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 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:13 am
 The snow whirled upwards and twisted in great spirals, it's dizzying dance buffetting against the broken, skeletal trees. A bitter wind had risen up from the north and with it had come yet another flurry of snow. This time it was not the gentle, fluffy flakes. This time it was hard, frosty and biting cold.
In the shadows a pair of gleaming golden eyes appeared, sparking like miniature lights in the growing darkness. To whom they belonged to was anyone's guess, but the wolf was not of the Outrider's that was for sure.
It's scent was unfamiliar and yet familiar - to some perhaps. Yet one could be sure that this wolf had never stepped foot on these lands before. What had brought it here was a mystery, though perhaps it had simply been driven off course by the storm.
Those brilliant eyes blinked and cast upwards into the sky, narrowing as the wind threatened to blind them.
A blizzard. The wind caught at her voice and snuffed it out like a candle, yet the tone was distinctly feminine. Must...find shelter. She hunched her shoulders and her head slung low as she moved onwards. Each step seemed a battle and her fur was tugged this way and that.
She stumbled momentarily and a snow-covered log caught her fall, allowing her a little time to rest behind it and gather her bearings.
She had wound Westwards, away from the freelands and further down towards the sea. She kenw it was there because she had seen itbefore, yet apparently this land had been claimed since the last she had been here. In fact nothing seemed the same. It was close to this spot that she had met that hunting dog, the one who said he liked to kill wolves. She had mocked him and his thick, stupid accent. She had laughed at his threats and then she had mated with him.
Yet she saw no signs of her fling, though she knew it had been a stupid ideain the first place. Why did she want to be with him? Why did she want to allow her body to be tainted by a creature that was not a wolf? Did she want to risk giving birth to more disgusting little hybrids like her own son Fluke?
Fluke...
Where was he now? She knew in her heart that her poor, submissive little pup was dead. Hehad been an adult, yes, but he could not hunt and he couldnot defend himself. He was a weed amongst trees and she knew that the way of life meant death for him.
Was it wrong of her not to chase after him?
No.
As much as she loved her son, she also hated him. He had kept her from other males for too long, hanging around and not giving her a moment's peace. She had not felt the love of a male for a good while and true love...well she had never had that. For now she was happy to flirt with every male creature in the forest and if he was drawn in then all the better!
Her mind turned back to Yasuo and her heart gave a small lurch. He had been an interesting male with a few problems of his own. She had flirted with him and he had rejected it and yet she did not dislike him. In fact her body tingled at thinking of him. Perhaps she could snare him in one day, she always loved a challenge.
The wind howled with renewed force, reminding her of her task at paw and with a slow gait Orphen continued, head slung low and eyes narow slits. Her movements were sluggish and heavy yet with each step she knew somehow she wasgetting closer.
She had been hiding all her life but now, now she was free of all ties she could reveal herself.Maybe she could worm her way into this pack for a while, flirt with some males, break a few hearts, then move on.
Yes that could be fun.
She moved to press her body against a large oak and threw back her head, howling a song that rang with a strangely familiar note.
And somewhere within the packlands a pair of white ears perked up.
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:11 pm
The snow was bitingly cold against the dark wolf’s spine, and against the howling wind and ice the old male tried to remember a time where he had been used to such conditions. It seemed far away now.
Looking back, home had been a miserable place Hrothmund had cut out of a rock in spite. There was nothing good for it. Little water when it didn’t snow, and even fewer game. It was practical only because of one thing- it was the only place that could support the kind of government that was his father’s. It didn’t have to have anything. The lack of things made the wolf with the things indispensable. They gained power quickly. And Phib had never doubted that much. Hrothmund had been a great strategist as far as personal gain went.
But either way- the cold weather brought with it thoughts of home, and made him idle. Amélie did not seem to care much, although she spent most of the time holed up somewhere when it snowed like this. Sometimes he had to remind himself that they’d grown up on the same mountain.
His head alighted, shifting to the side. There had been a noise, but the wind swept it away before he could glimmer more then a pitch of it. Gruffly he shook the snow off of himself and took a few steps closer to the edge of the rock he was on- although the snow made any visibility a rare and treasured occasion.
No sounds for a while- and then, a howl broke out somewhere in the distance. The brute snorted and listened to it. Not one of his...but then, the snow did make for hard hearing. Gruffly he raised his head and made a returning howl- although how much was heard, he wouldn’t know for sure.
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Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:16 am
Against the roar of the blizzard one would be lucky to hear anything. Her ears kept filling with snow so she pinned them back, and her eyes were being torn at by the bitter wind. She squeezed them shut, forced her head down and left the tree to move once more. She doubted anyone had heard her in such frightful weather, but she couldn't just stand still, not when it was so cold.
Her pads had split from the cold and she moved somewhat awkwardly, yet there was a defiance about her that could not be denied. She moved as if desperate to get somewhere, as if she had a target, though she had no idea what that would be.
