Porcupine Ridge Kids with Guns

Born and raised in these mountains, Airi's pawpads were used to the hard, jutting rocks that surrounded their valley. While she did enjoy the Vale's Eden-like qualities, she was often led to the slopes that framed their vision, scouting for danger. It would be easy for a rival pack or raiding band to pour into the Vale from one of the shallower slopes, or through one of the mountain paths. Tucked away in the dips and shallow hills of the Vale, they were exposed, ripe for the pickings.

It made her wonder: did anyone think of this? Or was she the only one to consider such a thing? Airi furrowed her brow, sniffing the stones of Porcupine Ridge, smelling nothing of the Brat Pack. It seemed that she was, she thought with both pride and annoyance filling her chest. Perhaps she could mention this to Rannoch, if he hadn't thought of it already.

you looked lonely c: @Airi

Looking for a place to call his own, a land in which he could call home, the ridge seemed promising. The treacherous landscape could turn away most for a pack to take it for their own. Water was a plenty for one, food was just plentiful - the landscape itself could prove useful if an ambushed was to be perfected on the uneven ground. A broken leg or even a sprain could prove deadly in a hunt.

Slithering his way through the ridges, his pace slow, calculated and meticulous. His footing was sure and steady, muscles easily carrying through the terrain with ease; his tail swaying just enough to keep his balance steady despite the precarious perches he chose as his footing. Ebony nails clicking against the rough rock beneath his callused toes.

A scent was what he was following, that of a pack wolf, a female at that who was wandering these unclaimed lands. A while back he had changed his course just enough to follow hers, and soon enough, her sight is what he caught. There was no reason for his following, other than curiosity, a desire to see where this would go. Prey is more abundant down by the water's edge. The baritones tunes of his vocals boomed in the silence, announcing his presence to the pack wolf. She was sniffing at the ground, to what he could only assume was she was searching for prey - as a loner, food was always on the mind for a man like himself.

why not ;)

@Imaran can join if he wishes whenever! Or assume that they meet up later <3

When they finally saw the mountains in the distance, Zane's excitement began to build, and he found himself wishing for more and more speed to see this place he'd heard so much about.  The sunspire.  Was their uncle still there?

He'd parted from Imaran briefly, planning to catch up with one or the other once the place got closer; large game seemed scarce, and the smaller stuff was easier to catch with the stealth of a single hunter.  He'd already bagged himself a bird and dispatched it, and now was simply wandering, staring at the mountains around with some measure of awe.

His mother had taught him to look with wonder on a good many things, and while he had too much of his father in him to have her endless optimism, he'd learned a lot from her.  So when his distracted travel took him by a couple of strangers, instead of passing in silence, he greeted them cheerfully.  Mom had always said it was better to have friends than strangers.  "Hey!  Do you know if there's a pack in these mountains?"

Airi had lived as a loner for far too long. Even in the safety of the Vale, she was wary. Her ears pricked at the baritone tones of the male, her eyes turning towards him. His stature frightened her — never had she beheld a wolf as large as he. She was startled by him. Her eyes widened for a moment, but she forced herself into some semblance of calm. I'm not hunting, She eventually said, hoping that the quiver in her voice was hidden. You're close to my pack's lands, She snarled, her tail rising behind her.

The second voice aided to the fire that had slowly grown in confidence from inside her. Yes, there is, and you two are both very close to it, She entoned, her words sharp. Her gaze moved to the other now, to aid in her brashness. If you wish to talk, do so outside this valley,

Close does not make it yours. The woman's challenge was met immediately. Hackles rose as a snarl tore through his face, flesh rippling to expose the thick yellowish fangs. While her tail rose, his remained defensively low to protect from behind. From his throat a growl resonated deeply. If she wanted to defend unmarked lands, then he would gladly defend himself.

