Swiftcurrent Creek Those love songs break your heart.

Private for Bazi!

It had been almost a year since Paarthunax ran away from home, and she'd been a loner for half of her adult life. A year since she'd saw any of her once-beloved relatives, since she felt the warm sands of Samarkand beneath her paws. A year of running for fear that Sahrotaar would find her and punish her for fleeing, knowing how valuable she'd been to his alliance with their neighbour.

A year of her life, lonely and wasted.

She'd briefly joined a couple of packs on her travels, offering her medicinal knowledge in exchange for an opportunity at starting fresh, but she was unaware of what she wanted. Paar longed for the comfort and closeness of family, and she'd been raised as part of such an unusual hierarchy that she found it difficult to adjust to something new. But she had experience among "normal" wolves now and, confident that she could try again, had followed a scent trail to discover the borders of a new stationary pack.

Paarthurnax felt hesitant, as she did every other time she lingered at the outskirts of a potential new home, but she did not wish to appear weak in the presence of a leader. And so she did to linger to think about what may or may not go wrong, and tilted her muzzle toward the evening sky to announce her arrival and request an Alpha.

Rebellllface. I hope it's OK that I drag Scimitar into this as well? SC has a habit of throwing impressive welcoming parties. :D Keeping things vague as we're mid-way through a big plot.

It took Bazi a moment to remember that Fox was not around to answer the call. It took her longer still to come to terms with the fact that she must answer it - as Alpha female of Swiftcurrent Creek and lone leader of a band of wolves whose future was now uncertain. It didn't feel real, and it didn't feel good.

After the awkward face-off with the Sunspire, Bazi had retreated to clean her wounds and generally recover from the day's ordeal. Tomorrow, she would summon the pack once more - to confirm her position as leader and sort out the details of how Swiftcurrent Creek would be ruled henceforth. If things went as planned, her rule would be different enough from Fox's to keep those that were still undecided from moving on. She was particularly concerned about Tuwawi, whose patience with any young leader was now very obviously up.

On the way to meet the pledge, the petite alpha called @Scimitar to join her. After the scuffle with Fox, she would not be caught without backup again. The wolf at their doorstep was a sleek, delicate creature, dressed in downy, golden fur and with such slim legs that even Bazi, who wasn't exactly butch, felt like a bit of a Lauren.

"And what are your intentions?" she called across the short distance that separated the two wolves, tail rising behind her - the banner of Swiftcurrent Creek.

Scimitar, after the ordeal with the mountain wolves, had nestled himself closer to the outskirts of the pack, but along the shaded trees. His large figure was stiff from his fight with Jace, and every sharp movement he made only encouraged the deeper wound on his shoulder to open once more and smolder hotly with pain. If he was not careful, it was likely he would have a fever.

Sleep had found him quickly, despite everything that had happened. Exhaustion had finally claimed him, and only when Bazi's howl called for him did he stir - the sound feeling so distant at first before it became louder with each split second of wakefulness that pushed him. Bazi.

Quickly, and clumsily, the beast was upon his paws and weaving the way he thought he had heard her. The moments ticked by and his eyes blinked against the evening sky, acquainting with the oncoming darkness. Just when he thought he had misheard her.. or even imagined it, there she was -- her tiny figure so proudly held as she interrogated another.

His figure stiffened greatly as he stalked forward, rumbling a greeting that could almost be seen as unwelcoming as he pulled alongside Bazi. His nose touched her shoulder, though his bright eyes remained riveted upon the long-limbed female that seemed to announce grace with just a bat of her eyelashes. He kept his mouth firmly shut for now, relieved that the ivory dove's call had not been one of trouble.

At least yet.

*snugs* haaaai! Totally fine that Scimitar joins in, too. Hoping to make this a quick one so I can get to posting all over the place. :P

As her song faded, Paarthurnax lowered her lovely crown to await the arrival of whoever would be sent to investigate the stranger at their borders. She fidgeted where she stood, pausing briefly as a female voice rose from a short distance away, and she looked around nervously as her plush tail instinctively slipped between her hind limbs.

No matter who came to greet her or run her off, they would be her superior and she knew from experience that first impressions were important. The crimson she-wolf felt her pulse thrum in her ears while her heart took residence in her throat, as she struggled to conjure an impressive reason as to why she'd decided to join this pack when there were others in the region.

When a pale-furred female appeared through the foliage with her tail erect and her appearance bleeding power, Paar immediately crouched to the ground. She hung her head and pressed her velvet ears back, her copper gaze fixed to the grass before her paws. The young wolf spoke confidently, a stern question, and Paathurnax did not hesitate to respond: "forgive me." She swallowed, and inhaled deeply as she prepared to continue. However, before she could breathe another word, the arrival of another wolf and his rumbling growl made her stall. Paar sank closer to the ground, until blades of grass brushed her alabaster undersides. "I am Paarthurnax, I'm looking for a place to live."

The stranger's decision to crouch low pleased Bazi, whose patience resembled the frayed edge of a battered market stall carpet at this point. So much had happened in the 24 hours, and yet still the pack had to maintain outward appearances.

