Sleeping Dragon my heart has always been soaked in rocket fuel and sorrow

It is early in the morning when she wakes and stirs Snacha and Lucani from their slumber. Gyda is still absent but it she does not worry. There is plenty for the three of them to do in their other leader’s absence. Thuringwethil leaves @Lucani to get accustomed to the land and mark the borders and prepare a medical supply. She doesn’t expect it to be done in a day, for the winter makes things a little more complicated, but the effort is what she looks for. 

She moves with Snacha for a while, checking the borders for places to be filled in with their scent before she separates from the young charge. The raccoon-looking wolf has proven her worth and Thuringwethil, even in the fall of her home, felt confident in her choices. The wolves that did not follow the young wolf’s lead were of no use to her but she does not blame them for their return. Thuringwethil’s word had been broken, unfortunately, but she expects Snacha’s former home to have wolves at their door for refuge.

Thuringwethil returns to the caves she shared her first night with in the mountain with Gyda at her side to find it still empty and of no other scents left behind in her absence. It is too close to the borders for the woman to want to sleep each night but perhaps it will be useful to her in the future. The dark female leaves it behind and returns to her duty of patrol, crunching snow beneath her paws in each step.

@Eli.

Through thicket, branch, and bramble, Eli pursued a singular hope.  Following his nose and what he percieved to be the Spirt's will, Eli made the long journey alone from Seageda at a slow but consistant pace. Now, he found himself in an unfamiliar land, but the familiar trail he followed kept him going. The scent was stronger now more than ever: he was finally catching up. 

Thuringwethill. The name was still but a whisper, echoing in the back of Eli's mind and calling him forward with every step. He had no purpose without her, servitude was his birthright to which Eli carried with great honor. She had been selected with divine purpose... she had made Seageda pure from the corruption that lied deep in it's underbelly— and then, she left without a word or trace. Eli became distraught and followed at the break of dawn. 

Seageda was no more, there was no reason to stay.  His children had grown, his mate was gone, and he felt no tether to the land— only to the Spirit, whom he would serve without ceasing once more. Soon.  The scent of a fledgling claim filled the air and intermingled with it was Thuringwethill's scent.  His journey was over and life could resume once more. His heart filled with joy as he called for her.

Ells, jump in at any time! I'm just brimming with muse.

A howl rings her ears and her head lifts, ears cupping forward. First thought fills her with pride; her borders were solidifying. Lucani and Snacha were doing their part and Sleeping Dragon was coming together. A moment later, however, she realizes the familiarity to the tune. Her muscles tense and her jaws tighten, shifting her weight in the direction it had come from. Her limp is barely present in her trot and it’s a matter of minutes before she sees the dark wolf, greying at his tips, standing near her weak borders.

Thuringwethil slows her trot and takes careful footsteps forward, tail arched above her spine to accentuate her swagger. His features begin to define and her fur rises along her back, ruffling her feathers a little bigger. Slim and lanky as she may be, beneath is the strength of a warrior, trained since she was two months old. A growl rumbles in the depths of her chest and a flash of her teeth is given as she approaches. There is no business for the wolf to be at her doorsteps, a shadow of her former life.

He needn't wait long at the border before he was joined by the wolf he had spent so long following. She approached with no holds barred, just as a proper leader would: teeth exposed and attitude ablaze with fire-like intensity. While her memory had served to drive him forward, only now did he realize how much he missed his commander. He had always been a soldier, but the soldiering life grew empty without a purpose. He needed orders— he needed to follow. This was the source of his identity.

Immediatly, Eli hung his head in reverence and prostrated himself across the ground for her in complete submission. Despite his broad stature, he tried to make himself as small as possible to communicate that she was the only one in charge. "Heda," came a gravelly whisper, cracked with the burden of age. "I found you."

Thanks Mica, and nice to meet you Ryan!

Lucani's first day in the fledgeling pack at Sleeping Dragon had already proven promising. Having met the commanding Thuringwethil and the teenaged Snacha the evening before, she awoke to a plethora of plans for the day. By the time the sun had hit the horizon, shooting pale blue light across the Winter sky, Lucani was already out on an expedition to find medical supplies as instructed. Her intention was initially a scouting mission. The territory was in the process of being claimed, and had already progressed to the point at which Lucani was fairly confident that flora would not be thieved from the land.