Her greyish coat was powdered with white and her pink nose was almost blue. It was cold, very cold and she knew if she stood still again she would die. Though this was probably an exaggeration she knew she had to get out of this wind.
She raised her head and snarled at the storm, lips curling up to reveal pink gums and razor sharp teeth. Her nose furrowed and snow caught her in the face, yet in that moment she liked to think the storm eased off a little, for that was when she heard Phib's call.
A low, deep, masculine howl.
Oh, her hero!
Now with her spirits rekindled she continued her battle, turning back to glance the way she had come. Already her pawprints had been covered up, erasing any sign she had passed this way. Still her scent lingered though, for it had been torn from her and tossed mindlessly through the trees.
Her white and brown form could be easily missed in this weather and in such conditions her nose was almost useless, though she could now smell the stranger somewhere up ahead of her. Perhaps to her right? No...the left? She turned her head undecidedly and gave a low whine, wishing she could discover which was correct. Maybe this male wolf had a nice cosy den somewhere and he would invite her back to it. She could think of one thing that would defintely keep them warm in such weather. However, she didn't want to get her hopes up. Most male wolves had turned their noses up at her and this one could be ugly!
She forced her way back into the cover of trees, using them to aid in breaking up the vicious wind and then suddenly her sharp eyes caught movement ahead.
For though the black wolf had moved with great stealth, nothing could protect him from a wolf's sharp eyes that were so intuned with night. She saw the black against white and immediately released a loud chuff, moving towards him with all the strength she could muster. Her eyes agreeably drew in his form; large, black, dominant. Oh dear! Her heart fluttered and as she moved into sight herself she thought she would melt! She suddenly felt uncomfortably warm, the source emanating from her stomach to envelope her entire body. This had to be an alpha!
Her eyes scanned him as best as they could in the snow and fading light but she knew this was one of the most handsome males she had ever come across. Oh please, please let him be single!
She was about four wolf-lengths away when she rose her head and yelled above the scream of the wind.
Greetings Alpha of this foreign land! She avoided direct eye contact for it was clear this wolf demanded respect. She was a lesser, a simple lone in this one's eyes and she did not wish to offend one who had followers to back him up. I come to seek shelter from the wind! You know this land better than I. Am I close to a den? She paused to catch her breath, shaking her head as the snow bit into her tongue and chilled it.
I am Orphen! A mere lone! Please Sir, my body cannot take much more of this cold! She lowered her head and braced herself against another onslaught of snow filled wind. It hit her like a wall and forced her back a step.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:25 am
The snow was dusting his eyes, but in the distance he could make out the scarce form of a wolf approaching from the white. Calicoed- she looked almost disfigured at first as the white molded itself like invisibility against the ice. She was speaking too- but he missed bits and pieces as the air carried it off like leaves. It was formalities he gathered, and that pleased him enough to approach. From here- he could now notice the wolf to be female.
What dear things the wind did blow in! It seemed like only a year ago that he was fishing Anya out of the snow. And now- this woman? He’d never doubted he had a weakness for females. And although he surely would have eventually done the same for any wolf caught in such weather- he looked quite a bit more eager about it when there was a lady involved.
The old king woofed a low noise back, and approached closer. The warm air expelling from his nose and floating in a spiral around the bridge of his snout. “Hello,” He thrummed. Still speaking! He shook his head and looked to the south. “It is no trouble; don’t worry.” His mind pulsed for a moment, trying to remember the layout of his own land. In the spiraling snow, it was easy to lose one’s way.
“Not many hollows in this place,” He uttered against the low, but pressing noise of the snow drifts. “Come this way-“
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:02 am
He was a powerful looking wolf with a thick coat that gleamed like woven shadow. There was a proud, masculine look in his eyes that seemed to illuminate in the darkness and she could not help but notice every movement of his form. The way his chest rose slightly with each breath and the widening of his nostrils as he drew in each breath. It had been a long time since she had been in the presence of such an imposing, handsome male.
His words were tossed this way and that, like playthings to the wind, yet her ears were able to pick out the important parts atleast. Obediently she drew closer, moving to follow after him, letting her eyes waver over him.
He seemed kindly enough and quite calm about helping her, which she decided was a good sign. Maybe if she acted like a proper lady and not the annoying tom-boy, she would manage to capture his heart. Oh to have possession of an alpha's heart would be more than she had ever dared dream!
She closed her eyes and dipped her head against the bitter buffets of wind and moved to walk beside him, close enough that she could feel the slight heat emanating from his own form.
Thankyou. She replied between gritted teeth, praying the ice would not destroy her eyes.
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:49 am
He watched her approach appreciatively, and even once let his tail to bounce just to dismay the idea he might have been some diabolical individual. Which, might have been what certain people would have considered anyways. He grinned against the cold- which he regretted after feeling the icy air on his gums, and sunk his head down low to lead the way back to one of the out skirting dens.
There were not many on this side of the wood- for despite the size of the pack, most wolves took to the ocean side. Or at least, east of the river that flowed into the waters. It made this side the more wild side- filled now with snow and scarce of good places to hide.