A new body came into the mix. A young average looking male who seemed oblivious to the tension as he strolled in. Instead of welcoming the boy, Vengeance simply positioned himself to keep both the female and the young male in his sights. These lands aren't claimed and your demands hold no ground. If there was one thing that annoyed him the most - it was pack wolves who overly defended borders by mock-claiming lands they could not uphold boundaries for.

Woah, ok.  If he didn't note the tension immediately, he definitely got the message now.  Well shit. Wasn't like he meant any harm here.

So he decided to keep one ignoring.  Keeping his expression in a careless sort of smile best he could, he trained a second question on the girl who had answered the first.  Maybe he could diffuse this a bit.

"Great! If you are from around here - have you heard of the Sunspire and any wolves living there?"  Couldn't hurt to ask, right?

Her tail remained raised. She forced herself to do so, a slight quiver in her tail as she focused on the brown male, rather than the gray and brown wolf. The dark, large man was a threat, not to the pack — for who cared for those wretches? No. He was a threat to her and her safety now, because she had made a stupid mistake in declaring her allegiance to a pack. I know, She eventually responded, not at either of them but at her pack, this brat pack of unexperienced children who had not yet set their own borders. Glad to see someone who realizes such a fact. The others down there haven't even marked the borders and yet they expect to call themselves a pack. I can't mark a whole valley by myself.

She glared at the other, nicer boy, and was immediately disinterested in him. The Sunspire pack? She began, sounding quite earnest at first, but quickly turning cold. They've been dead and gone for years now, long before I was born. No one lives on that spire anymore,

The female continued with her display of authority over the two in her presence, a rumble rolled free from raised lips while salivation dripped from exposed fangs in a warning to her continued display of challenging. Fur along his back continued to bristle along the man's back while he approached with a demanding step. Ignoring the woman's rant about the pack she may or may not hail from, he was focused on the balls she was trying to show. I can see you quivering. Finally ruby eyes narrowed onto the female, focusing himself on her despite the third party that had come.

As they spoke, he carefully logged away the name of the pack that had come and gone - despite it being of little importance, it could come in handy in due time. For the time being, he had grown tired of this woman's antics and chose to take action. Muscles quickly pushed him forward into her direction, maw ajar while aiming to grab onto any flesh he could get ahold of, all the while he kept his ears agaisnt his skull for protection and tail low but lashing to keep his balance and footing, while protecting his sensitive bits back there. 

Oh.  That took the wind out of his sails a bit; the way his parents spoke, he definitely hadn't been expecting that.

"Oh, I..." but that was as far as he got before the growing tension between the other two got seemingly too much for the big (and admittedly terrifying) male sprang at her.  

For a second, Zane froze.  Then hotheaded annoyance surged forth as he realized they had been having a conversation and this guy was rude af.  What the hell was his problem?

He had little desire to see this woman who had so obligingly (if bluntly) answered his question, so he sprang at Vengeance's side in response, an attempt to perhaps knock him off balance with a heavy hit from his lanky shoulder.

Hey @Zane. @Vengeance went inactive, so for now we can imply that he ran off after being attacked by two wolves. It's probably not in character, but we got to move this along.

Airi, while frightened of the dark male, did not expect an attack. In her mind, it was frankly unprovoked. But she had no time to delegate. The male lunged towards her, grasping firmly on her muzzle, and she foolishly pulled back to free herself. She was flung with him when Zane pummeled the beast, crashing on the rocks before his jaws let go. Her mind swam, stars and lightning flickering in the half darkness shrouding her eyes, dizzy from the tumble. As her senses came back to her, she felt the stinging pain on her side from the fall, and the bleeding wound from her muzzle, deep gouges where Vengeance's teeth had been, poured blood into her maw.

His hit was not only a success, but it seemed to make the other male rethink his options.  Either that or something else pressing came up.  In any event, he was off, and Zane watched him go with (surprised) satisfaction.

He watched for a minute before remembering that he wasn't alone.  "You alright?" He asked, looking down, unaware that his surprise attack had backfired a bit on her.