Blacktail Deer Plateau Shadowland

After his fight with Charon, Dante's ear was the worst of his pains.  His face stung as well, the tears pulling anytime he moved his mouth or eyes.  Currently he was doing the one thing that brought the best relief.  With his rear legs resting on the riverbank, he lowered his front half into the shallows of the creek, cheek and sundered ear lowered beneath the cooling current.  A low sigh left him as welcome numbness began filtering through.  This was much preferred to herbs.

Still he felt no guilt for the anger that had led him to attack the younger wolf.  It had been a brutal fight but he felt it justified - Charon should have either kept his mouth shut or had the skill necessary to know when to back down.  His judgement was unforgiving and he thought on it coldly, wondering but not really caring if the Stavanger wolf's injuries had prevented him from making it home.

Tarin would have disapproved greatly.  She would have called it brutish, and it was for her sake he had so refrained from conflict when first he came here.  But Tarin was dead, she and her children.  Too weak to defend themselves.  The past few weeks he has shied away from that thought, labeling his sister weak feeling treasonous to her memory.  But now he let the truth of it settle upon him.  If she had been willing and able to fight, she would not be dead.

A frown creased his brow as he laid his head down on his forepaws, tilted slightly to still allow the side access to the water.  Heavy thoughts for such a beautiful day.

Her joining thread is almost complete so I figured I might as well start branching out. Thread looks lonely. ~_^ Sorry for lack of quality, work post.

inden The day was miserably hot as the female trotted along lichen covered stones. Despite her healing hocks, Roia was restless to discover the many secrets of her new home. Within the last sun, Roia had spent the majority of resting time grooming her disheveled fur. The once dullness of her pelt had begun to recede, being replaced by brilliant specks of healthy colour. With the caress of a warm breeze, Roia's liver hued nose twitched with anticipation. She had caught wind of another wolf, though by the familiar tones she ruled out it being a trespasser. The she-wolf was only familiar with Lasher and his mate Blue Willow, and as the drappa closed in on her target this wolf was neither. 

indent Silently, Roia padded around a bend and halted in surprise. Twenty feet away stood the origin of her search, a large silver male. His head slightly submerged, Roia cocked hers with curiosity and watched as he withdrew. A large piece of the ear closest to her was missing. Now she understood and, snorting softly, began to approach the male. "I'd hate to see the other wolf." She growled. Instinctively, Roia lowered her body upon approached and licked the male's jaw, before backing her hocks into the water and laying beside him. "Im Roia, new zeta to the pack."

no worries, thanks for joining!!!  Gonna get a quick response up for ya, still on vacation :)

He'd stood to allow a moment's break from the chilly waters when an unfamiliar voice made itself know.  He had not met Lasher's newest acceptance but she was quick to make herself known.  He accepted her words and greeting happily enough after, glad he frequently checked in with the beta on the subject of new recruits.  

"I like to think he regrets his decision." He offered amicably, "though I didn't stick around to ask."  He sat down easily, then took a closer look. "Roia is it?  Nice to meet you.  I am Dante, alpha here." The distinction of alpha male was left off as unnecessary, for there was no counterpart to the role.

"I hear you were injured.... How are you feeling?"  He had intended to check on her before too long, but she's beaten him to the punch.  A fact that he much appreciated, for it meant she wasn't shy about making her presence known here.

They spoke a while, and he was glad he had been able to meet her. Like many others, it would not last long, as soon she would disappear into the wind.