Nightingale Palisade Soft Driven, Slow and Mad

@Gent
Morning. Cool; partly sunny.

Salix had no idea as to where the hell he was. It had
been- wait, how long had it been since he left his home pack? It seemed time had slipped away
from him. He shakes his fluffed head, his steely blue eyes narrowing as he descends down a rugged slope.
He was getting tired of travel, that was for certain. A bit of regret had been biting at him for leaving his home
pack. In time, he would have been able to become the leader of it. Hell, if he'd wanted, he could challenge his
father for the alpha position. Though something had told him he didn't want to stay there any more. That he
needed to go off on his own and start fresh. His desire to lead was like a growing flame, hungry for power.
Such would have to be heeded for now; he'd be at the bottom of the totem pole no matter where he ended up.

His harsh gaze shoots over to a doe who stands about twenty wolf lengths away. The salt and pepper coated
male can feel his stomach tug at him, but he didn't want to act out of haste. Deer was tempting, but he knew
better than to go chasing it right now. Xil wasn't too worn down from his travels, but he didn't want to exude his
energy into this one hunt that may go unsuccessful. Instead, he flashes his ivory fangs, releasing a sharp growl into
the cool air. The doe raises her large ears, dark eyes peering toward the wolf. She couldn't spot him at first, but
after craning her neck, her tail rises to flash the white underside as an alarm flag. Salix watches in amusement
as she takes off, bounding off and out of sight.

Releasing a heavy sigh, the man decides that a break from walking was in order. His pace slows as he settles
beside a brush, plopping onto his rump and closing his eyes. He sees his mother in his thoughts, caring and
kind. His father then appears, his robust and esteemed self demanding respect from those around him. His idol.
Opening his eyes now, Salix looks to the vast expanse of land before him, wondering when he'd run into another
creature. Perhaps next he'd see a wolf...

(This post was last modified: Nov 24, 2015, 05:38 PM by Salix.)

The rhythmic clacking of hooves against the slate rang suddenly within his ears, and the king descended just as the animal leapt into view and onto the ledge from which he had just come. His pale eyes followed the white flag, his instincts weakly demanding that he take chase. Yet the well fed man was nothing close to being in a position to gormandize, and thus he stood his ground and watched it flee into the snow dusted air without moving a single muscle in pursuit. It couldn't have been his presence that had startled it so, for the pathetic creature wouldn't have had the audacity to rush at him.

As it vanished from sight his gaze traveled down along the Palisade's depths, searching for the predator that had startled it so. Inhaling deeply he attempted to catch a scent from the air, but the wind was working against him, tunneling down toward the river and as he moved to delver deeper, it seemed to be pulling him along with it. To be caught unaware was dangerous in any situation, but especially so now when on such difficult terrain. Thus he worked his senses meticulously as his casual stride took him farther down.

It took only a few minutes further to finally locate the other man, and the king was rewarded for his diligence. It was a foreign wolf, a thing which held a high possibility of being lethal as winter closed in on them. While this other was resting upon the ground, Gent still knew better than to trust a single thing about him, much less his sanity. The closer the ice storms drew to them, the more certain it was that those who were on their own, were that way for a very specific reason.

Nonetheless, a chance would be given. There was time still that this man could be as any other traveler, and perhaps even useful to the Crest monarch. Given his dwindling male ranks, this certainly was not a possibility that he would pass up so easily. As he descended to this stranger's level, Gent let out a bark to garner his attention.

(This post was last modified: Nov 26, 2015, 08:31 PM by Gent.)

While seated, Salix lifts a hind limb to relieve an itch behind his ear.
He had become bored on his travels, having only seen prey rather than other wolves. Jaws stretching,
he yawns, his breath visible in the cool morning air. With his lids wavering closed and open, his mind beckons
him to nap, and he is ready to oblige before a bark pierces the air. Ears flattening, the white-based wolf rises
to all fours, his eyes scanning about. His analytical gaze falls upon a black figure that was gradually approaching.
Salix's tail raises a bit, almost parallel with his body before he becomes conscious of it. Allowing himself to relax
slightly, he boasts a calm demeanor, though his brain was running a thousand miles a minute. The wolf widens
his nostrils, releasing a loud grunt of acknowledgement.

As the raven coated wolf approaches, Salix takes in the way he carries himself. How his lips are poised; what his
eyes seem to say. After a short moment, the man is able to determine that he is in no danger, at least to him. A wily
smirk now paints his face; the right side of his muzzle in a toothy grin. "Mornin, lad." His words were
simple, but inviting. "Ye caught me dozin, ye did." A small snicker is about to snake out from his
throat, but he holds it back. The man spoke genuinely, but he dare not to overstep. He was always very cogent
upon meeting another wolf, though such had not happened to him in some time. This was the first wolf he'd
seen in quite some time. He didn't trust strangers, but he was never a skeptic, either. He was somewhere
in between about the matter.

Gent's diligent eyes caught sight of the other man's tail rising behind him, coming as high as to be level with his spine. Taking this is a possible sign of aggression, the king slowed his steps, his own banner climbing higher into the air as a warning. Yet just as swiftly, the stranger relaxed, and thus did the blueblack leviathan, regaining the same casual speed of approach. What could be taken as a friendly expression took up residence on this other's face, and Gent was tempted to mirror the expression as Salix referred to him as lad. It had been a long time since the monarch had been acknowledged as youthful, and yet as he looked upon this foreigner, he was reminded of himself in his yearling days.

