Swiftcurrent Creek I'll be the one, if you want me to.

Her lashes fluttered, though Paarthurnax did not rouse at once. Instead she wrinkled her nose and squeezed her eyes shut against the harsh midday sunlight, tucked her muzzle closer to her flank as she curled tighter against the rear of her den wall. It was for those few fleeting, brief moments of waking from deep slumber that Paarthurnax basked in her drowsy contentment, before reality dropped its enormous weight on top of her once again.

She exhaled heavily, suddenly aware of how entirely alone she was. There had been many occasion when she'd roused to find herself without Shadow at her side, and she considered quietly that if she'd known the last time she'd been snug in his embrace would be the last time, she'd have made the very most of it.

Paar fought to push her heartache away and return to her dreamless sleep, but it failed to sweep her problems away. Defeated, the crimson Frostfur unfurled herself and blinked her dim eyes open. She straightened herself, shook her pelt and stepped out into the crisp Autumn afternoon.

A distraction was what she needed, and it was with a quick glance around her densite that she decided at once to go on a cleaning spree. Her hollow would need to be tidied and shaped in preparation for her newborns, padded with furs and dry grasses before Winter's chill claimed the vegetation. Striding forward, the lithe medic collected twigs and dead leaves that littered the entrance of her den and made to deposit them in a neat pile a short distance away from her little clearing.

yeey i wanted a thread oo

There had been many empty dens Dovev had come across in the pack terrain, with only Galileo's still in use. They had stretched like a crescent, focusing on the creek and their dusty entrances facing towards the water. One of the pack members had said one had been occupied by a mated pair before they had left to start a family in the north- Duskfire Glacier. So, there were secrets and stories hidden within the musty caves dug into the grassy earth of Swiftcurrent.

Dovev was slowly padding north, the air crisp and cool on his upturned muzzle. Although the sun was bright, it provided little warmth as it illuminated the western sides of the pale golden grass. He crested several hills before he could see the creek, but his eyes suddenly jumped to a figure moving in the constant, waving sea of plants. She was of an unusual color, a golden and white, and somewhat hard to discern from the barley and whatnot that grew around her. Dovev approached, relying on his eyes to make out her activity. The stranger had busied herself around a den, a normal action; but the arctic male's ruff was bristling. Her smell.

What the hell? he barked, half to himself. Was she lost? What was she thinking, coming onto Creek territory and making herself at home?

Ooo, this could get interesting. :P

Gathering a large stick between her teeth, Paarthurnax lifted it and turned to carry it away someplace where she could leave it out of sight. She took her time, refusing to rush despite her sudden need to tend to her private quarters until they were pristine. Movement of an ivory figure caught her attention, however, and by the time she halted in her stride to prick her tall red ears, she too had been noticed. She gazed in the direction of the frosty-eyed male, silent and un-moving, her heart raising to reside in her throat when he barked his disbelief.

Her scent. Her pelt still bore that of Shadow's pack and, noting the bristling of her new pack-mate's hackles, Paar's immediate reaction was to drop the branch from her grip and crouch into submission. Her tail disappeared between her alabaster hinds and her lobes pressed back against her crown; against this foul-tempered brute, she could not stand a chance. She stayed put, her fiery copper gaze lingering fearfully on the stranger's forelimbs as she quietly anticipated his next move.

The male stepped down and rounded the small curve of earth that held the entrance to the shallow den that the female stood out of. He couldn't tell if she had just dug it out or took over an old one, but it was in a good location. Tall aspens and pines stood like sentinels, widely spaced but providing adequate shade when the sun grew too hot. But of course, that's not what the ivory male's attentions were on.

Normally, Dovev was well-spoken and controlled in his reactions, but the weirdness and the shock of it all was taking over. The male's eyes were narrow and staring as he walked towards her, tail swishing over his back, but his ears were back in confusion.

Wha-who are you? he demanded, trying to keep his words straight. What are you doing?
Perhaps this was some sort of joke of Shadow's, just to screw with the Creek packs' minds. But had she been a Bypass wolf, her reaction should've been different... not one of just giving up. As Dovev walked forward, his paw found itself on top of the branch. The brute stopped, feeling the tension of the stick wavering underneath his pawpad. A small growl was vibrating from his throat, but it was one laced with surprise and slight anger that this female was not an intruder.

She let herself cower instinctively before the pale brute, her gaze never stating from his lower limbs for great that he might make a lunge in her direction. In her pitiful crouch, Paar could easily spring off and make a quick getaway if things got ugly, assuming her comrade didn't stand too close.

It was add though he read her mind, and soon was directly in front of her. Paar leaned off to one side, tongue flicking nervously across her teeth and upper lip in a surefire sign that she was afraid and willing to submit drastically if he forced her to. "Paarthurnax," was her immediate answer when the Arctic wolf demanded to know who she was, then proceeded to request further information. "This was my old den, when I lived her before. I-I... She sucked in a breath."I returned just yesterday."

