Swiftcurrent Creek New waters

@Paarthurnax :) Before the pack meeting.

The silver wolf was anxiously pacing back and forth beside the creek waters, even the usually soothing sound of the water flow did not help him. He was itching to leave the Creek for a bit and go exploring just to calm his nerves but something in his gut told him that he shouldn't do that just yet. So now he was pacing back and forth beside the Creek, having nothing else to do.

Recruits were streaming towards the Creek and he was glad, perhaps the Creek did have a future. Maybe today a newcomer would walk into him weirdly pacing back and forth beside the Creek. The thought of that relieved a bit of tension that clouded his steely silver eyes.

She'd been a member of Swiftcurrent Creek for less than a week, and already she was playing doctor to two of its other members. Their wounds were very obviously inflicted not by accident, but she had not asked either of her patients. The injuries were maybe a couple of days old when first she saw them, and the rapid onset of infection must have meant that they'd been bitten by something... or someone.

Paarthurnax tried hard not to let this dampen her spirits, for although there was tension and uncertainty among her comrades, she had found a place where surely she could belong. It was supposed to be a happy time, not one tainted by worry and fear of attack. She looked to reach out to the others, show them that things would get better, but she did not know how.

Her heart sank when she paused in her tracks to observe the pacing of an ashen male, who was clearly anxious about something. A part of Paar wished to turn her tail and not get involved, but her natural instinct was to close the distance between them. She moved slowly in the other wolf's direction until she was a few yards from him, and the crimson beauty breathed a soft whine to express her concern. "Are you alright? "

And sure enough his wish came true, or his thoughts. Shadow had been pacing for sometime now, a whirlwind of thoughts and nerves clouded his usually clear mind. The ashen male was worried about a thousand things, The Sunspire, puppies, Bazi, the pack and so many others that he felt as if he was about to explode. He needed some answers now and it better be good.

"Are you alright?" interrupted his thoughts, annoyed and irritated at being disturbed, the silver male turned and snapped "What do you thi-" he stopped and after a moment composed himself. Someone to talk to and someone new. A small smile slid onto Shadow's face and his eyes turned from cloudy gray to bright steely silver. It wasn't fake, Shadow was glad to meet a newcomer at last.

"Sorry for snapping at you," he said. "I thought you were someone else." that was true. He thought it was some other older Creek wolf but he would make an exception for newcomers. "You're new huh? What's your name? Newcomers seem to be flooding rapidly into the creek. " he smirked.

Paarthurnax yipped, surprised, and back-pedalled speedily out of reach as her sterling pack-mate swung around the snap at her with a raised voice. She fixed her coppery doe eyes to his face, determined to see every move her made, and was even more confused by the newest response. He relaxed almost instantly, her features softening to form a warm smile that reached his platinum eyes. The red beauty blinked at him, uncertain of how quickly he might turn aggressive again, as her heart thrummed rapidly within her breast.

Who the hell pissed in this maniac's cereal? It was then that she considered the fact that he might be suffering from some sort of mental disorder, but surely Bazi would have earned her against a wolf in their ranks who has the potential to freak out over nothing? The silver stranger continued with an apology and an excuse for his behaviour as though it was the most normal thing in the world. Paarthurnax gave little response of her own, especially as the strange male asked for her name and kicked off into conversation, but she struggled to form words for fear of unleashing his bad temper once more. Not wanting to be rude, however, she piped up with "I'm Paarthurnax," and fell silent once more.

"Nice to meet you, Paarthurnax," he smiled. He had noticed how she had yelped in surprised and backed away. It was no surprise though he wondered how he always had bad first impressions. It was as if some curse had descended upon him, it wasn't like he hadn't had enough to deal with anyways.

But it was nice to know that there were still some wolves in the Creek that he hadn't met yet. The crimson wolf probably thought he was some kind of maniac when he randomly snapped at someone who probably just meant well.

"I'm not usually like this and I'm not crazy or insane or this bad tempered, I'm just stressed out. I'm really sorry about it." he offered her a small smile, his tail wagging slowly as he talked and his icy silver eyes filled with warmth for the first time in ages. "By the way, I'm Shadow. How did ya get Bazi to accept you into Swiftcurrent Creek?"