Settling on a small but wry smile, Gent drew to a stop a few yards from his company, a respectful but comfortable distance for a conversation to be had between them.

"Dangerous thing to do, out here in the open," he commented casually, pale eyes scanning their surroundings for a brief moment before flickering back to Salix's presence. Direct as usual, Gent chose to continue with "it's getting a little late in the season to be out on your own."

(This post was last modified: Dec 03, 2015, 02:59 AM by Gent.)

@Gent

It was slightly amusing to watch the man before him mirror his tail, dropping it as soon as he did.
His ever-watchful gaze observes a wry smile that plasters itself upon the stranger's lips. Anxiety begins
to siphon Salix's ability to think as the wolf approaches, but it retreats once Gent stops yards before him.
He left a good amount of space between them; thank goodness. Salix absolutely despised having his personal
bubble infiltrated. "I be aware." He says, his gravelly voice cool. "Such isn't unprecedented. I be knowin'
risks, but travel wears ye. Mind be weary, body not so much." He takes in a heavy breath, his nose
analyzing the odors. He could detect other wolves on the man; the assumption came that he was a pack wolf.

The dark man's next words confirmed this. With his face wrinkling, Salix tosses his head. "Yeh, I know. I be
seekin' a home, this be the first time runnin' into a wolf since me travels began." There was no point in
bullshitting his story. He was blatant and truthful with his words. Being tired made him more prone to being
straight with what he was saying. He could really go for a full day's sleep at the moment, but he held himself
accordingly, not wanting to appear vulnerable. His mind was willing, but his body was weak, just as he had said.
"Salix Atea." He offers his name up, his waned eyes focused on the male. Salix never had an issue with
eye contact, but he'd break his gaze occasionally as not to appear rude.

(This post was last modified: Dec 03, 2015, 10:50 PM by Salix.)

An accent. It persevered no matter how lengthy his sentences became, and rather than being reminded of @Kjors he chose to think instead of the more fond recollection of @Hecate. It gave him reason to be curious about the origins of this stranger, if perhaps he'd even come from a similar region to the girl, transferring his focus from how determined the man was to make sure Gent knew that he was not naive. Yet Gent was pulled back into the words themselves when the man easily revealed he was indeed looking for a home. Quickly forming an honest image of the stranger, the timbers king did not feel the need to proceed with any extra caution.

"Gent Lieris," he returned, pulling his hindquarters under him as he reclined. His tail swept through the thin layer of snow as he curled it into himself, wrapped against his left flank. His pale eyes regarded him in silence for a moment longer, before he flatly asked, "What do you have to offer a pack?"

They needed more able bodies to make it through the winter, but the pack was not desperate by any means. While he was seeking recruits, especially males, he would not allow just any wolf within his domain, and he certainly wouldn't allow one in blindly. They could easily leave here together, under a mutually beneficial agreement, but it had to be just that.

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Salix nods his head in acknowledgement as the man introduces himself in return.
Careful eyes watch as Gent seats himself, speaking shortly after doing so. What did he have to offer?
For a moment, Salix ponders. He was not thinking about what he had to offer- no, he knew what he was
capable of. Instead, he is curious of whether or not he should join the first pack he had come across since
his travels began. A thoughtful look crosses his features, his eyes briefly narrowing as his mouth contorts
during his focus. Snapping out of this look, he glimpses toward the seated man. A quaint grin now places
itself upon his dark lips. "Well, I be a good hunter, an' I used to guard me old packmates. Carin' for
the pups n' whatnot, ye."

His father had sired another litter of pups a year after Salix's birth. Salix didn't consider those pups his
siblings; he viewed them strictly as other pack members. He watched over them while his father and
other pack mates had gone out on scouting missions or hunts. "Ye don't see me too thin now, do ye?"
He had been fully capable of keeping himself fed during his lonely months of travel. He was hungry, but
he wasn't near emaciated. The man had always been a fantastic tracker, picking up an old scent and being
able to find its source miles away if need be.

"Is such what ye be lookin' for, Gent?" He asks now, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

The man seemed to take a moment to reflect before answering, and the king awaited the words that would come with patience. That the wolf appeared to be taking the question seriously was worthy of his time, and once the fugacious thought was completed the answer given was satisfactory. A background of general training was appealing to Gent, though he for a while now he had been hoping to find someone with healing skills so that he could relinquish the role from himself unto them. Yet those who were skilled in hunting and defending would always be useful within his eyes, and as Salix provided his own well-muscled bones as testament to the veracity of his claim, the monarch could only agree that he seemed a suitable find. Yet, as he would be quick to inform Salix, skill was not the only qualification necessary.

"That's half of it," he answered him with a small smile of his own. The leviathan, at this point, felt comfortable to be a bit more elaborate with his words as he continued. "We've got numbers, but I've seen firsthand how lethally harsh the winters here can be, especially for a pack as far north as mine. I'm lookin' for wolves like you to ensure we remain strong, no matter what's thrown our way. It's always a risk, letting someone new into the fold. But there's degrees, and I'm not willing to put more on the line for any wolf than what they're worth," he informed him, the smile fading as he spoke with gravity. It could not be mistaken how seriously the king took the subject at paw.

"I've gotta know if you're worth the risk, and that comes down to more than what skills you have." Above all, Gent needed honesty and commitment within his ranks.