The warrior had gone long ways since he left his natal pack, he traveled long distances, fought enemies. Bears, cougars, and as usual, his own kind, wolves. However, he also battled with nature's element. The freezing iciness of winter did not bother him, the lack of prey and resources did. A year alone tested his resolve, he was forced to put all his training in use and he thanked his father for the intensive training. New scars were added onto his pelt, a result of choosing the life of a loner. He found no shame in it, however, but took pride in his achievement, he was a fighter after all, this was what he chose to do.
But Raphael now stood at the edge of the borders of a pack, a glacier. How he had end up here, he did not know. He had been traveling as usual, the male had stayed at packs from time to time but he would soon leave their lands, unsatisfied. But he did not regret his decision to leave for life had too much promises and adventures for him to stay, despite the great career he would have in his natal pack. War General. Then perhaps, the second in command, than leader.
Of course the warrior was a respectful distance away, he did not need to have a pack of angry wolves at his heels, not yet. Perhaps Raph would seek shelter here for winter, then leave in spring. Or if this pack showed promise, maybe he would stay. His features were hardened and weathered, his stance neutral though he held himself lower than usual, to show respect.
With that, the Nightstrike tilted his head back and let out a howl, a haunting melody that resonated through the air and announced his presence.
I couldn't help to join. :3
Scarlett patted around the big lake of melted glacier water. Her small paws not touching the iced water by a few centimeter. She was used to drink the cold water but in the beginning it caused her head aches. Her path continued through the pine forest. After Néa's disappearance Scarlett had suddenly a lot of extra time. Adlartok was in her den safe and sound. At least she
thought he was. Scarlett had put all her effort to care for the attacked youngster. After more than a week she was confident to leave the den more. The pale female also wasn't sure if the young wolf liked her to be all worried and be by his side every minute of the day. Scarlett climbed up the mountain side till the trees grew scarce. She wouldn't mind to have a peek of their territory. Maybe she could have a glance at the weather patterns and report it back to Malachi.
After her studies she traveled her way down again. She crossed the glacier and was heading down the slope on the other side of the glacier. The glacier had a big meltwater lake that brought life to a pine forest around it. If she traveled further down the river which, transferred the melt water into the southern river, maple trees would take over. She had fallen in love with Duskfire grounds. The pale female trotted along the edge of their territory. She had walked a nice round this morning. A climb to the top and then down the other side. Plus she also ran past the check points of their border. Not that she was warden material. Scarlett liked the exercise.
As the female was at a trotting pace she was suddenly startled when a howl pierced through her ears. The howl was so close, and definitely one that she hadn't heard before. The albino's red eyes looked around, she realized the wind was in the wrong direction. Her scent had probably drifted to the stranger already. She couldn't be rude and just ignore his howl.. right? Scarlett decided that if the male was polite enough to howl it would mean he wasn't going to intrude on their lands. Which meant for Scarlett that she didn't have to fight or anything like that. That thought pleased the white lady. Her petite body carried her to the border. Her red eyes fell on the buff male standing by it. She instantly noticed the scars on his pelt. Scarlett swallowed thickly. He looked like a warrior, one she was not. Oh dear Oh dear. She was immediately intimidated, but she would not let that show, at least Scarlett tried to.
A friendly smiled tugged on her lips. "
Hello," she greeted politely. Normally she would wag her tail too, but that seemed inappropriate? She never greeted new comers before. Scarlett would probably not have responded to his howl if she was further into the territory. She would leave it to Malachi. She turned her red eyes towards his face because she knew staring was rude. "
You are at Duskfire Glacier borders. What is it that you want?," she asked, trying to sound just as impressive as his looks, but it probably still sounded kind. What the female was forgetting was the fact that she had a rare coloring, which startled some wolves.
Being a soldier, the male was trained well in the arts of waiting and being patient but it seemed like that that skill was not needed this time for a snowy creature was making her way towards him. The first thing Raphael noticed about her were her eyes, blood red and vibrant, an unusual color but then again he had seen more unusual things in his life. She spoke, uttering a greeting and saying he was at Duskfire Glacier's borders and what he wanted. She did not seem like the Alpha, for in his experience, they were fiercely protective of their land and were either outwardly aggressive or inwardly contemplating. She was neither.
Raphael shifted slightly, lowering himself a bit more but not in the way where he was extremely submissive. He watched her carefully, then spoke I wish to meet your Alpha and understand more of the ways of the pack and if both sides receive benefits for it, I will swear my allegiance, should your Alpha deem me fit.
His reply was short, polite and straight to the point, after all he did not know the female and therefore small talk was not necessary. Especially since it would be completely out of his nature to be extremely friendly at first glance.
Scarlett was surprised to see the male at least lower himself a bit for her. The girl lifted one front paw and watched him with a careful expression. The male's words were all to clear. Scarlett had stayed behind the Duskfire border, not that it would protect her. She curtly bobbed her head. "As you wish," she returned. "He will probably be on his way as we speak." At least the male didn't make the mistake she had. Oh such a green little flower she was when she came to this border herself, crossing over it without permission. Luckily Malachi had been forgiving. Now thinking back of it the female could shake her head of her own stupidity.
