Loose pebbles tumbled from the male's pawpads as he fought for purchase on the grassy, boulder-strewn slopes. Straggly pine trees clung to the dry dirt, their roots arcing over the earth. All the thin wolf could see was the ground rising to a ridge that streaked the starry night sky, it's rocky helm faintly outlined by the moonlight. There was nothing unusual about a wolf traveling at night; their eyes were more than suited to refract faint night-light. But Cuan had dispersed from the lands around the Blacktail Deer Plateau and wandered for most of the summer, his meanderings leaning in a southerly direction.
The lanky, tan creature was tired of eking a living on his own. Cuan may be an easy-going creature, but his mood depended on the surrounding packmembers. And there was no one to run, jump, and play with, to expound his tireless energy upon. Even the rabbits weren't up for a chase, instead bolting straight to their burrows as the wolf's large paws smacked the earth in gregarious pursuit. He had grown more and more wary, and now Cuan's narrow chest flexed with each breath as he worked his way up the slope.
Cresting the ridge had not been in vain. The candid's rounded ears immediately perked, their black hairs outlined in silver as the starlight twinkled, seeming to shine brighter on this new land Cuan had discovered. The grass, green and sweet, coated rolling hills that fell from Cuan's toes and spread into a wide valley, encompassing large swathes of coniferous forest and along small run-off streams that ran towards the bottom of the earthen bowl. Along the ridge that the wolf stood on, inspecting the land below, ran more and more rocky terrain and ledges and eventually joined one of the arms stretching out from the mountains. His yellow eyes spied the massive bearing of rock that towered like a giant above the valley, a silent, massive protecting force.
There was the exuberance again, and he was swept up in the moment as he ran full-force down the slopes, his tongue lolling out. He could almost taste the smell of pine on his lips as trees came into view, bordering one of the edges of the hills. He veered left and his paws almost skidded on the cool grass, and with a yelp, Cuan came to a halt at the edge of the stand of trees. It was apparent now that the pines weren't the only thing that was providing aromas to his nose. The spy creature dropped his nose to the pine floor. There were wolves here, and a lot of them.
I apologize I had thought I had replied to this. Is he in the borders or at the borders?
Jace was out and about doing the last border patrol of the evening. He would do this last sweep and then turn in for the night. As he walked he listened for any sounds out of the ordinary, anything to make him want to get a closer look. It wasn't that he could do much good, with his wounded chest, but he would not let anyone willingly haunt his borders.
Jace always kept an eye out for new recruits, new bodies to add to their ever growing pack, especially as winter came calling. He thought on the warm bodies that lay in the pack lands, the wolves that he saw as his family. The puppies settled in the den quietly sleeping. He saw no one and he was beginning to turn around, when a movement caught his eye.
He growled and walked towards the newcomer with a purpose. What are you doing on the sunspire?
right at the border, thanks for replying!
The joyous, playful lope Cuan had taken down the hills had wiped most of his cares from his mind. It was the first time he let loose after leaving Bon Dye; his exuberance was alive and well. His tail was furiously wagging even when he had come across the heavily marked wooded pines at the edge of the ridge, and he was tempted to roll in the scent of his own kind.
Lifting his head, the reddish brown tinted creature peered into the vapid darkness, it's darkness a murky sponge on his senses. He couldn't detect the patrolling male from beyond the border, and responded with a simultaneous whirl and crouch as the black figure stepped into Cuan's periphery. What are you doing on the Sunspire?
The scrawny two year old was not much to look at. With golden yellow eyes dulled from travel, they were the most illuminating thing on his lackluster pelt. Dirt stained the wolf's lighter forelegs, matting the hairs into brown curls. His pelt was rough and ragged, begging for a decent meal to restore the proper nutrients to their hairs. Cuan himself was never one of a warrior's build or a healer's touch, but his worn appearance made him even less valuable to the eye. And in fact, he knew that he wasn't good for much, and had always found a rightful place as a scapegoat. The male turned to peer respectfully away from the pack wolf who had approached. My name's Cuan. I'm looking for a new home.
Though Jace could certainly respect the need and the want to run, to make you feel alive, now was not the time. Jace’s hackles rose as the other got into a defensive position, he supposed he had frightened him, but he wasn’t about to give a little if this wolf was here to attack or infiltrate or what have you.
Jace studied the wolf in front of him, clearly lone wolfing did not do good for him. His eyes were dull and a bit glassy, his pelt was frighteningly unclean, and his emaciated figure was enough to make Jace want to run the other way. However, he wasn’t about to turn a wolf away, when he could see the muscles that would form and add a little weight to the boy and he would be a good addition to their family.
Jace looked him over again. Tell me Cuan, what is it you can add to our ranks? Why should I give you a home and food from our mouths? What is it that you can give us that we don’t already have? And I am Jace, beta of the Sunspire.
