Shadewood All I need is one

@Cry

The girl happened across a forest, a new forest with new hope. Everything was so new to the naive girl and she fed off the joy exploration gave her. She wandered through the beauty of the place in complete awe without fear, not yet, as she'd never seen a place quite like this. She just had to stop at every flower to inhale the scent that aided to the stunning appearance that the trees held. How no pack made a claim here yet was beyond the girl, but she was glad that she could freely walk through alone and drink in the beauty like nectar. 

Phex heard the area before she saw it, the crashing of water was undeniable and the sun was just perfectly positioned. A beam of colour was thrown from the waterfall's pool and behind lurked an enchanting darkness. The girl took one look at the pool, slightly off from where the stream above plunged below and immediately bounded to dive in with a joyous shriek. This water was so fresh, nothing like the salty, heavy, churning coast she hailed from. Her head surfaced, sneezed, and swam out deeper into the pool, wondering if she could indeed reach the behind of the waterfall.

feel free to skip her, this will be a cameo unless she's noticed :)

kai was still injured, limiting her mobility around the vast swath of heath. she remained in the heart of the territory, unable to explore the wonders found within the edges of the dark male's claim. tula had resolved to be her eyes in this period, taking to wing to see what this new home had to offer. 

it felt odd to be without her witch, fluttering through the canopy rather than perched upon kai's speckled back, it felt incomplete. yet, her flinty wings continued on, carrying her to a private lagoon.

an unfamiliar lingered here, drawing the fisher's attention. tula flitted to a nearby tree, perching on a low branch as she watched the patchy female plunge into the water. she trilled softly as the lupine was submerged, head cocking slightly in curiosity. 

she didn't seem dangerous, yet, should tula's opinion shift, she wouldn't hesitate to release a sharp call that would bring forth the dark male.

The girl's ears swivelled, catching the last of a birds call. She'd have to learn the name of the creature it hailed from because everything here was just so beautiful and exciting. She kept swimming with ease and skirted about the downfall of water, it sounded like it'd hurt to be hit by its thrumming power, and was hailed by the shadowed cave it hid behind. Soft, green plants bloomed autumn flowers and dark green ones offered large leaves that provided small shaded in the gloom. Phex stopped for a moment to take in the beauty before turning and swimming back to where she threw herself in; her eyes searched for the bird that trilled and prayed she'd not scared it away.

The girl pulled herself from the water and shook water that logged in her soft fur; albeit it wasn't as plush as most wolves. She grinned as she spied the kingfisher on a branch and waved her white-tipped banner. She knew it was just a bird, but it was nice to see that this land had life.

Though it be impossible, Cry tried to keep up with every member he held under his eye. While Kai tended to the unnamed female they had found at their borders, the birdfriend of the fae took to flittering off, and not too far behind it was Cry. Try as he might, he kept himself around the vicinity to ensure no vile creature harmed the bird that was so precious to his Kai. They had already had an encounter with a Raven; they didn’t need something like that repeated.

On his trek through the lush hidden paradise, the ebonian followed the bright blue Tula, enjoying the warm draft of air that blew through the trunks of the massive trees. Passing through both flowery meadows still holding onto the hope of their lavender and amethyst carpet, along with several paths of smaller steaks that were fed from the single river which flowed through the forest, Cry took the palace in with calm reserve.

It it was once he and Tula came to the unstoppable waterfall itself did his heart beat slightly faster. The verde and azure falls held every aspect of glory, crashing with liveliness into the pool of healing water below it, river thrusting fast and hard it’s weight below. Ripe for a dip, it invited Cry with the temptation of a wanting lover, roaring its delight in caressing him with those crystal waters. But promising the duet another day, he denied the falls and river his swim, choosing instead to walk the mossy line of rim around it. Dark pads eased over algae and grassy bank until something caught both he and Tula’s scrutinizing gaze. 

A red and white body, a stranger in the lands of Shadewood. Not fox, as it’s body was less than feline, but it held feminine curves and the pelt of a wolf enough as it was.

Wintry gems narrowed at the body who so easily came and did cake and did as they pleased in the woods, but he could not yet condemn this one; Shadewood hadn’t been claimed yet by him and his Empress. Yet regardless of such, he harbored injured souls here - should this stranger wish harm upon them, he would have to defend them.

”Hey” he called out, his voice carrying over the pools body. And he said nothing more, expecting this being to identify themself, atleast.  

