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 Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 7:22 pm
 Sin had been thinking about Odi lately, his thoughts flicking between the subject of Odi being his right hand and Ara. He had seemingly decided that Odi would not be best for that position. No, he had someone else in mind, Ixen. Unlike Odi, Ixen could control his temper and would not go completely berserk under tough situations. He could give Sin resistance and also help the sometimes rash male think before acting in a way that did not anger Sin.
Sin trusted Ixen, and he also trusted Odi, but when it came down to it Ixen won. Now, he would have to ask the red fox if he would be willing to accept this role. Aka was entitled to power as her role of Shaman gave her that ability, but even the Shaman would need ordering when Sin was out on his monthly journeys.
Yet there was something else that had been on his mind relating to the yellow marked fox, and it was his mate, Araci something. He had forgotten her full name, but then again it hardly mattered to him. She had been a curious subject to think of. She obviously did something for Odi, she helped maintain his already frail sanity, and while the tribe accepted all personalities and sanities Odi was one that needed some gently observance. Odi was a danger if released in a bad situation, but she seemed to help him. He liked Odi, he was happy to give him a home, he was so similar to Sin in some ways that the fox was glad to have him. He also needed help.
Ara made this fox happy, and his response to her had seemingly bothered Odi. His performance lacked recently. It seemed only the tactical thing to accept her. She had angered Sin, but even he was forgiving, if it benefited him. His acceptance would help push Odi forward, and would ease the tension between the three.
It seemed females were giving Sin a tough time these days...
The male was resting on the border of his tribe, searching for Ara. He had been coming here every afternoon for an hour for the past week. He had a feeling she would wander back here one day.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:13 pm
 Ara was simply wandering around today. She had been doing that a lot lately, and all around Cruor lands. She wasn't looking for Odi, they had met recently and he wouldn't be back for a day or two at the earliest.
Ara wasn't actually sure what she was doing. She was a wanderer, a nomad, but if you asked she could make such a detailed map of Cruor borderlines that not even a Phim or Daeva could do better.
What she wanted in life had changed. She blamed Odi for that; she'd never felt the urge to settle down anywhere before she'd found a mate. Now? When she watched Odi vanish back into Cruor lands she couldn't help but wish to go with him.
He had asked her if she intended to join the tribe. Ara's answer was that she had to think about it, and she'd need to talk to someone. She hadn't said who, not wanting to worry Odi. He would have had good reason to worry; the "someone" was Sin, Elder of the Cruor Tribe.
It didn't help that she and Sin hadn't gotten off to a good first start. To say he was unhappy with their keeping their mating a secret would be akin to calling a hurricane a breeze. If Ara ever intended to join Cruor, she and Sin would have to make their peace with each other.
These were the thoughts going through the red female's head. She wasn't paying the strictest attention to her surroundings, as Odi was the only fox she'd ever seen come close to Cruor borders. Everything else tended to steer clear of the bloody tribe.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:39 pm
Sin had not seen Ara at first, he was more list in the matters of his tribe. Really, he needed to pull them together, and he seemed to feel as it was working, for now. In fact, he felt safe enough to think of making the tribe official, to take his tribe to the last stepping stone to the first step forward. His tribe was growing slowly but surely, and everyone was bonding. Yet, he would need to speak to Ixen. He was an independent fox, but he knew his temper and rage could slip. He needed a mediator.
His pure black eyes flipped as a red flicker danced in the corner of his eyes. He already knew who it was, his poor smelling abilities finally kicking in to catch that familiar scent. The b***h that had destroyed Odi's mind.
No, he needed to stop calling her that. She was good for Odi. She healed him. He couldn't keep this hateful slandering, despite how much he wanted to. Anyway, he enjoyed that her tongue was quick enough to parry with his cruel words, deflecting them long enough to say how she felt.
He didn't approach her, she would come to him. He merely sat there, watching her. She was approaching Cruor land, she wanted something. Odi was not here, it must not be a meeting. Then, what did she want?
The blood stained fox was content with eyeing the odd looking vixen. What did Odi see in her?
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:59 pm
Ara usually knew when she was in Cruor lands and when she wasn't. She wasn't sure if it was the lay of the land, the smell, or both. Both apparently, as she halted.
