Horizon Ridge Eternity in Peace

Not much time had past since the cinnamon wolf's hunt with his alpha, Pump. A few days at most. He hadn't seen Thistle since her courtship with Rhagnar. Their most recent conversation had been about their past families/packs. The wolf then had a little patrol with the macho wolf, Rhagnar. The bear of a wolf then had a short conversation with the sickly looking Kennedy. The male had heard great things about the ebony wolf and didn't let the current state of him take away the respect the male deserved.

Their pack was small but close. Gavriil felt like he connected with every wolf in some way or another. Rhagnar, the fierce warrior, he patrolled with. Thistle, the kindhearted healer, he had many deep conversations with that opened his eyes and mad him remember how important the past was to who he was. Kennedy, the heartbroken, who he had connected with despite the males intial repulsion. Finally his alpha, Pump, the fierce leader. The hunt had shown Gavriil that while she had a strict side she also could show happiness. The smile she had flashed the male after finding a carcas that would feed that pack had left the male feeling happy. He spent most of the days afterwards thinking about that hunt, and the things he had felt after it. Perching himself like a vulture looking for a rubber stricken mammal the male sat upon his stone, reminiscing on his past few weeks and what events they brought along.

It was odd, how a lot of things could change in a matter of a month. If someone had told Pump that she would be leading a pack one day, let alone taking care of others, she would have scoffed and called that person a fool. Now it was different, she had got used to the role of being a leader, she had learned to have a little more trust in others and all in all she quite enjoyed their small, but friendly lot.

They had expanded their territories all the way to the seashore, since staying in the Ravensblood forest had proven to be a dangerous thing. A young grizzli was roaming around there and Pump had no desire of crossing paths with him or sharing the prey. For now the little forest, the sand dunes and the shore was enough to sustain them.

Pump never wandered to the shore, if there was no practical reason to do so. Unlike so many others she didn't feel the lure of the waves and the distant horizon, therefore it was a sheer accident that she happened to be there and spot Gavriil atop a large rock. "Gavriil," she called out, closing the distance between them in a quick stride. "Seeing something?" she looked in the direction of where his gaze was fixed, remembering his lucky hand in their first scavenger hunt together.

Gavriil let out a smile as Pump, an ebony wolf with floppy ears, called out his name and closed the distance between them with quiet and quick strides. Staying perched on his rock he took his gaze off the water line and looked down at the female as she asked him what he had his eyes fixed on. "The view up here is beautiful. I come here often just to relax. Do you want to see?" Gavriil offered the female as he scooted to the edge of the rock.

It would fit two average sized wolves perfectly but Gavriil being the big mass of teddy bear fur he was took up a little more room than average so he shuffled as far over as he could for the female to have comfortable space. "How have you been my lady? Any more scavenger hunts that filled your time?" Gavriil inquired his deep voice filled with warmth.

"A beautiful view" was not exactly what Pump expected to hear, since you could neither eat it, nor put it for a good use. But part of being a good leader was not only setting up rules, but also showing at least modest interest in, what brought joy to other pack members. Therefore she nodded at Gavriil's polite offer, jumped on the rock and sat down besides him.

"You can see very far from here," she said after regarding the look from above for a little while. "Look," she squinted her eyes at something far off to her right. "You can almost see the sea lions," they were as mere small, black dots in the distance. "Been well," Pump replied to his question. "And you? Made any friends?" she recalled that this had been one of the reasons, why he had joined their ranks in the first place.

It made Gavrill extremely happy to see the ebony female join him on the rock. Listening to the female he acknowledged her as she spoke of what she saw. He let out a soft laugh when she mentioned the sea-lions in the distance. He saw the little dots way off in the distance.

Gavriil glanced to his right and looked at the female. Gavriil hadn't really noticed the female until now. Her fur was thick and likened to the darkest midnight, and her ears layed on her head instead of standing up. The she wolf's eyes were a light brown color. The slowly setting sun let the lighting hit her face, causing her fur to be a shiny black color. The male quickly looked away sheepishly after noticing he gazed at her for way too long. "I've met Kennedy finally, he's...well, doing ok." Gavriil spoke honestly, his meeting with Kennedy was short. "How about you? Any new members I should know about?"

