It had been a year since Arren had left his human friend... Two years without contact from another of his species. He did not spite his human though, without her he would have died. If not because of his mothers neglect, then by the very pigment of his skin. It was a curse that should never befall an arctic wolf. His fur color forced him have several months of struggle, not to mention also forcing him to stay more than a year with his human. But he was insecure if that was necessarily a bad thing, since he was unaware of his siblings status after they parted ways. He believed the only reason the human had kept him was because he was the contrasting pup of the litter.
Who knew? Humans were as fickle and strange to him as ever, even after spending a year with one. Ever since the huntress chose him, he was alone. Alone to fend for himself and survive in the wild. It had honed his skills as an independent hunter but his species worked as a group. He could feel some pack out there calling to him. Every night of his life he felt a pang of anxiety, of uncertainty, if he would ever make it out there to a pack that would accept him. To his luck about three days ago he had arrived to an area completely dominated by wolves.
He could smell each packs territory, many were scattered throughout the landscape. Now he was heading for the closest peak. To him it seemed that the lower ground he was on would warm quite a bit in the summer, and his thick arctic coat would not do him well, so he decided to head for a colder setting. One where he could chose the climate he wanted. He found one, one that stood out from the landscape as a spire in the night. The little sister to a larger peak he could see further away. He estimated that he would be moving up and down the mountain several times a year in order to have comfortable climate.
One thing he was hesitant about was the temperature change the difference in elevation might bring. There was only one way to find out, to see for himself. Arren stuck out his nose and felt a gust of wind that marked a territory bound for one of the packs. In his excitement he began sprinting towards the mark. Two years of waiting were finally over! He would have his pack! He dodged around trees, rocks, and other obstacles at incredible speeds. His chest puffed in and out with every breath, plumes of vapor rose from his maw.
He couldn't contain himself, he got to the mark, skidded to a stop, and gave a long, deep, howl. One that was an impetus to everything in the forest, making prey scatter about, and making wolves plan their approach to it. His bones ached for some other presence. He hurriedly sniffed out the trails and followed the most recent. His body completely blending in with the forest, all that could be seen were his eyes, his teeth, and the small clouds that rose with every exhale he gave. He was a phantom in the night. This is where he belonged!
oooohh i just got home from long work day but didn't want to leave you waiting any longer so this might be a little puny
A howl beckoned, and from her spot elsewhere along the dark borderlands, she began to shift course. It was curiosity with duty combined that pressed her forward, and courtesy her familiarity with the paths and her ease over the terrain here, she made good time in covering ground to him. Her nose was sharp and soon enough, she caught glimpse of him -- dark-coated, blending remarkably.. but she was not much different. From the shadowed cover she arose smoothly and left nothing to be mistaken; these very trails were marked purposefully with her scent, her ownership. Her tail twitched in its upward arc over her back and she approached him from the front, poised.
With a pointed look and a curious glint in her minty stare, her question was clear despite her silence. He evidently had enough purpose here to raise up a summons, so she did not think he would be withholding the details of his intentions. Most were intuitive enough to put it together quickly, and she hoped he would be too while she wanted to see more of him -- and namely, how he'd respond to her.
OOC: It doesn't matter to me if you didn't write that much, cuz i was just so eager to rp on here. You did the right thing. My Spring Break ends tonight :(
Arren felt the smell getting stronger and stronger. Soon enough he saw another wolf before him. He leapt out in excitement and began sniffing her body. She had many scents on her including the smell of her pack mates. He pulled himself together, and sat back a few inches from her muzzle. An awkwardly short distance away from her. He apologized "Um, sorry, I just haven't seen another of my species in two years, until now." He smiled innocently.
The loner was oblivious to his trespassing, and to normal wolf behaviors in general. After a long, strange, silent, pause, he continued "I just wanted to know if I could see your pack..." He tried to stay as courteous and formal as possible. His voice was deep and it was quite funny to see him stuttering and stumbling like that. He looked like a babe inside the body of an adult. He then looked closer at her posture and her body. She seemed stiff and alarmed. He asked "I'm sorry... Is something...wrong? Is it something I did?"
In his mind he was shouting 'Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I should just get going and let her be. She doesn't want me to join the pack! God damn it, my one chance to meet with a wolf in two years and a mess is up!' Just then he looked down at his paws and closed his eyes in rage, and embarrassment.
awh ): RIP spring break. long days at work are just no good for the writing for me.. i'm always so unmotivated afterward
He came at her nose first, sniffing with more enthusiasm than she was used to, and accordingly she did stiffen all around. Two years was.. an incredibly long time to go without seeing another wolf. She wasn't sure to be flattered or concerned that she was the first his eyes found in so long. Regardless, it was a little worrisome how he may perceive wolf law after having no boundaries of it before. She'd stayed a loner for a long time herself but not in complete isolation. Even she had struggled to "return to civilization", so to speak, and she'd not had it as serious as he might have.
