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+--- Thread: I know that goodbye means nothing at all (/showthread.php?tid=1845)
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I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 14, 2014
In comparison to the monotony of Swiftcurrent Creek's claimed land and the dual nature of Horizon Ridge, the mountain was refreshing for Jinx. The terrain was so varied, from the forested lower reaches of the mountain to the dangerously craggy upper reaches. The north face toward the sea was comprised of hexagonal lava columns, while the western face was a collection of sheer cliffs and narrow ridges. The forested area was verdant, private, and lively, while the mountain above the tree line offered a stunning view of the flatlands below. She was pleased with her choice.
Somewhere midway up the mountain, Jinx had located a vast cave system. The cave walls were resplendent with uncovered quartz, red and green streaks of bacterial origin, and stalactites and stalagmites of alternating browns, greys, and rusty reds. They smelled of stone and something fresh, and the steady drip of water deeper in was a soothing rhythm. The Silvertip Alpha lingered outside the caves now, buffeted by a strong wind coming up the mountainside, but her tail swayed happily despite the less-than-pleasant chill in the air.
She threw back her head to howl out for her pack mates, inviting any to come and explore the caves with her. Jinx had once been a very social creature, living in The Lockers at the Bay in a communal denning fashion, and that part of her blossomed in response to her finding these caves. They could serve as the Silvertip Mountain headquarters, when the wolves sought shelter and company.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 15, 2014
Red eyes rolled towards the sound of his queen's call. The queen was calling exploring was needed. He looked once more down over the mountain gazing at the animals and such below and with a soft chuff he turned long lean body towards the way of her voice. Slinking and sneaking he made his way towards her. Demon queen needs demon queen needs. The voices were growing louder and it hurt his head he whined softly he wanted to bang his head on the ground on the walls they were always yelling at him always telling him.
He made it to the cave system and schooled his face to be blank so no one could see the crazy within and he dipped his muzzle speaking scratchily and quietly Demon queen called...called sitri and others. he looked around for the white one that the queen lay with often, but didn't see him. It was unusual for his queen to pick one, but this was a new bodied queen a new mind but same leader same leader he was happy to be whatever she needed.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 15, 2014
Tyrande raised her head lazily from her new den. She had heard the alpha wolf howl for a first meeting.
Must be a territory exploration! She thought excitedly. She was quickly of her soft leaf bed and went to go fetch her gnawing-bone. The gnawing-bone was a somewhat new idea of hers to record days' work through the slight carvings she made in the bone by using the back of her teeth. For instance, she carved circles to represent her new hobby she picked up from Lecter, herb gathering. She carved three small lines for hunting, and so on.
She held the bone sideways in her mouth and began scaling the mountain to meet her new alpha, which she would meet in a few minutes' time.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 16, 2014
No need to match this length, I got carried away.
Even though it took some time for wolves to flock to her, she looked out across Kintla with a lazy grin on her face, whipping her tail back and forth in a clear display of her mood. It arched ever so slightly up, and its base was held rigid so that none could mistake her rank here, but formality had been put aside for the moment. She drew in a deep breath of the mountain air, pleased by the sheer difference in scent from the Creek's musty, humid smell. The wind was coming up from Neverwinter Forest, flavouring the air with the heady scent of evergreens.
Soon enough, the whistling of the air over the mountain's crags was interrupted by the steady sound of pads brushing over the ground. Jinx directed her vision to the left in time to see Sitri skulking up in his usual unusual way. She looked the dark demon-wolf over, approved of what she saw, and invited him nearer with a beckons of her snout. "Hello, Sitri," she greeted pleasantly, likely breaking the immersion in his imaginative game that she was a Demon Queen, but she didn't think about it. She hadn't yet told him that she wasn't actually a Demon Queen. It was a truth that she withheld from him, mostly so that he would continue stoking her ego by calling her his queen and following her every command. Admittedly, her commands were few.
If you see a female cloaked in dark red or a bloody black bastard missing an eye, kill them on sight. Fend off any who come too close to the borders, do not exchange words until they are well away. Those had been her only commands to her handful of followers. Speaking of which, another of them was cresting the plateau, a dark-furred female with the strangest collection of markings Jinx had ever seen, though that wasn't surprising since she hadn't seen many wolves who weren't solid black or solid white. Charcoal stripes cut wide swathes down the woman's ribcage, and her eyes were a haunting combination of electric blue and warm violet. She had a bone gripped firmly in her jaws, and Jinx decided not to try to take it for herself.
Jinx didn't know Tyrande like she did the other three Silvertip wolves, though, so the dark-furred woman wasn't entirely off the hook. As a result of this, the Alpha female greeted her newest follower in a very different fashion than she had Sitri: without a word she stepped up to the other wolf, penetrated whatever personal space she might have had, and roughly passed by her to rub her entire flank against the other woman's own. She rounded the female to repeat the motion on the other side, this time ducking her head to swipe her crown briefly beneath the other's chin. Despite the oddly affectionate appearance of it, what Jinx was really doing was adding her scent to the female's own, marking her as a wolf of the mountain.
