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 Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 12:41 pm
 It was cold, all alone, so... so alone. Yet, this was all the young pup had known for most his life. Loneliness meant safety, the cold may hurt and tear him apart but at least he wasn't around other wolves. At least he was safe. Other wolves would steal his food, other wolves would hurt him, other wolves were cruel. That's what mama said. Not only that, but mama was a great example of cruel wolves in her own right. She'd left him. Every wolf would leave him. It was never safe. Never. No matter how hungry he got, no matter how many times his body screamed in a desperate plea for warmth and food, he avoided even leaving his small cave he'd hidden in for oh so long.
To say the least, the young pup wasn't very pleased when the one time he decided to venture out for food he got found. His body couldn't take it anymore, no matter how much he wanted to stay in hiding he needed food. He needed to eat. His desperate search for anything other than rotten berries was cut short by wolves. Wolves.. not quite like mama, but big and scary none the less. If only he hadn't left his home! He should have stayed put! Oh, they're going to eat him! He's going to die! He couldn't howl or bark, no matter how much he tried to seem threatening or fight, he was too tired. He resigned himself to the fact that the wolves carrying him away were going to hurt him, maybe even make him prey. Maybe then it wouldn't be so cold...
It seems this group of wolves had other plans. Other pups... a warm wolf to snuggle up against... He had never felt so at peace, so safe, so warm. He could finally sleep, finally get some rest. He could finally close his eyes. Finally get food and warmth.
But, this wouldn't be the end of this young pups adventure.
It had been quite a while now since he had been taken off to this pack.. the 'swiftfell' they called themselves. Integrating this young boy into their ranks had been a struggle. Every movement sparked fear in him and he never wanted to leave the side of his now adopted mother. Even with her he was still scared. If she or any pup yipped or moved to quick he would be left shaking for the rest of the night. He would get better every day, but the change was so little.. so unnoticeable one may have given up by now.
Today, though, he felt a little courageous and had wandered away from his mother in the packs den area. He'd gone from a twig with legs barely able to hold himself up to quite a sturdy little pup, but he still toddled back and forth as he waddled along. Seems he wasn't quite used to walking around all that much still. Even so, he was turning out to be quite a promising wolf.
He didn't quite know what he was looking for, maybe some wolf that would allow him to hide between their paws, or a leaf to bat around and bite. Maybe, if he's lucky, a stick! Oh, he really wants a stick to fling around. Wouldn't that just be so fun!
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:12 pm
So it was that he had wandered into the central space between dens, lying in the shade of a large tree, stretched out on his side, listening to the rousings of the wolves in the dens around him as the sun began to set. The colors of dusk illuminated the gold paint that trailed down his scruff like a shooting star and made him glow in the otherwise dimly lit shadows.
The sounds of small paws moving lightly, albeit unsteady through grass and fallen leaves caught his attention and his ears swivveled towards the sound, drawing the behemoth wolf to his feet to follow after the adventurous pup, concerned that they might get lost or hurt.
He padded along quietly, the skilled practice of a wolf his age - though still impressive for his size. When the sounds of the dens grew dim, he frowned a little. "Little Wolf, you ought not travel so far from your mother." He called into the evening, the deep timber of his voice rumbling like a low growl.
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:28 pm
Pine hadn't quite noticed how far he had started to wander from his mother. He was far too used to the feeling of wandering all alone that he didn't even realize he shouldn't be alone from now on. By the time his small unsteady paws had begun treading further and further his mind was all but gone. He was searching for the perfect stick, after all! He wasn't tired, he wanted to toss around leaves and pounce on bugs. He felt safe when he fought leaves and bugs, they were small, he was big. When he fought bugs he was in charge.
He wasn't paying too much attention to his surroundings. Any faint scent of wolf was lost to his nose and as the night grew darker and darker the chances of him seeing Ash were quite tiny. A small, naive pup, in search of something to occupy his time.
He wasn't hoping this thing would turn out to be a voice, rumbling like a growl and all too commending. Pine let out a fearful yip, whirling around and around as he pressed his small body to the ground. His fur bristled slightly, his ears pressing back against the soft fur of his head. He blinked rapidly, his head whipping around side to side.
