the halo was a smoke ring

Mordecai · (This post was last modified: February 18, 2015, 08:30 PM by RIP Fox.)

Open for anyone in STM. Figured it was about time to get Mordecai a little bit acquainted with his pack. <3

Mordecai had never lived on a mountain. He had climbed some, traversed through and around others, but had never thought to see himself in a position where one would be considered a home. And really, the digs weren't too bad when it came down to it. Silvertip wasn't unlike any other mountain he had seen before, right down to the snow-capped top, but it had its charms. From the bubbling foothills near its base to the gradual departure of the timberline, he had meandered. He had found one cavern and then another, but hadn't quite ventured inside of them for fear of what may have lingered inside. Instinct told him that wolves weren't the only creatures who holed up from time to time, and it was maybe needless to say that Mordecai had been on the receiving end of both angry wolf and angry other critter before for poking his head where it didn't belong.

So instead, the tawny Ostrega found himself sticking to the broad paths winding along the lower climes of the mountain. A place where the breeze wasn't quite a gust, and the drops a little less severe than further up. The air wasn't eerily thin like he had anticipated, and that too was also a welcome relief. He had found a perfect spot by his means for the time being, and shortly thereafter had found a good rock to perch himself on for a decidedly much needed break. From that rocky perch as he stretched out in the sun, he could see quite a bit. A different horizon of the places that he may or may not have been, and more importantly a decent place to see between the patches of shrubbery and timber for those that may have lingered in their activities below.

*Lecter* · June 11, 2014, 09:59 PM

HAI U

With Majesty's defection, and the threat that the already established packs would perhaps pose to their supply of flesh and herbs, Lecter had taken up patrols. It was not in his nature to do so, being a reclusive beast, but since his promotion alongside Jinx, he felt it necessary to ensure the wellbeing of Silvertip. Along the sylph's paths he trailed, pausing ever so often to lay his scent alongside hers, enforcing the savagely guarded boundaries of their beloved mountain.

He eventually reentered the lands, intent on returning to his den for a rest and the sting of herbs to his tongue, to ease the ache of his hips, but a wisp of unfamiliar scent caught his nostrils, and the bloodstained Beta began to follow it. Masculine in nature, it held the fragrance of Silvertip's own, which pleased Lecter, and he paused on a narrow outcrop just behind the scent's owner, a golden creature basking in the sunlight. A gentle chuff was all the shaman gave to announce his presence; fortuitously for the other, he had no intentions toward cruelty today.

Mordecai · June 12, 2014, 09:32 AM

Yay! I was hoping you'd join. Otherwise I was gonna totally harass you for a thread! :P <3 I stalk me some Lecter alllll the time.

He reminisced a little while he relaxed, thinking back momentarily the long route he had taken up the coast. While he ventured off of it a little where he could, Mordecai was remotely pleased that he had found himself where he was. So far, most things had gone to his liking, and even more so without a large amount of angry souls in his wake. He went as far back to remember the wolves who had given him entrance over the winter, but the thought was cut short at the chuff-call at his back. The Ostrega rolled a little to get a glimpse of the stranger before shuffling a bit to face him, and his tail beat the ground in welcome to be joined.

And he might have winced a little when he got a good look at the other, and the smell assaulted his nose. Bloodstained and dingy as he was, Mordecai wasn't entirely sure what to make of him. But he took him in all the same, and curiously to boot. “Rough week?” he ventured a guess, this time as he gazed over the scabbing remains of a wound. Beneath the smell of that healing blend and the general musk he picked up, he could very clearly pick up Jinx as well. No doubt someone who had been there quite a long time, though Mordecai would learn just how long in time.

*Lecter* · June 15, 2014, 09:54 PM

<333 u flatter me. it is so good to have you back.

At another time, the madman would have snapped cruelly at the innocent comment, but as it was, today he settled himself near the newcomer and gave a grim hint of a smile. Always, he muttered, flicking an approving eye over the strength exemplified in the other's form. Silvertip would need much of it.

You are Mordecai, he observed dryly, hazarding a guess though he did not truly know the other's name. Flexing his foreleg, lip lifted in a grimace, the shaman gazed past the other for a moment before his icewater eyes swept back to his current company. Have you settled here well?

Mordecai · June 18, 2014, 11:39 AM

It's good to be back. I've missed RP in general over the last couple of years.