Without further ado, she took back her place in front of the cave and glanced between the two who had arrived. "I seek a place to call ours communally. A place where we may rest, and gather, as a community. This cave seems extensive and appears to have entrances in several locations, which makes it promising. I mean to explore it in-depth, and would like your help in doing so, if you would still like to accompany me." There was, of course, the option to leave, but with Jinx there was never really an option. There was the right answer and there was the wrong one.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 17, 2014
Sitri was momentarily surprised by her quiet voice full of warmth and then he cringed to himsel usually that meant her manic moods would change and he would find himself at the receiving end of a flogging, he had many of those the scars that were everywhere were testament to that among other things. "hello demon queen. his voice scratchy and rough carried loud throughout the caverns.
Sitri knew his duties he was to kill the two the one that wore a pelt of blood and the other with one eye. One eye blood fur one eye blood fur. He watched for them often he would like to gain the queens favor by dispatching of them, if he was anything he was a loyal wolf and strived to do what he was told to do.
Sitri tilted his head and though he did not know much of the large words his queen spoke he got the just of it and dipped his head "Follow the queen do as she says. he then looked behind the queen to pick out the best place and way to explore.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 17, 2014
Tyrande blinked and stood awkwardly as the alpha came in alarmingly close. She forced her loner instincts to calm down as her hackles were on the verge of bristling.
You're no longer on your own, remember that. She told herself. You aren't the alpha. You'll have to get used to these things. The scent of Jinx wafted off her fur, and Tyrande was shot back to her first days she had met Lecter... She remember faintly having a second strong scent coming from him. Tyrande immediately made the connection and flicked her ear. She dipped her head in deep respect as the alpha finished her ritual.
She listened quietly, tilting her head a bit with her bone still comically in her mouth as Jinx spoke. She then nearly jumped out of her pelt as the one called Sitri referred to Jinx as The Demon Queen. She looked back and forth between Jinx and Sitri, confused. She set her bone on the ground in a gentle, almost motherly way and looked back at the alpha, nodding in more respect. She smiled in excitement.
"Sounds like a lot of fun!"The yearling said, itching for an exploration.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 18, 2014
If she thought anything of Tyrande's stiffness during the acceptance ritual, then she made no mention of it. She gave each of her subordinates a thin smile that betrayed both solemnity and ill-concealed excitement. She wanted this mountain to be their glorious last stand as wolves of a traditional world that was quickly being left behind by those who believed in kindness and good manners. Within that was the traditional family of the pack. Whatever outward ruggedness and intolerance Jinx emanated amongst strangers, she always thought of her pack as family, whether they returned the sentiment or not.
Her eyes dropped briefly to Tyrande's bone, but she didn't comment on it until she had signalled with the turning of her body that they would delve into the caves. "Do you carry that everywhere?" she wondered aloud as the gloom enveloped her and cast her unadjusted vision into pitch blackness, heavily implying her curiosity over the meaning of it. She sought Sitri at her side, lightly brushing her flank against his before padding ahead at the point of their trio.
She paused in the darkness, however, flicking her ears back and forth and patiently awaiting the clearing of her vision. As wolves, they all had excellent vision in the dark, but the perpetual brightness of the mountain's face no doubt had temporarily rendered both of her companions as blind as she was.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 19, 2014
Sitri was not sure what the bone was that Tyrande was carrying. He looked at it curiously as he continued on down the path that Jinx had chosen. His eyes were adjusting slowly, he was used to the dark having lived in it most of his life. He sniffed at random dirt and stones.
There were pretty rocks everywhere he found he liked the way they glittered. Pretty rocks. He spoke quietly.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 19, 2014
Despite it being exceedingly bright outside, her vision soon adjusted within a minute, although she was blind for those seconds. She was used to the dark so well, considering it was by night when she used to travel to avoid prying eyes. Tyrande shifted the bone in her mouth and spoke through her teeth.
"Not everywhere, Miss, I just happened to take it today so that I may record what we do. Today we are venturing through these caves, but I'm carrying it just in case we find something interesting worthy of carving into the bone."
She looked up at the ceiling, "They are pretty crystals, huh? Maybe if there are enough of them, I might take some with me for decoration..."
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 20, 2014
When her vision began to clear, she could make out in sharp detail the translucent quartz that protruded out of the walls like varicose veins. They were all the same translucent, ghostly white, and Jinx paused as Tyrande began to explain her bone to observe them. The Alpha kept her ears trained on the dark-furred Silvertip wolf, but squinted contemplatively at the crystals. Ghost rocks? she wondered, lacking an adequate name for them. She had never seen their kind before, but both Sitri and Tyrande remarked that they were pretty, and the latter seemed interested in finding ones that had detached from their clusters. She silently agreed, and decided to do the same herself, for different reasons.