Dovev's breath seemed to halt as his pale eyes locked unwaveringly on the sunny hued female's face in an eternal stare. Inwardly, his mind's gears were furiously grinding away. Return? So this meant Paarthurnax was a member of the Creek before he had arrived. And arriving so frequently before could attribute to her strong scent- although if Dovev knew she was Shadow's mate, he would have held no reservations of sinking his teeth into her.

Surely with the immense size Swiftcurrent was growing to, someone would have picked up on her trail when she crossed the eastern border. But as Dovev's eyes quickly left her face to scan his surroundings, he found it was devoid of any other concerned packmates.

Uncomfortably, the tundra brute stepped back and found his paws on solid ground again as his tail slumped towards the earth. Dovev's mouth closed from it's slight, lip-curled snarl, but his eyes were sharpened. The male was still incredibly suspicious of Paar's actions. She had been more than willing to submit, but Dovev suspected something else was ruling her mind.

Is there a reason you went straight to your old den, rather than re-introducing yourself? Dovev asked, his voice slightly gravelly as the growl wore off in his throat.

Her shoulder muscles bunched then, but Paarthurnax showed no emotion; who did this wolf think he was? Upon her arrival, Scimitar had kindly escorted her to her old densite purely so she could rest, having been drained completely from her trip. Did this wolf think himself important enough to be sought out by all newcomers? Paar had no idea who he was, not even his name.

"Our Alpha allowed me the opportunity to rest before I made my return known," she offered in response, her voice heavy with emotion, and still refusing to lift her head or even her gaze for fear of adding to whatever insult her presence had created. "I traveled for several days, and barely stopped. I was exhausted."

A part of her understood his concern: the pack's protection came first to so many, and she knew in her heart that this wolf was very likely a great asset to their leader. But she couldn't help take his suspicion personally...

As much as he was one for trouble, Dovev didn't feel like stirring the pot over Paar and causing some issues for Scimitar. A look of irritation briefly flashed across her face, and Dovev knew he had upset whatever she was doing. But he couldn't help it- the male wanted to know everything that transcribed within Swiftcurrent's borders. The female was a new arrival, even if she was 'old hat' to the pack.

With a guarded gaze, his pale orbs glanced over Paar's frame. She looked a little drained and tired, and no doubt could use a little more bulk for the coming winter. Tentatively, Dovev stepped forward and sniffed her gold coat, drawing in the scents of her previous home. Faintly, the male could detect Scimitar, and his packmate's aroma calmed the previous alarm bells that had rung when he had first spotted Paarthurnax.

He didn't want to press why the female had left Noctisardor, but Dovev took it was a personal win against Shadow.
I should... leave you to rest then, Dovev replied, but inwardly he decided he wouldn't stray very far from Paar's den. The male would keep tabs on her for a couple days, but was also concerned that her former pack might try and pay a little visit.

The ivory-pelted male moved in closer once more, causing Paarthurnax to further duck her head and shy away from his approach. She crouched closer to the ground, her chest brushed the cool earth beneath her, and her tongue flicked once more from between her lips to smooth her sable nose. A soft whine, pleading and tired, escaped from her throat as her superior sniffed at her bi-coloured pelt and she relaxed visibly when he made to step back.

She did not rise, however, even when the unknown brute suggested that he leave her in peace. Yes! her frantic heart wished for her to cry out, but Paar remained entirely silent before the suspicious Kappa as she tried to gauge his temper. When she was confident that he would not sweep forward to plant a vicious reminder of dominance on her ear, the sleek wolfess slunk away to the side to place herself at a far more comfortable distance from him.

"I am sorry," Paarthurnax said softly, tentatively and sincerely; "for any offense that my presence here has caused."

is it ok to wrap it up here? :P

Although the whine and submission was normal and made Dovev feel a little more normal about the whole confrontation, there was something odd going on here. Yes, the circumstances were strange- Paarthurnax was a former member, but the tundra beast had never seen a newly joined wolf been so complacent and polite, yet slightly harried.

Dovev kept his unwavering gaze on the creature as she slunk away, taking up space closer to the den. Although his muscles were still tense, the male's breath was muted as he drew in Paar's aroma. He would have to consult others to find out what they knew about her behavior, for although his caution was diminishing, his investigatory side did not. The slim golden canine murmured some sort of apology, which he didn't know whether to accept under the circumstances. Apparently she knew the sort of upset she had caused with him, even if it was uncalled for or not. Besides, it wasn't Dovev's place to decide her fate.
With a nod dismissing the matter, he stepped away and circled the den, hiking the slight grassy rise and prodding off.

Sure, thanks for the thread. We need another one soon. :P

Thankfully, the Arctic male did not pursue her as she scooted away to avoid any further intimidation. Paarthurnax shyly looked up past her lashes, braving a peek at his muzzle as he nodded and made to turn from her. She exhaled softly, relief flooding her to see him leave the densite without further interrogating.

He circled around her hollow a single time, and she followed his movements with curious copper eyes until he ventured out of sight. It was then that she unfurled her feathery tail from between her slim hind limbs, let her ears lift from having been pressed to her flattened hackles, and carefully straightened herself out before hesitantly resuming her cleaning duties.