Sunbeam Lair Like a wolf, like a predator

Rock fled from under the creamed femme's paws. They pad silently along the rocky, and she would have gone unnoticed had the falling rocks not caused such a noise. They skipped along the rock below, producing a dull clunking that rang out in the stillness of the morning. The world, it seemed, had not yet woken completely, and Fluer had the lock to stumble across a small, furred thing that looked as if it had just woken from it's den. She had been quick to cut it off and make the kill, though small it was precious energy as she journeyed through this land of mountain peaks. 

Ah, this famine. Like a leach, it drained her energy, her weight, her stamina, speed, reflex. She remained sharp only through hunting and luck, and frequent rests in her journey. This was not the time to rush headlong into a potentially dangerous situation or travel with haste, this was a time to travel slowly and carefully, to conserve ones energy. The femme had taken to travelling in the mornings and evenings, for the cool air did not have her expending as much energy as the hot summer's noon did. 

But pack scent reached her now, yet, irritatingly, she could not find it. It wavered, the scent, and it was only some time after herpaws hit earth and she rounded a crest of trees that the scent hit her. Her wounderous eyes found the cavern, in all it's glory, yet the border kept her from investigating. It was distant, and she could not simply slip in for a moment to investigate. No, a quick tresspass was out of the question. And so the cream femme contented herself to simply gaze at the cavern and surrounding territories in wonder. How had such a thing come to exist? Deep curiousity moved her muzzle as she howls, and eerie, hainting cry that filled the air until it thrummed. 

She had not meant to stumble upon a pack, nor had she any interest in staying near one. Had the cavern and the beauty of these lands not caught her attention, she may just as well have turned tail and went in the opposite direction, But wonder and curiousity held her here, as she waited for the denziens of the cavern to arrive.

Jolon was a true guardian when it came to his home, especially now with Ezimette being gone. He needed something, or someone, to keep him from going totally insane from worry. This morning was the same as any other. No Ezimette by his side, the only real friends being Asterr and Noctura. He would never leave their side, but what if they left him? What would become of him alone, no one to guide him, no one to guide? He couldn't live without his home anymore, and it almost felt like it couldn't survive without him also. Ryujin, his home, his only sanctuary forever. 

Living on the mountains for so long had made his body more capable of walking on the uneven terrain, especially with his frequent trips to the roof and his daily borderwork. He may have been born on a flat terrain, but there was no denying that he was not a mountain wolf now. Even with the famine having clearly touched his muscled build, he still kept his towering height. 

His silence and unending thought were interrupted by a female howl, and his ears perked up. It was close, maybe too close. He almost sprinted to the side of the border where she stood; a female that almost looked identical to Ezimette...

His face went from shocked to disbelief and anger. His dull gray eyes became almost flaming. But then he calmed down, realizing that this was not Ezimette. What do you seek so close to my home? He rumbled.

Her call did not go unanswered, and a male the colour of obsidian sprinted toward her. What did concern her, however, was the shock, the disbelief, the anger on his face as he halted not to far from her. He was rather handsome, she admitted, though quite large, and would probably tear out her throat should she give him the chance. She knew personally how aggressive wolves guarding their territory could be, and she did not wish to push this male. 

Though she did wonder at the odd expressions on his face. Was it not often this pack got visitors? Seemed plausible, as it was rather hidden away. Or did he think she was someone else, or was something wrong about her? She wondered for a second if something was on her face, then turned her full attention back onto the wolf. He spoke, a deep rumble, and the cream femme twitched her ears to show him that she was listening. 

"I stumbled upon your borders while travelling north." That was true, at least. She had been heading northward again, travelling southward on a hunch that her sister would be here. After a couple weeks of searching in this dead land, her efforts had proved fruitless, and so she was heading north again. Her sister wouldn't settle that far south, would she? No, of course not. She had kept going with the though that over the next hill, the next plain, she might find the girl, but had given up after the 37th hill. 