She was almost certain she was still walking the border, but the smell was wrong. Must stronger. It would have been unfair to say those of the Cruor tribe stank, because most of them didn't. In fact, only their leader gave off the smell of decay that made their tribe so notable. Secretly Ara wished to shove the male into a lake, but she kept that impluse in check.
If the smell was stronger, that meant Sin was around. Ara hesistated, scanning the forest. Should she go and find him? She needed to, talking to the Elder usually meant having the Elder there. It was also lucky for her that she didn't have to go through Odi to find the male.
Still, Ara wasn't to fond of the black and red male. He didn't scare her, not in the way he probably thought he did. Her main upset with him was how he had punished Odi, and forced him to pick sides for the briefest moment. Her heart still ached when she remembered that horrible moment.
Turns out it didn't matter if she wanted to meet him or not. Ara's keen eyes picked out a black coat in the foliage. She sighed and trudged forward. She wasn't really sure what she was going to say to the male. She'd hate to have a fight or chase go down; it would effectively ruin her chances of seeing Odi again. She stopped ten feet away and sat, going eye for eye with Sin and waiting for him to make the next move.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:06 pm
((Occ:// Lol! Push him in a lake, I'd love to see what happens!))
Sin didn't move as Ara approached, perfectly calm and unmoving. Most would say he would love to start a fight. He would. However this was Ara, someone he needed to stick around for Odi. His tribe was important to him, he cared for it intensely. If someone helped his member, well he wouldn't harm them. She had been a threat, but a threat he had maintained and fixed. Now, Odi knew what to expect. Now Odi would listen. He had even given Odi doubt about Ara, about her staying.
She stopped before him and the male raised an eyebrow at her. He knew where the border was, and if she stepped past it she would belong to Cruor in seconds. He knew she knew the terms.
She stayed there and met his eyes, the larger muscular fox twitched his head in lazy relaxation as he scratched the top of his head with a paw. Really, he did like taking his time. Finally, he focused on Ara.
"Odi isn't here, so I assume you have another reason to be so close to our borders? I hope you remember the terms." He drew his paw along the Cruor border, right where it edged. She was a fair steps away, still safe.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:19 pm
Ara laughed, truly amused; you could tell by the sparkling in her eyes. "I know the borders. If fact, you could say outsiders recognize my scent as a border-marker."
She paused at her own words; they just seemed to strike home the realization of how long she'd spent in one area, something previous unheard of for her.
She tilted her head slightly. "You are right though, I do have a reason to be here. It does involve Odi, in a sense." Ara stopped, hesitating. She wasn't quite sure how to continue.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:24 pm
Sin tilted his head. Oh? So she had something to say about Odi? He didn't smile at her laughter, however did note how she mentioned how much she stuck around the borders. Did she truly wait for Odi that much? Even to him that was strange. Didn't she have somewhere to go while she waited for her mate? Or did Odi just pop up to see her whenever he felt like it? Even though she wasn't his concern he still felt like this was unfair. Seriously, being the elder-to-be of a tribe had calmed this male down considerably. He was actually having thoughts for others.
"Then why are you here?" He questioned her, sensing her hesitation. His eyes suddenly narrowed, a protective stance suddenly shivering down him, legs and body standing in this stance.
"If you are here to break it off with Odi then don't think you'll be leaving with all limbs." He snarled. He knew it. This vixen was going to break Odi's heart. He couldn't have that.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:38 pm
"It's not that," Ara said, looking down at the ground. Inside her mind a war was taking place.
On one side was her entire life, from the moment she left her parents to wander on her own to just a few days after the first time she'd ever met Odi. The other side was Odi, all the moments they'd had together up until this present moment.
Her life had changed, she had changed since meeting the gray and yellow fox. She gave Odi her calm and contentment, he gave her a sarcastic wit and the power to stand her ground, consequences be damned. This talk with Sin might change her entire life-style, but, really, hadn't it already changed.
Ara looked up again, eyes hardened with fresh resolve. She needed to settle something first though, before she made her final move. "Can we ever accept each other, you and I? I'm not keen on you, and I'm sure the feeling's mutual, but could we ever put aside those feelings and just-," Ara hesistated, searching for the words, "-just be a family?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:03 am
The elder-to-be relaxed instantaneously when his theory was denied. Good she was not here to hurt Odi.
