Anwyl sat by his den, looking up at the clouds. Yesterday had been rough. Though he'd pretty much slept the entire afternoon, earlier in the day he'd lost a rank challenge and his title of Delta was diminished. Jhala, the black agouti female had taken it from him. He had no hard feelings for her. Challenges were natural and he couldn't blame her for wanting his higher position. But it did make him sad to think that he had one more wolf to wait for when it came to pack hunts. The morning clouds were slowly giving way to the sun, which peeked through as the clouds fled, burning Anwyl's eyes. He blinked at the harsh sunlight, it hadn't been this bright in a while it seemed. Must be a sign.
He thought a couple of times about getting up and taking a walk. Maybe patrol some borders, or go out of the territory for a little exploration. But he was too lazy for that. So instead he just sat there thinking. If he was going to talk to anyone today. They'd have to seek him out themselves, cause he wasn't moving.
It was a bright and sunny day outside regardless of the snow that blanketed the ground. Jhala was out enjoying the warmth, letting it soak into her dark pelt and radiate through the amber glow of her eyes. It was strange, she suddenly realized, that she'd come across the scent of former-Delta Anwyl, and it seemed extremely stationary in it's place. She'd pinned herself as an excellent tracker, so she believed that she was well aware of the scent placing. She sought out the fluffy male and soon found him, lounging sadly half in-half out of his den.
She smiled.
"Hiya," she murmured, looking at him in an amused fashion. He seemed sad, and she did not laugh at that, but just the fashion of his pouting was quite funny. What the hell was he doing, lol. "You alright?" she asked, dropping the mannerisms of ranking and dropping to a friendly packmate, instead.
Lol I'm so lame but I thought that second paragraph was really funny for some reason xD
We'll speak of the devil. Here she came, the black and white female with her Amber eyes and friendly smile. He could get to like her, she was very nice, and would make a good friend. Plus she seemed to care about his feelings. So he turned around to look up at her, giving a quick submissive nod before smiling.
Yeah I'm fine. I'm just thinking.
His mind flickered back to his tussle with Jhala over the delta ranks and he began row worry.
I didn't hurt you any did i? During the fight yesterday?
He liked helping, never harming. And if he had harmed her at all, he'd feel awful.
He came quickly to his paws and walked around her, sniffing her flank and around her face. He checked for injuries, genuinely worried.
Omg he's such a baby!
The males emotions changed quite quickly, and he latched himself to her in a genuine worry. She allowed him, but quickly shrugged him off. "No, no," she responded, "Not too badly," she replied with a slight smile. Not at all, she added to herself, giving him a slight nudge away from her.
She sat, watching him curiously. "You sure you're alright? I didn't hurt you yesterday," she added, well aware that she had not injured him and if anything only his pride was damaged. "I hope that doesn't dent whatever friendship we could have, Anwyl. You seem like a nice guy," her added comment came with a slight heat to her cheeks. It wasn't because she had a crush on him or anything, she just felt strange being so friendly to such a youngin. She wasn't much older though so, really this was just a stupid internal argument she had with herself.
It really made no sense, if you thought too hard about it.
yoo thought i'd add some teeny thought process in here. glad she amuses you, lol
Lol, sorry for the wait. For some reason I didn't realize you'd responded already xP
Anwyl was relieved that he hadn't hurt her any. She shrugged him off and he stepped back to give her some space. She sat down, obviously wanting to talk. He obliged, sitting back down onus comfy pouty spot. She asked about him, and he shook his head with a faint smile.
Nah I'm fine. Just a little disappointed. But I'll be ok.
Then she made another comment. A more interesting comment that made his cheeks turn hot. He looked away a little, embarrassed suddenly at how foolish he'd been. He was acting like a big cry baby in front of a very pretty female. Not a good move.
No no, really I'm fine! I'm sure we could be friends still. I- I'd like that too.
All of a sudden he'd become very awkward. It wasn't particularly that he had a crush on her, he just started feeling weird. Like butterflies in his stomach. Talking to girls wasn't really his forte it seemed.
What should I talk about? What do girls talk about? Should I bring up the weather? No that's dumb. God what do I have a fucking brain for anyway? He thought frantically.
So all this winter weather huh? It's cold isn't it?
Holy shit what was that? The flustered boy was amazed at the words that had come out of his own mouth. Jhala probably thought he was a weirdo anyway though.
you're fine! I have 3 characters and forget to reply to things way too often lol
Well. The amount of maturity in this conversation fell through the ceiling, the floor, and was currently plummeting through miles of rock and earth towards the planets core. Obviously two inexperienced yearlings cannot stand within 5 feet of one another before they eventually remember that they are of the same age and single. It didn't even need to mean anything, there didn't even have to be a spark! Eventually, one would be reminded of this, regardless of reality, and the air would become sticky with awkwardness.
Here that moment was.
Jhala shifted. "Cold? Er, yeah.. I guess it's pretty cold," she responded with a forced smile. Was that even a question? she asked herself, rather obnoxiously. She was by no means above the boy, but her voice held a bit of disapproval in his question. It was a bit stupid, to her. She afterwards realized she had nothing to add on, however, and soon monkey-see became monkey-do.
"Have you had a deer lately?" she asked, soon making a
face that realized her own idiocy. She sat quiet, deciding there was no comeback from that.
