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 Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:57 am
Helios, as promised, wandered off of what he knew to be Zagreus' land. He even went a little further. That is, until he was sure the black wolf wasn't following him any more. Promptly, then, he headed back into the territory.
Helios didn't think to cover his tracks, to go this way and that over stone and water so that his scent wasn't as trackable. He simply believed noone was real smart enough to catch him off guard. Again... He did, however, now keep his eyes open, watching the lay of the land and beginning to create a mental image of this place.
He pooled what he knew of the pack. There was at least Zagreus, his mate and their spawn - who knew how many or how old - Ouranos and that odd pale female, Anya? she was a fighter and Helios wasn't keen to take on the big pale wolf. Apart from that he wasn't sure. They had all implied others but there could be 8 pups or 20 large fighters. He needed to find a new source of information, perhaps one of the wolves who didn't know him? He'd have to find them sharp-ish, he was sure Zagreus would sully his good name if left long enough.
Thus, whilst he was observing the teritory he kept his nose to the air, searching out the scent of any others who might be around at this southern end of the territory. Just one would be enough, really, one to let him know how many, how strong, how likely they might be to come over to his side... It would certainly make his preparations a lot easier.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:34 am
Persephone wasn't really sure what she was doing so far out here. Normally when she was attempting to hunt, she stayed relatively near to the den. But today, she had somehow found herself wandering further out into the packlands. There were new wolves in the pack now, ones that she didn't know and wasn't entirely sure of. Zagreus had also warned them that there might be wolves about that weren't welcome in the packlands. Maybe she shouldn't have come out so far afterall actually.. What if she ran into one? If Zagreus and Calliope and Ouranos said that they weren't welcome, then they must be bad wolves...
Persephone was so lost in her own thoughts as she trekked along that she managed to miss the unfamiliar scent in the air. The snow crunched beneath her pale paws and clung in small hard lumps to the fur on her legs. She quite liked the snow. It was cold and wet, but she didn't feel like she stood out so much when the land was as white as she was. It was cloudy today too, which meant no sun to shine on the snow and hurt her sensitive eyes. Persephone didn't like the sun much.
As her red eyes flickered over the snowy landscape, the young albino paused. There were pawprints here that weren't hers.. They were big ones too - too big to be Gavan's or one of the pups. Maybe Ouranos had come out here? Maybe it was time she turned back. Somewhat unsure of what was going on, the white female turned, deciding to head back the way she had come.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:52 am
Helios did not at all like the snow. It generally made him wet and grumpy and generally miserable. Just as he was beginning to feel this way about the soggy, white menace however, he found himself catching the scent of another wolf he was not familiar with.
It had a similar-ish scent to Zagreus, Ouranos, Anya - from the same pack, even den probably - it was a youngish wolf but an adult and most definately a she-wolf. Helios found, suddenly, that he had a little more spring in his step, a little cheeryness to counterbalance the misery of the snow. He followed his nose, trying to catch sight of whatever delightful female was calling to him with such an alluring scent, good eye swivelling back and forth amongst the trees and brush.
If it hadn't been for the fact she was moving he'd have never seen her. She was snow itself, pure white and glistening, almost invisible against the white blanket which covered the land. She seemed to be a small female, her fur sopure and fine that patches of pale pinkish skin showed through at her throat, nose, belly. So tiny and perfect. Like a white rose.
Helios's mind waxed lyrical as be trotted forward, none too silently, giving out a friendly "Wuff" of greeting, letting her know he was there. He wanted to give a good impression. Maybe he should try to play it cool... he pondered over the merits of getting information by seducing this sweet rosebud or asking her and decided that he'd obviously bowl her over anyway so he might as well give it his all. Cooly, though, don't want to seem over-keen - that would be suspicious? Of course Helios' idea of 'cool' and 'over-keen' were slightly different to most wolves...
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:51 pm
Just as Persephone had turned to head back to the den and her packmates, she caught sight of a movement in the corner of her eye. Warily, the young female spun around, her crimson eyes searching for the source. Just as she caught sight of the large, golden wolf, he called a greeting out to her. She didn't think he was from the pack - he wasn't even one of the new wolves. Was this one of the intruders that Zagreus mentioned? He was a lot bigger than she was..
