Mountain of Dire Calamity Affair

The question gave him pause, eyes narrowing as an ear flicked in distaste. He could very well explain himself to this loner, but that was beneath him. The query implied that Lorcan had read altogether too much into his more lighthearted statement, but his pride felt pricked by the implication. "Not uneasy," he wheezed, but said no more on it, as though it were irrelevant - which, under the circumstances, it was.

Besides, the conversation had taken a more interesting turn. At your service, the man said, and made some pretty offers, and Craw considered this turn of events. Whitestone was full of able hunters, so food was no issue, but the mention of herbs brought an ear forward. It was the suggestion of information, though, that pushed one puff of laughter from him, a single soft 'hah'. Perhaps it had just been a loner's jitters, but Lorcan had showed his hand when he'd offered hasty apologies for trespassing. "Unless you are more familiar with the packs on the ground than you are the packs on this mountain, you know nothing of interest to me." He paused, glanced away, and then looked back at Lorcan a little more closely. "Or the name Murdoc Khai means anything to you." But of course it would not. "However, I would like to hear more what you know of plants."

Lorcan’s comment on the older scar-laden male’s obvious dislike for the mountainous terrain was swiftly pushed aside and dismissed. Perhaps he has pushed too far, they were still strangers after all. Lorcan bit his lower lip, lowering his head as a sign that he acknowledged his boundaries. It was clear that he was not about to find out the answers to all his questions and so, the younger male would have to gracefully back down, this pack alpha deserved some respect and Lorcan wasn’t in any fit state to challenge his authority. His hind legs lowered as he shifted into a sit, his tail sweeping contentedly on the hard stony ground behind him, curiosity piercing through his golden stare as he wondered which, if any, of his services Craw would be inclined to accept.

Chestnut brown ears perked up at the sound of laughter that clamoured from the grey wolf, sarcasm lacing its rough throaty tone. It was true, he knew nothing of these lands, and nothing of the packs which staked claim to it. He began to think that these ‘other packs’ may have been part of the reason that Craw had climbed up the mountain in the first place – but then, he couldn’t know for sure and he was pretty certain that Craw would never tell him. Lorcan remained silent and continued to listen. The name Murdoc Khai was mentioned, causing Lorcan’s brows to furrow in confusion before he admitted defeat and shook his head. His golden eyes lowered to trail slowly along a single crack which cut into the stone beneath him. Muscles twitched along his lean body as his head turned, and his body readied to move away, expectant of a final disheartening dismissal. However, his motion paused as Craw spoke again after a momentary silence, with his knowledge of plants having caught his attention. A small smile tugged at the corners of his charcoal lips as he turned back to face Craw, eyes ablaze with pride.

“My mother was a pack herbalist... I managed to pick up a thing or two when I was a pup.” A subtly smile slipped briefly across his lips as he remembered back to days spent following after his mother as she went out in search of herbs and flora for the pack’s medicinal cache. His lips pursed tight, as his eyes scanned the mountain terrain in view from where they stood in conversation, finally settling on the tips of the white fir trees which sprung up from the rocks in the distance. Eyes still trained on the evergreen trees, he tilted his head beckoning Craw to observe. “Those trees over there, the White Fir’s…their leaves can be applied to small cuts to aid the healing process.” He said softly, as if it were some kind of secret.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Where Craw's rather blunt replies might have offended another wolf, Lorcan took them with humility. It was all deliberate, a part of the ritual which the spider so liked taking part in with vagrants. You could learn a lot about a wolf by being hard and pushing normal polite boundaries. Even when wolves reacted negatively - like @Askan - Craw found that so many ended up accepting their place in this ambiguous hierarchy anyway, even when he was definitely outside the borders where his authority really meant anything. Like Askan. The memory of that starving loner made him smile, just for a fleeting moment, but the expression could have been as easily directed at Lorcan.

With no need for meat or knowledge, the herbs had been the winner for them both. With obvious pride in his manner, Lorcan admitted that he did, and even offered a snippet of that learning. Craw glanced up at the fir trees, and smiled again. He had little to no idea whether Lorcan was right or bullshitting him, but it didn't matter. If Lorcan was to be believed, then this trip up the mountain could be quite fortuitous. "I was raised by more of a strict guardian-type. I've always admired those with an affinity for herbalism, it just never sticks with me." His yellow eyes dropped back to Lorcan, appraising the possible routes this could take, and liking them. What was it with clumsy mountain dwellers that he found so endearing? "My mate knows some of the field; her mother is a well-respected healer and herbalist. My pack lacks anyone dedicated to the profession. If she approves of your skills, I would be pleased to offer you a more sturdy den to sleep in."