Kennedy's state of mind hadn't improved much since their encounter. Pump knew very well that she couldn't help him in any way as long as he himself didn't want to grasp the helping hand to be pulled out of the dark place he was in. She remembered on how good terms they both had been before the rock-slide and she believed that the happy and sometimes shy person she had once known was still in there somewhere. Hiding behind the rough shell.

Deep in her own thoughts she hadn't noticed that Gavriil's gaze had lingered on her longer than neccessary. "He worries me," she shared her concern about him, "hasn't been himself for a long time."

Gavriil hadn't known the ebony male before his accident and injury. Gavriil met him after the shock. The male seemed just sad, and regretful of life. Maybe before the natural disaster he was filled with happiness, much like Gavriil was now. Gavriil made a chuff in the back of his throat to sympathize with her and provide a little empathy for Kennedy, "I hope in time he gets better. I would enjoy knowing the male before the injury not after. What was he like before the injury?" Gavriil spoke truthfully.

"Kennedy?" Pump wasn't used to describing other people, she felt them and emotions were hard to put in the right words so that everyone would understand them. She contemplated their encounters and the mutual understanding of each other during a hard time in the pack. He had been nice and, probably, happy. Reminded her of Gavriil the way he was now. Careful and wasn't put off by her attitude.

"Better than me," she concluded in the end. He was a better person in many ways. Pump, of course, didn't regret a single thing in her past, neither she thrived to become someone she was not. You can change some traits, but not the character. "A bit like you too," she added.

Gavriil wished the Kennedy that Pump spoke about was the ebony male that he stood in front of days ago. From what Gavriil could tell he was a shell of his former self. The cinnamon male wished that he has another Wolf in the pack like him. Friendly wolves were easier to get along with for obvious reasons. The Kennedy now barely even held a conversation with the bear of a wolf. While Gavriil was used to carrying the conversation the coal pelted male would hardly talk to him.

"I hope he gets better soon. I'd like to meet the old Kennedy." Gavriil inserted honestly. The male spoke this in hopes of closing up the conversation about the other male. "What have you been doing with your time lately?" Gavriil inquired softly glancing over at the female next to him.

"We won't give up on him," Pump told Gavriil with determination in her voice. She had promissed each of the pack mates to stand by their side during good and bad times. They had earned Pump's respect, because without them they wouldn't have managed to thrive this long. If the future had seemed obscure at first, then now she could look in the future with some certainty. They will survive, they will be strong, they will be a force to be recognized.

"Watching out for the bear," she told. Not too long ago she and Thistle had encountered one in the Ravensblood forest. And their furry, sharp-teethed and clawed friend hadn't gone far. More than once she had sensed his presence near their borders and this was not good. "We have a hungry neighbour in the forest."

This was the first time the male had even heard of a bear in tripping pack business. This creature worried Gavriil. The pack's safety was of the utmost importance for the aspiring warden. "I would be willing to join in an attack against this beast. Ragnar would certainly be up for it also. I could led it if necessary but I assume ether you or Ragnar would like to." Gavriil spoke with pride in his voice. It would bring the male a lot of self worth if he successfully ran an attack.

In his old pack running off unruly predators was almost a daily chore, bears and mountain lions constantly plagued daily pack life. Any animal could be scared away with enough wolves present. Numbers were all that mattered. No one predator would dare attack a few healthy wolves in their prime.

Pump cast a quick side glance at Gavriil, who up until now had seemed to be a pacifist at heart and generally just a nice guy to stick around and keep everyone together. Therefore his eagerness to join and defend their home from a very dangerous predator came a bit as a surprise to her. The old truth about never judging the man by his umbrella (or appearance in this case) was true, there was more to this wolf than the wolf-dog had initially thought.

"We won't attack him, unless he trespasses in our territory," she said in all seriousness. They didn't need to get in trouble that could be avoided. "If he ever should - be ready for a call," she didn't say it out loud, but her words also meant that she strongly suggested Gavriil to stick to his words and be there. Not that she doubted that he wouldn't.

Pump usually kept her opinions and decisions regarding the pack and it's members to herself. However, Ragnar's offer to become the second in command was still on her mind and, since he was doing a pretty good job at being a loyal and devoted pack-mate, it wouldn't be long before he would ask her again. Therefore... Gavriil seemed like the one person she could discuss this matter. "Gavriil - what is your opinion about Ragnar?" she asked.