Backing off, Persephone stared at Helios nervously. She wished that Gavan, or Zagreus or anyone else was here to back her up.
"..Who... who are you?" she began, watching him carefully. Could he keep up if she made a break for it? Probably. What did he want here from her?
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:14 pm
Helios could see her nervousness right away and felt that it could only work to his advantage. "Hey now, no need to be so twitchy. Sorry if I crept up on you, darling, didn't mean to... Forgive me for being so rude, your question. I'm Helios" he grinned wolfishly, you could practically hear the 'sparkle' of his smile. "I'm sorry to intrude, didn't mean to wander through anothers lands but, well, I lost a friend and I'm looning for her." he tried to look mildly apologetic and 'oh dear I am a naughty boy aren't I?'.
"Are you the alpha of these lands?" it was obvious she was not even if Helios had not known otherwise but she was young, maybe she had aspirations. Even if she did not she might like the flattery. "I must say I've never seen so pretty an alpha before" he added softly. It never hurt to butter up someone you wanted something from.
"Perhaps you might have seen my friend. She's small, dark brown?" he asked, trying to throw in so many questions and such she'd at least have to pause to answer him. Right now she looked ready to flee.
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:15 am
"No.. no it's ok.." Persephone replied, realising that he was not attacking or being threatening in any way. Now that he was closer, she could see that he was a rather handsome wolf. He did have a nasty scar over his face, but that didn't mean he was bad. Zagreus had a chunk missing out of his ear, afterall, and he was nice.
As Helios continued to speak, Persephone began to calm down a little. He did seem rather nice too. "Oh.. I'm sorry.. I haven't seen any other strange wolves here.." she began, a sympathetic edge creeping into her voice. She knew what it was like to be lost and alone, and it struck a chord with her.
When Helios asked if she was the alpha, Persephone looked confused for a moment. The thought that this other wolf might have thought she was an alpha had never ever occurred to her. She knew that she wasn't exactly alpha material, and she had never had any aspirations to become an alpha. Being able to pull her own weight in her pack and being just as good as the other gammas was what she aimed for. Being an alpha had never crossed her mind.
"No, no, no... I'm not an alpha," she replied, shaking her head. "The alphas here are Zagreus and Calliope. They're good leaders - they're smart and they're nice. Maybe if we go back and ask them, they could help search for your friend?" Having seen the alpha pair take in and help so many young wolves - herself included - Persephone was sure that they'd help this nice golden wolf to find his friend.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:52 am
Helios was happy to see a little of the wariness go from the female. That she offered help meant she had not know his name and associate it with anything her alpha's might have said. Good.
"Oh, no, it's allright. I'm sure I'll find her eventually" he sighed a sad little sigh. "I woldn't want to bother your alphas, my companion is an adult, not a lost pup. I'd rather not bother others too much" his smile came back as he regarded Persephone once again. He obviously did not want to go back and run into Zagreus or his mate and hoped this might convince the pale she-wolf that it might not be the best idea. "We didn't know these lands were populated. We had hoped to make our own little place in the forest here..." he added, tending to a sympathetic tone.
What was it she hadeacted to, he wondered. She seemed a little more sympathetic than most wolves would have been. She was young, yes, but it was more than that. Maybe the fact he was lost without his companion? He didn't see that she had a companion butshe was alone... Maybe it was that. He tried.
"I'm so happy I've run into such a kind, young, beautiful female as yourself. Being alone in a place you're unfamiliar with... well I just hate being alone." His good eyes took on a doleful look, emphasized by the scarred blankness of his right one. "I am so used to being in a large pack.. it feels so odd. Are there many in your pack?" he dropped it into the conversation subtly, grinning internally.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:29 am
"Oh.. well, there's probably lands that are free somewhere near.." she replied, thinking for a moment. She didn't know much about the packs outside of the Glen's lands, unfortunately. She had only been a pup before she moved into the Glen pack, and knowing what packs were where had not been first and foremost on her mind back then.