The female turned her almost brown muzzle to the call of a stranger she'd not noticed before. She really was so very careless with her actions, causing embarrassment to take over and dip her head; but kept her sea-green eyes on the undeniably male shadow. She shook water from a hind leg before lowering her tail and letting the grin she gave the bird fall. "Hello." The girl uttered the words without unkindness but with caution. She couldn't trust everyone, but a few beats later her happiness took over again and her tail started to wave in greeting and she took a step towards the dark one. Her head canted, much like an inquisitive raven, and dragged up a smile accompanied by the words,  "Who are you?"

It seemed the woods had tricked him; as she dried off and neared, the gloss of water retreated, revealing this one to be brown, tan in some areas, those the majority seemed to still be waterlogged. Meeting her gaze, he watched the submission settle before a puppyish jubilance bled back into her. Nothing too energetic, but friendly, and unimposing. She seemed nice enough. Though with youth cane ignorance.

Glacials settled across the jewels of the fae before him, her own matching almost perfectly with the waters she had just unsheathed  herself from. 

Dulcet tones crisp rips with a yearlings pitch ran over his auds as he listened and mused over her inquiry. He didn’t have a soft spot anywhere in his heart besides the crevice he gave Gwen and Kai respite in. Even Tula had a ledge which to rest. But this child reminded him of innocence. A child who hadn’t had much wrong cross their path. However, it was too soon for the assassin to make such a judgement. 

Onyx lips responded, his tone calm and baritone reflecting his age in sharp contrast with hers. Despite the bass, his murmur was only loud enough for the girl before him.

”I’m Cry. I’m also the one who plans to take this forest as home.” He chose not to mention how many he had, let alone who they were, but had this child passed his investigation cleanly, she might be given an offer few lone wolves refused. It was clear this place was paradise - but was she going to be given solace in Shadewood? 

“Who are you. And where do you come from.”  It was emotionless, direct, and clearly he wasn’t planning to let her roam through the woods unannounced and unintroduced.

Her white ears were tilted towards him, her full attention upon the male. She noted how he wasn't just black, but had many shades, although muted and a bit lost. His eyes were a colossal point of interest to the yearling, she'd never seen eyes so bright, but that was probably because they stood out from his features. His tone was low and quiet, a dismal quality she didn't expect to find here. The girl imagined that all wolves who resided in this place were to be full of life and joy, who wouldn't be with such a territory?

She was thoughtful for a moment, a mature quality she valued of herself, before replying in a slightly chirpier tone than the one she'd started; deciding that she was to be safe here. "My name is Phex and I come from...uh," the girl turned three full circles before gesturing with a lift of her paw towards the south-west,  "A way that'a'ways." She grinned and her tail waved a gear faster, she'd successfully found the correct direction, for once. 

A brow raised as he watched her amp herself up even more, even in the face of a male who clearly wasn’t playing, nor in the mood for it. It had been a while since he had come across someone with such vivid joy, and that relaxed him considerably. A voice less laced with the stillness of winter crossed her yet again, his own flag beginning to sway modestly.

“Alright then, better question -  what are you doing here?”

Was she here to simply steal their provisions? Was she a spy? Or had she come seeking a home? Considering she had just washed all scent from herself in the rushing waters of the river, he couldn’t tell whether she was of pack or not. The dark guardian wanted to be on the safer side of things.

Her brows furrowed for a moment, thinking of a suitable answer to his question what are you doing here? She didn't know, truth be told, perhaps she wanted a family, or to develop her skills. Maybe it was to find new things in life. But instead of rushing out all the answers at once, the girl replied with  "To find my place and to spread the happiness I am blessed with." 

Her head canted the opposite way to before, scanning the flora behind the male before again finding his eyes and holding them. How daring of her, oh well, she'd learn what he thought of the challenge she unknowingly posed to him in her youthful ignorance.

Now has he been disrespected by her response, he would have had no problem culling the child and burying her underneath one of the gnarled roots within the Keep. However, he words paired with her stare sent a single message-  she told the truth.

Wolves who were shamed and untrusting did not peer into the eyes of another. This girl held him fast with her stare as his own picked apart every word and syllable to find some twitch that didn’t add up. But his resolve came when he figured the advantage of her purpose, had this been it. She was meant to bring gloom to this troubling and silent Eve. And he found no harm in smiling.
So he did.

”Then you are welcome into Shadewood if that is your calling.” 

