Stone Circle all about the money

Lately Charles had been peeing on things quite a bit. It was an exhillarating practise to make things his, especially when they first belonged to someone else. The borders were a place of stuff that smelled particularly like other wolves; like Easthollow wolves. Charles most strongly smelled the scent of the Matriarch there. He vaguely thought back to when he had tried to pee on the stone circle the first time, when she had told him off. Honestly, it was not that big an event in his mind, even though subconsciously, it had large consequences: It was perhaps the root of his peeing... Well, let's call it problem, just for clarity's sake. But Charles didn't realise this at all, nor did he think back to it negatively. If anything, it was perhaps a positive memory, because someone had cared for him in that moment; enough to punish him.

Now Charles had found a particular square meter of borders that he decided he would make his, just to see just how 'his' he could make a particular plot of land that had already been claimed. He was a part of the pack, after all, so his claiming meant that he claimed it for the pack as well, right? It wasn't as bad as peeing on the stones, right?

Anyway, the uncertainty of not really knowing if it was bad or not was kind of exciting on its own. Charles started at a particular rock that smelled a lot like Valette, where he lifted his leg and awkwardly balanced himself -- it was a new thing that he now lifted his leg rather than squatted when peeing -- and then he went on to a snowy shrub right next to it, while he suddenly pondered how much pee a wolf had in them anyway.

Even as he aged, border work was something he could not put behind him; it was one of the few things he knew that, without a doubt, he was still capable of. As long as he only patrolled and marked where the scents dimmed, rather than directly intercepting anything and everything he could, he would be fine—not a risk to himself nor the pack as a whole. Besides, it helped him to feel grounded, the outskirts of a pack being the one place he could always recollect himself and think, no matter which pack he occupied. There was something about it that he resonated with, just the same as the art of a hunt once sung to his soul.

Kove was not far into his patrol when he happened across Charles, who he watched from afar for a moment; he appeared to be marking his surroundings, adding his scent to those that already occupied the borders. Interested in finding out more, the elder approached the boy with an amicable wave of his tail and asked, “Keeping up with the borders?”

Charles licked his lips and watched around him, but not in the right direction. When he heard the older wolf's voice Charles leaped up into the air and almost toppled over, but just managed not to. He looked at the pack mate and then realised that the words he had said sounded friendly, and his demeanour looked friendly. His tail slowly untucked from between his legs and he looked at the wolf. He looked pretty old.

Uh, yeah, Charles said. Is that okay? The question didn't sound awkward, even though Charles felt terribly awkward. He just wanted to know -- needed to know -- if this was something good. Maybe he wouldn't do it nearly as much if it was.

That he might startle the boy wasn’t a thought to have crossed the elder’s mind—not until it occurred. Kove took a step back when the younger male lurched upward, just in case he might need to avoid any flailing limbs. In the process of doing so, he said, “Border work requires you to be extra alert,” with a chuckle. Focusing was fine but, when working the borders, one needed to find a happy medium between focusing on the task and being alert to their surroundings.

Charles confirmed what he was doing, then added a question of his own. Frowning, the Inuk’s brows pulled together with mild confusion. “Do you think it isn’t?” he asked. Perhaps border work wasn’t something heavily gone over with the youths of Easthollow. Wondering if this may be the case, he explained: “It is okay. Keeping up with the borders and making sure our scents are prominent is a crucial task for all members of the pack. It’s how we let others outside of our home know that we’re here, and that this is our land.” Save for the few exceptions that viewed it as a way to challenge a pack’s boundaries.

Uh, yeah, Charles said in response to his pack mate saying he should stay alert. Now that he had time to look at the other wolf he had to say he looked kinda old. Charles licked his lips and as the elder bounced back the question, he looked uncertain.

Luckily before he answered the elder filled in that it was indeed okay to do the border work as extensively as Charles did. He licked his lips again as a bit of tension was relieved -- both good and bad -- and Charles nodded at the elder's explanations. Oh. He fell silent then, unsure what else to say.

Kove observed the boy silently, taking note of his overall presentation; lip-licking, nervous, or so he appeared to the elder. Knowing not the reason for the lingering tension, the man proceeded to push through it. “Does border work interest you?” he asked next. “Or are you just trying it out?” It wasn’t for everyone—but part of him hoped it was for the boy, even if all that meant was him having someone to patrol with. Like old times, a partner to reinforce the borders alongside.

The old man asked him if he was interested in border work. Charles didn't really like the sound of that. Work. He wasn't really sure what to say, and looked towards the place he had just urinated. I dunno. Then, after it hit what the man had said really, he added: Trying out, I guess. Charles didn't really know what to do with his time anyway, and he didn't want to lay around being bored all the time, so this was an alright alternative, he supposed. At least trying out was doing something, even though he didn't much like when it entailed work.

Uncertainty came from the boy, followed by the answer of trying out. Kove nodded, acknowledging the answer whilst thinking to himself. Now, as the conversation went on, the boy seemed less interested. But the elder did not yet wish to abandon the possibility of teaching another to appreciate border work. So, in an attempt to reel him towards the task, he asked, “Would you be interested in doing a patrol with me? A trial run to see if you want to turn your trying out into something more.”

Aw man, now Charles felt kinda stuck in this conversation. He wasn't even that interested, but this old man seemed set on teaching him all that he had to teach, and Charles didn't know how to get out of here. So he just stayed and swayed with the motions provided. Yeah, sure, he said, not sure why he said yes when he wanted to say no. It was a confusing thing about life that he hadn't really figured out yet. Charles looked at the old man, waiting for him to take the lead.

I feel bad for poor Charles, lmao. Just wants to go about his day but this old dude won’t leave him alone. Can prolly wrap up with your next post? Edit: You get his 900th post!

When the boy agreed, the man smiled. Without another word, he swung his head and motioned for him to follow. Kove started to move at a steady trot, taking the lead of their patrol. Every so often he would stop and mark, as well as encourage Charles to do the same. All the while watching their surroundings, on high alert; he wasn’t going to let anything happen to the kid on his watch.

yay, congrats! :D i'll archive this, thanks for the thread! <3

Oh man, now he was stuck with the old guy. Charles just followed, deciding that it was easiest to just let the guy teach him some things and then be off. He still wasn't entirely sure why he had said yes, but he could hardly just walk off now. So he followed and mimicked, his actions sometimes too small and timid, and sometimes far too large and loud.