task. The intensive blow from the other wolf had caused the female's body to go into lockdown. Nothing was working properly and there were a few cracked bones in her right leg and in her rib area.
When her mate came instantly rushing to her side at the sound of her voice, she smiled. Her eyes weren't open and seeing, but her ears were still open for sounds to enter in. So his voice carried quite easily to her despite her lack of full awareness.
"Damu.." Tai repeated, trying to move her head so that she may glance a better look at him. Too hard. Her body hurt to much to move anywhere, and so she resorted to staying where she was, still as can be with her heaving and aching chest. Why did Jaxom have to do this?
Her mate began putting all of the blame on himself, causing her to growl as best she could and gnaw on his muzzle that was so close to hers. Never should he say that!
"Not... your fault," she wheezed, wincing at the pain of merely talking. That, however, would not stop her.
"You... did not... force him to... attack," her voice was stern now, as if she was scolding him for thinking such thoughts. It was not his fault, not even Jaxom's; she had seen the way he acted so confused earlier.
"Just... forget... and..." Tai tried to calm down, but the overwhelming pain was almost unbearable. Headache, hard breathing, broken paw... it was almost enough for her to give up. But that one beside her, that one named Damu, he kept her going. Her spirit flared up because of him...
Suddenly she lifted her head, determined to make herself heal, to make her wounds go away.
"I love you, Damu," she winced, stumbling forward slightly as her she only really had one forepaw to lean on. "Please... no more... fighting. Don't think... of this. Forget." The omega fell again, but her eyes opened to peer up at him adoringly.
The fighting had to stop. RonsoStryder His black ears fell down towards his skull as the repremanding growl of his mate and n** at his muzzle made him fall silent. She was right; it wasn't his fault and, to a degree, not his brothers either. The sole cause was to rest upon the shadowed truths, hidden secrets and lost loved ones as such things had twisted, manipulated and contorted their reasonable thinking.
Tai's soft words soothed his stirring emotions, calming the raging storm within his very soul. She was the reason he had found new meaning to life and she was his everything. Yet to see her injured as her breathing was soft and her face held back the pain only made his heart ache and cry out in solace.
As her strength faultered and she fell upon the earth once again, Damu dropped onto his stomach and encircled around her as best he could. His muzzle crept towards that of his mate as a low whine escaped from his maw. With the fight between siblings ceased for now, there was a new objective.
To find Tai the works of a shaman.
"I love you too, Tai," he whispered as he gently tugged at her black ear and pressed his black swirled cheek close to hers. "The fight has ended and there will be no more blood shed. But we need to get you help...a shaman, they can heal injuries can't they?"
Yes...he remembered now. Though he had never came across a Shaman before, Damu, like countless other wolves, had heard the tales of those who were gifted with powers to heal. Such a concept seemed foreign to his logic yet he was seeking for help and, at this point, he was willing to go to any lengths to see her well.
Perhaps, he thought as his emerald gaze drifted across her mangled paw, I can be healed too.
Rumbling softly, the white and black swirled male perked his ears upwards at the thought. "What do you think, Tai?" Tamiko-chan Taima smiled softly at the one who had curled about her. It was absolutely comforting to have someone there who cared about you and wouldn't leave your side for the slightest of a second. Assured that she would survive and be safe, she allowed her head to rest back on the ground.
Once her breathing had mellowed out a little more, she allowed herself to speak once again. Before she had needed to speak, but in the silence that followed--plus the bit of talking Damu had done--there had been no need for speech on her part, so she had remained silent and alert, ears perked so that she could hear everything.
Yet when he mentioned the word shaman, Tai had to lift her head and look at him curiously. Shamans had been mentioned only once before in her old pack, and even then the very word had been spat upon and scorned. Her old packmates hadn't much liked the 'gifted' wolves.
"Shaman?" she muttered, mulling over the word silently. Were there really such things as those? The female wasn't quite sure she wanted to know. Their power was dangerous, some said. Should she believe?
"I... I guess." Dimmed eyes glanced up at her mate, taking in the scene lest she randomly disappear. No.. that wouldn't happen.
"My old pack... hated shamans. I do not know... of their powers much," she managed to get out, all of her talking upsetting her bruised lungs. "We could try... I don't know... how much longer I'll take... the pain." Of course she would never give up; she was just tired of being in pain. It was annoying, really. RonsoStryder His brows furrowed slightly. How could anyone despise those who bore gifts that could save lives, he thought as his emerald orbs trailed up to his mates, yet he had learned that many were quick to judge by rumors and ill, twisted stories. These days the truth always seemed to be shrouded, tainted with fables that destroyed its true meaning.
"My father spoke highly of the Shaman. He said they bore the power to heal...to save lives by ways which could not be explained," he remarked as his black ringed tail swayed behind him. Though he never did personally witness the miracles that many bore testimony to, there was a sure feeling within his heart that such a wolf was the one whom was needed for this situation.
"You shouldn't have to bear the pain any longer." His voice trailed with a hint of remorse, silent thoughts still scorning himself for what he had let happen.
"We shouldn't waste any time here as there is nothing left nor anything we should concern ourselves with. We'll search for a new place to claim as our own...even if it means to leave everything behind and go to somewhere no one has ever set foot in."
Rising up from the ground, the white and black swirled male stood aside his mate and lowered his head towards her. He knew that it would be a bit more of a treacherous task since her paw was in a bit of shambles and her body bruised from the collision. It would take precision to stable her footing but, whatever the cost, he?d find a way.
From afar, Jaxom staggered to his feet. His muzzle was stained, blemished by the crimson hue, as his fur was in tatters, jagged from the brawl against his own kin. Stumbling to walk forward, the tawny and carrot colored male drew closer towards the two wolves.
?Damu?I-?, his speech drew low in a whisper as every ounce of energy he had to offer was drained and it was rather a bit of a miracle that the young adult found such to stand.
As the words came forth, Damu drew his head away and looked elsewhere. He didn?t want to talk to him and now was not the time. He had to focus upon his mate and that was all that concerned him for the moment.
Grumbling softly, Damu lowered his head towards his mate and nuzzled her. ?I?ll help you stand, love.? Tamiko-chan Taima had heard rumors of the magnificent shamans. Her pack had despised them, but often on the duty of sentry, she had conversed with several travelers who brought tales and tales of extraordinary happenings. They had spoken of the great powers these few wolves possessed, but her pack had twisted them into horror stories.
'They make you insane!' most said, their fangs dripping with hate for the higher beings. 'They can't be trusted with their powers!' other had screamed. There had even been a day where the shamans were scorned. Quite extreme, but common where she came from.
However, and despite the horrible tales she had heard from her former packmates, Tai had not passed judgement on these creatures. How could she, what with her having not met one thus far?
"The power to heal.." she echoed, her breathing slowing down, but only slightly. A shaman seemed to be their only hope at this point, even if there were few of them really out there.
"Pain is our trainer," she grumbled simply, acting as a philosopher now. "It whips us and makes us stronger." And that was her opinion on pain. Sure, it hurt quite a bit with an injury, but in the long run it prepared one for higher, harder tasks in life.
A new place, yes. That was what they needed. A secluded one, probably, would be best. With both of them injured, it would be quite hard to survive in a highly-populated area.
"Let us leave, then," the female wheezed, attempting to rise up onto her paws while using her mate as a bit of a supporting pillar. She licked his muzzle, grateful that he was there, and paid no attention to his brother as she staggered to her paws.
"We will find a new place to stay." RonsoStryder A low wuff escaped from his maw as the young adult dipped his head low, keeping it as a steady crutch for his mate to take hold of as she lifted herself from off the rocky soil. A warm smile graced his lips as his emerald eyes laid upon her in a careful watch, continiously seeking round about if the treacherous one was to strike again.
"Yes," he remarked as he drifted aside her," we'll go wherever are paws will take us...somewhere new and wild."
Silently watching, Jaxom whined softly as his brows furrowed. The beast within him had taken control of him; he had become the very thing which he hated and the very rage that had long been confined within his body had become unleashed. This was his fault, he had given life to chaos.
Taking a few steps closer, the tawny and carrot colored male let his ears fall towards his head. This was the end of their meeting? But there was still much to speak of...he had to speak of the reason that had stirred so much darkness within his soul.