“The river has frozen over, but it wouldn’t be wise to cross it now.” He called over the wind, half just to be sure she was focusing on something else besides how cold it was. “There are some rocks here. We’ll go where it does not blow so hard and wait until it lets up.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:18 am
She shuddered and nodded, hoping desperately that shelter was somewhere close. She had no intention of wandering out onto any ice, unless it be a mistake. She was wary of the water and even warier of walking across it's surface.
Her ears pointed towards him and she nodded, raising her head to speak loudly. That sounds wonderful. She replied, her steps becoming eager despite how hard the journey was becoming. Then fixing her eyes upon the new target she stole towards them, slinking up between the rocks that Phib had spoke of. Then she set about finding a good place to find shelter against the wind. Blinking the snoe furiously from her eyes.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:02 am
Swirling snow- it used to be the typical weather back home. He found it somewhat unsettling that his thoughts kept returning back to it. He had never been a man to dwell in the past- surely what he had here had redeemed his name in any cynic’s eye the day he had left. But that wasn’t it either. He felt it haunt him.
Phib stretched his neck as they made their way to the rocks. Even just being behind them stopped the terrible icy blow, and the dark wolf sighed contentedly as he looked about for a nook in all the stones. There was one between two boulders and a flat surface of hillside that he decided seemed the best bet. He sat himself against the dark grey stone, and turned his back to the outside.
“Over here,” He instructed.
Somewhere in the back of his mind- he felt Amy fiddling. Was she curious as to where he was, or was it something she always did? Maybe he was paranoid.
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:30 pm
She slunk up after him, pressing close as if to steal some of his warmth. As she opened her mouth to express her relief she found that her jaws chattered almost uselessly.
Here she was, forced together with a handsome male, and she couldn't even talk! She tucked her tail tightly up against her and whined, pressing her cold nose into the black wolf's fur. Then finally after a few moments, when her mouth had thawed somewhat she raised her head.
Again I thank you, alpha. She bowed her head slightly and gazed up at him in a coy manner. You are very brave to venture in such weather to rescue me. If there is anything I can do, then surely you will tell me. The howl of the wind paused her speech and for a moment she was lost for words.
Was this fate?
Was she meant to meet this brilliant male? Was she meant to be his mate? He certainly was handsome, though his 'tough' appearance made her wary. Orphen craved love, but did this male have it in his heart to give her the affection she wanted?
Her thoughts flickered briefly to Yasuo, but she pushed him away for now. She would probably never see that snowy-furred wolf again so there was no point dwelling on him.
Tell me, sir. How long do you think the storm will rage? I hope it doesn't last too long, though I am very happy to keep you entertained. If he looked into her eyes then Phib would surely have noted the act of flirtation.
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:55 pm
A smile crossed the aging wolf’s muzzle. It was a kind smile- but any who would have known him would catch the slight teasing nature of it. He’d been around his share of women in his day, and caught the slight flirtatious manner of her speech. But about as soon as he was congratulating himself on not being as old as he thought, he reminded himself he could have also been putting subtext into words that had none. He winced slightly and shifted his ear, consulting quietly which it was.
Phib knew people understood his relationship with Amélie about as much as they understood why the stars held in the sky. She didn’t mind that he liked to tease. In fact- he doubted she would have even minded if he’d had other women. And it was that that kept him quietly devoted to her. He trusted no one else in the world like he trusted her- so they let him have his misgivings. He liked to play and he liked to remember a time when he had been young; but there was nothing worth testing their relationship.
A low chuckle fell from his throat. “I grew up in a place where we would consider this to be a good winter’s day. Don’t worry about it. These lands have many wolves, and I don’t doubt others would have not have found you soon enough.” His head rose, to the swirling snow, and his eyes squinted. “My shaman tells me it rages long enough. But I’m not one for trusting in magic. The clouds are full, but they’re not as dark as they were. It’ll abate soon enough.”
"What brings you out on such a lovely day?" The black wolf mused, and shifted himself so that the harsher wind was now on his lower back.
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:21 am
She listened to him with interest, ears turned towards his maw so that she could hear him easily above the blizzard. She shuddered again as the wind seemed to buffet against her and huddled a little closer.
What brings me here? She looked away then, unsure of how to reply. She really had no idea why she was truly here, not really. Her mind had told her that she had come to find that dog, but again she knew that was wrong. She had known from the start that he would not have been here and yet she had set out anyway.
I wanted...I wanted to start again. She whispered. I wanted to begin my life from where it started, to give myself a second shot. She turned back and sighed, To be given the chance to make up for past mistakes.
Her son. Her betas. Her family. She had made mistakes with all of them and deep down she knew that it was futile to look for redemption.
For though she had not been born here, it had been the beginning of her life. It was where her Betas had raised her, where she had met the dog, where her only son had been conceived. Though apparently she had come a little too far west than she had intended.
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