As Helios spoke again, Persephone listened to him. As he spoke of being alone in an unfamiliar place, she nodded quietly. She knew what that was like.. being alone and frightened with nowhere to go or turn to..
"Are you sure that you don't want us to help you..?" she began, her red eyes taking on a concerned expression. He was out of his depth here, but he said that he didn't want to see Zagreus. He was a big wolf though, and male. Maybe it was pride that stopped him from accepting the offer. Although, why then would he be talking to her? Males could be so odd sometimes.. Persephone didn't quite understand the way that their minds worked.
"It's getting quite big now," she replied to his question about the pack. "Not huge, but when I first joined, there were only a few wolves. Now there are a lot more pups and some more strangers from outside the pack have joined us too."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:49 am
Helios nodded, affecting great interest. "I see, I see, then perhaps I can settle close by! It would be nice to know such a beautiful female such as yourself would be near by" he grinned, pulling himself up a little, a quick flick of his tail suggesting plafullness. If he could seduce her maybe he could have his first new pack member? Too soon, though. Get all the information you need first.
So it was a big group, eh? That didn't bode well. He really would need to wait. Wait and recruit. Still, if there were a lot of pups that would make it awkward for the pack to defend and lowered the number of actual wolves able to attack. He added this information to the back of his mind.
"Ahhh I do so love having little pups running around.." he sighed wistfully. Of course he liked nothing of the sort. Pups were annoying, pulled your tail, stole your food and were allowe to do it because they were 'cute'. Ugh.
"Of course, I'd not like to run into a mother and pups on strange land... mothers tend to dislike strangers being around their young" he tried to word this carefully, as it was a rather probing question "what way should I avoid, so I don't disturb them?" it was a little round about but generally the pups would be in the main den. And if he knew what way the main den was he could go and scout it out at some point. He smiled sweetly and enquiringly at the snow white female.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:21 am
"Well, you'd need to check where the other packs are, but maybe.." Persephone smiled at the golden wolf. He did seem to be pretty nice - she was sure that Zagreus and Calliope would be ok with him being nearby.
As he commented about liking pups, Persephone nodded in agreement. She still wasn't entirely sure about how to handle lots of pups - the trio of girls were quite often a lot more boisterous than she had ever been - but they were lovely girls, and fun to watch. The young albino wasn't quite sure if she could cope with what Calliope did though. It seemed tiring.
"The pups are all little bundles of energy, although Calliope's litter is getting older now. They're handfuls I think, but they're good girls really," she said.
"Well.. I think I can show you the boundaries here, so you know where the packlands end," Persephone offered helpfully. "Most of the time, Calliope is up in the north end with the pups though."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:39 am
Helios nodded, listening intently. Not because he was that interested in her babble about the pups but because of the information he could get out of it. So the young were growing? Perhaps a strike sooner rather than later was in order. His mind resurfaced from that internal cataloguing when she said the last comment, though. Show him exactly where their boundaries lay? That would be absoloutely wonderful, he thought.
The golden wolf's grin widened as he replied. "Thank you, I shall avoid going north then. And that would be wonderful... if you could show me the boundaries of your land we might come across my companion, too!" His enthusiasm wasn't totally put on, though. When he stared into Persephone's deep, red eyes he found a spark of attraction within himself. It wasn't that he normally didn't find most females at least vaguely attractive but once in a while he'd find one especially so. Her vulnerability, youth and perfeclty white coat gave him enjoyable shivers.
Helios was a ladies man, pure and simple. If he was attracted to a female he'd pursue her until he had her. Then the attraction would usually end and he'd begin on the next conquest. He knew most females found him attractive and he played on that often, leading them on. Sometimes it was almost too easy... His favourite, though, were those with pale coats. Something about that sparked in him a great desire. The mate of that lumbering oaf was pretty and pale but here in front of him stood a pristine white angel. Probably pristine in more ways than one he happily thought to himself.
She was most definately his next goal. It'd be a nice extra side target whilst he was destroying her pack.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:11 pm
Persephone nodded again, smiling at the golden wolf. She hoped that they'd be able to find his companion around the boundaries. If they didn't, she'd keep an eye out when she was returning to the den later. She'd also ask the other pack members to keep an eye out. Persephone was sure that they'd help.
