Cold Water Creek Astray

Adara stumbled around the trees as if the ground had earned her mistrust and wished to see her fall. She had been travelling away from the Ardente Woods for quite some time now. The more steps the female took, the more it seemed like her body was going to betray her and just give out. Blood, some dried and some still moist, clung to her fur and gave her somewhat of a wild appearance, the life liquid making it stick out in places. Adara had seen no other wolves around, though her nose could detect faint scents of those that had passed through before. The female wanted to stop but couldn't find it in herself, the haunting memories of the previous day's events still very fresh in her mind. By now every wolf in her pack would have either been killed or dissipated into the forests in escape. The woods she'd known all of her life had now become a breeding ground of death and cowardice.

Just as Adara continued walking, through thick brush she could see water up ahead. This was something she desperately needed. The female had no idea where she was wandering and didn't wish to stop, really. She'd not stopped once save one time because the wounds she carried threatened to overpower her. Adara had already made a pact to herself to show no weakness wherever she was going. The wolf approached the water source, a flowing creek, and bent her head for a drink. She was taken aback by the cool water that entered her mouth but it was somewhat of a breath of life for her. Raising her head away from the water slightly after taking a few more drinks, Adara looked down at her reflection in the chilled water. A feral-looking female stared back at her, concealed fear and pain on her features. With a sigh, she spoke to her reflection. "How am I to trust now?"

(This post was last modified: May 30, 2013, 12:17 AM by Adara.)

Blood. There was blood in the air. Once again wolf’s blood. With a heavy sigh, casually his brow arched and he had to wonder how it was he kept finding himself in these situations. He had been sticking closer to the Glen since the birth of his brothers cubs, but even now the incessant itch in his feet would not ease so he found himself wandering past the borders in search of prey. He had been hoping on tracking a herd that would allow him to report back to the pack and maybe he could gather a few pack mates to join him in a hunt. But with this stench hanging around any prey with half a brain cell would be keeping itself well and truly clear of the creek.

Deciding he’d best see what was stinking up this particular section of the wood, it didn’t take him long to come by the tawny wolf just as she was lowering her head to drink from the stream. Approaching from the side, a few wolf lengths away, he lowered his own head casually, knowing he would be well within the girls peripherals. Once he had drunk his fill he raised his head, his tail held limp between his hocks as he released a large yawn, a clear indication that he meant the girl no harm. She had seen better days to be sure, and the last thing he could be bothered with was chasing a terrified loner through the forest when his stomach was beginning to rumble with the thought of time lost hunting for this encounter.

The water that Adara ingested aided her, but only slightly. She was still very much injured from the attack on her family the previous day. She had multiple bites on her neck and on her haunches, as well as shallow cuts from where blunt claws had found their way to her skin. To be honest, just by looking at her reflection, Adara could tell that she looked like a complete tragedy. She had the emotions to match, though. Her world had crumbled around her paws and then she simply trotted away from the aftermath to possibly begin anew in her mate, brother, and family's faith. Contemplation of the topic seemed to be taken away by a swift wind, only to be replaced by the pressing thought of the figure that had come near her. Without any regards of the wolf's possible friendliness or lack of hostility, Adara threw herself to the side so she whipped around to face them, also taking multiple precautionary steps to ensure a little more safety. Her skittish trait reigned true, acquired for the constant worry of a possible attempt on her life in her old pack from their neighboring pack. This was a large gray and white male that stood before her, and Adara didn't like that at all.

Her previously quiet air had been replaced with a low growl coming from her chest. 'I won't let him harm me,' she thought. Though there was a small chance that this wolf was friendly, she wasn't about to take a gamble with her life. Adara then remembered that she probably looked more feral and dangerous than the male before her. No matter, she couldn't trust a stranger. Although her mind was howling for her to run and hide, her heart told her that she must stay strong and hold fast. "W-who are you!?" she growled out at the male. Adara was very surprised by the sound of her own voice. It didn't have its normal sweet, feminine tone. Her voice sounded ragged and tired at the moment, which gave her the overall look and sound of a wild, uncivilized wolf. She could use that to her advantage, but how much intimidation would that earn her with one who was obviously older, bigger, and stronger than herself. She looked at the male through hard eyes with bared teeth and spiked hackles, awaiting an answer.