She ought to join a pack, she had reasoned. Loners don't tend to last long, especially during a famine. Loners, it seemed, tended to become eaten. She had stumbled, twice, upon the pick-clean body of a canine, coyote or wolf she did not know, and had to wish to know. Unless she wanted to become that unidentifiable carcass eaten by desperate wolves, a pack might be in her best interests. "Do you have room in your pack for perhaps one more? I can prove my worth" She had judged, by this wolf's words, that he occupied some high ranking position. His home? Must be an alpha, perhaps, or a beta. Though she was unsure, as they normally walked with a dominant, confident air, and did not let emotions flit across their face like butterflies.

There was nothing on her face, nor was there something wrong with her. It was just her resemblance to his former lover that pissed him off quite a bit. He didn't know what his emotions wanted anymore. He didn't know whether he'd even have a girlfriend again after Ezimette. He barely knew that he was indeed quite handsome, the humble beast he was. 

He listened calmly, face finally back to it's emotionless state. He kept his tail high and his eyes straight on her. She did not submit the slightest, he noticed, but he wasn't the alpha. He still was high in the hierarchy though, and for that he took notes.

Perhaps we do, perhaps we don't. He stretched his neck. You'll have to wait for the dragoness to judge. He replied vaguely, eyes darting around. Surely @Asterr would've heard the new face.

The dragoness? That sounded slighty...concerning. The title, for a moment, made the cream girl think of the giant flying lizards she had heard of as a pup. They were said to be fierce, though Fluer had not gotten that from the lizard she had hunted as a youngling. They almost always just died. What kind of wolf did one have to be to earn the title of dragoness? Was it perhaps, an attribute of the woman's appearence, or did she simply have the personality of a dragon? The femme hoped it was not the later, as two pack wolves against one loner were always poor odds, and Fluer did not want to face them.

His vague response indicated that he was not a high ranking packmate, or at least not a beta or alpha. He stretched out his neck, and his eyes seemed to dart around the clearing. For a moment, Fluer likened him to an odd bird she had seen by a river once. But his dark fur and handsome face proved that he was very much wolf. She knew better then to strike up a casual conversation, this wolf seemed unlike the one who appriciated such things. So the remained silent, waiting for this dragoness to arrive, and her eyes wandering one or twice to the huge cavern in the distance.

The wistful song had not gone unheard, for attentive was she always towards the summonings that arose from her borders. Yet, her presence was not pulled immediately to the voice's owner, for something else had acquired her focus, and she was not keen to abandon it. Already had she started examining the soils and budding flora, and so to leave behind her current task at hand would be most unwise. Without the plant life, they would exist for hardly any longer, and so she'd decided that ensuring the growing life was coming in healthy took priority over their visitor. Thus, it was not until after she'd wrapped up her activity and topped off her mental notes that she'd actually started in the direction from which the cry had come, her pace relatively brisk to make up for her time spent elsewhere.

The sight she'd been made to behold had, of course, pleased her greatly as she'd arrived. There, at the borders, stood Jolon; the man she expected to find patrolling more often than resting at the heart of the cavern. He was a true worker bee, which was something she'd realized long ago, and her appreciation of his efforts was displayed with a gentle touch to his shoulder as she'd come up along his side. Yet, she did not utter a single word towards him, allowing for her silvery gaze to settle almost instantly upon the foreign face. Her own posture was lax, lacking in the usual stiffness of a leader, but held high and presentable enough to convey her place within the tribe. Often did she lack dominance, but she had since learned that presenting herself in such a manner was necessary when managing potential recruits, lest she'd wished for them to walk over her as if she were nothing.

For a moment, she'd kept silent, examining the physique of the female and her apparent condition, ensuring she was fit enough to be of use to them before even considering speaking to her. Finally, though, her eyes had drifted back up to meet the unknown gaze, an expression of pure neutrality scrawled all throughout her features. "State your business here, as well as you name, and then we shall continue from there," the girl voiced, her tone being softer than a bird's feather, as per usual. To be harsh simply wasn't her, and the stranger had done nothing to ignite the fury of the dragon within, so it was only with her usual voice that she would speak.