He could have sworn that he felt the shaman's gaze linger over him. Something in that harden, glazed sensory was palpable, though Mordecai made certain to steer clear of that wandering look. He busied himself the overriding curiosity of studying that wound until he had ascertained that nothing of particular use could be done with it. It was healing, hopefully not infected, and it seemed that his newfound companion was able to tolerate moving it about. However uneasy it was, of course. As he was joined in the warm sunlight, Mordecai briefly drew his gaze to the then reclining canine.

Yes, he was Mordecai; he gave an approving noise to confirm his identity. “I'm beginning to settle in just fine. I'm glad I took up Jinx's offer so far.” Of all the places he had been, he could say that he never thought to see himself residing on a mountain. Especially one that still retained its snowy peak even that late in the year. “I don't believe I recall your name though, but I've noticed you about.” And when it came to noticing, it was only his gesture that he had scented him long before their last encounter. There hadn't been much time for introductions at the meeting where they had crossed paths before. Mordecai knew he was undeniably close to Jinx, one way or another.

*Lecter* · (This post was last modified: June 18, 2014, 09:34 PM by Lecter.)

rp is addictive!

You will thrive here. Because we do not seek alliances or companionship with other packs, our lives remain interesting. His tone implied that seeking such truces and bonds were a wasteful use of energy; he himself preferred to curse a neighboring pack, and redirect its resources through use of spiritual reins to the whims of Silvertip.

Ah, I am an old recluse, he grunted. I am Lecter, Jinx's mate, Beta here. And while he chose to live aside from the pack, his role as their secondary leader now forced him to walk among them. But firstly I am Silvertip's healer, and its shaman. Those are the roles I have held in the packs before this one, and those are the ones I shall hold until my death. Which is imminent, Lecter jested to himself, but did not say this aloud to Mordecai.

Mordecai · June 19, 2014, 07:43 PM

Writing is addictive for me. I can write-write-write all day long if I feel like it but I completely missed the interaction of writing with others. Plus not having stable housing/internet had a lot to do with it. :C

He hoped to thrive there, indebted in a way to Jinx for allowing him to stay in the first place. He had no real reason to come there and stay other than it seemed right, and the offer had been waiting there for him. He had no real reason to stay in the Wilds altogether. But he did, simply to see what there was to see. And possibly, to see if he could eke out a thriving living there like so many others had. Mordecai was relatively indifferent to whether or not there were alliances to truces; such things had existed where he had originated from. He was familiar with the politics of such, thus curious as to how things would play out between his pack and others. Silvertip wanted to only take care of itself and with that he was completely, understandingly fine.

And if things went south in a way he didn't approve of, he knew he would retire from their close-knit ranks as respectfully as he could. Come what may, whether it meant facing a flurry of teeth for a desire to move on or a simply acceptance for what had brought him to their lands in the first place. He listened in on the introduction that came forth, and found something else of equal curiosity: shaman. The word itself sounded foreign on his ears, though he was certain he had heard of it elsewhere. He knew it had something to do with the mysticism of the world, but in what way he remained uneducated for the time being.

“Good to know there's someone around to patch us all up if we need it. Yourself included as I see. Can't say I've ever met someone who called themselves a shaman, though. Might I trouble you for a description?” He could not hide his interest, but also knew better than to trouble his elder and superior. For all he knew, Lecter may not have wanted to talk about his roles at length, and Mordecai felt he would find out soon enough where not to head down conversational paths.

*Lecter* · June 23, 2014, 04:19 PM

i can only write these days with other people, bwah <3

As much as he disliked the company of others, Lecter, in his ageing, had found that certain fellows piqued his interest and murmured the correct thing in his presence. Mordecai was one such; Lecter loved to teach, though many would argue that the old witch had little that he actually loved. I commune with the gods and the spirits that are always existent about us. I am their servant and their liaison.

Lecter firmly believed that many downfalls of individuals and packs alike were due to their refusal to believe in the spirit world, or their inability to honor the deities correctly and consistently. The Teekon Wilds were filled with heathens, and a younger version of himself would have sought to right this, with verve and violence. Yet he had been tested, and his knowledge had been found wanting; many of those who did not believe honored the gods in other ways, and this Lecter himself was hardpressed to understand.

I suppose the word 'shaman' is ... outdated, yet it is all I have known. Once, quite some time ago, I would have reared a younger wolf in the ways of the spirits, to carry on when I am dead. But with the old words die the old beliefs, it seems.