"Damu...I-It...," stumbling over his speech as words faultered to aid in his reason, the young adult drew up his gaze towards his brother but there was no convincing the white and black swirled male.
Judgement had passed; Jaxom was not to be trusted.
Standing idly within the open woods as a chilling breeze caused a chill to surge within his body, ruffling his fur with small ripples that streamed in a synchronized pattern, it became clear that his words were of no value. A traitor, a blatant fiend, Jaxom had lost respect and credibility within the eyes of his older brother and his mate, Taima.
The tawny and carrot colored male closed his eyes as he shook his head. "Damu...please."
With a voice drawing low in a soft plead, there was nothing more that he could do to reverse the damage that he had caused. It would take time and truth to slowly unveil such reality of madness and twisted logic.
As the pleads of his younger brother faultered to convince him, the white and black swirled male attempted to look behind him but quickly drew his head back towards the path in front of him.
The long search had ended in bitter terms and bloodshed and forever would lead to consequences that would hinder their views.
Love had no place within their heart as only a gaping hole, forged by foul intentions and unbearable pains, resided. It would take more than time to repair such damages, it would take courage and a remission of their faults to restore them whole.
Glancing back at his mate, Damu smiled as best he could as he pressed onwards towards their unknown destination. Tamiko-chan Accepting her mate as a crutch of sorts for now, the female nuzzled his black swirled neck then slowly began the difficult task of rising up onto her paws. It almost seemed impossible, in fact, what with the combination of her injuries overpowering her lithe figure. It was almost too much. But she pressed on, encouraged by the loving male beside her and by the promise that they would find new lands, new places, a new life.
Somewhere new, wild. The endless possibilities of where they could go suddenly flooded into her mind's eye. From her home she had traveled through many different places, some with nothing, some with everything, and there were always those in between.
But would they go that far? It seemed a tad out of reach with both ends of the pair injured. Hm, best not think about it now when there would be so much time to do it later.
Still smiling, Tai slowly pushed herself up, leaning firmly on Damu but not so much so that he was carrying all of her weight; that would have been unfair to him. "Thanks," she murmured, so softly that she was afraid he wouldn't really hear what she was saying.
Then there was Jaxom, the traitor, the killer, the outcast in their life.
Taima heard his pleading cries, how he tried to get through to his own flesh and blood, yet to no avail. It saddened her heart to think that it should have to end this way, but she knew it had to be done. The younger male had attacked both of them out of rage and fury. Never again would he be trusted. Or, at least, never again soon.
Ignoring him for now, however, she instead focused herself on the road ahead. It would be difficult trailings until they found a shaman. And who knew how many of those were running around out there?
"Let's go," she said again, this time on her paws and slightly stable. Even though she was in danger of falling over, the female wanted to get out of here, to escape the blood-spattered battlefield.
Then she limped, away and from the scene. All would be forgotten in due time. RonsoStryder Softened eyes turned to her as he nuzzled her. His nostrils intook her scent, reveling in such compassion that he had found someone whom he could protect and show affection for. It was comforting knowing that he was never to be alone again for he was hers and she was his forever more.
Nodding as his emotions could be clearly defined by the light he bore in his eyes, the black and white wolf pressed onwards with a slight limp. "Nothing but bitter hatred," he murmured as he slowly drifted his sights behind him, "nothing but war for the soul to soothe the beast within..."
As for a split moment, Jaxom's and Damu's mirrored, emerald gaze clashed. Damu turned his vision away as he swivled his head back in front of him.
He couldn't look upon him.
Disgrace and dishonor seemed to be clearly writted upon his brothers fur as there was faint light that settled within his orbs. How could he? How did he ever believe that attacking them was obtaining justice? Jaxom had become insane...incapable of seeing the truth.
There was no reason to focus on the past...he could only seek for what the future held.
Watching as both Damu and Taima drew further into the shadows of the deeper woods, the tawny and carrot colored male began to turn around and slowly pad away.
Drifting like a forlorn soul, he couldn't help but look back. "It was fear..." he whispered to himself, "it was fear that took me hostage." Stiff-legged, the young adult fell back into his domain of shadows and seclusion as he had faultered and forever tainted the relationship between brothers.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:16 pm
.::.Between Fear And Pride: Jaxom/Ehrek.::. RonsoStryder Silently, deaftly as he wandered through the snow lathered woods, Jaxom continued pressing onwards through the snow to search for his brother and Zahima. After conversing with Ryoku not too long ago, the young gamma had found his spirits to be rekindled and a deeper desire to not quit, to never cease his search for the truth.
A chilling wind sent ripples across his coat, making him cring slightly as the brunt of winter was far from over. He never did mind the cold but sometimes he wished for a breakthrough of sun and warmth. Looking around the frozen world of white, the tawny and carrot colored male scowered for anything living or something that would qualify as his next suitable meal. "There's nothing here," he sighed. Padding through the fresh powder underfoot as dainty flakes wafted within the air and clung in a matted fashion within the confines of his fur, Jaxom leapt up towards a rocky hillside and concealed himself in what shelter he could find.
It wasn't much; several rockfaces that protruded outwards to create a slight safe haven from the cold but, nonetheless, it did provide a place where he could rest for now. After trekking through the woods with an empty stomach for quite some time now, all he wanted was to relax and regain what energy he could before continuing on his way.
Settling down as his orange tipped tail swayed back and forth, Jaxom rested his head uopn his front paws and onlooked the scene before his. His emerald orbs scanned the surroundings in a silent search for a potential meal or another living soul to pass by within the frozen lands before him. PhiferWolf
"Ehrek, wake up now. Kronos is beginning to get agitated. The other pups want to play too, you know." a voice of serene ring. It gave a nice safe feeling as the voice spoke.
"Wake up, come on get up, pup." came a raspy voice, familiar but not. "Don't be a lazy wolf, get out there and play with the others!" it called again.
Ehrek opened his eyes from his slumber and peered out of the hollowed tree he sheltered in. He left out a soft yawn and left the safety and warm of his little den. He stretched out with another muffled yawn. "Just another dream...I hope they don't miss me too much" he said to himself. It has been a long while since he got seperated from his pack in the southern region, but he has grown accustom to the north's fridged temperture.
After stretching, a faint scent drifted to him along with the snow, carrying it. Another wolf...a male. The blue-grey wolf perked his ears, nothing. He scanned his area, nothing but white and trees. He lifted his muzzle, there! Not to far away, he rushed off, anxious to meet this native of the northern lands. He ran and twisted by trees and bushes following the scent of the wolf, tongue lolled out, tail wagging. Is it the same black wolf from before? he thought to himself. But when he came to the rocky hillside where the scent had led him, it wasn't so. There one the hill was an orange male wolf.RonsoStryder He had barely began to close his eyes, drifting off into a light sleep, until a faint scent lingered in the air. The young adult's eyes flickered open as, gradually, the scent was begining to become more present and distinct. "Well at least I'm not the only one around," he mused with a small grin. Rising slowly to all fours, Jaxom inched his way out of the confines of safety towards the rocky ledge. Sure enough, just several feet away, there was the wolf whose scent had caught his attention and reassured him that the woods weren't as desolate as he once believed they were.
As his gaze matched that of the blue and charcoal hued wolf, Jaxom let a warm smile cross his maw. "It's good to see another wolf around," he commented as he crept towards the edge and leapt down towards the snowy ground. Shaking himself free from what snow he could, the tawny and carrot colored male slowly padded towards the male.
"Name's Jaxom, friend. I hail from the North, the mountains just adjacent to Seer's cliffside." Sitting himself down, he smiled. "What's your name and story?" PhiferWolf The blue-grey wolf paused and backed a little ways before sitting himself down. THe snow still falling and the cold snow sent a chill up his body as he sat.
