Helena's claws scrabbled against the rocky outcropping as she jumped from boulder to boulder. She glanced back at the large Mackenzie Valley Wolf loping behind her, flashed him a mischievous grin, and promptly slipped from her perch on the stone. After a short tumble down the hill, Helena collected herself, shaking the dust and gravel out of her thick pelt.
Dante made his way slowly on the uneven terrain, his usual unhurried manner enhanced by the unsure footing. He looked up towards his companion who was hurrying on ahead and gave a little chuckle. Of course. This turned to alarm, however, as he watched her slip and fall. This was per usual, but in such an area, a fall could be serious business. Within a few bounds he was standing where she had been, looking down to see her get up and shake off the dust. "Everything okay down there?" he asked, biting back a smile.
Ears twisting back, he listened for company. This area didn't seem claimed but he didn't want any trouble.
"As always!" Helena sighed.
After giving her fur one last shake and a few licks for good measure, Helena started to inch her way up the hillside. The way was by no means treacherous but, given her accident prone nature, Helena took her time, placing one oversized clown paw delicately in front of the other. Dante was a good sport about her slips and spills but she didn't want him to think she was a liability.
Her boisterous personality and gracelessness had cost her friendships in the past, even her mother's new pack had decided her presence was more trouble than she was worth. To disappoint or frustrate Dante now and lose his companionship would be devastating and, in this new territory, dangerous.
Glancing up at the older wolf, Helena noticed he'd gone still, his ears pulled back, listening. "What is it?" She called up to him, "Is someone there?"
The shadow boy slipped easily from rock to rock down towards the voices he had heard. His easy gait owned to the fact he had been exploring this territory to lay claim to the mountain. Large strides brought him within distance of two wolves and he stood looking down on them. Large of body and sound of mind he watched with irritation as they tramped all over the ground he and his planned to claim.
He however could not fully treat them badly or chase them away as it still needed completely claimed. He chuffed quietly and then stood tall and imposing with glittering blue eyes. What brings you to this mountain friends?
Dante looked around, frowning slightly. "I'm not sure. It's been a while since we have come across anyone.... I would have expected to by now." It had been strange that their wanderings had been so unimpeded. These seemed to be reasonably bountiful lands, it stood to reason that some soul had laid claim to them or some surrounding area. Though perhaps the difficult terrain had made this location less ideal than others.
Then a voice rang out and he looked up to see a large black wolf standing over them. Well, suppose it had to happen sooner or later, he thought with some consternation. Sure he didn't want to be a lone wolf forever, but currently, traveling with Helena had been a nice change from the power struggles and posturing that usually came with a larger group. And this fellow's stature showed his authority clearly, though the territory had not been marked.
"Greetings. We were simply traveling and came this way, though if we are intruding I apologize." Dante had no interest in presenting a challenge to the other male in any way and attempted to make that clear right off the bat.
Helena's ears laid flat against her head as the dark wolf stepped forward. Although Dante kept his tone light she could sense a change demeanor, a wariness perhaps. Strangers were strangers and though Helena always enjoyed meeting a new face, this stranger cut a particularly imposing figure.
Bounding up the last few yards to Dante's side, Helena touched her muzzle against his shoulder, a private, reassuring gesture. At first she was tempted to let him do all the talking, if things turned sour she would be no match for the large newcomer, but her curious, outgoing nature got the better of her.
She gamboled towards the intruder, confidence growing with every step. Her tail brushed against her legs in a friendly manner but this wolf's authoritative tone of ownership rubbed her the wrong way and she couldn't conceal her impertinent tone. Head cocked she queried, "Just who are you and why do you ask?"
Jace shook his head the wound on his neck separating a sickening feeling as the skin and fur separated and then rubbed against each other again. He was increasingly pleased that it no longer bled at a single movement. I apologize for sounding gruff it has been a weary few days. I am Jace and no you are not intruding yet however I and a select few will be claiming this land in the next few days for a pack. I am merely scouting and happened upon you. However if it were claimed i would not expect such a rude tone.
