Blackfeather Woods A heart for the wild

Here we go, something exciting to do! Peridot decided to wonder off farther and farther to the point where she start going on her own. With many obstacles in the way she was never able to go fast. There was always a branch or something to climb over or get under. Sometime she would go into piles of branches by curiousity and wiggle her way through. In any case she was getting used to the need to be flexible as well as just getting pass obstacles left behind by the storm.

It was fun wondering around or it was just exciting to be on her own. What kind of things could she discover over there or even over there! Possibilities are endless she had no choice but to just go and discover! Quickly she moved then stopped to catch a new scent. Sometimes she would pass by some scents she had already discovered. Like rabbits! Although she never seen one alive. To her knowledge they weren't that big but she had no idea if they were dangerous or not. It didn't matter if they were dangerous, she was going to have to beat them one day. Just like how mother and father always do.

upon reaching an open place loaded with fallen branches a sudden noise startled her. It sounding like something moving to her. The first thing that came into her mind was to hide. She decided that with her size it was best to jump into the pile of branches. She wiggled her way deep into it. Believing she was safe here she wiggled around and looked at the direction the noise came from. She had yet to see anything.

Joining , hope that's okay with you ^^

Akela had been patrolling the borders and was on his way back when he picked on a scent that he did not like at all. A dangerous scent, one of another kind of predator: a cougar.  Mountain lions were not far from their territory , he knew that, but for one to venture into it , that could end dramatically, especially if someone was not prepared or did not know how to handle a cougar. He usually did not enter any conflict with those cats, because a wolf on his own was not at his best advantage, it could be deadly. However, before alerting others, Akela wished to know if the trail he had picked up was just crossing the area , if the animal was gone, there was no need to howl for anyone.

A sound made him stop dead in his tracks and he looked around, his ears moving to pick up on it again.  His nose moved , picking up the scent of not a cougar, but something else, something that had a familiar scent.  He walked towards the location and discovered between the branches a small ball of white fur.  "What are you doing there little one"  he looked around. "Where is your mom ?" he asked. From what he knew, there was a litter of new borns, a certain Lusa's pups , he had not meet her yet, but he had picked up on her scent on the little one. He hoped to not scare the pup away, he had Burke's scent on him, after all.

For a moment Peridot really did believe she was invisible. She watched and waited for.. something to happen. She wasn't sure what to expect. She imagined something big that was quiet, like maybe something with long legs that move slowly to sneak up behind wolves. Surely inside this pile of branches she was safe from dangers. She still couldn't see what ever it was but footsteps were getting closer. She stayed still and silent. Whatever was coming was still getting closer. Her heart was pounding. What was she suppose to do?

Sudden words struck like lightning in her heart. She twisted around slowly to see who it was. Her ears were down, she was relieved but still shaken from the moment. Even though she didn't know this wolf there was a familier scent to him. To her that meant she could trust him.

Her heart calmed down a bit but she remained in where she believed to be her safe spot. "Uhm nothing. Mommy is home, Sleeping." She answered but she couldn't recall the name of the actual place they stayed at. Thinking on it now she wasn't sure if she could make it back on her own. In fact she wasn't sure where that place was from here.

Akela couldn't help but grin. A kid was a kid and he might be the big bad wolf for other people, he still had a good heart nonetheless.  "And you used that to get out and be all tough on your own, didn't you ? " he spoke and allowed himself to just be softer for a minute or two.  "You do not need to fear me little one, I'm Akela , you and I are in the same pack, do you understand?"  he spoke softly and lowered himself to be more at her eye level.  "Quite the hiding spot you got there, nice work, little missy. "  he praised her. She was cute , he could not deny it, and still very young. At least she could communicate. "Have you found anything interesting on your adventure ?" he asked being as serious as you could be in such a situation.

He was not forgetting that danger could be anyway, and he would bring the young one safely back home, but first, he needed to show her that he was not a danger to her, that she could trust him.

She did her best to listen and understand but some words just decided to pass by. She atleast understood the important part. Peridot pushed and turned to poke her head out of the pile, directly facing the stranger who calls himself; Akela. "I'm not scared of you now that I see you." She said in a brave but soft tone. She wiggled out of the pile to stand up tall in front of him. But even if she stood as high as she could the male before her was like three times her size, it made no difference yet it was something she was used to. Without her brothers around theres been no one around her size. She knows mother will come if she is in trouble, but one thing Peridot may not realise is that mother can't help if she doesn't know.