The strange silver make want very good at making her fell comfortable. Uncertain, the red wolfess fidgeted in place as she eyed her pack-mate suspiciously. He piped up with yet another apology and stated that he was stressed, while the corners of Paarthurnax' lovely eyes twitched as she fight to keep herself from narrowing them; I'm not your punch bag, was what she wished she had the courage to say out loud.

She exhaled softly, defeated, unable to maintain her unnaturally stoic appearance when Shadow offered his name and shot her yet another winning smile. Paar accepted his apology with a dip of her elegant crown, and managed a shy smile of her own. His question regarding her status in the pack made her stall yet again, however, and for the first time she consisted the reason behind her acceptance.

We could use a female medic, was what Bazi had told Scimitar, and Paar felt a pang of hurt for the first time since joining the pack. She was not valued for her companionship nor her growing love for the land and the wolves who were to be her family. Paarthurnax was here purely because she possessed skills that no other member of the pack could demonstrate. When the crimson beauty realised she been holding her breath as these thoughts raced through her mind, she exhaled softly.

It would take time to earn her place, she knew. But she could not bear the thought of being cast aside in favour of a replacement, or to be booted out when whatever reason behind the mysterious bite marks was eradicated.

"I'm a medic," the she-wolf said rather meekly, rolling a slender shoulder in a pitiful shrug. "I guess that's about it."

"I'm a medic," the she-wolf said rather meekly, rolling a slender shoulder in a shrug. "I guess that's about it." Shadow frowned, yes, she came in a difficult time, that was true. And tension filled all the wolves of the Creek's bodies but that didn't mean that you had to be totally unwelcoming to a new wolf that had just joined their ranks, if he had only been accepted because of some skills he owned he would be downright hurt and the female probably was too.

Possibly no other wolves had been exactly welcoming to the newcomer, him included. Stressful, hard times for the creek wolves but that wasn't a good excuse to be unwelcoming. New life meant that the creek had a possible future again.

It would take time for her to earn her place in the pack but when he himself was a newcomer to the creek, he had been warmly welcomed. Unlike Paarthurnax.

The ashen male trotted up to her and murmured "I'm sorry,"softly before leaning his muzzle down, he touched his nose to the newcomer's cheek. Either she would push him away or accept his touch, he hoped it was the latter.

Paarthurnax lowered her gaze and looked at nothing, an empty space between herself and Shadow, and tried to keep herself from sinking into paranoia. More than anything, she just wanted to fit in, and trying to convince herself that it was too soon to be appreciated was proving difficult. She felt uncomfortably out of the picture, an afterthought, a creature destined to forever remain in the background. Paar was a wolf who'd been second-best her entire life; her parents had loved her dearly, but never like they loved their proud, strong, dutiful sons.

Silence hung between the two Creek wolves, but Paar card little. She appeared lost among her thoughts, wondering if she'd chosen correctly, or if she might have to uproot herself again. Her previous pack had been nothing but welcoming, where this one seemed scattered. It's future concerned her with every passing day.

Suddenly, in an unexpected gesture, there was a cool nose against her feathery cheek. She slackened noticeably, her muscles releasing their tension, as she succumbed to a warmth she thought her pack-mates incapable of. Paar closed her vibrant eyes and leaned into the touch as though it might be gone too soon, and purled her gratitude. When she opened her copper eyes again, Paarthurnax boldly sought the cool platinum of Shadow's, and she let her tail wag between her hocks.

"Thank you," was all she murmured, shifting so she could bump her snout to the underside of her companion's muzzle, and pulled away to reveal to him her most lovely smile.

She hadn't pushed him back, that was good. Shadow stayed against her, as her muscles lost their tension. He did not pull back, instead relaxed as Paarthurnax leaned into his touch and closed her eyes. She deserved more welcome and Shadow would make sure she would get it. Though he doubted his packmates would be able to give it to her. When she opened her vibrant eyes again and met his own ethereal ones, a small smile appeared on his face. "Thank you," she murmured and bumped her snout to the underside of his muzzle and pulled away to reveal a beautiful smile.