He then raised an eyebrow, he was calling the girl rude but her tone was condescending in a way and he did not like it having been raised with impeccable manners. now may I ask who the two of you are since I answered your question of my name.
Dante felt Helena brush his shoulder and thought again what a grand thing it was not to be traveling alone. However, he cringed internally as she bounded forward and brazenly asked the stranger who he was. Perhaps I thought too hastily, he amended, more amused than worried. Anyone could see that she was not challenging, but merely being forward. Still, it wasn't a move he would make.
"I understand and am glad to hear that we are not intruding. My name is Dante. May I ask what sort of lands we have stumbled upon? Are there many who call the surrounding area home?" It would be nice to have some sort of a bearing on what they were getting themselves into in the area. He would hate to get ripped apart by a particularly possessive pack. The thought wasn't appealing.
He allowed Helena to introduce herself, not wanting to speak for her. Like she would ever let that happen, he thought to himself, amused.
Helena bristled slightly at Jace's reproach, feelings stung by his tone. Having grown up a loner, her knowledge of etiquette and respect for the hierarchy were lacking, a character flaw born purely out of ignorance. Still, she knew better than to challenge him and, with a polite dip of her head, muttered, "Helena."
Turning, she padded back to Dante's side where she could view this stranger from a distance. Her eyes wide with interest, Helena took in his great stature, dark pelt, and intensely blue eyes. Suddenly she noticed the gash on his neck, an ugly, painful looking thing. A surge of curiosity overcame her and she blurted out, "What happened to your neck?" Immediately she regretted her tactless outburst.
He smiled at them both a crooked lopsided grin that made his blue eyes light up Well met both Dante and Helena. He felt bad for reproaching the female, but it had just kind of came out of his mouth. I am sorry if I seemed rude to you as well Helena like I said it's been a terrible few days.
He listened to both questions but answered the males first since he asked it first. He dipped his head Blacktail Deer Plateau, and Horizon ridge are that way and further on is Silver tip Mountain and that way is the Swiftcurrent Creek Pack and hopefully we will have one here as soon as well, we just need the members. it was an unspoken offer if they wanted to join.
then he looked at Helena and smiled sadly I got in a fight with another who was not in his right mind at the time. I was defending two small females at the time.
Dante listened to his response with interest. So there were four packs in the area not counting his possible claim. That was a lot of activity for one area. This place must be just as suitable as I thought, he mused, glancing in the directions he specified and committing them to memory. He wondered what each was like and what their policies were on strangers treading their lands.
He liked this wolf alright, and the wound was proof that this wolf could stand up for those under his charge. However, Dante was choosy when it came to packs. History had taught him that careful thought was best when it came to picking those who would lead and make decisions on the way Dante lived.
"It sounds like quite the endeavor, starting a pack here, especially with so much competition in the area already. I am sure you are up to the task, though." He said in a friendly way, smiling slightly. He knew he and Helena could probably make useful additions to Jace's cause but did not want to promise anything just now. He wanted to look around some more. He wondered for a moment though about Helena. Once before he had needed to say goodbye to a traveling companion, his own sister, who had chosen to join a pack without him... he wondered if she too would request to stay.
Helena smiled to herself. As usual, Dante was ever the diplomat. Jace's response to her question had piqued her interest in him and her mind jumped from possibility to possibility. Who had he been defending those young females against? Was he fleeing from a pack at war with itself? For a moment she wondered if she should voice these thoughts but the sadness in Jace's voice indicated this was a line of questioning best left for another day. Instead, she spoke up, "Who is this we? Are there others you travel with or are you alone?"
Jace smiled at the male thank you it will be slow going and it will take time and patience, but hopefully it will work out in the end. Jace shifted his weight and sat down on his haunches to look less opposing and to be more comfortable himself.
Jace chuckled You are a curious one Miss. Helena. He smiled in good nature and then spoke quietly Ferdie Von Pelt and Myself, and three females hopefully we are still recruiting but they are Ame, Nightingale and Sky. little did he know that Sky would be leaving them for a love interest. He tilted his head and asked his own question What brings the two of you this far? Are you looking for a home?