Her tail was wagging happily with his praise. Yes bigger animals can't get into tight places and since Peridot was still small she took advantage over it since fighting anything bigger than her was impossible. Then he asked if she found anything. "Oh yes! I smelled something like a rabbit! uuhhh." She looked around trying to recall where she cought the scent. Then she jumped to where she believed she found it. "That way!" She said with excitement and after a few meters she started to sniff the ground hopeing to find it again.

here comes mum >:D

 The new mother had woken in a fright. There was no white ball of fluff in the den. The dark wolfess was quick to get up from her spot and sniff around the den. Her scent wasn't intertwined with any other, which was good but not good enough. 

 Lusa put her nose to the ground and followed the scent. She looked like a bloodhound in a cartoon, softly bumping into trees and swerving around bushes. She lowered her body as she heard Peridot's voice. She had only been there to catch 'that way' and see the pup heading in the direction of rabbit. She came out from the hiding spot and protectively went over her child as she saw the other older wolf. She looked down at the girl, anger in her eyes. "You weren't supposed to leave Peridot." She then turned to the other, ears back and snarling, a clear way in saying 'don't come near'. "Who are you?

Akela smiled softly. She was quite the little beast but even he could not resist her joy of tracking prey.  "Have you now ? Following you then.  Let's get that rabbit" he spoke more in a baby voice (he will deny ever using it)  and trotted after her , making sure that she was not going to get herself into troubles or fall prey to someone. His ears went up and tail straight when he heard a sound and growled at the female approaching out of response to her. He calmed down when she started to talk to the pup. He looked at the female with a  'seriously'  look ?  " I'm Akela, new addition to this pack. You must be the sleeping mommy Peridot told me about" he replied with a certain tease.  "Lusa right?"

Yes he had studied the pack, had asked Burke for names, and matched remaining scents with wolves. Plus there was only a pair that had pups and that black wolf was female, so the mother, so Lusa. He did not really react to her snarling yet remained where he was.  "I found her while patrolling, she was about to catch a rabbit."

uh oh! :D

It was all too exciting to hunt a rabbit for the first time. She wanted to find it, she would be so proud of herself if she could catch one alive and then she would show it off to mother and everyone else! She was about to run around in circles with all this energy. But that energy took a shot in the face the moment mother appeared. Peridot's heart skipped a beat. She knew fully well that leaving mother while she was sleeping was a bad thing to do. Mother insisted but even still Peridot's desire to explore and do things made her take the risk.

Mother clearly wasn't happy. She sat down, Tail curled under, Ears folded back, head low and eyes looking up to say she was sorry. She couldn't help it really, nothing bad happend. She really thought it would be ok to explore just a little bit.

She was able to grasps the stranger's name now that it was said twice. Encouraged to say the truth she decided to just explain what she was doing. "Yeah, Akela is going to help me catch a rabbit when I find it." She said in a soft quiet tone. She then thought of a way that might make mother less mad at her and the stranger. "The rabbit will be for you mommy!" She said rising her voice back up with a little excitement. Her tail began to wag a little in hopes that mother wouldn't be too mad.

She did feel a little embarrassment as he referred to her as 'the sleeping mommy'. She should have been awake and watching Peridot, she had to admit that. Being a mother was fun, but very hard. But never the less something she wanted to do. It would be more better if she had Baldur and Chevalier though. If they were still alive.

 She looked down at Peridot once again. Her small submissive form saddened her slightly, but she needed to learn. She would not let another wolf kidnap her last child. She stepped away from her and leaned next to her. "That is very nice of you. I enjoy your happiness to help, but when I say you can't leave the den without me, I mean it." She thought back to the storm at that moment. "There are bad things in this world that can hurt you." She stood up and stretched, lifting her injured leg while doing this. She would need to see Meldresi soon since she was now present. Or maybe she could see Potema's skills. "Well I'm here now, she started with a more happier voice, "Lead us to the rabbit Peridot."

a little help @Burke  , eventually  @Cicero and  @Damien if you  feel like it

It seems like the mother accepted him near her child.  He did not say anything and followed the pup and his mother still, until he picked up the scent of what he was initially looking for.  That bastard had gone deep into their territory and the trail was still fresh.  He looked around , nervous.  He had an injured wolf and a youngster with him, easy prey , too easy.  He called , howling to signify danger. "We should get back to your den " he ordered more than suggested.  He could not say more when he heard a growl.  He saw the cougar's eyes  and  jumped in front of  Peridot before the cat could jump on it.  All fur up, teeth out, and ears back,  he was  facing the hissing yet smiling cat. "Get something your size, cat. " he growled. 

