Northstar Vale after laughter
Ghost
he came and stole the wild
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#1
All Welcome 
The confines of the Vale were becoming all the more familiar to Rannoch. Though elated in their first push to immerse themselves within the territory, the Alpha had soon found himself feeling trapped within the walls, despite the broad range in between. Never had he experienced such a sensation and for the first few days, the burly man felt restless due to the eternal present of the mountainsides. Rannoch had not even considered the protection as a hinder on the territory, nor had he assumed that it would have such an effect on him. With this sensation, he would pull from the group early to set off, feeling the need to stretch his legs and assure himself that there was more than enough space for all of them. But still, for the first two days, Rannoch could not completely convince himself that everything was fine and that he was not trapped.

On the third morning of their settling, Rannoch suddenly felt better.  With no real explanation to identified what had silenced his fears, as nothing had changed drastically about the scenery, Rannoch felt relief; as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. It was with this feeling that the young Alpha decided to expand his horizons on scouting the territory, moving more inland as the pack made efforts in scoping out the area. He was feeling much more ambitious, as the temporary annoyance of his getting used to the fishbowl of a territory had grown on him, and as such he wanted to be among his pack once more. 

The mist was dying with the morning, disappearing as the sun climbed into the cloudless sky above. Pulling from where the group rested, Rannoch hesitated a step or so once he had left the team to look back and chuffed, inviting whoever was in earshot to join him in scouting.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
he came untied, solid as a stone
all is almost lost and it starts to show
teach yourself to rise from ashes
built from lust and hurt
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#2
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Though the vale had been recently claimed, all vestiges of safe entrance had not yet been erased by the expanding young pack, and the mountain valley seemed open to those who happened to pass through the stretches of land that had yet to be laden with packscent. Ixchel crossed one such of these unmarked miles, unaware of the presence that loomed here in the form of quite a few adolescents. She was further inland than she preferred, but she was willing to strike out as far from the coast as she needed to in order to find what it was her soul craved.

Mostly she thought her yearnings reached for the invisible tether to her siblings— spurring her to hunt for them as she went— but they were not children anymore, and her mind was not filled with worry for their day-to-day lives. Perhaps they were not where her heart lie; but if it was not with her blood, or with the Cortens on Meares and Vargas... then where was her home truly? Surely it was by the sea— except, it had always been there. Maybe now she was being called to something else.

Her thoughts fled her when she noticed a broad, slate-furred wolf some fair distance ahead, and with her guard up, she continued forward at a cautiously  slower pace.
 
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170 Posts
Ooc — gryff
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#3
Airi's head rose sharply at the chuff, half recognizing the voice. She lazily turned towards it at first, then, recognizing who it was, pulled herself to her feet. The young vessel stretches, pushing back on her hips as her front body dips down, a massive yawn pulling the muscles of her face even as she finished and began trotting towards Rannoch, the leader of the brat-pack. 

She follows him silently, with merely a nod noting her acceptance. She figures that he is scouting; while this was their new home now, they know nothing of this place in full. She wants to know everything of her new domain, every inch of its valley and sloping hills. Airi slid alongside him, not pressing close but not far away from his side, eyes watching the horizon. 

She hears a voice in her head as her eyes passes a moving shape in the distance, not recognizing it at first.
There. She voices the word to Rannoch. Over there, She gestures to what she now recognized as a wolf moving towards them, her hackles beginning to rise.
Ghost
he came and stole the wild
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#4
Airi was somebody who he did not know much about, and this concerned the Alpha significantly. The midnight-pelted child was one that tended to stray to the outskirts of the group, despite her place among them and Rannoch hoped that she felt welcome. When she raised to the occasion, the blue-eyed man felt surprised to see that she was interested in accompanying him and felt that it would be as good as a time than ever to get to know her. 

Greeting her with a dip of his head, Rannoch then turned from the settled members and started off their pace with no destination in mind. The Vale was still a mystery to all of them, and even though they had explored a good amount in their first few days, it would take time to explore it fully. 

Not too long into their trek, far too soon for Rannoch to reach out and start a conversation, the Draconid diverted his attention to the distance, and soon he caught sight of what he had been alerted to. Lifting himself in accordance with his rank, Rannoch pressed forward to meet the other half way, feeling concerned by her presence. Though she seemed docile enough at face value, Rannoch wondered how many other were lurking in the beyond their initial range. 

"Hello," he greeted once they were close enough to converse, giving the other the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Despite this advantage, Rannoch still warned her of the proximity of her treading to their home. "You trek close to where my wolves have settled," he rumbled, leaving his statement open for her to remark on.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
he came untied, solid as a stone
all is almost lost and it starts to show
teach yourself to rise from ashes
built from lust and hurt
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#5
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Just as the young stag had come into view, the wind shifted fortuitously, and Ixchel was slapped jarringly in the face by over half a dozen other wolfscents all at once. Had she descended into this God forsaken fishbowl and right into the pit of an ambush? A creeping hot tendril of paranoia snaked into her chest, and the coral-masked woman gave a sudden stiff pause, her spine prickling with unease, and her claws curling for good purchase in the earth— ready to save her own hide from any would-be assailants at the slightest show of trouble. She thought to dart away before she was noticed, but the idea came a second too late as a sleek raven— who appeared young to Ixchel even at this distance— materialized at the sterling wolf’s side and pointed her out.

