Wolf RPG

Hi! :) Description here if you need further info http://wolf-rpg.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=2026 @Tezcacaotl -  is that how you tag here? Um, bold is speech, italics is thought and capital letters is empasis in place of italics. ;)

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Her pelt, still adjusting to the higher altitude, did nothing against the cold air trapped by the rolling cumuli. Her eyes, grey, brown-tinged and narrowed against the frigid air sweeping past her, were streaming. Despite the cold, there was no snow to drink, to soothe her parched throat. Orchid`s once-lustrous tail now drooped and dragged across the ever-inclining rocky ground. She threw back her head in a melancholy howl, before realizing no noise had emerged. In a hacking coughing fit, the yearling could go no further. 

She curled into a rusty ball of fur in a vain attempt to stave off the cold. 

There`s no point. It will take me too. Like Ma and Da. No! They`re fine, they - they - they dug their way out. Yes! Of - Of course.


"Please, Spirit - what did I do to deserve this? I`m just a Lone Wolf trying to find -"


She paused. What WAS she trying to find? A family to replace the one she`d...lost? A friend? She laughed, a short sharp bark of derision.

It was at this moment that, freezing, parched, starving and alone, Orchid Malara curled up  to die.

She was only a year old.

Tezcacoatl was adament upon the borders, systematically making his way through his daily routines. The pack was scarce these days, though this came as no real surprise to him. Even Tuwawi had been distant and Tezcacoatl wondered if his brief though consequential lapse in good judgement (and perhaps even sanity) was the cause of this. He supposed he deserved no less. He deserved to fail. It was what he got for being a poor leader and a poorer man. He didn't need to be told over and over how he was shit because he felt it. Felt it in the contemptual dissapointment he felt within himself every time he took a step back to reflect on the pack's status. Yet, defiance was strong with him and the fool kept on. He kept on fighting, kept on with the fiery desire to prove the words of the Amazon women wrong. That he could do this, that he could be a good leader and a better man. Determination drove him. It fueled the fire of defiance against even his own doubts, and for the moment it was enough to keep him going forward. To remember his mistakes so as to avoid making them again, but to let them go so that he could, importantly, move on from them. Learn.

It was during a border patrol that he stumbled across her. At least, the scent that clung to her pelt identified her as a her, but beyond that there was nothing overly specific. No pack, he garnered as he quickened his pace until her shiloutte came into view, crumpled against the hard earth. Confusion tugged at Tezcacoatl's brow as his steps slowed, caution over ruling every and any thing else he might have been inclined to feel. He sniffed at the air closer, looking to see if he could scent a sickness but there was nothing overly off. So, he drew nearer to her. He let out a bark to announce his presence to her, leaving a good distance between her and himself in case she did end up having an illness that he could not immediately notice. “What are you doing so close to Frostfire Ridge's borders?” In reality, she had left adequate distance between her curled up shape and his urine markings (which was good for her) but it was close enough for him to be territorial about it.

Orchid weakly lifted her head, fatigue clouding her eyes. 

"I`m s-sorry...I was t-t-too tired to scent for borders. I-I`ll leave, don`t worry. Sir."

She heaved herself up, and yelped in pain as her cramped hindquarters protested. She was terrified of the large male - he had the scent of an Alpha. She respectfully bowed her head and started to back away down the ridge she had toiled over.

However, she lost her step almost immediately, and fell. Bouncing almost comically along jagged, rocky ground, she finally came to rest in front of the Alpha. She inwardly cursed herself. This was the end.

"M-make it fast, Alpha, f-for the Spirit`s sake."

And with that, her eyes fell closed. Somehow, she hadn`t noticed the deep gouge along her haunches from a vicious stone. 

The tang of blood filled the air, and soon after, fever. The she-wolf shivered outwardly as she fell into hazy, calm oblivion...

Tezcacoatl did not know what to do. Did he necessarily feel bad for her? No. He didn't know her enough to feel much of anything. Did he understand? No. Being too tired was no excuse. It was a quick way to getting her killed. Admittedly, she looked worse for wear; but he could not immediately determine if it was because as she said: exhaustion, or an illness. Tezcacoatl felt the heavy weight of his weariness, turned to slight exasperation when she tumbled down to the ground level he stood upon., the metallic scent of her blood filling his flared nostrils. Tezcacoatl let out a soft snort, in a 'I can't believe this' manner when she groveled at his paws and then passed out. He was no healer, and had no healers that he could call upon to care for her; and he wasn't in the buisness of taking strays. Anyone was welcome to join Frostfire Ridge but they had to earn their keep in his ranks, and currently he couldn't see much of a warrior in her. Perhaps she could be trained, perhaps if he afforded patience he could make her into one; but currently his doubts out weighed what little faith he might have had.

He hesitated. He wasn't sure how to rise her back to conciousness, that didn't involve licking her face. He didn't necessarily want to do that for it was not only a violation of her space, he didn't know her, and he hadn't confirmed that she wasn't plagued by an illness. So, awkwardly, the serpent king stood there and waited for a lack of knowing what else to do, categoring the idea of licking her face as a very last, desperate resort.