"My name is Ehrek...I am-" he paused again, ears drooped a little and so did his muzzle. "-was from the south. I got seperated from my pack and I kinda wished I could go back." he raised again. "But I have already grown accustomed to this cold and find comfort in it." he grinned. "Not much of a story is it?" he giggled. "And you, if you don't mind me asking that is? RonsoStryder "My story isn't so different than yours, Ehrek," he replied as his shoulders slumped a bit, his head hanging slightly as, even to this day, Jaxom found it difficult to recall the night where man stormed his packlands and stole everything. "I was only a pup when mankind seized our packlands and began shedding the innocent blood of my family, when the fire consumed everything and I was left with no choice but to run away from everything and everyone I've ever loved. As for returning home," he sighed softly, a slight chuckle emitting from his chest as he fidgeted with his paws, gripping the snow underneath, "I can't go back. There's nothing left and, if my pack is anywhere, they wouldn't still be hangin' around by those two-leggers."
Like others plauged by mankind, Jaxom found himself to keep looking forwards but always feeling a heavy pain resting upon his shoulders. It wasn't a sense of guilt but a feeling that he could of done more for his pack but he was only a pup and, in the eyes of many she-wolves, the loss of a pup would account for a loss generation and the Shadowsong Pack wouldn't fall victim so easily to obliteration.
Drawing his vision up from the ground, Jaxom brought it back in full perspective to the charcoal and blue colored wolf. "I can only hope that my family is still alive and that their still searching for me or that they haven't forgotten." Sliding his front paws forwards, the tawny and carrot colored male stretched his lower pack, lifting his head skywards as his body was freeing itself from aches and tensions. As his mouth opened slightly in a minor yawn, Jaxom let his pearly whites show as his tongue rose up from his mouth.
"Two-leggers," he scoffed as he rolled his eyes in a joking manner, "they think they own everything." PhiferWolf Another that he could relate to. Unlike Phib and Lunar, this native isn't as different as he thought northerns would be. "It would seem so...unfortunate that you, too, where seperated from your pack." he sympathized. "Especially by those who travel on two."
"My story is much more different from what i can recall from my fragmented memories." he lowered himself until he was laying on his side, looking up at Jaxom, upside down a sign of his little immaturity. "I was born into a back in the south. Our alpha took a few other wolves to hunt for us, but unfortunately they returned with a group of bears that they had provoked. Those of the pack left behind panicked and all ran in seperate directions leaving me....I got scared, I couldn't move." Ehrek broke his eye contact. "That's when Kronos took me away. He dropped me along a river bank and he went back to the pack. From that I can no longer remember." a single tear formed at his eye. "My last memory of my pack." he whispered. RonsoStryder Jaxom tilted his head, listening to Ehrek's trails that he had endured. Bears; the tawny and carrot colored male never did hold a liking for the gruff and fearsome creatures. Stories of the unfathomable consequences that bears can deal to those who chastise and irritate is both gruesome and fear churning.
"No wolf deserves to be torn away from their pack," he replied as he slowly drew his gaze towards the charcoal and blue colored male. "In my perspective, the world is bloodthirsty. Carnage and destruction seem to consume all that is good and eliminate those who are innocent." He was strong; Though the world had dealt him countless blows, throwing him upon the ground as, at somepoints, he would have to conjure the energy to arise to his feet, Jaxom had managed to fight back.
Peering upwards towards the mass of cumulus clouds above, Jaxom closed his eyes and intook a deep breath. There was so much more he wanted, so many truths he wanted to unveil but he knew that there would only be unceasing challenges and trials. Once again, he would have to fight and scower the woods to find the hidden truths of his past.
"But it's the trials that make the individual stronger and the heart bold and courageous," he remarked with a small smile as he withdrew his gaze from the sky and back towards Ehrek. "You're fairly new to these woods, aren't you? I'm sure I would have seen you around before or caught a whiff of your scent but I could be wrong." PhiferWolf "I have been here for more than a month I believe. But I have only met two wolves other than yourself. One was a black wolf riddling with scars, Phib. Another was a female olive-brown wolf called Lunar. Both left me when our conversations ended." he explained digging his nose into the soft, fresh snow. "A world of destruction, chaos and death. Not a very welcoming sounding place is it? Then again it's what we are stuck on." he mused a thought to himself. "I think it's best to avoid the memories that hurt you and embrace those taht comfort you. It...keeps me going." he snorted and the snow blew off this nose before re-settling again. "Do you have a new pack?" Ehrek asked out curiousity of how another wolf can be alone like him alone for so long. RonsoStryder His ears rotated as he tilted his head slightly. He had yet to cross paths with a black wolf riddled with scars nor an olive-brown she-wolf yet, perhaps, he was bound to sooner or later. A smile drew upon his orange maw as he was taking a liking to the carcoal-blue toned wolf. His views were more parallel with Jaxoms than any other wolf he had yet to come across and, at last, someone could understand his outlook. "The memories of my brother and I are those I can always fall back on," he commented as his right paw gripped the snowy ground underneath, sensing the cold temperature as its powdery texture molded to the shape of his paw, "and, like you said, those are what keep me going. They keep me on a continious search to find him."
Behind him, Jax's orange tipped tail swayed in a nonchalant manner within the snow. A new pack? Oh, where had the time gone? The tawny-carrot colored male shook his head. "No, I haven't put forth any effort in finding a pack to join but, who knows, there's bound to be somewhere I can belong." His tone didn't hold any anger nor bitterness just...hope.
He was optimistic; a dreamer and, some say, a "wishful thinker". But behind his emerald eyes, Jaxom knew that somewhere there was someone out there who knew of the truth he was searching for.
From his pause, a slightly audible rumble sounded from his stomach. Besides seeking a temporary shelter to recouperate in, there was one other aspect the young adult had forgotten. Food. A sheepish grin slid upon his face. "I knew I couldn't hold out much longer," Jaxom chuckled as his orbs scanned through twisted trees and the snow lathered grounds in search of a suitable meal. Within the air there were faint scents of various victims he could plunder but which one he would ultimately choose still remained shrouded. He didn't have much energy to put forth but, somehow, he'd find a meal.
Settling his vision back upon Ehrek, he smiled. "Well, if you've only been here a month and aren't sure where to find a good meal you can tag along with me on a hunt. You can get familiar with the woods and have a meal too." Arising to all fours, Jaxom shook his fur free of the numerous snowflakes that inhaibted his coat. Satisfied, he glanced over towards Ehrek. "Are you up to it?" PhiferWolf Ehrek thought for a moment. A month alone in the woods of an unknown terrortory. He has hunted a few times and injuried many being alone with no help to hunt. "I'de be honored to accompany you." he let a little grin slid across his face, "Maybe we can find a welcoming pack if we are fortunate." he added. A single flake fell onto the grey-blue wolf. His face contorted and then let out a loud sneeze, sending a few flakes to fly everywhere. "hehe" RonsoStryder Jaxom's emerald orbs danced wildly as his orange tipped tail swished estatically behind him. At last! For too long he had hunted by himself and, most of the time, he always came up empty handed and never landed a kill. He was sentenced to scavenge the woods for food and remnant kills as it became his only means of living. With Ehrek accompanying him, their was nothing that could stand in their way.
He chuckled lightly, finding that to at least soothe their hunger would be one thing he would want before finding himself binded within a pack. "Let's just take it one step at a time but if our fortune is prime then why not seize the moment." Jaxom's ears perked up as a drifting scent caught his intrest. That smell...it was so familiar and seemed too good to be true.
Slowly pacing towards a snow lathered trail, Jaxom lowered his muzzle towards the snow and inhaled deep of the trailing scent. By the faint evidence of fresh imprints of tracks and, as fortune seemed to be on their side, several drops of blood visible upon the powder the hunt only seemed to be proving perfect. They had barely even begun and already they had a wounded victim on the run. Could this get any better?
"There's a wounded deer nearby. If we have any hopes of eating we better find it before another wolf," the young adult remarked as he scowered the woods. A veil of mist dispelled from his black nose, rolling into the atmosphere as time was precious. They had to make haste if they were to satisfy their hunger. Emerald eyes glanced back towards the charcoal-blue hued wolf as the adventure was to commence. "Let's find that deer!" His voice was filled with excitement as it seemed impossible for Jaxom to not seize the moment. This time, along with Ehrek, he'd be sure to eat his fill and land a kill.