Gavrill nodded in acceptance of the ebony alpha's statement. He would be ready for the call, this bear was a threat to his new start. The cinnamon wolf wouldn't allow it to bring any damage to him or his pack mates. He would gladly fight the beast if need be, he wouldn't hesitate to join in on a rally against it. This was his home now and he needed to protect it.

Gavrill was curious on why the female asked for his opinion on the Viking. Truly Gavriil had no ill intent against him nor harsh feelings. "He's loyal, but has a temper. Honest but unfriendly. He's a good warrior but a horrible diplomat." Gavriil spoke honestly about the snowy wolf stating his strengths and flaws.

"Horrible diplomat..." Pump repeated and burst out in an amused laughter. Gavriil had used so few words to characterize everything Ragnar was. Especially the last trait, which had made Pump uneasy around him at times and which she hadn't been able to describe properly up until now. It explained, why she felt sometimes that Ragnar's offer about becoming the second in command was very much like an all or nothing deal. If she declined, he would see no point of staying and, while she didn't want to give what he wanted yet (because she wasn't ready to share the leadership now), she didn't want to lose him. Ragnar was a worthy asset to their ranks and she would hate to see him go elsewhere.

"Are you that good in describing other people too?" she asked, still smiling at his previous statements. Or Ragnar just happened to have a very dazzling personality.

Gavriil couldn't help but also chuckle when the female burst into a glorious laughter. It was odd seeing his alpha like this, but the male enjoyed it. Pump had shown a side to him she rarely let out. When the female inquired about his describing skills he smirked again. Ragnar was a person with obvious driving factors, it made him easy to sum up in a few words.

 "If they are an outstanding character with a few distinct traits that drive them I guess I can describe the wolf well." Gavriil spoke softly not being used to the praise that Pump gave. He was proud of it though, holding his head high but speaking softy. 

Laughter was a contagious thing just the same way yawning was and it felt all the merrier all of a sudden to have him join in her fun. It was true that Pump rarely was the outgoing type and even rarer a person, who could find joy in engaging herself in something that wasn't going to benefit her immediately. Yet here she was, sitting on a rock besides a pleasant companion, had a wonderful view of the ocean wand was having good time. It was unusual, a bit different, but felt good nonetheless.

"He asked me several weeks ago to take him as my second in command," she told him in a moment of honesty. "I told him to wait then, but lately he asked again and I won't be able to avoid this matter for too long."

Gavriil was truly happy in this moment, not that any other part of his life wasn’t filled with joy. In this moment the cinnamon male was glad to be next to his alpha on his favorite rock in his pack’s territory.

The bear of a male didn’t have any problem with Ragnar, at first he felt uneasy around him but the wolf seemed loyal. The only difficulty that the cinnamon male had with Ragnar becoming Beta was his overall lacking of social skills. He wasn’t one to act kindly around border wolves but he would protect his pack with pride and violence. ”Ragnar as beta? He would guard us all, but when a diplomacy event comes forth is that who you want by your side representing your pack Pump? If we want to be seen as violent, but fearless, then yes take him by your side. He is loyal, he would be an excellent Beta.” Gavriil added, trying to place the positives and negatives plainly in front of the female.

Pump had never thought of diplomacy as a skill that was very useful to a pack. Yes - maybe, when dealing with conflicts between individual members, in order to keep the pack together. But in regards of other packs? There was little place for compromise - you stood your ground and fought, or you gave up and fled. Depending on the situation. Ragnar's ideas here pretty much reflected Pump's own.

On the other hand she preferred not to be pushed in to making a decision, which was the case with him. Pump could keep him at bay for now, but she had her reasons to believe that Ragnar wouldn't stop at beta position. How long would it take for him to go and challenge her to become an alpha? She turned her head to look at Gavriil once again and felt that she would rather prefer him to be the co-leader. He could speak out his mind and yet didn't put her under any pressure.

"He has been a king before," she said, "and I have my reasons to believe that he will try for this position here too."

Gavriil didn't know much of Ragnar's past, it came as a bit of a surprise when the female mentioned he had been a king before. In all honesty it would make sense if the make was once leader that he still strived to be an alpha. Gavriil knew Ragnar, he would do anything to get what he wants. "Where I was born it was treason to upsurp the throne. As long as I'm around he won't claim alphaship. At most he will be beta, that is if you allow it." Gavriil spoke honestly.

