Wolf RPG

She was no stranger to the northern climate of the forest. In fact, she thought it seemed a little warmer than usual, having traveled a significant distance already. The very thought of a returning summer was enough to prick at the young wolf's nerves, her maw parting and tongue lolling out in an anxious pant. No true winterwolf could claim to look forward to the comming of summer! Luckily, winter was just around the corner, and it would be the better part of a year before Muses was going to have to seriously worry about how she was going to keep cool. More importantly, she thought, it was imperative that she searched for a more permanent residence during the winter. The mild summer months had been spent traveling - escaping, really - and the ivory creature found herself to be weary. She was tired of walking, seemingly aimlessly, south until she felt compelled to stop. It did not seem that she would settle in this dense forest, thick with coniferous flora, for she stood out like a sore thumb, and was eager to find a more rocky environment.

No sooner had she seriously begun to consider how she would find her next mountain home, the forest began to thin, and within the next hour and a half of moving at a hastened trot, Muses found herself breaching the southernmost edge of the forest. In the distance, she saw that the forest opened up to a large expanse that was likely a valley. Beyond that, she could make out the hazy outline of mountains, obscured in the late afternoon glow. For a moment, the she-wolf allowed herself to feel hopeful, tail wagging lazily as she stared out and into the new world before her, opening herself to the possibility of new adventures.

(@Onai ?)

Onai trailed amongst endless trees no particular current destination in sight. He figured if one wolf knew of Aspen perhaps more around here knew of her and could give her more information .  

He broke into a clearing and took a moment to admire the view before noticing he was not alone. Just a ways down stood a stranger. Then again all wolves here were strange. His eyes narrowed and he made himself seem big. He didn't own any turf in this land but he was still dominant with little to no respect for most of the wolves in this place. Most because Jilaiya had been a recent exception.

" Hey," he chuffed with little to no emotion. Only one mission here. Find Aspen.

Her eyes widened significantly at the sight of the newly arrived wolf. It was not his size that was intimidating - no, most wolves were quite massive within her family, and Muses was considered to be on the smaller side of that spectrum - but the fact that he was dark as the shadows. Her mouth gaped open, ears slowly pinning to the top of her skull. The stranger reminded her of someone, the only dark wolf she had ever seen before. It sent a shiver down her spine.

Instinctively, she took a step back, tail lowering and threatening to curve towards her belly. If he should threaten her, there was still enough distance that Muses was confident she could outrun him. To fight was not an option. "I didn't mean to intrude, I'm just passing through." She reassured hesitantly, lowering her delicate head. Now that she was alone and without a home, her only job was self preservation at all costs.

Onai gave a twisted smile as he learned that his encounter with Jilaiya had not tarnished his reputation or ego. This wolf immediately submitted and her tail was almost tucked to her belly. Something about wolves fearing him he couldn't get over. This was fun. A weird and probably fucked up kind of fun but still fun. He couldn't decide on words to say and so he just shrugged. "As am I, this is no mans land," he stated rather bluntly. "Names Onai," he added though not sure why he offered this wolf any information. As far as he cared she did not earn it. She should be thankful she had gotten that much from him.

Relieved to hear that she was not trespassing, Muses relaxed slightly, returning to a neutral, albeit wary, stance. She did not want to appear aggressive, but had no reason to submit to anyone who wasn't an alpha. For the most part, she had been the one treated with respect within her family, although she seemed indifferent to such displays now. "I've traveled from very far North, and these southern territories are all very strange to me." Muses explained, bowing her head, as if to apologize for her ignorance. It would surely take some time before she got used to it, but for now, she regretted to come off as a bumbling idiot.

"Nice to meet you, Onai. My name is--" Her voice faltered before the introduction, but it was not due to a lack of trust. "My name is Muses." She finished firmly, offering a short but friendly tail wag. "Are there any mountain wolves nearby?" Her dialogue continued on in earnest, hoping to gleam some information from the casual encounter.

Onai watched as the female relaxed slightly apparently deciding he wasn't a threat. He was dissapointed but he saw no reason to pick a fight. Clearly this wolf didn't want one. So unless she provoked him. There would be no violence. The wolf explained she was from far north and unfamiliar with these lands. I don't care. He thought to himself quietly figuring she wasn't going to be any help to him now. "Me too," he stated bluntly and emotionless.

