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 Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:56 pm
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:10 pm
The wind was gently sweeping against the coast, pulling and splaying the waves in low strokes across the earth and sand. Had it not been for the considerable permeation of the sand small dust plumes might have kicked up, but as it were, the rocky stones littering the beach kept the small flurries from getting far. But of what portion the wind did move gave the water a hazy appearance. Summer had warmed it to a tolerable temperature, and it had now receded somewhat into being a paler blue then the navy darkness winter had brought it into. It was settling- but to the long black male, it was still a force of confusion to him.
Phib found himself strolling. He did not care much today to go out into the freelands, and opted to stay more closely to home. He was brooding again, not that he did much else, and the thick lines of age were apparent on his forehead. It was odd for him to be so alienated with water, and yet he was surrounded by it. Magic too, apparently, had begun to attract itself to him. Strange things which he had no name for, and he could only accept that they would haunt him for the time. But it would do.
He had never liked the water much, so to walk too closely to it inadvertently caused his fur to bristle somewhat. It gave him the illusion of being even larger then he was. There was a certain coolness to the water today that attracted him though, and meekly he allowed the water to faintly lap at his toes. Otherwise, he was at ease in his brooding.
It was coming time for him to pay a visit to Hige, he imagined. They had a crucial spot in the landscape of being either a sore in his side, or an eager ally. Such a large pack would have to be handled carefully- and he did not like the idea of making an enemy of the other male. But from what he'd heard, the brute seemed like a good sort- and hopefully that would ease things. If this was taken care of however, he would have his entire western border covered, save for a few small outcroppings. But ah, time would have to deal with that.
He snorted, a sudden scent catching his nose. It was shocking enough to bring his head forward, for he had not expected anyone this far east on the beaches. A small pup sat upon a smooth rock looking tired, and tilting his head to the side, the black wolf shifted his tail. He'd run into vagabonds before- but it was a bit different to see lone pups out on the sea coast. Steadily he screwed his brow and trotted forward, the end of his tail haphazardly arcing. "Well, hello there."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:19 pm
Malik's ear twitched as he peered upwards, a large figure towering over him. He didn't expect it and quickly scooted off the rock and into a bush right behind him. His red eyes watched this wolf with interest, he had a black pelt just like him, yet their was a certain strength and elegance Malik could sense from him. But was he friend or foe?
His father had taught him to never wander far, nad never be caught against an opponent that seemed odd, in one way or another. Malik's nose scrunched up as the scent of the salty air also fermented from this wolf as well. Malik would have turned and bolted in one direction, yet he did not know where he was at all. He just stared up at this new wolf, this new face. But something struck Malik...
He hadn't attacked or made a threatening jesture. Perhaps, it was safe to reveal himself, let him be seen. What else was he to do? Malik stepped out from the cover of the underbrush and stepped in front of the towering wolf, but Malik did feel like he was intruding upon these lands...perhaps this wolf was the alpha?
"I'm sorry..." Malik said, standing up straighter then before, as if trying to impress the wolf, or show no fear to the new wolf, "If I've ventured too far into these parts...I just...I don't know where to go."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:27 pm
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:37 pm
"Lost..." Malik could describe his situation by being lost, separated from all he knew and loved, now with nothing, now way of getting back, what was even stranger, was that not even his father could find him,"Did he even try to find me?" Malik thought as he stood before this wolf, contemplating on what to say next. Perhaps his father didn't search for him, perhaps...he had done something wrong, maybe...maybe they abandoned him. Malik wasn't sure what to think, his tail now swaying back and forth in a slow steady motion,
"Lost is one word for it...I just don't have anywhere to go. I was separated from my pack a few days ago...haven't been able to find them, haven't even heard them howl out to find me." Malik's ears lowered and flattened against his head, the idea of being abandoned seemed more suitable now. It sadened him, but made Malik want to become stronger and faster nad better than what he had hoped before, to be better then his expectations, even his father's expectations.