The splendid female crouched lower when Scimitar arrived, touching the Alpha's shoulder with his broad nose. His arrival brought Paarthurnax's delicate beauty to the forefront of Bazi's mind once more. She didn't like it. Fox had certainly been a sight to behold, but she was a scrappy, unkempt wolf. Tuwawi was equally memorable, but broad and badly scarred, and the remaining women of the pack did not pose quite such a threat. Danica was certainly striking, but she was a warrior - as was Kaskara. That choice affected their appearance. Bazi pressed her shoulder against the vast male at her side, blue eyes glimmering with possessiveness. This one is mine.

Despite the swell of jealousy, she had neither the energy nor the inclination to put the newcomer through any sort of hazing. "You can stand," she told her. "Tell us your name and what you can offer us. We're in need of.." Warriors? No, they had plenty of those. They had plenty of wolves, period - Paarthurnax would be the last wolf they accepted into their ranks for a while. "..healthy bodies," she finished. This girl looked healthy enough - and no older than three. Probability suggested that she would neither be an upstart nor so jaded with life that the honour of belonging to Swiftcurrent Creek would be lost on her.

These rationalizations did not make it to Bazi's mind; she was only 16 months old, and still trying to get over that Paarthurnax was more beautiful than she was. Had Scimitar not been there, she might have turned the elfin girl away on that basis alone.

Oblivious to the newly acclaimed Alpha's possessive touch to his shoulder as an act of jealousy, he simply felt the relief of her weight upon him -- she was safe, and for that he was content. Had they been alone, he likely would have buried his muzzle further to her fur and nape, breathing in her scent with a sense of comfort.

But they were not, and it would seem his growl had elicited a fast response as did Bazi's proud stance. He allowed himself to relax, his eyes skimming over the female with more curiosity now that she seemed so willing to submit -- Swiftcurrent Creek had plenty of wolves, and given the time they were currently in, Scim was less than fond of allowing a newcomer enter the lands.. but the decision was not his to make, and perhaps she would make an impressive speech that would prove that the Creek wolves would be foolish to turn her away.

Bazi spoke, and he remained silent still -- a guardian to the pack. With his shoulders falling to a more neutral stance, his eyes lightened as they continued to study the well-kept she-wolf -- the gold and red hues of her pelt that blended to perfect ivory was intricate and interesting. Even to him, it was obvious that Fox might have sent her on her way for the simple fact she might have felt threatened with the harem of males she had collected over time.

Sorry if there are random words in here that don't make sense, I did this post on my phone's Swype keypad. :X

She remained pressed to the ground for several long moments even after the pale Alphess granted permission to stand, and eventually Paar gathered herself slowly and carefully. Her heart skipped an uncomfortable beat as bravely rose her gaze to find herself looking upon the wolves who stood before her: the tiny Arctic female who had spoken to her, and a tawny powerhouse of a male whose sheer size and broad features reminded Paarthurnax at once of her brother Viinturuth.

Still intimidated and not wanting to offend, the lithe beauty lowered her lovely eyes once again. She racked her mind for the right words that might make the pair believe her to be the greatest addition they could ever have to their ranks, but she realised she had only one real strength that she could offer. "I was taught the ways of healing from an early age to replace my birth pack's elder medic when she was to retire, " Paarthurnax said softly, remembering too clearly how shed been cast aside before by leaders whose ranks already housed a healer. "I held that title there for over a year before I left."

That was good enough for Bazi. Razo had medical knowledge, but he was rather brash, and she had always wondered if she would actually go to him in the event of 'lady problems'. Her first heat and eventual pregnancies were far off yet, but it never hurt to plan ahead.

"We could use a female medic," she said to Scimitar, keeping her voice low to indicate that the words were not directed at Paar, even though she was within range to hear them. The pack's ranks were already swollen, and it was as much Scimitar's decisions as hers - on the sly, Bazi wanted to see just how keen her intended betrothed (oh yes, let's not beat about the bush here) was to include this fair creature in their family.

No probs! Gosh we are fast and motivated today..

Curtis is out playing on his dirt bike.. so I'm enjoying some alone time and RP! Primarily doodling layouts for RoW and stalking Wolf. ;)

Gold seemed to spill from her lips -- the moment the word 'healer' pressed past the delicate beauty's muzzle, Scimitar's eyes shifted to Bazi, who in turn was thinking the same as him. Unaware that Razo had knowledge in the art of healing, it would have meant little to Scimitar anyhow. As far as he was concerned, the male was of little use to the pack -- Scimitar rarely came across him.

Giving Bazi a noncommittal grunt that did show agreement, the male shifted away from the ivory regal, closing the distance between himself and the other. He moved slower, rolling his injured shoulder to her -- the wound itself had broken open once more, the gouge deep from Jace's angry jaws. It would scar -- that much was certain, but the inability to remain closed and the puss that had formed was of concern to Scimitar. What good would he be with a lame shoulder? "How would you fix this, then," he questioned lightly, his eyes drifting back to Bazi as he blatantly put a test to their newcomer.

