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 Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:44 pm
There was a n** in the air, one he distinctly remembered from his first autumn and winter on his own. It was hard to believe how quickly time passed, especially when one was busy. He had put so much time and energy of his youth, a time when he should have been learning to hunt and socialize within the pack he had been born to, wandering as a lonely adolescent, gathering those who would listen into following his directions.
He was rather large for a wolf, huskily built, yet soft on the eyes. He had filled out nicely and was no longer the gangly youth that had been born far south. His pet was a rich indigo, streaked with gold, and he had since adorned himself with whatever golden trinkets he could wheedle out of others or steal on his own. He had gotten this far due to his smooth talking and, when needed, force, but that did not change the fact that he was still young and wet behind the ears to just what being alpha would mean.
He would discover these things soon enough. He had been slowly migrating towards the western side of Telk, towards the network of caves that he and Kai had decided long ago would belong to Incarnate. It was a safe haven, a place for the thieves to rest, regroup, raise young, and ride out the winters. The caves were nestled along a lake that was a sort of oasis in the drier, emptier region and the lands around it were nearly uninhabitable, so he doubted others would dare try to sneak upon them from behind. He was currently plodding along the riverbanks that lead towards the heart of the territory. It wasn't but a few day's walk away and he had passed up the Reign of Terror's terrain with little difficulty, skirting it widely.
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:18 pm
He stopped momentarily to n** a large thorn out of his yellow-marked pawpad. He had similar gold streaks in the fur around his jaws, and striping his ears. What wasn't gold was dark blue, or a softer light blue - striped down his back. His colors made hiding out very difficult, unless it was a particularly blue twilight hour, but even then he could probably be spotted a mile away if he didn't dig his paws in the dirt.
His bright yellow eyes scanned the horizon, showing the curiosity he was feeling over where he might be headed. He wondered if he was trespassing, or near to it. He wondered if he was indeed near a pack, was it hostile or friendly?
The blue male figured that he could just limp away or play dead if they were hostile, and take them for the fools they were likely to be if the pack was friendly. He hadn't taken advantage of anyone in a long time, and his thin and ragged appearance attested to that very fact.
But did it really matter? When his home had flooded long ago, he had never really thought about moving on. He had moved away from the flooding, sure, but who cared past that? He sure didn't.
Until now.
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:43 pm
Why was he suddenly thinking of home?
Or what used to be home?
The hefty, brightly colored male slowed to a halt. He had long since come to terms with the fact that hiding was just not meant for him. His bright colors made it almost impossible, thus he usually met strangers head on. He wasn't quite aware of just what had caused him to stop this time, as he hadn't heard any distinct noises and had merely been drifting through current issues in his mind. He hadn't expected to think of his mother or the alpha that had ultimately doomed the youngest and eldest of the pack by staying near the river during the rainy season.
He glanced towards the water for a moment, then lifted his muzzle to the air. He inhaled, quietly testing what scents the wind shifted in his direction... There! He knew that scent, although he had not spoken with the individual in many, many moons. Hesitancy wasn't like him, but he couldn't help it as he debated just what to do next.
He howled, calling for his brother, hoping that it wasn't merely his mind playing tricks on him.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:35 pm
The wanderer halted at the howl, nearly tripping over his bum leg. The noise stuck in his brain and rang in his ears. Was it familiar, or was he mistaken? He howled back, a tentative sound, inquisitive and wavering.
Something made him want to be near the howling being, but he knew not what that something was. Ohwell, he only got one life, so why not? Though, he remembered for a moment, that was how he came to only have total control of three legs.
He limped on, the hitch in his step not so bad in the middle of the day. When it got cold at night, or in the early morning, however, he was kind of useless. He needed a shaman badly, but hadn't been able to find one so far.
"Dasha here." he howled, wondering if he knew the wolf behind the voice.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:43 pm
"Dasha?"