A growl issued forth from the girl and though he arched a brow at her display he supposed he only had himself to blame for coming so close unannounced. As seemed to be the norm, the girl was much younger than he, and although by definition, he was in fact in his prime - after all these encounters he was beginning to feel a little ancient. He kept himself still while she continued her skittish display, his other brow raising to match the first before both fell and he looked on her with half-lidded boredom, his eyes drifting off her left flank for further illustrate that he had no interest in challenging her. A heavy sigh resulted in a yawn as his tongue snaked out to draw across the end of his dark nose, projecting every image he could think of that might convey enough of a message to get the girl to calm down.

W-who are you!? the gravelly voice called across the distance between, her growl pulling at his hackles in a natural response while he battled to keep them flat. After all, she was still a girl in comparison. Perhaps her parents had never taught her manners? But no, that was no excuse, and he allowed his own hackled to raise in response. His eyes snapped to her own, darker in color than his with a lot less steel to their resolve. He was pushing her now, as his tail inched higher. Warning her that she should stop this foolish display.

“This close to my home I believe it is I who should be asking You... Who. Are. You?” He questioned back with a little less patience than his previous stance had implied. Not so long ago, his brothers mate had given birth and while he was yet to lay his eyes on the children as yet he was already overcome with a need to protect, and the girls haggard appearance and grouchy demeanor was doing her little in the way of favors in his burning orange eyes. Had she come across another pack recently and behaved the same? Had she tried to steal from them or bring harm to their young? The more his thoughts raced, the tenser his stance became. “Why are you here?” He questioned further. While he was loath to risk his pretty face, he was even less inclined to risk his niece and nephew, @Phineas’s children, on some roving vagabond, and he resolved that he would have his answers, or have a piece of her hide.

She kept her teeth bared at the male in front of her, not really wanting to fight him. Though she knew how to handle herself, in the protection of Lucan and Enzo, she hardly ever had to. That was no longer the case. If push came to shove, Adara would have no choice but to engage in attack with him. There was no way she could beat him, though. He was bigger and undoubtedly stronger than she. She didn't really want altercation, but she was also slightly agitated with the lack of care he seemed to show for her aggression towards him. Adara was taken aback somewhat as he suddenly snapped back at her with a dangerously enunciated question. So this was his home? The female had no idea that he was a pack wolf, though she supposed it was very possible.

She'd never considered the thought after the fact that a large male had just approached her presented itself. Adara had been startled by his presence and acted out of fear and pride, mostly fear. Although he was a pack wolf, she couldn't find it in herself to just let her guard down. She didn't answer his questions, half because she'd been overcome with questions of her own, half because she just couldn't trust him. Adara kept her aggressive posturing, teeth bared, towards the male. She refused to be chased away with her tail in between her legs. But she was already injured, did she really want to risk more injuries? No, it didn't matter! She wouldn't let herself be bested.

Set up a fight request for this one. If she wants to retaliate you can request a roll (just remember if you hit -10 you die). He's not so much trying to hurt her as to 'shame' her/force her into submitting. If she drops down he's likely to back off :)

Fight request here - http://relic-lore.net/showthread.php?tid=4624

He knew that as he drew closer the scent of his pack would become more apparent to the girl. He really didn’t want to have to hurt her but she needed a lesson in manners none the less. He gave her a moment to formulate a response and when none came his lips drew back from his teeth threateningly. His hackles bristled, reaching for the sky and as he began to advance on the girl his tail flew as high as any war banner. His movements were controlled as he added a final burst of speed, shoving at the injured wolf and attempting to bring his paw over her shoulder to further force her down. A small part of him hoped that she would do the smart thing and drop, while a much larger part wanted her to snap at him. To give him a reason to retaliate beyond a mere conversation.

"Answer me girl!" His words were now laced with his own growl, low and warning as he pushed down on her with more force, trying to be mindful of the wounds about her nape and haunches while still being forceful enough to establish himself as the holder of power in this encounter. More gently he added "Quickly now, I don’t have all day." Adrenalin was coursing through his veins but he did his best to keep his own anger in check. One of them needed to keep a level head here.

(This post was last modified: Jun 06, 2013, 03:00 AM by Erebos.)