Wolf RPG

The morning sun broke through the soft cycle of slumber where Tulok had been lingering, on the precipice of awakening, finally tempting, albeit with more force that Tulok would have initially liked, him to wake up. Soft expel of breath was given in sound that was uncannily akin to a sigh of irritation, as he shifted his large paw off of his muzzle, uncovering his eyes from the warming rays of the sun that lingered cozily upon the silken tendrils of his monotone colored fur. Tulok’s eyes opened slowly, blinking furiously a few times, pupils narrowing to squinting slits in their pools of fierce icy blue. Sleep did not come quite as easily to him in these strange lands as it had back in Seahawk Valley; yet he was only further reminded with a slight pang of what one might consider homesickness that he was no longer in the Seahawk Valley. This was not of Tulok’s own decree, more of Suluk’s command (and one, son or not, simply did not ignore Suluk when he commanded). Though Suluk had not been very forthcoming on the reasons for sending his secondary (and last) heir away from Ikkuma, Tulok had merely been left to assume that he was on a search for his lost brother, Arux -- not that, in truth, Tulok really cared what happened to him. He had never gotten along with Arux all that well, anyway. If the insolent child of an older brother had went and gotten himself dead then Ikkuma was better off.

With a shake of his head, Tulok rose, attempting to shake away his bitter thoughts regarding his half brother that rooted deeply in his mind, and bled like poison through him. The search for the elder Ikkuma heir was, temporarily permantly on hold for the simple fact that Tulok had his own agenda and more pressing matters to attend too. It was not wise to be wandering through the winter as a lone wolf - food was scarce from herds having migrated and his chances of survival had dropped measurably. Scouting out information about the nearby packs had seemed like the best place to start, however, it seemed much more practical to Tulok to approach the packs directly and attempt to determine if they would be a good fit for him (and likely vice versa) as opposed to learn about them from word of mouth. Tulok tended to trust his own judgment over the judgment of others as it was, anyway.

It did not take Tulok long to approach the borders of one of these said packs, and mindful of territorial borders, he kept a more than adequate distance between the scent markers and himself. Not seeing much need to beat around the bush, he let out a call for anyone, expressing his potential interest in joining their ranks.

Tulok could hear the soft roar of the ocean in the distance, the gentle and constant crash of the waves breaking upon the shore. It was reminiscent of Ikkuma, situated near the ocean itself, the sound of which had been Tulok’s lullaby, drowning out Arux’s soft snores in the corner opposite of Tulok - for the half brothers, even as small children could hardly bear one another’s presence. Suluk was often gone, busy being an Alpha, and sometimes Tulok would be awake enough to feel his father settle down, in the late of night, in between his two heirs blocking them from one another. They had often fought with one another - over bones and feathers Suluk would bring them, over furs they were gifted with from the loyal Ikkuma wolves. Tulok had the advantage of being bigger and taller than Arux (whom had been shorter than Suluk) but Arux had the advantage of being older and pudgier than Tulok which made them, until they had begun their training and actually learned how to fight, pretty evenly matched. Arux would sit on him sometimes, and more cunning than his brother, Tulok would often extract his revenge by stealing a bone or making up an extravagant tale of some mythical creature (likely based off of their faith) in attempts to get Arux hopelessly lost (to the point where Tulok hoped he never came back, alas that was never how it went). Their rivalry had been deep rooted, and created an inability for them to ever see each other as equals.

Having to leave his possession’s behind, namely the black pearl that Suluk had given him as a tribute to both Sos and Atka - which had been horrendously hard for Tulok to do - he had thought about starting up a collection of skulls and furs and such, but figured it was an activity better left for when he found a pack and had established a place among their ranks. There was no use in collecting things for little, personal shrines when he had no place to build them. Thoughts were tucked away quickly when a ivory creature came boldly towards the borders, her posture rigid and dominate. Tulok, quick to react and think, lowered himself into a willing position of submission, realizing that his defiance would get him nothing save for possibly killed. He was not in Ikkuma anymore, these wolves were not his kin, or loyalists. They did not know him, did not adore him, did not care. Appropriate measures needed to be taken - it was a simple as that; and it wasn’t that he was opposed to being lead by someone other than his father, simply that it would take some serious getting used too, though Tulok had been attempting to prepare himself for this on his journey to these lands. Perhaps Suluk’s reasons for sending him off, too, were not to find his simpleminded half brother, but instead to learn to be submissive, to learn to be a subordinate so he could better identify with them when he returned to Ikkuma. What good was a leader who did not understand his subordinates, after all?

