Lost Lake A sliver to call my own

yay! this is Iopah's exit post, I'll leave it up till midnight 5/10 so everyone can get in a fade/exit if they want. @Lucien is welcome to pop in at the end of this. I'll pm when the claiming thread is posted.

There was a brief moment of uncertainty. The sheer magnitude of what she'd done finally caught up as a mountain breeze plucked the words away and she had a chance to replay it in her head. They were name-less strangers and Iopah had offered the safety of a home, a home she didn't even have yet. Iopah didn't even know their names. She didn't know anything of their past, what had happened to put them in the current situation, or whether they were even trustworthy. The pale  woman took a large step forward, wanting to be near @Koda as much the small show of confidence in the action. Her flank bumped against Koda's as they waited together.

The pair of wolves conversed silently with each other. Iopah had just enough time to steel her expression and hope her second-guessing wasn't obvious, then Zia was speaking. Iopah accepted the first sentence with a succinct nod and little else in the way of reaction. Her tail gave a few reserved twitches, but that was it. She has relieved, but they still they felt like strangers with secrets and their own agenda. Zia continued speaking and Iopah listened politely. An offer was made, information they hadn't even asked for. The smile softened her expression without Iopah having to reach for it. They already felt less like strangers, secrets already cast aside. Damn Nina and her secrets. There was no need to steel her expression now; the gold was intense, but open. Iopah was quick to fill the silence that Zia allowed. "We are from the west," Gold eyes cast sideways for Koda's in silent apology of her inelegant explanation. "We are not allowed back." If Zia was inclined to honesty, then Iopah would offer the same.

She grew serious at Zia's admission, focusing all her attention on the charcoal-smudged woman. Her feet brought her closer to them, while her eyes never wavered in their quiet attention. "We will accept all of you, so long as our rule is respected." She did not expect opposition and stopped close enough to give their pelts a more thorough exam, offering a brief brush to mark them as pack-mates. Now there was nothing to stop them from their future home, save for the long miles ahead of them. She turned to catch @Silentium's intense scrutiny and raised a curious eyebrow. Had he been watching her the entire time? The journey down the mountain started, now aided by @Zia's familiarity and @Inkheart's protective eyes.

-Fade to Black-

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

 

It was a relief to Silentium that the other pair immediately backed down, especially the male who had been the one seeming to start the confrontation. While he knew it had been the arrival of Koda who had made the impact for the stranger to check himself the pup couldn't help but feel a little proud. His whole life he had felt inadequate, as if his disability set him miles behind his brothers, never had he felt like a contributor to a goal. Until now; now he knew he was an equal member of their group, whose numbers seemed to be ever increasing. Despite all of their extra additions Si mostly kept to himself, speaking freely only with Iopah and her mate, but even this was an improvement from his attitude in the Woodlands. There he had kept to himself almost exclusively and spoke only when spoken to as he felt like a burden; here he felt like a true member.

His previous mental questions went unanswered rather than a seemingly silent confirmation that both of these females were expecting children. This still didn't answer where these children were and how soon they would get there. Silentium's earliest memories were blurry at best, mostly filled with his mother's voice and the feeling of warmth so he had no idea what to expect. If there were children coming that meant they needed to find proper shelter soon, unless they were what they had been looking for all this time?

It didn't make a lot of sense to the almost yearling, but he kept his questions to himself as he knew this was not the time. Instead he silently nodded his acceptance to Iopah's words towards the other two and followed quickly in her paw steps. He was too embarrassed to ask all of his questions but maybe if he stuck close enough by her side he could figure them out on his own.

SILENTIUM EXIT

 

(This post was last modified: May 10, 2015, 12:21 AM by Silentium.)

As he expected, with the scent of male heavy in the wind, Inkheart's approach was met with raised eyebrows and bared teeth as he stared the large dark male down. He hadn't expected such a hostile entrance and yet he was prepared if need be for the attack if the male standing next to Zia decided to take the next move--he would do what it took to protect his growing offspring. Heaving heavy, for deep growls bellowed from his throat simply waiting for any movement from Inkheart, he calmed down only when the silver woman had asked for @Inkheart to stand down and the spikes along his back leveled out.

He watched without much word as @Zia attempted to quell the situation and by means of accepting her offer the pale male nodded his head in a silent understanding of her position. Both he and Iopah were in no position to fight, not when their energy should be spent on finding and claiming their new land, and he expected that though Silentium was near adult size and capable of defending himself, that he was in no condition either. A look of relief washed over him as he took in what was before him, and wondered if these refugees were in search of a home as well--a place that Iopah and he could promise them. Without missing a beat the agouti woman at his side spoke up and he felt a smile tug at his lips, she had always been a blunt woman and he appreciated that from her, she was the voice for both of them when words often failed him, and he stood proudly at his spot in wait of their response. He hoped both wolves would join them, despite their current situation and could sense that with them sprouted a new generation that he would happily accept--he wouldn't dare subject a youth to death.

It came as no surprise that Iopah was accepting of her condition as well, she was very much a kind heart and he knew that she valued life, but her words of upholding pack laws, their pack laws, came as no surprise either. He expected that come next year, the two would be wiser in breeding without permission. With tensions aside, and the invitation in the wind, he felt the need to add a few words himself,  "I hope that we can take your words as bond," he approached them slowly, "My wife Iopah and son Silentium have been hoping to find some loyal wolves to create a pack with, where our children can be safe without the fear of pack rivalries interfering with what we will work so hard to create." it was a simple request really, and yet he hoped he could find it over the mountains. He was not sure what had chased both wolves from their land, and whether they were accepted once they were ready to return, but he had every intention of learning once they had gotten to know each other better. "Let's stick close together, we've got a long travel ahead of us..." and he bumped Iopah's shoulder in silent gesture of asking for her and Zia to lead the way where he hoped that Inkheart would help to bring up the rear.

--Fade to black--

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.