By nature of his conformation, he was a big wolf, but she stood tall nonetheless. His lacking socialization was not going to grant him endless patience from her.
"My borders. Mind them," she warned with a gesture of her muzzle towards an invisible scent boundary.
"Then I am far more likely to be hospitable," she added. She lashed her tail to punctuate the sternness in the words as well. He was not so far off but he'd seemed to realize his error somehow not long afterward. Her ears splayed and she seemed to consider him at length.
"Why this pack? Do you know about it?" the dark alpha pried as she loomed close to the stranger. Had it just been the first his nose found that caught his interest, or had something brought him here specifically? She was still trying to feel him out, and see how much he did know before her judgements would pass in full.
Then you don't have to if you don't want to :) Rping should be fun, not a chore.
Arren noticed that she cared about her territory, as he could see wolves were not allowed to come and go as they pleased. He would make sure to remember this. When she asked him about his reason for coming he said "I came here simply because of the location. As you can see I have a thick coat, which would cause me some trouble during the summer days, so I chose to head for one of the coldest areas. This peak. [b] I know close to nothing about this pack, nor the ones in these wilds, yet I want to be part of one. If you would allow it, I'd like to meet your pack, maybe get accustomed to being around wolves? I'm not sure if I like the pack life yet, if I enjoy it and the pack enjoys having me then I'll stay. If not, then I'll carry out on my own again. I'll make sure to not cause any disturbances... I'm not one to provoke conflict or be a hindrance."[/b]
As he talked he scanned her body in the darkness. She had a coat as dark as his, but she was ever so slightly smaller than him. She looked like she had seen some battle, she had widespread gashes on her left side, most likely from a bear or some other big creature. He had also observed as he sniffed her earlier, that she had a scar under the fur on her chest. Yet he was not sure how deep, or what had made it. Arren had a growing suspicion that the packs around did not necessarily get along all the time. Maybe he was wrong. Settling down was something that he had not done in a while, and he wasn't sure if he's like to do it. Maybe he could join a nomadic pack? Having a place to call home and have a mate and pups was something that he wanted to do, but he was still young and had much of his life left to do that.
ahh i just do what i can ;D
Since spring had warmed away the frosts of winter, she had been exceptionally prevalent on the borderlands so knew unquestionably that they were well-marked. Perhaps it stemmed from a variety of factors, from Wildfire's attacker to a decline in their numbers, but she always did find it easy to be devoted to this mountain. It had given her a great many things already, a list which the spring turning to summer months was only sure to expand upon, so it only felt right to guard it as carefully as she did. When he spoke first of the territory drawing him, she was not necessarily surprised to hear it.
He elaborated from there, and she took from it that he was interested.. but uncertain of if he may be a longterm addition to a pack. Many of the newer recruits did not always last, after all. That was nothing new, and just a fact of it. Any alpha of any span of time would realize that. Even as of now, only Ness and Aloe remained aside from wolves that had been here from right near the start. Amekaze suspected the springtime may be to blame in part, since it was easier to travel for many when the weather was good, but she did not always like feeling like just another stepping stone in life.
"To meet the pack and our mountainside best.. I would advise becoming one of the pack to learn it the best. A non-pack wolf may not be well-received by many here, and what better way to learn than to immerse yourself? Even if it may not be permanent -- you would not be the first or the last to not stay for good. Time would have to tell where exactly you would fit, if you do.." she spoke.
"If you were interested in joining officially.. you would need to carry your weight while here, however you may be able to. We have.. ah, several niches open." she mentioned with a subtle smirk curving her expression. From hunters to warriors to anything else in-between, she was open-minded to a skilled wolf and he had already said that he would not cause trouble -- which was good, and something else she would have said had he not already covered it.
"But to start, what is your name?" she asked, intending to supply her own afterward.
[size=medium]I don't know how to view the code in order to change that type of stuff ⬇️ And it happened in my earlier post with the bold.[/size]
[size=medium]Arren agreed woth he decision to make him a full fledged pack member if it meant making the wolves more at ease. When she asked for his name he replied "Arren... Arren Blackpaw Aragarth is my full name." He nonchalantly looked to the great spire that loomed over them, forgetting to ask her, her name. Arren had not spoken in two years and was likely to miss simple things like that. [/size]
Arren couldn't wait to join the pack and his tail wagged vigorously. One thing he was also excited to try was fighting. He had heard great war stories from his litter and mother as a pup. The melanistic wolf had the build for fighting. He he lacked agility, but he made up for it in strength and endurance. He had to be strong in order to hunt all by himself for such a long time in his life.
hmm i'm not sure either, maybe it's just thinking a tag isn't closed or something. maybe try the 'view source' button when editing the post and erase all the code stuff there and see if that kind of fresh start helps any, idk
Arren Blackpaw Aragarth. Quite a title she was given but she nodded as she matched it to his sight and scent alike.