Lunging into full strides as his paws began sweeping through the soft powder, Jaxom set off to persue the scent. His tounge lolled out of his mouth and his fur rippled across his body as if small waves were lapping against his hide. Silently he was envisioning a massive stag, defenseless and in no condition to fight back, who would be at his mercy but there would be no compassion shown. To come out victorious...yes, that's what he wanted to prove to himself. PhiferWolf Ehrek's dark eyes followed Jaxom as he struggled to keep up with his pace. It has been long since he had to keep up with any other living thing other than the occasional rabbit. They turned this way and that way, the snow began to sting as their speed increased. But just like Jaxom, Ehrek's body showed excitement in the wounded deer.
A wounded game, what better can it be? he thought to himself with Jaxom and myself, we can finally eat out fill and no other wolf can stop us. a grin stretched across his face as he was catching up to the orange-brown wolf's speed. Finally something that isn't a rabbit he laughed on the inside.
"Jaxom!" he called out, "Come on, you can run walk faster than that!" he teased as he pushed ahead. RonsoStryder Such a tantilizing scent was hard to lose as it seemed to pull Jaxom every whichway, turning and scrambling as he grew hot on the pursuit. The scent of blood grew heavy within the air and, certainly, their victim wasn't too far away.
The tawny brown and carrot colored male found his mind to suddenly jar out of seclusion as a blur of charcoal-blue breezed past him and Ehrek's words trailing audibly back towards him. A wide smirk set across his orange maw as he set his vision just ahead of Ehrek. "You're right," he replied as he picked up his pace, sprinting as his paws swept across the snow underfoot. With each stride, his paws extended outwards as they gripped the earth and let his backlegs spring forth. Pulling his head somewhat closer to him as his ears swiveled back, the young adult became more streamline as he began descending aside Ehrek. "Better catch up!"
Peering over to the right, a small, snowy slope came into view. Approaching it's location, Jaxom's ears perked up as he intook a small whiff of the air. The pungent smell of death was strong and, not risking to second guess, the deer must have stumbled into the small flatland area. Well...there was only one place to go. Down the slope.
Dashing away from the charcoal-blue hued male, Jaxom rushed towards the downhill slope and leapt. If one would have watched his antics, they would have thought him to be insane. Though he was a "hidden" thrill seeker, Jaxom always loved to find exhileretion. As his stomach collided with the soft powder, the tawny and carrot colored male rocketed downwards upon his stomach, stumbling to find his footing as the incline and gravity pulled him to the flat terrain.
"Come on, Ehrek!" He laughed as he still had yet to reach the bottom. Peering ahead momentarily, a smile and feeling of relief overcame the young gamma. There, left alone and already on the brink of death, resided the wounded deer. It was strange. There was strange things sticking from its side as a pool of blood collected on its side. It was taking its last breaths but where was the creature that had taken it down? Well, surly Jax would find out sooner or later.
Sliding down as his legs were spread out wide as snow seemed to pile up in front of him in a small collection, Jaxom slowly yeilded as he reached the bottom. Slowly stumbling to his feet, Jaxom looked back towards the small incline in search of Ehrek. PhiferWolf The charcoal blue hued wolf watched as the wolf disappeared over the hill. Ehrek sprinted with all his might. But unaware of the drop beyond the hill. He tripped over a hidden root and stumbled down the snow covered hill side sliding, blackwards, to Jax's side. "I made it" he gave a childish smile. RonsoStryder Onlooking as Ehrek made his debuet over the hill, stumbling down as he slided in a reverse motion, Jaxom couldn't help but let a small grin cross upon his orange hued maw. "Glad to see you've arrived," he replied with a small chuckle.
Padding towards the center of the flat valley, the tawny and carrot colored male set his sights dead ahead of him. With each step the air was gradually growing thick with the scent of blood and freshly seeping into the snow underfoot laid a trail of blood. As he drifted closer, the deer carcass slowly came into view. Though his stomach ached from the lack of food, Jaxom couldn't help but sense an ill feeling. Something was not right.
On first inspection, the deer was isolated upon a crimson pool seeping from underneath it. It's very hide had been stripped off it's body as strange feathered sticks protruded from various places. Selected meat from the carcass was torn away, stripped from the bone bare as its killer found some parts suitable, perhaps, for ones taste. Aside from the blood that lathered the air, there was another unfamiliar scent was strong within the area. This one did not bode well with the young gamma.
The fur upon his back bristled; ears pinning back as his tail swept upwards like a flag. Emerald orbs swept wildly around the area, looking for the unsuspected and shrouded onlooker who could possibly be awaiting to strike at any moment.
Mankind was near.
Pacing round the area on high alert, Jaxom's lips were slightly pulled back as his pearly whites showed through an array of pitch-black gums.
"Be on alert, Ehrek. Mankind may still be lurking nearby. Let's eat quickly."
Approaching the deer with haste and a sense of caution, Jaxom sunk his fangs into the flank of the deer. Ravenously, the tawny and orange male began tearing away chunks of meat and partaking in his fill as he glanced up at every moment on the lookout for any fiend who dared to challenge them. PhiferWolf The charcoal blue wolf cautiously trotted to his side, keeping his focus on the valley's edge for any signs of unwlecomes guests. Ehrek lowered himself sightly 'til his nose touched the deer's fur. He grabbed a mouth full and tugged at it, pulling it. The meat let go with a wet slurp noise laying slump in the wolf's maw. He trotted to a safe distance from the corpse and ate his fill.
We better be careful...if those two-leggers comes, we are done for. he thought to himself watching Jaxom eat his own fill while he kept watch for any intruders. RonsoStryder The taste of fresh deer had been somewhat forgotten as for too long the young adult had only managed to scavenge from remnant kills and, in some cases, eatting just about anything. Blood tinged the tip of his nose, dripping down to his fangs as it mixed with his saliva only to cast an alizeran tone. Glancing upwards as he tore a strip of meat from the carcass, Jaxom's emerald orbs occasionally glanced upwards as his black lips were pulled back, fangs made ready if an intruder would seek to pillage from their find.
He ate ravenously till his hearts content, filling his stomach in haste as Ehrek still deserved to eat more of his share. Lifting his head from the caverned deer carcass, Jaxom stripped away a piece of meat and padded slowly towards the charcoal-blue hued wolf.
"There's plenty to go around, Ehrek. Come and eat more of the deer as it's rare to find a kill so fresh and undiscovered yet." As his tawny ears perked upwards and his tail arched up slightly, a smile passed over his maw. "I'll take watch." PhiferWolf Ehrek shook his head. "I don't eat much at all really. You can keep eating, I'll keep watch." he smiled back.
Since he was little, he usually always went days without eating and soon that emptiness became part of him as if it wasn't there. His apetite was small but it kept him going for weeks until another good hunt or so.
"Don't worry about me, Jax." RonsoStryder The tawny and carrot colored male gave a quizzical look but nodded his head. It was strange; he had never come across a wolf who never seized such an opportunity as to gorge himself with such a rare find but, still, not every wolf chose to eat itself senseless when a chance to eat came around. In Jaxom's case, he needed every ounce of strength and energy if he was to continue searching for any shrouded remains of his family.
Padding back towards the carcass to grab what he could carry, the young gamma dipped his head low and drove his fangs into the flank of the stripped deer. Tugging and trashing his head, the meat upon the bone ripped quick and hung within Jaxom's jaws in a pleased fashion.
Turning around to where the charcoal-blue hued wolf stood, Jaxom drew slowly to Ehrek's side. With the carcass left in shambles of stripped meat and disembowled insides, the young male had found himself content. Dropping the large chunk of meat into the snow, Jaxom stretched and shook his fur free from the congregated snow upon his back fur.
"I'm stuffed," he replied with a grin. "What should we-" his speech halted abruptly as a sound caught his intrest. His tawny ears flickered, peeking upwards in alert as his body became tense.
Several feet away shrouded by the shadows of the twisted trees and snow, a pair of ocher eyes pinpointed towards the remnant carcass and the two wolves who resided nearby. Small hackles rose from its throat as the hidden creature prepared itself for both a meal and a brawl if necesarry.
Jaxom's back fur bristled, he bared his fangs with a meanacing look as his feathered tail swept upwards. He didn't know whose lands these were or what pack was nearby but already there were two options at play; flee or fight?