Eewe ok so that must've been wrong. Anwyl thought when he saw Jhala's Trump face. He stood there for a moment, trying to think of a recovery sentence for that whole little thing. Luckily he didn't have too, Jhala came up with one herself. Well that wasn't much better. He thought, almost sneering at her comment. Obviously they both sucked at... whatever it was that was happening. His next words came out in a sort of chuckle. Nope. No not any. I've been living off of rabbits and porcupines, especially since our last pack hunt was a total bust.
The youngster shifted a little, trying to get more comfortable. This entire situation was really awkward, hopefully his next question could help them some. So how are you liking the Delta rank? You gonna still try for higher or will you stay where you are?
Ok well that was a little better.
He chuckled as he spoke next, and in her embarrassment Jhala pawed playfully at his shoulder, growling a little in a mock 'bro say it to my face' sort of way. But he answered, and she scrunched up her nose and stuck her tongue out a little. "Porcupine?" she asked with a wider gaze. "I haven't eaten any of those things yet. I've tried to catch a few but I always get myself stuck with their quills... I stopped trying," she admitted, although would be lying if she said she wasn't extremely impressed with the younger male for even getting a hold of one. She was tempted to ask how, but held back as he pressed another question.
She shrugged. "I think I'm too young to lead, and I think Terich is too well respected over me to get hold of the Gamma position," she informed him. "I think I'm good here for now, I'll prove myself later," she smiled to him, her tail wagging. "Besides, it kind of nice here. I don't have any major duties to be held accountable for," she added with a wink. It was true, too. She might have been a higher rank now, but it wasn't like she was in the top five. Those ranks were something to marvel at, they had a bit more responsibility than everyone else... at least, in her eyes.
Anwyl chuckled as Jhala made the same face he had when hearing the words 'eat' and 'porcupine' in the same sentence. He too had been bewildered at the thought. He'd even told Taggarik practically the same thing, that porcupines seemed a little too sharp for eating. Yeah that's what I said too. But Tagg taught me how to catch 'em, I can show you later.
He added happily, wagging his tail at the idea of a fun hunt with his new friend.
Then she answered his question. He totally understood. He too felt as if he were too young to try and do much more. Technically he wasn't even a year old yet! He wondered how some of those who were under him in ranking felt about a pup holding a higher status than them. It made him smirk a little, because it was pretty funny. But he did think that he'd deserved his spot, he'd been there before most of them. He'd been there when they first formed almost a month ago. He would've liked to remain a delta, but now that he knew Jhala better, he didn't mind her taking his place.
I get that. I'm fine where I am too. I was fine at delta, but we know how that turned out! Oh well. It's only one more person I have to eat after, and I don't mind as long as it's a friend.
He returned the gesture she had offered him before and placed his paw on her shoulder. It was a symbol of friendship, and Anwyl was happy about it.
Awnyl told her that he would teach her, and the girls tail wagged excitedly. She nodded to him with an eager expression, her head tilting to the side. "I'd love that!" she woofed, tongue lolling in a pup-like manner. She listened as he talk about his own rank and blushed a little under her dark fur, thankful he couldn't tell. The younger male was actually a really great guy, and she felt bad challenging him. But she supposed it didn't matter, he seemed fine with it now. She kind of wanted to tell him that she didn't mind him eating with her, but knew the packs ways and decided that Taggarik probably wouldn't agree with the logic.
She smiled to him, nudging his own shoulder in return. "Maybe when we're older we'll have to challenge each other again," she mused, although she knew if it happened again it would be much more of a friendly competition rather than a blind challenge for a higher rank.
Anwyl smiled to see the pretty black and white female get excited. Hunting porcupine with her did sound fun, and he couldn't wait till they got to it. He liked how Jhala listened to him when he spoke, and how she didn't think of him as a young boy like some of the others he'd met. It's not like he minded, but it was nice to make friends with someone nice and around his age. She nudged his shoulder, throwing him a goofy smile. He grinned back at her comment, maybe they could.
I don't see why not! But next time I'll whoop you for sure. No doubt about it.
The yearling said in a teasing manner. He couldn't really imagine himself ever wanting to get intense with her again. Especially now that they were friends. He would feel too bad about challenging her. They would just have to see what the future held. Maybe someday he'd deserve that spot back. But their fight would still be a friendly spar really.
Jhala let out a playful growl, jumping up and bending into a play-bow. "You really think so?" she asked teasingly, her tail wagging happily behind her. Jhala did know that Anwyl was younger than her, but perhaps it didn't really matter. She wasn't much older than he was and she really couldn't use that as any sort of argument against him. Regardless of rank or age, to her they appeared as equals.
"Prove it!" she then added leaping back and forth in her place. Before he could leap at her (if he so chose to) she turned and bounded away into the territory, inviting the male to chase after her.
Sure! I'll archive this <3
Anwyl smirked playfully as she bowed, her tail wagging madly. She would be a very good friend. And maybe something more. Anwyl had never felt this way before, especially around a female. Then again he's grown up with a bunch of brothers. But something was different. Jhala was super cool and fun, but also pretty and nice. Something about her made his stomach feel like it was full of butterflies ready to burst from their cocoon. He smiled and bounded down and romp around with her, playing in the snow.
Prove it! She had said.
Oh yeah ok yeah I can do that! He thought and ran after her with a childlike gait. The two were roughly around the same age, perfect friends it would seem. As he charged through the snow, he felt nothing but fun and happiness. Forgetting completely about his sad stupor.