(This post was last modified: Jun 29, 2016, 06:55 PM by Craw.)

Lorcan took a small step back as he moved aside to allow Craw to get a better view of the trees which peaked between the ridges further down the mountain. “Wolves must pass those trees all the time and never realise that they can be put to good use.” He said quietly, a soft scoff huffing past his charcoal lips. Lorcan’s brows raised as Craw shared a snippet of his history and upbringing before admitting his admiration for herbalists. Lorcan was undoubtable surprised, his lips parting in slight shock at the realisation that this large alpha male that stood beside him, one which had refused to offer up information barely minutes before was now in fact openly admitting to a weakness. Lorcan wondered if perhaps this meant he was beginning to earn Craw’s trust. The prospect delighted him, but he kept a stoic face, not wanting to show how desperate he was to feel wanted. “It’s just careful observation, really. You have to notice the small things..” Lorcan tried to offer some reassurance, not wanting to come across as conceited.

Again, Craw shared yet more information and Lorcan listened intently, tilting his head in interest at the idea of other wolves which the alpha knew of which specialised in medicinal flora. Lorcan opened his mouth to speak, but was swiftly cut off as Craw continued, causing a small hum of noise to escape the loners mouth in the confusion. “—My pack lacks anyone dedicated to the profession. If she approves of your skills, I would be pleased to offer you a more sturdy den to sleep in.” His muscles froze, eyes widening briefly in astonishment. The offer hit him hard in the chest. Had that really just happened?! Craw was somehow willing to offer him a permanent residence if he was willing to train as a herbalist within his pack. Words failed him for a moment as his mind whirled with anxiety at the possibility, sharp prickles of fear crawling up his neck at the unknown. But for all his anxieties he knew he couldn’t turn it down. “I—Um—That would..” Words failed his again, as he struggled to find an appropriate answer which didn’t involve grovelling at Craw’s paws. His tail wagged eagerly behind him and he nodded, salmon pink tongue sweeping across his charcoal lips for reassurance as he held back an elated grin.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

The observation of the average wolf's ignorance rang true, even if, in this instance, Craw was counted among those uneducated lot. He wondered, for a moment, what it might be like to look into a field lush with greenery and see the cures, the pain relief, the poisons. Craw looked upon such a scene and saw obstacles, ambushes, and hiding places. There was more than one way to use plantlife. Did Lorcan gaze around him and see the possible violence in them, the lurking cougars, the watching raptors, the falling trees after a harsh thunderstorm?

Blessed and cursed with an eye for brutality, and aware of that fact, Craw knew the value of surrounding himself with wolves who possessed other perspectives.

So Lorcan's little mention of noticing the small things also rang true, and Craw nodded in agreement, watching the smaller man and his controlled reactions, controlled ego. His close observation was worth it once the offer was made, and he could see the electric response in the loner despite his careful composure. The man's ordinary eloquent manner failed him, but it only made the reaction all the more genuine, and Craw's own tail wagged once, twice behind him in pleasure of how the suggestion had been received.

Jackpot.

Glancing back the way he had come, to the north where his home lay somewhere far below this elevated place with its evergreens, Craw glanced at Lorcan and tossed his head, gesturing for the man to accompany him. "Come, then," he rumbled, and glanced back up at the trees as he turned away, as if mulling over the wisdom Lorcan had shared with him. He could have posed his own question, curious to know more about Lorcan's mother and why he was out here alone, but thought to leave that to the man whose life was potentially about to change in a more significant way.

I'm happy to continue this thread as long as you like, I like letting wolves get to know each other, but once it's done I can start one in WM for us so Lorcan can meet Morganna and the others? So the timing is up to you :D

Hope you don’t mind me saying that they started moving? If not I’ll change it :)

The second Craw gestured for Lorcan to follow him, the younger male immediately slunk forwards to stand calmly beside him, his tail tucked neatly between his legs and his ears folded back with submission. He may had lived a few weeks as a lone wolf, but he had not forgotten his manners in that time. Craw was effectively now his alpha, whether he was considered a fully accepted member of the pack or not and Lorcan wanted to keep it that way – this male has offered him a second chance at pack life when he had clearly needed it, and so, Lorcan pondered, he would forever be in his favour.

As he followed beside Craw as they began to descend the mountain and travel towards his territory, Lorcan slunk his body down lower to the ground than was natural for him, another sign of submission. This caused his aching body to suffer a little more, the extra pressure on his joints only added to his feeling of fatigue. But he willed himself on, panting as he went, as his paw pads grew sore from their repetitive collision with the cool hard surface of the mountain rock. The prospect of a well-made den for him to rest in kept his motivation to continue forward high, along with the hope for satisfying meal somewhere in the near future.

