Patrolling was as easy and as natural as breathing to the silver Frostfur, having patrolled with Hugin and Isi often back in Venia Dei. For a second there was a slight hesitance in his steps, a beat skipped as his eyes closed as he tried to understand why that memory brought with it a stab of pain in his chest. His gait was regained quickly enough, eye-lids opening to allow his eyes of liquid gold to take in the landscape of the forest Muninn now called home that spread before him, imperial and magnificent. Deep inhale was taken, as snow crunched beneath his large, heavy footfalls, drinking in the scents - already becoming familiar to him - around. The snow that covered the earth in it’s blanket of stark chill was crisp and clean, masking the piney scent of the bracken and earth that was packed and frozen beneath the white that covered it, the warm aromas of the trees that towered like nature’s skyscrapers around him, breaking towards the Heavens, reaching for what they could never touch. More potent than that was the scent of Neverwinter - the strongest scent of theirs belonging to their Alpha Female, Chakra. There was a swell of pride within Muninn’s own chest as his leg lifted to add his scent to their borders, letting all who dared approach to know that these lands were well guarded. Calling himself a member of Neverwinter Forest was something that Muninn did take in a moderate amount of pride. He had not been born there, was not grandfathered in as he had been in Venia Dei. He held no relations to Chakra - or any other of the Neverwinter wolves (as far as Muninn was currently aware, at any rate). He had made his case to Neverwinter’s equally as imperial Alpha Female and she had chosen to take a chance on him and accept him into her ranks. He had no outside help - it had been all on him. Muninn was not easily a nervous creature - having adopted a rather fearless personality balanced fairly (and luckily perhaps) by logic inherited by his grandfather, Aether. Moderate fearlessness could be courageous but there was a point as to where it became absolutely reckless and unhealthy. Muninn aspired to never become recklessly ignorant - to never let it get to such a horrendous point.
Surprise shot through Muninn like a lighting bolt - quick and precise - giving the Frostfur pause when a ‘whuff’ was given to him in a soft greeting. He slowed to a stop, curiosity rushing to follow in surprise’s wake. He wasn’t sure why exactly he did not expect to find another along the borders - patrolling was something that every wolf should do (in his general, personal opinion) simply that is took him by surprise nevertheless. Quick glance was given over Muninn’s shoulder, to allow his golden gaze to touch upon which ever pack mate had greeted him. Realizing that he was in Chakra’s presence for the second time since his joining, Muninn quickly turned so he was facing her, and lowered his body into the proper submissive pose, murmuring Ma'am, In a return greeting, keeping his eyes low. Boldly he had dared to look upon Isi and Phoebe with a directness but the situations were entirely different. Isi and Phoebe had been his parents and they had understood that he had not been insinuating a challenge. As Muninn had been when he had first met her, he was struck by her beauty, a beauty that went beyond just her physical features. He could sense that she was a powerful creature personality wise, without knowing much about her.
Muninn rose, though he kept his body submissive in stance, letting his tail give a wag, brushing against his haunches as he felt even more respect for her to find that she too was patrolling the borders with a vigilance. That was a good leadership quality - for what use did a pack have for a leader that couldn’t even be bothered to guard their own borders? Isi had spent much of his time at the borders, while Phoebe handled most of the diplomatic, inside workings. They had worked as a well-oiled, efficient team and appeared as one leader, as opposed to two. Muninn offered Chakra a partially teasing, and part genuinely demure smile that tugged at the edges of his lips at her compliment; at least that was how the Frostfur chose to take her words as. Where I was born you had to work to keep your place in the pack. You can‘t take and not give back - it has to be an equal balance, Muninn replied sincerely. That rule remained true even for the DiSarinno-Frostfur children - just because they were children of the Alpha pair did not mean that once they had reached a capable age they did not have to contribute. If they did not deliver they had been told to part ways by Isi (who was admittedly better at kicking his lazy children out with indifference than Phoebe had been). As I admire that quality in my leaders. Muninn replied with a compliment of his own, unabashed to show that he admired her own dedication to her pack. Leadership was not something one took for granted - though he had heard of many that had abused it and had allowed themselves to be conquered at the price of their own greed. Thank you, though. Muninn replied with a bow of his head, for he did not want her to think of him as ungrateful that she was basically pointing out that she recognized that he was already - despite his shiny newness - getting to work.
How do you fare this fine morning? Muninn inquired with soft curiosity, before he fell silent, waiting for her reply. |