"We've got company," he growled in a low tone as his emerald orbs searched for the intruder. PhiferWolf Ehrek too notice. He sprung to his paws and brought himself into an offense position. He scanned the hills and trees for any intruder. Unfortunately, his nose was to cold to even be able to sniff him out. He let out a growl.
"Jax, should we run for it?" he asked, still scanning. "If we stick around, it might be the end of us." he added. "Do you think we can take it?"
Never before had Ehrek ever had to face another creature for food. He usually didn't eat much. However, that wasn't the case here. This was more of Jax's food than his and he will help protect it. "I'm staying" a sly grin ran across his face.
RonsoStryder The blood that ran within his wolfish veins surged with adrenaline, sweeping with exhileretion and stamina as a feeling of power came over him. His emotions were entwined with his pride and yearning for dominance which, in truth, had never stirred within him so violently before.
Drawing his vision back towards the charcoal-blue hued wolf, Jaxom let a grin sweep across his maw. "What's pride if you can't live?" He commented as his emerald orbs kept watch upon the lone intruder. "I'm not going to surrender so easily."
Without warning, the unwelcomed invader lunged from the thick brush as his eyes were parellel with that of the deer carcass. Drawing closer into the light, the strange figure began taking shape.
It was a burly wolf, a thick winter pelt whose hues were like that of the natural earth. His ocher eyes narrowed as his lips pulled back in a fierce snarl. It was clearly evident that he sought to do whatever necessary to steal away the carcass and challenge those who intented to stand within his way.
He rumbled a threatening growl low in his chest and loosened it through his maw. "Hand it over, kid."
Jaxom's deep, drawn breaths wreathed about his muzzle as his hackles rose on his neck with a craving to meet the wolfs challenge. His emerald orbs pinpointed to those of the older male as a toothy snarl passed over his maw. "You'll have to fight for it," he replied with a brutish tone, a very odd, hidden streak of a family nature slowly rising forth.
The older male gritted his teeth. The nerve of such a smart tone! "Then I'm sure you have no problem facing death, I assume? To die for your pitiful pride?"
"I'm not afraid of death, not anymore." It had taken him only a split second to decided but it was solely the truth. After living life on his own, Jaxom had overcome the odds; he had lived. Though he still sought for the truth of his family, he couldn't help but yearn for some dominance and power. It was hard to exactly describe what he was feeling as its overwhelming presence seemed to distort his true self.
"You damn fool," he growled as he began pacing forwards. "It's wolves like you who I have no problem erradicating." Proceeding with another step, the earthy toned male suddenly leapt with an open maw at Jaxom, awaiting to sink his fangs for the fatal kill and finally pillage the prized deer. PhiferWolf Ehrek cringed as Jaxom, his only other lupine companion, sad those words. The wolf has never heard him say this before. What has he gotten himself into now?
"Jax, will you need my help or are you going to handle this by yourself?" he asked, somewhat confident of the answer, but still hinted a little fear in him.
The opposing wolf seemed to get more provoked by whatever the two wolves did and it was ready to attack at any moment. A grin slipped across his mouth RonsoStryder The voice of Ehrek rang through the resounding hackles and snarls that cut audibly through the woods. Jaxom didn't have much time to think let alone to turn and detract his gaze from the opposing foreign wolf whose jaws were awaiting to sink into his own flesh.
This was not good.
Keeping his emerald eyes locked onto the oncoming wolf, the tawny and carrot colored male emitted a deep growl and shot a glance back towards the blue and charcoal hued wolf. "You don't deserve to get into this mess! Just try and get him distract-" his words fell short as the opposing male overshot his neck and drove both claws and fangs into his flank. Jax gritted his teeth, tongue pressing through as his eyes widened, flickering with invisble flames as utter fury began to surge through his wolfish veins.
The older, earthened hued male drew up a devious and ill-twisted grin across his maw as the blood of his foe drizzled into his mouth, oozing and churning with saliva as their gaze met. "This should be a good reminder to watch your tongue," he spat in a muffled tone as his jaws were fixed tighter and tigher around Jaxom's left leg.
Silently, the memories, pent up anger and rage began to kindle into an uncontrollable inferno. It's wrath began to twist and churn within him, engulfing his entire body and transforming him into a beast- a savage monster. The past- its haunting presence drawing back into his memory...he was here to find his family, his brother...
He wouldn't- no, he couldn't die! Not now!
Turning about-face quickly upon his orange dipped paws, Jaxom whipped towards the older male and lashed out his paws across his face, dragging them deep as his gaping maw latched onto the back of the males neck. Teeth forged and developed for the kill were slowly utilizing their ability to sentence death upon its maters choosing
A wallowing pain suddenly shot through the older males body, causing him to loosen his grip and shake his head as the gashes were fresh with swift bloodflow. His eyes were shrouded over, for the moment, as they became sealed with pain and crimson hues. It was at that moment that the intimidator became defenseless...he had let his guard down.
Without letting such an opportunity pass, Jaxom released his grip from off the other male and began padding away. He had done his damage and, truthfully, he had never intended on taking the haughtys wolf life away...Jaxom never was that heartless.
Panting fiercely as warning hackles still sounded from the depths of his chest, the tawny and carrot colored male growled. "Find your own meal and leave..least your seek for your life to be taken."
Barely taking another step back towards Ehrek, he stumbled slightly but managed to stagger back onto his feet. The wounds he sustained were grievous on account for the fur upon his leg becoming tattered and wreathed with blood that continued to trickle down his leg and leave a trail upon the snow underfoot.
Glimpsing towards Ehrek, he smiled faintly. "We need to rest...or go someplace else..." PhiferWolf Such power and ferocity, it was overwhelming. the blu-grey wolf watched as the two wolves, heavenly white furred wolf fought the strength of the earth hued wolf. Blood splattered everywhere soaking the cold snow with life-giving blood. Ehrek felt like cowering but his pride prevented him from doing so.
Jaxom, who happened to have the upper hand in this brawl, let go of the opposing wolf giving the choice to live or die. The wolf left with humilating defeat. Jaxom approached, very injured and blood-drentched, "We need to rest...or go someplace else..." he smiled weakly.
Ehrek's heart jerked at the sight of his only close friend, "Jaxom, you have to get somewhere warm. You are too injured to travel. Wait right here, I'll go find a den or someplace to rest."
Ehrek fortunately found a tree den not to far from where they were. The wolf led the poor earth hued wolf, dragging their catch, to the den.
It was somewhat small but could fit the two wolves and their meal nicely. Ehrek's attention was morely on Jaxom's wounds than the food in front of him, "Jaxom, are you....alright?"((Nice physical details Kudos)) RonsoStryder ((hehehe...Thank you XD.))
A wreath of mist emitted from the tawny and carrot colored males maw as he panted for his very breath, his body weakened as the blood loss was tolling upon him in a grievious fashion. But he couldn't wither away into nothing...no- his time to merge within the earths depths would not come yet.
"I-" he managed to spit from his maw, a gasping manner as he could not keep himself in a stable manner, "can't. I...have to find...Damu."
Gritting his teeth as it became apparant that Ehrek would not, nor could he, let him travel further, Jaxom watched from afar as the charcoal-blue hued wolf began scouting for a place to rest, for a safehaven where the tawny and carrot colored male could heal.
Jaxom peered off into the distance, still keeping his emerald eyes locked onto Ehrek as he seemed to find a suitable place. It was an abandoned den, a weathered and worn tree whose base had been eroded and carven to sustain a small wolf family from winters brunt. It would do for now...but, when his strength returned, Jaxom would want to return back to his search for his family.
As Ehrek returned and began to lead him to the site, jaws fixed upon the prized deer, Jaxom chuckled softly in an amused manner. "You just had to bring the deer," he remarked as he shook his head, his body staggering with each step as his paws became engulfed within the fresh powder.
With a crimson trail falling behind him and the scent of the wounded lingering within the air, Jaxom hobbled inside in a caution manner and collopased onto his side. The pains were too great as they began to surge through his body, taking him down by force as his strength faultered and abandoned him.
He had fought for his pride and for the sake of his newfound friend, Ehrek. But that same will to fight was now put forth in a new reason; the will to live.