They both made a slow move to intercept her, but it came without aggression. She took several steps forward herself to combat the severe anxiety welling up inside of her, but she otherwise made no further move to put herself more into danger. She let them come to her; all the while keeping her body neutral with forwardset ears that implied interest, and a slightly curved tail that acknowledged her disadvantage. The closer they came, the more she was able to tell of them— though mostly she couldn’t shake the impression of how young they were.

The tall boy was just that: a boy. Albeit a strapping and husky teenager, likely the star jock on his high school varsity team
, he had a distinctly young face and fresh eyes. Eyes that had seen things, but not nearly enough of it for the deadness to set in. Which was strange because the even younger girl at his shoulder had a deadness to her face that could only come from unspeakable trauma or true apathy— of which neither appealed to the avalon midwife.

When they were close enough to speak, Ixchel found herself looking up towards the winterforest yeti, his blue eyes even, and her bewitching expression set into a phase of polite, unchallenging fearlessness. I mean no intrusion, she said steadily, honestly. I did not cross any borders, and the wind’s not been in my favor since dusk. It was dawn now, and almost ironically shedding light on her blunder. I’m not here to disturb your claim, she asserted quickly— but I am hunting for the sea.

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Ooc — gryff
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#6
The vessel tensed as the woman came into focus, her body tensing as they began their approach. She was ready to take the violent route, for it seemed the most right to dealing with so blatant a trespasser. It did not concern her that they had not yet set their borders, or had just arrived. She invaded what they had claimed, what she had claimed now as her home, and Airi, and Zennyo Ryu, could not stand that. 

She did not look to Rannoch as her body stole forward to place herself close to the woman's face. And now that you realize your grievous mistake, you do not turn tail immediately? You wish to simply submit to us and beg forgiveness? The woman's next works took her by surprise, and the vessel barked out a harsh, mocking laugh. Leave now and go chase your sea. It's healthier that way,
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#7
PP granted by @Airi!

The moment in which Airi barged forwards was the point in time which Rannoch's attention averted from the stranger and towards the individual he had accepted into his ranks. A growl crackled in the back of his throat as his hardened eyes settled upon her retreating form. Following instinctively after her on stiffened legs and a heightened posture, the Alpha male's bay crescendoed, allowing for his displeasure to be heard for all. Quickly, he shot the stranger an apologetic look, as if apologizing for what she verbal lashing she had endured. Had it not been for Airi's cackle, Rannoch would have considered her approach as overprotective towards their borders, which was understandable, but given that, Rannoch was indignant with how Ixchel had been treated.

When his attention was back to the raven-haired female, Rannoch's hair pricked. "You will never speak to anybody on my borders like that again without reason," he commanded, his voice gritted with the anger that surged through his words. "If I get word of anything like this happening with your attitude with a stranger or within the pack, I will remove you from my ranks, and you will be an enemy to the Vale. I refuse to make enemies because one of my members is so blatantly disrespectful." He lunged forward then, grabbing his snout in his mouth, his eyes glaring into hers and he gave her a stern shake as if to further prove his point. His growl continued as he held her gaze, demanding subordination. Not only had Airi potentially made an enemy, but she had also disrespected her Alpha and Rannoch had no toleration for such mannerisms. She would see herself on her own if her behavior continued.

Once a sufficient amount of time had passed, Rannoch relinquished his hold on her and pinned his ears forward. "Now leave my sight before I kick you out now," he spat, disgusted. "Don't forget your place here, Airi. You run in my ranks in my lands. I will see that you treat no wolf like this as long as you're in my ranks, or there will be severe consequences." With everything that he needed to be said, Rannoch then surged a few steps closer to her forwards in an attempt to chase her away from the situation. He would handle it from here, and he would see to her punishment later.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
he came untied, solid as a stone
all is almost lost and it starts to show
teach yourself to rise from ashes
built from lust and hurt
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#8
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The girl responded first, her sharp and inaccurate words eliciting an expression that flashed excuse me? across Ixchel’s formerly placid expression. She might have argued that her deference to them was because she was outnumbered, and that at no point had she called for any such forgiveness that she spoke of, but the oily creature had come forward bold, and fanning like a cobra. The fierce islander was not impressed by this show, but her space had been invaded, and her defensive response was appropriate. She arched her skull backwards, tucking her chin and fixing the petulant beast with a gaze that threw daggers. Jade-marine eyes screaming:

Bitch—! But before her snarled mouth could form the ordained response to disrespect, the young alpha rose loudly to prove his worth. Ixchels indignant flare was fortunately staved, for she might have made an irrational choice based on her newfound frenzy to become more than a subordinate and midwife. She watched the display in stern silence, no glory in her eyes as she saw the girl rightfully punished. She heard her name—Airi—and thought not to forget it in the off chance they ever crossed paths again. She had missed the alpha boys apologetic glance before, her gaze having been locked in suspicion on his associate the entire time, but she looked to him now as he bade the girl to leave.

