Broken Antler Fen Finding The Other Half

@Sebastian 
Harley approached yet another border, beginning to grow weary. He was sick of being rejected for reason after reason, hoping that someone soon would be willing to teach him. His milk colored fur was disturbed by brown-red tips so dark they seemed black until submerged in sunlight or water. Sandy colored fur-tips ticked his back, rimmed his ears, and patching over his eyes in circles. Those eyes, intensely looking as far across the marshlands as his sight allowed, were bright amber, colors of Autumn dancing in their kind, intelligent depths. He sat with his tail curled around his right haunch to touch the tip to the nearest paw. The strong, sturdy muscles of a wolf were prominent and well-worked, but they covered the body of a German Shepherd. Without a doubt, he was a half-breed. With one last sigh, he let lose a howl for the alpha of Broken Antler Fen, hoping this would be his last time speaking to a new alpha. 

Sebastian lifted his head when he heard a howl. It sounded a bit different so his curiosity was what mostly drove him to the borders. The immensely sized male looked very impressive and maybe even a bit intimidating at first sight. But Sebastian was in no way a brute like his father was. The male trotted forward until he stopped by his border. His tail was up, something he was getting used to himself. He watched a male before him, but he didn't look quite like a wolf, but somehow he did.

Was he a coywolf? Or some other mixed breed? Sebastian frowned slightly. "You howled for me?," he questioning, giving the other permission to speak. Sebastian wondered what the male wanted of them, probably a home. They grey tank wondered what this male's origins were.

Harley's spirit's lifted when he saw the massive grey alpha approach. The wolf-dog didn't notice that he was different than the other alphas, less confident, and also barely noticed the faintness and broken scents of the border; all signs that pointed to the new-forming pack but that the farm raised dog didnt recognize, only doubted. As Sebastian drew closer, Harley crouched to the ground as he'd grown accustomed to at a border. He was far too used to the submission, the questions, the look-over he got. He couldn't help but wonder if his looks were why he'd been rejected, or his lack of skills, but didnt dwell on them. He had an alpha to speak to.
     "I did, assuming you are the alpha of this territory."
Of course he was, why else would he have come to the summons of the alpha? Did they know the difference between howls on who was being called? Harley himself couldn't tell, he'd never actually been howled for. Assuming his doubts were silly, the shepherd kept speaking respectfully to the apparent alpha.
       "I'm looking for a home, see.... I've been rejected a few times now, for various reasons. Do you have room for one more, even if he isn't exactly trained in.... your ways."
His tone was soft, sounding as if he expected to be turned away or worse. The fresh but shallow claw scratch across his muzzle was clear proof that he'd been elsewhere, trying to join other places. His amber eyes looked up at Sebastian, awaiting an answer in silence.

Sebastian nodded at the other, keeping his posture held high for the other. He still couldn't pinpoint what was wrong with the male before him. "I am the alpha," he explained. Sebastian squinted his eyes a bit when the other spoke that he was not changed in their ways? As he had been rejected before it did not spark any pity inside of the male, normally it might but now he had to think of his other members and how this male who was rejected for multiple reasons even wanted to be in his family. The male looked at him skeptically. What had he even done in the first place?

"What do you mean that you have not been trained in my way?,' he asked the male. He might as well wanted to know. If this wolf or whatever he was could not even provide for himself then even Sebastian was not going to take him in. Or if he needed to learn to much. He did not have the time to focus on one member, the pack had to work together and if he couldn't do that.

Harley sighed and gulped, seeing the familiar look in the alphas eye. He made himself take a deep breath before replying steadily.
      "I was raised by a dog father and aunt, my wolf mother didn't want me or my siblings. I left the life of a stray to find out what kind of life my mother lived. I can hunt okay, and defend just as well, but thats not the things I want to know how to do. I want to be a healer, maybe one day someone who passes on the history."
The milky male fidgeted from where he was crouched, thinking frantically for something else to say.
             "I don't know how to live as a wolf, just a dog. I want more in life.... I'll contribute any way I can."
He fell silent, amber eyes hopeful that this wouldn't be another disappointment. Another wolf that didnt want him. Again, he wondered if it was because he was half german shepherd. He knew that he could do what he needed to to survive, but that was as far as his knowledge went. He also knew he wouldnt go back to living on the abandoned farm, back to the simplicity of that. He wanted to live in a pack, be surrounded by family and friends and pull your fair share of work. To not know if he would survive the next moon or if he'd be the ONLY to survive: such things could be possible in this unpredictable world.

Sebastian looked at the creature before him that told him about his past. So he was a half breed. One that was mixed with a dog? He had never seen them but he had heard about them. How they ere loyal to two legged creatures called humans. They also drove those killing machines on hard grounds. Sebastian was not sure if he could trust this wolf. His story could have been made up and he couldn't put his new family in danger.