As long as he could buy time for Lusa and her pup to get away and help to arrive, they were good. He seemed to be to the cat's taste cause it attacked. What followed was  a mixed of barks, growls, hissing , a beige and black ball rolling around  , until it came to a halt.  The cougar had  Akela by the neck, while  Akela had the cougar also by the side of the neck. The bastard had scratched his shoulder, nothing too deep , but enough to make it hurt like a bitch.  In this status quo, Akela was not going to give up , because he knew that if he did, he was dead.

Burke rushed forward when he heard a yelp and growls echo through the forest. His large frame rushing forward towards the sounds. He was soon met with the sight of Akela tangled with a large cougar. Burke growled and instantly jumped forward and bit down in the Cougar's side, just behind the ribcage were the sort tissue was. Burke made sure to bite a good chunk out it. His head slamming from left to right make the wound bigger. Burke intended to kill this cougar. Then they would eliminate this cougar.

He relocated his bite and grabbed him by his scruff, on one of the cat's pressure points close to the side of his neck and behind its round ears. This cat made a decision that would end its life.

She understood that mother was worried about her but Peridot found it hard to stay at the den when she had the chance to go out. That was all in the past now! It was time to search for a rabbit with mommy and Akela. She lead the way excitedly that she didn't really know what she was doing but moving forward. She cought the scent of something else she didn't know. Was it a rabbit? Then up ahead made a sound she never heard before. Scary yet exciting, She saw the creature but it didn't look at all like a rabbit at all. Suddenly everything started moving fast, Akela jumped in front and the battle took place without a moment wasted.

It took a moment for Peridot to understand that this was a serious. That creature is hurting Akela! Together they were suppose to hunt a rabbit. She wanted to jump into the fray to help him! Peridot charged at them with little growls and barks but as she got close she realised that they were quite larger than her and instantly backed off. Peridot didn't want to run away, she wanted to stay and take part.

"Get him! Get him!" She yelled. The whole time she was jumping back and forth at an ok distance from the fight. She couldn't find the courage to just jump in or something just prevented her from doing it knowing that maybe it's a bad idea. Either way she wasn't running away but with all the sudden energy she had she could run far if she wanted.

Everything was fine until Lusa smelled something that she did not like at all. Wild cat. She hadn't noticed it before, but now the air reeked of the smell. The dark wolf went into a protective mother mode, jumping forward so Peridot was underneath her.

 Two glowing eyes watched them and they were not far either. Lusa crouched over Peridot, snarling and growling while slowly backing up. When the cat lunged for Akela, she tried grabbing Peridot by the scruff, but she had slipped away and had gotten closer to the fight. "Peridot no!" She sprung into action, grabbing her by the scruff and made a beeline away from the beast. Not going to lose another child!

Akela was relieved to see Burke arrive. He stumbled back and took a minute to take his breath.  The surprised Cougar was not prepared for another's wolf attack and it gave him some room to breath. Yet, even if he was hurt, he remained in front of Lusa and her pup, shielding them in case the cougar would get away from Burke's grip.  He was heavily panting, yet a small smile escaped his lips when the pup was rooting for them. She would prove herself a brave one later.  The Delta then went to help Burke, assisting him in his attacks as a warden was supposed to, so the cougar could not wound his friend and Alpha.  The cat finally started to run, it wouldn't go far with such deep wounds, but at least it was a lesson for any other predator. Akela remained with the female. They seemed okay , he on the other hand, needed to sit down for a moment .  "Shit" he muttered under his breath.