Mordecai · June 25, 2014, 01:33 AM

Happy that his request was obliged, Mordecai listened with rapt attention. He was intrigued. Perhaps partially in the sense and way that children are entertained by a story, his own imagination conjured up the concepts of gods and the like. Entities and creatures that seemed unreal compared to anything he knew. His father had never been one for such stories, except for maybe ghost stories. His mother, well, Mordecai couldn't quite recall what her take on such things were. The concept of belief was not unknown to him though, just something he didn't really partake in. He shared that trait with many, he supposed, and maybe his one true belief was in the thought of what you see is what you get.

"When you put it that way, I've heard other words for what you... are." He paused for a moment, uncertain if what was polite of him. It sounded accustory. With a shake of his head at the seeming fumble, he continued. "A seer. A priest. I came across someone once who referred to themselves as 'the guide in all things unseen'. It's interesting, to say the least." A long time traveller (as far as he was concerned), Mordecai had enjoyed the various culture that he found in other canines. As for the belief dying out when he passed, Mordecai really had nothing much to say. It seemed sad, though. "Are you the only one around who worships your Gods?"

*Lecter* · June 29, 2014, 11:57 PM

He had heard the word seer before, but not priest. Either way, both were fitting terms for what he was, and he took no offense at Mordecai's words. So the other was well-traveled, as well as learned. It would take much more to earn the shaman's trust, even minute respect, but the creature had set his paws upon the right path if he intended to court Lecter's favour.

Jinx is a believer, as is her ward, Ira, and the man called Sitri. There are various subsets and layers to our beliefs, but a basic adherence to knowledge of the supernatural is something that we each share. Cold eyes appraised Mordecai. And you — how do you believe? He did not expect the male to hold any sort of beliefs, but stranger things had occurred in his lifetime.

Mordecai · June 30, 2014, 01:17 AM

Perhaps it was a good thing that Lecter had passed on some of his knowledge after all. It was rather interesting that Jinx herself also participated, but made sense just as well. He found the more he learned about the creatures that inhabited the mountain, the more he began to have a sense of home there. Something to talk about certainly helped. His curiosity of their religion was not dampered by the talk of subsets and layers; in fact it aided his assumption that religion itself had at least some concrete consistency to it. But he didn't dwell on it long, feeling the appraisal of Lecter's eyes trailing the first sound of inquiry.

Thoughtfully, he hesitated for a moment. What did he believe, anyway? “To be honest, I haven't given it much thought. I suppose there are supernatural things in the world, but…” and he trailed again. “But I guess I might believe most in the things that are natural. In the life around us. Not really sure that qualifies, but I don't outrule things just because they're different. How can we know, or not know, if we don't believe in something?” For a moment, he felt very much like the child he had left behind in Sedona, the one who found himself in front of his mother asking about the intricacies of the world. The endless questions of why and why not?

*Lecter* · July 06, 2014, 03:28 PM

sorry ;__;

Lecter would have preferred it had Mordecai simply rejected his notions out of hand; as it was, the newcomer posed some sort of philosophical nonsense, to which the Beta gave a resounding snort. Rude though the sound was, he regarded the man with a mixture of interest and pity. Mordecai had accepted the revelation of his knowledge graciously; Lecter would not mock him for his own.

I believe each thing natural has a spirit, a loa, within it. They are forever around us; each rock, each tree, even the earth beneath our feet is possessed of such a soul. He felt them, felt them stir and move; they were in the air before a storm, the rain during a deluge. The shaman could not fathom that any creature existed without feeling the presence of the loa.

Mordecai · July 08, 2014, 01:54 AM

no worries! also there is one hell of a lightning show going on outside. @_@

Mordecai had not anticipated the response that came from Lecter at first. For a moment he felt undeniably awkward, but not enough that he regretted his spoken thoughts. But his interest was still there, and he was thankful not to be mocked for his differing view. Instead he focused his attention to the next bit of information imparted to him. The loa. The very word held a certain weight in his mind, though he could not place a reason as to why. Maybe it was just the way it had been spoken to him.

"These spirits, are they what holds the world together? Are they remnants of what was or will be?" He queried gently, wanting to know more but also not wanting to earn a point of annoyance. He pictured them in a kinetic harmony, cooperating in a perfect chaos that enabled them all to survive. If they did exist and he was simoly ignorant, they were definitely something to be revered.

