The end-of-November air was still as she padded quietly along the grassy slopes beyond the foot of the mountain, but even so she keenly sensed the presence of the caldera’s wolves, and thus she was drawn. A muscle in her shoulder rippled its length when a nerve signalled an itch and she paused mid-stride, reaching sharply to nip at the thick, bladed fur there to quell the mild irritation before continuing forward. This itch, of course, being psychological symbolism for her very real plight: to find and settle into a pack before winter.
Originally, her sure-fire plan had been to scout for packs along the way and choose the one that struck her fancy, only she hadn’t found one that suited her tastes and there was most certainly a twinge of desperation setting deep into the corners of her mind by this point. She knew that she would eventually need to choose a pack based solely on proximity if she held out too long, not to mention the near absurdity of happening upon a leader who would extend the good graces of taking in a young stray just before the unforgiving season fell.
It was with that that she drew closer and closer to the musk-laden borders outlining the undeniably impressive volcano’s foot. She had hope in mind to strike an organic relationship with the wolves there, but she was also nearing on the verge of the panic that she felt would amount to asking them for a rank without first being sure of them. Her nerves didn’t play into the bright howl she sent up for their leaders, although her request was nearly cut short when her attention was quickly thereafter snapped up and consumed by subtle movement in her peripheral vision: the very tips of a rabbit’s ears poking out of the ground several yards away.
Originally, her sure-fire plan had been to scout for packs along the way and choose the one that struck her fancy, only she hadn’t found one that suited her tastes and there was most certainly a twinge of desperation setting deep into the corners of her mind by this point. She knew that she would eventually need to choose a pack based solely on proximity if she held out too long, not to mention the near absurdity of happening upon a leader who would extend the good graces of taking in a young stray just before the unforgiving season fell.
It was with that that she drew closer and closer to the musk-laden borders outlining the undeniably impressive volcano’s foot. She had hope in mind to strike an organic relationship with the wolves there, but she was also nearing on the verge of the panic that she felt would amount to asking them for a rank without first being sure of them. Her nerves didn’t play into the bright howl she sent up for their leaders, although her request was nearly cut short when her attention was quickly thereafter snapped up and consumed by subtle movement in her peripheral vision: the very tips of a rabbit’s ears poking out of the ground several yards away.
November 22, 2015, 11:06 PM
Just in time to celebrate his children's transition to adulthood, Peregrine finally started to feel better. He had enough energy to rise before daybreak to hunt. He caught a few rabbits near the territory's outskirts, yet he was not satisfied. Eventually, he scouted further away from his realm to track something larger. It was late afternoon when he returned, dragging the carcass of a wild pig.
He saw a slender black figure loitering on the borders due north of his position. Peregrine quickly stashed his kill, then hastily strode toward the stranger even as she sent a howl up into the air. He made himself more visible by lifting his head and arching his tail. As he closed in on her, he spotted the rabbit and noticed the way her bright eyes flicked to it.
"Don't even think about it," the Alpha said gruffly, coming to a standstill perhaps six feet from her, his air very authoritative. "State your name and business," Peregrine commanded, tone still brusque. If she was looking for a home, he would entertain her presence here, albeit briefly. But if she was here for any other reason, he would aggressively chase her away from his pack lands.
He saw a slender black figure loitering on the borders due north of his position. Peregrine quickly stashed his kill, then hastily strode toward the stranger even as she sent a howl up into the air. He made himself more visible by lifting his head and arching his tail. As he closed in on her, he spotted the rabbit and noticed the way her bright eyes flicked to it.
"Don't even think about it," the Alpha said gruffly, coming to a standstill perhaps six feet from her, his air very authoritative. "State your name and business," Peregrine commanded, tone still brusque. If she was looking for a home, he would entertain her presence here, albeit briefly. But if she was here for any other reason, he would aggressively chase her away from his pack lands.
November 23, 2015, 05:16 PM
(This post was last modified: November 23, 2015, 05:17 PM by Sassafras.)
She was undeniably distracted. “Don’t even think about it,” rumbled the voice straight in front of her. She could barely help herself, but in terms of the hierarchy of instinctual reactions, a poised and bristling alpha male easily won out over the still rather striking opportunity for a quick kill. As her eyes darted towards him, she tucked her tail, though it still swayed in an outward display of amicability, and she splayed her ears and dropped her posture. Only out of incredibly prying curiosity did her shimmering eyes flick momentarily back to the now apparently unoccupied hole in the ground, and she just as quickly put her eyes back where they belonged.
Peregrine cut an imposing figure, like a stag in his virile prime, and the salted contrast of white on his face only served to complement the experience in his deeply dusky green eyes. The fact that one of those eyes had obviously suffered trauma barely registered as anything more than an identifying physical feature: it was simply a mark of life and survival.
Peregrine cut an imposing figure, like a stag in his virile prime, and the salted contrast of white on his face only served to complement the experience in his deeply dusky green eyes. The fact that one of those eyes had obviously suffered trauma barely registered as anything more than an identifying physical feature: it was simply a mark of life and survival.