He lifted his head slightly, tilted at an angle as he peered up at the black brute. The question this Jace posed was a meaningful one. Normally wolves would have some sort of innate talent, an extraneous skill that would make them a worthy catch of any pack, but the scrawny young adult wasn't exactly groomed for any sort of position within a pack.
I would do well as a scout, he replied, ears flat against his skull. It was the only job he could think of that would use his long legs and excitable nature for exploring new grounds, and discovering new things.
Jace listened and nodded So an outrider, we have none of them yet, so you may prove your worth yet. However, before i decide I must know can you and are you willing to put your own life on the line to protect our borders and our pack mates? Our family? He would not allow anyone in if they so much as hesitated on this question, because he was tired of so many coming and going and he wanted none of it. they had pups to take care of, babies that needed them. They could not be catering to those who were anything less than loyal.
The stranger had lessoned and was more willing to hear what the rangy tan and rouge brute had to say. Cuan straightened up a bit, with his tail still curled toward his belly and ears flickering backwards. The one known as Jace had prompted Cuan to speak up, pushing him away from his normally timid and humble nature to boast about whatever talents that were squirreled away inside of him.
The beta had told him that an 'outrider' would suit Cuan's exuberance, a word he had never heard of. He couold guess it was similar to scouting, and he hoped it entailed enough wandering and exploring to satisfy Cuan's tireless step. He nodded as the Beta began to recite oath-like words.
I would be honored to protect the Sunspire.
2 more posts from both of us and we can gather exp
Jace noticed the tell tale signs of pride in the youth, when given the chance to expand on his own self. He was glad for it, sometimes all a wolf needed was a slight push in the right direction. A reason to feel proud of themselves. The more pride you held in yourself the better you did. One of the reasons he was always looking to boost Summer's confidence.
Jace chuckled I am glad for it we are always looking for new recruits to help our growing family. We are a family here, and all our to be respected. Come with me i'll show you around. Can you hunt Cuan? I ask because we have babies to care for inside our borders. Welcome Home Cuan. Then he waited for the answer and he would give him a tour of the pack lands, first though he was going to feed the male.
cool!
They were beginning to move away from the borders, and Cuan crossed into the cool grass that was demarcated by the Sunspire's border. He almost felt at ease then, his body relaxing into a mold that was made for feeling safe and comforted, and the beta had done an excellent job of creating a state of sensible awareness in Cuan's gaze. Come with me, I'll show you around..
The wide vale that the Sunspire had etched out beneath the guardians of stone was lit brightly by the cool moonlight, trimming the fir needles silver and outlining each turn of a rock. A wolf's eyes were finely tuned for this amount of glow, and they could clearly see what lay in their path, even if they relied on their noses and ears more heavily. Jace continued speak as Cuan trailed behind him, one audit trained on his voice and the other following his eyes as he swept across the realm.
Yeah, I can hunt. There's pups? he replied, his golden eyes flickering briefly. That meant there were young wolves to run and tackle with, and that idea was extremely appealing. He had hunted briefly in the ranks of Bon Dye, though, and so he wasn't inexperienced in one of the basic wolf activities.
Jace smiled as the other male visible relaxed. it was nice to finally have a place to call home. He had done the same thing months ago, when he had come here on the tails of winter. He had to leave that home, but at least it had been home.
Jace chuckled yes two of them Serena and Alphonse, but they are still very little they won't be eating meat for another few weeks, but i would like to be prepared for when that time comes their mother is Erika. he grew quiet. As he walked he sniffed out the nearest cache and digging in it, he pulled out a deer haunch and placed it in front of the male Go ahead and eat Cuan. You're home now. Get some sleep and I'll show you around tomorrow.
Muira played with the leaves, in the afternoon her light blue eyes shining. She began stomping into piles, happy it was fall. She kept running happily hearing the wind chanting her name. Follow me.... It said she did soon running right into a tree, not wathing where she was going. She looked up, her brave eyes not skipping a beat. and soon she bounched off it, letting the leaves fall on her. Shaking, the bits off her shiny black fur, she went on.
shall we archive this thread after this post?
@Muira - Sorry I didn't address your post- it was a little irrelevant!
:<
Jace had led the new recruit a short ways into the Sunspire holdings, the black male seeming to have memorized invisible routes that criss-crossed the territory. Cuan followed shortly behind, his golden eyes once again beginning to brim with their usual amiableness. They were twinkling a little brighter with the prospect that Cuan might meet the youngest members of the pack, of which he adored. Although as a recent member, he might not be permitted near the den for quite awhile, he would show this beta he had the chops. He lifted his neck up to nod in reply after the short ramble about Erika and Alphonse.
The pair had stopped, and the aroma that reached Cuan's nose told him why. Jace had uncovered a pack cache of deer leg, and the young agouti male's tail immediately wagged, his stomach growling its approval. I'll promise I'll save some, the canine replied eagerly, sniffing at the tattered hide of the leg. He was still a little anxious, and eating around a high-ranking male was making Cuan pause for a moment. He would do as he was told, but he waited till Jace had departed to dig into the meat.