Dismissed even before the stranger, she mused pettily to herself; unable to retain all semblances of adulthood when in the face of children. Her tail lashed but remained low, easing back out of her agitation. She chose not to remark to him on the event that had just transpired when she next spoke. Ill take the quickest route out of your territory if you just point me in the right direction. Even if it was back the way she came or further from her northbound destination than she wanted. She thought he might escort her, as was the responsible thing to do, but she left it unsaid for him to think of on his own or not.

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170 Posts
Ooc — gryff
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#9
that gif made this all the better omg

There was a bay, and Airi turned to the sight of her alpha stalking to her. Airi stopped, turning fully. She was not frightened of him, or even thinking of the consequences for her actions. She had thought it fair, that reaction. She had trespassed, blatant, with no good excuses or reasons or anything. How could her alpha just let this girl here without a warning?

So when Rannoch's face pushed in front of hers, she responded not with a cowering body, but a startled snarl. She hardly listened to his words until his jaw wrapped around her muzzle, and she yelped, as best she could in the enclosed space. The whole time she was there, under his grip, the dragon within her flared, glaring, staring back at the man who held her, refusing to bow.

She wrenched herself away in the end, just as he was letting go. She stared at him for a long while, feeling blood drip from the wounds on her muzzle. He surged forward to her, and Airi simply walked away, resentment already seeping into her brain as she left.
Ghost
he came and stole the wild
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#10
The indifference in which Airi stalked off with stroked the flame of his anger. His eyes, still hardened with anger, watched until the midnight-pelted individual was out of his sight and once she was gone, turned his attention back to Ixchel with a shake of his head. Simply put, the Alpha was humiliated, and he would see that Airi would understand where she had been in the wrong. He made a mental note to reconnect later to reconnect on this. If Airi were not willing to see the wrong of his ways, then she would be punished for it. 

His ears fell to what the stranger said and quickly, Rannoch shook his head. "Please, let me show you the way," he replied steadily, his embarrassment evident. "It's the least I can do after that catastrophe." 
a crime so old as the sky and bone
he came untied, solid as a stone
all is almost lost and it starts to show
teach yourself to rise from ashes
built from lust and hurt
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#11
Right?! It was the first thing I thought of when I saw Airi's reply xD

As you wish, she replied quietly, her eyes falling away from his handsomely embarrassed face to the slowly retreating form of Airi. Ixchel relaxed after a moment, looking to the young alpha in readiness for him to take the lead. Keeping a sizeable gap between them, she traveled just behind his shoulder; her dancing stride quicker than the broad male's earth-eating lope.

After they had gone in silence for a time, out of the blue, Ixchel remarked airily: you only thought that was a catastrophe because you feel like nothing was learned there. And you are right. But it isn't your fault. That girl'll never respond genuinely to any amount of reprimand you think to give her. She's got no light in those eyes, that one... She drifted off, breathing heavily to expel herself of the ire that had returned to her breast at the mere thought of the raven-backed swain. She'd never keep such company herself— but to each their own. The calico glanced at him. I am Ixchel, by the way.
Ghost
he came and stole the wild
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#12
A haze had settled in the light of Rannoch's eyes, glazing over his expression as his thoughts took the forefront of his consciousness. This mist only lifted as the calico commented on his thoughts and he turned slowly to meet her remark. "There isn't," agreed the brute slowly, pausing briefly before elaborating on what had hung so heavily in his thoughts. "This was our first time patrolling and my attempt to get to know her better. Guess it worked." This remark was Rannoch attempt in adding some humor to the situation, to add some lightness in his heart for the sake of his company. 

"Ixchel, it's nice to meet you. I'm Rannoch." Despite the turmoil that had marked their meeting, he was genuinely glad that they had met. In an attempt to act cordial, the Alpha abandoned their previous topic for another as he voiced his curiosity in her seeking the sea. "If you don't mind me asking," he began pleasantly after a pause, making sure to mind his P's and Q's with his guest, "Why do you seek the ocean?" Was she like the wolves who had taken Rannoch? Or did she had different agenda?

A conversation began between the two wolves, and soon enough, Rannoch had led the pale-haired woman to the westernmost point of the territory. Once there, Rannoch gave her whatever information was needed to ensure her safety and bid her adieu. He lingered as she scaled the rocky wall, observing as she navigated upwards. Once Rannoch felt as though she were on stable lands, he turned from where they had conversed and returned to his territory, finding himself again thinking of the run-in with Airi in the absence of Ixchel's company.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
he came untied, solid as a stone
all is almost lost and it starts to show