Jaxom had managed to find a comfortable position as his head rested upon his front paws, eyes closed while his orange tipped tail wrapped around his body. Yet before he could let himself fall victim to sleeps bondage, his eyes flickered open as he glimpsed towards the charcoal-blue hued wolf.
"I'm...still alive if that counts," he replied with a small grin. "I'm just tired, I guess." A rather perplexed expression drew upon his maw. How did he manage to stand up for himself?
"I-I don't know what overcame me back there," he commented as he looked outside to where the battleground resided; crimson stains that lathered the ground yet the challenger long retreated. "I never had fought before..." PhiferWolf Damu? Ehrek thought to himself, who was that? However this "Damu" wasn't the wolf's main concern. Jaxom laid before him tattered and bleeding. He felt like it was his fault. Unbeknownst to the earthly toned wolf, Ehrek lied back there, he couldn't defend for himself at all. Ehrek couldn't even catch let alone hunt. For the past years, Ehrek scavenged like a lowly barbaric beast. The southern could only run so fast from the constant chases he endured from those who challenged him for his food.
Tears slowly tickled down the wolf's fur without him knowing. When he noticed, he turned himself away from Jaxom, facing the shelter's entrance.
What will he think of me? A coward? A lowly scavenger? I-I can't tell him...I just can't. If he finds out he'd..... he cut himself off. The midnight wolf turned back slightly to see Jaxom resting peacefully next to his reward that he fought so hard for.
"It would seem that...be both haven't before..." he whispered into the stillness of the cold air outside. RonsoStryder His ears flickered slightly, a curious expression faintly drawn upon his maw as his eyes flickered open and settled upon the chaorcoal-blue toned wolf. A sense of fear and remorse lingered within the air, a sensation that Jaxom never did like to be the cause of.
Was Ehrek intimidated by him?
No- he couldn't be.
The tawny and carrot colored male had already defined him as a friend, a very close friend, as Jaxom had willingly sacrified himself in means to defend their kill and Ehrek from that savage, brutish wolf. Yet why did Ehrek seem to fear him...or perhaps it was the cause of fear that seemed to kindle hesistation.
The words spoken by his dearest friend drew towards to his ears in a faint, mourning tone that caused him to stir. "Be thankful that you have never seen bloodshed before, that you have never tasted of death and lived to tell the tale," he remarked with a calm, withered tone as buried his muzzle within the confines of a small patch of soft powder. The cold provided much relaxation to his gashed muzzle as it's chilling touch seemed to numb the pain for the time being.
"Fighting is not an honorable deed..." he weezed slightly as he shifted his head upon his forepaws, "but sometimes we must fight for our pride, our survival and our friends. To me, it's an honor to protect those I care about."
This strange feelings that hung 'round about them gnashed at his heart unceasingly, a horrid feeling pulsing through his wolfish veins as his emerald orbs couldn't tear away from his friend, grew more immense as the ill feelings of being feared rested within him. Jaxom couldn't let Ehrek fear- he couldn't let him reside fearful by any means.
"Ehrek," he whispered softly as his emerald orbs softened with an uncertain glaze upon them, "are you alright? You seem...hesitant."
A perplexed expression crept upon his maw as his brows furrowed slightly. What had he done? Was Jaxom truly the culprit to why Ehrek seemed so...uncertain? PhiferWolf Ehrek turned away from Jaxom again, staring into the void outside.
"Nah-" he paused. A thought ran through his mind like a speeding bullet of the same phrases over and over again. THe midnight wolf's ears folded back as his body seemed to twitch as the thought passed through. Suddenly his being stopped. "I am weak..." he whispered softly. Ehrek jerked around, "I am weak! I couldn't do anything! I just sat there and watched you get hurt. I tried to mask it all behind the shameful act I pulled! I could've gotten us both killed!" he cried out, tears flooding and rolling down his fur. "It's my fault that you got into this shape, Jaxom. I should be the one hurt, not you." his body seemed to give away under him; collapsing onto the cold ground.
"It's my fault...." RonsoStryder The tawny and carrot colore male tilted his head slightly as his emerald eyes settled upon Ehrek. He was hiding something, repressing a thought or feeling towards him and Jaxom could sense it.
As he opened his maw to speak, the prediction came true as the charcoal-blue hued wolf unleashed his thoughts, the depths of his ill feelings that had seemed to manipulate his thoughts towards himself and Jaxom.
His ears fell down, a low whine emitting from him as the words were hard to bear. Why was Ehrek so ashamed of himself? Because he couldn't do anything- ridiculous! "It's better for one to fight than everyone to succumb to the wrath of one individual, Ehrek," he commented with a reassuring, warm tone that was defined by a fatigue expression. "I stood my ground to make sure that neither one of us would be killed. No wolf is weak...one just has to find their strength or fight for a cause they belive in."
Crossing his forepaws as he slowly lifted his head upwards, Jaxom sighed. "That's what I did; I fought for my friend, I fought for you, Ehrek."
The pain still echoed through his body, causing him to grit his teeth and wince slightly but, in the end, it was all worth it. He didn't understand why Ehrek could not see the reason to his deed yet there was no reason for the wolf to beat himself up with the belittlement.
A low wuff escaped his maw as he helplessly watched Ehrek collapse from the exhaughstion and the remorse that tolled heavy upon his body. Slowly, the tawny and carrot colored male crept upon his stomach to his side.
"It's not...your fault," he winced in between as a sharp pain jostled his leg. "I'd be in the same state as you if you had been attacked by that wolf." Gently nuzzling and coaxing Ehrek to arise, he tugged at his ear.
"It's not your fault. I would have given my life away to make sure that a friend would not die..." PhiferWolf Through his ears he smiled, masking himself. He looked up to the tawny carrot wolf tuggin on his ear like pup wanting to play. Ehrek rose to his feet and slowly slid himself under Jaxom's wounded body to brace him.
"You're right..." he grinned slightly, laying the wolf down. "But you hould still rest, my friend. Rather be a shame to die after the fight, right?" he teased. Ehrek took a small piece from the dead animal still keeping an eye on Jaxom.
"So what do we do now?" he asked taking a quick look outside.
I'll change for the better. Promise RonsoStryder A faint smile trailed across his maw as the midnight hued wolf tugged at his ear and embraced against him. It was a comfort, a reassurance that everything would be okay but...would it really?
The tawny and carrot colored male chuckled to himself. "At least I would have done something worthwild," he replied as he nestled down back into the snow, his blood-stained body lying still within the confines of the softened powder underneath him.
His tattered body was slowly regaining his strength but, for now, he was best not to move nor expell any energy whatsoever. It would take time for him to rejuvinate and his muscles to loosen but it felt as if time was against him; perhaps these were his last breaths...maybe this would be his last day and blaze in glory or rather fade within the crimson tarnished snow.
A lost soul, a forgotten warrior....
No. He wouldn't succumb to death without a fair struggle. This would be the day that the tawny and carrot colored male would brawl for his life and his own survival.
A sudden surge of pain shot through his leg and Jaxom instantly gritted his teeth, wincing as he surpressed the pain and stifled a snarl. "I just need to live..." he growled in a low tone, his forepaws cushioning his head as he glanced towards Ehrek.
His ears flickered as the charcoal-blue colored wolf spoke, listening with silence only to assure himself that every word was heard. "I...just need to rest," he commented with a rather tired, drowsey hint in his voice.
"Don't feel like you need to barracade youself in here...you can explore..."
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:17 pm
.::.A Healing And Haunted Recollections: Damu/Taima/Sol-Lun.::. Tamiko-chan The fight was over, but scars remained. Scars and memories that would most likely never go away, even with the healing nature of time. That one moment when Jaxom went charging... it would leave an imprint in her mind, one named fear, for as long as she lived and as long as there seemed nothing else to occupy her mind.
Shivering slightly with the coming of night, the female trekked on, limping, with her injured mate at her side. Even with the coming of spring, it seemed that the cold winds would not release their grip for a while yet. But that was perfectly fine with her. The chilling winds actually felt soothing, and were a nice change from the hot feeling in her blood when she had been attacked.
Stopping suddenly as her sprained paw stiffened up, Tai whimpered and sat randomly, cradling and licking at her injury.
