the choice is yours

*Shadow* · August 30, 2014, 05:00 AM

The young outrider paced beside Duck Lake, eyeing the ducks tiredly. Sometimes he envied their easy life, swim, live and get eaten. The eaten part wasn't that good but it was at least better than his complicated life. Why did this have to happen to him? Scimitar was probably having a good life, or he would have a good life with Bazi. Tuwawi, Njal and the pups would live happily in the mountains but him, his future was still uncertain. Whether Paar would come or not would determine what he felt and what he would do next.

He dove into the lake and snapped the neck of a duck, flinging it onto the shore and went for another. He would have rather fought a wolf or a larger animal but there was none around here so he would have to settle with the ducks that roamed the lake. He flung the next onto the shore, then the next. He only stopped when about ten ducks lay by the shore, blood dripping down their necks.

He swam to shore and half-heartedly shook his pelt before slumping down on the ground and tearing into a duck, chewing slowly and swallowing. He doubted he would be able to finish the ducks he had caught if Paar did not come, apparently weird thoughts came into his head when he was nervous.

Paarthurnax · August 30, 2014, 05:26 AM

Leaving Swiftcurrent Creek and Bazi had been difficult, as was watching Shadow leave without her. She regretted many things, but it was letting him go that had been the toughest. Before they parted ways those long few days ago, he had told her something that she'd been trying to avoid for reasons unknown. He said that he loved her. Whether there was truth behind those words or not, or whether she felt the same for him just yet, they did not matter. She followed her heart, and her heart led her to Duck Lake where she'd asked her sterling outrider to wait for her.

And as she appeared at the brow of a hill that led to the water's edge, with the sun setting at her back, Paarthurnax looked across the shore to find him there, awaiting her arrival.

She went to him at once, her heart ablaze with a flurry of emotion, and she loped quickly down the slope to greet him enthusiastically with a burst of yips, nips and kisses. Everything around her went unnoticed or cast aside for the time being: the dead ducks, the fact that Shadow was sudden wet, the pain she felt at leaving her home behind, the sorrow for poor banished Danica. She instead focused on Shadow and her delight at seeing him again, and knew that she'd made the right decision to stand at his side.

*Shadow* · August 30, 2014, 05:46 AM

She came, was the only thought that came into his head when his eyes found the familiar crimson beauty bounding down the slope. A brilliant smile found its way to his lips, brightening his usually cold and emotionless face. The mask had vanished the moment she had appeared. Silver eyes brightened, filled with joy and relief. A laugh escaped his lips when she greeted him enthusiastically with nips, yips and kisses.

He rushed towards her, tail wagging, returning her greeting with his own kisses and yips, giving her an affectionate lick between the ears, his flank touching her own. "You came, you really came. I was afraid you weren't, that you were going to leave me. You came." he murmured into her soft fur.

He did not pull away, instead closed his eyes, he wanted to melt into her embrace but he remained strong, remained steady. His tail flicked over to touch hers, wanting to make sure this was real, she really was here. That she was here, with him.

Paarthurnax · August 30, 2014, 06:09 AM

He responded brightly, rushing to close the distance between them, and the grin did not leave her features. She buried her forehead into the book between Shadow's jaw and throat and wronged softly, her tail beating his flank happily as he manoeuvred to press his side to her own. You really came, he said, and she pulled way to beam up at him. "Did you really think I'd let you take on this big adventure without me?" Paar asked playfully, giving him a shove with her shoulder.

Truthfully, she'd doubted him. She had doubted that he could successfully establish somewhere suitable, with loyal wolves to side with him. But what part realised that a part of her doubted Bazi too, after she banished two of her most loyal followers. Paar did not believe she could go on living at Swiftcurrent without seeing Shadow, so how long would it be before she too was booted out? Going behind Bazi's back to be with a wolf she deemed banished could never end well.

"I'm ready to do this, Shadow, " she said on a more serious note, the smile still present on her lovely face. "I'll be your mate. I'll bear your pups, I'll follow you and give you my all. I'll be yours, if you still want to be mine."

*Shadow* · (This post was last modified: August 30, 2014, 06:39 AM by Shadow.)

She buried her forehead between his jaw and throat, her tail beating against his flank. He snuggled against her, gently licking her between the ears again, sweeping his tail on her flank. She pulled away and spoke in a playful tone, "Did you really think I'd let you take on this big adventure without me?" as she shoved him with his shoulder. He just laughed softly, closing the distance between them again, wanting to make sure she really was here.

"I'm ready to do this, Shadow, " she said in a more serious tone, a smile still on her face. "I'll be your mate. I'll bear your pups, I'll follow you and give you my all. I'll be yours, if you still want to be mine." He gaped at her, silver eyes wide and he stayed like that for a few long moments before a large smile broke through his lips and he pressed himself beside her, peppering her with gentle kisses before touching his nose on her scruff.

"Yes," he murmured softly in reply. "But for now, I must establish my pack first. After everything has been settled, we shall be together, forever, and nothing will be able to separate us." he whispered.

