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 Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:10 am
Taye had almost given up on his birth name completely. In this pack he was introduced, formally, as Oddspeech and somehow it was a name he was growing proud of. Not yet a full member, but a welcome guest, he felt more at home here than he had anywhere else before.
His weight was now average for a wild dog of his size, his health restored. In truth he should not remain, not put an added strain on this pack who had made him feel so welcome. But he was hesitant to leave, to wander back out alone into the unknown where all sorts of things might happen. It had never worried him before to strike out alone but it did now.
He was crawling along besides the line of a hedgerow, keeping close to cover as he sought a familiar face. He'd been here a while but he did not feel confident enough, yet, to speak with anyone but Wisdomchaser or the ones she had introduced him, too. He preferred lying alone amongst the group, listening to the stories and songs, but not involving himself too much. After all, not only was he shy, he was also an outsider and he felt too intrusive to join in unless the Chieftess encouraged such a thing. In the twilight, he paused to scent the air, drawing up both ears to check for any movement. Around him other wild dogs passed by, but none seemed to look his way. Taye was used to filtering into the background and moving unnoticed. After all he was as plain in looks as he was in personality. Nothing much to look at, in truth.
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:29 am
 Not all pack dogs were old members, in fact some of them had grown to adult-hood outside the pack. One member in particular, a young female who had recently taken the name of Lightfoot, was one such dog. Small and slender she barely looked old enough to be called an adult, but what she lacked in stature she more than made up for in speed. Choosing a new name for her new life had been easy as there was only two things that defined who she was. Timid, and fast. Her shyness was something she very much wanted to overcome, but as of yet had not found the courage to do so. Though just getting the heart to ask to join this friendly pack had taken all the guts she had possessed and she hadn't regretted a moment of it.
For the time being however the speedy little scout was resting, curled up under the shade of an ancient tree, the thick branches of the hedgerow formed the perfect wind-break behind her and the dappled shade was just the right temperature to ease her into a relaxed doze. Curled up with her flank against the rough bark, nose tucked neatly under one slender foreleg, her unusual amber-on-black eyes half-way closed, the young female was content to watch the world go by, completely unsuspecting of the fact that someone was slowly drawing nearer.
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:06 am
With a small, satisfied nod that he was as alone as he could be, he continued his creeping path through the trees, leaving the line of the hedgerow to make for water. He kept low to the ground, his paws moving swiftly despite the poor light. He had travelled this way before and knew, instinctively, where there were roots and stones that could trip unpractised paws.
So, when there was a wild dog lying where he did not expect it, the first thing he did was trip over her, sprawling forwards into the dirt and knocking his snout against stone. With a startled yelp, he scrabbled to get his paws back underneath him, whirling to see what he had stumbled over and backing away all the while.
The last thing he wanted was to direct any anger toward shim through his own sheer clumsiness.
"Um...uh...uh..."
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:14 am
She had thought her napping place relatively safe and out of the way, but when something large and furry suddenly barreled over her curled up form she let out a rather undignified yelp f surprise and shot up and backwards, ending up with her rump pressed half-way up the tree trunk and tail fluffed up like a lion's mane, stuck up straight behind her.
Wide orange eyes tared up at the stranger, her heart beating like a tribal drum in her ears and almost drowning out the stuttered words that the other was mouthing at her. Taking a couple of deep breaths in the hope that it would calm her thudding heart beat, she unlocked her forelegs and slithered to the ground, ending up sitting on her rump which was promptly rectified by slinking her chest low to the ground.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be in the way." Desperately trying to calm her trembling she whined softly in the back of her throat, apologetic. This male didn't seem like he wanted to bite her, but it was always better to be safe than sorry.
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:25 am
He'd run across a wild dog, apparently, a female of the pack. He couldn't say that he had met her before, but she seemed more afraid than angry, which was good for his immediate health, to be sure.
"Uh, um..." He was still stuttering helplessly, even as she settled low on the ground before the tree that had sheltered her as she slept. "N-not in way. Not in way at all." He dipped his head, lying his ears flat. "Oddspeech not look where going. Oddspeech sorry. Very sorry."
His head dipped lower still, the jut of his shoulders more defined by the moment. "You okay? Oddspeech not...not hurt?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:19 am
His submissive behavior did far more to calm her than her own feeble attempts at self-control. Ears pricking forwards she shifted, sliding forwards off the roots she had awkwardly crouched upon and settled on the flatter grassy earth.
His strange manner of speaking confused her for a moment but when he kept repeating a name she worked out that it was his.. and it certainly seemed to fit. As he continued to abase himself and apologize she lifted her head, a shy but kind smile finally curling across her muzzle. "I'm fine. It was just a surprise." Startled to find herself unafraid of the strange male and even offering comforting words, she smiled shyly at him again.
After a brief pause she blinked and added. "I'm Lightfoot, tis nice to meet you."
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Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:28 am
He relaxed a little at her own calm manner and lifted his head slightly to ease the strain in his neck. "Good. That good." His tail thumped once against the ground and then he rose onto his gangly legs and dared to lift an ear.
