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+--- Thread: Mudminnow River so far away (/showthread.php?tid=64129)
so far away - Dolce - December 24, 2024
maybe @Cole
the snow seemed to thin out, the further east dolce trekked. a welcome reprieve—a man built for the arid summers of the south struggled to acclimate to such bitter cold. his journeys were longer then, broken with intermittent rests stops, where he'd curl into himself for any semblance of warmth.
dense forests thinned, too, to plains. his mind felt heavy as he lumbered toward the sound of water that hadn't been frozen over. heavy with thoughts of his past, perhaps the thought of the strange, soft woman who seemed fond of his grizzly company.
mostly, his mind was still marred by betrayal. left for dead, alone, humiliated—it seemed so long ago, and yet the wound was still fresh. his old gang probably never wandered back to where they'd left dolce; they probably didn't care. he had given them his all...
only for nothing.
brows pinched, his expression sour and troublesome as he stood before the rushing waters, glaring down at the reflection peering back at him. seemed like he was a ghost of a man, a specter.
RE: so far away - Cole - December 24, 2024
Cole moved quietly through the thinning snow, his large frame blending with the stark landscape. The sound of water nearby pulled his attention, a rarity in the frozen grip of winter, and his steady steps adjusted toward it. He was scouting, a duty that often left his thoughts wandering, though his sharp eyes remained alert.
When he reached the edge of the clearing, his gaze landed on the stranger. A wolf, sturdy and scarred, stood at the river’s edge, his posture heavy with something unspoken. The furrowed brow and pinched expression were enough to make Cole pause. The air between them was thick with unspoken weight.
Cole tilted his head slightly, his amber gaze sweeping over the other male. He gave a soft chuff to announce his presence before speaking, his tone calm but firm.
You lost?
There was no hostility in his voice, but no warmth either. Cole stood tall, his ears flicking to catch any response. This stranger might have been passing through, but it was his job to know who crossed near Bearclaw Valley’s reach—and whether they posed a threat.
RE: so far away - Dolce - December 24, 2024
a low chuff reels him from his mind, causes his head to lift, his neck stiff. one ear planes backward, before he's pivoting on heavy paws to stare at the man. "hm," he grunted, not unfriendly but not warm, either. "guess you could say that." he rumbled.
he took a seat at the waters edge, though this time, he refused to stare at his reflection. "don't know what i'm lookin' for, no more." tinged with a hint of sorrow, perhaps with anger, too. he felt like a shell, a husk. what good is he anymore, in a land so unfamiliar, and with no gang running beside him?
his steels himself then, the mask sliding back into place. "these your lands?"
RE: so far away - Cole - December 26, 2024
On the job. On the job. Who was this lone bullet? He was surely a man crafted of strength and size. He thought of Ameline's girls. He thought of Nephele's girls. They needed men like Cole, and this star ranger, to be at their beckon and call.
Close 'nough.He reckoned, watching the stranger sit by the river and ponder his life choices. Cole raised a brow, wondering what good that'll do 'im by starin' at his pretty reflection.
Y'in the line o'work? Hope so...Cole trailed off, finding himself taking a step closer to the male near his backside, sniffing to cement his pheromones.
RE: so far away - Dolce - December 27, 2024
he lifted his gaze again, incredulous. the fur on his hind-side twitched and nearly bristled under curious investigation.
with a roll of his broad shoulders, he grunted. "depends on what kinda work, stranger." dolce was no stranger to arduous labor, the kind that made bones ache at the end of each day. while he's older now, he still welcomes that ache. misses it.
standing, he turns to face the man. "y'lookin' to hire me? i don't run with no gangs, no more." he paused, considering. he didn't run with gangs...but could he fit into a pack? it was so foreign, structured rules and hierarchy. in his gang, respect and standing was earned with blood, scars, violence. "but i'm listenin'."
with a roll of his broad shoulders, he grunted. "depends on what kinda work, stranger." dolce was no stranger to arduous labor, the kind that made bones ache at the end of each day. while he's older now, he still welcomes that ache. misses it.
standing, he turns to face the man. "y'lookin' to hire me? i don't run with no gangs, no more." he paused, considering. he didn't run with gangs...but could he fit into a pack? it was so foreign, structured rules and hierarchy. in his gang, respect and standing was earned with blood, scars, violence. "but i'm listenin'."
RE: so far away - Cole - December 27, 2024
Cole's chest rumbled with a low laugh, his tail giving a slow, casual wave.
Ain't no gangs here, friend,he drawled, his tone warm with humor.