Scarlett was actually quite a fan of the small talk, it made her more relaxed. The light female decided that she was allowed to like small talk, she was a female after all. That thought almost made her chuckle out loud. The white girl was glad that hadn't happened otherwise she would feel like a freak, laughing to herself and all. The male had been to the point so much in fact that Scarlett did not know what to say anymore. "Eh.. Well. I was just close to you so I came to say Hi..," She then muttered, her red eyes going over the male once more. Malachi would not be talking chit chat, she was certain of that. "I do hope you get accepted. We could use a warrior. Not.. That this pack is bad!! I love it here. But as you might have noticed I am not really much of a fighter or Warden. Only if I have to,' she ended in a soft mumble, feeling her skin heat up. Thank the gods for her fur.
Between outward aggression and inward contemplation, Malachi was the latter. The teachings of his father allowed him to deal no injury to the innocent of his kind, and he had never been faced with the need to punish the guilty to see if this moral stretched even to them. The closest he'd come to aggression with a stranger on their borders had been with Scarlett, and then because she'd been past the net that safely bound Duskfire's home, and he had already been on edge that day as it had stood.
Today his mind bothered him with different thoughts, and when the foreign call lit the air, Malachi hesitated to answer. Tuwawi's instability toward Adlartok was fresh on his mind, and the realization the attack had indirectly been of his doing weighed heavy upon him. Yet Malachi didn't know what he would have done differently short of harbouring the child just beyond Duskfire, in a place he would have been safe until he could regain his strength and find a pack that would give him a better life than what he had to live by now.
But in short time, the man aimed his wandering paws toward the border where the stranger beckoned, because like it or not, the responsibility to answer still lay in his paws. When he came upon him, Malachi felt his brows raise at the company he shared. Yet a part of him wasn't surprised Scarlett was chatting up the man - one look at the broad wolf made Malachi realize this must have been what the woman had meant when she'd denied him the title of mate material, because next to the stranger her words made sense. Tall and lean, Malachi felt a scrawny youth compared to the robust and well filled man before him.
He tried not to let jealousy nip him as he made his way toward them, nodding his head to Scarlett, then to the newcomer in turn. "I see you've met Scarlett." Malachi flashed a curious glance the caretaker's way before fixing his gaze upon the stranger again. "My name's Malachi. What brings you to Duskfire?"
One ear flicked forward as the red eyed female spoke, saying she was close to him when he howled and she came to say high. Amusement flickered through him though his stoic mask revealed nothing, his father was insistent when it came to that. Then she continued and said she hoped he would get accepted because they needed a warrior, and then she made to say that the pack wasn't bad but she wasn't much of a fighter or warden. Truthfully. Raphael did not know what to make of this female, she was not like other wolves he had met before, talkative and what was weird was it was a total stranger she was talking to.
"Even if your Alpha accepts me, it all comes down to whether or not I wish to be part of this pack in the end," he replied, giving her a brief look with his sea green eyes before turning to the horizon again, calmly waiting for the Alpha to arrive. And soon, someone came, a young male with various colors scattered over his fur and light colored eyes. The leader spoke, "I see you've met Scarlett.". So her name was Scarlett.....suits her eyes he supposed. Raphael listened as Malachi asked him a question, a question he had been asked a lot. Joining packs were a process the three year old was used to by now.
"I wish to join your pack and if both sides receive benefits for it, I will swear my allegiance, should you deem me fit." Raphael repeated what he said moments before to Scarlett, his tone still as calm and collected as before. Then deciding it was best not to wait for the Alpha to ask him the typical question of his skills which he was most likely going to ask, the warrior spoke once more. "I possess skills that many wolves have, hunter, explorer, scout, guardian, warden, warrior. I also know the basics of healing. You will also have my loyalty." Unless he decided to leave or they lost it themselves, just as so many before had.
Scarlett licked her lips. The stoic male didn't return much to her. Maybe she was even a bit offended that he implied that he would only join if he wanted to. Which also meant that he could leave as well. Duskfire was a great pack! How could anyone not like this pack?! Scarlett knew that was the stranger's right but... She just hoped that some wolves would stick around instead of leaving. She was too attached to the Glacier already. Maybe she could make this male feel super welcome and he would stay! What a master plan. Scarlett studied the male. It seemed to the albino female that the male across from her wanted to feel important and valued. Well she could make him feel like that.. right?
Scarlett turned her head when Malachi arrived. The female stepped a bit back and stood behind the alpha. She never wanted to impose after all. She was curious how joining went with other wolves so she decided to stick around. Quietly, she might add. Her red eyes flickered from the muscled wolf to her alpha, and back to the muscled man. Her eyes tend to linger on the stranger more. She was peeking at him from behind Malachi. Okay, what the male just summoned up sounded really impressive. He sounded like a... super wolf! Oh! Yes. "You didn't tell us your name yet," the girl inquired from behind Malachi. She couldn't help herself to fire one of many questions.