Avannon had sat by the pool of water long enough, without any luck of catching fish. It would seem that the silvery creatures knew when her patience was tiring and when she would lose it. With a huff of resentment she vowed to return. She decided to scope out the territory her stomach grumbling and her ers flat. It was a few minutes into the walk when she noticed two scents-Asterr and Jolon's- and an entirely new scent. it would seem that we are gaining members quickly....she noted in her head, but then  realized that this might not be a wolf wanting admission into their tribe. It was then she stalked closer to the scent entering the scent with her head low to the ground. Her eyes lingered on Jolon, and she blinked as he seemed off. She had been wanting to speak to him, maybe gain some insight into the solitary brute, but had not gotten around to it quite yet. Blue eyes turned then  to her leader, the one who allowed her to call this place home and she was filled with peace, and once again awe. She shook her head and sat down, not wanting to interupt.

Fluer had no idea how the wisp in front of had gone about earning the title of dragoness.
When she spoke, her voice was feather soft, and there was no denying that the lithe woman in front of her was beautiful. There was obviously nothing dragonlike about her, at least at first glance, and this made the creamed femme wonder if she perhaps had hidden depths. Perhaps she was a dragon once roused into rage? Still, the title was beautful, and though it did not seem apperant immidietly Fluer was sure the title fit the woman somehow. 

She walked with the air and the confidence of an alpha, and instinct dictated that Fluer submit. So she did, tail and ears lowered and stance low. Her chocolate eyes did not meet the gaze of the dragoness head on, for that would be taken as a challenge. She noted the way the alpha's eyes romed over her breathlt, perhaps to make sure that she was not an scrawny mess like most lone wolves. She spoke, evenly and confidently, though lacking the soft voice the femme had. "I was travelling northward when I came across your pack's borders. The beauty of this place stuck out to me, and I am tired of wandering. Perhaps you have room in you ranks? I can prove myself, offer whatever I can to this pack." she paused a moment, then adding quickly, "Oh- my name is Fluer. Fluer Ciel."

The femme waited patiently, noting with a silent glance the arrival of another, pale woman. Her gaze travelled to each of the assembled in turn before she sat, silent. Obviously not high0ranking enough to voice her thoughts, pondered Fluer. She realized that she too, would no longer hold a place of honour in this pack were she to join. She had given that up when she had left the north all those months ago, for adventure, and on the off chance she might find her sister. However, these lands were vast, and there was little chance of that now. If she were to join this pack, she would have to start at the bottom, and climb the ladder of the ranks until she reached a position she felt comfortable in. But she would do it, no matter how long it took her. 

I have permission from Marie to skip Jolon.

The newest arrival had not gone unnoticed, but the chieftess had not greeted her. Her attention was needed elsewhere, after all, and so her gaze had not strayed for even the slightest of moments. No, she would not come off as rude or disinterested, for any sort of negative first impressions were not something to strive for. It was something to be avoided, really, as someone's first thought of you often revealed how well any sort of bond between a pair might fare. So far, though, Asterr's own impression seemed decent enough, especially so after the stranger had submitted. Rarely did she ever ask for such behavior to be displayed in her presence, but despite that, she couldn't deny that it made her feel good whenever someone did so without a request having needed to be made. It most definitely pleased Draco, allowing for his slumber in the recesses of her mind to carry on, undisturbed completely for his vessel's authority had not been challenged.

Words were spoken, then, her earlier requests having been answered rather promptly. She'd rolled over everything that had been said within her mind, but never did her expression alter. The girl was relaxed, her features soft but bold, lacking any indications of what was whirling around within her mind. "I find meeting you to be a pleasure thus far, Fluer," the girl voiced, the corners of her lips twitching as a smile—briefly—appeared across her maw. "My name is Asterr Draconid." She bothered not with introducing the other two, assuming that they might do so either there or later on, assuming the outsider was to be accepted. "We do have room, but understand that I cannot allow those unwilling to assist in the bettering of the tribe to walk this land." It was simple, really: those that did not or could not pull their own weight were to be evicted immediately, or never granted access in the first place if their lack of abilities was to be shown early on. Slackers could not contribute to their growth or health, and so they'd be useless; just more mouths to feed.

"Please, share with me your skills, as well as any interests that you may have," said the dragoness, wondering what could come of Fluer being accepted. Asterr was, thankfully, in a relatively good mood. While that increased her chances of being accepted, the dance that every recruit was made to go through was still necessary. Questions would be asked, and she expected answers to follow.