So she ventured over rock and grasslands, crags and woodland, making note of the sparse foliage. There were some she hadn't even seen before. Such plants were fascinating and would require careful inspection and consideration before using. Mostly there was naught but snow and dead grass, but the lands at the base of the mountain had a lot of promise.

Later in the day, the medicinal scout caught scent then sight of a pair at the borders. One was the tall, dominant form of young Thuringwethil, and the other was unfamiliar. Moving closer, Lucani saw the submissive loner to be a muscular, impressive wolf, and she felt a surge of hope — another new companion, another new face for the pack? She approached, long body already moving elegantly into submission for Thuringwethil, but she didn't take the stance of a lone wolf. Lucani was a packmate now.

She slowed a short distance away. She felt that Thuringwethil would approve of her socialising, but, on the other hand, she also got the impression that this was a somewhat personal meeting. There was distinct familiarity in the male stranger's eyes. So Lucani kept a bit of distance — not hesitant, but respectfully unintrusive, stepping forward only if the Alpha bid it.

There isn't a translator for this language so I don't claim these are exact but the closest I could piece together based on the information I learned. I don't expect the same in return, Ryan, so italics works. I just wanted to see if I could do it, lol. I hovered the translation but I can't tell if it works because I am on my iPad. Let me know if it doesn't! I even translated yours because I am a gigantic nerd.

Heda. Ai lok up yu.

The rumble in her chest slows to a stop as Eli touches the ground, brushing against the snow beneath him to shrink. Many of her warriors had been bigger than her, slightly, but she did not walk in fear among them. She had been trained by, with, and even mentored some of her own. Even at eight months, as she walked the path to her throne, she did not fear them. Nervous, perhaps, but there had been no time to be nervous with a war at her feet. A war that took their former commander.

Thuringwethil’s twitching ear is the only sign acknowledging Lucani as she approaches, snow crunching quietly beneath her feet. She doesn’t bother to turn her head and acknowledge her and instead her dark grey eyes remain steady on the wolf groveling at her feet. In a tongue shared between Eli and herself, she spits: “Yu souda nou komba raun hir.”

It is one thing for Snacha to find her; it had been her duty to follow orders. She did not choose to return to Trigeda as the others had. Eli following her, however, raises a few more alarms she knows she needs to address. She hadn’t stayed around long enough to see the body count aside from those that laid their life down in her jaws. Covering her tracks had been unsuccessful twice. Who else would follow? 

Who else is on their way in revenge and strip her of the commander’s spirit?

Thuringwethil considers to end him and leave it as warning to others.

“Haukom souda ai nou frag op yu?”

His pursuit stemmed from a selfish desire. The thought of being reunited with his commander ruled Eli's mind, clouding all shreds of reason or logic. He was a creature of loyalty, bred to act and ask few questions. This mindset did Eli no favors when he was alone; he needed his commander far more than she needed him. 

It seemed his commander was already amassing a following in this unfamiliar land. He paid the unfamiliar wolf no mind, instead he focused his attention on his commander, his Heda. Against his intention it seemed he had brought her displeasure by following.  He remained in a position of silent submission before he began to explain himself. "Ai gaf in gon," came his answer with a ragged whisper.  "No hukop gon Seagedakru, ba ai dula op gon yu heda."

"Ai giv yu ai sonraun. Ai badan yu op en nou moun." He prayed that she would show him mercy, but his life was hers. No matter what, he would follow her will.

As the eyes of Alpha bore into those of the submissive lone wolf, Lucani's instincts were confirmed — this was a personal meeting, but Lucani was by no means obliged to flee it.  If Thuringwethil wanted her gone from this meeting, she would have made it known to the older female.

Lucani's stance was not entirely relevant to this exchange, but she remained fairly low and certainly respectful in posture — though nowhere near as submissive as the stranger. This meant that if Thuringwethil turned suddenly, she would see a loyal and dignified subordinate awaiting her command.