His senses hadn't betrayed. He almost wasn't sure how to proceed, really. It had been so long since he had contact with any family, as he had long since left then behind to strike out on his own. He couldn't just ignore him. In fact, he couldn't fathom not responding, even if he had been on poor terms with the pack.
"It's Verdauga!" His hiked tail was wagging cheerily as he plodded in the direction of the voice. The bangles on his paws jingled slightly as he made his way and a broad smile was plastered across his golden flecked maw. It had been long, but he couldn't forget that scent.
He was, however, startled to see his brother. He was surprised at his own reflection in the river, as he had been only a youngster when he had set out on his journey. He didn't even really consider the fact that what remained of his family would be far different. What worried him the most, however, was the limp in Dasha's gait.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:52 pm
"Brotha-man!" he drawled, coming up on him. Like Verdauga, Dasha hadn't seen his family in a long time, and Dasha hadn't really looked at himself in the river in a long time either. He suddenly felt very self conscious when confronted with family. Was his fur slicked down alright, or sticking up everywhere?
"How you been doin, brotha?" Dasha couldn't even imagine. Verdie looked all big and strong, and looked like he had a whole pack hunting for him. Pack... was this a pack? Was it his own brother's pack? He smiled his crooked smile and let his crooked tail sway for the first time in forever.
He could feel the life returning to him as he stood there, on safe ground, with his brother and his future in front of him.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:04 pm
"I been well!" He saw little point in formalities and was quick to approach Dasha, who was looking a little worse for wear. There was little to no point in expressing this thought, as he didn't want to upset or embarrass him. Instead, he bumped his forehead affectionately against his brother's shoulder as he inhaled his scent. It had been far too long.
"What about y'self, bro? Yer lookin' a mite hungry? I can take care 'o that for ya, get ya nice 'n fed. Any word from the folks?" He was bubbling with questions, but tried to hold his tongue as he gestured towards the direction he had been heading. There was lots of work to be done before the other wolves began arriving and he was certain Kai would be one of the first. He wanted the borders clearly marked, so all who came near knew. He had to make time for Dasha, however, and part of him was on the verge of begging his brother to stay, so he could help him back to his paws.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:42 pm
"I reckon yes." he smiled up at his brother, thankful that he was so intuitive over how he might be feeling. He was hungry, and sick of wandering lonely for that matter. As crooked as he seemed, he needed family to get by.
"Nope, no word from nary a soul." he kinda frowned a bit, worrying about where his parents might be, though with how old the brothers were now, would their parents even be alive still?
"I been a'right, brotha, been all ovah evry'where." his chest puffed with a bit of pride that he had been able to walk so far in his life. Of course, he hadn't been hurt until just recently, and now he was lucky to have stopped here.
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Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:50 pm
"Ah, a shame~ I been wonderin' if that pack's still around, been seasons since I seen Ma." He bobbed his head sympathetically as he observed his dark, blue pelted brother. Despite color variation, they didn't look all that different from each other, they merely took after each parent. It was this that made him miss them both, after hardly thinking of them for so long. What were the odds, randomly running in to Dasha this way?
"Glad t'ear you been well-ish. I take that yer paw was hurt pretty recent?" He'd probably look worse off if it wasn't. No bother, there was use for each creature within the pack and he was willing to offer Dasha what he wanted. It was good to know there would be a wolf he could trust in a den of thieves, as well. Not that he didn't feel he could trust the ones he had recruited, but you never really knew.
"I'm settin' up a pack not far from 'ere, bro. Y'welcome t'join iffin' it suits yer fancy."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:36 am
Dasha shook his head. "Ain't seen Paw either."
The blue wolf shifted, trying to steady on three legs. It wasn't something he was entirely used to. "You could reckon that." was his answer. It hadn't been so long that it couldn't be saved, but it wasn't really fresh either. It was a nuisance at best, but he needed it fixed in any case.
His maw quirked in a smile at the invitation. A home, with his brother. Hmm, now, would that work out? Did he had the humility to serve under another wolf? He shrugged. Worth a try.
