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 Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:30 pm
She sniffed, but as usual she could only smell faint, old scents of wolves that had faded so that they were barely recognizable, if she smelled any at all. No one was near, at least no one upwind of Calandra and Possum. She glanced over at the boy. He was keeping pace easily. Oh, for the stamina of the young. She wasn't that old and she was in good shape, but she was certainly a full adult compared to his barely-adult. The thought of pups and being too old for a family came to mind and she looked away from Possum, tucking those away. It wasn't a topic she usually considered and she did not intend to start now. They were barely into their journey, she refused to turn it into a melancholy trip for them. Lifting her head at a more confident height, Calandra's eyes swept the trees before her, but besides some squirrels and birds, she saw nothing moving. For the moment, the area was clear to them, and she was sure Possum would sing out if he saw anything.
Sing... Perhaps she'd sing to the moon tonight, once the boy was asleep. It had been days since her last song, and her heart ached for one. She didn't mind singing alone, since she rarely sang with the pack, but she had to sing. If she didn't, life seemed just a little bit darker for her and lost a little more meaning.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:11 pm
 Possum's eyes were on the trail, his paws skirting over the earth with the ease of a young wolf. His tail flagged out behind him like a proud banner. The sun beamed on his dark coat, warming his body up so that the quick pace they were at made a soft breeze in his ears. He smiled easily. This was fun. He glanced towards Calandra, seeing her musing to herself. Musing about what? He was curious, but he wasn't nosy. He knew plenty about singing, though he himself wasn't too good at it. A little self-conscious, he worried what people thought of his voice. Part of that was because of laughter when he attempted to sing during his month where his voice broke alot. Nevertheless, he'd sing if he heard her sing.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:18 pm
Calandra checked the sky again. They had two hours, maybe a little less. It was getting close to evening now and she would need to find a place to settle for the night, although the lands seemed safe enough to continue after dark. She would give it one more night before she felt safe making the journey at night as well.
Besides, Possum was having a good time. Calandra glanced his way.
"Are you getting tired?" She asked, tilting her head at him. He didn't seem to need a break, but she could smell a stream near-by where they could rest and get water before moving on. That might be a good place to head for next.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:39 pm
He noticed that she always consorted with the sky, as if the clouds were telling her what to do. He smiled up at them, pondering if their darkness would hold a storm or not. Probably not. It had just rained the other day, afterall.
"A little," he admitted with a nod. It would do him -- them -- good to rest. They were a quarter into their journey, and that left three quarters to go, but it wouldn't get him down. His hind leg giving little tics every few minutes on the otherhand...
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:44 pm
Calandra was surprised, but she didn't let it show.
"There's a stream up ahead. We can take a rest there and get something to drink in the meantime." She kept pace alongside him, not walking in front or behind. She wanted to show him that on this journey they were equals, adults, and she wanted to remind herself that that was what he was as well.
"Your mother mentioned something back at your home," she chimed in, making conversation, "Are you used to be active at night, as opposed to in the day?" If he was naturally a night-wolf, than moving about in the day might throw him off-schedule, make it that much harder for them to travel. She would have to keep an eye on him or change their schedule a little, depending on his response. Traveling at night wouldn't bother her if it was safe enough out, and Possum knew the area. They would be all right either way.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:54 pm
Why would he give up a chance to stretch out on the ground and rest? He was young, but he wasn't used to traveling so much. Not that he was complaining! No, he found this rather exciting. His tail wagged as he trotted after her. He had noticed that she kept pace with him, never moving ahead to lead. Perhaps she didn't like leading. Perhaps who knew.
"A drink sounds wonderful." And so did a swim. He sniffed the air. It was warm enough. His body did a little jig, prancing forwards, though he sobered as she spoke once more.
Fiereza had been correct. She was nocturnal and the pups had been raised the same way. They woke in the dusk, and slept by the dawn. Possum, becoming a teen, rebelled a little on their schedule, finding one for himself.
"I am a little nocturnal," he admitted with a grin. "I'll be pulling an all-nighter, because I've been up all day. I am not afraid of the shadows, I walk among them easily. Darkness isn't a problem. Are you afraid of the dark, Calandra?" His question was simple.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:08 pm
"No. Darkness doesn't scare me. It hasn't since I was small." She had a fleeting thought of fire and being in the woods as a teen, alone, and then shook her head. "We'll have to work out a better schedule, then. Perhaps we can walk a little past nightfall today, I will rest, and we will start out around noon tomorrow. The night after that we can walk and then rest in the day, if you'd like. It will be difficult if you get no rest."
Calandra cautiously approached the small stream, checking for other wolves. No one. The packlands must be large, or else everyone stuck to a main denning area for the most part for there to be no other wolves anywhere around. She hadn't seen so much as a border patrol, and even Outriders posted sentries. Well, a pack couldn't cover everywhere.