“So what do you call your pack, Sir?” Lorcan questioned, curious as to what exactly they were headed towards. “And, if you don’t mind me asking, what is the name of your mate whom I should impress?” He assumed that he should at least know a little bit about the female that would ultimately decide his fate within the pack.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Good by me :)

The fact that Lorcan kept his stature humbled as they started their descent was not missed. It can't have been comfortable, but he was not about to protest it. It was immensely satisfying to find someone who understood how to show respect, even when it wasn't easy, even when it wasn't being actively demanded. Save for his natural confidence, Craw was yet to emphasise his authority by curling his tail or grabbing the younger man, but it would come in time. And unlike many of the others wolves in Whitestone, who he knew were unused and perhaps uncomfortable with his very physical approach to maintaining relationships and rank, Craw suspected that Lorcan would accept it just fine.

All in time.

The journey started with silence, but not for long; Craw had been waiting for the questions, and when Lorcan's voice caught his attention, one ear twisting to the side to show that he was listening as he walked, he was again pleased by how polite this young man was. Someone's parents had done a good job. He smiled at the last question. "Morganna Archer. She doesn't suffer fools lightly, and has newborns to protect, so she will not go easy on you. You will need to demonstrate your knowledge - like I said, she's-" Wondering if his blunt appraisal of his mate intimidated the poor man, Craw glanced to the side to meet his eye, and grinned. Perhaps he was being too negative. He did genuinely hope that she approved, it would be good to have a dedicated healer. The memory of Odin's run-in with the damn berry bush still made him twitchy. "Just don't call her a queen, and you won't get off on the wrong foot."

But that had only been one of the questions. "We live on Whitestone, a large monadnock in the tundra. Do you know what a monadnock is?"

(This post was last modified: Jul 01, 2016, 08:09 PM by Craw.)

I'm happy for this thread to fade into the next thread at any time :)

As time passed, the sun climbed higher in the sky, spilling warm golden tendrils of light upon the scene of lush green trees and open grassland which enticed his tired eyes onwards into the unexplored distance. His muscles felt more at ease as the mountain slope began to morph into a flatter, more gentle, terrain. Lorcan felt his pace quicken a notch, just enough to feel the cool summer breeze comb softly through his fur and down the length of his tail. A shiver of excitement trembled through his body, and the young male found himself unable to hold back a purr of enthusiasm as he turned to glance towards the monochrome mask of Craw, salmon pink tongue hanging idly from mouth.

As Craw described his mate, Morganna, Lorcan's immediate thoughts turned to his own step-mother and previous alpha female, which caused the carefree smile that had been planted on his charcoal lips to stiffen into a thin, more serious and detached, expression. For a moment he worried that fate would result in yet another alpha female turning a cold shoulder towards him and brand him as a worthless inconvenience. He shook his head, brows furrowing as he pushed the thought towards the back of his mind. Assuming would just make things worse. He had to take the chance and just try and make a good impression. When Craw stopped mid-sentence, Lorcan was quick to offer up some light on the situation "I am sure she just has the pack's best interest at heart." He said, with a half-grin half-grimace wrinkling at his nose as he tried to hide the fact he could feel his stomach churning with anxiety. He glanced down for a moment, swallowing down his nerves. "But, Congratulations - on your new family I mean. I would be happy to assist on hunts if needed, to keep Morganna and the pups well fed."

Lorcan huffed in a tired attempt at a laugh when Craw suggested what not to call Morganna, a real grin spreading across his face now as he flashed his pearlescent fangs towards the larger male. "I shall take that on board, Sir." He was surprised to find Craw asking him a question. He shook his head "No Sir, I don't. But I imagine the tundra to be plentiful with prey.. Can't say the same for that mountain." He turned his head to allow his golden eyes to glance behind them back up at the mountain they had been descending, salmon pink tongue sweeping ravenously across his lips. He couldn't wait for a good meal. It would be his first in weeks.

Time seemed to pass quickly as the pair of males continued their journey engrossed in conversation, with Lorcan never failing to present Craw with yet more questions during each day that passed. As they traveled through the changing landscape, Lorcan keenly kept an eye out for any herbs that they happened to stumble upon when passing through the area, making a mental note for later reference. The younger male didn't stop to collect them however, instead continuing to trail obediently behind Craw who led the way towards his pack's territory at the monadnock.

-fade out-

(This post was last modified: Jul 04, 2016, 09:23 AM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together