Burke was more than keen on killing this animal, it would die anyways with the bad injuries they gave the cat. The big creature pulled free wanting to run, and while Akela took a break Burke sped after the massive cat, still very keen on injuring the intruder. He disliked very trespasser and with quite the ferocity Burke tackled the cougar with his heavy bulk. Burke bit down in the side of its neck, slowly suffocating the cat. He got a set of claws in his front paw, only lightly. But the cougar's hind legs pressed half into his side and stomach. Burke endured it though and killed the cat. 

Burke's muzzle was stained with blood and his side close to his stomach was bleeding. His front paw had some light scraping too and with a light limp he moved back to Akela and Lusa, and well her pup. Burke nudged Akela at his muzzle, asking him without words if his friend was okay. Meldresi would have to look later at his shallow would. Probably not that dangerous. He had worser cuts.

Maybe she should have jumped in, it would be easy if only they were her size. Peridot was too distracted to listen to her mother but suddenly she was flying. She was surprised at first then realised that it was mother who got hold of her. "But I have to help him.." She said as she protested a bit. The struggle against that clawed creature didn't last long and if ended up trying to run away. The male who came to assist didn't let that creature escape. In no time the battle was concluded.

Peridot kept insisting to be put down until she was finally down. She saw blood on the other wolves which meant they got hurt. To her experience licking her little stratches she got when jumping pass obsticles seem to made things better. Licking injuries felt natural and it was what she wanted to do the help Akela and the other male.

She approached Akela and tried to climb up to his shoulder to lick his stratches. "I'll make it better for you." She said in a soft happy tone. She didn't ask for any sort of permission and went on thinking he would let her do as she wanted.

Last post for me!

When Peridot slipped through her grasp, the dark wolf growled in anger and annoyance. Why did she have to be so persistent all the time? She defiantly had the same spirit as Lusa when she was young. That's what got her in trouble all the time.

 Lusa followed the girl to the scene, where the two wolves stayed. The cougar was gone, which was relieving, but anger had burned into the her. She walked over to Akela with cold eyes and a snarl. For once she didn't care what Burke thought. "Next time when you smell a cougar, don't insist on walking my daughter around the woods," she hissed in the male's face. She didn't care if he was in higher rank, when it came to the safety of her family, she could be a bitch about it. He could have took her back or his her... anything! She grabbed Peridot by her scruff and walked away from the two.

Akela gave a low growl and nudged Burke back to tell him he was  fine.  He had had worse really. Taking in his Alpha, he let a worried nose go over his wounds , licking some just to make sure they weren't too deep. He then felt small wet licks and looked down to then smile at little Peridot trying to do the same thing. He praised the girl , by licking her on her head, telling her that he was okay.

He dared not to move for the time being, and the scene that unfolded next left him more than perplex.  As he had lifted his head, Lusa's face was in his, hissing words at him before grabbing the pup and walking away.  He could have growled back, explained, asked for a thank you, but he did not really have the patience nor wish to do so.  He had done his duty as a warden, anything else was just a mean game.  " Well she's lovely. " he pointed out sarcastically and tested to get up.  " Guess I have a date with Potema " he smiled then winced. 

last for me too

Burke also watched the scene unfold before him where Lusa snarled at Akela. Burke was certain the male would never do such a thing. The woman was clearly delusional after losing her children. Maybe even Grimnir was the one that was rubbing his craziness off on her. Burke then realized that he hadn't seen Grimnir in a long time. So maybe Lusa was crazy too. He wanted to correct her but she had already sped away. He would give her a warning later because Burke was not pleased with her behavior. They were a pack and they would always protect her pups even though in the past it didn't seem like that was true. Burke let out a long sigh and shook his head. Great, he was in charge of all these wolves that didn't seem to work together even if he wanted them to.

"See ya around," He spoke to Akela, trusting him with Potema and then trotted back to Meldresi his one and only concern he had always on his mind. His perfect mate.

Last post too

Peridot was trying to help out in her own way that she didn't realise that mother was angry again. This time she didn't make a fuse and just let herself get carried away. Looks like they won't be helping her hunt a rabbit. It made her sad and a little disappointed but she didn't really have the right to complain. She did wonder off while mother was sleeping. Peridot didn't even get a chance to say goodbye or even celebrate taking a big claws creature down. Maybe she should avoid sneaking out. There just wasn't enough time for her to do as she wanted. She sighed a little, It's back to the den for a while.