Speaking of command, Lucani knew in her heart that if her new Alpha demanded that she attack this wolf (though currently she could see no reason why Thuringwethil would request such a thing, despite the tension in the air), she would not do so without reason. If the stranger unexpectedly became dominant or progressed unbidden into Sleeping Dragon territory, wild instinct would flare up and Lucani would become aggressive. But if Thuringwethil suddenly told her to hurt this wolf with no rhyme or reason, Lucani's loyalty would truly be tested... and she suspected she might fail.

"I think you will adapt well to my ways. They may be harsh, but they are fair." She remembered what the young leader had told her. And she had faith. If Thuringwethil wanted her to be a brutal right paw in this situation, she would show Lucani it was fair. After all, what brave commander wanted someone who was blindly loyal...?

And in the meantime, Lucani remained obedient and stoic, watching the exchange closely. They spoke in an unknown language, and so she had to pick up on the tonal cues. She felt for the grovelling stranger, but this whole thing was... frankly, fascinating.

Eli speaks his reason, his allegiance with the commander and where she follows. She'd left so many wolves behind, she hardly expects a friendly reunion with any of them. Perhaps her wolves understood more than she'd let on and the corruption has been corrected. There hadn't been a chanting crowd coming through the woods for her head but her loyal followers hadn't come through either. Another would eventually take her place as leader among the clans but their faith will be tested. The next true commander will not come until her body has taken its final breath.

Thuringwethil steps toward the cowering canine, lowering her head to take a long draw of his scent. There are weeks of travel beneath his paws and no trace of another scent mingled with his own. His snout positioned so his neck is exposed in an open space and she hovers above him, considering his words for a moment longer. He'd been a loyal follower of Seageda for years, never questioned her command at such a young age, but the deceit in her ranks have out a wedge between herself and those loyal.

When her decision has been made, her jaws open and form around his throat, clamping against his skin and fur. His pulse beats between her teeth and she holds him down, applying pressure to the points in his neck where the jugular pumps blood to his head. One quick snap and they'd be ripped from his body and he'd bleed out into the snow. Testament to the title heda. That any that chooses to follow behind her will meet their end.

The young leader's jaws only tighten. 

No words were exchanged in return and she was soon upon him, with jaws clenched tightly around Eli's neck. Having already said his piece, Eli remained silent and still, rooted firmly in the snow. He did not fear the concept of death— in fact, his life had been surrounded by it. Bloodshed had become a living part of him, however, being on the opposite end of the killing jaws had an unpleasantly surprising effect. His heart thrummed fast in his chest, but he accepted his fate.

Teeth failed to pierce skin, but her grip tightened even further.  The pressure upon his windpipe reached a new peak and Eli's breathing grew pained and labored. He wheezed and struggled for breath, but he fought not against her. Blindly loyal, his life was her's to take. His fate rested solely in her jaws.

Had Lucani been younger, she might have been fearful that Thuringwethil's move on the lone wolf was an attack, but, being a seasoned creature, she knew better. Oh perhaps there was a chance the girl was putting the stranger to a slow death — and unfortunately there was nothing Lucani would be able to do about it, being in no position to insist upon a fair trial that may have already been given — but it was much more likely that this was an aggressive show of dominance.

If this muscle-bound wanderer were to join the ranks of the Sleeping Dragon, it seemed he would first be put fiercely in his place.

She considers the end of the male’s life. His pitiful wheezing gave her the urge but he did not fight back, did not make any attempt to weasel his way from her grasp. It would be quick, just a matter of seconds, before he would bleed out. Heda gives a final squeeze and the threat of skin tearing against her teeth. Lucani remains silent and steady, just out of sight, and Thuringwethil feels a tug at her lips. Just before she causes any damage, her jaws slacken and she takes an easy step back.

“You’ll stay on the borders,” she says in quiet but does not mask the words from Lucani. “Disha en stot au.”

Thuringwethil turns to finally see the other woman, eyes grazing her form and gives a subtle dip of her nose. She leaves Eli on the ground as she begins the trek back into the territory. “Come,” she urges the woman to follow and keeps her pace at ease as she passes her by without an explanation on her lips.

Assuming Lucani would follow Thuring away!