"Damu," she wheezed, her voice soft and slightly strained. Her lungs were still bruised, so breathing was still a minor problem. "We need to find somewhere to stay. I need rest." Yes, rest was exactly what she needed.
Or, rather, a mircale... RonsoStryder An staggering limp still hindered each step causing the white and black swirled wolf to grit his teeth and grunt. The wound upon his shoulder was still fresh; gashed deep through his muscles while patches of fur had been torn away by the treacherous jaws of his own kin.
But, aside from the physical pain, Damu's mind was contorted in continious thoughts. Thoughts that never left him at peace, always lingering within the back of his mind or constantly dwindling upon.
Why- why had his own brother, his own flesh and blood, sought revenge upon him? Was it truly because of his horrific past? Perhaps.
Just like countless other wandering souls that he had crossed, it was one central aspect that had led them to discriminate against him. And that was his hide. Swirled with eerie black swirls, their presence was forever engraved upon his skin and fur by the fires that man had forged in order to slaughter his pack and pilage what they could. They were his sins, a transgression that condemned him and shunned him for his past.
Yet only one had seen past such markings as love had brought the two of them together.
She was Taima, and she was his.
Breaking from his seclusion of thoughts as his mates voice rang out from the silence, Damu perked his head upwards and nuzzled her affectionately with a soft rumble.
"Somewhere to stay...yes, of course," he replied with a low tone, avoiding to focus on the pain and rather upon the needs of his mate. They were both tired but moreso Taima then himself.
From what he could see, their surroundings seemed bleak. There were no rocky terrain nor outcropping of rocks to provide suitable shelter from late winters chill as all that was near were towering trees, sparse patches of snow and shrubs that littered the forest floors.
This was not good, not good at all.
Sighing as his emerald orbs drifted back towards his mate, his black ears fell flat. "There's nothing around...not even a living soul would drift around here." Yeilding in his steps, he tilted his head slightly as somewhat of an idea was forming.
"We could just lie down and rest for a bit..." Quinny-chan The Wind brought him the scent of blood and sighing, he moved in the direction his old friend had indicated, wishing, not for the first time, for an age where his services would no longer be needed. He would rest, then. But such was not his destiny.
Moving fleetly for one so aged, he came across a pair of wolves who had seen better days. "If you lay to rest now, you will not get up. Come, I will find you shelter." Tamiko-chan Taima leaned into her mate, his warm fur comforting her troubled mind. Ever since that attack, never had there been a moment where she had been at ease, never a moment when she wasn't thinking that someone was right behind her, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
So when Sol-lun randomly came out of seemingly nowhere and told them that he would find them shelter, she jumped nearly a foot despite her obvious stress and lack of rest: her eyes were quite dull, bags forming under them from her weariness. Yet the newcomer seemed willing to help, and so her dulled senses allowed her to smile slightly and move in his direction.
"I thank you, kind stranger." And she was sure Damu did too, but Tai didn't say that. Let him speak for himself, lest she say something terribly wrong.
Head drooping slightly, she sighed once more then moved to follow in the stranger's wake, willing to go where ever he was planning to take her. She would, however, watch out for any 'mutiny' of sorts. She could and would not handle another attack. It was impossible.
"Come, Damu," she attempted to coax him, lest he find this stranger too strange and weird and not worth following. Taima needed her mate, now more than ever. RonsoStryder When the soft padding of steps proceeded towards them and an unfamiliar voice spoke, Damu's eyes widened slightly as the jagged fur upon his back bristled slightly. He didn't know who had come towards them yet the fear of another ambush, another brawl of bloodshed, caused his muscles to tense with uncertainty.
Black ears pinned back slightly as his back was turned away from the one who had approached them. He could only plead that no more violence would erupt nor a life would be lost.
Yet it was when he turned around that his maw seemed to drop slightly and his ears perked up in alarm.
It wasn't until he lifted up his own eyes towards the strange that a strange sense of peace suddenly doused upon him...soothing his fear and riled beast within by means of no explaination whatsoever. Damu felt that, like his mate, he too could trust the wolf before him.
There was a question that lingered about his mind, wondering if perhaps this wolf was...well, perhaps he would learn in time if he did bear the powers which many did fear and come to admonish.
"I am most greatful for your kindness," he responded with a respectful bow of his head.
Padding forward as his mate's gentle coaxing esteemed more faith into the one before them, Damu walked aside her once again as he kept himself close as a protector and a faithful companion. Quinny-chan The old wolf merely nodded, taking no heed in the fright he had caused them. They were not as near to death as he had made out, but they were not well off either and he had no time for arguments.
Following the path the Wind set out for him, Sol-Lun led the pair down a gently slope to rest in a rocky alcove surrounded by scrubby trees, shrubs and tall grasses. "Not perfect, but it will do. Please, lie down. I will need you to be still, if I am to help. How did you come to this state, cubs?" Tamiko-chan Taima followed the shaman blindly, all of her concentration focused on her injuries. The bruises in her lungs were getting no better, and her paw was stiffening up with lack of treatment and lack of use. Both caused quite a bit of pain and uncomfortable feelings inside of the female. She didn't like them.
So when the stranger led them to an alcove and said that he needed them to lie down, she didn't argue. The rest would be welcome, as even her other, uninjured paws were growing sore from the travel. So with one glance at her mate, Tai slowly sank down to her belly, then rolled onto her side comfortably, her eyes slowly trailing up towards Sol-Lun.
Breathing hard, she listened to him talk, then to him question them. It was a simple question, but she wasn't sure whether she could answer it or not. Her lungs were rebelling.
"Fight," the female managed to murmur, closing her eyes as a wave of extreme pain passed over her. She hoped that Damu wasn't in as much pain as she was.... RonsoStryder Keeping his pace equal as he limped aside his mate, Damu winced slightly but diverted his thoughts elsewhere in an attempt to not concentrate on the pain. The laceration upon his back hd been dried with blood by now yet the fur upon his shoulders would take time to fully be restored. Several other gashes lined his legs as a crimson hue dribbled and created a tarnished hue that seeped from each wound. Every muscle and bone felt as if it was on its last length, making ready to suddenly collapse as the pain was bearing too great. But his pains were insignificant compared to those of his mates, Tai.
Winding and arching his back slightly as he trekked to where the white and red hued stranger led them towards, Damu could feel his whole body on the brink of exhaustion but he had to go on. He was so close.
Stepping inside the alcove, Damu yeilded in his steps as he allowed his mate to lie down first. Just as she sank to her belly, the white and black swirled male sat onto his haunches and delicately slid his forepaws outwards for his shoulders to not be jostled or surge with horrible pain.
As his stomach rested upon the stone ground, Damu drew his head upon his paws and slowly closed his eyes.
Rest. Yes, that was something he could embrace and willingly do.
Black ears perked upwards as he began to question their current state. An ill feeling knotted within his stomach as the sheer thought had its own affects against his mind. So much pain...so much bloodshed.
"My younger brother, Jaxom, condemned me as the reason to why our pack had perished by the hands of men and fire..." he rumbled low as his head lifted up slightly for his emerald orbs to look into those of the stranger. "He deemed me a sinner for what tragedy had occured and for the black swirls that engraved themselves upon my skin and fur."
Letting his head gently fall back onto his paws, he gritted his teeth as a sharp pain shot through his paw. "He attacked me and my mate..."
Emerald orbs peered over towards Taima as a small, sympathetic whine escaped from his maw. She was worse than he was and such a sight was not easy for him to look upon.
Drawing his muzzle upwards as he inched his body closer, the white and black swirled male nuzzled her tenderly for a brief moment until his body caused him to pull away by means of excruciating sensations that ran down his spine.
With his every ounce of strength fleeting, Damu laid there and closed his eyes once again as he bidded sleep to take him for what moments he could savor. Quinny-chan ((Fire?! You said the magic word!))
Sol-Lun let out a fierce snarl -- his first in more moons that he could remember. He had no ill-feelings toward the men-folk, but fire... that was another story. He panted heavily and paced the tiny alcove, taking no more that 4 steps in either direction before swishing to head the opposite way.