*Lecter* · July 10, 2014, 09:55 PM

there was one going on here too omg ;_; a tree in our neighbor's yard was literally split in half. it was a little skinny birch tree, luckily, but still :O

They are minor deities, each with a specific purpose. For instance, failure to honour the loa of the sea when one lives upon the beach may result in a storm that razes one's den to the ground. Honouring the spirit of an old forest may result in blessings for you; increased prey, rare herbs, shining baubles if that is what you prefer. He paused. In many ways, they are, as you put it, that which holds the world together.

Lecter gave a rare tilt of his head; perhaps it would appear macabre, given his bloodied appearance. I have had many pupils, but few so inquisitive as yourself. The shaman gave a rough laugh. Perhaps there is hope for the younger generation, despite what I have thought for some time.

Mordecai · July 10, 2014, 11:48 PM

The storm that went through here didn't even have a warning but our city lost a crapton of trees. As in, several entire whole trees just went toppling over because of the wind/lightning. One went down at the police station and just barely missed an entire row of squad cars/swat vans. A big portion of town lost power for hours too; I'm surprised I didn't lose power beyond a sharp stutter and the streetlamps going out. It got crazy after I posted! D:

He found the concept of multiple deities, however small they may be, to be fascinating. Perhaps what surprised him more was that more wolves didn't believe in the loa, though he couldn't have said that he himself believed it. In that way he may have been a simple creature, only readily grasping what he could physically come across. That trait he had inherited from his father, though his mother had lent him the insight to acknowledge that there was more than what could be tangibly seen. Whether they were spirits or deities floating and existing in the world around them as they knew it, he saw no reason to firmly suggest that they did not cease to exist.

He smiled slightly when Lecter laughed, the sound itself seeming more normal than his blood-stained appearance. “There's much about the world that I don't know, or understand. I don't see the harm in learning what I can. Information's always useful.” Perhaps if something happened good or bad or otherwise, maybe he could attribute it to the loa than just some randomly generated luck. “And maybe some of your other pupils are out there passing on what you have taught them as well.”

*Lecter* · July 22, 2014, 09:25 PM

that sounds like it was freaky!!

and srry bby <3 wanna fade this soon?

He nodded. Perhaps. His mind traveled swiftly to Ouray, and for a moment he smiled, remembering the sordid details of that mentored relationship. His muzzle fell to his foreleg and he lapped at it a moment, a low grunt of pain issuing from his throat. I hope that you will stay here, Mordecai. I do not often like those who arrive, but those who have stayed are all worthy creatures.

Eartip flicked as he awaited the other's answer, after which the shaman would begin the painful trek back to his den with its medicinal herbs.

Mordecai · July 22, 2014, 10:28 PM

No need to apologize! I'm and perfectly fine with ending our thread too. I know you're busy-busy. <333

His eyes couldn't help but follow when Lecter had moved to tend his leg. The wound looked fierce, no doubt confirmed by the painful utterance, but Mordecai hoped it was healing. The fact that it wasn't fresh seemed promising, though anything outside of meat rotting off of bone seemed promising to him. He knew little of healing. A smile came to his face however when Lecter spoke again, and he nodded in comprehension.

“I do intend to stay, and earn my keep here. Jinx and those here did not have to take me in, but they did and I feel a certain obligation to stay.” His father had taught him that much, as he had persisted in going his way in the world. “Plus I like it here. I've never lived on a mountain before, and I can't beat the vantage point it offers.” He sensed a close to their conversation then, and wouldn't hold Lecter up. It might have been a bit slow going for their second-in-command, but Mordecai did not ponder the idea that he was anything but busy.

*Lecter* · July 24, 2014, 03:33 PM

<33!

That is good, Mordecai. Always repay those who show you mercy with your loyalty. Thus had he lived his life, and he would not have easily been persuaded away from Swiftcurrent had Lethe not died, providing him an opening through which he could pursue Jinx and her intentions. Mountains are sacred places, the shaman mused, gazing off toward the long spiral of woodland below them. Watch your steps. You were not born on cliffs, therefore it will take some time for you to become surefooted.

With a nod toward the Ostrega, the madman turned and gingerly made his way away, unable to keep the hitch from his step, though he sought to keep himself as stable as possible as he wended his way back toward his den.