"Well, I am not sure about this," he admitted. Sebastian was not a bad wolf after all. His own father might have chased him off but Sebastian would not do such a thing. "We just started this pack and if I would take in a wolf in my pack it would be one that could help out, not one that needs to learn the basics about being a wolf, or how to behave in a pack." Sebastian also already had a few wolves that were in their learning phase. Aduin was shy but learning to be a Hunter. Brandy was young and also inexperienced. If he would take on this guy then there would be another one that could need to learn. He was not sure if that would be helping his pack. He was not a refuge center. "Maybe the reason your mother didn't want you was because she didn't want this life for you?," he offered, not sure if it was his place to say so. "I'm sorry. Pack structures is the very basic of every thing and if you don't know how it works I will have to correct you every time we would be together with the pack and then you won't really enjoy it nor will I enjoy it. Maybe once this pack is more settled I would take you in but now I don't think my pack is ready yet," he spoke to him.

Harley's heart dropped, and a whine escaped his throat. He felt this temper bubbling and fought to keep it beneath his brown-tipped pelt. Reason was the way to do this, lashing out would only get himself hurt. If not, he would have to find yet another pack.... 
    "I'll never learn if nobody is willing to take me! I know how to survive and I grew up taking care of all my younger siblings. That has to count for something!"
His usual intelligence overpowered by the drive to join a pack, fueled by desperation, Harley had to make one last effort. He'd been traveling months and was so ready to be done with it. More than anything, he was sick of being lonely. He was used to many siblings and his father always being around, 
           "Please, I promise not to be a burden or any trouble. I'll HELP. I'll figure out how everything works the hard way, by being a part of it. I'm young, it shouldn't be that hard.... Plus instincts should guide me in the right direction. M-Maybe just a trial period, as the lowest rank possible?"
He knew he made good points, but that didn't mean the alpha had to agree. That was what worried Harley the most. If he could just take a few days, maybe a week, to meet a few others and start to observe the way everything worked, he knew he could figure out how it worked: German Shepherds were smart, and his wolf blood would take care of the rest. He could settle being lowest in the pack if that was how he would learn.

Sebastian bared his teeth. He could understand that the other was disappointed and very frustrated but Sebastian didn't want to risk it. "Don't tug on my heartstrings now, boy. If it means your life or all the lives that are in my pack then I will chose them. They are my family. And as harsh as that sounds that is wolf world. I can't risk having you in my pack if you don't know the rules and laws of being a wolf. You learn them growing up," he spoke to the other.

Sebastian hated to do this. But he understood that as an alpha he couldn't do all the nice things. He could not let his pity for this doxwolf mix endanger his family. "I am going to hate myself for this... but... I am going to say it to you anyways seeing that you want to learn so badly.... We are just starting out, as I mentioned before. We are finding out everyone's role, one small thing could unbalance us. You could unbalance us. You don't see me breeding any females in heat, that is because our pack is not ready to have a litter of pups. To me you are a pup that needs to learn everything about wolf behavior and I don't have the time or the energy for it. If your father had been a wolf he would understand that there would need to be balance, but he was a dog, and he bred your mother when she was in heat. In return your mother left you, and your father had to find someone to care for you. Unbalanced. What I know dogs are dependent on the two legged creatures and not themselves, you might be half wolf but I can't risk having you in my pack as badly as I want to. I will always prioritize my family first and sadly you won't be in it," Sebastian spoke.

Sebastian felt horribly cruel to send him away like this but the alpha was inexperienced himself, something he would not mention to a stranger, but having to learn how to be in control he couldn't take on a wildcard like this wolf mix. He had females in heat now he thought about it. Was this wolf mix going to understand that he had to stay away from them? Sebastian saw this young pup, who most likely had good intentions, as a threat. "I'm sorry. Maybe the pack next to us, Moonspear would take you in. They have settled here longer," he spoke as a suggestion.

Harley backed up, baring his own teeth in defense and straightening himself again, though keeping his head low. As Sebastian talked of him father, he could not help his anger from bubbling over.
     "My FATHER raised me and taught me everything he knew from being a stray and surviving WITHOUT humans!" 
Snarling, the wolf mix turned and stalked away. There was nothing more to say though he grumbled to himself as he left.
           "I'm no helpless pup. I've been fully grown for over a year!"
Despite his anger and hurt, though, it was all a reaction and he didn't mean Sebastian any ill will. He glanced back and gave the alpha an apologetic look.
               "Good luck with balancing your pack."
After that, he slunk off into the woods. Maybe one day he'd find himself here again, but he doubted it. Surely there was a pack elsewhere willing to teach.

Sebastian growled and instantly charged forward with his hackles raised and his body looking even bigger. He was not going to have another word with this male. He was clearly unstable instantly acting out like this, talking to him in that way didn't gain any favors with the alpha. Sebastian instantly believed he made the right chose. There was clearly a gap here, and he had just been honest. Plus the male had not told him that his father had raised him independently from the two legged creatures. How could he know that? And in Sebastian eyes there weren't any independent dogs, at least not likely what he had heard from them. Sebastian stayed at his border, guarding it if the other might be too foolish to come back.

-end-

Sorry it didn't work out, Raven! <3