For a first impression, the stranger made a proper one: calm, collected, well-spoken. Yet the young Alpha found him a difficult one to read. Based on credentials alone, he seemed a worthy fit, and if they had his loyalty, surely there was little qualm in allowing the stranger admittance to their ranks? His thoughts turned to Tuwawi, and the wounds she'd inflicted upon young Adlartok, but just as quickly they switched to Shalon, who had received the ember's approval mere days before.
Scarlett sounded from behind, piping up to add her voice to the mix. Malachi cast her a sidelong glance, but did not shift. Her statement was a necessary one, and the young leader nodded. "I'd also like to know what benefits you seek if I deem you fit." Malachi had not failed to notice the particular wording of the stranger's request, and aside from the general expectations one held surrounding a pack - kinship, protection, the strength that came in numbers - Malachi wondered if he sought something different still.
The lesser female, Scarlett spoke, asking him for his name. Raphael turned his gaze towards her for a brief moment, allowing a twinkle of amusement to sparkle in his sea green eyes before he withdrew it again. "Raphael," he replied with a small dip of his head. Names were important, they were dangerous and although to many they were simply a nuisance and things that could be changed at any time, names were not so simple, they were dangerous. Or at least that was what the warrior Nightstrike believed.
"I'd also like to know what benefits you seek if I deem you fit." Although he was young, this Malachi did not lack in the brains department, Raph would give him that. It would take further analyzing, however, to completely see if this Duskfire Glacier leader was a suitable commander, a suitable king for the pack. Or was he merely a prince, a prince learning about the throne? Raph liked the analyze his leaders, to know them better, to know their weaknesses and their strengths and ultimately determine if they were a good leader, based on his father's standards.
Raphael did not believe himself to be a perfect and excellent leader, he had flaws like so many other wolves had, like everyone had. He was not so foolish to believe himself a brilliant leader, no, he might like to analyze others, but he was not arrogant. "I seek the companionship and kinship of the pack, I seek its loyalty and protection. For if I am to devote myself to a pack, I expect others to devote themselves to it too, to bind it together, to preserve it, and to be loyal to every single packmate despite their rank."
Sea green eyes sought out Malachi's light blue ones for a brief second. "I seek stability, too many packs I have joined and devoted myself to have disbanded. Their leaders demand absolute loyalty and devotion, yet they have none themselves," his lip curled in disgust for a moment. "I wish for the leader to be loyal and not to abandon the pack in times of need, for everyone to commit," Raphael concluded.
Last post from me because Scarlett is pretty much useless here xD
Scarlett kept her red eyes on the buff male and wondered what he was thinking. She stayed by Malachi side. Her white ears turned towards the stranger at their border. It was up to her alpha to approve this male or not. Somehow his words sounded like he was reading then from a guidebook. It all sounded too perfect. This male sounded perfect. Scarlett decided that she would never voice her opinion in the first place. It wasn't up to her to make this decision.
The albino decided to leave this up to Malachi for now. She glanced at the buff male briefly. "
I guess I will let you two men talk about the details," Scarlett then returned. The pale female turned on her heels and trotted away. She would see later on if the male was accepted or not. She would probably see him more often.
Malachi tried to listen with a one-track mind, but as Raphael spoke, the young leader found his thoughts derailing more than ever before. Loyalty, protection, devotion, equality. What the warrior sought was fair, and what Malachi hoped to find in a leader and a pack. But could he give his packmates that? He had not abandoned Duskfire in its time of need, but if he'd been given the insight to see the whirlwind that had come to follow, would he have done the same? He had stayed for the sake of the Sveijarns, and he told himself that was what held him in leadership now. Yet if he was honest with himself, that aim which had bound him to the Glacier was fading, and it hurt to peel his eyes from the fantasy to the reality that dawned upon the Glacier now - the one everyone seemed to see but him.
Scarlett's voice returned his straying mind, and he broke his concentration to bid her farewell, offering her a dip of his head though she had already turned to depart. For a heartbeat he let his gaze linger on her shrinking form before turning his eyes upon Raphael again. "You seek much, but it is good. I can only promise to do my best." He said, knowing he could do no more. Only time would tell if he lived up to the warrior's standards, and he hoped he would prove true. "There's a place for you in Duskfire, if you would give us a chance."
The red eyed female spoke saying she would let them talk about the details, he let his sea green gaze drift after her form before looking at Malachi once more, waiting for his reply. "You seek much, but it is good. I can only promise to do my best." Raphael dipped his head, "That is all I ask." After all, no wolf could do more than their best, but he knew some wolves rather not try at all. He loathed those wolves, after all, they were here to do something with their lives, not waste it away.
"There's a place for you in Duskfire, if you would give us a chance." A light smile touched the agouti warrior's lips and as he bowed his head once more, Raphael spoke, "I accept your offer and I promise to serve Duskfire as best as I can,". He lifted his head now, and his eyes spoke for him, if the wolves of the Glacier are willing to do the same.