And as he he stepped forward, towering over the short fae, he rubbed a dark cheek against her own, giving her the slightest of his scent.

”Welcome home.” He stepped back to watch her further. Inwardly, Cry hopes she truly would bring some kind of happiness betwixt the few he had saved; they had all gone through hard times and needed the refreshment. 

Her young delight melted her mind, despite her resolve. And she was offered a home...a home away from home, and she'd try to make it so. She returned the smile with a grin and the patchwork fae managed to hold her excitement until he stepped back before leaping into the air, not unlike a caracal.

She then dropped down after her outburst of energy and whimpered in joy before nuzzling the underside of the males chin in respect. She could follow him, and she trusted him. She composed herself after a moment and looked a bit sheepish as she'd, clearly, yet to grow out of her puppyish tendencies, "Thank you, you are very kind."

Just as he stepped back, he felt the air tense between them with electric fizz, and the assassin braved himself for some unseen danger the fae suddenly posed. However, the sand and wood hellion threw herself up into the air with a fantastic flip, landing herself back onto the ground with an unbelievable ease.

Blinking in dazed astonishment, Cry stuttered a bit before laughing. “Yea, you’re perfect.” The girl was quite the ball of lightning, and it seemed she was eager to please. He accepted her gratitude, standing still but loose as not to spook the zippy youth. 

“Believe it or not, I’m not one to fit the description of ‘Kind’. I’m trying to get a bit less... emotionless. It’ll take some time.” He admitted it, trying to reassure her meekness with revelation of his own fault. But was it a fault to be so aware? Serious? Relentless and remorseless? 

Turning to head further into the forest, he decided to introduce her to @Kai , who he knew needed more smiles than his overly protective self could offer her.

The patchwork giggled at herself, surprised at her own feat of power that she'd built in her frame. The listened pointedly to his self-assessment and her eyes shone with his want to better himself. She wanted to help him, she felt that desire to do so. An overwhelming thought crossed her mind that she just had to voice, "How many are there here?" Her curiosity shone through her personality all the time, as it did now, and she took pride in that; you don't get answers if you don't ask the question. Her eyes searched after the way his did and put a tentative paw forward.

Though it would be a bit too soon to say how many they had, as she had just been inducted, Cry decided against his skeptical judgement. Crisply he tallied off his meager but modest ‘pack’.  “There’s myself, a female who will rule with me who goes by Gwen, and Kai, along with another female she’s rescued.” He gave the wolfdog the credit, as the speckled fae was who saved the dark girl’s life, not him. The stocky girl would prove swift to be a potent healer, a nurse to those cane to Shadewood’s capable border. And eternally, he was grateful for the silent child.

”We are also on slight peaceful terms with a bear,” He casually mentioned, but specified a bit more with “well, not really terms, just more of ‘okay, you exist here, I’ll exist over here”.

A chuckle left him, but inside he cringed at having a bear be their ally; he was still traumatized by the terrible event in his youth where he was mauled by a bear. That cross board of scars across his shoulders and back didn’t fade and neither would his perceptions of ursine folk. “And now, there’s you,” he returned to the conversation with a bit of recognition to the jubilant soul beside him, a twinkle in his frosty eyes. “So that makes us what, five strong?” He didn’t count the bear. Though it would take time to accept terms with the bear, it would take even LONGER to consider it a packmate. 

She went through the numbers in her head and grinned at the prospect of this soon-to-be pack. It was much like her family she'd left behind, albeit in a much more beautiful territory and...bears. Her tail faltered in it's wagging at the mention of it. She'd never encountered a bear before but from the stories of those in her family that had encountered, and fought, the ursine; and came out more the worst for it. But still, she trusted the man and his assessment of whether it was safe to have to hang around or not. 

She considered the situation but supposed that not even a sleuth of bears could deter her from this forest she now had the chance to call home. But five, surely they'd need more members to hold a territory. She made a note to try and invite others here, if she could trust them that is. She wasn't about to lose a place like this to a wolf with a turbulent future; that would affect what she supposed she could now call her pack. "What do you look for in members?"

”Loyalty.” The word was so powerful enough as it was. It spoke to him in more ways than one, and it was what kept him bonded to Gwen. Such resolve could be enough to move mountains, should they need it. And they would, one day.  “And love.” They all needed it. Everyone was scarred and scared in their own way. There was no perfect life; Hell even Aerasha admitted she had some turmoil. And that said a lot.