Malik stared up into this wolf's eyes, a certain questioning view peered back into his eyes. That salty scent again touched Malik's nose, but this time with more potentcy, making his nose scrunch up , as if to sneeze, but if faded."What is that smell?" Malik wondered, but that was to be found out later, he wished to know who stood before him, Malik figured it would be proper for him to be the first of the introductions, for Malik would most likely be considered an intruder or trespasser,
"I'm Malik..." he said calmy, bowing his head slightly then raising it again once more to meet the eyes of the towering figure. To bow before an elder stronger wolf was proper in his pack, he wondered if it was the same for the pack this wolf belonged to. Malik's tail seemed to sway and writh a bit more, perhaps mimicing the wolf before him, but it wasn't intentional.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:52 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:01 pm
Malik sat back onto the ground for he was a bit tired, but that smell...ugh that smell was driving him crazy. Not that it was a bad smell, it just intrigued him, he had never known of a scent like this before,
"From the northern lands, in the mountains that surrounded a haven valley. Its quite far..." Malik watched as the wolf began to think, or at least it seemed like he was getting lost in thought, until he revealed his name.
"Phib?" Malik knew he had heard of that name before, but he couldn't place it, his memory was not that detailed at times. Also, now Malik knew Phib was the alpha of the lands around him, but then...what would happen next? Would he be sent from this land too? It seemed like luck and fate was not throwing Malik fair situations, perhaps he would be forced to leave here as well. Malik truly hated being alone, the past few days had been like torture to him, and now, with no family or home to call his own, Malik felt even more lost and distraught then before. But he tried to get his mind off of what he had and then lost, he may never get a family pack life again he thought, his mind sometimes played cruel tricks on him, having him believe there was no lighter and enjoyable side when bad things happen.
"Phib..." Malik asked quietly then before, "If you don't mind me asking...what is that smell from? Is it from a lake?" he asked, referring to teh salty smell on the air.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:17 pm
The old king listened quietly, the end of his tail switching. A valley pack? It seemed vaguely familiar, but he did not know of any such true place. Not from when he lived in the north and ruled South Pack. But then again, they had been somewhat isolated themselves in their own little world of politics and war. "A far way for a child to travel," he added, his voice thrumming. "What has spread you so far from your family? Were you traveling?" he nosed. Although he might have been a bit more reserved in questioning an adult, he saw no wrong in questioning a child. But already he had a feeling that he would not know this place, nor the reason for the child's separation.
"The smell?" Phib blinked, and glanced in the direction of the ocean. "Ocean, if you mean the salt. It spreads all through the coastline, and further east and west."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:23 pm
Malik's expression seemed to saden slightly with Phib's question,
"We were trying to travel into the valley, but we couldn't find the path that would lead us there. There was supposed to be a fairly large pack within the valley...but one day after we decided to turn back, many were thirsty and hungry...thick black smoke could be seen coming over the mountains that sealed the valley off." Malik's tail stopped swaying but merely curled up a bit, "There was a bit of a panic, and everyone scattered...I couldn't find them...I tried so hard, but I couldn't find them..."
"I wonder if they noticed I'm gone...I wonder is they even care anymore..." Malik wondered within his mind. But his spirit raised a bit with Phib mentioning of an ocean, but what was an ocean.
"Whats an ocean?" Malik asked titled his head looking at Phib intently, he tried to get off the subject of his family, he would probably never see them again, if he hadn't found them or heard from them yet, they probably didn't want him back.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:32 pm
Phib squinted his eyes in thought as he considered the story. He was not so easily distracted from it as Malik might have been- for truly he did wish to have some sort of answer for the child. But the more he thought on it, it became more apparently that he did not in fact have any sort of response for him. Wolves were capable of anything in the midst of a panic, including accidental abandonment. The instinct to survive could be great within them. It allowed them to cut connections quickly if life demanded it of them. It was possible then that his parents would not be looking for him. That seemed most unfortunate, and reflectively, he flattened his ears in consideration. Not something he could exactly voice to children, however.