The wolf offered her name. Muses. Strange, but unique he supposed. She also stated it was a pleasure to meet him. No it's not. He added once again in his head. She questioned if their were any mountain wolves near by and he shrugged. "The only pack I've found around here is just a bit southwest of here. They live in a grotto like area. The wolves there seem...nice," he spoke pausing before the last word. "Why, you looking for a pack?" he stated out of plain curiousity.

Her eyes widened slightly, surprised to hear that the dark wolf had come from the north as well. He was unlike any wolf she had ever met, although it did not occur to Muses that she had been isolated from most of society her entire life. "Oh." If it had not been for the unique tendril of colour from her voice, she would not have noticed that she spoke out at all.

Onai went on to listlessly explain that he had only encountered one other pack in the area. Her ears immediately drooped, for the news came as no comfort. Caves were nice and useful, but they were not a mountain. She tried to imagine a family as big as hers crammed into a cave. The thought was absurd! Muses thought that the only worthwhile trait was that they were nice folk, which put her at ease. So far, all the strangers she had met were good spirits, it seemed. The big, wide world was hardly anything to be afraid of, not like her father always insisted.

"Well, I don't think it would be a good idea to live on my own once winter comes." She danced around the inquiry of wanting to find a pack. Muses did not know exactly what she wanted; only that she had sought to escape, and was not sure if she could ever return. She thought that she ought to find others like her, to find a place that was familiar and welcoming.

"You do not have a family--" Once again, she faltered, but swiftly realized her error. "A pack?" She corrected herself, remembering that wolves in this area did not refer to themselves as a family unit. It was likely that the male was traveling, just like her. Alternatively, he could be one of those creatures that were cursed to wonder for eternity. Muses scrutinized the male, shuddering at the thought of living a life of solitude, forcing her gaze to turn away.

Onai nodded when Muses stated she didn't want to be alone for the winter. Fair point, though he did not understand entirely why she couldn't just be alone. Surely she could hunt and look after herself. "I suppose," he stated with a roll of his shoulders.

Onai frowned though when Muses made the outright assumption he did not have a family. The mention caused him to narrow his eyes but then she corrected it too pack. "I have a family," he grumbled. "I just don't currently live with any of them. I used to run a pack alongside my brother, but I left recently in search of a sister we chased out of our lands a couple years ago," he stated looking at her with a hard gaze from his piercing blue eyes. He stated not why he was looking for her, just that he was.

Muses cringed inwardly, silently scolding herself for not being more careful with her wording. "I apologize, I did not mean to offend you." She avoided looking at the dark colours that rose from his maw. "I sometimes forget that packs here aren't entirely comprised of a single family unit." Muses explained, slowly shifting her weight from one side to another. From what she had known in a past that niw felt like another life, those who wandered in solitude did not have a family to return to. "Does she look very much like you?" She asked, trying to make herself of some use. During her travels, she had not encountered many black wolves, but perhaps there was a chance that she could have passed the male's sibling. After all, she had encountered dozens od others during her travels. If they came from the same place, perhaps it could be possible that she had run into his sister at some point.

She offered a small smile, hoping to redeem herself in the male's eyes. It did not occur to her that she did not have to try and please everyone. Her mind wandered back to the reason why she traveled, and why dhe sought to find comfort within a group. It was foolish to commit herself with such haste, but self preservation remained her highest priority.

Onai shrugged as Muses proceeded to apologize for letting her comment come off as it did. "Very few packs are these days, mine is. Most of us are related in some way or another but even those who have joined our ranks from the outside are considered members of the family," he spoke.

Muses drifted onto the topic of his sister asking if she looked anything like him. Apparently the fact she had been chased out did not phase the female. "No, she's pale grey and much smaller than me, the only thing her and I have in common is our blue eyes," he stated bluntly. Not even their personalities compared. They were complete opposites in everyway. No one here would ever think they were siblings, only the people that new of the  Falcon's Spear  pack would know.

The way the male spoke led Muses to believe that there were perhaps many packs within the area. Muses herself had never ventured off her mountain range, although she knew that she had some older brothers who had branched out several mountains beyond. Those ones were much older than herself, and had left long before she had even been born. It was strange to think that these wolves would know their neighbours. "It seems the wolves here are very tolerant of newcomers." She mused thoughtfully, having some hope for her future. Her own family had been similar, provided that those who wandered into the pack were female. She did not know what happened to rogue males, and had never bothered to ask. "Are there many other packs further out? Is this a well populated land?" Her own family had been massive, all closely related in some way - all her brothers and sisters, and several wives of her father.

