Aurora paced rapidly about the edge of this newest territory. She had traveled far, skirting the edges of many a pack as she traveled further and further south. She paused for a moment to shake out her yellowed fur. Her normal wintry white coat had dulled to a matte, dirty looking scruff to help her blend in better for the spring. Her paws then proceeded to fill the indent she had left from tracing and retracing this same spot just outside where she had detected the scent of a pack. Her grey eyes appeared dark as they pierced her surroundings. She had made her decision. Leaving behind her inhibitions, she threw her head back, releasing a resounding alto pitched howl in an attempt to summon a wolf of this pack to her. She was tired of running. Maybe they would allow her to find a home with them.
It had been relatively quiet the past few days -- something the large wolf could appreciate. Yet when a wolf called at the borders, his own white-tipped muzzle lifted upward, calling to the strange to wait and someone would be along.
Given his daily routine stirred him to round his borders, the dark agouti man was not far from the she-wolf, and as he drew up toward her, his bright eyes took in the dull, ivory fur. One ear would flicker in silent contemplation, curious about her health before allowing his muzzle to sweep downward in a greeting. His form was rugged in stance -- dominant, but non-imposing.. so far. "You seek audience with us. Why?"
Aurora let her ears drop to her head, along with her tail to designate she meant no harm. Even though the wolf before her had not displayed any signs of aggression, she was already nervous. Why had she decided to do this? She swallowed the lump in her throat I come seeking a home among you, i-if you will have me. I have been a lone wolf for quite a while and I am looking for a change. She managed to speak, her voice quiet, but audible. Her grey eyes were trained on the ground and her stance timid as she awaited a response.
She had traveled many a mile and she felt that this pack was far enough from the North from which she had ventured. She would seem healthy enough, she had managed to catch enough small prey on her way down that while she was not a fattened wolf, her fur did not fully display her ribs. This attested that she at least had some skill when it came to the hunt.
She lowered herself – passing the one true test Scimitar did hold for the wolves that followed him. Of course, he had plenty in the past who had submitted, and somehow had still managed to remain disrespectful. He had dealt with enough in his previous encounters to be cautious now, and his gaze studied the pale woman quietly.
“I’m Scimitar,” he allowed, his muzzle tipping only slightly now, welcoming more conversation. “And you are? What is it you can offer this pack?” It seemed such a tiring process.. and yet necessary to weed out the useless wolves of the world. It took a lot of blind trust for a lone wolf to come to a border and accept permission to join them – after all, what did she know about the wolves of Neverwinter Forest?
Aurora. Aurora Icefur. She stated with a bit more confidence. He hadn't killed her yet. I have knowledge of the North and I'm relatively skilled at hunting. I'm not one for much strength, but if you need speed, I'm your wolf. She had never been one for answering questions eloquently. She tended to forget the words she wished to speak.
She didn't know much about these wolves at all. Hopefully she had chosen a nice enough group. If not, she could fend for herself. She just hoped she had gotten far enough South that she could live out of the shadow of the wolves of the North. While they had not mistreated her, she had not belonged. She hesitated slightly. What if they didn't want her because of her pale fur? Would it make a difference? She wasn't sure how often wolves her color ventured this far away from the land of constant snow. She began to shift her weight nervously as doubt began to cloud her mind.
Aurora Icefur.
His expressionless features melted way to a hint of amusement as a small smile drifted to his muzzle. “Scimitar Frostfur,” he tagged on, openly noting the similarities in their names. With a nod to her words, the dark agouti man contemplated the she-wolf. She would work well within their ranks – of that he was confident. And if she did not pull her weight, then he would oust her from them.
Yet there were things to disclose. “You should know that our neighbors,” he nodded in the direction of Silvertip Mountain, “are not thrilled with our presence and while we have a shaky truce for the moment, I trust them as far as I can throw them.” He might have been a large wolf, but he didn’t have bionic powers. “Its possible battle might come to our doorstep, though we would like to keep the peace. We’ve been told there are also a band of pirates near the shore that are plundering and attacking local packs.” He paused, canting his muzzle slightly. “I tell you this in case it gives you any concerns – you are welcome within our ranks, but the decision is yours.”
It was now her turn to be amused. Her name was just a variance of his. How quaint. Sounds like home. She quipped. She was grateful for the full disclosure. Where she was from there were always despute amongst the wolves. Food, breeding rights, territory, you name it and it was likely fought over. Maybe she would get to enjoy some peace for a short time before she had to receive anymore scars. Emotional or otherwise.
She let a small smile grace her features. Anything else in your territory I need to know about before I waltz into any sets of teeth near my throat? She ran through a list of things in her mind that could go wrong. Overprotective mother wolves, territorial males, stray predators, or just other wolves in general who would likely distrusted her.
She took his cautioned words with a light heart, and he he cast her a small smile, albeit hesitantly – Scimitar was not a warm wolf by nature, though his affections were shown upon his very sleeve to his family. And pack was family, if they chose to be as such.
“There shouldn’t be any set of teeth to your throat by one of ours – pack is family, it is something we instill quite clearly in our ranks,” he noted, his muzzle tilting slightly as he wondered just what type of ‘home’ she had come from for such notions – of course, he had come upon far more brutal packs than his own, and he held no doubt of the differing cultures even within the valley they now stood within.
“My mate, Eshe, leads beside me. My sister, Kaskara, is our Beta. Her mate is within our ranks as well – Kieran. We have two new wolves that came to us before we claimed these lands.. Kyron and Goldhawk – both of kind nature. And then there’s my son, Pasha.. though I haven’t seen much of him these days.” He paused, his agze studying her – it was time for an answer. She could walk away from them and test the waters elsewhere, or she could join their family – but the decision was up to her.
Aurora squared her small frame before lowering her head, in a simple, and what appeared to be often practiced, motion of respect. I would be honored if you would allow me into your pack. Even with its problems, it seemed like a place she could grow to love and based off this Alpha's lack of aggression, she felt this pack was relatively peaceful. Just lead the way and I shall follow. She stated softly as she turned her ivory head to gaze at the land behind her one last time. She could not believe she had done it. She actually joined a pack after the past two years. Only time would tell if she had chosen correctly. She turned her head back to the large male before her and studied him. His pack members sounded nice enough. She would see how this went.
Last post for me. :)
She gave ascent to join them – and without pausing, the male loped forward, closing the final distance between them. Rubbing his shoulder along her own, he made to transfer his scent upon her – claiming her as a pack mate. Satisfied that she now faintly smelled of her new pack so her pack mates would not question her, the agouti wolf drew away, arcing around her and back to her side, where he gave a nod to the direction of the forest.
“I’ll give you a tour,” he offered, leading the she-wolf in to her new home and offering bits of information as they went. Scimitar was not much of a talker, but it was pleasing to know their ranks would continue to grow now that they were more settled.
Same!
Aurora nodded her head in thanks as he finished transferring his scent. Her aroma she had carried from home had decrease with each passing day and with addition of this, hopefully final, scent it finally diluted her original to nonexistent. She smelled of the Teekon Wilds and now the Neverwinter Forest pack.
She noted the direction he indicated and nodded happily, taking off in the direction of the place she would now call home.