We do things a little different in these parts. Packs, not gangs. Less blood, more... structure.He let the word hang for a moment, as if testing its weight.
He shifted his stance, broad frame relaxed but watchful.
Name's Cole,he introduced himself simply, his southern lilt softening the syllables.
Guard for Bearclaw Valley.His golden eyes met the man's directly, gauging him.
So, you're listenin'. Good. What kind of work you thinkin'?he cocked his head slightly, a hint of curiosity breaking through his otherwise even demeanor.
RE: so far away - Dolce - December 27, 2024
dark eyes lit with momentary amusement. pack life seemed so simple, compared to what he was used to. no fighting over scraps, living a sedimentary life instead of that of a vagabond, security. it was luxurious. maybe too prim and proper for the likes of dolce, but maybe it's the change he needs.
"dolce. nice to meet ya, cole." he rumbled, voice gruff but not unkind. the closer to polite he could manage. haunches meet the snowy ground, and he found himself relaxing. cole revealed he was a guard, and dolce's eyes softened with budding respect. he reckoned cole made a fine guard. he wondered if he could, too.
"'fraid i can't offer much other than tooth and claw. fightin's all i've done, all i'm good at it." perhaps that was bearclaw was looking for—another guard to add to its ranks.
he doesn't dislike the idea. it wouldn't be so different. protect your kin, die for them if needed. he'd once made that promise to a group of men that wouldn't have done the same. so he found himself hesitant to make the same pledge.
"tell me more 'bout bearclaw?" he grunted.
"dolce. nice to meet ya, cole." he rumbled, voice gruff but not unkind. the closer to polite he could manage. haunches meet the snowy ground, and he found himself relaxing. cole revealed he was a guard, and dolce's eyes softened with budding respect. he reckoned cole made a fine guard. he wondered if he could, too.
"'fraid i can't offer much other than tooth and claw. fightin's all i've done, all i'm good at it." perhaps that was bearclaw was looking for—another guard to add to its ranks.
he doesn't dislike the idea. it wouldn't be so different. protect your kin, die for them if needed. he'd once made that promise to a group of men that wouldn't have done the same. so he found himself hesitant to make the same pledge.
"tell me more 'bout bearclaw?" he grunted.
RE: so far away - Cole - December 27, 2024
Cole tilted his head slightly, studying Dolce for a beat before a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. The man’s straightforwardness was something he could appreciate. No fluff, just facts.
Bearclaw’s a strong pack,he began, his tone steady and grounded.
We’re tight-knit, like family. Everyone pulls their weight. You’ve got hunters, healers, scouts, and yeah—guards like me. We keep the borders safe, make sure no one’s causin’ trouble where they don’t belong.
Cole flicked his ear, his amber eyes narrowing slightly.
If you’re lookin’ for somethin’ steady—someplace where what you do actually matters—might be worth your time. We look after our own.He let his words hang, giving Dolce a moment to consider.
RE: so far away - Dolce - December 28, 2024
someplace where what you do actually matters. dolce hummed then, low and pondering. it made him think back to all the terrible he'd done, all the pain he'd inflicted. none of that had mattered, and he sure as hell hadn't mattered to the men he once considered his brothers. the same men that'd turned their back on him, when all he'd ever done was give them everything.
greed runs deep in the heart of men, and long gone were the days where he'd give and give, only for them to take and take.
he raises his chin, eyes of mahogany training on cole. a decision, a final one, had been made. this was his chance for redemption, to try and make peace with his wrongs.
"s'all i needed to hear, partner. my muscle is bearclaw's, if they'd have me."
greed runs deep in the heart of men, and long gone were the days where he'd give and give, only for them to take and take.
he raises his chin, eyes of mahogany training on cole. a decision, a final one, had been made. this was his chance for redemption, to try and make peace with his wrongs.
"s'all i needed to hear, partner. my muscle is bearclaw's, if they'd have me."
RE: so far away - Cole - December 28, 2024
Cole gave a small grunt of approval, motioning with a subtle tilt of his head for Dolce to follow. His broad frame shifted easily through the snow, paws crunching against the frozen ground as he began the trek back toward Bearclaw Valley.
Come on, then,he muttered, glancing over his shoulder briefly to ensure Dolce kept pace. The quiet confidence in his stride spoke volumes—this was his home, his territory, and he carried it with pride.
As the distant scent of Bearclaw's borders grew stronger, Cole's posture relaxed slightly, though his sharp gaze remained alert. He didn’t speak much on the way, letting the promise of warmth and safety at the valley speak for itself.