Sassafras,she answered swiftly.
You wouldn’t happen to have a lenient policy on taking in strays at this time of year, would you? Particularly if the stray promises up and down that she’ll be useful?
November 23, 2015, 07:09 PM
The swarthy wolf could find no fault in the svelte stranger's reaction to his appearance. Her posture became immediately submissive, the position of her ears and tail betraying amicable intentions. She answered just as promptly and Peregrine was tempted to skip right through the interview and accept her into his ranks based on her model behavior alone.
"I don't like that word," he answered, a glimmer in his eyes. "I prefer hobo," he quipped in the next breath, then shifted and sat, head still held high but his muscles relatively relaxed. "You will never hear the word lenient used to describe myself or this pack. We are not a charity. But if you're truly useful, then that's a different story. What are your skills, Sassafras?"
"I don't like that word," he answered, a glimmer in his eyes. "I prefer hobo," he quipped in the next breath, then shifted and sat, head still held high but his muscles relatively relaxed. "You will never hear the word lenient used to describe myself or this pack. We are not a charity. But if you're truly useful, then that's a different story. What are your skills, Sassafras?"
November 24, 2015, 08:05 PM
Sassafras caught the glimmer in Peregrine’s eyes and could not have been more pleased with his choice of words. She wagged her tail in enthusiastic approval and sat back on her haunches to better match his more casual stance, and she was all friendly deference. Her still splayed ears twitched visibly as she shifted her long limbs, and her eyes were as bright as could be. She beamed.
"I hunt small, fast game, but I want to become a capable warrior as well," she replied, mixing in the one thing she knew she excelled in (and was evident by her physique) with an aspiration that had sprouted from her upbringing. "I noticed other wolves had left their mark on this area as I was wandering around… maybe I could help you keep an eye on things like that." She had a penchant for stalking others for fun, so it only made perfect sense to also do so to potentially violent strangers.
"I hunt small, fast game, but I want to become a capable warrior as well," she replied, mixing in the one thing she knew she excelled in (and was evident by her physique) with an aspiration that had sprouted from her upbringing. "I noticed other wolves had left their mark on this area as I was wandering around… maybe I could help you keep an eye on things like that." She had a penchant for stalking others for fun, so it only made perfect sense to also do so to potentially violent strangers.
November 24, 2015, 09:33 PM
It was as if someone had molded Peregrine's idea of a perfect subordinate and delivered her to his borders complete with a big red bow. Not only did Sassafras maintain her deferential posture, she also declared herself a hunter, warrior and warden type. I could kiss you! he thought crazily, though of course he wouldn't. He was a happily married man, for one thing, and for another, he didn't kiss his pack mates until they'd known one another a while. C'mon now.
He didn't want to appear as the delighted little boy he felt on the inside, so the leonine Alpha tempered his smile and remained poised as he said, "Prove it." His head cocked, both jade eyes weighing on her face, even though only one of them could see it. "Out on the prairie," he added, motioning northward, "you'll find all sorts of small game, from rabbits to pheasants. Bring me something."
After all, words were only words and Sassafras could be too good to be true. But if he sent her out and she came back with a kill, he would absolutely reserve a space in his ranks for her. The caldera wasn't hurting for members but they would always have room for someone who, in Peregrine's opinion, hit the ideal trifecta.
He didn't want to appear as the delighted little boy he felt on the inside, so the leonine Alpha tempered his smile and remained poised as he said, "Prove it." His head cocked, both jade eyes weighing on her face, even though only one of them could see it. "Out on the prairie," he added, motioning northward, "you'll find all sorts of small game, from rabbits to pheasants. Bring me something."
After all, words were only words and Sassafras could be too good to be true. But if he sent her out and she came back with a kill, he would absolutely reserve a space in his ranks for her. The caldera wasn't hurting for members but they would always have room for someone who, in Peregrine's opinion, hit the ideal trifecta.
November 25, 2015, 10:35 PM
Though downplayed his smile might have been, it was certainly a sign in her favour. The strapping alpha male then proceeded to pitch a challenge for her to run with, and her eyes seemed to gleam with mirth. She tossed her gaze at the nearby rabbit hole one last time in a very obvious, almost longing way, then casted Peregrine a side-long grin which seemed to imply, ha, kidding! With that, she turned away from the direction of the caldera’s heart and headed north, kicking her heels up in a youthful, springy stride as she went and disappearing from sight over a gently rolling hillside.
She bounced along in an easy, leggy trot for a while as she remained on the lookout for easy opportunities, musing to herself that making the choice to join Peregrine and his wolves would be an easy one. She passed by yet another rabbit, but one that was too far away and half-way into the nearest hole by the time she spotted it. While she was hardly inclined to keep the alpha waiting and positively itching to scope out his territory for herself, she was also in no mood for silly errors. Being a predator, however, the moment she caught sight of movement in the long grass far off to her right was the last moment she spent considering anything else.