Blinking away the fog in her peripheral vision, Orchid rose unsteadily. She was disgusted with herself. With a steely-eyed look up at the bigger wolf, she pushed away the fatigue. She felt something emamating from him - anger? Hatred?

"Forgive me. My...lapse was untimely. I fear I have made the wrong first impression."

The glint in her eyes never swayed as she glared upwards.

"I hope I haven`t - how to say it - encroached upon your territory. Orchid Malara, of the Jeredal Wilderness. As you saw, I have travelled a while, and I fear the effects have, as such, taken their toll. My warrior sense had taken leave of me, and had you not been so...cautious...I would be dead by your paws. I apologise for my weakness and stupidity and appreciate your former mercy."

She ground her teeth angrily, making it clear it took a lot to-to-to grovel in such an unholy way. Her inbuilt respect for an Alpha took over, and she involuntarily bowed her head.

Oh, for the Spirit`s sake!

Thankfully, the female woke up, without him having to resort to licking her face — not that Tezcacoatl was overly sure that would have even done the trick. He wasn't a healer, didn't know the first thing about anything that remotely circulated as 'healer' and had no idea if the ideas that popped into his brain would actually work or simply make matters worse. Tezcacoatl's crystalline blue eyes hardened when she stirred, apologizing. His expression was like stone — unfazed; because what was he supposed to say? Did she expect him to run to her? To make sure she was okay and not going to faint on him again? Because if that was what she was waiting for she'd be waiting for a long time to come to an unbearable amount of dissapointment. His tail lashed behind him once before it curled over his back in warning as her eyes rose. His lip curled back, posture adjusting to show his domiance. “If you had you wouldn't be drawing breath,” Tezcacoatl had no intentions of being merciful with those idiotic enough to cross into his borders. He would attack to maim or kill — there was no room for negotiation on that point.

“I'm not sure what I saw other than a clumsy girl cutting herself and passing out close to my borders,” Tezcacoatl spoke simply, perhaps what could be seen as coldly. Tezcacoatl had to appear cold. He was a King, after all, and his morals did not stand on babying strangers simply because they were exhausted, hungry and injured. “Can you not hunt for yourself? Have you not stopped to rest?” He would never let his body get into such a poor condition. An exhausted and starving wolf wasn't useful. It was a waste of resources until it was nursed back to a proper condition; and now she had a wound going against her — not that he had anyone to take care of it for her... providing she could convince him to let her in. She was groveling at his paws, but he wasn't sure what kind of mercy she spoke of. He didn't attack because she wasn't, technically, on his borders, it was as simple as that.

“Frostfire Ridge is a warrior driven pack,” He informed her, subtly letting her know he'd taken note of her use of the word 'warrior' though he currently held his doubts, as unfair as they surely were. He drew in a deep breath, contemplating. “To be officially considered apart of the pack, to rise within the ranks my wolves must obtain the warrior trade,” He spoke, gauging for her level of interest.

The she-wolf yipped in laughter and derision.

"Every wolf I`ve met in this Spirit-blessed Wilderness has talked about trades! Is it bureaucracy and official "skill" save you in a fight? I think not! What makes the difference between life and death - reputation or a skilled healer?"

She chuckled lowly and gazed coldly into the Alpha`s eyes. She seemed to see something there.

"Many times I have stopped. I can rest only in the dank marshes you wolves so recoil from. I see you prefer mountains and woods, but then, you can hardly be blamed for the teaching of generations."

Her lip curled back in a cruel smile. Her eyes, chips of smoky glass, taunted him.

"I see your thoughts. I am but a weakling yearling, a grovelling she-wolf of no use to you. Look at me! My early life was easy - Jeredal Wilderness had the easiset prey of anywhere you will ever travel. I am ashamed of my condition, but there are worse wolves than you around these parts."

She shook the fur fringing her face.

"If it weren`t for your obvious lack of empathy, I`d prove myself to you now with a (OOC: friendly) spar. As it is, I fear your simple disgust would not be overridden by such a battle."

She lowered her head with a sigh.

"Ergo, I ask your permission to hunt, rest and bring myself back to an acceptable condition - in return for-"

What am I doing?! Sigh. There is nothing else to be done. Survival comes first.

She lowered her head and finsished the sentence with a sharp intake of breath.

"In return for my life-long allegiance to you."

