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She had learned early on that she was not a particular fan of border patrols. Yet, with Swiftcurrent keeping themselves labelled as persistent pests, she felt the deeply-rooted obligation to put herself at their borderlands often enough. They were a pack dotted with Warden-types as it was, for she frequently smelled Jace and the coywolf already, and Ferdie too who did well to keep his scent as alpha fresh, so it was not like they were not manned already. But more was only better and with the pack growing steadily, it was all only in their best interest.
Frankly, her patience ran thin for the Creek and smelling them at all on their borders was troublesome. She had only just got the stench of their previous intrusion out of her nose and here they came with another one. Ame could spare them no niceties and felt her hackles stiffening at the mere thought of the wolves she had once ran among.
Methodically, she marked a spot next to a particular leafy plant, scratched the dirt then jogged on towards the next place in need of scent. She was not a fan of the repetition but it was this motion that brought her into the path of another -- a face she did not know. Her attentions shifted and her expression changed to one of significantly more interest, with ears forward and tail lifted just some.
He was a curious looking creature, both in stature and colorations. Her eyes were fast to his markings of course. While not as glaring as Kodokuna's white and black split, they were unlike the average she saw. Ame whuffed a low greeting and approached him to see how he would receive her. She was interested in knowing more, for he was a new packmate of hers after all.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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He regarded her in ease with a dip of his head. Ame's perception, although still largely tuned into him, began to settle to the scenery. She now considered herself familiar with all of the borderlands and a good portion of the mountainside. Of course, there were vistas that evaded her, such as ones that were not so easy to find (nearer to the summit or example) or had just been overlooked so far. She knew all the major landmarks and borders well, as it was where much of her time was spent.
He provided his observation. Ame snorted softly, and before she even drew a deep breath herself, she knew what sort of stink she was going to find. It is the Swiftcurrent Creek pests,
she said with an accompanying low growl. They see it fit to do this, or attempt to mark our borders. If you find them, run them off,
she said with eyes narrowing into the neutral terrain beyond. They had exhausted her patience and she would not expect the other members to show them any mercy. In fact, she wished them to show their might without question.
I am Ame,
she responded. His name was simple too. You have only just joined very recently, correct?
she asked.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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She was led to wonder if he was familiar with any of Fox's followers right from her mention of it. If he had roamed the area for long as a loner, it was likely he had at least encountered a few, or maybe even had approached their borders. They were obnoxiously plentiful and awfully territorial of their surroundings -- hence their thinking that they needed a whole region and then some all to themselves.
Her eyes followed his gesture and she nodded slowly, mapping the landscapes from memory to the lakes. She would not have necessarily expected Ferdie to be at a lake, knowing his horrific luck when it came to watery situations, but she made no mention. He was right to consider it a better alternative, and she then knew he had known a Swiftcurrent wolf by his use of 'more'. Although, hearing him call them pests as well did edge a smirk onto her expression. So you have met some?
she asked, her head tilting with the words, curious if she would know the one he'd encountered.
Now and again, yes. We have deflected them each time and made it clear we are not bowing to them or their wants,
she answered with a huff. This was the simplest way to put it. Their foolish leader insists that we should lay no claim here, despite their boundaries being a good enough distance from ours,
Ame's flippant tone indicated her distaste as her eyes narrowed in their direction.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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She watched him shift his position without a second thought then nodded at his answer. Ah, Bazi,
she breathed. There was familiarity there although Ame had not seen the snow-furred wolf in a while. Times had changed. Since ascending to her position of beta, Ame was not sure what to make of her. She was likely just as reckless and erroneously proud as Fox by now. Were you even near their lands?
Ame asked, doubting it. Perhaps he had been in the wetlands or even further abroad in the fields then forest to the south. They seemed to think they could lay claim to nearly everything in sight.
Ame jeered. While not all so unreasonable, she should not have even mentioned pups to you at all if she possessed a shred of wisdom. What if you had been a malicious sort with a hunger for whelps?
While hypothetical, she was wondering if Tuwawi and Njal realized all the glaring dangers their comrades created for them. I used to harbor some respect for them.
She admitted. Those days have passed and were markedly short-lived. A small handful of us, Ferdie and Jace included, were once among them even..
But in forcing the two males out, Ame had come to realize. She was better off here and nothing had proven otherwise. In fact, quite the opposite.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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I see. I encountered her first there, as well,
she mentioned. Bazi must travel through the wetlands on the regular if this was how it was. Which, although the wetlands were relatively close to their boundaries, it was not like a single loner lingering there was a threat to their puppies. She still felt it had not been even relevant to mention. As if bragging about their offspring (who were not even the alpha's brood, no less) was to make them seem stronger. To her, it only showed their ignorance.
She shifted her weight thoughtfully. Somewhat, I suppose.
She glanced him over, deciding he ought to know all he could. Perhaps it may make him more invested in their cause. Or, if he deflected, he could be dangerous... However none of these details were that delicate. Just a young pack's short history. For not agreeing with the alpha's absurd demands, they were no longer welcome. I followed, and the Sunspire's founding came not long after.
An interesting handful of days that had been.
They still insist we have no right to settle here, so 'close' to them, and their leaders see it fit to instigate when they are able, usually by marking our borders and starting fights.. even when they should not be bothering to start unnecessary trouble.
Ame sighed. Not with their precious whelps to focus on and not to wolves who do know their territory rather well,
she smirked. While she had not retaliated in turn, the desire was there. She was just not dumb enough to go sprinting into their territory without a plan or backup even if she did know its features. This was what kept her here.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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He had picked out the spot where Amekaze had been vague, although not without good reasons. At least he seemed interested in hearing of this. They were asked to fight each other to one's death, and when they would not, they were banished. So is how I understand it,
she mentioned. Ame had not been there herself but trusted the recounts well enough. She knew Ferdie and Jace had been at a strange time then, but Fox's handling of it was far from necessary.
Swiftcurrent's leader is reckless in her ways, as evidenced, so our defense in the face of whatever she decides to throw our way has needed to stay strong..
she sighed. Ame wondered if she would tire herself out eventually, or if something worse may befall them sooner. Do you frequent the borderlands?
she asked, having found him here upon them, after all.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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Amekaze did not understand the full extent of why Fox had deemed that a fit request, but it was what it had been and what had led them here. In a strange way, it had worked out for the better.. especially for her, and she liked to think the same for Ferdie and Jace. Her place here in the Sunspire seemed to be a much better fit, not that she had stayed in Swiftcurrent all that long anyway. Maybe she would have adjusted.. given time and the right circumstance.
But she hadn't, so here she was. She regarded his answer silently, but with a vague look of satisfaction. That is true,
she breathed after her pause. I did not used to spend much time on patrol. Only.. now,
and here, in the Sunspire. At the Creek she had attempted making a few rounds but always felt unfulfilled. At Mount Rikudou, the Shikkotsurin forests had surrounded them on three sides (and like anyone was breaching those boundaries and living to even see the mountain again).. so patrol had been different there. Here, there was a necessity, and her ranking higher than most meant her scent ought to be highly prevalent. It just came with the territory here so her nature adjusted accordingly.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」
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I will keep you no longer,she replied alongside a switch of her tailtip. While not having minded speaking with Fang, she could do well to lurk on her own for a while too.
If you encounter anything interesting, I may not be far,she provided with a lingering smirk, always willing to rough up trespassers and Creek wolves who ignored their laws here. But she wouldn't want to steal his fun though.
She dipped her muzzle in farewell and turned to pick up the path of her own patrol.
i want to bleed in the 「r a i n」