"I am Amekaze," she said with a gesture.
"This is Moonspear," and with that, she pointed her muzzle at the spire overhead. He seemed to have no objections, and this he would hold to him. But, she would also know not to be too perturbed if and when his time came to an end to here -- as much as she was loathe to think that far ahead already. Maybe he would fit in fine here. Maybe, all would be well. The days to follow this one would help her figure that out.
"What can you offer the pack? I know being alone for so long does polish.. certain skills," she said with a roll of her shoulders and a curious look over him. Size would grant him its advantages, but what she wondered was if he had the motivation to pursue being a warrior, guardian, hunter, or anything else specific for their cause. There were many directions he could go and she was frankly quite accepting of many, especially with some of their ranks thinner than she preferred recently.
She'd eased off her stiffened posture just a bit by now, especially since he was well on his way to their newest member -- even if he was one she hoped to inspire lasting loyalty in over the time to come.
Lets hope this works. I'm on my phone so I'm not sure which of the buttons is 'view source'. I'll fiddle with it later. The problem seems to happen only when I use my phone.
"Amekaze..." He muttered the name. It was a name that rolled of with a cadence he enjoyed. When she spoke of the mountain he could see why it was called Moonspear, the structure was bloody massive! Right from where he stood the moon hovered over its peak, almost touching. He shifted his sight when she asked about his role in the pack
"If I am proud of my pack, I wish to represent it. If the pack is going to battle I want to be on the front lines, the vanguard. I'm not sure how often packs fight around here, but I don't doubt it'll happen. During our time in Moonspear, I'd be willing to do anything. From scouting, to taking watch, to hunting, just give the word. Although, I must learn how to do all of these things with a pack... You said you know solitude can polish certain skills, I imagine that either you or another member was a loner like I was? This means that I am not the first lone wolf to join, and that might bring some security to the members."
Arren started pacing towards Moonspear, still looking up at its beauty. The closer he got the more prevalent a question seemed "How are we getting up it?" He voiced his thoughts. The climb seemed daunting, but Arren was determined to make it.
Ok so I figured it out. Yea I have to delete the code afterwards. Just I glitch with the mobile website I imagine.
eesh, but glad you got it somewhat sorted out. i usually don't post much from my phone
It seemed he was the mountain's to shape, basically. If his loyalty manifested proper to the pack, there were many directions he could guide himself in. That was.. good, she reasoned, because he may be just what they need because of it. This seemed to be a time of change for the Spear with the springtime bloom underfoot, so she was coming to believe that it was most important for them to face the changes strong and proud. She would think on it but his words were all noted and taken to heart.
"I was a loner for a time, but it was a while ago before I returned to pack-life.. although not so long as you." Her stay as a wandering wolf had not meant to be as lengthy as it had, but she had gone with the flow life had dictated and in the end, it brought her here. No regrets.
"And other loners have come to us before with similar situations. So long as you are respectful and eager to learn the ropes, it does not seem so difficult to get into the swing of things here." Although all varied when it came down to the details. She saw it as a decent place to learn if only one was capable. Amekaze was in the business of giving them a proper place to do so if they had the ability in them. She wasn't going to hold any hands and guide them through every step personally -- it was a learning process they would need at their own pace since it was their place in the societal standings at play here. She'd worked through it herself once so she did understand how it went, though, but she did know it was best that they possess the drive to want to do well for themselves first of all.
"You get used to it," she smirked with a playful wave of her tail, and began to pick her own path further up the elevations.
"It does take time.. and practice. I was born on a mountain," she mentioned, and watched to see him make his first strides forward as their newest member.
Bah, don't worry it's not that big of a problem
Amekaze seemed very understanding, and that gave Arren a sense of comfort. She was kind he deducted, she didn't seem bad tempered. Wolves like her were the ones Arren was willing to protect and work with. When she paced ahead he replied "Well, I was born in the snow, not sure if that counts for something." Arren gave a slight smirk as he trailed behind her. He let her lead him across the range, as she seemed to be adept at climbing. He observed her make several bounds and he prepared to take the same path. He made a couple of quick jumps across some rocks and took a large leap upwards to a rock overhead. His front paws caught the edge, but his back legs dangled off.