"We're quite near the southern boundary just now," the albino said, padding past Helios towards the edge of the territory. "It's probably a good place to start from."
She hadn't really meant to go so far south originally, nevermind going all the way around the perimeter of the packlands. But she didn't think it would hurt. It probably wouldn't take all that long, and she would be helping a wolf in need.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:29 pm
Helios turned to follow the albino female, listening carefuly to the details she would give him. She seemed comfortable in his presence now, and whilst they were walking he thought he could probaby squeeze a little more information about the pack out of her. If he could get her closer, though, the easir it'd be. He tried one of his normal first lines, one which lay the foundations of getting most females to open up to him as well as providing him with hooks for later.
"Perhaps, as we walk, youcould tell me a bit about yourself? You haven't even told me your name.." he smiled, teasingly.
Helios also vaguely pondered the possibility that the female would let the others of her pack know he had questioned her and what she'd told him. He might have to try and work out a way of keeping her with him.. or at least stop her from telling them all about him. He'd have to think on that, too, as they walked.
His one good eye gazed at her intently as he caught up to her, waiting for an answer. He often found that if you acted as though you expected an answer and didn't act as though it was rude to be asking it, wolves often would answer questions they might never consider asking another. It was odd, really, when you thought about it. Helios didn't ponder on this thought too long, though, his mind was on other things.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:43 pm
Persephone paused for a moment, glancing at Helios for a moment. Then she turned to continue, shaking her head slightly.
"..There's not much to tell, really. Although, I didn't realise I hadn't told you my name," she smiled a little sheepishly, as if she felt foolish for forgetting. "My name's Persephone. I wasn't born here, but the pack here were kind enough to take me and my brother in as pups. And, well.. I've been here every since."
Persephone's pace was not particularly fast as she picked her way through the snow. Being smaller and weaker, she had learned quickly that she was better setting a slower pace than most other wolves. She moved steadily though, pausing only occasionally to check her surroundings.
Passing by a rock face, the young albino noted that there was a cave entrance gaping in the stone. The cave marked one of the edges of the territory, she remembered. Nearby, the river gurgled by, lumps of ice floating by. To get to the other side, they would have to cross the river. It ran all the way through the packlands.
The young albino wondered if there was a place to cross without getting completely soaked. She didn't relish the thought of being drenched in such cold weather. Her coat wasn't quite as thick as most other wolves, and the water as it was would chill her to the bone.
"This is the southernmost point of the packlands," she commented as she began to nose about the bank, looking for a suitable crossing point. "The river splits the land though - we need to find a good place to cross over."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:52 pm
Helios was actually listening for a change, even though this information wouldn't directly influence his goals it was good to store such things for later use. "Persephone. It has a lovely sound to it... With your coat it makes me thik of the snow falling softly to the ground." his smile was sincere though his thoughts were not. "They seem like they must be a kind pack." he said aloud, not relishing the thought that this might mean the wolves within it were unneringly loyal. Still, there were discontents in every pack he knew.
His trudging through the snow beginning anew he began to feel the wet cold stuff seep through his leg fur once again. Their slow pace didn't help this but Helios didn't mind too much not having to walk fast. He had toughened up in his travels, his form becoming a little leaner from travelling and fewer meals. He had been able to live quite a charmed lif in his old pack - barely having to hunt, most of his time spent within the small area around the core den - and he wished once gain he could be so sedentary. If his plans worked then he'd not have to travel much further at all!
"You have a brother?" he asked, wondering if the pai were close. If so it could be a good or a bad thing. He could possibly have two recruits - the brother brought along by his sister, or he could find Persephone was unwilling to leave her pack because she had ties to that male.
He looked to where the female showed him the 'den'. It was large, pen, a cave mouth. Not that he hadn't seen such dens before but they were uncommon. His own favourite pack den had been one which was dug out and spacious under a large boulder. The ground was kept dry by the rock and the den was kept shaded in the summer.
"Mmm yes" he said. Knowing good crossing points would be good. Helios did not like the look of the icy water one bit. He's be drenched and cold if they had to swim. He was glad the female didn't seem to be keen on the idea either.
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