It was only now that the ashen male realized how beautiful Paarthurnax was, her vivid copper eyes and long slim legs and so many others. He smiled at her, one that reached his usually cold silver eyes and filled it with warmth. The black tip of his tail wagged slowly. "No need to thank me," he murmured softly. "I'm happy to help you anytime."

Shadow returned her smile, one that reached the sterling of his eyes, and offered her a few words of encouragement. She had no need to thank him for being someone she could keen on, for they were pack-mates. It was their duty as a group to be there for one another. His thoughts were so like hers that the realisation set her heart aflutter, and she cast aside the memories of Danica's wariness, Scimitar's coolness, the way Bazi looked at her as though she might rob her off something. Because when Shadow looked at her, she found in him the warmth and acceptance she'd been craving for months.

"Well," she flicked her tongue over her upper lip, as she eyes the silver male curiously. "Tell me about yourself. Have you lived here long?" Paarthurnax blinked up at her taller companion, eager to develop conversation with him and shoo her heartache away.

"Tell me about yourself. Have you lived here long?" the silver male smiled. "Telling you about myself would be telling you my life story and all my secrets," he said teasingly but sat down, motioning for her to do the same. It was rather stupid for them to stand up and talk and tiring for the Kappa. The black tip of his tail flicked lazily as he pondered about where to start.

"Alright, my name is Shadow, Shadow Angelus Mortis. Angelus Mortis is my last name not my middle name. They're both my last name." he said to make it clear, enough wolves had made mistakes with his name that it was annoying. "My natal pack was a brutal unloving pack. Kindness did not exist. I was born to a litter of three and destined to become the next alpha after my father. My sister on the other hand was reserved and not unassertive earning herself the rank of Omega." he turned to look at her and smiled softly, "I'm going to shorten this part because its not really a happy story."

"Anyways one day my brother was severely injured and my father left him to die. My sister and I managed to heal him and together we decided to leave the pack. We traveled for a long time before arriving at a stranger pack territory. My brother and sister decided to join but I did not. After sometime of traveling, I arrived at the Creek and got accepted." he had cut out a lot of the other details not wishing to ruin their chat.

He turned his platinum gaze on her beautiful copper eyes, "I've been here for about a month or so. What about you?"

When she'd asked about him, Paar hadn't expected a life story. Shadow took a seat and motioned for her to do likewise, and she lowered her haunches to perk her tall ears and listen. Truthfully, she found it rather awkward that her pack-mate begun his take right from the start when they'd only just met, but she did not wish to be rude. And so she settled herself her gaze fixed to the story-teller's features.

It was surprising that he'd come from a family who had not appreciated our loved him, when he seemed so naturally sweet. But then she recalled his first reaction to her approach, the way he turned on her so quickly, and figured perhaps that may have linked to his youth somehow.

Paarthurnax was not sorry for his poor upbringing. He'd been shaped and moulded into the creature he had become, and he was not a bad wolf for it. So when Shadow finished his tale, Paar smiled on gratitude.

"Seems you've got worked up quite a story to tell over the years," the crimson wolfess said softly, thumping her tail against the ground. She was not quite prepared to share her own, even though her childhood and early adulthood in Samarkand had been comfortable. "Mine is not nearly as extensive. My mother and father founded a pack that was around for maybe a year or so, but returned to my grandfather's land to claim it when he retired. My siblings - and there are many of them - and I were born there, and the pack had been established for generations. My parents have since moved on, and my brother leads it now. One day, his firstborn will lead in his place."

She did not speak of her elder brother, Alduin, who should rightfully have replaced her father on his retirement. Paarthurnax had not known the firstborn of the Frostfurs, but she couldn't help but wonder if he'd have treated her with greater respect than Sahloknir had. Nita had not kept secrets of her first boy, though she'd always spoken solemnly of him.