The girl's mood seemed to change as if he'd hit some kind of unseen light switch within her. Her grovelling morphed into a disrespectful laugh that had a low growl rumbling in Tezcacoatl's throat, his tail wagging like a flag over his back. Her words did not add merit to herself, any. The way she spoke she'd made it sound as if Frostfire Ridge was not her first attempt at joining a pack in the Teekon Wilds and there was a small voice in Tezcacoatl's head that told him that, if she were to be believed, there was likely a reason all the others turned her away. “They have a bigger impact on life and death then you believe,” Her words only proved how young she truly was. Clearly, she'd never fought against a skilled warrior; but Tezcacoatl had. Not just a warrior. A berserker, and he'd won, because he trained (admittedly under said Berserker), because he had skills bestowed upon him from a trade. “Your reputation means nothing. It's words. To hold a trade you have to exhibit your skills, if you don't have the skills, you don't get the trade.” He agreed to disagree with her, and he'd make it known.

It was when she dared to look into his eyes that he took a menacing step forth, a snarl tearing from his parted lips, lips curled back to expose his teeth. The threat was real. If she would not submit — if she would not look away from his eyes (which he took as a direct challenge) he would attack her. If she would not submit willingly then he would force her into submission and if still she would fight then he would hurt her. He had no patience for defiant wolves who clearly wanted to be apart of his pack but wanted to disrespect him. He would break her body into two before he allowed that to happen.

She spat at him about how she could magically know what he was thinking, which was merely a mimic of what he'd spoken to her: letting his thoughts be known. Another step he took closer, another growl rumbling in his chest. If she didn't back down he would not hesitate to take action; she would regret her decision, Tezcacoatl was sure of it. He was merciless when he fought. The siren's consort (Reek) knew it, and Ragnar (though deceased now) knew it. “You have no idea what I've done, what I'm capiable of doing,” And she didn't; but she would learn. He might not be the biggest bad ass of the Wilds, but surely he had to be gaining rank.

It was Tezcacoatl's turn to laugh, though the sound held no mirth. It was a cruel sound, sharp as a knife. “You would spar with me in your condition?” Beating her would be easy. Perhaps such a thing was too confident of him to think but her condition was poor. She was hungry, exhausted, and now injured. He was none of those things, bigger than her, and likely weighed more than her. Though he would not be so arrogant as to assume his skills surpassed her own (for he didn't know) he was well trained in the art of battle. “We will spar when you are well, and you can either prove your skills or prove that you need improvement.” He encouraged sparring, but not when he had numerous advantages against her, as he currently considered that he did. He was weary about letting her into the Ridge with her defiance still burned into his brain. “If you take from the caches you will replace what you took, there's a herbalist cache around here somewhere I don't know if she was able to grow anything before she left, or not,” Tezcacoatl hadn't went around where Citali had kept her 'garden', lately. “You will respect me as your King, and you will respect those higher ranked than you. You will earn your keep here or you will find yourself homeless; that includes the warrior trade. All wolves of Frostfire Ridge are required to earn it in order to be considered anything within this pack. If they do not, they will be chased out, there are no exceptions. Am I understood?” He didn't take any shit, hadn't and never intended upon it. She would learn her place or she would be finding herself another pack.

As much as she hated to admit it to herself - there was no other way. It would make her look weak, helpless, submissive. All the things she loathed being, but the latter the most. Alas, it was imperative.

So, she slowly closed her eyes and looke towards the Alpah`s paws, instead of his crystalline eyes.

A paltry survival before life, she thought. What have I become?[i]

"I - I will learn your ways, and - and my place within them."

Every syllable was a blow, worse than any the - waat word fitted? - [i]king could inflict upon her. He was a king, his posture ascertained that. Anyway, she knew she would have to be respectful to be successful in this world.

Finally the woman's eyes diverted from his eyes — which in their world could so easily be taken as a challenge to his authority — and settled upon his paws, her posture crumbling into one of submission before him. While Tezcacoatl didn't particularly see himself as power hungry insubordination was not something he tolerated well; but he couldn't. He was the Alpha here, his word was law and he would not have his subordinates forgetting their place. He was a nice guy — or rather he could be — but he was their Alpha, first and foremost. “Good,” The stalwart Rekkr offered her simply. “I am Tezcacoatl, and so long as you are respectful and you become what Frostfire Ridge requires of all of her wolves then you are welcome,” He spoke with a slight lift of his shoulders. It was up to her how badly she wanted it — how badly she wished to become apart of them. To become something more, something powerful and bask in the glory that came with it. “Come. We'll see what we can do for that wound and get you something to eat, and then I'll show you around.” With those words he beckoned for her to cross into the borders with a gesture of his muzzle.

Orchid lowered her tail gratefully, teeth clenched in silent pain as she padded over the border. It was as if she`d walked into a new world - overpowering wolfscent, powerscent and preyscent overwhelmed her twitching muzzle. She curled her lip to better catch the scents. Inhaling them, she felt more...alive, somehow.

"Thank you, Tezcacoatl, sir."

She stared around her, and she knew - this was the world she wanted to be a part of. There was no going back, no loophole to escape through if things got hot; but for once, she was glad of it. She turned back to the Alpha whom she could now name.

"I pledge myself to you and your Pack, I will follow your customs, show respect, all, if I can be a part of this wonderful place and make its wolves proud."

She smiled. Perhaps a fresh start would be the right way to go.