The young leader spoke again, hushed this time, and Paarthurnax pricked her velvet lobes to better hear what she had to say. When she rose her vivid eyes to sneak a glance at the pair, she realised with guilt that the she-wolf was not speaking to her directly, but instead to her brawny companion. Paar's heart did not sink, however, but instead gave it hopeful wings that caused it to flutter within her chest.

They were in need of a medic. There were many things that she still had to learn, but she already knew more than most. She resisted the urge to fidget, instead focusing on rooting her dainty paws in place as she dipped her muzzle and granted the duo privacy to discuss the situation without her gawking at them.

This was short-lived, however. Stepping away from the white wolfess' side, her tall comrade strode forward to close the distance between them. He presented to her some sort of test, an wound that had not been given the opportunity to heal and had been re-opened. Paarthurnax breathed in the scent of her new patient, grouped with the metallic aroma of fresh blood and an unsettling whiff of setting infection. She did not cringe at the smell, but remained stoic as she better examined what she'd been shown.

"It is in an awkward position for you to clean by yourself," the crimson Frostfur observed as she tip-toed forward, until her muzzle was hovering directly above the cut though not close enough to touch. Heat radiated, a sure sign of a bacterial build-up, and she took a careful backward step. She did not wish to offend her greeters by lingering too closely. "I'd have you bathe it in cool, fresh water. The flesh is still living, so it can heal as long as the infection is drained. There are many plants and fruits that can be used to treat the poison, by applying them directly to it and by consuming them, such as the creeping mahonia plant which is fairly common at this time of year, or the lingonberry. To help with the inflammation, he red elderberry would make you feel more comfortable. And the best treatment of all: a good, long rest. You're using it too much, and re-opening it in doing so is going to slow the healing process."

Bazi, in her blinkered selfishness, hadn't even thought to ask Scimitar about his injuries. Confused, the Alpha moved around to see what Paarthurnax was looking at. She recoiled when she saw the open, seeping wound, face scrunching up in fear and concern. It looked to be in the same league as Fox's injury by Ferdie. "Oh... urgh," she contributed stupidly, but the little healer did not seem phased. She prescribed remedies and rest as if were the most obvious thing in the world, and Bazi flashed her a grateful look, creeping forward to get a second look at poor Scimitar's injuries. The fact that he had scarcely mentioned this 'minor scrape' was.. impressive, to say the least. Bazi would have been yowling about it for days.

"That sounds like proof enough to me," she murmured, wincing when a shift of Scimitar's weight made the wound gape like an angry, red little frown. "When you've taken care of him - properly, found those potions and plants and whatever else - there is someone else that might need your.. expertise." Bazi shifted her concerned gaze back to Scimitar's eyes. "Is that OK? To leave you with, er.. our newest healer?" What kind of a name was Paarthurnax?

He stilled, allowing the female to inspect him. Only then did Bazi come forward, her smaller nose scrunching in a manner that stirred a wave of fierce protectiveness over the agouti male toward the ivory dove. The newly acclaimed Creek wolf might have been gorgeous, and perhaps even inspecting him in a more intimate way than Bazi ever had.. and yet at that very moment, he only had eyes for her and his gaze lingered upon her features for another moment, thankful she had come out of this only bruised and slightly battered. Physically, at least.

At her words, he gave a gentle nod, wishing nothing more than to close the distance between them and sweep his muzzle over her crown in a gentle kiss – but he was in no place to do such, and with the disarray the pack was in, now was not a favored time. Curious to who else needed the attention of a healer, he did not question her. It was likely none of his business. Shifting his gleaming eyes back to Paarthurnax, he canted his muzzle slightly. “What do you need help with?”

Scimitar didn’t particularly see a good long rest coming for him anytime soon.

Do you mind if we fade this here? I'd love new threads with each of you if you're willing, though! Little PP, just give me a prod if you'd like me to change it. :)

The lithe beauty ceased her gaze at her patient's shoulder only when her new Alphess moved in to check it out. Paar ducked and side-stepped a little, enough to give the pale female a better view, and she resisted the sudden urge to smile in amusement at the younger wolf's reaction. As a youngster of six months, when she'd been thrust into the spotlight by her teacher to examine wounds far uglier than the one her recent complainer bore, she recalled feeling light-headed and sickly. But time had passed, she saw many injuries and witnessed several deaths, and Paarthurnax had learned to strengthen her stomach as well as harden her heart.

And then it was official. The little leader set the task of tending to her companion's cut, and for the first time Paar blinked up to look upon her face. Her vivid eyes glimmered and her feathery tail gave a few grateful swishes between her hocks, and she nodded. "I will see that he is tended to, and seek you out when I'm ready for whoever else needs my help," was her promise, as she realised that she had not yet received the names of her new pack-mates. It would have to wait, however, as the injured male spoke up in her direction. She turned to him, a thankful smile gracing her lovely features. "I saw some of the berries not far outside the borders, and some other useful things nearby. If you could make your way to the nearest fresh water source, I'll follow your trail and find you there."

The russet wolfess paused, and pricked a velvet lobe. "I do have one question... what am I to call you both?" When introductions and formalities were over, Paarthurnax politely thanked her greeters and promptly made her way off in search of her prescription with a new bounce in her stride.