"I left to find my own way when I was two years old, and have been studying between packs since. I think I'm here to stay, though, for as long as I can."

"Seems you've got worked up quite a story to tell over the years," The silver Kappa shrugged, "It's not much, my life isn't over just yet." he grinned and listened to her own tale, tail lazily wagging, noticing her tale was not as long as his. He didn't mind, if she wasn't ready to share just yet, he would wait. He'd only been able to tell his story because it no longer mattered to him, he had moved on.

Nightmares about leaving his siblings still haunted him in his sleep and he was trying his best to get over it. So far it was working, he dreamed less about them and had begun to accept reality. They had gone to live their own life, and his on his own.

"I left to find my own way when I was two years old, and have been studying between packs since. I think I'm here to stay, though, for as long as I can."

The ashen male pulled his lips back in a smile, his platinum eyes full of light. "That would be awesome." he said, turning his gaze on her, fiery warmth filling his eyes but there was something else in those silvery eyes when he stared at her. And no doubt she could see it.

Paarthurnax eyed her sterling companion curiously, wondering with mild fear if he might further question her background. How could she explain to him that her parents had not been formally mated? That even though Nita had been Xerxes' primary partner and only fellow leader, her sire had many other lovers. Truthfully, Paar had not even considered the possibility of her heritage catching up with her now that she was so far from her birthplace, but it found itself wedged uncomfortably in her new-found paranoia.

Trying to push aside the storm that raged silently among her thoughts, the bi-coloured wolfess quirked a brow at Shadow. "So," she started, gathering herself to her paws and loping elegantly across the pebbles until her nimble paws found the stream's edge. "You live beside a creek - I hope you've learned to swim during your time here! Fancy a dip?"

"You live beside a creek - I hope you've learned to swim during your time here! Fancy a dip?" The silver wanderer chuckled softly at her words. Learned to swim during my time here? I've learnt how to swim since I was born. That was true, his parents had forced him and his siblings to learn how to swim, but Paarthurnax didn't need to know the details of his childhood. He'd turned out alright after all, not some kind of evil maniac.

He waded into the creek until the silvery waters reached his knees and touched the tip of his tail. It was cool, refreshing in late summer and silver flashes darted through. He did not move though, he wasn't here for a meal.

So, can I call you anything else other than Paarthurnax? It's kinda long. he smiled at her.

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Shadow commented that he'd been swimming since he was tiny, and she laughed with him. She'd come from the desert, where water had been scarce, so swimming was not a luxury Paar knew as a child. But it had come naturally to her when she ventured North, and she enjoyed having the opportunity to bathe on those hot Summer days.

The ashen male moved into the shallows alongside her, then pressed on further into deeper water. Paarthurnax followed him closely, only pausing when her companion did, and she blinked up at him as he piped up with a question for her. "You can call me Paar if you'd like," she suggested gently, smiling warmly as her tail swept across the creek's surface.

Shall we fade after your next post? :)

"You can call me Paar if you'd like," The silver wolf laughed, he hadn't quite laughed in a while and it was a relief to finally have some fun again. Paar, huh? I'd like that. he shot her one of his winning smiles, platinum eyes gleaming brightly, his gaze filled with warmth.

He sidled up to her, tail skimming over the water and touched his flank gently to hers. Hoping yet again that she wouldn't push him aside, firstly because he would fall straight into the water and his whole body would be wet and second because it would hurt.

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Yep, sounds good to me!

Despite her initial confusion and frustration at having been greeted so rudely, Paar was finding that she rather enjoyed Shadow's company. He was easy to spend time with. He was sweet and gentle and seemingly enjoying her company, too. Her previous concerns at feeling unwanted among the pack were gradually slipping away, and she pushed what was left aside in favour of letting troubled thoughts of the future go and holding onto the present.

The ashen male inched closer to her until his flank brushed hers, and she briefly leaned against him for support before venturing into deeper water. Soon her shoulders were submerged and, kicking against the river's bed, Paarthurnax sucked in a breath and found herself afloat. A low woof invited Shadow to join her - "race you to the other side!" -and gave herself a head-start.