While she couldn’t see the thing outright, a head-bob motion gave it away as a bird. A notoriously stupid bird, to be precise — a partridge. She paused briefly, but did not stop, instead shortening her stride and lowering her body as she slunk forward. Her lack of bulk afforded her near dead-silence as she crept, which she often found to be half the battle. With little warning, she lunged, driven a few steps by deceptively powerful hindquarters when the thing battered its wings and propelled itself forward in attempted escape. Not a second later, however, it was hers, and she shook her head vigorously in triumphant delight as she wasted no time in trotting off back in the direction she’d arrived.
Some time later, she could be found tossing the feathery carcass at Peregrine’s feet.
She bounced along in an easy, leggy trot for a while as she remained on the lookout for easy opportunities, musing to herself that making the choice to join Peregrine and his wolves would be an easy one. She passed by yet another rabbit, but one that was too far away and half-way into the nearest hole by the time she spotted it. While she was hardly inclined to keep the alpha waiting and positively itching to scope out his territory for herself, she was also in no mood for silly errors. Being a predator, however, the moment she caught sight of movement in the long grass far off to her right was the last moment she spent considering anything else.
While she couldn’t see the thing outright, a head-bob motion gave it away as a bird. A notoriously stupid bird, to be precise — a partridge. She paused briefly, but did not stop, instead shortening her stride and lowering her body as she slunk forward. Her lack of bulk afforded her near dead-silence as she crept, which she often found to be half the battle. With little warning, she lunged, driven a few steps by deceptively powerful hindquarters when the thing battered its wings and propelled itself forward in attempted escape. Not a second later, however, it was hers, and she shook her head vigorously in triumphant delight as she wasted no time in trotting off back in the direction she’d arrived.
Some time later, she could be found tossing the feathery carcass at Peregrine’s feet.
November 25, 2015, 11:35 PM
She clearly took delight in the challenge. Peregrine watched her flounce away, the tip of his tail twitching. When she was out of sight, he flopped to the ground to await her return. He daydreamed of the food she would bring back to him and didn't realize it when he fell asleep. He only awoke when something soft hit the ground nearby with a muffled thump.
Quickly, he righted himself, shook the dust and bits of grass from his pelt, then lowered his muzzle to sniff at her offering. His eyes remained glued on Sassafras as he conducted his inspection. Peregrine eventually raised his head even as one broad paw clasped possessively over the dead partridge. It belonged to him now. It was her entry fee of sorts.
"All right," he drawled, "you'll occupy one of our lower ranks, though if you continue proving yourself, you will rise. You'll be expected to take up the Warrior or Warden trades—or both—and in exchange, you'll be welcome to the Redhawk name. Welcome to the caldera, Sassafras." It hadn't escaped him that he hadn't spoken the pack's name until this very moment. Nor had he mentioned his own. "I'm your Alpha, Peregrine. Any questions before I set you loose?"
Quickly, he righted himself, shook the dust and bits of grass from his pelt, then lowered his muzzle to sniff at her offering. His eyes remained glued on Sassafras as he conducted his inspection. Peregrine eventually raised his head even as one broad paw clasped possessively over the dead partridge. It belonged to him now. It was her entry fee of sorts.
"All right," he drawled, "you'll occupy one of our lower ranks, though if you continue proving yourself, you will rise. You'll be expected to take up the Warrior or Warden trades—or both—and in exchange, you'll be welcome to the Redhawk name. Welcome to the caldera, Sassafras." It hadn't escaped him that he hadn't spoken the pack's name until this very moment. Nor had he mentioned his own. "I'm your Alpha, Peregrine. Any questions before I set you loose?"
December 12, 2015, 09:44 AM
(This post was last modified: December 12, 2015, 11:05 AM by Sassafras.)
So sorry for the wait, but thank you for the thread, Kat! :)
Her tail swayed happily despite the fact that the carcass no longer belonged to the hungry wolf. On the other hand, there was plenty more where that one had come from, and she now belonged to them. Peregrine had extinguished the wildfire fear in the back of her mind, and it certainly seemed official: Sassafras DeMonte would not starve to death this winter. Probably.
She took to heart his request that she take up the warrior and warden trades and grinned in response, then chirped brightly at his last call for questions, "I think you covered things, boss." With that, she began to turn excitedly to bound off in exploration of the caldera, but stopped herself and turned back a moment. "Thank you, Peregrine." She then smiled, bounced once on her fore-paws and galloped off.
December 15, 2015, 11:33 AM
No worries. Welcome to RHC! :)
She didn't have any questions and soon sped off, clearly eager to show herself around the caldera. He gazed after her for a beat, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. His eyes then dropped to her kill. Should he eat it or add it to the stocks? Deciding he'd contributed enough today and earned his just desserts, Peregrine plucked the dead partridge off the ground and loped off somewhere more secluded to enjoy it. After he polished it off, he would mosey home to bed after a day well spent.
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