He pushed with all the strength in his front legs, and his back legs paddled against nothingness as they tried to latch on to some surface. With effort, he managed to get up. He inhaled deeply, and once his breath stabilized let out "Damn. I guess this climbing is a good work out." He stretched a bit and said "So tell me. Hows life been? How'd you get here?" The climbing gave him a sense of anticipation. He had been away for so long that a warm welcome was all he truly desired. Talking casually gave him a feeling that all was right in the world, like he had achieved something great. He was finally meeting a pack.
The path underfoot warranted its share of her attention, but since she was so familiar with them, she could spare to watch him over her shoulder now and again. "It will count for something, I think.." she returned with a wave of her tail about the snow. They would always have plenty of that in the wintertime, and their snow-capped upper reaches would persist through the warmest months most likely (she'd have to find out, this would be her first summer on this particular mountain). He would adjust to the terrain, it just took time and lots of practice. Most wolves were capable so long as they did not let the mountain dominant them instead. She believed they were better for it -- something she could just feel in her bones when she could breath deep and practically power over the easy terrains of the flatlands compared to this.
His brief struggle over a jump that landed a little short worried her for a beat, but she saw him right it quickly afterward. This was what she meant. It was moments like those, the slips and even the bruises, that would really speed along his learning. Or, the mountain would just prove to be too much. But at least up further up and around there were stretches of mountainside that were mild compared to this. They had their little gentle meadows and sloped forests, along with a lot of rocks and angles elsewhere of course.
Afterward, she glanced him over. His question was quick to a point. "Ah, I moved my last pack here from a different mountain in the autumn. We combined with a coastal pack, which both my alpha male and beta came from originally, and mutually picked this Spear." It was the brief history of how she'd landed here, of all places. She was sparse on the particularly personal details by nature. "Before that last mountain I lived at a creekside briefly and a longtime loner before that.. after leaving the homeland." She'd left citing reasons of being just too damn unsettled after too many close losses, and veiled it in a self-imposed exile approved of by both alphas (her parents, no less), but the more she'd grown, the more she understood why her mother had suggested so in the first place. "Over the few seasons I have known these slopes, they have treated me well with good hunting and otherwise. Sometimes it does attract the attention of other predators, though." Namely the bears hung on the forefront of her thought, but one was dead and the other unaccounted for.
"And what of you? Where did your path begin?" she quipped.
Arren listened intently until two words didn't add up for him. 'Alpha' and 'Beta', they seemed like titles given to pack members as far as he could tell. He ignored that while he continued to listen to her. When she asked him about himself he said
"Well, although it may not seem like it I was born in the far reaches up North. I was born to a lone mother during the winter. You can imagine how difficult that must have been for her. Me being the only black wolf gave her reason not to care for me. She neglected me, feeding me scraps and such. Even if she did raise me well, I could never survive by myself due to my pigment."
He stopped walking and his face turned to the cliff. His eyes did not seem to look at anything in specific, but just to an empty void amidst the clouds. "To this date I'm not sure how I was able to survive so long. My true mother, as I like to call her, was a human. She accidentally stumbled too close to us, and my wolf mother attacked. The fight was all over in a loud bang. My human wasn't sure what to do with us, so she took us to her cabin. There she kept all of us for two weeks. She cared for me the most as I think she saw me as different from the rest, as well as the pup who needed the most help. She sent away my siblings, and kept me in a large enclosure."
"She kept me there for ten or nine months and then she let me go. Ever since then I've been on my own. Traveling from place to place, not going anywhere in specific really. I sometimes even passed straight through human settlements." Arren opened up completely and didn't hide much. He told the story as it was. He looked away from that endless void and stared directly at Amekaze. "But now its all changed when I found you." His lips widened and his eyes formed thin crescent moons. True happiness could be found in his eyes despite what he'd gone through. Life finally seemed to be looking up. His muzzle angled upwards and his nose twitched "I smell the pack, We're not to far off are we?"
He was far more generous of the details but it gave her a better understanding of him. Plus, she was interested in the pasts of others because the wolf that stood here with her was simply a product of it all combined. So, she may as well take the glimpses she could get if he would give them -- and he revealed that it was far from the typical, yet one marked by struggle all the same.
She was quiet since she knew not what to say. Humans were a distant concept to her, one that existed only through stories of others to her. She had never seen one but what she did know suggested they were strange, corrupt creatures with no respect for the laws of the wild. Amekaze chuffed thoughtfully. "Sounds awful. The mountain should be a welcome change, then.." she mentioned with a nod. This assumed he could settle in and adapt to the mountain. Knowing he was of northern blood did inspire some faith in him, at least. "You are free to settle in if you have no other immediate questions," she said with another lingering look over him. From here, a lot of it was up to him to rise.