Edit: So sorry I skipped you Avannon! I didn't mean to mess with the posting order...if you are not okay with my post here, please PM me and I will remove it!

At the small smile that flitted across the dragoness's muzzle like a finch, Fluer felt slightly at ease. Her words were not ill recieved, it seemed, and her stance almost sagged in relief. Almost. The black wisp had a name, it seemed- Draconid. Perhaps that was why the wolves of her pack called her such a title? Or perhaps the cavern had a legend envelpoing it, and the femme had taken the name after discovering this place. Halft a dozen other explainations for why this woman held the title lofted through her mind, but she ignored all of them for now. Perhaps, one day she should find out, but it would be rude to ask right now...would it? 

Asterr asked Fluer to share her skills, her interests. For a brief moment, Fluer's mind blanked. Skills...she had skills, right? She wasn't the best hunter, best warrior, but she had a sharp mind. And knowledge, much knowledge of the world around her. But would that be enough? Didn't those in a pack value strength, hunting skills above all else. Perhaps she should lie. She could say she was a great hunter, a great fighter, and gain admitance into the pack. But how long would she last, should they find out she had lied? No, it was better to simply tell the truth, straightforward and blunt. Beside, she felt the kind femme deserved it, whether she should turn her away or not. So, hesitantly, Fluer begun.

"I can hunt, and fight, like wolves should. But...my true skills lay in thinking. I know much about the world; botany, weather, and the stars at night. I can tell you when it will storm, what plants are which, and I can navigate using only the stars. I am not the most graceful hunter, not the strongest warrior." The cream girl glanced at the woman, voice downcast. "I understand if these are not the skills you look for in a packmate, but it is true. I can offer my knowledge, my loyalty, and whatever I can"

Fluer lapsed into silence, waiting for this womans verdict. She did hope she would not have to continue travelling, these lands were beautiful and she would be quite happy to settle here. But if the woman would not have her, Fluer could not stay, and she would have to wander these lands just a little longer. 

Chey and Marie had both informed me that they are okay with being skipped in order to move this thread along, so you should be all good, Thalia!
Also, last post from me. Welcome~! ^^

The truth, no matter how brutal or lackluster it may be, was always the preferred approach. Especially so was the case whenever Asterr was involved, as she'd been raised with an honest culture. To speak in lies was to show disrespect, both towards the partner in conversation and the liar themselves. When there came a moment in which it was made clear that the truth was being revealed to her, she felt relief, for it made the atmosphere feel far lighter than ever before; the feeling was one that she'd gotten after the lone being had spoken, earning the yearling's trust for the time being. Yet, so swiftly could that be taken away if ever were she to be betrayed, but such was a possibility that she did not allow for herself to consider. No, she could not turn someone into a villain, especially since they'd only just met several moments prior.

"I appreciate your honesty," she'd settled for saying, her own words being just as genuine. "We are not a tribe that relies solely on the physical strength that a being may possess, as peace is what we seek. A mind is far more powerful than a body may ever be, and it is because of that, that they are so greatly valued." The workings of her current home had been carried over with her from her previous, the teachings of her family never not present within her mind. A body, though capable of physical strength, was not as sought after as a wondrous mind might be. Where a body could fail, a brain might thrive, and thus was the reasoning behind her attraction to it. So, even though the outsider had noted her lesser hunting skills, the dragoness believed that everything was then evened out by the knowledge that she'd claimed to have. If all that she had said was truly possible for her to do, then Fluer would be chosen over a wall of muscles any day.

Towards the female, a single step had been taken, followed by several more until only a minimal amount of space remained between them. "Already you have offered your loyalty, and before I had been given the opportunity to request it, no less," she began. "That, along with the strength of your mind, has persuaded me to offer you a chance at living here within our home." From there, she'd taken several more steps, turning so that she had been able to near her acquaintance's shoulder. Thereafter, her neck was extended, muzzle brushing up lightly against her shoulder to make her acceptance official. "I do hope that you will be able to make yourself right at home here with us." With that, she'd stepped back, motioning for all those that had gathered there to follow her. It was into the lair that she would lead the small group, a soft smile never far from her lips.