The cavern that the trio stood in branched off in two directions, with the left corridor being much wider and accommodating than the right. Not yet willing to part with her company, the lead female gestured that they would proceed down the larger corridor, reaching over to nudge Sitri consciously, if only because she wasn't speaking directly to him. Her interest was pulled to Tyrande's bone, and how it seemed to be some sort of record-keeping device. "Is there a purpose? Do the carvings do anything?" she wondered, not intending to be rude but likely coming off that way with her concise, to-the-point questions.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 21, 2014
Sitri looked at the rocks and even bent down to lick one gently trying to figure out why they would keep them other than the fact that they were pretty and he could find no uses for them. He did not know of Jinx's religion or even tyrande's so he wasn't sure if they would need the rocks for that or not. He would be more than willing to carry them for both females as he was a big brute and unafraid of labor.
Sitri looked at the queen as she nudged him waiting for orders, but quickly realizing she was just letting him know she was there and he found he appreciated it, this queen treated him as his own being something he found refreshing yet hard to handle as he was not used to it.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 21, 2014
Tryande smiled, the bone in her mouth making it look devilishly evil, though she had tried not to. All it had taken her was that one question, and she was off.
"Well, I strictly use rib bones from larger animals to record my month's work- One rib per month. The notch at the base of the rib- The thickest part- represents the first day, while the notch at the end represents the last day. If it's a spring month, the base will have a small circle at the bottom. If it's a summer month, that circle will have a scratch over it, fall month, two scratches, and winter month three scratches. Each notch represents one day, and whatever symbol I put next to the notch represents what I did that day- like, another circle for herb-gathering, or three small marks for hunting. I do triangles for clay-making and such..."
By the end of her explanation, she was panting slightly for speaking too quickly without stopping. She looked at her alpha excitedly, hoping that Jinx would see the brilliance in her bone.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 22, 2014
A barrage of information answered her question in more elaborate terms than Jinx ever could have needed. Tyrande's depth of explanation was certainly unexpected, but not unappreciated, as Jinx could see from her reasoning the use of such a system. She doubted she herself could make precise enough marks in a bone to use them in the same way the Nightshade did, but Jinx nevertheless took note of it and stored it in the back of her mind for later consideration.
"Sitri," she said suddenly, when Tyrande had finished speaking. "Do you think we could benefit from a tracking system? Maybe not with such precision but rough notching of bones to signify... Successes?" Although Jinx was of a neutral opinion, and knew Tyrande would certainly support the widespread use of her methods (being the founder of such a thing was exhilirating, after all), the Alpha female was curious what her chocolatey Delta thought.
She had to realize that his lack of personality came from being beaten into submission and forced to believe he was worthless. The Kesuk made the mistake of thinking he would have an opinion at all... But it was a good mistake to make.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 23, 2014
The matter with which Tyrande spoke confused Sitri in a way. WHy would she need to make marks on a bone for what she did that month? could she not just remember her duties and what she had done. He guessed though it could be of some use to the pack and to her if she had a bad memory or if something was important.
Sitri froze at her question but spoke in a guttural voice "Lots work extra work, but could be useful for pack history. He did not know much about this pack and he was not the smartest wolf obviously from years of abuse, but he knew that many packs cared about their history his former queen had definitely cared. Though it was not a huge smart witty opinion it was an opinion none the less he was slowly beginning to think for himself but he still obeyed without hesitation.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 23, 2014
Tyrande smiled brightly. She felt proud that her idea may be useful to the pack. She nodded and beamed even brighter, almost glowing with pride.
"Well, Miss, Sitri is right. Bone carving is very useful to record pack activity. Hopefully, once I become more skilled at it, I'll be able to make finer prints... And maybe even carve fictional picture stories."
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - April 29, 2014
Withholding her doubts about the ability of wolves to make comprehensible pictures, and withholding her opinion about history being something that was easily committed to memory, Jinx nodded her agreement. Perhaps they would find a way of keeping track of something by notching bones. It was a useful concept, and not one she disapproved of.
She turned them down a narrower corridor that split into two smaller paths. The gloom of the cave pressed in around them, but with her keen night vision, she could make out the ghost rocks still present in the walls. “I will take the right path,” she announced suddenly, flickering her ears as she moved forth to enter the narrow path. “You two may follow, or you may explore the left path. The choice is yours.”