The woman met his gaze, her eyes demanding and clearly stating that she would not take any bullshit from him. Though Tulok would likely never admit this - he found it extremely impressive. If she was a leader of these lands, Tulok was confident that he would not no issue following her. Of course, he could not assume anything - she could have been a leader, or just a subordinate, albeit a higher ranking one. I am Tulok Kesuk, Tulok began with his name first, figuring it was as good a place as any to start. I’m interested in potentially joining your ranks, given there is space and I am…deemed worthy. Tulok spoke his intentions bluntly, seeing no need in beating around the bush - though frankly he had never seen the excessive need in “beating around the bush”. To him, stating one’s intentions was better than, for lack of better term, bullshitting. If one did not have the courage to speak bluntly how would stalling give them the courage they lacked? The snow crunched under his weight as he shifted it slightly, still in a submissive pose, careful and as always, contemplative.

The pallid female’s expression seemed to take what Tulok considered a stony display of features as he felt and watched her eyes assess him. It was all he could do to keep his witty, sarcastic remark of like what you see? at bay - despite how desperately it burned at the tip of his tongue, like poison consuming his tongue in fire he managed to hold it back (albeit barely). Tulok was quite used to speaking his mind and unleashing the full extent of his cynical, perhaps narcissistic sarcasm and holding it politely in the company of strangers who potentially had a massive pull on whether or not he got into a pack would certainly prove to be the biggest challenge Tulok imagined he had to face yet. Learning to curb his tongue and demands would, he had no illusions and little doubt, be …interesting at best. To be frank, Tulok held doubts that he could truly learn to control and morph it. If he could…words could easily become his greatest weapon. He had been graced with intelligence and brawn - no doubt gifts of Atka and Sos, tributes of their approval (or so he thought, just as Suluk had) - but these natural talents needed to be honed to their full potential. This, Tulok could understand. This, he desired.

After Tulok had given her his name her posture relaxed - though barely. She still seemed extremely cautious of him - of which Tulok did not take any offence too. Would their roles have been reversed he would be very much the same way. She, in return, gave Tulok her name, and he studied her for a few seconds, himself, before he accepted that she, too, was a Kesuk. The Kesuk’s were a long, proud line and it was unsurprising to find another here; though Jinx’s presence (despite that her name was slightly familiar, Suluk might’ve mentioned her in passing though they had never met one another, having heard of her from Nutaaq whom Tulok’s father had met once). Jinx did not question in how they were related, and neither did Tulok. He would let her assume what she wanted - he did not share his father’s quarrel with Sitka and Tikaani (and possibly other Kesuk’s) - even though Suluk had been, to the very day Tulok left, convinced that Sos had separated Suluk from them for a purpose. In truth, it did not matter how they were related: simply that they were.

Tulok picked up that Jinx left out Atka, but decided not to draw attention too it. It was not uncommon for wolves of the faith to favor one bear over the other. Suluk was odd in that while he seemed to favor Sos over Atka himself, he attempted to keep a strong balance of them. Tulok aspired to follow both bears equally, though, he supposed it could go either way given the uncertainty of the future. Decisions were mapped by paths taken - not predetermined, and hearts could be changed just as quickly, or so Tulok stubbornly believed. I can fight as well, if not better, than most wolves, Tulok spoke the obvious first, figuring it was easier to work from obvious to unexpected. I have a strong sense of diplomacy, Tulok continued on and finished with, Stealth is not my given forte, and my general hunting skills beyond instinctual could be improved upon. Tulok admitted, unabashed to admit his flaws when it came to the urgency with which he needed a pack. He could not move as swiftly as a smaller would might be able to, hindered by his size, and Suluk had not raised his heirs to be lead hunters, he had raised them to be War Princes, favoring the skills of warriors, and diplomats over the others.