She motioned Possum over to the stream with a motion of her head, but chose to wait to take her own drink, preferring to stand watch so at least one of them was paying attention at any given time. Possum and his mother both thought that the lands would be fairly safe for passage, but Calandra did not intend to be taken completely off-guard.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 11:51 pm
His lips twitched into a grin, though half of his face twisted for a moment and fell once again. He shook his head quickly, trying to hide the obvious before pacing over to the river. He lowered his neck to lap at the cool liquid, drinking his fill before looking up at her.
"That schedule will work," he said with a quick nod. He didn't see why it wouldn't. What would a few more hours without sleep be? "Thank you." She didn't -have- to rearrange her time just because he was a strange wolf. But she was doing it anyway. He beamed, then sat down, keeping watch so she could take a drink herself.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:09 am
Calandra did lower her head for a drink when Possum was done, and she stared hard at her reflection for a moment before she had to look away. Instead of staring at herself, she chose to watch the distant trees as she drank.
When she'd had her fill, she sat back as well, taking a moment to enjoy the breeze rustling her fur before she laid down, head on her paws. "Nap, if you would like, we aren't in such a rush that we can't stay here for a little while. I can keep watch easily enough, and you'll need it if you're going to be up while I'm sleeping tonight."
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:53 am
Alas headed towards the stream her step confident, Butterfinger had spotted two strangers pausing for a drink and come to tell her. She in turn would have told Crunch but her mate was patrolling the other more problematic side of their pack. Instead she had decided to come and see for herself if there was anything amiss.
Her heart ached from the trials that the pack had faced, Musksteer and Mahli were distressed over their missing family member. Perhaps these strangers had spotted their dear Moranna, though it was unlikely as she had left their other border. No Moranna had not left, there was foul play, an Agua Azul member had snatched her when she had unwittingly walked past the pack borders.
The thought of protecting the rest of her pack, her family made her stronger, brave enough to come face two strange wolves alone. She spotted them ahead and her blue gaze scanned over them before relaxing a bit, they did not seem unfriendly.
"Greetings, from Akiiki Chibale!" She called out her tone warm and friendly.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 11:36 am
Possum stretched out near the river, paws dangling in it so that they dabbled at the surface. His neck stretched out upon his legs, but his eyes and ears were on his companion.
"Of course," he agreed, letting his eyes close for a moment before the wind carried another scent to his nose. Eyes darted open and he jumped to his paws. His hackles rose underneath the badger pelt. But he recognized this scent.
As the pink lace female strode forwards, Possum offered her a genuine smile. "I am Possum, son of Adolfo and Fiereza," he announced. His tail wagged once. "You must be Alas... This is my friend, Calandra. She's trying to get home to the Outrider's territory. We were curious to if we could pass through Akiiki Chibale."
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 2:19 pm
Calandra caught the scent as well and froze, not sure if the wolf was coming their way or had simply crossed a breeze coming in their direction. Female. The called greeting and the appearance of Alas gave Calandra a target to focus her eyes on, but she relaxed slightly from her defensive posture when Possum called a familiar greeting. If this was Alas, the Alpha's mate, then this was a conversation they needed to have anyway.
"Greetings," she said, once Possum was done explaining the situation. "I hope we haven't offended you by crossing through your territory." Cali didn't sense any hostility or displeasure coming from the she-wolf, but it was always better to be safe rather than sorry later.
Just to be careful, Calandra checked the rest of the trees for reinforcements, but the woods were quiet again.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 2:42 pm
Alas smile turned brighter as she leapt over the river to sit infront of the two wolves. "Adolfo's son? My but you've all grown...time does pass quickly once your older." She held back a wry smile remembering when she first trained Adolfo. She looked Possum up and down before nodding.
"Your father is a good wolf, a good healer." She turned to Calandra and smiled before shaking her head. "No offense at all, your not one of Adolfo's children though?" She looked at the female curiously.
"Your both welcome to pass through the land, you may wish to avoid the western border however...we are having troubled time with Agua Azul..." She frowned slightly her blue eyes darkening.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 2:52 pm
Calandra gave a demure smile. "No, I am not one of Adolfo's children. I think I'm a few years too old for that. As Possum said, I'm just passing through on the way home. I'm a member of the Outrider's pack, several days south of here." She listened to Alas's warning, and then shook her head. "We shouldn't be going anywhere near the western border of your lands. Possum has somewhat explained the happenings of the area, and I've taken them to heart. I think he'll steer us fair-clear from them on the way back."
She smiled again. "Thank you for the safe-passage. If there is trouble, we'll be sure to keep our eyes out for anyone who seems as if they don't belong on your lands, then try to let you know."
She glanced down at Possum. "Right?"
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 3:33 pm
"I'm nearly a year old," Possum said. He nodded to Alas. He agreed with her wholeheartedly; his father -was- a good healer. And his mother was a good skinner... He smiled. What a perfect little family he had.
He gazed over at Calandra. He hoped she had a great family as well... His tail wagged briefly. "Right." His nod was sharp. "We will stay clear from Agua Azul as well. I do thank you, Alas of Akiiki Chibale... You are a good wolf and a worthy alpha."
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