”I personally look for those things first and foremost as they pave the way for unfaltering teamwork. Such a bond is unstoppable, Phex.” 

What did she expect from a Family? Wondering enough as it was, he chose to ask her. “What is it you look for in a Family, Phex?”

Loyalty and love were the two qualities that came easiest to her. They ran as passions in her blood and she lived to influence all with her internal joy, untouched by the harshness of reality in the world. She'd only experienced the bad through stories of the pack elders, never first hand; and hopefully never will. She nodded in agreement as she too believed that the elements that created teamwork and bonded packs were unbreakable, for she'd never seen it broken. The girl thought carefully about her answer for if she were to help expand this family, she'd have to stick to her cores and select those that could hold them qualities; her qualities. But also qualities that made packs more than that, that made them family.

"I look for undeniable love and trust. I look for hard work and openness with each other. Without that, there is mistrust and that leads to..." She sought for the words, "failure."  Her eyes tilted to the man's face, watching for his reaction. Phex was full of surprises today, naive yet wise; smart and careful in her thoughts but not her actions.

Now she may have been young, but behind that age lie a woman awaiting her roots to take hold. A smile graced his lips as the assassin noted her potential. "Then just be here for the Family, and every bit of that will come to play. That's the only way a family can function, anyways."  It was true, and there was no denying it.

Taking a turn down into the meadows path, they began to trek slowly through the carpet of flora that was mulched by prior season's fallen foliage. Apparently, the water and materials kept the flowers alive long enough to greet the pair of wolves, now. "I do truly hope this place is fitting for a pack; there's plenty here, food, places of rest, lack of extreme predators. There's not much that could drive us out," the guardian began. "I just hope it's enough."

"It will be enough, and we can make it work," Phex replied she knew this wolf needed the confidence about this as much as anyone else, she always put her all into everything and wasn't about to stop now. The girl tilted her ears and decided that this conversation was too somber for her liking, so she started to ask questions about the forest -- after all, she had to learn about her home -- "You saw that bird, on the branch, right? The one that called. What type is it?"  The yearling knew of the regular birds: ravens, hawks, owls and the birds of the sea. But not the water birds that dwelled inland. 

Her inquisitive gaze turned to the flowers around them as well, sniffing at them and sping on the few bugs that still used the plants as a refuge. Perhaps they'd be useful to her studies of the world and what lived in her home. Her mind started to wander, thinking of what else could be seen here; and what was outside of the territory.

Musing generally over the never-thought-of question, the assassin chuckled after not knowing the answer to something, for once. “In all honesty, I have no clue. I’ve seen it hunting fish with ease, but not too fond of many nuts or berries. Maybe a few bugs? But I’ve know clue. It’s crest is a bit regal though, the crown it wears. Pretty and blue, so I’ve just assumed it was a royal little fisher bird. Something along those lines.”

Turning to scan her face, he couldn’t decipher anything along her that would point that she was disbelieving in her own words; she meant what she said, believed it with seemingly every ounce of herself. And that made a stronger resolve in himself. He gave an appreciative nod, continuing in their journey through the fantastic home. “I believe you,” he said, no malice in his voice at the seemingly disbelieving response.

Phex nodded slowly, and supposed the male didn't have quite the same interests as her. "When I find out, I'll tell you," she grinned, giving him a sidelong look, "I'm sure I'll find someone who will know." The girl continued at his side to wherever their destination would be, her thoughts filled with the possibilities she now had at her disposal and how well she could deploy her knowledge about the world. 

It was then she also made her vow to watch the stars alongside her studies of the world she lived in. They always made her question somethings and no one seemed to have an answer. It was like she was the only one who could see the patterns of creatures and art they made; she would learn.

 

Gonna leave it here, we can start a new thread with someone else backdated to this day, you can make your post the last or just archive it here ^.^

With a certain thought, he decided to try and atleast help her out as much as he could. “It is rather fond of Kai; your search could start there.”  The bird was a talisman of sorts to the speckled fae, and the two were often never far from each other. “She’s a spotty one here- you’ll know her when you see her. But fair warning; she doesn’t speak much, of at all. So might have to be prepared for that.”

With giving her her as much information as he could, the Phantom decided to leave her up to settling in, and departed with a “Ill leave you to it, then.” Heading back into the heart of the woodland, he chose to find more food to feed the growing mouths in the Keep.

Archiving then! Thanks a bunch!