The young male would much rather everyone get along peacefully, but Pump was the rightful leader. He would do everything in his power to keep her in the position she had currently.

Up until now Pump had tried to avoid a situation that would make her dependant of other people, her packmates included. Over the two months she had been a leader here, she had learned to become more social and trust others on a certain level, but she didn't rely on them. The streak of indepence in her was still very strong in her. Gavriil's words, however, consoled her. This had been a thing she had needed to hear and feel - that she was not alone anymore. That someone cared and that someone would stand by her side not only, because he or she had said they would, because they wanted to.

"I will keep that in mind," she said and offered the gentle giant a grateful look. She didn't think that Ragnar was above treason - he was good at getting what he wanted and beware, if the thing he desired was in your possesion. "I never really asked - but do tell about your former home, Gavriil," she changed the subject.

Gavriil felt like he belonged in the Ridge. The teddy bear sensed he mattered in his new pack. Speaking of the past wasn’t something that was challenging for the male, it was more…well, daunting. He almost wished he could forget everything but his parents and their ideals. ”I grew up in a pack of nearly 25 wolves. The alpha pair was intelligent and made a name for themselves with their fighting skills. They made it mandatory that all pups were trained at 9 months old, wither they had an aptitude for fighting or knowledge. Being a rather large wolf I was trained for fighting. I trained ruthlessly along with my pack mates but I never accepted their bloodlust. Mainly because my parents didn’t allow that.”

Gavriil paused from his long speech to think about his parents, mainly his mother. She was kind, something that Gavriil strived to be. ”But yea, they were strong and unwavering I was not so I left.” The cinnamon wolf finished his response justly. ”How about your pack before this one?” The male inquired with a friendly tone.

Pump felt quite smug now for her decision back then to accept Gavriil in the pack. At that time they had been in need of tough and strong wolves and his size and healthy look had been one of the top criteria of, why he had been let in in the first place. Then of course came the rest points in the long list of things she had told him back there and then. Now it turned out that he not only had "scary looks" about himself, but valuable skills too. A warrior in disguise.

"There have been a few," during her years of wandering as a lone wolf she had been a part of a group of wolves occasionally, but never for a very long time. "My birthpack, however, was a tight-knit group of tough, strong and selfish individuals, who put survival as their common goal. The cruel mother nature was our best teacher and molded us in people we were and still are. When you have gone through the worst moments of your life, you start to view the world differently."

Gavriil hadn't expirenced much heartache, or struggles for that matter in his lifetime. Sure the training he went through was difficult physically, and mentally preparing yourself each day for it was complicated. At the end of the day they all had enough to eat, his den was warm, and his parents loved him. Until he was alone for a few months he hadn't felt what it was like to be hungry. Gavriil was a pack wolf, he wasnt meant to be on his own, that much was obvious.

Gavriil regarded Pump as a great leader, and a friend. When he first joined he wasn't sure about his alpha but now after seeing her in action she proved to be a just leader. "You have done great things with his pack Pump. I am proud to be your subordinate and your friend." Gavriil mentioned with a friendly voice. He wondered how she would take him calling her a friend.

A month or two ago Pump would have frowned at the fact of being somebody's friend, but now she accepted this. The people here were different from Bilberry clan - they had different backgrounds, yet they had this "sense of friendship and family" in common. If every single one of them were so good and welcoming to Pump, it was hard to resist or turn your back on them. Therefore step by step she had grown to care for them too. After all - being a friend wasn't such a bad thing.

"No one can be great on it's own," she replied. Pump alone wasn't a great leader - it was the people she was responsible for that made her that way. Then she raised to her feet and stretched. "I will be going - must give Ragnar some rest from warden duties," she said and climbed down from the rock. "Can't let him better me," Pump added with a grin. "You can come with me, if you want."

ooc: my last post here - thank you for the wonderful thread and I will look forward to having another one with Gavriil, once I deal with all of my school stuff.

The cinnamon wolf smirked. He enjoyed how his leader could be in one moment the most professional wolf in the ridge, then go into a playful competitive mode. The teddy bear nodded his head and proceeded to jump off the rock following his leader deeper into their territory.