He opened his jaw to speak, let out another yip or a growl, but nothing came out. All he could muster up was the faint sound of a whimper as his body shook. The chances any wolf looking to hurt him would be this close to their home was small, even he knew that, he wasn't a fool, but still his fear devoured his mind like the beast it was, overwhelming him all too quickly. [Run! Run back to mama!] He urged his mind, but his legs wouldn't allow it.
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 5:31 pm
Ash couldn't help the timbre of his voice, it was just a part of who the behemoth was, but at the sound of fear that responded, his ears flicked back and he moved forward through the bushes and shadows, head rising to watch the pup turn one way, then another, eyes wide, ears back, fur standing on end.
Ash recognized the signs of fear as he observed, the puppy opening his mouth to cry out soundlessly, trembling in fear, flight instinct on high, but too frightened to move. He could smell the fear rolling off of the little one in waves.
He stepped out of the shadows between the trees, drawing himself to his full height, and he lowered his head slowly towards the puppy, before exhaling slowly into his face, trying to stimulate the instinct to inhale. "Breath, little one."
He slowly lowered himself until his legs were flat on the ground, his chest and belly pressed to the earth. "Easy, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." His ears flicked back and he sniffed the cub cautiously, identifying the scent that clung to him as the healer's. He must have been the abandoned pup they'd brought in from outside of the territory.
"Deep breath, count to four on your inhale, hold it for a second, then count to four on the exhale. It'll help." He spoke quietly, trying to soften his voice.
"There's nothing to fear. I'm a friend here." he promised as gently as he could manage.
He crawled forward slowly on his belly so his large paws straddled the pup on either side, a warm anchor for security, but also to prevent him from bolting, afraid he might get lost in the dark if terror overrode his sense of self.
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 5:52 pm
[ Run! Run back home! No, you'll be leading him to the pack! No, hold still, run the other way, run, sit still, wait, fight! ] The conflict in his brain was absurd. One little growl like tone and he was sent flying through a watery abyss of confusion and fear. He wanted to be big and strong, to fight and prove he wasn't just a little tiny pup, but.. he couldn't. Planted to the ground, his claws like roots, forcing him to not move his paws from where they lay. The uncomfortable twigs and leaves scratched at his stomach but he held still.
He didn't know what it was when the stranger approached, maybe he recognized them from his short time in this pack.. maybe his scent reminded him of the wolves that he'd feel curled up with for the last few nights. Or, maybe, just maybe, his looming form which towered above the rest reminded him of something older. He hadn't seen a wolf like mama since.. well.. since her! He didn't bolt, thanks to this. Who knows what he would've done had Ash not caught him off guard with that resemblance.
As the breath hit his face he scrunched up his eyes, his ears shaking as he shook his head back and forth while drawing it back a bit. Breath... OH! He had to breath! He took in a quick breath, quickly opening his eyes again to watch the large wolf approach. His gaze never seemed to leave Ash, as he sniffed him, gave him directions. Every movement was followed by his eyes. It was almost calculated, in an odd way. A paranoia that seeped its way into his mind and forced him to be aware of every movement and every part of this new thing. If he didn't, then he'd end up prey, or, that's what he thought.
He followed his direction without much trouble as his shaking calmed, eventually deciding that if this wolf were going to harm him it would have happened already. He stayed pressed down to the ground, though. When he crawled forward Pine moved back a little bit, but ended up not trying to run when the large paws surrounded him. Pines gaze scanned him for one final time before he finally mustered up the courage to speak. "H-Hello.." He yipped softly, at a loss for any other words. "Swiftfell..?" This wolf must be apart of his own pack, he had no doubt about that now, but confirmation never hurt.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2020 6:42 pm
Ash was patient - he was kind. He waited for the little pup's trembling to ease, and for his breathing and his panic to abate. He was keenly aware of the scruitinizing gaze of the wolfling. He was keen, for his age.
Something about the little one's reaction to him made him curious about what prior experience he might have had with Berserker wolves, because instead of the sheer terror Ash expected, he seemed almost... comforted.
"Hello to you too. I am in fact a member of your pack - yes. I'm a protector of Swiftfell. I didn't mean to scare you, little one. I simply worried for your safety." he explained, nosing the pup's cheek to reassure him.
"There's nothing to fear. I won't let harm come to you. Come, we should return to your litter mates - I am certain your mother must be worried." he insisted lightly, leveling his head to meet the puppy's eyes.
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