The red vixen continued her silence, probably thinking. Sin was an impatient fox, but recently he had been learning to cope with this. Being an elder-to-be had changed this male ever so slightly. He was... different these days.
Finally, she spoke. He didn't portray the sudden rush of surprise he felt, nor the thoughts. 'Accept you? Never. I don't want to be in your family. Your kind think they are better then us.'
No, he needed to stop. She was here for Odi. She was Odi's mate. He had said before when it came to Dakari, anyone related to Dakari was family until Dakari said otherwise. Why couldn't Ara be? She wasn't Odi's life-mate, but he had a feeling she was staying.
Acceptance was important for both Odi and the branching of the tribe. The members would feel safer bringing their mates near the tribe. And really, Ara was an interesting fox. Maybe he could set aside their past tiffs.
"Why are you looking for a change? Before it seemed you hardly cared for what I thought."
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:22 pm
Ara's lips twitched into an ironic smile then settled back into their previous expression. The last time they had talked, Sin had been accusing her of simply leading Odi on; she'd perfectly good reasons for not disliking what Sin said.
"Things have already changed. Before Odi, I was a nomad." Ara shrugged. "I rarely stayed anywhere long. Now? I hardly leave the border, for fear I might miss getting to see him.
I thought it might be time to settle down." Ara's voice faded out, the last words hardly more than a mumble. She hadn't realized the effort it would take to say them aloud.
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:11 pm
Sin's thoughts flickered as she spoke her last sentence, eyeing her as if waiting for the pun. She wanted to settle down? Did she mean here? Or did she mean to take Odi away from his home? This place was a home for Odi's kind, a welcoming and caring home. A home that had claws, claws made to strike down the outside world and protect its innards.
He stepped closer to Ara, tail wrapping around his body as he eyed the female. He could guess what this vixen meant. He knew.
"Will you be Odi's life-mate?" He questioned her, almost demanded. "I want you to swear it. Swear you will be there for his worst moments, and his best. If you swear then I will not hold this grudge against you."
But if she didn't, well he would have to remove her. Of course, he would tell Odi, but in the end who would be the winner? Sin or Ara? He would accept her if she was devoted to Odi. Odi was family, and so Sin was going to do his best to make sure his family did not hurt.
"If you swear, I'll even call you part of the family."
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:30 pm
"I swear. For as long as Odi wants me there, I'll be at his side."
Ara hesitated. She had more say, but the words felt like a giant weight in her chest that did not want to be dislodged.
"I must talk with Odi first to get his input but-" Ara hesitated, then pushed the words out so they tumbled from her mouth in a rush, "-if we agree then I would like to join your tribe."
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:39 pm
He seemed pleased with her answer, even flashing her an approving smirk.
Until she finished her little "talk".
His mind reeled, he had been guessing this was the case but hearing her say it, well, it was strange. Someone like her wanted a place in Cruor? Why? She wasn't... broken. Was she? Then again, you didn't have to be broken to be a part of Cruor. It just seemed to work out that way.
She could be useful. She was there for Odi. She would make him happy. And, to be honest her personality seemed like it would please everyone.
If they had kits, then the kits would never have to experience being without a parent. They would have both parents and Carer's. Also, since she was Odi's mate, she would benefit Odi.
"You would be welcomed here." That was all he said. He didn't know what else to say. She wanted a place in Cruor? Then she was welcomed.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:11 pm
Ara nodded. All her muscles were tense, as though she expected danger. The only danger was in her mind, as she prepared to replace one way of living with another.
"I must speak to Odi first," she said, thinking as she went. "I don't want-, I want this to be something we talk about together as mates." Her voice finished on a determined note, and she met Sin's gaze. "You'll have the final answer the next time I see him."
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:19 pm
Sin nodded, turning his head to glance behind him before stepping back a few steps. "Then speak to him. If you decide to join us then you may approach our camp ground without attack. If you don't, your life will remain as it has until this day. You will live outside this border, and the terms still remain." He was being far more lenient then most saw him as.
He did not feel a need to threaten her. No. She was far above that. She was not vermin to him. A nuisance, but only because she could hurt Odi and Sin had hardly a say in it. But if she joined, she would be valuable. A good addition.
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