"Of sorts. Kinda just going where the wind takes me at the moment, but personally it would be nice to find a place to settle down." Dante shrugged. "Just has to be the right place." Sounded like he had quite a group lined up, which was a good thing for him! He supposed with the surrounding packs an alpha would need a good lineup to ensure his/her territory remained their own. Though he had to remember not all packs were the aggressive, territory-devouring wolves amongst whom he had grown up.
He didn't want to offend this wolf by asking too many questions but he was curious as to how to move forward from here. "If I may ask, what are your packs like in these parts? How are travelers taken?" If he didn't know or didn't want to say that was fine, but it was worth a shot to gain a little more information on these lands.
Helena, she of the short attention span, settled into the grass next to Dante as the two male wolves discussed packs. Having never really been a part of a pack, Helena was in no rush to find one but she wouldn't complain if there were any around willing to take in two loners. She had no interest in leaving Dante's side, he had a comforting presence and she knew he could keep her out of trouble.
A small moth fluttered nearby, its soft wings brushing the clover and blades of grass near Helena's paws. She watched, entranced, as the moth fluttered closer, landing on the tip of her nose. Helena could feel her vision blur as her eyes crossed, fighting to keep the moth in focus. The tiny creature slowly fanned its wings, grazing her snout with it's tiny insect legs. Suddenly, a great sneeze shook Helena's body, sending her tumbling backwards into a tangled pile of legs and tail.
Jace looked at thte male and listened to his questions. He didn't know about Horizon ridge or the plateau but he did know about the creek and the silver tip mountain packs. He could at least give him part of an answer. He would have liked to give him as much as he would have liked. Well we are always open if you wish to join us, but that is your choice. We are going to settle here on the Sunspire mountain. I can't tell you about Horizon Ridge or The plateau however both Swiftcurrent and Silver tip mountain do not like outsiders at their borders, though SilverTip is a little harsher and more traditional they will chase any and all into neutral territory before they will even talk to you. I'm sorry that's all I know.
He smiled slightly when the girl when paw over tail, but he jumped from the outcropping and then down again and padded over to her to look down at her. Are you alright Helena? Do you need some help up?
Hmm, sounded like sticking to neutral territories for a while was their best bet. If this place were any indication, though, they would find plenty of prey and water to keep them going. "Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it greatly. I think we may press on though, see what lies further in." These mountains are beautiful but hazardous, he thought, inwardly chucking. Any more time here and Helena might actually hurt herself. He cracked a sincere grin as a sneeze rocked her back, flipping her paws-over-tail exuberantly. Case and point.
He didn't bother checking to see if she was okay on that one, they had been traveling together long enough for that much to be clear.
Helena laughed brightly at Jace's offer, "This happens all the time. But thanks."
Turning to Dante, she pulled a face, "If we're going, let's go!" Helena bounced on her paws, eager to get moving again. "Come on!" She prodded Dante's side with her nose and took off running, he'd catch up soon and she had energy to spare.
(OOC: Peace y'all!)
Jace dipped his head to both nad watched as they walked away. The girl was bouncy and kind and a little bit clumsy, but hey it happened. he had been a gangly youth so he knew about being clumsy.
He watched them until they disappeared and then he turned and went up the mountain side to his make shift den. He would think of these people later.
Ooc: I'm gonna go ahead and close this off, thanks a bunch for joining and helping us get back into practice! =D
Dante padded after his energetic companion, in no hurry as he knew he would never keep pace with her anyway. He could find her, his nose was as good as ever and she wouldn't get too terribly far ahead. He turned to give their new acquaintance a nod of farewell before he disappeared from sight. Perhaps they would meet again in the future, hopefully on friendly terms. He liked the first impression that he had recieved, Jace seemed like a very decent sort of character.
My paws are antsy, that's all, he thought, I've gotten so used to making my own calls. It's hard to imagine playing by another's rules, despite how much of a relief it may be. Ah well, time to worry on that later. For now he had a whirlwind to catch.