Paarthurnax · August 30, 2014, 07:19 AM

A normal partnership had seemed like a distant, forbidden dream back in Samarkand. Paar had always wondered what possessed her mother to share her husband with the other females of their pack; she always imagined that she'd run for the hills if she found herself in a similar situation. Considering she'd been a middle child, and of the lesser value gender, being betrothed to a Shah with a harem had always been a possibility for her future. Sahrotaar had seen fit to sell her off as soon as he rose to power, even though her father seemed intent to keep her pure. To be presented to a young Shah who would treat her right, perhaps, and who'd been vetted thoroughly, but never to be cast aside to just anybody.

But to do things her way, to be in control of who she chose to stand at her side, was a dream come true. She looked at Shadow, amused with adoration in her eyes as he gawked at her following the announcement she'd made, aof nibbled at a tuft of silver fur on his shoulder as he made to shower her in kisses. "Our life, our pack and our children will be perfect," she said confidently, her thoughts turning briefly to Bazi. It painted her that they would not be able to raise their litters together, but she shook the reminder away in favour of present happenings. "Tell me everything. What's the plan?" He'd had three days to figure things out, recruit other loners and mark his territory. Paar was eager to get going with getting things established as soon as possible.

*Shadow* · (This post was last modified: August 30, 2014, 07:36 AM by Shadow.)

Wanna do a discovery thread? I need a few more.

He nibbled at her scruff for a moment before lifting his head away, "Yes, they will be perfect." he murmured softly, swishing his tail along Paar's flank, imagining the future they had ahead of them. Their children, the thought echoed in his mind, reluctantly he shook it away, focusing instead on his future pack. "Tell me everything. What's the plan?"

He smiled, "Eat, and I shall tell you. You must be hungry" he murmured softly into her ear before withdrawing and sitting down beside the pile of ducks, and began chewing on one thoughtfully. "You shall come with me to the area where I plan to establish my pack," he began. "I'll gather a few more of my loner friends and then it shall begin. A new beginning, our new beginning."

He flashed her a bright smile. This was really happening. It was happening and she was right here, in front of him. She chose him.

Paarthurnax · August 30, 2014, 07:52 AM

Yep! I can start. :)

Paarthurnax' pups would be those of an Alpha. They would inherit their father's land and grow up learning to lead, not follow. Her sons would be powerful and strong, her daughters delicate beauties. The future of their pack. The promise that it would survive and flourish. Her body would produce heirs, as her parents always wished of her.

Shadow invited her to eat, and it was then that she cast her gaze toward the dead ducks he'd accumulated. They lay on the shore, bloodied and broken, and fleetingly she wondered why he'd killed so many. Paar shot her companion a questioning glance, but did not hesitate to help herself. The rest could be carried on their trip to the territory that Shadow sought to claim, and the flesh would not be wasted.

When she finished eating, the crimson beauty eyed the platinum outrider eagerly. "Show me? Paar asked, batting her lashes, and lowered her head to collect a duck between her jaws for the journey.

*Shadow* · August 30, 2014, 08:16 AM

Lets get this to 10 posts so I can use it as a pledge thread :)

He knew that first he had to establish his pack before he and Paarthurnax could enjoy life together. There were borders to be marked, loners to be recruited and babies to be conceived. He watched Paarthurnax eat, the remaining ducks could be eaten on their journey even though fresh prey was plentiful there, Shadow had never been one to waste food. After all, back in his natal pack, food was scarce and every tiny bit was appreciated.

"Show me?" Paar said eagerly, batting her eyelashes. "Yes, of course. Shall we go?" he picked up the last duck in his jaws for the beginning of their journey. He knew that as soon as they were halfway there, rabbits would be frolicking around in the grass, fish would be practically leaping in front of their faces. They wouldn't be hungry for the second half of the journey.

He rose to his paws and made his way over to Paarthurnax, his flank brushing against her as if reassuring himself that she was still here. She had chose him, him and his future pack. She would be his and him, hers.

Paarthurnax · August 30, 2014, 12:52 PM

okay!

He asked if she wished to go and nodding enthusiastically, the russet wolfess loped forward with a new spring in her step. Her stride long and confident, Paarthurnax looked over her shoulder briefly to observe her companion as he collected the remaining duck in his jaws and trotted to her side. As his sterling flank brushed her own crimson haunch, she growled playfully behind the feathery mouthful of mallard as she butted the side of her head to his ribs, and skipped aside with a washing tail to avoid any retaliation. Shadow could be stubborn, but son he would learn that it was Paarthurnax that always had to have the last move.

And so their trip began. Paar did not let the sadness of leaving Bazi and the wolves of Swiftcurrent dampen her spirits. She had loved her time there, it had been her first real home on a long time even though she'd only been with them a month, and she was loathe to miss out on helping the young leader rear her first litter. But now she held onto the chance to produce and bring up pups of her own, and she simply couldn't wait for this new beginning that had swept her away.

*Shadow* · August 31, 2014, 06:12 AM

A large smile appeared on the sterling outrider's face as she growled playfully as she butted the side of her head to his ribs and skipped aside. He wanted to whine at her but resisted, instead glared playfully at her. He might not get the last move this time, but next time, he would. Soon she would learn that. He flashed her one of his smirks, those that usually annoy those that did not know him, but it was just his mask and with Paarthurnax, he did not need to put it on.

A new beginning awaited the two wolves, one of the moon and one of the sun. He knew, he knew that they would have a future together. A future with him as an Alpha in their new territory, maybe they would have children together. The mere thought of that excited him. Yes, indeed they had a future together.