Eyes snapped shut as Eli felt his commander's jaws tighten even further around his throat.  It was over. In his mind, his journey had come to both it's figurative and literal end, but in those final moments, his fear faded away, leaving only a strange sense of peaceful calm behind.  If he was to die, it would be his commander's will. This would be is final order, to which he would carry out until its very completion, even if it meant surrendering his life. He only prayed the act wouldn't drag on.

Just as he made his final peace, his commander's jaws went slack. He gasped for breath, but he dared not move an inch in fear it would be construed as misplaced aggression.  It was only the beginning indeed... a new start away from the mess that was Seageda.  Here he would stay.

He watched as his commander took her leave, joined also by her unfamiliar subordinate.  Once again, Eli was alone. He waited for what felt like hours in a state of complete stillness. Like a statue, he remained firmly rooted to the spot, as was her command. He would make the borders his home. After a time, he slowly rose to his paws and walked the outskirts of the territory, all while intermingling his scent with the rest of the fledgling pack's.

Such an interesting psychological mix was at hand. First and foremost, sheer instinct was at play. Thuringwethil, proud and newly ascended, asserting her dominance, the lone wolf knowing his best chance of survival was extreme submission. There stood three beasts, wild, having no need to talk.

Secondly there was culture. Lucani did not know their language, of course, but had picked up that something had happened in another life — something in their life before Sleeping Dragon. She wanted to know more about that life. But lastly there was the sheer personal aspect of all of this — these two clearly knew each other in some form or other. There was emotion at play.

For this reason, before Thuringwethil bid she follow she was tempted by the possibility that she might linger behind and learn the story of this wretched newcomer. But she was given no opportunity to, and moved elegantly to join her Alpha as they walked away.

Only once out of the male's hearing range did Lucani speak. Can I ask what happened, Thuringwethil? she asked, ears and form submissively low.

Thuringwethil doesn’t offer an explanation as Lucani walks next to her, stepping easily along a path she’d started to recognize as familiar. Eli remains behind her without a second glance and it isn’t until Lucani speaks up that slows her down. She’d led her wolves for so long, her actions going unquestioned, that Lucani speaking up surprises her. She does not glance to the side to see her subordinate’s posture, evening out her face and headed further into the territory without answering right away. 

Lucani has no reason to trust her, even if she pledged her life several days ago near the borders. She’d come from a different place, unaware of how she handles things. Speaking about where her former home made her feel uneasy, especially when she’d silenced Snacha of any mention of Seageda. How much can this new wolf really understand of such a savage way? No one else would have blinked twice at her action, perhaps even less if she’d ended the male’s life. 

“I was called to commander when I was eight months old,” she says, feigning slight disinterest. “I did not have a choice.” I do not have a choice.

She finally swallows a lump in the back of her throat she doesn’t realize she had been holding. She’d been fighting the unsteadiness in her chest for much longer than she’d expected but she pushes it down to deal with another day.

“My home had been compromised when a few wolves did not agree, even after months of my reign,” she finally says again, quickly glancing at the woman before she averts her eyes back ahead. Eli hadn’t been one to question her but by the end, she couldn’t trust anyone hadn’t been fooled by those that did not believe her capable, even if she’d eventually brought peace among the other tribes. The male would have to earn her trust again and his willingness to die by her teeth is only the start.

Lucani's thirst for further information was less about simple curiosity and more about a desire to know more about Thuringwethil herself, as well as their new packmate and the personal culture that lay behind (and yet in front of) them.

She was especially interested by what it might mean to not have a choice in becoming leader. Perhaps their culture was one in which prophecy was idealised, or she had been physically forced by some master puppeteer... and although the latter seemed unlikely, Lucani didn't yet rule it out.

Then it must be refreshing to have a choice here at Sleeping Dragon. And to be wanted by all your subordinates. It was a simple, truthful, unpretentious reassurance. But Lucani left it there, moving her pale golden eyes to the cold, grassy path ahead. For Thuringwethil clearly had no desire to continue the conversation, and Lucani respected that through and through.

The older female was patient, and would not let her imagination run away with her. Thuringwethil had scratched the surface of a cultural story, and Lucani had every faith that when the young Alpha was ready — in hours, days, or even weeks from now — she would tell her more.