"Iffin' you don't mind, I reckon it'd suit my fancy just well enuff."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:02 pm
"That bites..." So, he hadn't heard from either. A shame, really, but such was the ways of the wild. He couldn't dwell on it for too long. Maybe, just maybe, once things were running smoothly, he could stop that way some time or another. He doubted it would be any time soonish.
"Well, I don't mind, bro. Y'welcome t'run with the pack for as long as yer wantin' to. No one else's arrived yet, but I'm 'spectin' 'em soon enough. Y'oughtta like most the lot, 'specially that Kai, 'e seems like the promising sort. Anyways, y'stick with us an' we can get ya patched up. I 'eared from that ol' sea-wolf that 'e'd be gettin' others t' come along. Mayhap he's got a 'ealer with 'im what can take a look at that. We can get ya nice 'n fed, too. Ain't far from 'ere, now. Just up the river." It was hard not to smile in response to Dasha's. It was a wonderful feeling, how everything was finally falling into place, after being on his own for so long.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:49 pm
Dasha nodded deep and low, happy to be included this way. Here he was with his brother, and that was good enough for him.
He followed the purple male up the river, his mind all a'twitter at meeting the other pack members. "Are they nice, brotha, like us folk?" he asked, looking up to his brother.
His eyes took in the yellow markings in his brother's fur, the ones that matched his own, if not in pattern, in color. It was a nice trait that they shared. He sometimes envied the purple his brother held, as though he were royalty, but for the most part, he loved the blues of his own coat just fine.
He limped along, following his brother as best he could, excited at the possibility of fixing his leg, eating a good meal, and being surrounded by good folk.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:10 pm
"Wellllll~"
He plodded along, slowing his pace to match his brother's limp, although he didn't acknowledge it. He wasn't in a rush, anyways. It would be a few days yet, before the others arrived. There was plenty of time to get back and start marking borders, even at a slower pace. Things would be fine, that much he could tell. The ones he found seemed good enough, but he wasn't sure what sort of riff raff Kai might be bringing back. He trusted the other southerner's judgement, however. He seemed fairly sound of mind, after all.
"A bit 'o this an' a bit 'o that." He cracked a grin as he recalled each wolf in his mind. They were certainly an odd crew, but all seemed trustworthy enough. Those who proved otherwise would be promptly removed from the pack, if they posed a threat. He was almost certain he could handle any curve balls thrown at him.
"Most of 'em 're like me. Sticky paws." He paused and wagged one, as if to emphasize his love for taking what wasn't his own. "But all of 'em seem like good wolves, beneath that, y'get me? I was careful with who I was askin' back 'ere an' only those willin' t' follow the code'll be kept 'round."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:26 pm
"Good, good" he acknowledged his brother's paw as it dangled. Sticky, eh? "Sounds like good fun, t'me" he winked, wiggling his own paw a bit off the ground.
So was that his brother's pack? A band of thieves? How wonderfully interesting, the blue wolf could hardly wait to begin his job training. He greatly adored shiny things, but had none of his own to speak for just yet. Soon though, with the pack's help. If they were allowed to keep things that they stole for themselves, that is.
But that was a question for a different time. Now they were headed to the pack so he could see everything. "Thissin' gonna be wondrous, brotha. Just wondrous."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:35 pm
"Oughtta be fun, I'm thinkin,' Dasha."
He sincerely hoped that his brother would be comfortable within the Incarnate pack. He was eager to get the ball rolling and the want to take from neighboring packs was practically causing his paws to burn with a want to work. All in good time, all in good time... But that didn't cause the large, indigo wolf to feel any less excited about it.
"Glad t'hear y'feel that way, bro~ I 'ope y'll be happy 'ere. I'm thinkin' it's all gonna run well 'nough. Lotsa interestin' things fer everyone t'do an' we oughtta be far 'nough out the way t'be discovered easy, when we're restin' and raisin' young." His voice began to fade as he led his brother into the distance, to where their futures would run side by side yet again, and Verdauga hoped it would remain that way or some time.
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