It wasn't really a test of character, but it occurred to Jinx in a rare moment of brilliance that it would be useful to know how much initiative her subordinates had. To take the left path would show that initiative... But to follow her into the right path would display a certain level of devotion, too. There was no wrong option, but she would think carefully on it nonetheless.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - April 30, 2014
Sitri looked at the two and he was torn he was devoted to the queen he wanted to follow her, but for lack of judgement she was bigger stronger and more dangerous than Tyrande so she would be able to protect herself much better than Tyrande and since he was to protect the queen and the pack that in a wya extended to Tyrande and she was the first wolf to ever be nice to him actually fully nice. He tilted his head red eyes gleaming and spoke his voice smoky and guttural his voice was slowly becoming less chapping as he spoke more.
"If it pleases you Demon Queen Sitri go with Tyrande down this one. She is not as large as Sitri or Demon queen, I can protect her. Watch her. He tilted his head as the voices mocked him in his head Protect protect He did not understand the want to protect her when he should be protecting the queen, but for some unknown reason he felt she needed his protection more, not that there would be anything in the caves, but he knew very well there could be bears, mountain lions, even badgers and though badgers were small they were the very devil incarnate.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - April 30, 2014
A mixture of surprise and annoyance flashed across Tyrande's face. She had noticed the undying devotion in Sitri that he had towards Jinx... So why would he choose to go with her, despite the fact that she was smaller, but that also made her quicker, more agile, and she wasn't dim witted either...
She turned to Jinx in confusion, sending a silent message, Where in the Dim World did that come from? Still she slowly began to nod. "We, uh, could do that, yeah... But, are you sure you want to, Sitri?" Once Tyrande had thought over her choice, she realized that this could quite possibly be a test of devotion. It's not that she wasn't loyal to the pack, it was just surprising that Sitri would go with her, since she would've chosen left anyway, considering it would have covered more ground and given the two wolves to spend some time together, since they seemed like good friends. Tyrande couldn't help but feel like a third wing...
"Not that there's anything I have against your decision... Just want to make sure that's what you want to do... I was planning on goin down that path anyway."
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Jinx - May 07, 2014
You guys are free to continue the thread if you want to, I'll pull Jinx out now since they're parting ways here! Thanks for joining me!
Whatever confusion existed between Tyrande and Sitri was lost on Jinx, who simply nodded her understanding. Having come from a world of warriors, she could appreciate the faith in size and strength, and had a similar desire to protect those smaller than her, though it was less selfless than Sitri's own. “Let me know if you find anything interesting,” the Alpha said with a smile, pausing to bump the jaws of both subordinates fondly with her nose before she turned down the passage she'd chosen and padding heavily away.
In the end, there wasn't a right or wrong answer after all. To follow Jinx would suggest follower devotion but also would paint the wolves as mindless sheep. She appreciated their decision to go the other way and cover more ground, and approved of it. It was fortunate, too, for Jinx followed the corridor all the way out to a smaller cavern that emerged onto a thin ledge higher up the mountain without encountering any other forks in the cave network.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - May 12, 2014
Sitri watched the demon queen go and then took the lead. He had placed himself in the role of protector so he needed to do it and that meant going first. He was used to dark places, having lived in one most of his life, so the close quarters and the darkness did not bother him. What will queen find interesting? it was his way of asking what he should look for.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - May 13, 2014
Tyrande followed. She had decided to leave the bone behind at the fork, so she would remember it. She looked at Sitri.
"Well, I'm not the demon queen. I couldn't tell you... But what would YOU find interesting, Sitri?"
She looked around. Maybe they'd find a big chamber that could be used as a hideout of some kind... Now that would be interesting.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - May 13, 2014
Sitri's right ear flicked back to catch her words and he spoke softly I do not know Tyrande. I was not taught this. he felt extremely stupid at that moment he didn't know a basic thing to look for, as he was much more suited to hunting, fighting and tracking. Perhaps special rocks? place for pack to gather? that right? Is that stuff you look for?
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - May 14, 2014
Tyrande was silent. Sitri might not know it, but she knew. That pack had taken everything from him that made him a wolf and molded him into some tool. She didn't like it a bit.
"Well, when you find a cave, Sitri, what do you hope to find? Something new?"
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Sitri - May 16, 2014
Sitri turned red eyes back towards her and lay his ears down on his head. Shaking his head he spoke low and a bit sadly Sitri was not explorer, hunter, tracker, consort, slave, murderer assassin, but never explorer so not sure. New was bad so Sitri does not look for it. he may not have a very deep personality and he maybe scarred both inside and out, but he was trying desperately to learn and adapt. he was flailing in the water so to speak though, because he did not know many things. He was almost like a puppy with an adults body.
RE: I know that goodbye means nothing at all - Tyrande Nightshade - May 17, 2014
Tyrande decided to lighten things up a tad. "Well, better late to become an explorer than never! she said in a light-hearted tone. She padded up beside him, an almost comical size contrast.
Well then, it might be nice to looked for separate caverns and such... you know, like a main cavern that can be used for pack meetings, and maybe a few more for pack dens or places to keep the caches.