The thought of so many wolves killed by fire... and he hadn't known... couldn't save them... like his mother... Grief welled in the old male, grief he had never let himself feel, and with that grief came a wash of Power. It filled him to bursting, filled him like he had never felt before. He needed to release it, before it killed him.
It was approaching dusk, the time when the sun and moon meet. Sol-Lun's crimson and silver head shot back, the sun and moon that met in the sky echoed on his face. It was obvious then, why his mother had named him as she had. A howl -- long, loud and piercing -- poured from his gaping maw and his body spasmed, power streaming from him.
Birds took to flight to escape the frightening noise, rodents and other animals running to their dens for cover. Tai and Damu were caught in the backwash, lifted slightly from where they rested on the ground and floated on a cushion of Wind.
The ancient element had never seen its bond brother so; had never felt such a power. BROTHER! Calm yourself, brother. You can not hold so much power!
The howl seemed to go on for eons and when Sol-Lun finally fell to the ground, exhausted, it was in the company of a newly healed Tai and Damu -- the pair healed more completely that anything he had ever managed before. His tongue scraped the roof of his mouth, for he did not know how he had done it. "I am sorry," he gasped. "That is not ussually the way of it. I am --" His head fell to the ground, for he could no longer hold it up.
((Weeee! Plot!)) Tamiko-chan Taima lay with her eyes close, mostly motionless except for her heavy and hard breathing. Yet she wasn't asleep, for the pain that she felt was too great to allow any such thing overcome her. And so she heard every word that passed from male to male, she heard Damu's telling, in short, what had basically happened to them.
The tale hurt even her mind to so much as think about it, yet it had to be told. A story such as that created ill feelings, and such could not be held within for too long, lest it resort to destruction as a means of escape.
So when Damu's tale came forth from his mouth, she felt a sensation of both relief and fear. Relief that the story had been let free before it turned savage, yet fear that something of a similar sort might rise up again and lash out at them. Tai welcome the feeling, thinking that it was helping her to let it out.
But Sol-Lun's reaction.. that was something that she was not anticipating. A snarl... it sounded like he was ready to attack!
Eyes shot open as the female tried to glance at him, but all she caught was the light, mixed from the day and from the night, bouncing off of his face, which was quickly raised into the air. He looked like he was going to...
Howl.
The sound was the most eerie thing she had ever experienced. Something ran straight through her body as it rang out, echoing up into the heavens. Something lifted her off the ground, if only slightly. It was both frightful yet comforting, dangerous yet healing. It was such a thing that she had never felt before that she felt herself raising her own snout slightly and even closing her eyes and letting out a soft howl. It couldn't be heard by any of the others, what with the older wolf's ringing out like it was, and so she merely looked silly with her nose in the air.
And the next thing she knew, Taima was plopped down on the ground, all of the pain just vanished. Blinking, confused, she watched helplessly as her healer fell to the ground.
"Stranger!" she cried out in despair, thinking that his healing of her had caused this collapse. Suddenly she rushed to his side, running, she noted, on her formerly very injured paw. "Stranger! Stranger!" she cried out again, this time nosing his face and licking carefully. The female was relatively powerless, but that didn't stop her from worrying nor from trying to bring him around. RonsoStryder The white and black swirled males emotions stirred within as the recollection of such events were hard. Yet as he glanced over towards the older male, there was a strange sense about him. His facial expressions conveyed pain and...heartache. Did the stranger also have an encounter much like his own?
Perhaps.
But it wasn't until a howl drew from his maw, one that was long and solacing as his emotions were, for a time, speaking for him and crying out to the looming moon above.
As the howl echoed within his ears, Damu felt somewhat of a likeness between them. They both had lost those dear to them, they both knew of sacrifice and the pains of grief that weighed down ones soul. He too unleashed a low howl, mourning to the skies above for repentance and forgiveness...for letting mankind ravage through his packlands.
A strange sensation seemed to overtake him as his cry ceased. He could no longer feel the cold, stone ground underneath as a feeling of slight weightlessness drew him upwards in means that were oblivious to him. Aside from the weightless experience, the pain that had bombarded his every muscle and tainted his fur slowly dissapated.
His eyes widened as he found himself upon the ground again, looking upon his body as the countless scars and gashes were nothing but faint scars that hid amongst his fur.
Althought the scars forged by his brothers own teeth and claws healed, the black upon his hide did not go away. Damu was somewhat dissapointed yet, truly, such a marking would never leave. The scars atoned for what he had done and it would be something he was to live with forever.
Rolling onto his feet, the white and black swirled male looked towards the Shaman only to find him collapsed upon the gound with Tai by his side worried and concerned for him. This didn't look good, not good at all.
"Shaman!" He yelped, following in his mates hurried footsteps as he rushed to his aid. Lowering his muzzle and nudging him gently, Damu wuffed softly. "No," he replied with a softened look upon the old wolf, "you healed us...my mate and I. But-" his words faultered slightly, feeling somewhat guilty," I can't help but feel my words had caused this."
Looking aside as he felt ashamed, Damu sighed as a strange sensation seemed to bear weight upon him. Had his tale provoked another? He knew not. But he hoped that this was not his doing, his words being the one to cause this... Quinny-chan The Wind cloaked the old wolf softly. It knew he was still alive, for the bond was still strong, but it could feel the weakness in him. Gently, the Wind stroked his fur. Brother, you must learn to control it. After all this time, I thought you knew...
Sol-Lun nuzzled Taima back, lifting his nose from the ground to smile up at her. "I am called Sol-Lun, cub. And I am not dead, only tired. It will take more than that to kill me." He turned his gaze then to Damu, "And it was not your words, youngling, only a grief I should have rid myself of long ago."
He paused, considering the pair. Never had he healed in this way and never two at once. He didn't think he could replicate it, even if he wanted to. "You are not afraid of me... strange..." Tamiko-chan Taima was relieved when the older wolf's muzzle brushed against her own. It was a startling sensation at first, but then she was merely glad that he was okay and able to talk and whatnot. "Sol-Lun, right," she nodded, sniffing at his head to try and find any source of sickness or whatever else. Finding none, really, she backed up a foot or so to look him over. Whatever caused him to collapse she did not know, and it was truly worrying her. What if it came and attacked him again?
But all thoughts were broken and disrupted when the shaman commented on them not being afraid of him. Slightly confused, the omega tilted her head to the side in a querying manner.
"Why would we fear you? You healed us, and for that we will always be thankful and be in your debt." A firm nod confirmed this. Sol-Lun was a good wolf, with wonderous powers... why would anyone fear him? Had there been a time when he used his powers for bad? No.. he just didn't seem like the character to have even been that way in the far past. There must be something else.
Sitting down comfortably, and without so much as a sharp pain or protest from her body, Tai looked over their healer once more. He looked tired, and as if he might want some food.
"We will take care of you until you get better," she randomly stated, her eyes blazing with determination. He had helped them and stole them away from death, the least they could do was stay with him until he found his paws again. RonsoStryder "Sol-Lun," he repeated slowly to himself, admiring the ring to such a name. He rather liked it, truthfully. The white and black male quirked an eye brow at the Shaman as he was a bit confused.
The reasons and twisted logic to why many others would grow fearful of the unknown and unexplainable was forged by lies and fear. But how- how could anyone be afraid of one who bore the gift of healing? The wolf before then saved lives...he had saved his life and the life of his mate by means of these strange powers. It would be a debt that could never be fully paid; lives were precious, even so greater than anyone one could ever desire.
"Afraid? No. But perhaps if it was one who never had heard the tales of the Shaman or whose beliefs were twisted then that would be a different story," he smiled, chuckling low as he glimpsed towards his mate.
A rather surprised look briefly overcame his facial expression but quickly dissapated into one that was warm and compassionate. Tai was caring and always looked out for others...that's what he liked about her. Damu nodded his head in accord as her proposal was one that was well deserved by Sol-Lun. After all, it would be the first step in finding a way to repay the Shaman and be on equal terms- it was always how the young adult saw such acts as; to repay and stand even on equal terms.
As his emerald orbs were cast upon Sol-Lun, he smiled."Rest, Shaman. There is no need to bring haste to yourself and at least let us repay you for sparing us from death."
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