"Lightfoot live here? In pack? Real member?" He blinked, tilting his head, realising he'd given his Peke Na name and not his birth name. "Um, Oddspeech not really Oddspeech. Name Taye. Visitor here. Not...not full member."
Yet...
"Nice to meet you." He echoed. "You...sleeping there?"
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 4:25 am
Pleased when the other dog stood up, she let herself settle, tail lifting from where it had clamped itself between her legs. "Yes.. I joined recently." Her shy, tentative voice was smoother now, less uncertain. "Visitor, but you have been here longer than me, no?" She had gotten the feeling that the male knew his way around, while she was still learning.
Smiling shyly she pricked her ears. "You are still Oddspeech." Flushing a little at her own boldness she shook her head. "Resting, I didn't think anyone would come this way. Its nice to meet you too." She replied, smiling.
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 10:57 am
"A while, yes. Came across lands unexpected. Wisdomchaser find Oddspeech. Bring him here to recover. Stayed here since. He's...afraid to go back out there now but...Oddspeech not useful for a pack."
He was timid, clumsy and though good-natured and loyal, would probably not even be able to defend the lands against an attacker. There was no place here for him as far as he could see, and it hurt him to admit it.
"Lightfoot join? What...is Lightfoot's job here?" She seemed much like himself from what he could tell. Gentle and...shy. "Was...trying to sneak past without getting noticed. Oddspeech needs to practise at being quiet. Lightfoot's name, though, she move quiet?" Sneaking was something that he certainly would have liked to have been able to do properly, after all.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 11:02 am
As the male spoke Lightfoot forgot to be nervous and watched him curiously, though her ears went back in sadness at his comment.
"Don't say that!" Distressed she whined softly in the back of her throat, shyly padding forwards to nuzzle his ear gently, trying to make him feel better. "There is always a place for a pack member!" From what she had seen so far, this pack was very friendly. After all, they had allowed her to stay with them.
Pausing she nodded softly, an almost uncertain look passing over her expression. "I'm a scout." She had picked it when she had arrived, but so far she didn't feel like she was very good at it. She was hoping to find a teacher but being so nervous of the other dogs, she had yet to manage it. "I'm really fast... is why I was called that." She offered shyly. It was her one good point, her speed.
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 3:31 pm
The touch was comforting to say the least, though he folded his ears backed and dipped his nose a little. She was kind but he was not convinced that she spoke truth. "Oddspeech not know..." He trailed, unsure how to finish that sentence.
"Scout..." Oddspeech echoed softly. "Scouts need to move fast. Lightfoot has a good role here." He nodded, daring to draw his head up a little. "Lightfoot think there might be a role here for Oddspeech?" He wasn't sure he even dared to think it. But...to have a home at last, a pack he could view as family...
It was...a good thought, though perhaps scary, too.
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:52 am
She didn't scurry away again, but remained where she had stepped closer to him, her unusual orange-moon eyes on him, distracted from her own uncertainty by his far more skittish manner. His murmurings made her smile shyly and she nodded. "I hope so... I need to find a teacher but I am sure I will soon..." She sounded a lot more confident than she felt but she didn't dwell on it, his question was far more important than her mental babbling.
Nodding her head vigorously at him she smiled. "Yes! There most certainly is a role for you here. Maybe you can be a scout like me.. or do you like little ones?" That would have been her other choice, looking after the den's pups for their mothers. Not that she knew anything about parenting, but she thought the tiny pups were adorable and really.. how hard could it be looking after them for an hour or so?
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Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 6:53 am
"Scouts don't...need to be brave?" Taye asked, blinking worriedly. "I...I could maybe do that." His ears drooped a little. "Oddspeech does like puppies but...what if something happened to one of them when he was supposed to be watching?"
He wrinkled his nose in dismay.
"Scout probably best. Though responsible, too. Oddspeech could learn, maybe. Not want to let anyone down. Wouldn't want to be thrown out of pack." He drew in a small breath, feeling nervous about considering joining. "Will think on it. Would...would Lightfoot like help finding a teacher? Oddspeech could help. Maybe."
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:15 am
Smiling gently in encouragement she finally managed to forget her own nerves for a moment. "Not brave like a fighter is." She agreed, briefly trying to see herself in that type of role and suppressing a whine of distress. Shaking herself mentally she gave him an smile, the best expression she could come up with to encourage him.
"You can try scout and see how you like it. I am sure you can change if you wish to." Pausing she listened to his offer and dipped her head, really rather grateful to have some help in her quest. "I would like that. Do you know anyone who may help me learn?" Straightening she stepped forwards, figuring that if they were going to look for pack members, they should probably go to the main pack area, as few of the others came so far out on a regular basis enough to be of use.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:38 pm
Trying out the rank sounded like a fine idea to him. A fine idea indeed. That way if it wasn't for him he could try something else, maybe. He had to have had a talent hidden in him somewhere. All it needed was a bit of digging to find.
His nose wrinkled as he smiled, tongue lolling. "Then that's what we do. We learn to be scouts together." And with a soft tail-wag, he made a pact then and there, to help find his confidence and she hers.
"Oddspeech not know, but can't be hard to find. We look together, yes?" And he nodded as if in answer to his own question.
"We go now?"
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