for lasher
He had caught scent of the nearby pack and had avoided it, opting instead to view the territory from the sharp rise of the plateau. It was interested to him, and while he wanted to get a closer view he wasn't so stupid as to just waltz in there like he owned the place. The concept was interesting to him - he could hear the occasional creaks of branches snapping and then falling to earth. He'd love to see it up close but he didn't really feel like getting chased out of some pack's terrirory.
The dark wolf shook his coat out, an ear flicking in irritation at a couple flies buzzing around. The day had broken bleak and dull - maybe it was just the mood but it was the entire world seemed to be a little morose. Maybe something was going on. He wasn't sure.
the seawitch, caiaphas. lasher was irritated with how she had treated tachyon, and how she held captive a woman that the young wolf loved. what crime had this wolfess committed, that the ocean-wife held her so? taltos was of the mind to march down to the grotto and seek a firm audience, but donnelaith must be held together, and so instead he trotted to the water's edge and began to search for edible things.
he had found a turtle but when he turned it over, he saw with dismay that gulls had already cracked the soft undershell and pulled out its flesh. with a sigh he moved on, discovering a small shoal of fishes that had been washed up.
in silence he carried as many of these as he could back toward donnelaith, but the scent of a stranger gave the druid pause, and he laid them upon the ground, stepping over the saltlogged bodies protectively. his eyes swept the land and alighted upon the dark figure of an unknown wolf, too close to donnelaith for his liking in these wretched days of need, and he gave a sharp and warning bark.
His thoughts had drifted again - somewhere far past the current wastes he was viewing and into those distant memories. He missed one sister, and was indifferent to the other. Stark had been on his own for six months and in those days he was leaner; stronger - and surely, surely now he would be better than Cap. He drew in a deep breath, blue eyes trailing the trees all the way to the top. Even the birds seemed to have left them.
He caught the scent of another wolf nearby but did not move until the warning bark. He turned, spotting the wolf and the small grouping of fish he protected. "Hello," He murmured softly, licing his lips with a small twinge of anxiety. He was a smooth talker, yes, but, this was not a situation he could have taken charge of. "- Just taking in the view." He said simply, still calmly sitting.
the stranger sat quietly, though his eyes evinced some trepidation. relaxing in a small way, lasher glanced over the man -- he was a smooth, hale sort, perhaps well-fed in these trying times. "from where do you come?" the druid asked quietly. however, though his tone was inviting, lasher was wary -- why did this man watch donnelaith, and must he be driven away?
"Far off," Was the immediate and calm response. "I just came in here." His blue eyes drifted briefly over the man - it seemed that his passing travels had yielded better hunting than the wolves here had seen and it suggested that way for some time. He frowned at the thought, glancing back down over the rise of the Plateau. "Forgive me, I was just imagining the forest in it's full glory."
lasher nodded at the other's apology, his gaze at last softening into his characteristic gentility. "you must excuse me. the locusts rose and we are naked to the eye," he murmured, though he made no move to draw close to the stranger. "i am lasher, druid of donnelaith. what is your name?"
his ranks were all but full, and he had not a piece of prey to offer another mouth, but perhaps something could be made of this.
"Stark. He offered quickly, his tongue drifting over his maw for just a moment. He felt odd giving a title, he was not necessarily proud of his family line in the way that he probably should have been. Instead he was just wanting to make a name for himself and make something out of his life that maybe would finally win his father's affections. "I'm sorry to see what has come from the locusts." Stark said with a bit of a sour expression. "I've traveled a lot in the last few months - I can't say I've seen anything like it."
"nor have i," lasher muttered, for he truly had not seen such widespread devastation. his eyes alit on stark for a long moment and his features arranged themselves into a pensive expression. donnelaith was in need of new bodies, yes, but more wolves meant more mouths to feed. yet in a short while would osprey be delivered of her children and would require more sustenance to keep her milk flowing and rich.
"where will you go?" lasher inquired softly.
Truth be told this was a question that Stark kept asking himself. The sort of destruction like this meant a great deal - he expected that if he continued to travel the area the lands would just be worse and worse as he went on. "I planned to keep scouting - try to find out where the herds went...it's easier for someone like me, than for someone who's more tied down." Stark said with a crooked grin, giving the more obvious option. it was easier - yes, but he also was on his own. There was no one to turn to for assistance.
"that is a good plan," lasher murmured gently. "i must do the same eventually," he said of himself, thinking of the meagre fish he had brought. with osprey pregnant and his daughters young, more food must be found to fill their bellies, else the beta pair might run the risk of loss. he did not wish to think of it; he turned his eyes back to stark. "go far south. perhaps they went beyond the glaciers."
Far south - he hadn't come in that way, and the prospect of food was encouraging to him though the length of that journey would be great. He nodded at the suggestion, his eyes peering as far off as they could as if he might be able to gleam the information he wanted while still present. "Such a long journey would surely leave the wolf vulnerable." Stark lamented. "How long have the herds been gone?" He expected a sad answer, it seemed even the birds and the vermin had moved on too.
"two weeks at least, perhaps more." the scent of the fish between his paws was rising into lasher's nostrils, rendering him mad indeed, but he steeled himself. "it would be best if one such as yourself traveled with a pack; more teeth to bring down any beast your might find, more strength for moving fast and far." a gentle smile now, more akin to his usual self.
Forever, then. Especially for the young that were being born, the ones that had already come around - it was the season for life, and here there was none to be found. Stark's lips twitched, looking past the forest and on towards the sea in the distance. "Tragic." He said softly. He nodded at Lasher's suggestion, tail thrumming a couple beats at the kind suggestion. "It's a precarious position." He said gently, "- knowing that any pack will be taking me in a time of famine, it would mean my absolute loyalty." Stark said softly. "But I won't do anything without having an offering to give that pack." A kill, or some cache discovered, or something to prove his worth to them.
he found that he admired this man, this stark. he himself had offered no succor at donnelaith for the same reason: he had nothing to give. but there was a determination in the other that brought a smile to spark upon his lips, to light his eyes. "that is an admirable quality indeed," the druid murmured, though a glance overhead told the man he best be upon his way.
"perhaps i might see you again, and offer you true hospitality at that time."
Stark gave a nod, his eyes traveling over the male a last time. He felt that they had an understanding, that they were on even ground. He approved whole heartedly, offering him a polite bow as he made to leave. "With luck, the next time we meet we'll both have better fortunes on our side." He said quietly. "It was a pleasure, Lasher." He said genuinely - and for the first prospects of these lands he felt hopeful.
last from me! <3
the man stood and taltos dipped his head politely.
"the pleasure was mine, stark," came the softly accented tones, and flushed with the little pleasure bestowed by a chance and genteel meeting, he waited for the other to depart, not wanting to abandon him even for the short trek to donnelaith.
Stark couldn't help the trail of his eyes over the other man's form for one lingering moment before he stood, bowing his head politely. "Until next time," He offered - genuinely hoping that there was a next time. He slowly left the Plateau, crossing into lands unknown and finding a small brook. He followed it curiously, his thoughts still drifting back to Lasher from time to time.