His thoughts were shaken again by the young wolf's speech, and he turned his head somewhat to view the puppy wriggling about. "An ocean? It is a large body of water. It's undrinkable, so it never dries up." He responded simply, and angled his muzzle in the direction of the farther off water. "There is no end to it, but if you walk long enough it will cut an edge around the woods."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:40 pm
The ocean seemed so interesting, water that would never dry up, but undrinkable? Seemed so strange to the dark colored pup whose eyes were wandering the area around him. Then another scent caught his attention, another wolf? That would make sense, if Phib was an Alpha, his packmates would not be too far away. Malik walked over to teh rock he had been on before and sat on it in full view of Phib, he seemd like he was placing himself upon a scaffold for which he would be dubbed a punishment,
"I'm sorry if I've been a bother Phib." Where was this coming from? What internal thoughts were making Malik feel like he was a bother? It would seem that losing his family would make an idea such as never being accepted anywhere else try to be forcefully etched into his mind. Surely Phib had enough to handle being an alpha, the last thing he probably needed was some random pup wandering around his lands who he barely knew. But somewhere deep in his heart Malik knew that it was totally Phib's decision if he should stay or go, if Phib said to leave, Malik would obey, his small form would not pose a great threat against the large muscular male. But if he was to go, he hoped he would get a wuick glance at what an ocean was.
Malik curled his tail around himself and waited, seemed to be waiting for a punishment rather than an answer to his next question,
"Would you rather me leave?" Malik didn't want to be a bother, perhaps that was the reason why his family never came for him, if he was a bother to others.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:51 pm
He pulled his head back in surprise, and blinked. "Leave? There's no reason to leave unless you feel like going. You may stay as long as you will." And in fact, guilty conscience probably would not have let him allow the small child to leave on his own, not without some sort of destination or adult for protection. Ame would never forgive him, he thought with a faint tilt of his head. As if on cue, he could have sworn he felt a slight giggle in his head.
Phib took a moment to rearrange is thoughts and spoke again. "It is no bother to me, or my pack to have a child about." As if in resolve to show his sincerity, he smiled, but it was a foreign expression on his typically stern face. "No need to feel a bother."
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:58 pm
Malik's expression seemed to begin to lighten, as if a heavy sorrow over his small frame was lifted slightly enabling him to breath. For once in the past few days, he actually felt like he may belong somewhere, despite what his mind may trick him to believe. Malik jumped down from his perch on teh stone and stood before Phib, trying to look noble in his oh-so-high-and-mighty stance of his.
Malik truly wondered if Phib was actually allowing him to stay, and be one within his pack, if that was the case, Malik would try to fulfill any request Phib would ask of him, whether it be to scout out something, or try to find food or water, little jobs such as those were what he had to do previously. Malik's tail swayed back and forth happily as he stood up straight, and then bowed his head in front of Phib once again, breaking eye contact with the alpha wolf,
"I would be honored...if I could stay here with you...and your pack Phib." Malik kept his head down, awaiting reply, he didn't want to make any odd jestures that might be taken the wrong way.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:18 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:27 pm
Malik raised his head and looked up at Phib with what appeared to be a slight smile on his face. His tail curled behind him as Malik stood straight up, or as much as he could, his paws were a bit sore from his long journey, but now...now he had a home. The sadness of losing his previous family was slowly beginning to fade, for now, today, was the beginning of a new time, a new era in the pup's lifetime. He was getting a second chance, he was now going to be within a new pack, he would have a new family. This made a certain brightness glow in his eyes.
"I would veyr much like that Phib..." he said calmy. He wondered who else was in the pack, what they looked like, it was like being born all over again, for lack of a better description. Malik stepped to Phib's right side and looked up at him, smiling. Malik wondered if Phib would ever know of the happiness he had brought the young pup. But no matter, Malik would show his gratitude by becoming a part of Phib's pack, and Malik would try to surpass what he thought was possible of himself. All of this ran through the pups mind as he waited at Phibs's side,
"Where should we go now?"
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