Upon hearing the description of Onai's sister, Muses was thoughtful for a moment. She had met one small grey female during her adventures, but she had pale yellow eyes, quite unlike the bright blue of his sister. Regretfully she had not encountered his sister. "Well if I see her, I'll let you know you're looking. You wish to bring her back to safety?" It was likely that Muses had misconstrued the male's intentions. Living with a large family, it was not uncommon for disagreements to occur and spats to break out. There had been plenty of times that a disobedient offpsring had been sent off, or left of their own accord, but they were always brought back, and forgiven to some degree. She could only only assume that, because they were siblings, the obidisan wolf wanted only what was best.

Muses spoke of the wolves being tolerant of newcomers here and Onai nodded. "Yeah I suppose, As long as you don't cause trouble." he stated bluntly. Onai's eyes narrowed as the wolf spoke questions of this land once again. Asking if this land was well populated. "If I'm not from around here how do you suppose I know the answers to those questions Muses," he snapped. "I told you I knew of only one pack in the area and that I am also from the far north, I used to be beta of my birth pack and ran alongside my brother before I came out here and I know nothing of the area or the wolves that live here," he stated a hint of anger in his tone.

Muses mentioned letting him know if she saw Aspen and asked if it was his intention to bring her back to safety. "No," he stated blankly. "She hates me and the pack from where I came. To be frank, I don't much like her either, hence my brother and I chased her out when we were younger. I am here solely to find out what shes done with her life, where she is now. If anything good came of that wolf," he stated with a non chalant roll of his shoulders. This was the most honest he had been with any wolf about his true thoughts of his sister. Though he did not care what Muses thought of this.

At the sound of Onai's sharp tone, Muses shirked back, as if expecting a blow to accompany his reprimand. She had gotten excited, and her carelessness had seemed to cost her. Pinning her ears flat against her skul, and tucking her tail between her thighs, she was quick to apologize. "I'm sorry," She whimpered, avoiding his gaze. It would have been easy enough to explain herself, but she was certain it would only come across as petty excuses. If she had done wrong, she had been taught to accept full responsibility. It was difficult to extinguish old habits . "I only thought you might have heard more information from the pack wolves." As a pup, she had learned that it was better to be forthright than it was to allow others to simply assume that she was stupid.

It seemes to her, at that point, that Onai might have been like her father. His honesty was admirable, and she thought it somewhat reassuring that he seemed to speak his mind without hesitation. Although he seemed to have no love for his sister (which Muses stubbornly refused to believe), he did not indicate to her that he meant his kin harm. Furthermore, Muses did not know him well enough to b able to dissect hos tone. She would have to take his word at face value. "Well, then I wish you all the best in seeking her out, and I hope that she has become an admirable wolf during her absence." Muses spoke softly, refusing to catch the male's gaze. She had never known a wolf to be as cold as the northern winters.

Onai relaxed a bit as the girl quickly submitted realizing what she had done wrong and apologized. She explained that she just wondered if he might have heard more from the pack wolves. He shook his head. "Muses, I am a man on a mission, with little time to spend having joyous conversation with pack wolves. I only speak to people because they might offer me information on Aspen. I neglect to ask any further questions unless I want to know more about something that they've said," he stated with a non chalant roll of his shoulders while his head added on unless you're really pretty, kinda shy, and named Jilaiya. 

Muses wished him well on his travels and hoped that he find her to which he just nodded. She added that she hoped she had become an admirable wolf since she had been chased out. "I doubt it," he stated bluntly. He had had just about enough of this conversation so he stretched and then spoke once more. "Well, I must be going, things to do, places to see, people to find," he stated offering a small flick of his tail as a goodbye and then turned tail. The ending was abrupt  but Onai didn't care to continue talking to muses longer and so he left.

Muses was relieved that the male took to her subtle clues, taking his leave without warmth. She considered his callous, indifferent nature, but assumed that he could not be faulted for it; as he had said, he was on a mission. She, a complete stranger without useful information, would only be a hinderance. It was wordlessly understood, yet she did not seem put off or slighted by the encounter. Instead, she appeared solemn in her contemplation, watching as Onai turned and walked away. For a moment she stood rooted to the spot, looking past the stranger, her somber expression unreadable. Then, as if unaffected by the fleeting encounter, she trotted onward, resuming her travels.